Heartbreaking

[JohnM]

If you are still willfully involved in a sinful behavior, and are not feeling condemned over your sin, you may be a false convert. (Important tip. Make sure all your devices have the necessary filtering and tracking software). You know what I’m talking about. The man who thinks his is not prone to succumbing is stronger than Sampson and wiser than Solomon.

Hi Jack, is this a message intended to me??!! I can still address or respond to that!

Everyone,

I felt so tired yesterday, don’t know if it was due to physical or spiritual. But I’ll summarize probably tomorrow for reader’s benefit.

I guess I answered all your questions. One or two I might have missed out but that is due to the volume of questions, not due to lack of answer. I can still clarify some answers. I guess two questions were trick, directed at me sort of personally, not giving a direct answer to the question is the answer to the question for reasons I can explain. As the direct answer to that question in any case is not going to be beneficial to anybody.

What I shared is the word of God. It was perfect, no one could counter. Bible says the law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul. But it works on it own and in its time. What is in vogue today is false word of God.

There is “no safe playing” in kingdom of God. Either the preacher/teacher true or preacher/teacher is false. Either the word is true or the word is false. Two opposing things cannot be true at the same time. The true word determines blessing. You have the true word, blessing. II Samuel 6:11. You have the false word, no blessing. Don’t mean material blessings by that.

I think all participated were kind of open or curious about God’s word, I appreciate that attitude. From my end, I can say I have no problems to continue or to repeat whatever number of times it takes to get it explained.

Cheers!

[Mark_Rocka]

I have no problems to continue or to repeat whatever number of times it takes to get it explained

We really need to wrap it up. Ben does allow us to stray from the topic of music from time to time, but we need to respect the forum for its intended purpose. You’ve all done a fine job expressing your views, but after several days of this, it’s time to get back to the business at hand… good old bluegrass picking.

[JohnM]

Will do… No problems!

[Michael_Mark]

Here’s my final reply

1. @Mark_Rocka, please forgive us for completely hijacking your thread.

2. One is saved by placing their faith and trust in Jesus Christ’s finished work on the cross and that ALONE for atonement for sin, and asking Him to save them.

3. Good works are an evidence to other people that you are saved. If you get truly saved today, and rob a bank tomorrow, you will still be saved but other people will most likely doubt it.

4. One must take the Bible literally- God doesn’t keep His plans for your life a secret- rightly divide it (2 Timothy 2:15) and hold it as their final authority in every matter. If the Bible says one thing, and man says another, hold fast to what the Bible says. It is 100% inerrant.

I also vote we get @BanjoBen on the thread to share his final thoughts and finish the discussion.

[Treblemaker]

John,

Please notice that at the top of my post, I wrote that this was my personal theology. Be at peace.

[BanjoBen]

Wow, I get busy for a couple days away from the forum and a lot happens, haha! I’m sorry but I don’t have time to read everything you’ve posted.

I don’t hold tons of essentials, but one I’ll fight to the death for is the doctrine of justification. I hold to the Reformers’ view of justification (which I believe is the biblical view), which teaches God declares sinners to have a righteous standing because of Christ’s work alone, through faith alone, to his glory alone, apart from any works of the law or righteousness. This is an alien righteousness, a righteousness not their own, and it is on that alien righteousness alone that God approves and receives sinners. He then necessarily and faithfully undertakes to sanctify sinners and cause them to bear fruit and finish the good work he started in them, thereby proving that he justified them. However, they are not saved because of their sanctification or righteous acts, but rather testify by them, and and even their righteous works are still all of grace because of Jesus’ finished work. We contribute the sin, God ultimately contributes the rest. I do not endorse a “let go and let God” view of sanctification. It is a struggle and we are to work out our salvation and there is a dynamic there, but all of that working out is a sovereign result of his declaring us righteous at justification. As far as Scripture to back it up, we can read Romans, Ephesians, Philippians, Galatians, etc. I’m closing the thread, thankful for y’all!

Oh, and in case you’re wondering, here is my stance on the Old Covenant and Christians, summarized by one of my theology profs, Dr. Tom Schreiner: https://youtu.be/jm_-BPFVIgc

Love y’all!