if your eyes are truly opened, you would never deny it, knowing what the opposite will give you.
Daily you violate the Ten Commandments, as do I. Read the interpretation Jesus gives on them, pretty insane to follow them. as I wrote elsewhere, God removes the scales from our eyes and we have no good choice but to follow him. This is what people call effectual calling.
To answer this, you can see my other comments in this thread. But there’s responsibility from man alone for man’s sin. God effectually calls people to himself. It’s not to say you don’t have to choose or it’s on you to choose. It’s more like this, God opens your eyes in such a way, that the only reasonable choice is belief in him. The effectual call is the removing of the scales from your eyes. This is why people who generally most vehemently oppose biblical beliefs don’t read the Bible, won’t hear out your arguments, and don’t care.
This is a position that many get wrapped around the wheel needlessly.
Man is sinful beyond self-salvation. The idea of total depravity can actually be pretty easily seen in the Bible. See here how God hardened the heart of Pharaoh, maybe the idea of the how is not explained, but the why is. So the how shows us that God didn’t make Pharaoh evil, he was already evil, but God had removed his restraining hand from pharaoh’s heart that allowed him to become much more evil very quickly, why? Because man (apart from God) is (louder for the people in the back!) totally depraved.
Romans 9:15-23
*[15] For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” [16] So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. [17] For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” [18] So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
[19] You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” [20] But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” [21] Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? [22] What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, [23] in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—*
More examples would be when the Bible says, he gave them over to the desires of the flesh.
If I’m wrong, then you by default say that God made these people sin, but the Bible says and God says that God cannot make you sin, he only puts you through tests with a way to escape.
No, and having no argument isn’t worthy of this board. I have taken great pains to answer each and any question or to refute comments such as this, but this? This is laziness belief.
Here’s the problem with Catholicism, and what makes it hard. The hard part is that 99% of Catholicism is fine, very little issues. The problem I have is the 1% problem is a snow ball effect into an avalanche. There are things that the pope can say (I know not everything, but particular times in history) that can be counted to be worthy of the same honor as God’s word (the Jews to the same with the Talmud).
“Praying to the Saints” meaning asking a saint to pray for you, like you would ask a friend to pray for you is also wrong. The Bible isn’t unclear on this.
3 examples:
Saul, a necromancer, and Samuel (post death). Saul calls up Samuel’s spirit to ask him to ask God for wisdom in an upcoming battle, Samuel instead punishes him for the use of the necromancer and tells him why God won’t speak to him through the prophets.
The story of Lazarus where the one who wronged him wanted to save himself, was denied, said at least let me tell my family, and it is said, if they will not believe the prophets, will they believe you?
Isaiah 8:19
[19] And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living?
“Specially of those that believe”
I means, it’s right there that should cause you doubt and questions as to what you are saying. Romans 8, Ephesians 1 have this pesky word called “predestination” in which God has destined before it happens, that some will be saved and some will not. Romans 2 speaks heavily on God’s judgement against sinful men. In fact, the Bible has so many references to not all men being saved, starting as far back as Genesis 6, I could make a nearly infinite case. What’s more, Jesus speaks more about hell than anyone else in the Bible. To deny hell and deny God’s holy attribute of Justice is heresy, not the belief in it (called TULIP)
I think the difference it makes in your day to day life is big. When properly understood, you should have deep peace that isn’t shaken by current events/ disasters, you will find it easier to forgive those who have wronged you. You will be more rooted in your faith, not finding that every headline reading “We have proven the Bible isn’t true is…” which never seem to add up to anything, but people get worried or spun up. God cannot be canceled like the left is so found of doing. So it is mainly a change of perspective, which can do many people much good.
Define for all. Available to all? Are all forgiven? Are there any destined for hell besides demons and the devil? The Bible supports one of two theories in my opinion:
Salvation is available to every person but not given to every person (regardless of “sinfulness”)
Every sin is forgiven (to ward of God’s impending wrath immediately) but not everyone is given Jesus’s acts of obedience.
I agree. I also believe the theology of TULIP because it helps to ease the explanation of the “how” it works out. Blessed are those who have believed and not seen.
Both head and heart knowledge are required, if you love God, you ought to desire to know him through the normal means (the Bible and experience as a secondary). If God converts your heart and you never attend a Bible study, who am I to say you won’t be saved, the thief on the cross is a perfect example against that idea actually (may be one of the most interesting stories of salvation apart from the wonder of salvation even being possible). But consider the parable of the seeds, if you ride up quickly with no roots, a storm may take you away. We must be well grounded in the truth. I do agree that it is easy to only focus on one or the other.
So there’s a 2 answers (that I know of) to that question, without knowing God’s thoughts, I can’t guarantee an answer (not to say these are 💯 correct, just the most feasible answer I know of):
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Christ’s death is for all the world, meaning no nation is exempt from salvation (no longer tied to only the Israel)
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All sins of all mankind are forgiven, which voids God’s immediate anger from eviscerating them here and now, but Christ only gives his perfect following of the law to those he has chosen. This is because not only is sinlessness required, but also active obedience. The Ten Commandments are not just negative commands, but there are positive commands required of you, see Jesus’ own explanation of a few of the Ten Commandments.
There are many places in the Bible when it speaks of those NOT saved, those not taken up to “Abraham’s bosom” meaning salvation is limited. Look up also “the book of life” throughout the Bible as well.
Much brotherly love to all fellow Christians and even non-Christians, I know not each person’s end.
If you believe the Bible, there are a number of passages on “the names in the book of life” or how “God predestined those he chooses to save” and a number of other VERY obvious cues of “elect” people. The OT shows this as a whole, where God had a chosen nation, with a few outsiders grafted in, provided they were fully enveloped in levitical laws. That is a foreshadowing of people into heaven. God pulls in His chosen people, no longer a race, but those who love him and worship him through Jesus his son, our savior (without him, we would have no “legal” access to God).
I completely agree. TULIP is meant to drive against catholic theology of man based salvation with an assist from Jesus. This absolutely does not absolve us of responsibility. 👍
Yes, so imagine someone was exactly opposite of you, constantly slapping you in the face by their lifestyle choices and remarks. This goes on for decades, you would be pissed and hate them likely. You’d find a way to get away and denounce their personhood at least in your heart of hearts.
We are the same to God. He made us in his own image, yet daily we violate his precepts, we dishonor him, and we don’t even acknowledge our wrongdoing. This rightfully should incur God’s wrath. He instead gave his son for our salvation, and commands us to forgive much, for we have been forgiven much.
Imagine looking to a high mountain or into a deep valley, thinking of the heights as morality. People who have lived an honorable life up high and those degenerate people at the bottom. God views us from the distance of the sun, none of us obtain that level of righteousness, we all fall short, so if God can save a righteous man, then saving the sinner at the bottom is no more difficult for him. It’s not much further than the distance he already traveled. So therefore, go and do likewise.
That being said, God forgives sins, but does not promote them, he calls us to a new way of life, we ought to do that when we forgive others, we’re not commanded to be door mats.
Earthly justice needs to be done for those deeds. Genesis 3 demands accountability. But remember Genesis 1, we are also created in God’s image. That doesn’t neglect violating the law. Hence the need for justice.
What is you foundation for truth?
If you believe the Bible and hold to faith in God as he has expressed himself through that word, then TULIP is essential. It’s not a new idea (meaning post Bible times), but a summary. God commands that his people meet together, sing songs, pray, and worship him. To build each other up, and to know His Word so that we may answer those who ask.
TULIP uses biblical texts that are ideas littered throughout the Bible, not one off obscure commands for a specific time. To say TULIP is evil undercuts the whole idea of TULIP. Which is that God is good, we are evil. We need to be made good, so we need to try (out of thanksgiving to God for His grace) to do good. It should make us the most joyful, loving, and forgiving people in human history when we truly understand it.
To partially understand it / wrongfully (in a selfish manner), we pervert it. Perverting an ideology then calling it evil is intellectually dishonest.
No theology has it right 100%, because the wisdom of God is far above the wisdom of man. This leads to humility. I think God has cast in some ways a very wide net of salvation, in that you must believe in Jesus, accept his death on the cross for a complete atonement of our sins, and seek thereafter to live a godly and holy life. Not perfectly, but with conviction and heartfelt sincerity to follow him.
a common view from well meaning Christians (Reformed) is something called loser theology, where they seem to think that God commands you to be a loser, I think that this is a major hold back for what is the closest true view of Christianity. If you hold that view, you hold back people from their true potential thus violating God’s commands. You aren’t fruitful. Outside of this point, I think reformed theology hits the nail on the head. Our debt from sin, the covering of sin through Jesus, the sobriety and reality of our situation outside of faith in Jesus etc.
This seems like a nice and pleasant idea, the inner child. But it discounts the fact that we are born in sin and prone to do evil. Not doing evil requires God’s grace, we cannot look within ourselves to find good.
Proof of this is simple, find a toddler who has not been taught to be selfish, they will be selfish with their toys
Mike Johnson
More like
Big Mike’s johnson
The amount of fire around him assumes he had used a chemical agent to speed along the incipient and growth stage of the fire. To reach fully involved at fastest speed. The human body can survive quite a bit, so I’m sure he was in pain longer than he thought, sad really. Suicide never achieves the ends the suicidal person desires and only hurts those around them, which is generally not the idea. The statement gets lost in grief from those who care, and by massive information fed by news corporations, most people will forget the why.
Thanks
It doesn’t matter. At this point, if you aren’t willing to be a Trump, you’re a Traitor.
What I mean is simple, Public Servants are just that, servants to the public. Far too many politicians are getting high on the hog of tax payer money, and making decisions that benefit themselves. I don’t care if they threaten you, publicize it like Matt Gaetz did. Make their threats obvious to the general public, so that if it happens, the people know who did it, but most importantly, keep records of the criminal activity performed by a criminal government.
They are evil. They are corrupt.
If a politician is going to “give you what you want” then you will fall for the “left vs right” fight, instead of seeing the good vs evil fight we are in.
We are in a battle for the soul of this nation, this is no time for fair weather conservatives. We need men and women ready to take a stand, to die if necessary, for the preservation of the nation. That being said, those people should take EVERY precaution to not die, to not be assassinated, nor to let their health fail. The battle ahead is a fierce one, do not be lazy, this is not the time for that. Ready your heart and soul, so that you are ready for the day, the day we pray will never come.
This is also a spiritual battle, we are truly battling Satan and his host, if you don’t believe that, I don’t know how to paint a clearer picture than what is going on all around us. This is the time to lift high the cross of Jesus and cast away wickedness in favor of righteousness. If you fall, we all do, pray for forgiveness, and more importantly, strength. God bless you brother, and God bless the US of A
I aM sO sHoCkEd AnOtHeR aMeRiCaN pOlItIcIaN iS a FaGgOt!
Think of looking out in the world, mountains and valleys (of righteousness and wickedness).
We look at a horizontal line comparing mankind with themselves.
When you compare mankind to God, it’s like viewing the earth from the sun, the mountains and valleys appear the same.
To attain heaven, you must have righteousness that is as high as the sun, not high mountains.
If you can’t do it, you deserve hell and death, but no matter how high the mountain or low the valley, Christ can cover that distance.
You have to laugh at the absurdity of it, then ban them. If you can no longer laugh at the absurdity, take a break.