Jesus Christ - Bible Study

[Reformed]

C’mon mercygate! Reformed has an agenda to keep up with. Get on pace, or you will miss the salvation boat!

Ohh. come on… we are only having fun in our Bible Studies and being challenged in our own presuppositions. We ALL know in part according to the Apostle Paul. I even looked at a Reformed Bible Study last night on John chapter 1 through 3. We have to believe that God the Holy Spirit is working in all of us to help each one of us to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ throught our study of the Scriptures together. I want you guys to challenge me with the Scriptures.

Proverbs 27:17

Iron sharpens iron,
and one man sharpens another.

 

[Reformed]

You have made analogies of Zombies eating flesh and the Holy Eucharist. You are now saying that Scripture has “too much light for us to handle”.

You are cruel and uncharitable.

You have ended the Bible study.

Please forgive me for my zombie comment. We are all sinners in process. We are commanded to forgive one another because God has forgiven us in Christ. It’s not easy to participate on an all Catholic Forum site. I do thank the moderators for their charity and kindness to allow me to continue to participate on this site. Please re-consider joining our study. It is always profitable to meditate on the Scriptures with others with a different perspective. On most of the essentials, we are already united. We will have an interesting discussion in John chapter 6. Actually John 6 is extremely Calvinistic, and you can share your understanding of the Eucharist on that chapter.

 

[Mickey]

Please forgive me for my zombie comment. We are all sinners in process. We are commanded to forgive one another because God has forgiven us in Christ.

God forgives and so do I.
:bible1:

 

[Reformed]

It appears that we are arriving at the impasse we left on the other thread concerning free will. Your question has faults in logic especially in light of the statement that you make concerning parents. I will leave it to you to critique your own question. Recognizing the faulty nature of this post “on your own” will help you along in the discussion. I would walk you through this, but I think you need to independently take the intellectual scalpel to your own thinking.

Why did you bother to quote from the Westminster Confession concerning the element of “free will” only to return to the same faulty premise?

Our position and understanding on free will is not gospel essential. I only bring this issue up when the Scirptures appear to bring it up in our study. John chapter 3 is thee most important chapter in regards to the new birth. All Christians have to wonder why they are able to believe in Christ and most of humanity does not.

 

[Reformed]

In answer to your question of me, I will simply restate what scripture says and go no further. The passage says it all:

Jn 1:12-13

“But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Think about what I highlighted versus your contentions concerning free will.

Absolutely, all Christians see that God’ grace enables us to come to Christ. The question about God’s enabling grace is why some are able to believe and most do not. We are really discussing if God’s grace is given in greater degrees to some as compared to others. Michael already posted several times that God’s elect receive persevering grace that others do not receive. That my friend is Catholic Calvinism. Think about it, why was the grace of God more effectual for you than your friends, family and neighbors who do not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?

 

[mercygate]

You are always welcome to go back to a previous chapter. Let’s say we are on John chapters 1, 2, and 3. I find it very interesting that Roman Catholics find the Eucharist in John chapter 1. I look forward to John chapter 6. I assumed all Christians saw the verse that you have referenced as the incarnation. The very first part of chapter 1 validates and teaches the Trinity too.

It IS the Incarnation! Of course – no argument there: none at all. And that verse definitely limns the shadow of a Trinitarian view of Christ.

When a person with a full Apostolic and Eucharistic understandng of the Real Presence meditates on the words “dwell” and “among us” we find the same foreshadowing of the Eucharistic Presence that animates the Body of Christ – the Church. Christ dwelt “among us” when He walked on earth in the flesh. He dwells “among us” and “in us” today in the Eucharist.

 

[Reformed]

God forgives and so do I.
:bible1:

Thanks brother. Let’s pray for each other as we go through God’s Holy Word together.

 

[Love_is_Patient]

You have made analogies of Zombies eating flesh and the Holy Eucharist. You are now saying that Scripture has “too much light for us to handle”.

You are cruel and uncharitable.

You have ended the Bible study.

I agree. I’ve followed your threads, Reformed, and it is clear you have no respect for Catholics. Your witness to your Calvinistic faith has only driven me, and others, to become further confirmed that Catholicism is true.

Your lack of charity was the first clue that something is off in your belief system. Perhaps you might wish to look back at what St. Paul writes about love in 1 Corinthians.

I do hope that perhaps you will take the time to read over your past posts, and take an honest look at the way you present yourself, and the things you have said about the Catholic faith. If you are truly interested in dialogue and study together–and not just disparaging the Catholic faith–I think you need to work on changing your attitude. It would help, a lot.

God bless,
Love is Patient

 

[Reformed]

It IS the Incarnation! Of course – no argument there: none at all. And that verse definitely limns the shadow of a Trinitarian view of Christ.

When a person with a full Apostolic and Eucharistic understandng of the Real Presence meditates on the words “dwell” and “among us” we find the same foreshadowing of the Eucharistic Presence that animates the Body of Christ – the Church. Christ dwelt “among us” when He walked on earth in the flesh. He dwells “among us” and “in us” today in the Eucharist.

Okay, I can understand how Roman Catholic Christians can see that. BTW… you guys remember that I believe that those who are united to Christ come from different religious communities of Protestantism, Roman Catholicism, Orthodox, Anglican, and non-churched Christians. I truly believe in the invisible church. I preach the gospel to myself, wife, kids and other Protestant Christians too. I believe the Pastor needs to preach the gospel to his congregation each and every Sunday. When you think about the Apostle Paul, he is proclaiming the gospel and Christ and Him crucified to Christians in His letters (the visible church). So, if I sounds like I am preaching, I am also preaching Christ and Him crucified to myself when I post. For me, the key of the gospel is in the thesis statement found in Romans 1:16-17.

 

[Reformed]

I agree. I’ve followed your threads, Reformed, and it is clear you have no respect for Catholics. Your witness to your Calvinistic faith has only driven me, and others, to become further confirmed that Catholicism is true.

Your lack of charity was the first clue that something is off in your belief system. Perhaps you might wish to look back at what St. Paul writes about love in 1 Corinthians.

I do hope that perhaps you will take the time to read over your past posts, and take an honest look at the way you present yourself, and the things you have said about the Catholic faith. If you are truly interested in dialogue and study together–and not just disparaging the Catholic faith–I think you need to work on changing your attitude. It would help, a lot.

God bless,
Love is Patient

I asked for forgiveness about my Zombie comment and Mickey was gracious to forgive me. We have reconciled as Christians and I believe he will continue in our Bible Study. I too ask for your forgiveness when I offend you. Please notice that I did not say “if” I offend you, but rather "when I offend you. We are all sinners in process and need to repent of our sins. We do see Christianity with two different set of glasses. We are commanded to forgive one another since God forgave us in Christ. I hope you are able to fogive me too and join us in our Bible Study.

 

[Love_is_Patient]

I asked for forgiveness about my Zombie comment and Mickey was gracious to forgive me. We have reconciled as Christians and I believe he will continue in our Bible Study. I too ask for your forgiveness when I offend you. Please notice that I did not say “if” I offend you, but rather "when I offend you. We are all sinners in process and need to repent of our sins. We do see Christianity with two different set of glasses. We are commanded to forgive one another since God forgave us in Christ. I hope you are able to fogive me too and join us in our Bible Study.

I appreciate your apology. Thank you. Of course I forgive you.

I will continue to watch this Bible study progress, but will probably refrain from posting, at least for a while.

Love is Patient

 

[mercygate]

Okay, I can understand how Roman Catholic Christians can see that. BTW… you guys remember that I believe that those who are united to Christ come from different religious communities of Protestantism, Roman Catholicism, Orthodox, Anglican, and non-churched Christians. I truly believe in the invisible church. I preach the gospel to myself, wife, kids and other Protestant Christians too. I believe the Pastor needs to preach the gospel to his congregation each and every Sunday. When you think about the Apostle Paul, he is proclaiming the gospel and Christ and Him crucified to Christians in His letters (the visible church). So, if I sounds like I am preaching, I am also preaching Christ and Him crucified to myself when I post. For me, the key of the gospel is in the thesis statement found in Romans 1:16-17.

My post need not lead to belaboring the idea of the “invisible” church. And we’re not discussing preaching or personal evangelism. This thread is about Jesus Christ.

 

[M0nkey]

3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again [4] he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Jesus is speaking directly of baptism. The baptismal water which regenerates and brings new life.

36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not **obey **the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Very important. You cannot enter the kingdom of heaven unless you have faith and are obedient to God.

I would add the chapters on the readings so we can keep track of where we are.

 

[Reformed]

My post need not lead to belaboring the idea of the “invisible” church. And we’re not discussing preaching or personal evangelism. This thread is about Jesus Christ.

I agree…but we cannot seperate Jesus Christ and His work on our behalf. I believe the gospel of John will focus on the person and work of Jesus Christ on our behalf. The gospel of John is a historical account of the life of Jesus. However, I believe it goes much deeper than the other 3 gospel accounts.

 

[Reformed]

Jesus is speaking directly of baptism. The baptismal water which regenerates and brings new life.

Very important. You cannot enter the kingdom of heaven unless you have faith and are obedient to God.

I would add the chapters on the readings so we can keep track of where we are.

How do you see faith in regards to faith being a gift from God or being self-generated? How do you see enabling grace and our union with Christ and our call to obedience?

 

[M0nkey]

God’s elect receive persevering grace that others do not receive.

Is this some kind of disposition of grace? I don’t think the CC teaches this, only that you must submit your will to God’s will. As far as I know, when Jesus died on the cross his grace and salvation was made available to ALLmen. Of course, this is no totally free, it came at the expense of Christ’s blood.

 

[Reformed]

Is this some kind of disposition of grace? I don’t think the CC teaches this, only that you must submit your will to God’s will. As far as I know, when Jesus died on the cross his grace and salvation was made available to ALLmen. Of course, this is no totally free, it came at the expense of Christ’s blood.

We all know Michael, correct? This is how I understood his several postings on the issue of perserving grace given to the elect only. Maybe Michael can confirm or correct my understanding of his multiple postings on the topic. I do find Michael to be the most Augustinian among the Roman Catholic Christians on this site. I like to tease him about being a Catholic Calvinist.

 

[Pax]

Please forgive me for my zombie comment. We are all sinners in process. We are commanded to forgive one another because God has forgiven us in Christ. It’s not easy to participate on an all Catholic Forum site. I do thank the moderators for their charity and kindness to allow me to continue to participate on this site. Please re-consider joining our study. It is always profitable to meditate on the Scriptures with others with a different perspective. On most of the essentials, we are already united. We will have an interesting discussion in John chapter 6. Actually John 6 is extremely Calvinistic, and you can share your understanding of the Eucharist on that chapter.

Consider it forgotten. Peace.

 

[Pax]

It IS the Incarnation! Of course – no argument there: none at all. And that verse definitely limns the shadow of a Trinitarian view of Christ.

When a person with a full Apostolic and Eucharistic understandng of the Real Presence meditates on the words “dwell” and “among us” we find the same foreshadowing of the Eucharistic Presence that animates the Body of Christ – the Church. Christ dwelt “among us” when He walked on earth in the flesh. He dwells “among us” and “in us” today in the Eucharist.

Well stated as always on your part. Moreover, the gospel of John should be looked at with the Eucharist in mind to fully appreciate the depth of its meaning. It is one of the elements that gives John’s gospel its unique character vis-a-vis the synoptic gospels.

 

[Reformed]

Well stated as always on your part. Moreover, the gospel of John should be looked at with the Eucharist in mind to fully appreciate the depth of its meaning. It is one of the elements that gives John’s gospel its unique character vis-a-vis the synoptic gospels.

Very interesting comment. From a Catholic Christian perspective on the Eucharist, John’s gospel is a very significant book. From a Calvinist Christian persepective, the gospel of John is the most Calvninistic (TULIP) book in the Bible according to many Calvinists (more than Romans and Ephesians).