Recent content by Rufus

Okay...let's do a quick rewind so that the problem I presented is right in front of our noses. I recently drew a contrasting parallel between the Creator and his moral image-bearers. Scripture teaches that God cannot sin, cannot lie, cannot deny himself; and that only God alone is Good in his...

So...not loving God when TU disobey him is not the same as hating him? But the Greatest Commandment of them all doesn't read in the negative, does it? It doesn't read, "Thou shall not hate the Lord your God". No! Instead it reads: Matt 22:36-38 36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment...

Indeed we are! But the unregenerate are in conflict with the God they naturally hate. Whereas, true, born again believers are often in conflict with themselves and our own stupidity, and our own foolish decisions, and all the ways we still sin...even though we often don't mean to. How can...

This is what I've been asking you. Your soteriology implies that the difference between believers and unbelievers lies in the two groups themselves. The believers must be somehow superior to the unbelievers to have overcome the evil desires of their heart, their sin nature, and their hatred...

Fair enough. But this is why I''m hoping you will address my questions, as you find time, that I presented to you in 5673 & 5718 re the fundamental spiritual differences that must exist between believers and unbelievers that will account for why and how the former accepts spiritual truth, while...

I in no way meant to discount or diminish scholarly efforts put in by those who have been called to do just that. We are all called to study the Word diligently, carefully and prayerfully. But at the same time, I try to avoid straining at gnats just to swallow camels whole. I'm a big fan of...

Yes, I see a choice as well. And the unregenerate (hereafter TU) made the only choice they could make given their state of spiritual death, depraved heart and evil nature. But TU do not want to understand, so this is why they suppress the truth by their wickedness (v.18). And why do they...

But you leave out an extremely important salvific element to what I bolded above: The Holy Spirit. Men are born again by the Word and the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a key promise of the New Covenant. And it He who gives understanding. In fact, Jesus also gives us understanding (1Jn 5:20; Lk...

Without getting overly or unduly analytical (I try to avoid getting bogged down in the weeds by over-thinking passages as much as I can), I would say that when the Father grants grace to someone to come to (or seek out) His Son, that person will do so in truth -- with a sincere, honest heart...

Exactly right. He did not know who Jesus was. He sought out a good rabbi, hoping the rabbi would tell him that he was on the right path to Paradise with all his diligent, perfect law-keeping. Yes, in all likelihood, this rich man had some spiritual standing -- but not enough to understand...

I would like to continue unpacking some more truth from Lk 18:18-27 which records the Rich Man's encounter with Jesus. The logical inference from the passage is that this rich ruler very likely sought Jesus out. He approached Jesus respectfully, certainly acknowledging his teaching skills; but...

Since you agree that man is evil, then this is a fact that we should not gloss over. When Jesus told his very mixed audience in his Sermon on the Mount that they were evil, he was making a very profound statement about man's essence. Evil is what man IS. When we talk about person's essence...

And the very sad thing is that a text like the one above is just the tiny tip of the iceberg. Scripture most certainly does not paint a pretty, attractive or flattering picture of fallen mankind. Man is so broken that only God alone can fix him! Here's another passage this is just as...