I am reading a devotional book by Johann Gerhardt writen in 1606. He seems to imply that a persons faith in Christ can be lost at any time due to sin or unbelief. Obviously he is right to a point. If you have sin living in your heart Christ can not be there.

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Jeff Allen

First Baptist Church SBC
Christ Follower


"Unto Him that Loved us" Revelation 1:5

Explain this sentence to me: If you have sin living in your heart Christ can not be there.

Find some verses that help explain what you mean by 'living in your heart'.

__________________
Bob Vigneault C.O.L, L.E., G.E, Dr.O.P., O.U.T.
The Heartbeat of Heaven (blog)
Deacon/Christ Presbyterian Church, Janesville, WI OPC www.christ-opc.org

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The bible verses he uses are in roman numerals. I will have to get back to you tommorrow. He says everyday we must decide to drown the old man otherwise sin will be there instead.

I personally believe that if you get too far off base God is perfectly able to knock the manure out of you and get you back. This has happened to me several times.

Orthodox Lutherans (an endangered species, consider Dr. Tiller's Reformation Lutheran Church where the most famous of late-term abortionists was a member in good standing) are Reformational, not Reformed.

Reformed denotes the groups following Calvin and differentiated from Luther. Some would deny the term to those who do not practice infant baptism and other Presbyterian distinctives.

I will stay clear of the question as to whether Calvinistic Baptists can be "Reformed." But, the Reformed groups are Reformational and Reformed and the Lutherans are Reformational but not Reformed.

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Dennis E. McFadden, Ex Mainline Baptist (in Remission)
Atherton Baptist Homes, CEO
First Baptist Church of Alhambra, Member, Transformation Ministries (CA)

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Johnny,

All Lutheran theology, to my knowledge, holds to that position. They would uniformly deny the "I" of "TULIP".


Bob,

As much as the phrase "Christ lives within my heart" has been denigrated among Reformed churches in recent years, it is still a Biblical teaching. The Holy Spirit is also known elsewhere in the Epistles as "the Spirit of Christ", and 2 Cor. 1:22 (among several other passages) explicitly states that this Spirit of Christ has been placed within the heart of every regenerate man, woman, and child.

I understand the abuses that have been made of it, but abuses cannot be allowed to cancel out the positive teaching of Scripture.

P.S. I would also affirm that Gerhardt's understanding of the dynamics of that, on the face of it look to be poorly stated, although it is true that the Spirit can be greived/quenched due to continuing in unchallenged habits of sin, a la Eph. 4:30ff.

__________________
Adam J. Myer
Slated for the Jan. 10th Chaplains Basic Officer Leadership Course
Estacada Christian Church
Sandy, Oregon

Soli Deo Gloria

As mentioned by Dennis, Lutheranism was born out of the Reformation, but Lutherans stand distinct from the Reformed. This is born out by numerous doctrinal and confessional differences. Sadly, today you can find liberals under church banners that say Lutheran, Presbyterian, and/or Reformed.

__________________
Jim
1689 LBCF
Independent Bible Church
North Texas, USA

Adam, I wasn't putting down the phrase. I thought it would be a good exercise for Johnny to work through. I learned much by translating the sentimental buzz words and phrases of the church (that I grew up with) into biblical language - some of the language was good, some had to go but it caused me to cultivate the habit of checking all things with scripture.

Thank you for clarifying, Bob. Just noticed that this was in "The Wading Pool", which would have explained your approach.