Subject: How am I saved? |
Bible Note: Hi there BradK, My posting 'How am I saved?' was in response to CDBJ's query that I understood how I was saved; no doubt he regarded me a little suspiciously as I stated I was a Catholic. I think the debate has shifted a little from the are Catholics Christian to more of a Calvinism/Arminianism debate. I would query some of your quotes. Why does 'It is finished!' (Jn. 19:30) necessarily mean all our sins past, present and future are forgiven. Jesus was perhaps referring to His suffering. (Note that it says He was raised for our justification in Rom. 4:25. So there is one aspect that was not finished.) You have extrapolated your past, present and future doctrine from a verse which does not explicitly say anything of the kind. What do you think "Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Eph. 4:32" proves? Where is any hint here of anything more than God has forgiven you your sins so far. There is nothing explicit here to affirm your doctrine. Likewise, most of your quotes just say God forgave you, you never produce a quote that explicitly mentions forgiveness of sins you will commit in the future. I take specific issue with, "All the Pauline verses denote a past action, which is complete, carrying forward to the present time." What nonsense! (Furthermore, what about future sins.) Paul writes: "...but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" 1 Cor 1:18, ie we are not saved yet. How can you logically retort 'It is finished!' to me; it is simply a non sequitur (an inference not warrantable from the premises). You write 'Surely you're not advocating any self-effort on my part?' Well Paul wrote in 1 Cor 9:27 '...I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.' That sounds like self-effort to me. Read the Bible with an open mind, not a closed system. |