To me at least it doesn't seem to hard to understand. I think the greatest body of believers don't want to even think about these issues but just want to get people saved, strengthened in the faith and to be a positive influence in society.
So in your view there is no real need to have Presbyterian or Methodist - it should be just "protestant" and every member believes as they wish as long as they accept some basic Gospel tenets ??
Amen!
I've noticed since childhood the way the different interests and focuses of Christians drives their mindsets and propensities. (And, vice versa).
Methodist is not a Protestant Church. John Wesley was an Anglican and they are Separatists. They use the book of common prayer and support the one universal church. They believe in apostolic succession.
Could that be because if all had the same mind and propensities; i.e., including all in one personality, the propensities might dilute the "purity" of one another?
Honest question here. You may be right that what should be our true focus is "advancing the Kingdom of God", but where do you see this charter in Scripture? I haven't seen it at all in such a way, but several other things rather.
Either way, Grace is the actual work God does in us to transform us into the people He declares us to be. People think of Grace as a credit on your account and that is not what the Grace of God is. Actually, faith is a work of God in us also. A gift and a fruit. Human faith is just positive thinking. The faith of God goes way beyond that.
In the beginning, we were given dominion, control, and authority. God does not take that away from us. We are joint Heirs with Christ. Genesis 1:28 "God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." All of creation awaits redemption.
Wesley seemed more sure of himself. Cavin seems to be asking a lot of questions. The hyper-Calvinism that people teach is not the same Calvan when you read what he wrote. Some with Paul in the Bible. What he wrote and what people say he wrote are not the same.
Non-answer. I suppose you expect me to draw some implication from what you say there, but it isn't showing itself.
Why do you tell @Clare73 what "people think", if you're trying to undo her argument? She doesn't think Grace is a credit on your account. Matter of fact, I can tell you she also believes that salvific faith is God's work too.
I am not trying to undo her argument. My opinion was that it was not relevant. That is why I said: "either say". This then becomes a mute point because it has no real effect on the outcome.
The Bible is a complex and multi-layered text that has been studied and interpreted by scholars, theologians, and believers for centuries. Some parts of the Bible may be difficult to understand or interpret.
We are co-heirs with Christ. He lived His life as an example for us to follow.
What matters is that He lived His life as an example for us to follow. He was human and tempted in every way like we are, yet He lived a holy, sanctified, blameless life.
We can never say that the details in the Word of God do not matter.
