A
I apologize if I misunderstand what you are teaching. it is one of the reason dialogue is important. however I believe you have misunderstood the teachings of many you have criticized, but lets me reread and respond to your post as best as God has given me the ability to do.....
what of those people who never intentionally CHOOSE to suppress the light or rebel against God? what of those people like Paul who thought he was following God only to later realize that he was not?
the answer to that question Skinski is NO for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. i'm sure you know the Bible verse I'm referring. its kind of late, but i'll look it up for you later if you need it.
you see Skinski there is a difference between Sinless and Blameless. people in the OT were found blameless because their animal sacrifices cleansed them of their sin but they never justified them. it comes down to the difference between the Old covenant and the New covenant. do you know the difference?
I think you misunderstand the concept of Original sin. it says the flesh will lead you to sin but with the Holy Spirit you will be able to overcome that sin. before the Holy Spirit/New Covenant indwelling people were given the law as a tutor to teach them what was right and what was wrong.
i agree that if people do not take responsibility for their actions and admit that they sinned then they can never be repentant of that sin. i believe that is the true sin of Adam and Eve. not only did they break God's commandments, they denied that they were at fault and refused to repent and ask God for forgiveness. It is like the verse that says be angry but do not let the sun set on your anger.
you can be angry but you need to pray and forgive the other person before the sun sets because God forgave you your offenses.
sorry I don't have time to research Augustine or Pelagian or Jesse Morrell or listen to the video. its past my bedtime, but if God grants me time this week I will look at it.
I do not think total depravity necessitates total inability. it is more that unless God does something people WILL NOT choose God. they will choose themselves. they will choose the world. they will follow the serpent. they will not seek God unless God does something in their life to make them aware of their need, their sinfulness and unclean state. you can read the OT and see stories of how people acted without God. how people tried to live without God's soveriegnity.
see these statements make no logical sense. perhaps we are having a communication breakdown, but it seems as if you are saying... if you forsake rebellion and yield to God you are indwelt with the Holy Spirit. however then you say men don't need the Holy Spirit to do good. however if they do good would that not be obeying God and then wouldn't they have to have the Holy Spirit living in them?
how can the Holy Spirit be with us but not necessarily in us?
how do you think people are able to choose good without the Holy Spirit within them?
he does have a choice but since he does not have the Holy Spirit he is blinded to the spiritual consequences of his choice.
i think this story would take a while to actually discuss because it ties into the curse of Adam in Genesis 3 and how God made Adam and Eve a tunic of Skin and how Abel was a prophet that foreshadowed the coming of Christ through the sacrifice of the firstborn Lamb. for now I'll just read the rest of your response.
you have issues with original sin... check.. got that message. don't know why... since its obvious that Adam's original sin caused quite a bit of problems with the world like death, working for your food, etc... but I'll keep reading for now...
you know the Light is referring to JESUS right? somehow it seems like you use light to refer to wisdom to discern good from evil... but I"ve always thought those verses referred to the Light Jesus brought into a lost world....
Without the light of God all men would be no better off than animals stumbling around in the dark. They would not have anything by which to rule over base desires.
good you just gave the definition of total depravity... a world without the Light of God or His laws teaching them right from wrong.
i could be offended but I think I'll forgive you and quote verses back instead:
John 10:27My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
no offense but you are not my Shepherd and your voice is too often bitter and mixed with lies for me to trust. I examine your words and teachings to ensure you do not lead my brothers and sisters off a cliff.
how do you know that I do not already have the Truth of Scripture and you are the one with the veil over your eyes due to strongholds in your mind?
carefully and patiently it is then....
what you don't answer skinski is WHY do people sell themselves into Satan's control by sinning? They do so because they CHOOSE TO DO SO not realising the actual consequences of what they are doing. When a young person first CHOOSES to suppress the light and rebel against God they truly have no conception of what it is they are actually doing and how dangerous it is. Nevertheless this ignorance of the extent or seriousness of sin is no excuse. Adam and Eve did not realise the seriousness either and tried to excuse themselves.
and is there anyone beside Jesus who did NOT sin? Good question. I don't know for certain the answer to that. If there is an exception then it would have to be John the Baptist because he was indwelt by the Spirit of God from His youth and those born of God don't sin.
Luk 1:13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
Luk 1:14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
Luk 1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
Luk 1:16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
Luk 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
Luk 1:13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
Luk 1:14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
Luk 1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
Luk 1:16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
Luk 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
you see Skinski there is a difference between Sinless and Blameless. people in the OT were found blameless because their animal sacrifices cleansed them of their sin but they never justified them. it comes down to the difference between the Old covenant and the New covenant. do you know the difference?
why were they not able to keep from sinning? Sin is ALWAYS a choice. If sin is necessitated by the flesh then we are not responsible for it. This is why Original Sin is a dangerous teaching because it redefines sinners from being criminals to being that of victims. How can on be truly sorry over their sin if deep down they believe that ultimately it was not their fault? ie. Adam made me do it.
i agree that if people do not take responsibility for their actions and admit that they sinned then they can never be repentant of that sin. i believe that is the true sin of Adam and Eve. not only did they break God's commandments, they denied that they were at fault and refused to repent and ask God for forgiveness. It is like the verse that says be angry but do not let the sun set on your anger.
you can be angry but you need to pray and forgive the other person before the sun sets because God forgave you your offenses.
the state people are in before being saved is totally depraved. Total depravity necessitates TOTAL INABILITY which means men CANNOT CHOOSE GOD unless God offsets the inability of total depravity. This was the issue of contention between Augustine and the Pelagian's in the 4th century. Augustine was promoting Original Sin which denied human ability and Pelagius was one of the people who noticed this and realised that the "inability doctrine" was rooted in pagan philosophy.
Jesse Morrell (who I have my differences with but nonetheless preaches righteousness) recently produced a documentary examining this issue...
[video=youtube;mhLF-llpFX0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhLF-llpFX0[/video]
Jesse Morrell (who I have my differences with but nonetheless preaches righteousness) recently produced a documentary examining this issue...
[video=youtube;mhLF-llpFX0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhLF-llpFX0[/video]
I do not think total depravity necessitates total inability. it is more that unless God does something people WILL NOT choose God. they will choose themselves. they will choose the world. they will follow the serpent. they will not seek God unless God does something in their life to make them aware of their need, their sinfulness and unclean state. you can read the OT and see stories of how people acted without God. how people tried to live without God's soveriegnity.
it is only through the HOLY SPIRIT and His leading that anyone is able to do good works. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgement. One is only "indwelt" with the Holy Spirit if one yields to God, having forsaken rebellion to Him. Men are perfectly capable of doing good apart from the indwelling of the Holy Ghost because God has endowed all men with the ability to exercise their will and CHOOSE between good and evil. The Holy Spirit is with us but not necessarily in us. For it to be in us we have to obey God and thus walk in the light.
see these statements make no logical sense. perhaps we are having a communication breakdown, but it seems as if you are saying... if you forsake rebellion and yield to God you are indwelt with the Holy Spirit. however then you say men don't need the Holy Spirit to do good. however if they do good would that not be obeying God and then wouldn't they have to have the Holy Spirit living in them?
how can the Holy Spirit be with us but not necessarily in us?
how do you think people are able to choose good without the Holy Spirit within them?
Look at this passage...
Gen 4:6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
Gen 4:7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
Did Cain have a choice or was he disabled the virtuous choice?
Gen 4:6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
Gen 4:7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
Did Cain have a choice or was he disabled the virtuous choice?
i think this story would take a while to actually discuss because it ties into the curse of Adam in Genesis 3 and how God made Adam and Eve a tunic of Skin and how Abel was a prophet that foreshadowed the coming of Christ through the sacrifice of the firstborn Lamb. for now I'll just read the rest of your response.
that is basic teachings of Christianity. No it is not. Total Depravity is a basic teaching of John Calvin who refined the doctrines of Augustine. Those of an Arminian persuasion oppose the "total inability" of "Total Depravity." I oppose both Arminianism and Calvinism because both systems are established on Original Sin and thus while the Arminian system decries "Total Inability" they still invented "Prevenient Grace" to offset an "inability" they still believe in. I don't find the Arminian system consistent with their claim of believing free will, they come close but they still hold to the leaven of Original Sin.
to teach that people are able to do good WITHOUT God is a lie. This statement is a fallacy. I don't teach that people can be good without God.
God has given all men a measure of light already.
Joh 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
God has given all men a measure of light already.
Joh 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Without the light of God all men would be no better off than animals stumbling around in the dark. They would not have anything by which to rule over base desires.
For you to conclude that I teach that one can be good without God just goes to show that you do not understand what I write. I have corrected other erroneous conclusions you have drawn from my writings previously. This is just another example.
Jesus taught to be careful in what manner you hear.
Luk 8:18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
Jesus taught to be careful in what manner you hear.
Luk 8:18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
John 10:27My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
no offense but you are not my Shepherd and your voice is too often bitter and mixed with lies for me to trust. I examine your words and teachings to ensure you do not lead my brothers and sisters off a cliff.
What if I was actually presenting to you the truth of Scripture and yet you had a veil over your eyes due to strongholds in the mind?
I do my best to cast down these strongholds patiently with Scripture and sound reasoning. If I am in error please elaborate carefully with the Scripture.
2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds
2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2Co 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds
2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2Co 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
Satan works in the domain of the mind and this is the domain where deception takes hold.