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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Are Reformed people lost souls? | 2 Pet 1:10 | John Reformed | 99489 | ||
Dear Noble, You wrote:"So I would like to reach out to our friends who use the name “Reformed”. I hope they would consider the possibility that they are not saved and that God is locking them into that position by deceiving them into thinking that they had been chosen to be saved. Their position seems to allow for that. I hope that that fear would lead them to ask God for mercy, that it be not so, and to trust him. He will yet respond to their faith." Rest easy. God Himself, through His Word and Spirit, assure me of my position in Christ. As to my reformed brethren, I would'nt worry about their position in Christ either if I were you. It seems unlikely that the founders of protestantism were all mis-led pagans! Imagine John Bunyon, who wrote "The Pilgrims Progress" a lost soul; Or John Newton who penned the lyrics for "Amazing Grace"; Martin Luther whose words broke the hold of the popes and translated the first Bible into the Language of the people; C.H. Spurgeon the English evangelist and preacher whose ministry was used of God to bring untold thousands to confess Christ; Martin Lloyd Jones; OR Jonathon Edwards and John Whitfield whose preaching on the sovereignty of God ignited the first great revival in colonial America: etc.etc. I wonder how much you know about "those who who use the name “Reformed"? I bear you no hard feelings Noble, but what you have written could not go unanswered John REFORMED |
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2 | Are Reformed people lost souls? | 2 Pet 1:10 | Aixen7z4 | 99490 | ||
Dear John: It was good to hear from you. When I logged in today and saw the notice, I was afraid we might have lost you. I supose we have all seen the notice, to wit, "NOTICE: Pushing one's denominational bias and engaging in debates, such as Calvinism/Arminianism, (is) strictly forbidden on this StudyBibleForum. Failure to comply may result in revocation of your privilege to post to this Forum". But now I am not sure I can respond to your question because I fear it will renew the debate and I myself may be a castaway. It was with a desire to end the debate that I made a call for reconciliation. I do believe that it is better to try to reconcile the two positions than to doggedly stand for either extreme. Now, if you cannot see the logic in the statement you have cut and pasted above, there is nothing more that I ccan say. If God is either irresistible or unapproachable, then my words are also likely to be incomprehensible. Two things more, or three, I hope are now allowable. First, you are correct that I do not know much about those who use he name “Reformed”. It is really not important to me, and I do fear that those who cling so tightly to such a label should have given that kind of attention only to Christ himself. It seems to be quite important to them and I wonder whether it is the object of their faith and their hope of salvation. Secondly, I was really not aware that Luther and Bunyon and Spurgeon were Calvinists. It may be that with further digging I will find that they were, but I do not think they said so, and I do not think it is worth the while to find out. I am more familiar with the modern proponents such as Harold Camping. He makes his stance quite obvious. The third point is the most important. I suppose that importance of personal salvation is so great that no one should despise the chance to reconsider it. Obviously, no one can determine whether another person is saved, but it seems strange to me that a person should become defensive when he has a chance to look again at his salvation experience. I welcome it. For me, salvation is personal and primary. It does not reassure me to associate myself with others then. I have to walk that valley all by myself. The BibleStudyForum is a good thing. I hope to see you there, discussing important topics such as personal salvation. It is my hope that the goal of each participant in each discussion would be reconciliation of the viewpoints and resolution of the issue. |
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3 | Are Reformed people lost souls? | 2 Pet 1:10 | Reformer Joe | 99497 | ||
Whoa. Harold Camping is a nut, a cultist, and not representative in the slightest of classical Reformed theology. If that is what you understand Reformed theology to be, no wonder it is so distasteful. Spurgeon and William Carey and Jhn Bunyan were Reformed. So were many of the writes of the hymns you sing every Sunday (Augustus Toplady, Isaac Watts, John Newton, etc.). Modern-day examples of Reformed teachers would include R.C. Sproul, Michael Horton, Alistair Begg, Sinclair Ferguson, John Armstrong, John Piper, John MacArthur, Al Mohler (the president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary), and James R. White. Reformed theology also does not minimize the value of introspection regarding one's salvation. The Puritans (who were Reformed) were champions of "self-examination." Whether or not you ultimately agree with a particular perspective is one thing. I think it is in one's best interest to at least understand the different perspectives within the wide range of Christian orthodoxy. --Joe! |
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4 | Are Reformed people lost souls? | 2 Pet 1:10 | Aixen7z4 | 99504 | ||
Dear Joe: It was good to hear from you. When I logged in today and saw the notice, I was afraid we might have lost you. I suppose we have all seen it, to wit, "NOTICE: Pushing one's denominational bias and engaging in debates, such as Calvinism/Arminianism, are strictly forbidden on this StudyBibleForum. Failure to comply may result in revocation of your privilege to post to this Forum". It was with a desire to end the debate that I made a call for reconciliation. I do believe that it is better to try to reconcile the two positions than to doggedly stand for one extreme. The same Bible which says, “No man can come to me …” also says, “Come unto me all …” and each of us says, “The Bible does not contradict itself”. It behooves us to resolve any apparent conflict in our own minds before attempting to convince another. If we say we are not attempting to convince but to glorify God then it may be that we are only glorifying our position. Again, I do not seem to know nearly as much as I might about those who use he name “Reformed” or about the “Reformed movement”. It do not feel the need to need to study it in depth any more than I feel the need to study Mormonism or Confucianism or any of the hundreds of other isms out there in depth. For one thing, there is not the time. And yet I can understand why it is so important to some people they would change their names to reflect it. I guess they would die for the cause. I can only say again that I think we should only feel that way about Christ himself. “I do fear that those who cling so tightly to such a label should have given that kind of attention only to Christ himself. It seems to be quite important to them and I wonder whether it is the object of their faith and their hope of salvation”. I am surprised to hear that they are also champions of introspection. I do not understand how someone who believes he has been predestined to believe what he believes can know whether what he believes is the truth. Again, one cannot logically believe in determinism. He cannot help himself. Whether is locked into salvation or damnation, he cannot know. Now, if someone cannot see the logic in that statement, there is nothing more that I can say. And again, if God is either irresistible or unapproachable, then my words are also likely to be incomprehensible. Again, I was really not aware that Luther and Bunyon and Spurgeon were Calvinists. Now I find out that the list is even longer. But it really does not matter. I would only note that I do not see Peter or Paul or James or John on that list. I am surprised that Harold Camping is not on the list and I think he would be surprised as well. He certainly seems to preach the doctrine. On the other hand I think John McArthur would be surprised to find himself on it. But it may be that I have not heard him say it and I have not followed him that closely. I must say that there is something about Reformer Joe and John Reformed that really impresses me. They sound like the same person! Indeed, I had to check again to whom I am responding to, and my response to the one seems to fit both. I think it should cause us all to ask ourselves if we might all be that indistinct as Christians. Or are we different from them but similar to others for the same reason. Do we each, and all, believe what we believe for the same reason that these two men do? The BibleStudyForum is a good thing and I hope that none of us is eliminated for breaking the rules. I hope to see you there, discussing important topics such as personal salvation and Christian unity. It is my hope that the goal of each participant in each discussion would be learning, sharing, changing, reconciliation of the viewpoints and resolution of the issues. My hope is that we would be followers, not of men or isms, but of Christ. |
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5 | Are Reformed people lost souls? | 2 Pet 1:10 | Reformer Joe | 99526 | ||
"It was good to hear from you. When I logged in today and saw the notice, I was afraid we might have lost you." Naw, I am a veteran. Guess I can just say that Jesus died and rose again. Anything more would be promoting "denominational bias"! ;) "It do not feel the need to need to study it in depth any more than I feel the need to study Mormonism or Confucianism or any of the hundreds of other isms out there in depth." Of course, the difference is that Mormonism and Confucianism fall outside of Christian orthodoxy. "Again, I was really not aware that Luther and Bunyon and Spurgeon were Calvinists. Now I find out that the list is even longer. But it really does not matter. I would only note that I do not see Peter or Paul or James or John on that list." Well, I would put them on there, but that would just "cause a stink," as my dearly departed grandmother would say. I merely made a list of the indisputable cases. "I am surprised that Harold Camping is not on the list and I think he would be surprised as well." Well, I could call myself a fire engine, but that wouldn't make me one... :) "On the other hand I think John McArthur would be surprised to find himself on it." No, he wouldn't. He speaks at Sproul's conferences every year and is a frequent contributor to _Tabletalk_ Magazine. He and Phil Johnson at Grace to You are big fans of the Puritans. "My hope is that we would be followers, not of men or isms, but of Christ." As is my hope. So I should reject both Roman Catholicism and Protestantism? :) --Joe! |
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