Ok. I think, though I could be wrong, that he WAS agreeing with you, and you misunderstood and objected to what he was saying as though he did NOT agree with you. Better?
I expect you understand what the "Elect" are —no? Those to whom God chose to show mercy, and whom he will use for his particular purposes now and into eternity, to be with him.
This is true, though some christians seem to think they received prophetic revelation on this matter .. or at least they act like they have.
Anyone who believes in OSAS-and that it applies to them-that they, without any doubt, are numbered among the elect. If one doesn't believe this then the statement, "The Holy Spirit dwells within the regenerate redeemed. He will not let them continue in serving the Devil" applies to some hypothetical group, unknown with perfect certainty at this point.
I agree that is foolish to say that I am, without any doubt, numbered among the elect, particularly since I find myself returning to the vomit. But no, it is not a hypothetical group. It is a very real number of redeemed. The fact that I don't know who they are, and the fact that I can fool myself, is irrelevant to the question of whether the Elect are real. It is also irrelevant to the question of whether the Elect will be in Heaven.
Ok, they're identity is hypothetical to us in any case. And that's why I don't know the reason for making the statement I referenced. From our perspective down here-all of us-are striving, trying to do God's will the best we can with what we know and with the help of His grace, or we should be doing so anyway. In the real world most Christians live as if what they do counts-and then let Him be the judge of how that all plays out in the end.
I don't get it. What's the problem, then? My feeling of security is not in the satisfaction that I am one of them, but that God will do as God pleases for God's own sake. I KNOW that God is altogether just and consistent, full of mercy. I KNOW that he has a plan that he will see through to the end. For who he is and what he is doing, he is altogether praise-worthy, regardless of whether I am or am not inclined to praise him.
You know your own heart and relationship with God far better than I do-so I don't question that. But we turn to Him to know the facts, to know Himself and His will, and to find out some important things about ourselves, His creation, as well. The more clearly we understand His revelation to us, the better. So to understand, as has been taught by the church for centuries, that what we do after justification does, indeed, count towards salvation, that faith and good works, not works of the law but works begotten and spurred by love of God and neighbor, cannot be separated from each other.
This is a vague statement. But to mean "...count towards salvation..." as causal of salvation, is false. There is where comes the notion that one saves oneself, making it not entirely of Grace. I agree that the one always carries the other, and in that way they cannot be separated, but that they can't be dealt with separately in what they cause, is mistaken. Yes, faith always begets works, and works increases faith, but salvation is through faith alone, not of works.
Nothing vague about it-God saves however He wishes to save-either with or without our participation. And since He still does demand our personal righteousness under the new covenant, He either gives us the ability to comply, in which case the will of man is involved, or He directly causes us to comply, in which case the will is replaced with a compliant will which effectively removes my will from the matter. But as Augustine put it, "He who made you without your consent does not save you without your consent." We can't possibly be saved without Him, yet we can still refuse to be saved.
You're just restating an old assertion. And I'm afraid I'd be just repeating myself to answer it. But at least you admit he can save us however he wishes.
Yep. The Scripture says that the person who is a friend of the world is no friend of God.Good catch!
A doctrine that is indifferent or doesn't really care if you conform to the 'pattern of this world' or not is most certainly a doctrine of demons.
Many people would naturally gravitate towards worldly principles if no one tells and convinces them it's a bad thing.
And being conformed to the pattern of this world makes you a servant of the devil. Sadly, there are so many Christians are conformed to this world and even thinks it's a good thing "for the sake of winning more souls...." Yeah right.... Winning souls for whom?? The devil??
We are in the world but not of it. We are not to cut ourselves off the world to become hermits, but we live in the world, have a home, family and job, just like others, but we are there as a witness for the saving and transforming grace of God in Christ.
