Them that Believe!
Jesus said in Mark 1:15, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.'
1Cr 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
1Ti 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
These verses instruct us that man must believe the gospel before he can be saved. Truly, without faith it is impossible to please Him!
Belief is man's responsibility. The result of man's belief in the gospel when he repents and seeks God like the jailer in Acts 16:30 is salvation, which is every bit God's work of grace, the blessed result of eternal salvation for those who do repent and believe the gospel...
The jailer asked what he must do to be saved and the apostle's response was believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Friends, nothing has changed!
In Him,
Eye
posted by Eye at
Friday, August 25, 2006
9 Comments:
Amen Eye! NOTHING has changed! We must believe in the Lord TO BE SAVED!
I've read several Calvinists who boast that they are producing a lot of young Calvinists because Calvinism is making a come back. So Calvinism must be true.
No, it's not that Calvinism is true, but rather, it is that Calvinism is being TAUGHT. The intellectualism of Calvinism is the true draw for these intelligent young men. If not that, it is that they THINK Calvinism is true because their PROFESSORS teach that it is true.
If they would but do what Dr. Davy has correctly suggested (i.e., "just read it!"), they would not come away with a sense of Calvinism. They would see that it is their responsibility to believe and THEN they will be saved.
You've done a great job with this series, Eye!
May God richly bless you!
By
Dawn, at August 27, 2006 3:54 AM
Dawn,
I'm humbled by your kind words. Thank you. You know that I am very greatful for you, your leadership, and sound doctrine in this arena!
In Him,
Eye
By
Eye, at August 27, 2006 9:46 PM
Dawn and Eye,
Sad but true...while I hope that I hold to a biblical understanding of election, I must confess that there is a lot of intellectual pride associated with Calvinism (I have been guilty myself) Sadly, it is so like the flesh to hold on to some smattering of pride --> "I have a more mature understanding of scripture that the ignorant and free will bound Christian does not realize!" We can only trust that they will learn humility and strive for what really matters.
BTW, did you see the new Christianity Today? I think Jonathan Edwards would rebuke the whole lot as idolaters!
By
Leo, at August 28, 2006 8:39 PM
Leo: "BTW, did you see the new Christianity Today? I think Jonathan Edwards would rebuke the whole lot as idolaters!"
Yes, Leo, I followed one of your links (Between Two Worlds) and saw it there.
Leo: ""I have a more mature understanding of scripture that the ignorant and free will bound Christian does not realize!""
Believe me, Leo, I know what some Calvinists believe about us non-Calvinists. And I agree that it is what you yourself have thought. And I also know that they think because some of us don't read all the theology books or study all the history, etc., etc. that we're ignorant of the scriptures. It's not that we're ignorant of the scriptures, it's that we're ignorant of Calvinism. (Yeah, yeah, I know, some think that because we don't agree with Calvinism that we're still ignorant of the correct interpretation of the scriptures. Oh well.) Though now, I'm no longer ignorant of Calvinism. :-)
I think it is sad that many in the seminaries are not given the opportunity to "just read" so when they do eventually "just read" their minds have already been trained to think a certain way. There is no real critical thinking involved from the beginning.
I've always tried to stay away from the theology books and have stuck with the bible because I did not want to be one who was carried away by every wind of doctrine. So I was very picky about what I did choose to read from the Christian world. The vast majority of what I read on a Christian level is non-theological (i.e., books written by Christians about other topics such as evolution, politics, the constitution, etc.).
Having said all of that, I do not believe there is anything wrong with reading other Christians when it comes to theology as long as one reads the bible MORE than what is written by other Christians. We can certainly learn a lot from those who are called by God to be teachers.
I think, too, that Calvinists misunderstand that many of us who believe that we have free will don't, in any way, believe that we are able to trump God's sovereignty. I think I have a correct view of what the bible teaches about free will. God GAVE us our free will. I KNOW God is in COMPLETE CONTROL and will trump our wills whenever He so chooses.
I've always appreciated your humility, Leo. Thank you for that.
By
Dawn, at August 29, 2006 4:14 PM
Eye, thank you for the kind words. And thanks for allowing me to express my opinions freely on your blog.
By
Dawn, at August 29, 2006 4:18 PM
Leo and Dawn,
Thank you both for your insightful and most excellent comments over the past few months.
I'm priviledged to have you both participating.
May God continue to richly bless you!
In Him,
Eye
By
Eye, at August 30, 2006 7:58 AM
Eye,
Eye wrote: I've always tried to stay away from the theology books and have stuck with the bible because I did not want to be one who was carried away by every wind of doctrine. So I was very picky about what I did choose to read from the Christian world.
Good for you! It is always more important to read the Bible than any other book.
The value of theology, especially historical theology, is to avoid the mistakes of the past and to build on established foundations. However, we must always have a "Berean attitude" and check everything we read against the Bible.
Somebody once asked John Piper why he didn't read Bible commentaries. He replied, "Because they don't say 'O!'" Almost all commentaries are unemotional, disconnected from the wonder that should grip a person when reading of the mighty works of God. If we must read someone else's comments about what the Bible is about, it should be someone who can't help but say, "O! The majesty and mystery and wonder of it all! O! The grace and mercy and love of God!"
When is the last time you saw "O" or an exclamation point in a commentary or theology book? Anything written about God and His word should be full of exclamations.
Dr Davy
By
Anonymous, at August 30, 2006 10:20 AM
dr davy,
Actually that quote is from Dawn, but I agree with it!
By the way, I appreciate your solid posts and interaction with regard to this topic.
I will be shifting gears in the next week -- I plan to look at eschatology, specifically with regard to certain passages that clearly insinuate that something from out there is coming to earth and these entities coming to earth are not Jesus and the saints.
I would love your involvement in those discussions!
ps -- I haven't forgotten your request to delve into the topic of did Jesus read and study the Septuagint. Hope to make a post on that in the next few days.
In Him,
Eye
By
Eye, at August 30, 2006 11:24 AM
Hi Eyi,
some things to ponder to see if your beliefs are true. Ask yourself these things:
is the number 1000 literal in revelations 20 or anywhere else in scripture?
If satan was bound by a chain literally then what about Paul being chained to the gospel? Is he chained. The chapter 20 of revelations is much more symbolic than Pauls writings so I think both are clearly bound by an action not a real chain.
Is there a mention of a second ressurection of saved in rev 20?
Its clear to me the subject matter is the ones of the first ressurection are saved from the second death clearly a reference to Jesus since he is the first ressurection(john 5).
After discussing all this and other clear facts I find that no pretrib millenial believer will discuss these issues. They simply have no verses that ever really say what they teach. Clearly we are living in the last days (acts 2) and are the new covenant promised to Israel (jer 31, gal 3, rom 11, gal 6, heb 8-9).
When Jesus returns its over. Thats what it always says. He comes to judge and to destroy the earth and lost at his appearing (2 thes 1,2, 2 peter 3). Never does the bible leave an opening for anything else. and yes he is now on Davids throne which is in heaven (acts 2,15 Peter and James acknowledges this).
my blogpage godinamerica.blogspot talks in depth on this and alot of other subjects. may be interesting to you like the webpage you eluded to in this blog at the beginning.
lovya brother,
in christ
By
Stacy, at December 09, 2006 8:38 PM
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