Once a Sheep Always a Sheep, or Salvation Deficit Disorder?

[Beth O]

so as not to derail this thread (if it still lives)...

I'm opening a new thread to ask questions regarding dispensationalism vs. covenant theology.

Great!! :thumb

[BlessedinHim]

Saved by Grace 06, I took from another thread what you said there and brot it here.


What does the BIBLE say?

"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God."


"But to all who did receive him,

can this not imply that some did not receive Him?
and doesnt this imply some kind of decision on the receivers part?

who believed in His name,

a requirement before you can receive Him.

he gave the right to become children of God

What you get when you believe in Him and receive(accept-you have to accept it to receive it) Him

who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God."

not of blood-by natural birth
nor of the will of the flesh-flesh is enmity with God
nor of the will of man-our ways are not God's ways

But of God-
God gave us a conscience and in it the war rages on.

God speaks to us, and lets us know what His will is, we accept that will or reject it, if we believe, we accept. He woos us to believe and accept.

[CelticMist]

Amen!! I use to be confused by Calvinism. Not anymore!
If it confuses you must walk away, cause confusion is not of God.

Amen

[CelticMist]

so as not to derail this thread (if it still lives)...

I'm opening a new thread to ask questions regarding dispensationalism vs. covenant theology.
Where did you open this thread?

[Leialoha]

Where did you open this thread?


:lol2
I had to walk away before finishing the post. I'm going on vacation so hang around I'll open it up when I get back in a week :)

[Leialoha]

If it confuses you must walk away, cause confusion is not of God.

Amen

I found that Christianity became suddenly clear when it hit me that God chose me and knew all along that He would draw me to Him.

It actually changed my life. I was a false convert who grew up in the church and majored in biblical studies and was involved in the church for years. When I was reading scripture one night my eyes were opened and I saw my sin for what it really was in God's eyes.

Please don't dismiss things because it confuses you. It doesn't mean that it isn't of God. I'm quite perplexed by many deep theological things. I'm learning all the time and some stuff will just be a huge brain stretch for me. It doesn't mean it's not of God. God is orderly, but our feeble little brains just can't wrap around stuff.

Take Geometry. I'm trying to teach my daughter and it confuses me to no end. I'm just not good at thinking about abstract mathmatical stuff. But there is great order and design to the concepts and principles. When we grapple together with it and search through corresponding texts to find clarity and understanding and I actually "get it" (eventually) it's a lightbulb moment. :yeah

We should be having these things happen throughout our whole spiritual life.

I doubt many people come close to understanding how God's sovereignty works out in our time constrained universe.

[BlessedinHim]

I understand what you mean in your last comment Leialoha, In this thread, I just dont see how we do not choose and yet we are not a puppet.

I know we are saved by Grace and Grace alone, but we have to respond to that Grace. God is not a tyrant, He is a Just God full of Mercy and Grace.

I know what you mean about the lightbulb moments, I have had a few of those, and they are such a wonderful moment with the Lord when it happens.
The choir sings haaaaaaal le luuu jaaaaaa .......... and the lights are flashing and you are like hyperventilating, I got it, oh my goodness, sweet revelation,
I got it, thank you Lord, thank YOu Lord, Wow Wow Wow hehehe, I love those moments.

[HeIsEnough]

Let's not go there again. I asked about dispensation not because I didnt know what it teaches, but because I had thoughts showing why this (very new) theology is wrong.

Do you believe in the rapture as well? It is where it comes from....and many will tell you it is the natural teaching of the scriptures. God made covenants, and we are currently not in the last one, and they were not in the one previous to that....and so on. It is why A&E ate fruits, Noah ate every creepy crawly thing, Israel ate some things, and we eat everything again. It is the way God chooses to deal with man, in the way He desires to do it.

It is also why a very large majority of catholic and reformed ignore or regulate Israel to the dustbin of history. Yet, there they are, in the land once again. In terms of prophecy, there is no context to understand it unless Israel is around....I'm sure you can readily see that fact. I know you've said this before, but seriously brother, four years is a short span to understanding the totality of the scriptures. I've been at it for over two decades and it just keeps getting deeper. Like I have stated to you, the reformers did the right thing at the right time (God's timing really), but they were clearly not correct in everything.

[BlessedinHim]

Yeah, 4 years is a short time to think you got it all, I have been studying hard for over 20 years and still have questions and have had to learn that sometimes the answers are not for this time.

One thing I know, I am a sinner in need of a saviour,
Christ came and paid the penalty I could never repay,
I accepted that gift of salvation a long time ago,
When Jesus comes in the air to take us out of here,
then the things I did not understand will be made clear.
I dont always understand the HOW, just know that He does.
Dont know why I DO, I just do,

I know I am saved because I believe He paid that price for me,
I accepted that He did all that for me,
He has laid on me unmerited favor,
shown me great mercy and love,
blessed me more than I deserve,
He is the bestest friend I have,
I am nothing without Him,
Only thing good in me is Him.

[Saved by Grace_06]

Do you believe in the rapture as well? It is where it comes from....and many will tell you it is the natural teaching of the scriptures. God made covenants, and we are currently not in the last one, and they were not in the one previous to that....and so on. It is why A&E ate fruits, Noah ate every creepy crawly thing, Israel ate some things, and we eat everything again. It is the way God chooses to deal with man, in the way He desires to do it.

It is also why a very large majority of catholic and reformed ignore or regulate Israel to the dustbin of history. Yet, there they are, in the land once again. In terms of prophecy, there is no context to understand it unless Israel is around....I'm sure you can readily see that fact. I know you've said this before, but seriously brother, four years is a short span to understanding the totality of the scriptures. I've been at it for over two decades and it just keeps getting deeper. Like I have stated to you, the reformers did the right thing at the right time (God's timing really), but they were clearly not correct in everything.

I see the rapture clearly spoken of in scripture, so yes, I believe it in. Whether or not its a pre or post trib, however, I don't know. I'd like it to be Pre, but hey..."To live is Christ!" right? As for Israel (the Nation/Land). I know that this topic is even more difficult to speak about - even more than the topic of election. It all depends on what you do with Romans 11. If you interpreate it within a dispensationalist view, you'd pay attention every time wars breaks out in Israel the country. However, if you understanding of theology is Reformed or "Covenant Theology" you'll think that Israel consist of both Jews and Gentiles in Christ, and not pay so much attention when wars break out in Israel the country; although you might admit that God isn't done with that country yet.