Results 1 - 4 of 4
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Basis of election and predestination? | Eph 1:5 | DocTrinsograce | 197279 | ||
Hi, NC... You wrote, "I arrive at my own personal theology through Scriptures apart from any theological school of thought." With all due respect: Scary! Everyone is a theologian, regardless of whether they realize it or not. We all have grids by which we interpret things around ourselves, attempting to organize our impressions into patterns that make sense to us. We may not always be conscious of the process, but it is always there. So, the real question is not how to avoid theology, but whether the theology we have is good (aligns with the Word) or bad (aligns with something else). You see, man was created to perceive (Gen 2:20 and implied elsewhere) and to effect change (2:15); but not to interpret. They were made to always receive the proper interpretation from the Lord Himself (2:16-18), for that's what God does for man before the fall. This is visible today, for we do not live by facts -- we live by the interpretation of facts. God created man to live by God's interpretation of the facts (Dt 8:3). (We could spend a lot of time tracing that thought through from Adam, Cain, Abraham, Isaac, Israel, Joseph, Moses, etc. However, given your familiarity with the Bible, I'll leave that discussion tacit.) The problem arises when an alternative interpretation is introduced (Gen 3:4-5). Today we are bombarded by countless alternative interpretations (another topic rife with fruit for further discussion)! Most we reject, but many we embrace, whether we realize we have done so or not. Thus, it's naive and unbiblical to assert that human beings are simply tabulae rasae; and presumptuous to think we can erase bias in ourselves (Job 15:31). Deception has many sources: Satan (Rev 2:9), people (Col 2:8), and our own heart (Jam 1:26); indeed, our heart is the most deceitful thing in creation (Jer 17:9). God knows these things, of course. God's eternal purpose might be summarized by Paul's imagery of a temple built without hands (Eph 2:20-22; cf 1 Cor 3:9-11). In the process of building that temple, He lays the cornerstone (Eph 2:20b; Is 28:16; Luke 20:17-18), for the rest of the building, God has chosen to use people. Laying that foundation, He solves (Eph 1:19-20) two problems: (1) people who are dead in sin are brought to life (2:1, 5); and people who are separated are brought together (2:11-13). This incredible work of God is effected through the efforts of each Person of the Godhead. Since God has accomplished all this -- i.e., its a "done deal" -- Paul calls us to live in concert with that accomplished work (4:1-4). He explains that the unity has roots in a creedal set of "ones" (4:4-6) -- what a wonderful list! Therefore, He performs these wonderful works, and then follows up by giving us gifts: life and unity (per above), one another (4:1-3), the Holy Spirit (4:4), and grace (4:7). What is more, Christ's atonement also effects the granting of some very special gifts just for us: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers! See, God doesn't want us to be "children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes." (4:14b ESV) You wrote, "...you seem eager to pass along your Reformed beliefs to others." To paraphrase Hamlet, "Seems, sir! nay, it is; I know not 'seems.'" "Eager" doesn't come close! The Word "is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot" (Jer 20:9b). What else can I do but speak what I have heard (Act 4:20). If I do not preach the good news, I am accursed (1 Cor 9:16)! Spurgeon said, "The old truths that Calvin preached, that Augustine preached, is the truth that I preach today, or else I would be false to my conscience and my God. I cannot shape truth; I know of no such thing as paring off the rough edges of a doctrine. John Knox's gospel is my gospel. And that gospel which thundered through Scotland must thunder through England again." I'm not near the man Spurgeon, yet the same onus that rested upon him rests upon me. My Sovereign Lord God, did all of the stuff above for you, NC, and the other believers who read this forum. When you love Christ, you can do nothing else but love His sheep! What is left, then, but to tend them to the best of our ability! You wrote, "I have likewise studied the doctrines of grace, and find a good portion of them offensive." That doesn't anger me in the least, NC. On the contrary, I'm delighted. The truths that trouble us the most are usually the truths that the Holy Spirit is seeking to instill, though the crushing process is often unpleasant (Luke 20:18)! I don't want to persuade you. No, indeed, I don't want that at all. Indeed, I'd just as soon that, in the long run, you forget old Doc! I pray that the Holy Spirit will instill His truth into your mind, emotions, and actions, to your benefit and to God's glory! In Him, Doc |
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2 | Basis of election and predestination? | Eph 1:5 | New Creature | 197283 | ||
Doc I am happy that you have found great solace in the Doctrines of grace. I hope you're just as happy for me that I find my solace in allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and guide me through the Scriptures, now that I have studied the doctrines men present on both ends of the spectrum of theology and have found them lacking in many various ways. Peace to you NC |
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3 | Basis of election and predestination? | Eph 1:5 | DocTrinsograce | 197286 | ||
Hi, NC... You're a quick reader! I wish I could write that fast! A few questions more, if you please. Given what I've written, these questions are critical to both of us, and I don't ask them lightly. After all, we can't both be right -- and I'm assuming we agree that God is rational. (1) By what criteria do you determine that these doctrines are only of men? (2) Given your quick dismissal of Ephesians 4, on what basis does one determine that he/she is being "led and guided" by the Holy Spirit through the Scriptures? Finally, (3) Could you speculate about why the Holy Spirit has chosen to specially lead you, while leaving some 2000 years of pastors and teachers with their inadequate "spectrum of theology?" Did they lack diligence, sincerity, learning, or godliness? In Him, Doc |
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4 | Basis of election and predestination? | Eph 1:5 | New Creature | 197296 | ||
Doc I purposely kept my response short because it is evident from your replies that you would like to convince me that Reformed teaching and what you describe as "The Doctrines of Grace" is without any fault. Now if thats what you want to believe, then fine. I have studied those same doctrines along side the Scriptures and I personally believe those doctrines which you cherish are not entirely compatable with Scripture. At the same time I prefer not to get into a long drawn out discussion on Reformed doctrine. It's not a matter of which of us is right. The only thing that matters is the fact that Scripture is right. The criteria I use for determining truth from error is Scripture. I don't attempt to make my theology line up with Scripture, I allow Scripture to form my theology. While God has placed many good teachers within the body, we still need to be good Berean's and search the Scriptures daily to see whether or not what we read and hear from men is indeed true (Acts 17:11). The Holy Spirit alone is called the Spirit of truth (Jn 14:17; 15:26). The Holy Spirit guides all those whom He indwells, not just me. (Jn 14:26; 16:13) and leads each genuine believer who trust in Him into a gradual unfolding of the truth. 1 John 2:27 And as for you, the anointing which ye received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any one teach you; but as his anointing teacheth you; concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, ye abide in him. My theology wasn't formed all at once. It came gradually and painstakingly, line upon line, and by holding up the Scriptures as my final authority for all faith and practice. Today we have the priesthood of every genuine believer (1 Pet 2:5,9) along with all it's entiltlement. Lastly, I agree the men of the past who formed various schools of theology were sincere. However sincerity doesn't guarantee absolute truth. I am not here to defend or support them. I intend to defend the Scriptures. Paul was especially able to state that the gospel which he preached did not come from man, but was received and passed along from him to us by Divine revelation: Gal 1:11 For I make known to you, brethren, as touching the gospel which was preached by me, that it is not after man. Gal 1:12 For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ. I don't understand why you want to draw my attention away from the Scriptures to devote my attention to the words of men which I have already studied quite intensely in the past. They don't fully line up with Scripture and in some respects can mislead the undiscerning who are not trusting in Sola Scriptura as their final authority. Why did the Reformers cry Sola Scriptura if what they really meant was Sola Scriptura whenever it agrees with the Doctrines of Grace, Westminister Confession, TULIP etc? Ok I better stop here before I too carried away. Peace NC |
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