arapahoepark
Puritan Board Professor
Hey!
I am wondering how to deal with these objects posted on a comment at the Heidleblog:
I realize they are FV and don't want to argue with the guy (there's no point), but just wondering how these objection are dealt with.
Thanks!
(turns out he has a FV church in the same metro area as me, that's too bad)
I am wondering how to deal with these objects posted on a comment at the Heidleblog:
I appreciate the article which summarizes much of the Reformed thought on this issue. However, the Reformers themselves advocated for semper reformata – they wanted others to build on their foundation and continue to refine and develop doctrine. Therefore, the creeds and catechisms are good, but not infallible. They are valuable, but if they are shown to be in error in relation to God’s Word, those view must be discarded.
To that point, the Reformers were not correct in every single area of doctrine (they did not even agree on every area of doctrine) and while it is a false church, the RCC is not in error on every area of doctrine. Simply labeling a particular doctrine as Reformed does not make it automatically correct and simply labeling a doctrine as RCC does not make it automatically heretical.
The Reformation was exactly correct in that we come into a right relationship with God via faith alone – and any right relationship with God is gracious. However, our relationship to God is a marriage and God has demonstrated throughout redemption history that He will not tolerate unfaithfulness in those who are called the people of God. They must either repent (turn from their wicked ways) or be removed from the covenant.
The idea of justification as a one-time, permanent state that requires nothing of the one who is in covenant might fit with the historic Reformed position, but it contradicts scores of biblical passages. I will list a few here that support the idea that one must be faithful to his marriage with Christ, not as a means of earning or meriting that marriage (anymore than I earn favor from my wife), but as the means to be faithful to or maintain that redemptive relationship:
Matthew 3:7-10 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
John 8:31,39 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples…They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did.
John 15:10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
1 Corinthians 7:19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.
Galatians 5:19-25 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
If removal from the marriage covenant were impossible, why were the Jews removed because of whoredom? Why is the unfaithful servant thrown into hell? Why does Paul warn the Galatians that they have been “severed from Christ”? How can one be severed from Christ if he was never in union with Christ?
Through Scripture, we understand the problem with modern Christianity: because people are being taught that they can be an unfaithful bride and yet remain married to God. Five out of seven churches in Revelation certainly understand that faithfulness to the covenant is required.
I realize they are FV and don't want to argue with the guy (there's no point), but just wondering how these objection are dealt with.
Thanks!
(turns out he has a FV church in the same metro area as me, that's too bad)