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You are obviously ignorant of Scripture and my beliefs. I have repeatedly said I am not a Calvinist. That Calvin believed, as Scripture states, that Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of our faith is simply a credit to his obedience to Scripture.

Feel free to call Calvin an "OldRegular" if it makes you feel good but he would have to repent of his teaching on infant baptism.

As to Roman Catholics beliefs and practices, they are clearly heretical to one who believes the Bible.

 

A Baptist Church!:thumbs::love2::thumbs::love2:

 

:thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:

 

Ephesians 2:8, 9
8. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9. Not of works, lest any man should boast.

We are saved by the Grace of God, not by works. Seems sufficiently clear for many! Others simply want to get the big I involved or in the case of Roman Catholics, the priest.

 

First, let me say this. It is a red herring, off topic, and has nothing to do with the op. If you want to start another thread on this topic, then please do so.

However, I will give an answer to it, but I would hope you would answer in another thread.

I also disagree with Calvinism, but I would never call my Calvinistic brethren unsaved, either. We both believe that "salvation is by grace through faith." The RCC does not. They believe salvation is by works through baptismal regeneration.
One cannot firmly believe in the dogmas of the RCC and believe in the doctrine of salvation at the same time. The RCC does not teach Biblical salvation. They teach a religion of works. Works does not and never have saved.

 

They explain this as baptism. That makes it mean baptismal regeneration. No man is saved by water. It is one of the first heresies to enter into Christianity. We are not saved by water or baptism--a superstition. There is nothing in the context to even suggest that water means baptism. There are many other logical explanations then jumping to the conclusion that water means baptism. I am sure that Nicodemus, being a ruler of the Jews, would not have immediately thought of baptism when Jesus said "water and of the Spirit."

"for the forgiveness of sins" The word "for" in the Greek is a preposition which has many meanings. Most often it is translated in or into. But take a look at how it is used in Matthew:

Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance:
The same word "eis" is used, but here is translated "unto." Did John baptize that they may receive repentance, or because they had repented? He had also warned them to bring fruits of their repentance. Bring proof. He would only baptize if he could see the proof. He baptize (on account of; on the basis of; because of) their repentance.
The same is true in Acts 2:38. The same word is used. Repent and be baptized...on the basis of, or because of "the forgiveness of your sins.

First Paul wasn't even saved at this point. He is summarizing his testimony. He was saved much earlier on when on the road to Damascus, when he called on the Lord: "Who are thou Lord," and afterward showed his obedience and surrender to the Lord, by saying, "Lord, what would you have me to do." So the whole passage is superfluous. He wasn't saved at his baptism which happened some time after his encounter with Jesus.
--The construction of the verbs is important.

Rise and be baptized. Having called upon his name your sins are washed away.

This describes the state of the believer after he has come to Christ.

The washing here is not baptism. I can show you later how it refers to the washing by the Word of God.

This is a complete figure of speech going back to Noah. Water is a picture of destruction, thus not a picture of NT baptism. The passage even says "not as a removal of dirt from the body." I can give more explanation of this verse later. I have to go now.

 

Verduin's remarks are consistent with what the historian Philip Schaff writes in his History of the Christian Church posted earlier on this thread!

 

And you are obviously ignorant -- period. Plus devoid of a sense of humor.

Where in my post did I say that you were a Calvinist? I must have written that with invisible ink, or type.

As to Calvinist beliefs and practices, they are clearly heretical (a minority opinion) to one who believes the Bible and knows early church teaching.

Now take note: In that last statement, I did not call you a Calvinist, lest you falsely accuse me of something again. (sigh)

 

Excellent -- all of it!!

 

Like everyone else, including Baptists, Catholics maybe saved through Christ. Denominational affiliation does not guarantee salvation.

 

The silence is because there is no verse that says faith alone. Unless you count Luther's version where he penciled it in! Luther added the word "alone" (allein in German) to Romans 3:28 controversially so that it read: "thus, we hold, then, that man is justified without the works of the law to do, alone through faith.

 

Sorry, I cannot commend you on your reading skills. Do you see anything in the passage from Ephesians that states we are saved by anything other than the Grace of God. Furthermore, you cannot find any Scripture that states we are saved by faith plus works. You will be able to find Scripture that states that works are evidence of our faith.

The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:10, which follows Ephesians 2:9, that we are the workmanship of God created in Christ Jesus to do good works. In fact the first 10 verses of Ephesians 2 are about the work of God the Holy Spirit in the regeneration [that is the New Birth.] of the elect. Nothing at all about water baptismal regeneration.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Perhaps God knew that there would be people like you who thought they could work themselves to Salvation; you know like Mormons, Roman Catholics, and Jews, and had Paul write verse 10 just for you!:godisgood:

 

Silence is not forever Walter!:laugh:

I can't commend your reading skills either Walter. Do you see faith plus works in the passage you accused Luther of modifying? Do you? Don't be silent!

Romans 3:28. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

God through the Apostle clearly tells us that we are justified by faith without the deeds of the law. :godisgood: That means we are justified by faith alone!

 

If they are saved they are saved through Jesus Christ in spite of the heretical teaching magisterium and tradition of Roman Catholicism.

 

Like all who will be saved. Last time I checked faith in Christ is what saves, not a set of doctrines.

 

Not very nice MW. I did not say you were ignorant, period. I said:

Big difference!

It is well known by most on this Board that I believe in the Doctrines of Grace and that I reject certain doctrinal views of Calvin!

I am not so ignorant that I don't know what constitutes heresy. Anyone who states that the Doctrines of Grace are heretical is certainly unlearned [That means ignorant.] but I hope not stupid. :thumbs:

Life does get tough sometimes MW!:laugh: BUT :godisgood:

 

I am trying to agree as fast and hard as I can!:BangHead::BangHead: