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NASB | 2 Peter 1:10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 2 Peter 1:10 Therefore, believers, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you [be sure that your behavior reflects and confirms your relationship with God]; for by doing these things [actively developing these virtues], you will never stumble [in your spiritual growth and will live a life that leads others away from sin]; |
Subject: Are Reformed people lost souls? |
Bible Note: 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. |