Subject: Flesh or Spirit |
Bible Note: Dear Jeff, I had only intended to congratulate you on your explanation, along with the with the contributions of Hank and WOS. Jeff, I'm a pretty simple man. I tend to avoid innuendo. I promise that if I find fault with anything you post on the forum, I will explicitly point it out. Furthermore, I promise that I have not -- in this thread or any other thread -- impugned your "thoughts and beliefs." In fact -- I'm embarrassed to add -- you have hardly been on my mind at all. Honest! Please, do not be so eager to see something negative in me -- there is enough, already, that is actually negative in me! :-) I explained why the phrase "once saved always saved" was misleading. (Did you note that I also wrote it was true?) I wrote, "it is touted by those who do not teach the whole Word of God. People are told that they can repeat a prayer, walk down an aisle, or be baptized, and all is well." We are in the forum to study the Bible. Everyone of us are learning to understand it better, to apply it to our lives more, and to walk in its teaching. Consequently, we discuss it in an exchange of posts. When I say that an expression is "superior" right after I've stated that some other term has its failings, then I mean is that it is better at expressing the scriptural concept. When I teach or preach I use the "superior" terms so that the flock will be less likely to error. Since you question my position on the authority of Scripture, let me assure you of my embrasure of the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith. In addition, I highly approve of the the more recent Chicago Statements on Biblical Inerrancy and Hermeneutics. I agree with your general statement that a believer is encouraged to confidence in the efficacious work of the Father's calling, the Son's atonement, and the Spirit's sealing and leading. However, I would deny that assurance should be offered to people who show no evidence of a changed life, nor have any desire for holiness. Those people should be encouraged in their fear and doubt, for the fear of the Lord leads to repentance. The problem, as I said in my discussion with WOS, is that so little is understood about what it means to be a believer. I did not intend to state that sanctification began at some point prior to regeneration. (I have written a number of times on the ordo salutis. You might want do a search for those posts.) Consequently, I agree, in general that progressive sanctification must begin with salvation. To be more specific, I would say that it logically falls after justification, but before glorification. Thank you for the opportunity to rectify misunderstandings and clarify statements. In Him, Doc PS I'm curious too know which book of A. W. Pink did you read? I run into so few people who have actually read them. |