Rejoicing in Assurance

Grace to You.org ^ | 1993 | John MacArthur, Grace Community Church

[metmom]

Imagine a child who has been adopted into a family and then imagine one of that child's 'friends' whispering into his ear...'you are not good enough,you are an anti-intellectual fool,a silly little child flapping around in the shallow end of the pool imagining yourself part of a holy royal family but look at yourself.You might think you're acceptable standing there dressed in rags looking for all the world like a lame dead dog...you bring shame to the holy family!You can't get your own life sorted and yet you dare to imagine you will simply cruise in and sit at the King's table!If you weren't so tragic you'd be laughable!'....but God said....'WE will tell you what He said and what He means!'(Galatians 4:17 They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.)

Gee, that sounds awfully familiar.....

But what does GOD call us?

His Beloved, the Bride of His only son, friends and more than friends - SONS, the elect, a joint heir with Christ, the righteousness of God in Christ....

[MHGinTN]

BTTT

[Mark17]

Same here :-)

[metmom]

What's with the idea that God makes the down payment but we're responsible for the mortgage payments??? Don't they get it that it is WE who are the purchased and the Holy Spirit is given as God's guarantee that He will complete the deal?

That's a really good point/analogy.

If God puts down the down payment and guarantees the deal will go through, it HAS to, else God is a liar. If HE promised the rest is forthcoming, it is, and NOTHING can stop that.

People who claim otherwise are basically making God out to be a liar.

[terycarl]

I know. It’s beyomd me. The more I learn of catholicism the less it looks like MY CONCEPT OF Christianity.

I fixed that for you.

[Mark17]

In fact, if you are resting in Roman Catholic beliefs and doctrine, it its almost without the shadow of a doubt that you will rever cross into heaven, no matter how hard you try.

I would say that it is not just ALMOST WITHOUT THE SHADOW OF A DOUBT. It is COMPLETELY without the shadow of a doubt. Anyone who thinks they can work their way to Heaven, will be in for the most horrible shock their system could ever experience.
I just don't understand why members of works based religions, don't want God to save them, but would rather try to save themselves. The only things I can think of, are human pride and spiritual blindness. Is there anything else?

[boatbums]

Does anyone think God would default and go into foreclosure and LOSE His earnest payment? That’s the Holy Spirit we’re talking about!

And yes, it is calling God a liar when we don’t believe what He said in His word:

Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:10-12)

[ealgeone]

Always good to see you TC. Hope you’re well on this cold night.

[ealgeone]

This analogy of God putting the downpayment down is clearly expressed in the NT. Jesus was not only the downpayment, but the whole payment.

He's paid off the debt.

We either take God at His word or we don't.

This has been one of the best discussions in a while on this thread. Learned a lot of good stuff.

[Syncro]

You are sealed, your soul will always bear the indelible mark of Baptism

That is what Catholicism teaches, that Catholics are "branded" for life.

Not a Christian doctrine.

Here is God doing the sealing: [instead of a priest with a sprinkling of water (which is not even Biblical baptism.)]

King James Bible, Ephesians 1:13
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise

King James Bible, 2 Cor 1:22 [God} Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

There are examples of being sealed by God. "Indelible mark" of GOD

Any other "sealing" is extraBiblical and an usurping of God's domain of actions.

[mitch5501]

"Is there anything else?"

Many,I think,fall too easily into this boat..... "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God."...."For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." (Romans 10:3,4)

Hebrews 4:10 "For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his."

Hebrews 4:11 "Let us labour therefore (John 6:29) to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief."

[Mark17]

Always good to see you TC. Hope you're well on this cold night.

Cold, cold? Did someone say cold? 87 for a high today. 89 expected tomorrow. My air con bill is growing by leaps and bounds.

:-)

[Mark17]

Many,I think,fall too easily into this boat..... "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God."

LOL. Mitch, it looks like you and I are about the only ones left awake. I agree with you. People involved in works based religions, (WBR) ARE trying to establish their own righteousness.
Do you think I might be a little presumptuous, if I said, IT WON'T WORK? It might send them to a place they would rather not go.
You probably know, I was in a WBR at one time. That WBR will not be named, but I am glad the Navigators preached the truth to me.

:-)

[Elsie]

You probably know, I was in a WBR at one time.

Kinda like putting faith in chariots and horses...

[Mark17]

Yes, not a good place to put your trust.

[ealgeone]

Oh now that’s just wrong in so many ways! :)

[terycarl]

. Such is the fiery, awful fate of those who follow spurious, Satanically inspired false religions. They have been warned. It's on them.

We keep trying to warn you not to fall into satanically false MAN MADE religions, but you do it anyway.....sigh.

[terycarl]

Under Catholicism, I NEVER expected to make it to heaven. I wasn’t good enough and I knew it.

Nobody has EVER been "good enough" to make it to Heaven....you didn't pay attention during Catechism class again. We have a Redeemer because we need redeeming....ALL OF US, and Catholicism pointed out to you that YOU NEEDED IT TOO!!!!See how easy it is to understand

[terycarl]

I know. It’s beyomd me. The more I learn of catholicism the less it looks like Christianity.

If everyone gets to make up their own concept of what Christianity is, instead of following it from its beginning, you are right.....but we don't.

[terycarl]

One of the great things about this post is that all the scripture posted is clear, plain and easy to understand...None of it requires an interpretation and you don’t have to be an intellectual to get it...

Catholics have been telling you that for 2,016 years....finally catching on??