Mike, New York wrote:Faith brings nothing of merit to salvation. Why does it therefore need to be the gift of God?
MikeFaith is the means ordained unto salvation as created by God for His purpose. Even with saving faith in our beings there is still a mighty struggle. If it were only of human faculty then we would never overcome the dominion, power and effect of sin and Satan.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
You drive a Polo; therefore, you must live in Europe or the UK. VW doesn't sell anything smaller than the Golf in the US, though they do in Mexico.
I only started reading Calvin in earnest *after* being persuaded that Scripture teaches Uncond. Election.
BTW, probably *no* American public schoolchildren (& hardly any Christian schoolchildren) know that according to Wm. Brewster, the Scrooby Separatists (aka the Mayflower folks) largely followed the French Reformed Church order, & that their pastor John Robinson was persuaded by the Dutch to debate Arminians at the U. of Leyden.
Neil wrote:Pikestaff, your post belongs in another thread.I see the falsehoods, abusive ad hominems, & the strawmen about Calvin haven't ended. Better get used to it, for they never repent.
I drive a VW Polo.
As for John Calvin, we do not defend his human life but the work of grace and the Holy Spirit, which enabled him to preach and teach the Scriptures so expertly.
The opposing team attacks the human person, because their doctrine originates and derives from that same human source.
Hranek totally buys into the hate propaganda that Calvin was a heretic-hunter and the personal executioner of Servetus ... and many others.
And he buys into it because he doesn't agree with Calvinism. It's that simple.
If he were truly interested about learning the truth concerning Calvin & Servetus, a good start for him would be listening to [URL=http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=102704111238]]]THIS sermon on the Ethics of John Calvin[/URL]
1) Servetus violated a civil law (that had religious underpinnings). He knew the punishment of that violation before he ever entered Geneva.
2) Calvin had absolutely no power to alter the law, Servetus' breaking of it, or the sentence to be carried out. He was called in as a witness to Servetus' writings and teachings which were in violation of the published law and complied with the civil magistrate.
So, to claim that Servetus was "murdered" is not based on facts. He was executed for a capital crime. And to claim that Calvin killed him is not even remotely close to the truth.
I see the falsehoods, abusive ad hominems, & the strawmen about Calvin haven't ended. Better get used to it, for they never repent.
This is a complete lie, a fabrication of history. Calvin, a Frenchman, was not a citizen of Geneva, and therefore was not a part of the justice system. Justice was meted out by the council of 200, which was the local authority and could ONLY be made up of citizens.
Happy Birthday America!
Just think if you had not left British administration you might have been governed by Tony Blair and Mr. Personality Gordon Brown.Wow!!!
BTW What does "Democracy" mean???Does it mean Obama will win?
Can anyone give me a link please?
Calvinists are the Best
From Storm Chaser to Silver Shadowhttp://calledsaintsinchrist.blogspot.com/2005/09/from-storm-chaser-to-silver-shadow.html
The two we were interested in were sold,so we were meant not to have them !
It is a four year old Rover 45,absolutely beautiful,only done 21,000 miles,and is a gift from His hand.
Under our budget as well.
Sad to see my little Fiat Uno go,though,my gospel car !
Ford is an American company (still I think?)
My car is of German design.
It is constructed in South Africa.
Guess that makes it a MONGREL. But it is a very good car actually, thanks largely to the engineering design. Better than my previous French designed car (Peugeot) that was built in England.