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  1. R

    How much good works is required to pass the test of saving faith?

    AMR, I appreciate you putting those bits from Chapter 8 and the part about marks of salvation... you clarified the Calvinist view of assurance of salvation for me. This was a nice summary of the stuff I heard for years in Calvinists sermons, but now I see that there is an official paper about it...
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    What is the definition of "faith" in reformed theology?

    I'm back! People brought up that one of the things one must believe is that Jesus died for his sin... How is a sinner supposed to believe Jesus died for him specifically if limited atonement is true? If he died for all people of all time, that'd be easy, but since he died only for the elect...
  3. R

    How much good works is required to pass the test of saving faith?

    Your link is too long... however, this test you bring up, does it have anything to do with self-analysis of changed heart / good works? I'd really like to know where Calvinists find their assurance of salvation... so far it sounds to me like there is none in this soteriology. However, I've heard...
  4. R

    How much good works is required to pass the test of saving faith?

    Sounds like you are saying assurance of salvation is impossible for everyone... am I right? That is a sad view in my opinion... doesn't that make you uncomfortable... the flames of eternal hell? I have left Calvinism for universal salvation... everyone goes to heaven in my soteriology.
  5. R

    How much good works is required to pass the test of saving faith?

    Not all Christian soteriological views believe saving faith results in good works. Free Grace (easy-believeism, as its known to Calvinists) being one of them.
  6. R

    What is the definition of "faith" in reformed theology?

    Faith to me, is a persuasion that something is true. Salvation by faith alone, means to be persuaded that some things are true about Christ and his work. If the reformed definition of faith is the same, what are the facts that one must believe to be saved?
  7. R

    How much good works is required to pass the test of saving faith?

    hendrix, why are you now saying a person can be assured of his salvation when earlier you said there is no way to test election? How can one have assurance of salvation without knowing he is elect? Bryan, you got my soteriology wrong. I believe everyone is going to heaven, so no faith nor...
  8. R

    How much good works is required to pass the test of saving faith?

    Yes, I do believe all of religion is works salvation except for universalism. Yes, Paul does say spririt bears witness to our spirit that we are children of God. Except no one can know if it's really God's spirit or an imitation telling us that. Some leave the faith never to return, no one is...
  9. R

    How much good works is required to pass the test of saving faith?

    There is no assurance of salvation is Calvinism it sounds like to me. If there is no way to see evidence of election, then no one can know he is elect while here on earth. Isn't that a miserable way to live a Christian life? Not knowing if you'll end up in heaven despite all the faith and good...
  10. R

    does this mean someone is saved???

    Gee, how nice of you, twin lol.
  11. R

    How much good works is required to pass the test of saving faith?

    Since saving faith must produce good works, yet we all remain imperfect, what is the bare minimum of good works required to constitute a saving faith?
  12. R

    does this mean someone is saved???

    acdcfan19, I totally understand what you are going through. When I was younger I went through exact same thing. I understand your suffering and the pain that lack of assurance of salvation brings. I've doubted my salvation prolly since I was 10 years old up until I turned 27... I've prolly lost...
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    Anyone encounter Christians/pastors who don't believe in mental disorders?

    From my experience, it seems to be common. I know many churches are more developed to believe such a thing, but I've encountered pastors and people who don't believe in social anxiety disorder or OCD and have a simplistic view of how to get fix these disorders. They basically say to draw closer...
  14. R

    extreme obsessive fears about not being a true Christian; being evil; hell etc

    Hi abovetheclouds, It made me sad to read your post, I can relate to your pain. For years I've had a lot of obsessions about salvation and hell... I was suffering hell on earth similar to what you've described. I was exposed to really conservative Christian theology right at the time of my...
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    My OCD is going to get me sent to the pit of flames

    Man did I have religious OCD before! Unforgivable sin, assurance of salvation, saving faith, all that mess! After years of suffering, I realized there are problems with a lot of Christian theology. I realized how most of Christianity teaches works salvation, even thought they don't like to...
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    Anyone else have this "obsession"?

    This does appear like an OCD symptom. However, healthy people also might get this type of stuff too. It is when these type symptoms get stronger and start holding you back from things and life, that it becomes more obvious that it is OCD.
  17. R

    Thinking of universal salvation

    I have developed a great sadness and horror at the thought of some people going to hell, either eternal or temporary. Even if I get to heaven though faith or whatnot, the thought of my fellow humans going to hell is very depressing. I am no different from them, and I easily could have been in...
  18. R

    Why didn't Jesus write a book?

    The Bible is written with such a lack of clarity of explanation, that we have many different soteriologies that are developed as a result. From works, to faith+works, to faith alone. If some of these are not true, then many people might even go to hell for believing wrong soteriology. If Jesus...
  19. R

    Why didn't Jesus write a book?

    Genuine question. Instead we got one so confusing that we have to debate each other endlessly on crucial things like soteriology... peoples' eternal destinies might depend on it.