Who are the Arminians?

If you are not there concerning creeds and confessions you still have some growing to do, imo.

 

Why do you say that?

They are NOT inspired, and the Holy Spirit can and does work through the Word of God, not opinions of men!

 

:thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:

 

Does the study of creed and confessions help us to grow spiritually?

 

If you are going to use the labels ,.what you believe has to match your confession. You say you are reformed, yet some of your posts paint a different picture. All the reformed believe in all 5 points, they believe the bible is a closed canon,all are confessional.

 

Luke2427,
I have never met a cultist that likes that label.Yet they are in a cult.
Some cannot defend their views scripturally to where they can answer scripturally, so they disdain any label.
This idea of not identifying with a theology because of a mans name is just an excuse to avoid having error exposed.
There is probably not one or two persons on here who could quote from any theologian without cut and pasting from an article.
labels are useful as it saves much time in discussion. Some try to sound extra spiritual saying....I am just of the bible...and yet strangely when they post you almost never see a scripture verse in the post.

How about trying to post without any label or theological terms?
Well I believe there is three Holy persons who are really only one divine person,who have been around forever, who spoke to some men and had them write words in a book.
They said there was a problem and men and women are in trouble.Bad things will happen if we do not listen to them. Somehow they have an idea how to fix the problem so everything works out nice and we can try to just love one another.
Do not worry about those persons who are blowing up bombs and chanting in arabic. The light has not enlightened them yet to where they can make better choices.There used to be a law for mankind, but now there is just love.


If it looks like a duck,and quacks like a duck.....it's a....

 

Maybe they're four-point Arminians. :smilewinkgrin:

I also use the term Noncalvinist. There is Calvinism, and then there is error.

 

Amy g ...yes they do because they are simply the scriptures organized to answer a question on what does the bible teach.
Here in chapter 1 of the 1689...they wisely put the scriptures first and explain why;
Chapter 1: Of the Holy Scriptures
1._____ The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience, although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and his will which is necessary unto salvation. Therefore it pleased the Lord at sundry times and in divers manners to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto his church; and afterward for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan, and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing; which maketh the Holy Scriptures to be most necessary, those former ways of God's revealing his will unto his people being now ceased.( 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Isaiah 8:20; Luke 16:29, 31; Ephesians 2:20; Romans 1:19-21; Romans 2:14,15; Psalms 19:1-3; Hebrews 1:1; Proverbs 22:19-21; Romans 15:4; 2 Peter 1:19,20 )
2._____Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testaments, which are these:

OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I Samuel, II Samuel, I Kings, II Kings, I Chronicles, II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, The Song of Solomen, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations,Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

OF THE NEW TESTAMENT: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, The Acts of the Apostles, Paul's Epistle to the Romans, I Corinthians, II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I Thessalonians, II Thessalonians, I Timothy, II Timothy, To Titus, To Philemon, The Epistle to the Hebrews, Epistle of James, The first and second Epistles of Peter, The first, second, and third Epistles of John, The Epistle of Jude, The Revelation

All of which are given by the inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life.
( 2 Timothy 3:16)

3._____ The books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the canon or rule of the Scripture, and, therefore, are of no authority to the church of God, nor to be any otherwise approved or made use of than other human writings.
( Luke 24:27, 44; Romans 3:2 )

4._____ The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God (who is truth itself), the author thereof; therefore it is to be received because it is the Word of God.
( 2 Peter 1:19-21; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 John 5:9 )

5._____We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the church of God to an high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scriptures; and the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, and the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes of the only way of man's salvation, and many other incomparable excellencies, and entire perfections thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God; yet notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth, and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts.
( John 16:13,14; 1 Corinthians 2:10-12; 1 John 2:20, 27)

6._____The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down or necessarily contained in the Holy Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelation of the Spirit, or traditions of men. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word, and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.( 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Galatians 1:8,9; John 6:45; 1 Corinthians 2:9-12; 1 Corinthians 11:13, 14; 1 Corinthians 14:26,40)

7._____All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all; yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of ordinary means, may attain to a sufficient understanding of them.
( 2 Peter 3:16; Psalms 19:7; Psalms 119:130)

8._____The Old Testament in Hebrew (which was the native language of the people of God of old), and the New Testament in Greek (which at the time of the writing of it was most generally known to the nations), being immediately inspired by God, and by his singular care and providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentic; so as in all controversies of religion, the church is finally to appeal to them. But because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God, who have a right unto, and interest in the Scriptures, and are commanded in the fear of God to read and search them, therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come, that the Word of God dwelling plentifully in all, they may worship him in an acceptable manner, and through patience and comfort of the Scriptures may have hope.( Romans 3:2; Isaiah 8:20; Acts 15:15; John 5:39; 1 Corinthians 14:6, 9, 11, 12, 24, 28; Colossians 3:16 )

9._____The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself; and therefore when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture (which is not manifold, but one), it must be searched by other places that speak more clearly.
( 2 Peter 1:20, 21; Acts 15:15, 16)

10.____The supreme judge, by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Scripture delivered by the Spirit, into which Scripture so delivered, our faith is finally resolved.( Matthew 22:29, 31, 32; Ephesians 2:20; Acts 28:23)

 

Do you think the word TRINITY carries any significance?

Because it is a word from men. The word is not in the Bible. Do you cherish it nonetheless?

AND it is most clearly defended as an orthodox biblical doctrine of the Christian Faith in the CREEDS.

It is in the CREEDS where the church stated that anyone who denies the biblical doctrine of the Trinity is not an orthodox Christian.

That bloody battle was fought by HEROES of the faith whom God raised up in his providence to establish Christian orthodoxy.

It ought not be snuffed at- ESPECIALLY by one of the Reformed persuasion.

 

:applause::applause::applause:

 

Ghandi would have said the same thing.

 

No. They are scriptures organized according to man's opinion of them. Creeds are not scripture and are not inspired of God. Only God's Spirit can cause spiritual growth through God's word.

Every religion has it's creeds including false ones. That does not make them correct and certainly does not cause any spiritual growth.

 

Ghandi would have said the sun rises each day as I'm sure you have also said. Does that make you a Hindu?

 

Do you read Christian books?

Do they help you grow spiritually by teaching what the Bible says?

SURE YOU DO!

The creeds were written by mightier in the Spirit and far more brilliant Christians than any Christian book you have ever read. Tell me if you know of a Christian author who thinks he might be as important a tool in the Church as was Athanasias.

NNE in the Protestant community that I know says the creeds are inspired!

That's a pointless statement.

But they are TREMENDOUSLY valuable because of the truth from the Scriptures that they enunciate.

Pilgrim's Progress is not inspired either but hundreds of millions of Christians have cherished that work as valuable and helpful in their desires to grow spiritually.

NO orthodox Christian should snuff at them.

 

If you want to give credit to human beings for your spiritual growth that is your business, but I will give credit to the Holy Spirit.

 

Surely there is a bible verse that covers the vain repitition of what others have printed in every piece of conversation. I thought my computer was at fault for the vain repetition that kept sending my copy back and back and back, over again.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Sometimes methinks we blame the Holy Spirit for some things we say we learn directly, but that is just an excuse to fault the learned studies of faithful servants.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Think the confusion here is that I tend to see Sotierology more "reformed" in sense of HOW the savation process of God works, but stricyly baptist in all other areas of Christian faith!

 

Correct & when you contrast the Baptist 1689 to the Westminster Confessions hold to you will see little difference till you come to Baptism. As Presbyterians, the text makes Infant Baptism into a Sacrament. With scriptural justification.
Would any Baptist agree wit dat.... No Way Jose!

However as a fairly recent convert to the Faith, I can use both Creeds & Confessions as guidelines & even challenge them for authenticity. Ive gone to Pastors & debated the confessions & asked if they could be edited or at least made note of before being a member of the church....I even changed my viewpoint after heavy study on the point in question. Guess I make things difficult! :smilewinkgrin:

 

But when Ghandi says "Jesus," he doesn't mean the same Jesus I mean when I say "Jesus." And the only way to know that is with a statement of faith.

Rail against labels all you want, there is no communication without them. I am a Calvinist. Now, with that one word, I have spoken volumes about what I believe about Christ and the nature of the Atonement.

I find that those who rail against labels are usually those who either can't defend what they believe, or don't know.