"I think (hope) that you are being led by the Holy Spirit in your current train of thought. Of course "Reformed" is a useless term, just as is Southern Baptist, Church of God, or Catholic (in its common usage). All of these denomination titles are products of men, not God. At the core, we are all (or should be) followers of Christ, first and foremost. I have not been trained in Reformed theology, I have no idea what TULIP is, or sotierology, or lapsariansm, other than big words to make the user sound important. What I do know is this: "if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Rom. 10:9) I also know that "The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise...He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2Pet. 3:16) Not the "elect", everyone. Also, concerning gifts, Peter said, "The promise (of the gift of the Holy Spirit) is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord will call." (Acts 2:39) If you read this passage in context, you will see that Peter is explaining the phenomenom of speaking in tongues to those who had witnessed it. I am by no means implying that one has to exercise gifts of the Spirit in order to be saved, but those gifts were certainly not meant to cease, and they have not. Healings still happen, as do words of wisdom, miracles, and the other gifts mentioned in 1Cor. 12. I am not trying to be divisive or controversial or anything like that, I just think that the whole discussion here is a moot point. All of the denominational trappings are just that--trappings, not essential to the message of the Gospel."

I will probably be banned from visiting his site after this (just kidding--I hope), but I couldn't help myself :^).

posted by #Debi at 6:56 PM | permalink | 0 comments

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