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Wipeout - I understand the point you are trying to make but I think we can go too far if we are not careful.  The verse you have in mind says this, "The one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He...

Ezra - I'm getting a little confused by your arguments.  You seem to be accepting these verses in Hebrews 6 as stating the possibility of falling away, but only for Jews who have accepted Christ.  Be very careful with this line of thinking.    Verse 4 begins with "For in...

He obviously wasn't baptized.  We must remember that Christian baptism was not instituted until the Christian age or the church age began, which was on the day of Pentecost.  The thief on the cross was still under the old covenant because Jesus had not died and resurrected yet.&nbsp...

DWJD - Very good post.  You make some valid points.  The scriptures do not give any criteria for someone to preach, only for someone to lead as an elder.  Experience, age, education, etc. are not necessary factors for a preacher.  This post started with a question of "Age...

The idea of the church being "lukewarm" is not a prophecy to be fulfilled.  Jesus was not speaking to the entire church; this was a specific message to a specific church - the church in Laodicea.  I don't think we can say that any type of "lukewarmness" in today's church is fulfilled...

Here are a couple of scriptures that may help: "Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God." (Romans 13:1) "Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be...

The first part of your statement is only partially true.  The qualities Peter lists are, in a sense, a result of salvation because they are added to faith.  However, they are not guaranteed or automatic.  They will be developed only by the Christian who is conscientiously...

Actually, Heb 6:4-8 is absolutely speaking of those who are truly saved.  If you look closely, you will see that they possess five characteristics of the saved state; 1) They are enlightened, that is they possess true knowledge and understanding of the gospel; 2) They have tasted...

I agree.  Paul is speaking to the saints.  What I meant was that this verse does not give support to Calvinism nor does it speak of salvation.  It is speaking to those who are saved; who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord.  It is not saying that certain people were chosen to...

HUH?  How did you arrive at that conclusion?  Working to make sure that He has called us to salvation?  How do we do that?  According to Calvinism, you will never know until your death if you were called to salvation, so there is no work here that could ever bring you...

All I can say is that the scriptures are clear.  Jesus tells us that we are to abide or remain in Him.  How can He command this if we are not to do it?  You claim that we have absolutely no part in the salvation process.  So every man who winds up in hell will not be...

If we understand the entire context of this verse we can possibly get a different idea.  The idea behind the words 'so that' can be understood also as 'in order to' or 'for this purpose'.  In other words, God put His fear in their hearts for the purpose of giving them strength to not...

There are many scriptures that are often cited by those who hold to the OSAS doctrine; many of them have been quoted here. These are usaully passages that stress the Christian's assurance like: the Christain's "full assurance of understanding" (Col 2:2); his "full assurance of hope" (Heb 6:11)...

I wholeheartedly agree with Ephod, Endure and Follower of Christ.  One of the problems here is that the OSAS doctrine is one of the five points of Calvinism and cannot truly be separated from it.  There are some Christians who don't believe all of what Calvin teaches, but try to hold...

To Follower of Christ - I think you have a great outlook on these things.  Certainly, the items themselves are not as much the issue as our attitudes and heart towards our Lord.  And God alone knows that for each individual.  That being said, I do have a few thoughts on this...

Ezra - Very good post.  I agree that scripture speaks nothing about some special 'prayer language'.  The whole concept prompts the question, "Why would God want us to pray to Him in a way that we cannot understand".  Paul himself said "I shall pray with the spirit and I shall pray...

Without a doubt the Holy Spirit is a person.  Of course, He is a spirit, but the bible shows Him having all the attributes of a person.  In the bible, He is pictures as doing the kinds of things that persons do.  For example, He exhibits intellect (Rom 8:26,27; 1 Cor 2:10,11); He...

Actually, that is not what is says.  It says, "But earnestly desire the greater gifts."  This comes on the heels of his having just made the point that not everyone in the church shared these gifts.  He was telling them to not desire a SPECIFIC gift like tongues (as Charismatics...

We should be very careful who we use as examples to follow.  Without a doubt, Benny Hinn is a false prophet.  He has made many unfulfilled prophecies and has even pronounced curses on those who reject his ministry.  Is that the spirit of Christ?  He has also been seen (where...

I think we are getting confused again.  When you say your healing was nothing spectacular, that alone is reason to believe that your experience was NOT the miraculous gift of healing.  Weigh your experience with scripture.  All examples of the gift of healing in scripture were...