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 | Are Reformed people lost souls? | 2 Pet 1:10 | Aixen7z4 | 99662 | ||
It is a matter of personal redemption. We are a part of group. Human beings. Males. Females. Rich. Poor. Educated. Uneducated. Tall. Short. And sometimes the Bible seems to put us into classes. Jews. Gentiles. The Church. Them that are without. The just. The wicked. They that are wise. But also, we are individuals. Every man shall give account of himself to God. We are to bear one another’s burdens. But each man shall ear his own burden. It may be that this is an issue worth considering at this point, and potentially, elsewhere. The influence of the group is strong. We are born into families, into society, and all of it seems sometimes to be arrayed for one purpose, to get us socialized. We are pressured into conforming, and those who accede are given desirable consequences; a sense of belonging, approval, promotions. Those who resist those pressures are faced with severe consequences. Ostracism. Ridicule. Prison. Within the family and within the church similar pressures are exerted on the individual to conform. Adherence to group norms is rewarded with social reinforcements: smiles, pats of the back, words of praise from the platform, applause. We are each a part of some group, maybe of many groups at once. But sometimes we are alone. “We” shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. But “every man” shall give account of the deeds done in the body. “They” were judged before the great white throne, but it is “whosoever” that was cast into the lake of fire. The church is a wonderful institution and the fellowship and sharing are God’s design. But God is not granting group salvation. It is individual. All those who are in Christ will be saved (are saved) but it is the individual who is added to the body of Christ. It is not even two by two, as with the animals entering Noah’s ark. It is one by one. Many statements are made in scripture about groups of people because they are found doing the same thing. There are “those” who repent and “those” who refuse. There are “those” who believe and “those” who don’t. So, in some sense it does matter what group we belong to. But we become a part of that group because of our personal response. In the end, God will hold us personally responsible. And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. Let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; and ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's. |
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2 | Are Reformed people lost souls? | 2 Pet 1:10 | John Reformed | 99676 | ||
Dear Noble, Deut 7:6 "For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. Your main premise "It is a matter of personal redemption" is quite true, but the question remains...Are we chosen by God because He foresaw our believing, or, is it that we believe because of His forechoosing? We appear to differ on the answer to this very important question. Thank God tht being right or wrong here does not exclude either one of us from salvation itself. Both views are within the pale of orthodoxy. Faith alone in Christ alone is the soul evidence of our status as new creatures in Christ. I wondered, as I read your post, if you were laboring under the mistaken notion that the "reformed" believe that they alone are among God's elect. I assure you (if indeed that is what you thought) we do not! We simply believe that God has chosen (elected) from every tribe and nation a people that He gives to His Son. The individual personnaly believes because he has been chosen, he is not chosen because he believed. This doctrine has been unpopular as long as it has been in existance. I understand that. It flies in the face of man's desire to determine his own destiny. It seems unjust (to many christians) that God would choose to have mercy on some but harden others. The problem, as I see it, is that this principle of the freedom of the Potter to accomplish His good pleasure in all He does, is witnessed to throughout the Bible! Well...I really only meant to clear up any mis-conceptions you may have had and not get involved in a C/A debate. I hope you recieve my words in the spirit of christian brotherhood, which was my intent. John Reformed |
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3 | Are Reformed people lost souls? | 2 Pet 1:10 | Aixen7z4 | 99691 | ||
This is a test. I have come to believe that it really dos not matter what a person says. To some of the participants here, a chance to respond is a chance to espouse their doctrine. Now, let's say I am "labouring under the mistake notion" that that is the case. Let's see if there will be another attempt to clear up a "mis-conception" and if it will lead into another statement of the doctrine. |
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4 | Are Reformed people lost souls? | 2 Pet 1:10 | John Reformed | 99695 | ||
Noble, I expected a kinder answer from you. I must suppose that your fervor for reconcilliation has waned. You had written "...I believe he wants us to be reconciled to each other as well. It does seem to me that when we are in agreement with him we would also be in agreement with each other. So I would like to reach out to our friends who use the name “Reformed”." I must confess that I was quite disappointed by the cynical tone which you adopted in your latest reply..."Let's see if there will be another attempt to clear up a "mis-conception" and if it will lead into another statement of the doctrine."... I hope that you will consider the possibility that I was sincere in wanting to clear up any mis-conceptions you may have had. Feel free not to reply to this post. I would'nt want you to think that it also was a ploy. Peace, John |
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