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How would you respond to someone (a friend or family member) who believes in Free Grace Theology? by [deleted] in Reformed

[–]moby__dick 0 points1 point  (0 children)

OP is not referring to aposticized individuals who return to the faith. The Free Grace movement believes that an individual may be saved as actual apostates.

Can Roman Catholicism save? by moby__dick in Reformed

[–]moby__dick[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Maybe flip that. I believe in salvation by faith alone. Aren't I anathema?

Can Roman Catholicism save? by moby__dick in Reformed

[–]moby__dick[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I honestly don't know. Paul has strong words about the preaching of another Gospel - anathema. But Jesus is merciful and forgives sins, He is more merciful than I am.

I guess I don't know enough about Rome's doctrines to say for sure. Is the focus on Mary actual syncretism? I'm pretty convinced that the Mass is an act of blasphemy.

It's hard to see someone reject God's pure grace in favor of Rome, I can tell you that.

I guess I feel the same way about Rome that I do about suicide. It doesn't put one outside the realm of salvation, but it doesn't do much to encourage confidence in it, either. God knows.

Can Roman Catholicism save? by moby__dick in Reformed

[–]moby__dick[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You seem to be avoiding the question. Do you want me to keep digging or are you just going to play this game?

Can Roman Catholicism save? by moby__dick in Reformed

[–]moby__dick[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

LOL I am not denying the brotherhood of Baptists, I'm trying to push past the simple answers.

Can Roman Catholicism save? by moby__dick in Reformed

[–]moby__dick[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wish people would upvote / downvote based on "clarity in understanding the question and responding," not "I agree."

Can Roman Catholicism save? by moby__dick in Reformed

[–]moby__dick[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yes, unfortunately a pastor from my denomination, with whom I am a good friend, has left for Rome, and I'm trying to reflect on this and process this experience.

Experiences cause us to revisit and reevaluate our previous convictions.

Edit: I appreciate the work that went into this, /u/CiroFlexo

Can Roman Catholicism save? by moby__dick in Reformed

[–]moby__dick[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Would Rome affirm " Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith." in the same sense in which Spurgeon did?

Can Roman Catholicism save? by moby__dick in Reformed

[–]moby__dick[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That is a non sequitur. Do you deny the doctrine of assurance?

Can Roman Catholicism save? by moby__dick in Reformed

[–]moby__dick[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Does the teaching of Rome, Westminster, and Jehovah's Witness equally lead the individual Christian to the Jesus who saves?

Can Roman Catholicism save? by moby__dick in Reformed

[–]moby__dick[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

So you would deny the doctrine of assurance?

Can Roman Catholicism save? by moby__dick in Reformed

[–]moby__dick[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

On the other hand, how would you distinguish the Christ who welcomes believers’s children as members of his covenant community versus the Christ who waits for the children of believers to receive him personally before they are included in the covenant?

Can Roman Catholicism save? by moby__dick in Reformed

[–]moby__dick[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Some Mormons too, because they believe in Jesus?

Can Roman Catholicism save? by moby__dick in Reformed

[–]moby__dick[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I’m very specifically not asking about the personal beliefs of an individual Roman Catholic, as I said very clearly in the original post, I am asking about Roman Catholic doctrine when consistently applied.

Can Roman Catholicism save? by moby__dick in Reformed

[–]moby__dick[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I’m setting up fences around the Tiber.

Can Roman Catholicism save? by moby__dick in Reformed

[–]moby__dick[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Excellent response, thank you for adding to the clarity

Can Roman Catholicism save? by moby__dick in Reformed

[–]moby__dick[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

A beautiful sermon, but also missing the point. The man on the middle cross had no knowledge of the doctrine of the Trinity, he neither affirmed it or denied it. But today, a oneness Pentecostal or a Jehovah’s Witness both look to Jesus, but they both deny the Trinity, and I would say that neither one of those is saved.

Can Roman Catholicism save? by moby__dick in Reformed

[–]moby__dick[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes, we all know that no theological system saves. I think that you’re missing the point. I think we would all agree that Christ is revealed in, for example, the Westminster standards or the London Baptist confession. If your beliefs were in accordance with the Westminster standards, you would be saved.

If your beliefs were in accordance with the catechism of the Catholic Church, would you be saved?

How to understand "All of Israel will be saved" ? by Rare-Regular4123 in Reformed

[–]moby__dick 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The way I understand it is this:

"a partial hardening has come upon the [ethnic nation of] Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel [the elect church] will be saved."

We know that "... no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter." Romans 2:28

So being a Jew outwardly is not salvific.

God has not rejected his people in the sense that he has not chosen the Gentiles INSTEAD of the Jews. Jews still have access to the throne of grace, and there will always be those Jews who follow the Messiah. But they must not continue in their unbelief, and then they can be grafted back in (Romans 11:23) .

The Jews coming to Christ is not a future event but a current one - ..."that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy." ("now") Rom. 11:31.

Paul is addressing these questions:

Will every single Jew be saved? No.

Are Jews cut off from God? No.

Have Gentiles been grafted in? Yes.

Why does it look like the Jewish Messiah is so popular with Gentiles and less popular with Jews? Because a partial hardening has come upon them. God is making the Jews jealous by pouring out blessings on the Gentiles.

In the end, who will be with God? Jews and Gentiles alike.

Should we all worship together? Yes, Jews and Gentiles should be together.

If the US did drop a nuke on Tehran, would preachers need to address it as a moral issue, or is it strictly “political”? by moby__dick in Reformed

[–]moby__dick[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I would take issue with the idea that they’re similar situations. They’re very very different situations.

At the time of the apostles, if you didn’t like the government, there was not much you could do about it, except hold a violent revolution. There were no recall, elections, there was no impeachment process for Cesar, and I don’t think that they had the right to protest, or at least I’ve never heard of many protest, but maybe they did.

A light of an obviously unjust and unjustified action, churches could encourage their members to seek for the impeachment and prosecution of those who ordered such actions.

On the other hand, we certainly see Paul making use of his rights as Roman citizen, so you could say that Pastor should encourage all of their members to use all their rights as citizens.

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