Posted on 07/22/2007 7:40:38 PM PDT by xzins
Steyn is far too good to have come out of the American public school system. As it turns out, he didn’t.
Good for him; he has the perspective that a navel gazing nation often doesn’t have. I enjoy his writing, his world view, and especially his prose, and I get far too little of it.
Thank you.
It’s not that big a deal.
Relax. Have a marshmallow.
If I might differ with you on one small aspect of society. We do pay inordinate amount of attention to something that is of supreme indifference. Sports.
I live in an area where we have Cubs fans, Cardinal fans, Bears fans, Blues fans, and Black Hawk fans. I grew up in an area where we had Leafs fans, Blue Jays fans, Tiger Cat fans, Argonaut fans, Saber fans and Bills fans.
We fought emotionally over those when I was young. I am actually amused by the locals here who think that .500 clubs in first place are worthy of note.
I’ve apologized twice.
Three times doesn’t bother me. I screwed up that post, not intentionally, Dr. E, but I apologize once again.
I'll meet you halfway: sports, in and of themselves, are not of great importance. Granted. But, the reason people argue about them because they care. As for why they care, I don't know. :)
In my search for salvation, I researched all the Eastern religions, I did not find a Loving God in any of them...When I was called by the Ru'ach Hakodesh, I was not called to any denomination. I was called to the Word of G-d...In Christianity, I realized Paganism was introduced in the second century and third century and Paganism was codified into Christianity in the fourth century and beyond...
Thank you for your unsolicited opinions, but you are still not answering my question, which required a simple Yes or a No.
What's the difference? It's all be pre-determined in the reformed theology.
So any doctrine is okay, as long as we call on Christ as our Savior? That is an ecumenical pearl, x-zins.
Depends on the situation. Sometimes you are served choices that make your enemy look like a "good guy." There are people who are so far to the left, Hillary appears like a right-wing extremist next to them! If they were running, then even Hillary might not look so bad (how low can we stoop....?).
I’m not the one who calls sinners to repentance, kosta. That would be Jesus. You need to take this one up with Him.
The point, kosta, is that it is possible to both have choice and be unable to choose in favor of someone.
Yes, what a good thing. We should ALL repent for our sins.
I agree that we've talked about this before, and I think that back then I acknowledged that many verses could be taken either way. I've never done a count so I don't know what the majority is. I just say that there are BOTH judgments.
The simple fact remains that this idea really doesn't follow the Scriptures. Men are judged based on how they utilize the graces from God. No, they don't earn anything, because NO ONE can say "look what I done by myself".
To me this still seems like a 180 degree contradictory statement. In the second sentence you say that men are judged for salvation on what they do. In the third sentence you say no one earns anything for salvation because of what he did. You can have one or the other, or neither, but you cannot have both. :)
But it is very clear that we are to obey commandments and we are subsequently judged FOR HEAVEN OR HELL based on our following God's will.
And yet you just finished telling me that we do not merit entry into Heaven. Perhaps the entire concepts of "merit" or "earning" or "works" have theological meanings that appear no where in dictionaries. That must be the case since I have never been able to even follow this line of reasoning. :)
[From Luke 13:24-30: (with commentary)] Strive to enter in at the narrow gate; (ouch, that hurts the "God does everything" idea, doesn't it?) ...
Not at all. The Bible was written FOR us, not FOR God. "God doing everything" includes His putting those words there so that someday I will read them and be motivated to follow them. We humans need motivation and God uses different methods of accomplishing that. A large amount of that is contained in the encouragements and teachings we get in the Bible.
[continuing] ... for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in and shall not be able.
True, false believers exist and will be turned away at the end. OTOH, true believers have already had their places made in Heaven by Christ Himself. (John 14:2-3)
No, that is illogical. If you are unable to choose than you have no choice. I would not vote for Hillary because of what she stands for. So mine is a conscious and willful decision not to vote even though the choice is there (and I am actually exercising my election by willfully refusing her!). As I said, if there was another candidate who was so far to the left that she appeared like a right-wing extremist in comparison, then I might opt to vote for her as a better of two evils.
Likewise, what stops us from coming to Christ? Ignorance is one. Those who never heard of Him or who have been prejudiced against Him in another faith will willfully refuse to come to Him. Those who have been made aware of Him and heard the Gospel and then refuse do so on their own will and choosing. God's grace is offered to everyone. Those who refuse it do so willingly and not because they can't choose.
In order for a choice to be valid, there has to be a free will to make a choice. Otherwise it is not an election.
Christ did not say: "believe anything you like; as long as you call on My name it's okay."
Then EXPLAIN why we are saying it?
Paul is distinguishing between salvation at point of belief and salvation at entry into Heaven
And lots of things can happen on the way to Paradise. People change thgeir travel plans.
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
What does that mean? Is God saying "Hello, FK, I testify to you that you are My (adopted) son?" Of course not! You think you are. You might even say that you "feel" you are. You may even say that you know you are, but you have no proof of anything—to borrow one FReeper's term "you got nothin'." By what means does God "testify" that you, specifically, are His son?
Don't get me wrong: the verse sure sounds good. But that's not what faith is about, is it?
That's not correct. Paul was encouraging us to not become slackers during the race we run during life
No, he was apparently at times preaching the exact opposite of what Christ preachesd. Like his famous saying "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." [2 Thess 3:10].
Yet the Gospel tells us "not to worry" because the "Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." [Mat 6:32-33]
Of course He does! He is not partial. Does not the sun shine on the pious and impious?
God, from eternity, after the council of his own will, and for the manifestation and exaltation of his glorious attributes, decreed all that he would do in time and to eternity, in creation, in the government of his creatures, and in the salvation of sinners of the human race; yet so that he is not the author of sin nor constrains the will of his creature in its actions (a). The decree of God depends not in the least upon the creature nor upon the foreknowledge of God himself; on the contrary, God knows that certain things will be, because he has decreed that they should be (b). God's decree is infinitely wise (c), and perfectly just (d); eternal (e), free (f), comprehensive (g), secret (h), gracious (I), holy (j), good (k), unchangeable (l), and effectual (m)...
12. On the Election of Grace. God from eternity elected and appointed Christ to be the covenant head, mediator, and surety of his church, to redeem and save it (a). God elected also in Christ a great multitude, which no man can number, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation, to holiness and eternal life (b) : and appointed all the means necessary to accomplish this end (c). This election is eternal (d), righteous (e), sovereign (f), unconditional (g), particular or personal (h), and unchangeable (I). The election of grace wrongs no one : though God in righteousness left some persons unpredestinated, yet, he did them no injustice; they are in the same condition in which they would have been, if there had been no election; and if there had been no election of grace, no flesh would have been saved (j).5. Of God's Decree.
I like it.
And who doesn't like George Whitefield? His sermons were terrific...
Was God "partial" to the Israelites?
Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen. For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring" -- Isaiah 44:1-3"Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen:
Protestants forget why we left Rome.
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