I’ve always found you to be sincere and a true FRiend here. In real life, I know I’d enjoy having a beer and cooking out burgers with you and your family. :-) You love Christ and think and I appreciate our friendship on FR, even though we disagree on things outside the Creeds. We do agree on virtually everything that is core. Our differences make our conversation enjoyable. Oddly enough, I'd have said exactly the same thing except that like my theology, my beer must have substance:
... The blessing of the Reformation is that salvation by faith in the Gospel of Grace was restored. It is too much to think all other theological issues would be resolved at the same time. The following centuries allowed a reexamination of the complete record of Holy Scripture in a systematic way. Obviously, the rise in literacy and movable type helped spread a love of God’s Word. Amazingly, this is still happening. I have friends with Wycliffe who continue to translate His Word into several tribal languages in a muslim country. Many have already come to trust and know Christ.
Actually, salvation follows from faith in God, not specifically in the Scriptures. The Scriptures are the map; the map is not the reality. God is. Scriptures describe God. They are not God. Jesus is the Word. Scriptures are the word. Note the emphasis.
... The Church is described as the pillar and foundation of faith - as it should always be. We only disagree on what that statement means when it uses the word, “church”. :-)
The line of bishops that can be traced back to the Apostles and their flocks constitute the Church. That's how Paul meant it and how we mean it today.
... In addition, Paul and Peter right that God gave teachers to the Church. That doesn’t provide any believer with cover to not know God’s Word. It does keep the Church on track theologically.
Correct. One must understand the Scriptures, but not wander far afield. I liken it to mastering driving a car - one must still drive between the lines.
... which part? The calling of Christians saints, or the part about no Christian being dead? Or some other thought...?
The reference to specific saints here on Earth are Moses and 1st century Jews in Jerusalem, as far as I know. Now, the saints in Heaven are those who are saved. Who do they number? I don't know.
We’re finally having a Great Day of Global Warming here - nice enough to have our first cook out! I still hope to snag some great beachfront property when the Oceans rise enough to create a new shoreline.
We are 82 feet above the nominal level of the Mississippi. If we are flooded out, then we may as well write off the entire Midwest.
MarkBsnr,
"Oddly enough, I'd have said exactly the same thing except that like my theology, my beer must have substance:"
...Right on. Right on.
" Actually, salvation follows from faith in God, not specifically in the Scriptures. The Scriptures are the map; the map is not the reality. God is. Scriptures describe God. They are not God. Jesus is the Word. Scriptures are the word. Note the emphasis."
...Right on. Right on. When I use the phrase, Gospel of Grace, I am not referring to one of the Gospels, but to the good news of salvation via the grace of God (the gracious provision of complete payment for the penalty of our sins and our sin). When I used the word "faith", I am using it in the Biblical way, meaning to entrust oneself to something.
...This does remind me of a good story... As WWII broke out, a young couple faced the terrible prospect of being in love, but apart during the young man's time overseas. "I'll write to you every single day until I'm back", he said. "And when I return, we'll marry."
"And I'll wait for the mail every day and write back to you!" she promised.
And so it was. There wasn't a night during the three years he fought in Europe that he didn't take time to jot her even just one sentence. She was just as faithful, waiting each day for the mailman to bring her those letters and pick up her own.
After the war ended, he counted the days until he reached our shores again. Within days of docking, he made his way back to his home town and to her door.
When she answered the door, he could tell from here eyes that something terrible was wrong between them. "But I wrote every day!" he cried. "Yes, and I read every letter.... but in waiting every day for the mail, I fell in love with the mailman and we are now married!"
...In that short story, I've often thought that Protestants have been most in danger of falling in love with the mail, instead of the Author. I've also felt Catholics are most in danger of falling in love with the Postal department - from the Postmaster down each level to the local deliveryman - instead of the Author.
...Instead, only The Bridegroom is worthy of our love. He isn't interchangeable with another.
"Correct. One must understand the Scriptures, but not wander far afield. I liken it to mastering driving a car - one must still drive between the lines."
...Right on. Right on.
"The reference to specific saints here on Earth are Moses and 1st century Jews in Jerusalem, as far as I know. Now, the saints in Heaven are those who are saved. Who do they number? I don't know. "
...Nine times in Ephesians, Paul addresses his readers as saints (Eph. 1:1, 15, 18; 2:19; 3:8, 18; 4:12; 5:3; 6:18). These saints were LIVING IN EPHESIS, NOT DEAD, though they had been “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1–3). You could also take a look at: Acts 9:13, 32, 41.
...I hope you have a nice rest of your Lord's Day.