"There is absolutely no incompatibility between evolutionary theory and the Bible's message," Gianfranco Ravasi, in charge of cultural affairs at the Vatican, told reporters,"
Heb 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
"Through faith" - We understand. Faith being the gift of God it will not be provided to cults and heretics, thus the papist will not know any more about creation than your average atheist. As we can observe in Ravasi's statement above. This must also be why Lance wants this junk to be examined more closely. Those who will be invited to examine by the Vatican, will not seek the truth by faith.
The Calvinist is assured by a Sovereign God who "elects" his sheep without any possibility of human error (sin) preventing them from gaining salvation.
Phil 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
The free will brigade, - RCC, Arminians etc, - however have a real problem in their "human aspect" of being saved. Their hurdles are overcoming sin all by themselves to come to Christ, then using the human form of believing (faith) and rejecting the gift of God.
They may as well since Britain is getting rid of all authority, - political, judicial, social and of course moral.
Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Romans 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
New title for Britain The United Kingdom of Sodom and Gomorrah.
"THE Church of England will make an official apology to naturalist Charles Darwin for criticising his famous theory of evolution. Coming 126 years after his death, the church's apology will focus on how wrong it was for senior bishops in the past to misunderstand and attack Darwin's theory about man being descended from apes."
I wonder when this bunch of monkeys are going to apologise for calling themselves Christian.
After all their religion is Liberalism - which is diametrically opposed to Scripture truth and Christian doctrine.
There is Hope wrote: Pikestaff, I have no problem with the ordo salutis. however to conclude that "faith" is THE gift of God in Eph. 2:8 is subjective at best. The grammatical structure.....
WCF Chapter 14. Of Saving Faith. 1. The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls,(a) is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts,(b) and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word;(c) by which also, and by the administration of the sacraments and prayer, it is increased and strengthened.(d)
(a) Heb 10:39. (b) Eph 1:17-19; 2:8; 2 Cor 4:13. (c) Rom 10:14, 17. (d) Luke 17:5; Acts 20:32; Rom 1:16-17; 4:11; 1 Pet 2:2.
PS. The ''it'' is added it does not appear in the Greek.
There is Hope wrote: Assurance is not founded on the premise of what you did for God, but in what He did for you.
Precisely!!!
That is why Faith - IS the gift of God. Eph 2:8.
In the Reformed camp, the order of salvation is 1) election, 2) predestination, 3) gospel call 4) inward call 5) regeneration, 6) conversion (faith & repentance), 7) justification, 8) sanctification, and 9) glorification. (Rom 8:29-30)
Mike wrote: Actually, salvation is THE gift of God. But weve been through this before. In answer to the survey question, you can be assured you will escape Hell if you are saved. A better question would be- How assured are you that you are saved?
Sorry Mike, I have to say you are wrong. Faith is the gift of God which includes the ability to overcome sin. This is the work of the Holy Spirit, not of the sinner.
I agree with you on the survey question being worded wrongly. I think anyone who is 100 percent assured is probably 99 percent wrong. The second response 'nearly assured....' does not make sense as it stands, but with faith in the 'sinner' there is bound to be a battle and 'doubt' is a weapon of choice for the enemy.
Thus faith bears the truth as defined in Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
And as Paul teaches.... For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
Mike wrote: What do you think of Paul's use of dynamic equivalence in his quote of Proverbs 25:21,22 in Romans 12:20?
I think God wrote the Bible, Mike, and the KJV has proved itself to be the word of God and the work/sword of the Spirit for four centuries. Whereas the modern versions are aiming at an 'education process' which is in the control of human hands, eg liberal theology. Since the proliferation of 'modern' versions we have not evidenced any increase in the church, (or sound doctrine) but instead a decline. A sign of the times. Beware of false teachings, eclectic texts with messrs Westcott and Hort in attendance, can only bode ill with bad interpretations.
Wesley Pittman wrote: You can be 100% sure you are saved by trusting by simple faith and belief that Jesus Christ is the Savior and He has paid sin's penalty on Calvary's cross. My dear friend, all you have to do is repent of your sin, accept Christ as your Savior and you will be saved. You will never lose your salvation once you are saved. You will not go to hell if you accept Christ as your Savior. You will go to heaven when you die and that will be a joyous occasion.
I see the RCC/Arminian free will solution of salvation by human effort is still being promulgated.
Faith is the gift of God. Salvation of the Elect is by election by God, by faith alone in Christ alone. Faith is a work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of God's own.
Those who come to Christ are those who are drawn by God alone, just as the Bible stipulates.
Depravity in the human condition cannot be overcome by the mortal by their own voloition.
9/18/08 12:48 PM
9/16/08 4:33 PM
