You know, I have read some idiodic posts on the RF on various opinions of the "Reformed" theology from an "Orthodox" perspective before, and I have to admit that this takes first prize. Congrats!
Thank you for the kudos. Let us examine why I would say that, shall we? http://www.reformationtheology.com/2007/12/images_of_the_savior_48_his_cr.php says that:
Furthermore, the absoluteness of God’s justice, the uncompromisable purity of his holiness, the infinite weight of his wrath against sin, are all things which we never glimpse so emphatically as we do when we gaze at the Son of God suffering under the curse of God, bearing God’s wrath as he hangs upon a tree. How unflinching is God’s justice, how vast his hatred of all which is opposed to his holy nature that, because of sin, he was pleased to crush his only spotless Son (Isaiah 53:10), whom he loved with all the love of an infinite Being who is very love! God’s justice must be infinite; because to satisfy it, he required an infinite sacrifice, even Jesus Christ, infinite in his being, purity, and holiness. God’s wrath must be eternal; because to exhaust it took the death of One who is very Life, eternal and unchangeable in his Person. Oh how great is the display of God in his holiness, purity, love of right and hatred of wrong, faithfulness to carry out the demands of his immutable law – how great is the display of who God is on the cross of Calvary!
Note the wording: suffering, wrath, crush, justice, sacrifice, more wrath and more hatred. This is not Christianity. Let us turn to the WCF for further illumination:
Chapter 3:
6. As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so hath he, by the eternal and most free purpose of his will, foreordained all the means thereunto. Wherefore, they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ, are effectually called unto faith in Christ by his Spirit working in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified, and kept by his power, through faith, unto salvation. Neither are any other redeemed by Christ, effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only. 7. The rest of mankind God was pleased, according to the unsearchable counsel of his own will, whereby he extendeth or withholdeth mercy, as he pleaseth, for the glory of his sovereign power over his creatures, to pass by; and to ordain them to dishonor and wrath for their sin, to the praise of his glorious justice.
Note the wording here: God is pleased to create men specifically for dishonor and wrath. In other words, He created them specifically to send them to hellfire forever. That is not Christian; that is pagan.
Chapter 6:
6. Every sin, both original and actual, being a transgression of the righteous law of God, and contrary thereunto, doth, in its own nature, bring guilt upon the sinner, whereby he is bound over to the wrath of God, and curse of the law, and so made subject to death, with all miseries spiritual, temporal, and eternal.
Wrath, transgression, guilt, curse, death.
Chapter 8:
1. It pleased God, in his eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, his only begotten Son, to be the Mediator between God and man, the Prophet, Priest, and King, the Head and Savior of his church, the Heir of all things, and Judge of the world: unto whom he did from all eternity give a people, to be his seed, and to be by him in time redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified.
Sounds like God created another god, to which He gave Jesus all things which includes all the men that were created explicitly for damnation - more evidence that the Reformed God is a pagan bloodthirsty Dagon.
Chapter 33:
3. As Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded that there shall be a day of judgment, both to deter all men from sin; and for the greater consolation of the godly in their adversity: so will he have that day unknown to men, that they may shake off all carnal security, and be always watchful, because they know not at what hour the Lord will come; and may be ever prepared to say, Come Lord Jesus, come quickly, Amen.
The whole WCF up until now has told us that the reprobate cannot avoid sin and cannot be saved. Why this little idiotic phrase: to deter men from their sins? More cruel japes to which the Reformed God subjects his creation? You MUST read up on the Greek gods and their cruel shenanigans.
How unflinching is God’s justice, how vast his hatred of all which is opposed to his holy nature that, because of sin, he was pleased to crush his only spotless Son (Isaiah 53:10), whom he loved with all the love of an infinite Being who is very love! [WMF]
God's infinite love is matched only by his infinite hate. Wow! (never mind the bogus Bible reference, which obviously doesn't refer to Christ at all..."he shall see his seed [!]", and God will "prolong his days," etc.)
It's perfectly compatioble with the Platonic demiurge. In fact, much of Pauline writing refers to Chirst as a demiurge.
If you think about it, we accept that God is not bound by time - it is an island in the sea of his eternity - and by that knowledge we accept that he foreknew who would believe and who would reject him before they even existed. Therefore, we must also accept that knowing this God STILL allowed those people to exist. Now I do not claim to understand this at all, but I do know that God is all good and that everything he does is good. Scripture says,
"That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." (Eph. 2:7)
I cannot understand the aversion some people have to the character of God that they presume to be negative. It's like they want to ignore the Scriptures that clearly state it or allegorize it or rationalize it. Instead, I believe we should accept by faith what God has revealed about his nature and trust that he is good and righteous and holy in all that he does.
1) Can any man "avoid sin?"
No.
2) Can the reprobate be saved?
No.
Read up on the nature of man and the definition of "reprobate," Mark, and save yourself from such elementary errors.
Note the wording here: God is pleased to create men specifically for dishonor and wrath.
Does the papist Bible contain Romans 9? If not, borrow a Bible from one of your Protestant friends and read it.
Note the wording: suffering, wrath, crush, justice, sacrifice, more wrath...
LOL. Looks like you're having a problem with understanding "God's wrath." Read what your own church teaches, Mark...
From The Encyclical of Pope Pius XI on the Catholic Priesthood...
29. If Our Lord made such magnificent and solemn promises even to private prayers, how much more powerful must be that prayer which is said ex officio in the name of the Church, the beloved Spouse of the Savior? The Christian, though in prosperity so often forgetful of God, yet in the depth of his heart keeps his confidence in prayer, feels that prayer is all powerful, and as by a holy instinct, in every distress, in every peril whether private or public, has recourse with special trust to the prayer of the priest. To it the unfortunate of every sort look for comfort; to it they have recourse, seeking divine aid in all the vicissitudes of this exile here on earth. Truly does the "priest occupy a place midway between God and human nature: from Him bringing to us absolving beneficence, offering our prayers to Him and appeasing the wrathful Lord."
lol. Even when Rome almost gets it right, it still gets it wrong. Rome teaches that priests "appease the wrathful Lord."
lol. What a tragedy - to teach men that a priest, that "alter Christus," appeases the wrath of God when it is Christ alone who has appeased the wrath of God by His one-time, perfect sacrifice on the cross for all the sins of His flock.
Would you say this is not true?