Subject: What is Free Will? |
Bible Note: I am sorry if the terms I use make you uncomfortable because they are not found in Scripture. Does this mean that the word "Trinity" disturbs you as well? What about the term "deity of Christ"? There are lots of terms that are very biblical even though the exact term is not employed in Scripture. Words like "Reformed" are very good to describe a particular understanding of the Bible, distinguishing it from other interpretations (such as the Catholic and Arminian views). If the labels bother you, then I apologize in advance for continuing to use them. It simply makes life much easier than reciting everything that I hold that the Bible teaches every time someone asks me where I stand on an issue. "Reformed" sums a lot of it up in one word. Likewise, a confession of faith or a catechism is a very useful tool for defining what a particular communion understands the Bible to be teaching. You have a creed or confession as well, whether it is written or not. Every time you say, "the Bible teaches __________," you are reciting from your own confession of faith. Are you against theology, too? Then please never make another statement about God again, because as soon as you do, you have made yourself a theologian. Everyone who says anything about God is a theologian. The question is whether one is a good theologian or a bad one. You wrote: 'How about, " you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink" :)" Didn't see THAT one in the NASB nor the KJV... You wrote: "yes it is God that draws the person, but does this mean that the one that is being drawn has to accept the gift of Salvation? I don't think so." Thanks for sharing what you think. The question is whether it matches up with what the Bible teaches or not. That seemed to be the point of the first part of your post, in any case REVELATION 3:20 IS NOT AN EVANGELISTIC VERSE! Go back and read it in its context. Jesus is talking to a church congregation, not to an unbelieving individual. The point is that the church was NOT supping with Christ and that their attitudes and actions had left Christ "outside the door." I find the notion of Jesus standing in the cold outside the door of the sinner's life, begging for the sinner to PLEASE open the door, to be quite insulting to the King of Kings. If Jesus wants in, He will kick the door down. Ask Saul of Tarsus. --Joe! |