How Reformed Are You?

[tigersnare]

Hey guys after reading some Calvin, Spurgeon, and Sproul I was forced to deal with a few questions they posed either directly or indirectly.


1. Is the Gospel necessary for conversion?

2. Is the Gospel only the true biblical gospel if justification by faith alone is taught?

3. Can a church be the true Church if it teaches anything other than faith alone for justificaton?


Providential Blessings!

 

[johnny_redeemed]

Hey guys after reading some Calvin, Spurgeon, and Sproul I was forced to deal with a few questions they posed either directly or indirectly.


1. Is the Gospel necessary for conversion?

2. Is the Gospel only the true biblical gospel if justification by faith alone is taught?

3. Can a church be the true Church if it teaches anything other than faith alone for justificaton?


Providential Blessings!

Nice questions, I will leave them for the real theologians andf maybe come back later.

 

[Knight]

Hey guys after reading some Calvin, Spurgeon, and Sproul I was forced to deal with a few questions they posed either directly or indirectly.

I'll take a shot at it......

1. Is the Gospel necessary for conversion?

Yes.
Romans 10:13-17 ESV For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (14) But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? (15) And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" (16) But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?" (17) So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

2. Is the Gospel only the true biblical gospel if justification by faith alone is taught?

That IS the Gospel. Anything added to is is another Gospel.

3. Can a church be the true Church if it teaches anything other than faith alone for justificaton?

No. IMO, this would be simply a gathering of people and a building.

 

[Reformationist]

Good post Knight. I agree.

God bless,
Don

 

[puriteen18]

Wouldn't most traditional Pratestants agree with that? Not just the Calvinists?

 

[tigersnare]

Wouldn't most traditional Pratestants agree with that? Not just the Calvinists?

Sure most would say they did, whether they understand what answering yes to these questions implies is another matter all together.

For instance, if we answer yes to #3, that makes a church not the true Church, the gospel presented there false, and no one converted by that gospel.

Now think about what church/churches this includes....

 

[Knight]

Sure most would say they did, whether they understand what answering yes to these questions implies is another matter all together.

Which illustrates the general state of Biblical illiteracy in many mainstream churches today.

For instance, if we answer yes to #3, that makes a church not the true Church, the gospel presented there false, and no one converted by that gospel.

Yep. Though I will not limit God's grace. I'm not saying a false gospel will convert but the true gospel may find its way through the haze. Grace is one of the most powerful forces in the universe.

Now think about what church/churches this includes....

I think I know where you're going.......
Many churches today could be accused of this.

 

[puriteen18]

For instance, if we answer yes to #3, that makes a church not the true Church, the gospel presented there false, and no one converted by that gospel.

Of course, any church that teaches another gospel is heretical. Which is why the church stands in need of reformation.

Now think about what church/churches this includes....

Many, if not most churches.

However, to get to what I think you're trying to get at, you would have to clarify that faith is a gift from God, not a choice of man.

I think most traditional, conservative, historically-minded Protestants which are educated in their doctrine would agree to those questions, whole-heartedly. The problem comes when they believe faith to be within the ability of their free will, while we would say that faith is granted to men by God.

Would not John Wesley strongly affirm all of these questions?

It is more of a misunderstanding than a lack of understanding.

A good question to ask would be "What is gospel faith?"

 

[tigersnare]

However, to get to what I think you're trying to get at, you would have to clarify that faith is a gift from God, not a choice of man.

I think most traditional, conservative, historically-minded Protestants which are educated in their doctrine would agree to those questions, whole-heartedly. The problem comes when they believe faith to be within the ability of their free will, while we would say that faith is granted to men by God.

Would not John Wesley strongly affirm all of these questions?

It is more of a misunderstanding than a lack of understanding.

A good question to ask would be "What is gospel faith?"

Which is why I asked in the Reformed Board, no need for such clarifications.

I'm basially wanting to see how many Reformed people are willing to answer these questions out of conviction for what the gospel says about itself and the Church.

 

[Sola Gratia]

Hey guys after reading some Calvin, Spurgeon, and Sproul I was forced to deal with a few questions they posed either directly or indirectly.


1. Is the Gospel necessary for conversion?

2. Is the Gospel only the true biblical gospel if justification by faith alone is taught?

3. Can a church be the true Church if it teaches anything other than faith alone for justificaton?


Providential Blessings!

Ohhh I am reformed so i will give your test a try

1) yes , the preaching of the Gospel is a mandate of scripture. The gospel is the ordained means of salvation


2)Yes

3) It does not matter what the various churches teach . If God has ordained your salvation .. He will put His grace and the gospel together at the same time and the same place .

If I believe the gospel is salvation by faith alone and that is not the doctrine of o church i believe they are in fatal error

 

[Sola Gratia]

Wouldn't most traditional Pratestants agree with that? Not just the Calvinists?

Calvinists are Protestants ..all the others are non Catholic

 

[tigersnare]

Calvinists are Protestants ..all the others are non Catholic

I like it!

 

[Sola Gratia]

Sure most would say they did, whether they understand what answering yes to these questions implies is another matter all together.

For instance, if we answer yes to #3, that makes a church not the true Church, the gospel presented there false, and no one converted by that gospel.

Now think about what church/churches this includes....

Yep you are right and there are many around .