Posts by clash_city

10

The new Edmond Gruss book

by betweenworlds in

jw
friends

has anyone out there read the book by edmond gruss entitled: jehovah's witnesses: their claims, doctrinal changes, and prophetic speculation.

what does the record show?

haven't read it and was wondering if it was worth picking up.. thanks!.

clash_city_rockers

Hey I was a Student of Dr. Gruss in 1993 at the Masters' College
Yes from JW to John McArthur to Reformed Presbyterian. Wow is God great and gracious.

126

adam & eve

by gotcha in

does anyone here take the creation story literally?

if yes, did u do ample research and think carefully but still believe in it?

if u don't think that the story should be taken as literal, what is your reading of it and do u still believe in the bible as the inspired word of god?...thanks in advance..

clash_city_rockers

The Empty Hand of Faith

—Romans 4:4-5, 16

"That I may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith."

—Philippians 3:9

"Faith is chosen by God to be the receiver of salvation, because it does not pretend to create salvation, nor to help in it, but it is content humbly to receive it. Faith is the tongue that begs pardon, the hand which receives it, and the eye which sees it; but it is not the price which buys it. Faith never makes herself her own plea, she rests all her argument upon the blood of Christ. She becomes a good servant to bring the riches of the Lord Jesus to the soul, because she acknowledges whence she drew them, and owns that grace alone entrusted her with them."

—Charles Spurgeon, All of Grace

The single most amazing truth about the Gospel of Jesus Christ is this: it is all of grace. It is the work of God, not of man. It is the story of a powerful Savior who redeems His people, and He does so completely. It is about a sovereign God, a perfect Savior, and an accomplished redemption.

In the above quoted Scripture we hear the very message of life itself. We first hear about our inability: if we think we can "work" to gain something from God, we do not understand how truly lost we are. The one who works receives only his wages, not righteousness. But to the one who does not come to God with any idea of merit or earning, but instead trusts in the God who justifies the ungodly, that kind of faith is reckoned to him as righteousness. It is a faith that comes with empty hand, claiming nothing for itself, but seeking its all in Christ. This empty-handed faith is the kind of faith that results in a right standing with God.

Next we hear about God’s ability: since faith comes with empty hand, it finds in the grace of God all that it could ever need or want. God’s grace is powerful, and it brings full salvation to the soul of the person who despairs of anything other than free, unmerited grace. Grace cannot clasp the hand that carries within it ideas of merit, or good works, or any other kind of human addition to grace. "But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace" (Romans 11:6). God’s wondrous grace cannot be mixed with human merit. The hand that holds onto its own alleged goodness, or attempts to sneak in a merit here, a good work there, will not find the open hand of God’s grace. Only the empty hand fits into the powerful hand of grace. Only the person who finds in Christ his all-in-all will, in so finding, be made right with God. This is why the Scriptures say it is by faith so that it might be in accordance with grace: in God’s wisdom, he excludes man’s boasting by making salvation all of grace.

Finally, we see the certainty of salvation: because God saves by His all-powerful and undeserved mercy and grace, the promise of salvation is "guaranteed" or made firm and unmovable to everyone who extends that empty but believing hand to His all powerful and sovereign grace. If salvation was in the least bit dependent upon the sinner, the promise could never be thought of as firm and unmovable. But since faith brings no idea of self-worth with it, and since grace is by definition free and unmerited, then salvation itself is wholly the work of God (1 Corinthians 1:30-31), and hence it is certain, firm and can be "guaranteed." Only salvation that is God’s work in its totality can fit this description.

My friend, do you have the kind of righteousness that Paul spoke of in Philippians 3:9, cited above? Or do you have a standing before God that is based upon what you do, rather than upon what Christ has done in your place? Can you understand why a true Christian cannot help but stand in wonder at these words: "Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not impute to him" (Romans 4:8)? Have your sins been imputed to Christ, and His righteousness imputed to you by faith? Do you know what it means to have Christ not merely as Savior in name, but in fact, so that your entire trust is in Him and in nothing you can ever do? Can you honestly say you trust Him with your eternal destiny, and fully believe He carried your sins on the cross, and has given His righteousness to you, so that you can stand before the holy God? It is my prayer that if you cannot claim Christ in this way, you will give consideration to these truths, and God will be merciful toward you so as to grant you true faith to embrace His gospel. May God richly bless you as you seek His truth.

Remember this; or you may fall into error by fixing your minds so much upon the faith which is the channel of salvation as to forget the grace which is the fountain and source even of faith itself. Faith is the work of God’s grace in us. . ."No man comes to me," says Jesus, "except the Father who sent me draws him." So that faith, which is coming to Christ, is the result of divine drawing. Grace is the first and last moving cause of salvation; and faith, essential as it is, is only an important part of the machinery which grace employs. We are saved "through faith," but salvation is "by grace." Sound forth those words as with the archangel’s trumpet: "By grace are you saved." What glad tidings for the undeserving!

—Charles Spurgeon, All of Grace

I highly recommend reading Charles Spurgeon’s classic work, All of Grace.

126

adam & eve

by gotcha in

does anyone here take the creation story literally?

if yes, did u do ample research and think carefully but still believe in it?

if u don't think that the story should be taken as literal, what is your reading of it and do u still believe in the bible as the inspired word of god?...thanks in advance..

clash_city_rockers

RWC, I just forgot YOU are out of step with your own Rominist Doctrine. You are born again by the act of baptism according to Rome this is a work done unto and not chosen by the infint who is baptised.

But we have a bigger problem You see Grace as a substance (like coffee it keeps you going through out the day)

And the bible describes Grace not as a substance but as FAVOR or as the reformers put it "the favor of GOD on the account of Christ" (favor Dei Proctor Christum)

From Geneva with Love
hugs and snuggles,
jr

126

adam & eve

by gotcha in

does anyone here take the creation story literally?

if yes, did u do ample research and think carefully but still believe in it?

if u don't think that the story should be taken as literal, what is your reading of it and do u still believe in the bible as the inspired word of god?...thanks in advance..

clash_city_rockers

RWC,

one more thing as a Papist you are not allawed to read the bible on your own just like the JW's I guess you are going all your life under the bondage of denying sola scriptura.

JW's dont believe in sola scriptura and deny it's sufficiancy as well as papists.

Rem, muddled with man made insight thus opening himself up to another public embarracement scribbles:(snip)

And yet you are a Christian? Sorry to burst your bubble, but Christianity is a man-made religion just like the rest of them.

Response: Please, you are living off of borrowed capitol from the Christian world view. If you want to go around again thats fine with me I just start droppind reductio's on your assertions and giving transedental arguments which are Adam-Bombs on your athiest world view.

Look we smoked the Pope of athiesm Gordon Stine (who can, by the looks of it can easly give a better defence for athiesm than you) if you have real audio give it a wrirl. Greg Bahnsen vs. Gordon Stine.
Yes, Greg Bahnsen kicked the skubalon out of the athiests in that debate.

http://www.straitgate.com/gbgs.ram

tootles,
jr

126

adam & eve

by gotcha in

does anyone here take the creation story literally?

if yes, did u do ample research and think carefully but still believe in it?

if u don't think that the story should be taken as literal, what is your reading of it and do u still believe in the bible as the inspired word of god?...thanks in advance..

clash_city_rockers

RWC, clueless on biblical exigesis writes:

Romans 3:11 -18 is Paul's indictment to the Jewish people that the law will not save them. Taken out of context it doesn't say what you are implying.

Response: NO! you have know clue as to the outline of Romans
I. Intro 1:1-17
II. The Wrath of God revieled to ungodly men 1:18-32
III. Indictment of the Jew Chapter 2
IV. Idictment of all unrightious men jew and gentile 3:1-20
V. The rightiousness of God (the gospel explained)3:21-31
VI. The gospel Defended Chapter 4

Not one good comentater on the book of Romans will agree with you go check out these comentaries.
1. Charles Hodge on Romans
2. John Murray's commentary on Romans
3. William Hendrickson on Romans
4. C.E.B. Cranfield's Technical commentary on Romans
5. Leon Morris Comentary on Romans
6. F.F. Bruce Tyndale N.T. Commentary on Romans

RWC(who disagrees with the biblical doctrine of total depravity) writes:

Man has free will do decide to believe or not:

Response: First off the passages you quoted Matt 23:37 and Acts 7:51 where in response to the hard hearts of unregenrate man who outside the grace of God(which semi-pelagians/arminians) like you deny!

Look at this passage John 3:3

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, unless a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. .

Notice that the "unless a man be born again" is in INDICTIVEwhat God does and not and IMPARITIVE what god commands us to do. Being born again is indicitive because it is GOD who does the action to us he makes us born again. We do not make areselves born again by our actions even Nicodemus realised that this couldn't be an imparitive as he reasons by questioning (which is an Aristitillain method) "How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" Jesus goes on to answer in verse 5 and 6.

Job 15:14-16 What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight. How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?

What do you do whith 2 Cor 4:3-4
"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."

And you still have know answer to Eph 2:4,5!!!!!!!!

Sure man has free will but that free will only has the ability to chose sin and never the things of God the only way that free will can choose is if God has mercy and opens the eyes of the lost and regenerates them out in Covenantal language:

And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: Ezekiel 11:19

notice it is God NOT man who changes hearts.

RWC writes:

To answer your question Gotcha, I am Roman Catholic.

Response: From the frying pan JW's to the Fryer RCC. Your not the guy me and my friend encountered at Don Nelsons House a couple of years ago? anyway
here is a good apologetics ministry that tackels the papists like Scott Hahn as well as JW's and other HELL BOUND people and idiologies.
http://aomin.org/apologetics.html

BTW: did you know Roman Catholic Scripture scholar Joeseph Fitzmire agrees with Protistants with the issue of FAITH ALONE
Yes his commentary on Romans, which by the way has official impromator and niel obstrat teaches faith alone(imputed Rightiousness) in Verse 4:5.

Pom, e-mail me I would like to talk

126

adam & eve

by gotcha in

does anyone here take the creation story literally?

if yes, did u do ample research and think carefully but still believe in it?

if u don't think that the story should be taken as literal, what is your reading of it and do u still believe in the bible as the inspired word of god?...thanks in advance..

clash_city_rockers

I am a christian by God's grace alone
my theological inclaination is very old school protestant
I have calvinist convictions look at the post above and read the links

126

adam & eve

by gotcha in

does anyone here take the creation story literally?

if yes, did u do ample research and think carefully but still believe in it?

if u don't think that the story should be taken as literal, what is your reading of it and do u still believe in the bible as the inspired word of god?...thanks in advance..

clash_city_rockers

Pom,

check these out and give me your take on the Canons of Dort, Westminster Confession of Faith and Shorter Catchism.

http://www.reformed.org/documents/canons_of_dordt.html

http://www.reformed.org/documents/wcf_with_proofs/

http://www.reformed.org/documents/WSC_frames.html

Faith Alone, Grace Alone, Scriptures Alone to the Glory to God Alone,
jr

126

adam & eve

by gotcha in

does anyone here take the creation story literally?

if yes, did u do ample research and think carefully but still believe in it?

if u don't think that the story should be taken as literal, what is your reading of it and do u still believe in the bible as the inspired word of god?...thanks in advance..

clash_city_rockers

RWC asks a very important question.:

Where does faith come from?

Response from the scriptures:

EPH 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us who believe, according to the working of his mighty power
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

RWC, if faith is not a gift from God then salvation is not sola gratia(Grace Alone). You may not be aware but you are promoting a works righteousness salvation.

Question for RWC: If a man is bound by sins and trespasses and cannot choose God(lets review the passage)

There is none that understand, there is none that seek(other translations use choose) after God.

Where does man get his saving faith? From with in? or is it too a gift from God. If man can with his own ability (where does it come from?) muster enough faith from his gut then how can he explain this verse from Phillipians

Phil 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

RWC, it is plain that the scriptures teach that faith is a gift from God and does not come from with in…

Where does Lydia get her faith from God or deeeeeeep with in her guts?

Acts 16:14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended(received or gave heed, in other translations) unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

late,
jr

126

adam & eve

by gotcha in

does anyone here take the creation story literally?

if yes, did u do ample research and think carefully but still believe in it?

if u don't think that the story should be taken as literal, what is your reading of it and do u still believe in the bible as the inspired word of god?...thanks in advance..

clash_city_rockers

Pomegranate writes in response to the order of salvation:

More like the same time.

response: well almost you see If man is born dead in his sins and trespasses then he is dependent on the mercy of God to act first. Remember man cannot chose God his free will is bound to his sinful inclination. Romans 3:11 makes mans ability very clear. Remember man is completely dependant on God.

John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
And
Romans 9:16 So then it is not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God that shows mercy.

As you see GOD makes a man alive First Eph 2:4,5 and then afterward he(the sinner) immediately places his trust in Christ. To say it another way, God changes his affections as a result he seeks the things of God. God changes the heart.
How else can you explain the passage?

Eph 2:4,5 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love where with he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, has made us alive together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

pomegranate writes:

God chooses the man, man CANNOT choose God because man is born in a debased and corrupt vessel.

You are absolutely correct…….

126

adam & eve

by gotcha in

does anyone here take the creation story literally?

if yes, did u do ample research and think carefully but still believe in it?

if u don't think that the story should be taken as literal, what is your reading of it and do u still believe in the bible as the inspired word of god?...thanks in advance..

clash_city_rockers

RCW wrote:

If you don't know you are chosen, how do you know you are God's slave? Maybe you are deluding yourself. You have no assurance of salvation at all, because if God didn't pick you, all your faith is in vain. or are you saying that everyone who has faith has already been picked. What about those who had faith at one point but now don't? Did God give that faith and then take it away?

Because the scripures alone give us assurances in the promises of Christ. Based on the active obediance of Christ alone. Those who walk away or apostacy from the faith where never converted by God in the first place. your asking god questions that can be answered by a good study on the nature of conversion. and who does the saving God or man. 1John 5:1-5 gives us the assurance that we are favor with God and have eternal life. We do know that God chooses undeserving sinners, who they are that is locked up un the seecret things of God not to be revieled but we personally can know our own assurense of election and salvation. That is why we proclaiom the message of Christ because it is though the means of the preached word that men are saves James 1:18 Romans 10:17

clash_city_rockers

Posts by clash_city_rockers