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Amen!!!
That Jesus has taken our punishment on His body and shed His life's blood so that we can have forgiveness from God and restoration and eternal life as well is indeed the message of hope and life for us! This is the one thing that unifies all believers throughout the globe. Receiving Him by faith is essential to salvation.
To share in the basics of salvation is so essential!
John 3:16
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
John 10:9-10
Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. [SUP]10 [/SUP]The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
That Jesus has taken our punishment on His body and shed His life's blood so that we can have forgiveness from God and restoration and eternal life as well is indeed the message of hope and life for us! This is the one thing that unifies all believers throughout the globe. Receiving Him by faith is essential to salvation.
To share in the basics of salvation is so essential!
John 3:16
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
John 10:9-10
Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. [SUP]10 [/SUP]The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Aww... I also know a wonderful woman who has downs and shares my exact full name! When she was a little girl, she used to call me, "Name The Same"!! I sure do love that Nancy!
No problem, VW! I think what's happened is I have undergone the rite of passage as a new member here and it's caused a little ripple. It is so unnecessary. I am not who I have been painted by others to be.
No problem, VW! I think what's happened is I have undergone the rite of passage as a new member here and it's caused a little ripple. It is so unnecessary. I am not who I have been painted by others to be.
V
That's quite possible. The important thing is we know each other's hearts now -- and that we go forward attempting to ferret out the dissension and encourage fellowship, regardless of what we think of the doctrine another puts forth. We can find the common ground of Christ Jesus -- Savior, Lord, Son of God. If someone wants to make Him something else, he/she is the one to whom we express love and attempt to shed light upon. That's an agenda I can get behind!
But the scholastic interpretation of Scripture is not immutable.
Historical Orthodoxy is Eastern Orthodox, and could possibly be also attributed to Roman Catholicism. Dispensationalism is NOT orthodox by historical standards.
In this, you must see that your definition of orthodoxy must change if you intend to still hold your views as "orthodox".
Orthodoxy is always local and present. It is ever changing, based on the current local population.
If you are in a congregation full of dispensationalist, then that is your orthodoxy.
Try telling your views to a Believer in China or Russia or West Africa. They will laugh at what you consider "orthodox".
The Coptics, who are the 2nd oldest of the current denominations, don't believe in your version of the Trinity, nor have they since they split against Constantines Church. Is Constantine the One who dictates orthodoxy? The Pope? The 1st Bishop of the Eastern Orthodox Church? Or is it merely whoever disciples you...
As for understanding Scripture, Jesus ripped Scripture out of context every time He used it. God uses Scripture in a different way than scholastic mind allows. There is no academic system for understanding Scripture. It speaks through the Spirit, not the mind.
Historical Orthodoxy is Eastern Orthodox, and could possibly be also attributed to Roman Catholicism. Dispensationalism is NOT orthodox by historical standards.
In this, you must see that your definition of orthodoxy must change if you intend to still hold your views as "orthodox".
Orthodoxy is always local and present. It is ever changing, based on the current local population.
If you are in a congregation full of dispensationalist, then that is your orthodoxy.
Try telling your views to a Believer in China or Russia or West Africa. They will laugh at what you consider "orthodox".
The Coptics, who are the 2nd oldest of the current denominations, don't believe in your version of the Trinity, nor have they since they split against Constantines Church. Is Constantine the One who dictates orthodoxy? The Pope? The 1st Bishop of the Eastern Orthodox Church? Or is it merely whoever disciples you...
As for understanding Scripture, Jesus ripped Scripture out of context every time He used it. God uses Scripture in a different way than scholastic mind allows. There is no academic system for understanding Scripture. It speaks through the Spirit, not the mind.
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In your first point, you act as if I doubt the authority of Scripture... which means you haven't read my posts, as the only authority I accept is Scripture when it comes to anything theological.
As for research, it is what I do as my current career. I left business several years ago to focus on doing free ministry. Nor is this a recent passion, as I always loved Church history and theological discussions, and have read many of the Christian classics, as well as modern treatises.
At point number three, I'm beginning to think you were trying to respond to someone else, and accidentally clicked my post. If it was directed at me, then you simply don't understand the post you are responding to... as the metaphor of the hallway bears no resemblance to my point.
I am bewildered at point 4. I didn't blame anyone, nor was I ever aggressive enough to warrant this type of response.
As for research, it is what I do as my current career. I left business several years ago to focus on doing free ministry. Nor is this a recent passion, as I always loved Church history and theological discussions, and have read many of the Christian classics, as well as modern treatises.
At point number three, I'm beginning to think you were trying to respond to someone else, and accidentally clicked my post. If it was directed at me, then you simply don't understand the post you are responding to... as the metaphor of the hallway bears no resemblance to my point.
I am bewildered at point 4. I didn't blame anyone, nor was I ever aggressive enough to warrant this type of response.
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I reckon there is no such thing as "over-education".
Just look at a couple of dictionary definitions
" the act or process of imparting or acquiring knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life."
"An instructive or enlightening experience"
The wealth of knowledge acquired by an individual after studying particular subject matters or experiencing life lessons that provide an understanding of something.
It seems to me that 'OVER-education' would only be confronting for someone who is afraid of the truth which he might find.
Seek to be happy - believe.
Seek the Truth - doubt.
Just look at a couple of dictionary definitions
" the act or process of imparting or acquiring knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life."
"An instructive or enlightening experience"
The wealth of knowledge acquired by an individual after studying particular subject matters or experiencing life lessons that provide an understanding of something.
It seems to me that 'OVER-education' would only be confronting for someone who is afraid of the truth which he might find.
Seek to be happy - believe.
Seek the Truth - doubt.
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When I speak of Scripture and interpretation, I am not talking about personal interpretations being valid.
But, there really is a personal aspect to it.
I could read a verse in the Bible one hundred times, and think I understand it in context, and in definition, and in sentence structure, and in implication,
but then I read it one more time, and something new pops out! A new connection is made.
It is not new revelation, or personal interpretation, but the Spirit speaking through the Word.
When we share these things, most people go "yeah, that's great. I knew that already", but it is not about being something new, but about it becoming a part of us. A new connection made within us.
The second part of Scriptural interpretation that I am speaking about, is about "overreach".
Most theological systems try to bundle the Word into a package and sell it. Dispensationalism is the perfect example of a bow-tied package product. It is well thought out, but to make it all fit... It requires faith in the system itself!
You have to believe in all of it, or else it doesn't fit, because it has "overreached" what is revealed in Scripture in order to explain what has not yet been revealed.
Covenant theology is no better.
Eastern Orthodox is worse.
Catholicism is even worse.
Mormonism is way even more worsterer. (my daughter used to say that phrase)
I do believe that Christianity has a core, and that core is Christ. I don't believe that doctrinal knowledge saves a person. I don't believe that doctrinal rejection condemns a person. I believe that Faith and knowledge are not comparable entities, and that some of the worst of condemned sinners think that they have God all figured out.
Now this was a long and Scriptureless post. Please tell me where you disagree, so I can provide Scripture to show you.
But, there really is a personal aspect to it.
I could read a verse in the Bible one hundred times, and think I understand it in context, and in definition, and in sentence structure, and in implication,
but then I read it one more time, and something new pops out! A new connection is made.
It is not new revelation, or personal interpretation, but the Spirit speaking through the Word.
When we share these things, most people go "yeah, that's great. I knew that already", but it is not about being something new, but about it becoming a part of us. A new connection made within us.
The second part of Scriptural interpretation that I am speaking about, is about "overreach".
Most theological systems try to bundle the Word into a package and sell it. Dispensationalism is the perfect example of a bow-tied package product. It is well thought out, but to make it all fit... It requires faith in the system itself!
You have to believe in all of it, or else it doesn't fit, because it has "overreached" what is revealed in Scripture in order to explain what has not yet been revealed.
Covenant theology is no better.
Eastern Orthodox is worse.
Catholicism is even worse.
Mormonism is way even more worsterer. (my daughter used to say that phrase)
I do believe that Christianity has a core, and that core is Christ. I don't believe that doctrinal knowledge saves a person. I don't believe that doctrinal rejection condemns a person. I believe that Faith and knowledge are not comparable entities, and that some of the worst of condemned sinners think that they have God all figured out.
Now this was a long and Scriptureless post. Please tell me where you disagree, so I can provide Scripture to show you.
Heresy is denying that Christ came in the flesh.
Heresy is denying that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Heresy is denying that Jesus is the Son of God.
Heresy is denying the Virgin Birth.
Heresy is denying the sinlessness of Christ.
Heresy is denying the death, burial, or Resurrection of Christ.
Heresy is denying the authority of Scripture.
These things can be proven by Scripture. That is what makes them true heresies.
Denying the Trinity is not true heresy, as Scripture merely implies it, but does not state it. If it was important enough to mess up someone's salvation, it would have been stated plainly, as all the other solid doctrines are.
If denying dispensationalist eschatology was true heresy, then Revelation would not be such an unclear and mysterious book.
Do you follow?
Truth is narrow. But it is also not ALL revealed. We see through the glass darkly. Mankind seeks to reveal things that are not yet made plain. It is a form of pride. When they begin calling "heresy" at those who are seeking only what is clearly revealed, they show the pride outwardly.
As an example, you may feel that Dispensationalism was revealed to you through Scripture, but it was not revealed to me. If this is the case, we can't both have the same Spirit within us... unless you are overreaching what the Spirit has revealed, or I am rejecting the Spirit. I have no gain in rejecting the Spirit on this topic, as Dispensationalism actually grants me added value before God by my race. Instead, I reject that added value, because such things were not revealed to me by the Spirit, but only by others who preach it.
Heresy is denying that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Heresy is denying that Jesus is the Son of God.
Heresy is denying the Virgin Birth.
Heresy is denying the sinlessness of Christ.
Heresy is denying the death, burial, or Resurrection of Christ.
Heresy is denying the authority of Scripture.
These things can be proven by Scripture. That is what makes them true heresies.
Denying the Trinity is not true heresy, as Scripture merely implies it, but does not state it. If it was important enough to mess up someone's salvation, it would have been stated plainly, as all the other solid doctrines are.
If denying dispensationalist eschatology was true heresy, then Revelation would not be such an unclear and mysterious book.
Do you follow?
Truth is narrow. But it is also not ALL revealed. We see through the glass darkly. Mankind seeks to reveal things that are not yet made plain. It is a form of pride. When they begin calling "heresy" at those who are seeking only what is clearly revealed, they show the pride outwardly.
As an example, you may feel that Dispensationalism was revealed to you through Scripture, but it was not revealed to me. If this is the case, we can't both have the same Spirit within us... unless you are overreaching what the Spirit has revealed, or I am rejecting the Spirit. I have no gain in rejecting the Spirit on this topic, as Dispensationalism actually grants me added value before God by my race. Instead, I reject that added value, because such things were not revealed to me by the Spirit, but only by others who preach it.
As there is no declarative statement, "God is Triune," so there is no declarative statement, "God is sovereign."
But God's sovereignty is taught in every book of the Bible (as in Da 4:25),
just as three persons in one God is presented throughout the NT.
Who made that rule?
The being of the infinite God can be stated "plainly" to finite beings?
But God's sovereignty is taught in every book of the Bible (as in Da 4:25),
just as three persons in one God is presented throughout the NT.
Who made that rule?
The being of the infinite God can be stated "plainly" to finite beings?