Jim Lincoln wrote:
I see some of you are confusing the fact that we are New Covenant people and not Old Covenant people!

"Now, as to the new covenant, it is not so called, because it is contrary to the first covenant; for God is never inconsistent with himself, nor is he unlike himself, he then who once made a covenant with his chosen people, had not changed his purpose, as though he had forgotten his faithfulness. It then follows, that the first covenant was inviolable; besides, he had already made his covenant with Abraham, and the Law was a confirmation of that covenant."(John Calvin)

Pr 13.24 "He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes

Pr 19.18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying

Pr 22.15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him."

GG wrote:
William of Orange,

Whilst you are recalling history how about these friends of yours.
Borgias
Honorius
Stephen VI and his Cadaver Synod
Benedict IX
Not to mention dead people can answer prayers, relics, iconolatry, idolatry, old bones, jesuits and their murderous history........etc!!

It's all really very simple. The Romans chapter one prophetic words are unfolding in society.

The words begin at verse 18.....

18 "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness"

When you ditch the Bible like our institutions and churches have, then you decline into mayhem.

Do Buddhists believe in God?

""No, we do not. There are several reasons for this. The Buddha, like modern sociologists and psychologists, believed that religious ideas and especially the god idea have their origin in fear. The Buddha says:
"Gripped by fear men go to the sacred mountains, sacred groves, sacred trees and shrines"."(V S Dhammika)

This made Solomon, when God, in the beginning of his reign, gave him his option of all earthly desirable thing, to prefer wisdom and knowledge for rule before them all, 2Chron. 1.7–12; and this he received from him who is the “Spirit of wisdom and understanding,” Isa.11.2.

And if the rulers of the earth would follow this example, and be earnest with God for such supplies of his Spirit as might enable them unto a holy, righteous discharge of their office, it would, in many places, be better with them and the world than it is or can be where is the state of things described Hos.7.3–5.

What faith???
Thought these guys were Liberals!!!

Faith is Christian - Not Liberal.

Next they'll be telling us that muslims have faith too???

"Currently training to become a priest, Eddy believes that being upfront about the Church’s beliefs will be helpful to Muslim-Christian relations. ..."

Michael Hranek wrote:
having a problem with "baptist" chuches perhaps it is because they are infected with some of this 'reformed' God hates everybody but the elect 5 pointism that is becoming increasingly popular among some seeking direct ties with apostate Roman Cathlicism.

Problem with the "baptists"
Nuh no problem.
Why if you want to authenticate baptism with a sinners verbal statement and discriminate against folks by age whilst getting all wet. Take it away my friend.

As for "5 pointism" as you call it these of course are the "Doctrines of Grace" as Scripture teaches the Elect.

As for our RCC connection
We "Protested" to their UNBiblical dogmas and left, to form the True Church by His Grace. As you know one of the papist theories we abhorred, as the Lord does, is this salvation by works, which the arminian free willers have sadly now developed for themselves.

Remember Michael;
9 "Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are *HIS* workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which *GOD HATH* before ordained that we should walk in them."

It is no surprise that the RCC is making a comeback in western nations, since their dogma of salvation by works, cooperates with modern church ecumenical pursuits and ideology.

MurrayA wrote:
Of the options given, the second is the correct one.
The Old covenant was breakable, and was in fact broken (Jer.31:32), The New covenant is "not like" that Old covenant.

1 The Abrahmic Covenant is perpetual.
2 Being called “NEW” in these verses does not imply contrary to the first. God is never inconsistent with Himself.
3 God had not changed His purpose, thus the first covenant was inviolable.
4 The Law was a confirmation of the Abramic Covenant and was dependant upon it.
5 Thus God could not have made a contrary covenant.
6 We derive our salvation from the seed promised to Abraham, and by faith we are his children.
7 God has not made another covenant than that which He made with Abraham, confirmed by Moses.
8 “New” is the “Form” of the covenant, thus Christ, and the grace of the Holy Spirit.(Regenerated). This form includes the external way of teaching, God now speaks to us openly whereas before (Moses) He spoke through the veil. But the doctrine remains the same.
9 The Gospel brings nothing but what the Law contains. It is not only a doctrine of the letter, but also efficacious in ear and in heart.
(Taken From Calvin on Jer 31:31/32)

I thought this was just the usual bunch of looney leaders, but obviously there is more than meets the eye - and the media. Lots of persecution out there including in western nations.

But

Prov 29:16 When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall

Casob wrote:
And I totally agree and have said it often. Men are saved by believing the gospel of Jesus Christ, nothing more and nothing less.

IE...Who *CAN* believe - And who CAN'T.

GG wrote:
The good news for me is that my God WILL have mercy on MY SOUL and yours. Produce the evidence that I or any Catholic worship any God but the Lord most High. For the million-th time, Catholics are Trinitarian Christians, we believe in one God of three divine persons...none of those persons are Mary.

Dulia + plus + Latria + plus + iconolatry = equals = idolatry.

God does not expect His worship to be shared out amongst a bunch of dead people, old bones and old paintings.
He is a jealous God you know, who does not go in for graven images. Sorry GG.

Actually the number for Church of Scotland should read = 208,400.

And the reason is the increase in eastern european immigrants, eg Polish. Therefore it's not entirely true to assume this to be a trend for Scottish folk.

Having said that
The reason God no longer favours the C. of S. is because it has changed it's religion from Christianity to Liberalism, a completely different religion all together. Too many Tares amongst the wheat has had a detrimental effect upon the crop.

Mike wrote:
Any so-called "ability" is granted by God, not conjured up by man. If one has been enabled to do something, it means that he can, not that he must.

jille wrote:
I am convinced that all these 'surveys' do is cause division. Too much time is wasted on personal views, then debated with scripture as to whose view is right. Christ did not call us to argue and disagree amongst ourselves,

Read your Bible and note how Christ debated with the Pharisees/Sadducees - and I'm sure many other people.

Please don't discourage communication between Christians - after all what we exchange is doctrine and all too often that never happens in the church.
Debate helps to sharpen the knowledge and understanding of Scripture. I'm very glad that I can meet with people of all types of doctrine on this site, and enjoy a good debate with the Biblical knowledge which grows in me.
In recent times the Comment/debate threads have become somewhat bare, which is a great pity.

Michael Hranek wrote:
Since the relationship of Christ with the church is compared to a Bride and her Groom I have to ask, "If a man asks a woman to marry him and she says Yes, or OH YES!!! would anyone normally think their marriage was because she gave him her permission or because she accepted his proposal?"

But election and salvation is still by "GRACE" - not by human action.

Mike wrote:
So why aren't you concerned with us free will non-Arminians, Minnow? Don't you love us anymore?

GBY

Casob wrote:
Yes! Yes! I see it now! The precondition for believing the gospel of calvinists of this stripe is to NOT believe the bible.

"Yes! Yes! I see it now! The precondition for believing the gospel of calvinists of this stripe is to NOT "CHANGE" the Bible."

Even if you grasp this single simple Biblical thread it may help you.....
God does not require your help or permission to save you.

37 All that the FATHER (thats God) GIVETH me (thats Jesus) SHALL COME to me; and him (thats the sinner) that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out

44 NO MAN (not even JD) can come to me, EXCEPT the Father which hath sent me DRAW HIM: and I will raise him up at the last day

You see how simply it is explained. God elects the mortal - and HIS election runs all the way to salvation and beyond.

So there is no need for human input in these initial stages. Salvation by works is a Roman Catholic theory, which really isn't true. Honest.

45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.