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What Is the Greatest of All Protestant “Heresies”?
Ligonier ^ | 10/3/18 | Sinclair Ferguson

Posted on 10/03/2018 7:21:05 AM PDT by SoFloFreeper

Let us begin with a church history exam question. Cardinal Robert Bellarmine (1542–1621) was a figure not to be taken lightly. He was Pope Clement VIII’s personal theologian and one of the most able figures in the Counter-Reformation movement within sixteenth-century Roman Catholicism. On one occasion, he wrote: “The greatest of all Protestant heresies is _______ .”

...How would you answer? What is the greatest of all Protestant heresies?

...What he wrote was: “The greatest of all Protestant heresies is assurance.”

A moment’s reflection explains why. If justification is not by faith alone, in Christ alone, by grace alone — if faith needs to be completed by works; if Christ’s work is somehow repeated; if grace is not free and sovereign, then something always needs to be done, to be “added” for final justification to be ours. That is exactly the problem. If final justification is dependent on something we have to complete it is not possible to enjoy assurance of salvation. For then, theologically, final justification is contingent and uncertain, and it is impossible for anyone (apart from special revelation, Rome conceded) to be sure of salvation. But if Christ has done everything, if justification is by grace, without contributory works; it is received by faith’s empty hands — then assurance, even “full assurance” is possible for every believer.

(Excerpt) Read more at ligonier.org ...


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KEYWORDS: bible; christianity; jesus; theology
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To: MrChips

Being God’s Co-Laborer (09/06/2007)

One day a minister got it into his head that he should give a sermon on being God’s co-laborer and he thought it should happen soon. So he got ahold of the fellow responsible for the bulletins and told him to change the next week’s printing.

It was really off the cuff but he really wasn’t worried, after all, it was a vast topic and he was only giving it one lesson.

That Sunday after servises he started reading and highlighting text. By late Monday he’d found enough scriptures to work with and so, after an elaborate dinner and a nap, he started writing.

Amazingly, he was done my early Tuesday morning and had found the last typo before the secretary even showed up.

As he reread the sermon again he was amazed at just how good it was.

It was certainly the best thing he’d ever written and the flow was such that it would be a joy to give.

“Here is one that will stand the test of time!” he congradulated himself.

Then he got a naughty thought: confirming that he was still alone he highlighted the text and had his Mac read it back to him (Macs can do that, it’s built into their OS).

The minister sat there soaking in his lesson and congradulated himself for a job well done!

But no sooner had the Mac stopped speaking and he heard it’s voice chime: “WOW! I never knew I had it in me!!!”

As the minister sat there, mouth agape, his computer’s word processor took credit for the sermon.

“You didn’t write that! I did!!!” the minister yelled at the screen, “How can you take credit for my work?!?”

“That,” a booming voice filled the whole room even as the lighting grew blazingly bright, “is pretty much what I was wondering about too.”


21 posted on 10/03/2018 7:43:49 AM PDT by Rurudyne (Standup Philosopher)
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To: the OlLine Rebel

I hear this often. While I am no homophile, I don’t see why a homo can’t be saved, in fact, we should all pray for that. “Continuing to live in sin”. Unfortunately, we all do. “We all fall short” our Sin is covered in His Grace. THis week has been a challenge in discriminating Righteous Indignation vs Hate. Righteous Indignation is a pretty delicate trick to pull off and best avoided by most of us.


22 posted on 10/03/2018 7:44:19 AM PDT by wastoute (Government cannot redistribute wealth. Government can only redistribute poverty.a pelvic exam.)
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To: SoFloFreeper

Ephesians tells us the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a “seal” and a “pledge” (ie. assurance and down payment) of our salvation. Why would God “save” someone he knows he is going to have to “un-save” in the future? It would make the thing a sham. Saving someone you know you are going to un-save down the road means they were never actually saved to begin with. It makes no sense.


23 posted on 10/03/2018 7:44:49 AM PDT by circlecity
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To: the OlLine Rebel

Jesus’ half-brother, James, had the same problem with “faith-only” and you do! Read his letter! It is really enlightening.

The point is you don’t HAVE to do anything for your salvation, except believe, BUT, if you really believe then you WILL DO things that show you are “keeping His commandments.”


24 posted on 10/03/2018 7:53:00 AM PDT by SubMareener (Save us from Quarterly Freepathons! Become a MONTHLY DONOR)
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To: metmom
God doesn’t lie.

When He says we are sealed with the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption, being the guarantee of our inheritance, He means it.

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. (Matt. 7:21)

God does not lie. When He says this, He means it.

25 posted on 10/03/2018 7:59:33 AM PDT by Petrosius
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To: the OlLine Rebel
It's not a "Protestant idea," it's part of scripture.

Sola Fide.

26 posted on 10/03/2018 8:01:59 AM PDT by OddLane
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To: the OlLine Rebel
My problem with the “Protestant” “faith-only” is that it means people can glibly fly in the face of God even while professing to “believe” and even “love” Him.

Uh, no. It's does not.

One lives his faith. Everyone does. If you stumble, it's because your faith stumbles. If you "glibly fly in the face of God," then you do not have the faith that saves.

27 posted on 10/03/2018 8:03:36 AM PDT by ShadowAce (Linux - The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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To: SoFloFreeper

Very excellent read. Thanks for posting.


28 posted on 10/03/2018 8:03:38 AM PDT by DC Bound (REBEL NOIR: http://www.claytonlindemuth.com/solomon-bull/)
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To: SoFloFreeper

This tread reminds me of the decline of the Byzantine Empire, when the Romans bickered and fought amongst themselves while the Ottomans conquered their territory bit by bit till only Constantinople was left.


29 posted on 10/03/2018 8:04:10 AM PDT by SoCal Pubbie
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To: OddLane

Yes to This!


30 posted on 10/03/2018 8:04:31 AM PDT by Big Red Badger (Despised by the Despicable!)
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To: wastoute

So are the disgraced former Cardinal McCarrick, and all those other priests guilty of sins against chastity, assured of salvation because of their faith, despite their intransigence in sin?


31 posted on 10/03/2018 8:05:12 AM PDT by Petrosius
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To: the OlLine Rebel
My problem with the “Protestant” “faith-only” is that it means people can glibly fly in the face of God even while professing to “believe” and even “love” Him.

We’re talking about real faith here, not lip service.

People who pay lip service to God and profess to be Chrisitans and have that kind of attitude are no Chrisitans.

Your comparison does not negate the security of the BELIEVER, the one who is born again by God, not the one who claims to be and has no fruit to show it.

32 posted on 10/03/2018 8:10:51 AM PDT by metmom ( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith......)
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To: Petrosius

That does not negate the security of the believer.


33 posted on 10/03/2018 8:14:45 AM PDT by metmom ( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith......)
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To: Petrosius

Their sn is not against chastity but against God.

And you tell us. They are your priests.


34 posted on 10/03/2018 8:16:25 AM PDT by metmom ( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith......)
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To: Petrosius
I wouldn't think many of the "leaders" of the Roman Catholic Church are assured of much.
35 posted on 10/03/2018 8:20:14 AM PDT by OddLane
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To: MrChips

LOL!


36 posted on 10/03/2018 8:26:51 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: PetroniusMaximus

No, taking up the cross is the result - it all starts with justification (which the law could never provide).

Without justification we are lost - and we cannot achieve (nor add too) justification.


37 posted on 10/03/2018 8:31:07 AM PDT by impactplayer
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To: DesertRhino

>>Catholicism is well designed to control humans here in earth. It i simply a non-hereditary monarchy. <<

Perhaps.

It may also be a structure within which people can reach God.

Some people are more comfortable with a structure. Chaos is not always to be applauded.


38 posted on 10/03/2018 8:31:17 AM PDT by freedumb2003 (Always believe women except: clinton rape, ellison assault, booker groping, ted kennedy murder)
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To: MayflowerMadam
You may possibly be misconstruing something? Ligonier is not a Catholic source and the origin of this discussion is not Catholic. The (Protestant) author would be the best person to as why he takes a Catholic cardinal seriously.

Caucus threads cannot discuss a group that is excluded from the caucus, so how do such threads "stirring up trouble", since they can only pertain to topics exclusive to whatever denomination is caucusing? There are both Catholic and Protestant caucus threads every day. Are only the Catholic caucus threads for stirring up trouble, in your estimation?

39 posted on 10/03/2018 8:39:35 AM PDT by Wyrd bið ful aræd ( Flag burners can go screw -- I'm mighty PROUD of that ragged old flag)
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To: ShadowAce

Which leads to comparisons to the “No True Scotsman” bit. Everyone stumbles, so everyone’s faith stumbles. Thus nobody has assurance.


40 posted on 10/03/2018 8:43:08 AM PDT by Wyrd bið ful aræd ( Flag burners can go screw -- I'm mighty PROUD of that ragged old flag)
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