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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | why was the thief saved without baptism? | Luke 23:43 | Hank | 129957 | ||
Karen, you ask how we can tell the difference between our presuppositions and scriptural truth? I sort of wish you hadn't asked! Your question is tough. It makes me think, and I don't like that. .... And I don't presume to have all the answers, or even most of the answers, to your question. Time has taught me a few important lessons, not the least of which are these two: the unwisdom, not to mention the futility, of trying to convert every person, or even every Christian, I meet to every doctrinal position that I hold. The second lesson is to stay keenly aware of the possibility, not to mention the foolishness, of pride trumping humility to the extent that one ceases to seek the Spirit's guidance and does it his way, becoming so fossilized in his thinking that he no longer can bear the thought that he may be wrong in certain of his interpretations of Scripture. In the quest for truth there is every reason to learn how to study Scripture and to study it long and hard; every reason to pray for divine guidance; every reason to avail oneself of the wisdom and insight that the Spirit bestowed upon godly men and women of ages past; but no earthly reason to build a system of theology upon one's own guesswork and speculation, or upon the guesswork and speculation of anyone else. The Bible does not answer man's every question, but it does answer what man needs to know in order to become a regenerate follower of Jesus Christ. But one of the problems the church has had to grapple with for 2,000 years is false doctrine: the human tendency to interpolate, expand upon, and base doctrines upon things that the Bible clearly doesn't teach. The "gray areas" of disagreement between Christian communions cannot be blamed on Scripture's lack of clarity but rather on man's lack of Bible knowledge and spiritual discernment, and on his unwillingness to accept God's word for what it says. Man loves to gussy up the plain gospel message with "user-friendly" dross; to dilute its power to convict sinners and feed the saints by sprinkling in a big dose of I'm-O.K.-you're -O.K. humanism. ..... But I still haven't answered your question, Karen. How do false teachers and those whom they're deceiving know they're wrong? I'm convinced that some don't know, don't want to know, and may never know. Others eventually may be led and come to a knowledge of the truth that is God's word. But not all. Universalism is not a biblical teaching by any means. Not everyone will be saved. ..... So there you have it, my answer to something or other...probably not your question :-) ...... How would you answer your question? --Hank | ||||||
2 | why was the thief saved without baptism? | Luke 23:43 | Hiskid84 | 129969 | ||
Greetings, Brother Hank. Thank you for a very insightful reply. I appreciate your truthfulness, clarity and humility. (Just don't let it go to your head) :) You ended your post with the question, "How would you answer your question?" Why, I would borrow your answer, of course! "Your question is tough. It makes me think, and I don't like that." (Is this beginning to feel like a game of "gotcha last"?) Seriously, you did a wonderful job. There's not really anything I can think of to add. Your guidelines in the quest for truth were right on. Your comment, "Man loves to gussy up the plain gospel message with "user-friendly" dross; to dilute its power to convict sinners and feed the saints by sprinkling in a big dose of I'm-O.K.-you're -O.K. humanism" reminded me of something my pastor said in his sermon last week. In preaching on Ephesians 3:7-12, and specifically on grace as it was exhibited in Paul's life, he was showing some of the ways that God's grace has become less than amazing in today's modern world. We must have an accurate understanding of our fallen state. God gives grace to the humble--humility comes through comparison of our true selves to the holiness of God. (Sorry my sermon notes are a little choppy) Then he made this statement, "We need to stop trying to get people saved and get people lost." Hopefully you'll make the connection. Thanks again for putting thought and effort into your reply. Your sis, Karen |
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