Featured Revealed and Concealed Truth.

Some like to claim 1 John 2:20 to say that we can have all spiritual understanding now, or that our views are the right way to see things, but think John main thrust there was that we can know the real Jesus and have eternal life right here and now! His truth is that the Spirit is the One who allows us as redeemed to come into relationship with the true Christ!

 

None of us are Apostles, so none of us here will have perfect theology!

 

God has not yet given to any of us all of the understanding of all doctrines in scriptures, as He has seen fit to have open ended areas such as Eschatology for example!

 

There are things in the scriptures that can be more open ended then others, as I see Calvinism as in Sotierology spot on, bujt cannot say with say with same certainty Eshatology for example.

 

Yet another thread, posted by a Calvinist, pushing Calvinist doctrine, but not consigned to the Cal/Arm forum.
Once again we see the false claim the Fall resulted in "total spiritual inability." Nope, Timothy was able to know the scriptures from infancy, so he had some limited spiritual ability. The "Law" acts as a tutor (or guide) to lead the lost to Christ, therefore the fallen have some limited spiritual ability.Thus some revealed truth from God can be discerned from His special revelation, His word.

 

Post 25 interacts with the topic, It says the lost have limited spiritual ability, thus their "spiritual sight" is not completely dysfunctional. Post 26, OTOH does not address the topic, However, many "frivolous, and trifling, and uncharitable things" were said.

 

Dave,
Where did you ever get the idea that the apostles were any better than the least of God's saints?

Reading the Scriptures, I clearly see where both Peter and Paul made colossal mistakes, and showed that they are mere men like the rest of us....
But for the Spirit of God working through them.

Also, where did you ever get the idea that only apostles could understand the Bible?
If you don't mind my asking, did some man teach you that, or was it a church?

I know that the Roman Catholic Church stands on such principles, but I never thought I'd see or hear a Baptist claim that Scripture cannot be confidently studied and understood by all of God's people.

 

Yet another thread by a professing Christian that others seem to think should be consigned to a dark corner, because of the frank discussion of subject matter.

Once again we see Van's opinion of what he objects to, and again, it's accepted because this forum does not differentiate between "Baptists" of all stripes...
Who historically have held "Calvinistic" beliefs and teachings since long before any of us were ever born.

Timothy knew the Scriptures because his mother was a Jew ( and was also a believer in Christ ), and his father was a "Greek" ( Gentile ) ( Acts of the Apostles 16:1-5 ).
All Jews were instructed in the Law and prophets, as anyone under the Law of Moses was.

Thereby demonstrating his exposure to them from a child ( 2 Timothy 3:15 ).
But based on Scripture itself, God's word can only be truly understood by people to whom it has been given to ( Matthew 13:11, Mark 4:11-12, Luke 8:10, Luke 24:45, John 8:43-47, 1 Corinthians 1:18, 1 Corinthians 2:14-16, 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 ).

The Law acts as a tutor to lead sinners to Christ ( Galatians 3:24 )...but unless someone has "ears to hear" ( Matthew 11:27, Revelation 3:6, etc. ) they will not hear the words of God as anything other than foolishness ( read John 8:43-47 carefully, perhaps you will come to see this as I have ).
Ever wonder why when you quote Scripture or preach the Gospel to people, that it simply "bounces off" ( I've actually seen it happen )?

Now you know.

God's word answers that question, Van...
It is not silent on the matter.

May God bless you sir, in many ways.

 

Strange.
I never considered what I understand regarding the Scriptures to be based on man-made philosophy, Jon.

In fact, I got my belief strictly from reading God's word.
I didn't need to bring any ideas of judicial philosophy into it, but read it out of it.

I disagree.

Some people, when they read Scripture for themsleves, see certain passages as directing the reader to do something to be saved.
Others see significant statements and understand that it is not what we do, but what God does first, and then we react in faith and belief.

The difference is either co-operation with God, or God operating, and the objects of that operation then reacting to the work of the Holy Spirit.

Again, and I respectfully have to disagree.

I'm not "ecumenical", in that "all roads lead to Christ", Jon.
There is only one faith, one baptism, and one Gospel, as well as one Christ and a significant number of false ones.

I sat under false presentations of the Bible for a long time, which is why I don't sit under them anymore.
I'll tell you what...as an example, let's substitute "Catholicism" for what you've stated above, and see how that works...

" The bottom line is that what makes Catholicism has nothing to do with spiritual truth except that is and accessible to all believers regardless of soteriological positions."

 

Normally I'd agree, Jon, except for what God's word says about it:

" And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." ( Romans 12:2 ).

See also Ephesians 4:23-24 and Colossians 3:10.

Scripture, by its very nature, transforms the mind of the believer, and they then take on a biblical view of things, instead of a worldly view.
God's word changes our thinking, thereby removing us from our former world views and faulty understandings.
As new creatures in Christ, we grow in both knowledge and grace, and we go from spiritual babes, to mature believers in both worldview and how we view our fellow man.

His word truly is a miraculous thing.

Have you ever experienced how His word changes a person's thinking, to be more like God and His ways?
Personally, the more I read the Scriptures, the better I come to understand them and see things from His point of view.
For example, the more I study His word, the more it impresses upon me my own dire condition that I was in before God graciously revealed His Gospel to me.

Not only have I come to hate my own sins, but the sins that go on around me make me very uncomfortable at times... and I'm also much more sensitive to my own sins than I was just 10 years ago.

I don't like being in this world, Jon, and the older I get, the more I long for a better one, a different one.
It hurts me to be here year after year, and sometimes all I want is to go home to be with Him.

 

Respectfully, Jon, I don't think the issue is one that is philosophical in nature.
As for James White, I don't pay much attention to him or his desires to debate people.

I value obedience to the Lord more than getting my point across, but that is something I've come to slowly over time and much study.
God is still working on me.

Finally, I'm not a Calvinist.
If you wish to label me as such, that is fine, but for the record ( and as I've stated before ) I do not take my understanding of Scripture from a systematized theology, and definitely did not borrow it from a man.
Admittedly, I have no use for man-made systematized theologies and commentaries, and disdain their usage as well as other constructs like "bible colleges".

I take seriously the concept of "Sola Scriptura" and came to my understanding strictly through my studies, and nothing more.
In fact, I had never heard of John Calvin before roughly 2003, and that was only after I'd already come to understand election in Scripture.

Yes, I've seen that as well...
But I see it quite a bit from some of those that oppose the "doctrines of grace", too.

That said, I must retire to bed.
Work awaits early in the morning.

Good evening to you, sir.