This is all Bible. Gnostics- Augustinians- Calvinists should drop their "God hates those sinners" attitude and remember that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

Michael Hranek wrote:
RK B
Dear Friend I want to weep when I read your post of this verse
BECAUSE it is written:
1 Cor 1:18-
For the message of the CROSS is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

It's all about the CROSS of our King. Precious Jesus. He picked us up out of the mire of sin and washed us with His own precious blood. What a Saviour!

My God is BIG ENOUGH to get His will DONE *DESPITE* His gift of FREE WILL to man.

My God is BIG ENOUGH to both be SOVEREIGN *AND* to give me a FREE WILL.

He CHOSE to save me; I CHOOSE to follow.

I'm His CHOSEN work... and I CHOOSE to continue to WORK OUT what He WORKS IN.

Maybe Calvinists weren't created in HIS IMAGE? Is that why they don't have a FREE WILL?

More of Jesus; less of Calvin.

Huh?

Few minute's pause? Just because we are saved by grace does not make God's laws optional. "Whoever breaks the LEAST of these commandments shall be least in the kingdom of Heaven."

Is it God's word or not? Is this the best evangelicalism can offer?

Barry from KY -- "I would love to hear the opinions of my brothers and sisters here on SA."

T - Totally dependant on the light He shines upon every man (John 1:9)

U - Unconditionally opposed to those who with polarizing doctrine wrest the scriptures (2 Peter 3:16)

L - Limited in my understanding but growing wiser unto salvation by the scriptures (2 Timothy 3:15)

I - Irresistably involved in an ongoing battle against my mortal enemies (1 John 2:15-17)

P - Persevering in the fight as He has been teaching me (Ephesians 6:10-18)

T - Totally dependant on the light He shines upon every man (John 1:9)

U - Unconditionally opposed to those who with polarizing doctrine wrest the scriptures (2 Peter 3:16)

L - Limited in my understanding but growing wiser unto salvation by the scriptures (2 Timothy 3:15)

I - Irresistably involved in an ongoing battle against my mortal enemies (1 John 2:15-17)

P - Persevering in the fight as He has been teaching me (Ephesians 6:10-18)

"If you are glorying in him, you will speak much of him. If you are glorying in yourself, you will speak much of yourself."

This is the truth -- but has nothing to do with this case.

In this case: If one is glorying in the amazing doctrine of an altogether good God who loves us, then you will speak against the errors of Calvin.

"I gave you a text to read which will help you out, but you have not understood it."

Before you go any further down this road you may want to consider how much you really know about my understanding of the sanctifying work of Jesus.

Please consider:

Romans 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

Christopher000 -- We can do all things through Christ who dwells in us. Commit it to the Lord, ask for pure motives, then step-out in faith with the goal of honouring Jesus and seeing souls snatched from destruction.

"Anyway, boy, did this thread blow up. TB, I was impressed with your posts back to Lurker...all of the verses, that is. Man, I wish I could do that when asked a question...ha-ha"

Whether or not you are in the vine is the issue. Is it his life flowing into you or your effort?

Revelation 2:2-3 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

2 Corinthians 6:5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

Colossians 1:29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

1 Thessalonians 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

1 Thessalonians 2:9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

1 Timothy 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

Acts 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

1 Corinthians 3:8-9 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, [ye are] God's building.

1 Corinthians 4:11-12 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace [which was bestowed] upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

-- Don't know exactly to what "that" refers to, but it cannot be the Christian walk. I would fear that anyone whose walk that does not include a great deal of "effort" and cooperative "work" in crucifying the flesh with it's passions and desires has not even begun to walk. "Whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." It was with great effort and work that he purchased our redemption -- what folly to expect that we will not likewise toil in the divine effort to become the spotless bride. "The servant is not greater than his lord."

"Observe,

1 Corinthians 1:30-31 KJV..."

Great passage, thanks. That said, it's not charitable to strawman the non-Calvinist into someone who is his own saviour.

"When you can glory in the Lord alone, you will have correctly interpreted the Bible. Until then, may God bless your Bible reading and prayers."