Not For Theologians Only
Frank
The real Gospel is not for theologians only,
so people should not have to wade thru
wordy formal denominational confessions
from the centuries just after the Reformation
to find out what really causes justification
(i.e., being declared righteous by God).
But such is the state of things today that
the thousands of denominations have
no idea what the real Gospel is, and the few
that once did, clouded it up so much that
people just end up trusting in their own
so-called "righteousness" anyway.
But the people need to know that faith alone
in Christ alone really means faith alone, and
not faith plus repentance as is so popular
today among the thousands of denominations
(though often professing faith alone anyway).
>From early on in the Reformation, the Gospel
as it was the moment Christ showed it to Luther,
was afterwards clouded up by retaining things
in Protestantism that should never have been
retained from the Catholic church: things such
as infant baptism, glorification of sacraments,
requirement of repentance to have justification,
whether before (Lutheran) or after (Reformed),
even though stated (by both) to be distinct from
justification and never to be trusted for salvation.
Repentance should definitely be done (and usually
is) but is not required to have justification (faith only),
and should never be presented as required because
people will trust in it if so presented, as has already
become widespread in every denomination today.
People need to know that the righteousness
required for salvation is not any of their own,
but is the perfect righteousness imputed by Christ
to those who trust him to be their righteousness
for justification. That is the Scriptural Gospel that
Christ showed to enable the Protestant Reformation.
The real Gospel is so plain and simple that Christ
brings even children to understand it: Jesus took
our place to save us. But for adults, since they want
to trust in themselves, or add to faith, or add to Christ,
or make it complex, it is better to spell out the specifics:
The moment Christ gives us faith to stop trusting our
"righteousness" and start trusting him to be our Righteous
Substitute so he regards his righteousness and victory ours,
we have eternal life.
(Romans 4, Ephesians 2, Philippians 3, Colossians 1,
John 6, 1 Peter 1, Preface to Luther Latin Works)
--
http://roines.home.mindspring.com
((( s.r.c.b-s is a moderated group. All posts are approved by a moderator. )))
((( Read http://srcbs.org for details about this group BEFORE you post. )))
family
At our local Church we have a BIBLE study group that goes by either name;
the coffee house theologians or the tea room theologians.
What it tries to do, is get Church members to discuss, religious, spiritual
or other inspiring books, that are either a comfort to them or offer a
challenge to them; but in the best possible way.
Because it offers the chance to think outside the box, so to speak, we have
had some very interesting book debates
As not everyone is reading the very same book because some book choices are
secular in nature, but to a common theme, how good can anyone become without
a faith in GOD.
Some Church members have a problem asking questions about faith, while
others have a problem answering questions about faith.
While other Church members are just shy, but can really open up to either a
thought provoking question or thought provoking answer.
As we are not all reading the same book at the same time, unlike a school or
college book study class, it makes for a very probing class study group,
that can if need be held at any time anywhere, it does not need the Pastor
or any Church official to lead it.
Hence either name the tea room theologians or the coffee house theologians.
We do however try to match whatever book is being discussed with any and all
relevant BIBLE passages.
This BIBLE study group is open to all ages and either gender, you do not
even have to a member of our Church to take part, all are welcome.
*GODS power is released to the degree that obedience is exercised and no
more*
theologynut
On Nov 14, 6:23=A0pm, "Frank" <roi...@mindspring.com> wrote:
> The real Gospel is not for theologians only,
> so people should not have to wade thru
> wordy formal denominational confessions
> from the centuries just after the Reformation
> to find out what really causes justification
> (i.e., being declared righteous by God).
>
> But such is the state of things today that
> the thousands of denominations have
> no idea what the real Gospel is, and the few
> that once did, clouded it up so much that
> people just end up trusting in their own
> so-called "righteousness" anyway.
>
> But the people need to know that faith alone
> in Christ alone really means faith alone, and
> not faith plus repentance as is so popular
> today among the thousands of denominations
> (though often professing faith alone anyway).
>
> >From early on in the Reformation, the Gospel
>
> as it was the moment Christ showed it to Luther,
> was afterwards clouded up by retaining things
> in Protestantism that should never have been
> as infant baptism, glorification of sacraments,
> requirement of repentance to have justification,
> whether before (Lutheran) or after (Reformed),
> even though stated (by both) to be distinct from
> justification and never to be trusted for salvation.
>
> Repentance should definitely be done (and usually
> is) but is not required to have justification (faith only),
> and should never be presented as required because
> people will trust in it if so presented, as has already
> become widespread in every denomination today.
>
> People need to know that the righteousness
> required for salvation is not any of their own,
> but is the perfect righteousness imputed by Christ
> to those who trust him to be their righteousness
> Christ showed to enable the Protestant Reformation.
>
> The real Gospel is so plain and simple that Christ
> our place to save us. =A0But for adults, since they want
> to trust in themselves, or add to faith, or add to Christ,
> or make it complex, it is better to spell out the specifics:
>
> The moment Christ gives us faith to stop trusting our
> "righteousness" and start trusting him to be our Righteous
> Substitute so he regards his righteousness and victory ours,
> we have eternal life.
> (Romans 4, Ephesians 2, Philippians 3, Colossians 1,
> John 6, 1 Peter 1, Preface to Luther Latin Works)
>
>
> ((( s.r.c.b-s is a moderated group. =A0All posts are approved by a modera=
tor. )))
> ((( =A0 Readhttp://srcbs.orgfor details about this group BEFORE you post.=
=A0 )))
You might be interested to know that Martin Luther was also a rabid
antisemite, who recommended Jews be expelled from Germany and the
synagogues burned. Later on, Hitler was to quote him when justifying
his "final solution" for the Jews. If this is the result of
justification by faith alone, I can only hope people return to works-
righteousness, in which how one treats one's neighbor ought to be how
one would want to be treated. Or as the rabbi Hillel formulated,
"Don't to to others what you hate done to yourself".
bwme...@toast.net
>You might be interested to know that Martin Luther was also a rabid
>antisemite,
So were Justin Martyr, John Chrysostome, the Council of Nicaea,
Constantine, Calvin as I recall, etc etc etc. So was, and will be,
the Great Whore, drunken with the blood of the saints. Some of these
are outright anti-Christians, yet they are known as "christian" and
people jump at every chance to blame the Bible and what they
mistakenly think Christianity is for their actions.
I have a deep suspicion of anyone, even Luther or the above, who is
anti-semite, whether they are really christian at all. That is just
too far contrary to all Consistent Scripture.
Any time anyone starts eulogizing men, this is anti-Bible and will
increase worse and worse and worse. And eulogizing men is about 106%
of what is coming from the pulpits today. It's going to prove very
wrong, somewhere.
>who recommended Jews be expelled from Germany and the
>synagogues burned. Later on, Hitler was to quote him when justifying
>his "final solution" for the Jews. If this is the result of
>justification by faith alone,
But of course, it is not.
Where does Frank say that?
Where does the Bible teach that?
Why should YOU say that?
Antisemitism is anti-Bible; I don't care who espouses it. "The Lord's
portion is His People; Jacob is the lot of His inheritance." It is
true that during the present Mystery, the Jews are Lo-ammi, as was
Prophesied. But the Steward of the Mystery says,
Romans 11:11-26
********************************
"11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid:
but rather through their fall salvation is come to the Gentiles, for
to provoke them to jealousy. 12 Now if the fall of them be the riches
of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles;
how much more their fullness? 13 For I speak to you Gentiles,
inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify my office: 14
If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh,
and might save some of them. 15 For if the casting away of them be
the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but
life from the dead? 16 For if the first fruit be holy, the lump is
also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. 17 And if
some of the branches be broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree,
were grafted in among them, and with them partake of the root and
fatness of the olive tree; 18 Boast not against the branches. But if
you boast, you bore not the root, but the root you. 19 You will say
then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. 20
Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by
faith. Be not high minded, but fear: 21 For if God spared not the
natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not you. 22 Behold
therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell,
severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness:
otherwise you also shall be cut off. 23 And they also, if they abide
not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft
them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is
wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive
tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be
grafted into their own olive tree? 25 For I would not, brothers, that
you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in
your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until
the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.
****************************************************
Bob
Christ Died to Save You
bwme...@toast.net
Some of these ideas are truly needed.
But where is it located?
Bob
Bart Goddard
"family" <brit...@bresnan.net> wrote in
news:9932A99C-C523-DF5C...@art.srcbs.org:
> *GODS power is released to the degree that obedience is exercised and
> no more*
So you've fallen for the original tempation: "Ye shall be like
gods." God's power doens't need to be released, because it
already has free course.
Your picture of God sitting on a cloud wringing His hands
and waiting for an opportunity to act is beyond paganism.
B.
--
Cheerfully resisting change since 1959.
Bart Goddard
theologynut <sharonkath...@yahoo.com> wrote in news:89EB39BE-5E08-
D913-02E9-5...@art.srcbs.org:
> You might be interested to know that Martin Luther was also a rabid
> antisemite, who recommended Jews be expelled from Germany and the
> synagogues burned.
Your sense of history is sadly lacking. Hitler's antisemitism
was rabid, and of a new kind. And Luther wasn't antisemetic, but
anti-Judaism. That three different things you are unable to
distinguish. You most certainly shouldn't have "ology" in
the screenname you cower behind.
B.
--
Cheerfully resisting change since 1959.
family
<bwme...@toast.net> wrote in message
news:1D2880C9-FE09-4E19...@art.srcbs.org...
Some of these ideas are truly needed.
But where is it located?
Bob
In the grand valley of western Colorado,
at the confluence of two rivers.
family
"Bart Goddard" <godd...@netscape.net> wrote in message
news:1CFF55CF-5FFB-8F0B...@art.srcbs.org...
Your picture of God sitting on a cloud wringing His hands
and waiting for an opportunity to act is beyond paganism.
GOD is every where as is power,
His gifts of talent or skill to humanity, is proof of his power.
We all owe GOD a life, so we should give him the best possible one that we
can.
Bart Goddard
"family" <brit...@bresnan.net> wrote in
news:6660CB4D-180F-8956...@art.srcbs.org:
> "Bart Goddard" <godd...@netscape.net> wrote in message
> news:1CFF55CF-5FFB-8F0B...@art.srcbs.org...
>
>
> Your picture of God sitting on a cloud wringing His hands
> and waiting for an opportunity to act is beyond paganism.
>
>
> GOD is every where as is power,
> His gifts of talent or skill to humanity, is proof of his power.
> We all owe GOD a life, so we should give him the best possible one
> that we can.
Also paganism. To be clear: Paganism is a system in which
one bargains with the gods. If you annoy a god, you get
troubles. If you suck up to him, and if he's in a good mood,
you get rewards. You drop coins in the box at his temple
and maybe he'll decide not to give you shingles. And vv.
when the god gives you good fortune, you thank him by dropping
in a few more coins, sacrificing your first born, etc. You
"owe" him for his kind countenance.
I don't know exactly how paganism has so thoroughly permeated
American Christian thought, but it sure has. The Gospel flies
in the face of paganism, and has no quarter with it. Someone
who knows and lives the true Gospel would have intestinal cramps
reading your blather above. He's say, "How dare you cheapen
God's love buy trying to pay him back for it!!??"
Have you really underestimated your own sinful nature so much
that you think that some "life" you cobble together might be
a good enough offering to God? You can't begin to understand
the Gospel until you understand your own putridness.
B.
--
Cheerfully resisting change since 1959.