"The sufficiency of Grace" a continuation of "The sufficiency of Christ" family debate.

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There are only about 70 posts left till we max out. It is possible that he could continue to avoid this issue until the post limit is reached. If he thinks I am going to forget, though, he has another thing coming! 😃
Sufficiency of Christ = 1,000 posts

Sufficiency of Grace = 1,000 posts

Sufficiency of Jesus Christ who is full of grace and truth = 1,000,000,000,000 (+) postings!

Hey, we have all eternity to worship God together as siblings in Christ. We non-Catholic siblings are giving you more reasons to praise and worship Him Alone! 😃

God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. - John Piper

Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. - Chief Sinner

** Post the entire Centurion accounts in full and we can discuss it together!
 
Sufficiency of Christ = 1,000 posts

Sufficiency of Grace = 1,000 posts

Sufficiency of Jesus Christ who is full of grace and truth = 1,000,000,000,000 (+) postings!

Hey, we have all eternity to worship God together as siblings in Christ. We non-Catholic siblings are giving you more reasons to praise and worship Him Alone! 😃

God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. - John Piper

Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. - Chief Sinner

** Post the entire Centurion accounts in full and we can discuss it together!
You have no problem posting Scripture. I’d consider it a gesture in good faith in answering our question if you’d post it along with your exegesis.
 
We ALL want to know when was Cornelius saved? Pretty simply question. I gave my summary of Acts 10, now it is time for you to give us yours.
Indeed.

The way that a Calvinist who has an answer would respond is:

[SIGN]Cornelius was saved when…[/SIGN]

But, alas, it seems that there has been no response.

I wonder what’s so hard about answering that. I think probably a 2 sentence Calvinist explanation–max–would be sufficient.
 
I don’t agree with this at all. this is like saying that Jacob did not need to wrestle with the angel because he already knew God.

Our personal struggle to reconcile our hearts, minds, souls and strength (will) with the Truth is not abrogated by any Teaching.
Well if you don’t agree with that…then do you agree with this:

If the magesterium interprets a scripture, you believe and agree that that interpretation (given by the magisterium) is the one God intended for His children?
 
Indeed.

The way that a Calvinist who has an answer would respond is:

[SIGN]Cornelius was saved when…[/SIGN]

But, alas, it seems that there has been no response.

I wonder what’s so hard about answering that. I think probably a 2 sentence Calvinist explanation–max–would be sufficient.
Cornelius was saved when he heard the gospel. Please read the entire account from Acts 10 through 11.
 
Cornelius was saved when he heard the gospel. Please read the entire account from Acts 10 through 11.
Whence did he hear the Gospel when he was giving alms and fearing the Lord or when he met with Peter?

I’d like a more thorough exegesis. Post two chapters.
 
Whence did he hear the Gospel when he was giving alms and fearing the Lord or when he met with Peter?

I’d like a more thorough exegesis. Post two chapters.
Well, if you don’t see that Cornelius was saved after hearing the gospel, then you have to conclude he was saved apart from the gospel, or through his own personal righteousness. The Cornelius account is extremely significant in the larger context of Gentiles being ingrafted into Christ.
 
Well, if you don’t see that Cornelius was saved after hearing the gospel, then you have to conclude he was saved apart from the gospel, or through his own personal righteousness. The Cornelius account is extremely significant in the larger context of Gentiles being ingrafted into Christ.
Adam, you’re putting words in my mouth and I dislike that. I’m asking you to define when do you think Cornelius heard the Gospel.
 
I’m willing to wrestle with scriptures and keep an open mind with others interpretations (as long as it doesn’t contradict other scripture) to find the true meaning and intent that God had for us. I can’t see how you are so assured that the interpretations of the scriptures dealing with the authorization of the Catholic church being the true church are valid.

Your interpretation of the Word of God relies upon men, that meaning that it is based on your believing and accepting the Catholics interpretations of the scriptures.

If you realized one of those scriptures which I’m referring to were mis-interpreted and not pointing to the Catholic Church as the “only visible church” then your whole understanding of the Bible would be shaken into confusion.

After all, if the CC has the absolute fullness of truth then you don’t need to wrestle with scriptures that have already been interpreted by the magisterium.
What I rely on for correct interpretation of God’s word is the infallible Authority he left us (Matt. 16:15-19, 18:15-18, John 16:12-15, 20:21-23).
I rely on the Pillar and Foundation of truth (1 Tim. 3:15).

You, on the other hand rely on men - either yourself or some other human being who has NO God-given authority.
You have made yourselves orphans, divorced from the Body of Christ - and that is the real tragedy of Protestantism.
 
The second Centurion account (two different centurions)

Acts 10-11

Peter and Cornelius

10:1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day [1] he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, 8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter’s Vision

9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour [2] to pray. 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate 18 and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. 19 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” 21 And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” 22 And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.” 23 So he invited them in to be his guests.

The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”

30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, [3] and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

Gentiles Hear the Good News

34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles

44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
 
Peter Reports to the Church

11:1 Now the apostles and the brothers [4] who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, 3 “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” 4 But Peter began and explained it to them in order: 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me. 6 Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ 8 But I said, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’ 10 This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven. 11 And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea. 12 And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; 14 he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ 15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” 18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
 
The first Centurion Account:

The Faith of a Centurion

5 When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, 6 “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” 7 And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, [3] ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel [4] have I found such faith. 11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment. - Matthew 8
 
You’ve posted the Scriptures but no exegesis. Whence was Cornelius saved?
 
What I rely on for correct interpretation of God’s word is the infallible Authority he left us (Matt. 16:15-19, 18:15-18, John 16:12-15, 20:21-23).
I rely on the Pillar and Foundation of truth (1 Tim. 3:15).

You, on the other hand rely on men - either yourself or some other human being who has NO God-given authority.
You have made yourselves orphans, divorced from the Body of Christ - and that is the real tragedy of Protestantism.
please show me right now how the pope is the infallible authority of God’s Word.
 
please show me right now how the pope is the infallible authority of God’s Word.
Mind starting a thread on this, guys? It’s a great topic but it’s bound to derail this one.
 
After hearing and receiving the gospel proclaimed to him.
You are begging the question again but re-stating what you’ve said before, and not answering. Whence did Cornelius hear the Gospel?
 
I’m willing to wrestle with scriptures and keep an open mind with others interpretations (as long as it doesn’t contradict other scripture) to find the true meaning and intent that God had for us. I can’t see how you are so assured that the interpretations of the scriptures dealing with the authorization of the Catholic church being the true church are valid.

Your interpretation of the Word of God relies upon men, that meaning that it is based on your believing and accepting the Catholics interpretations of the scriptures.

If you realized one of those scriptures which I’m referring to were mis-interpreted and not pointing to the Catholic Church as the “only visible church” then your whole understanding of the Bible would be shaken into confusion.

After all, if the CC has the absolute fullness of truth then you don’t need to wrestle with scriptures that have already been interpreted by the magisterium.
Yes indeed, but if you were to acknowledge that you idea of sola scriptura was meritless and your own ability to interpret scripture was based on a false premise, your entire belief system would be shaken to the core.
 
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