I keep trying to drag you into an exchange or discussion but you don't fall for it ^_^.
Actually, I think I remember discussing OSAS with you some years back. Was that when you believed it? I never did; somehow I "instinctively" knew that, once saved, I could lose it if I tried. And that part about somebody not being a Christian from the beginning if he fell after being saved... that always scared me. If it were true, i might as well hang it up now and enjoy myself while I can. And I never could think that's the message Jesus wants me to get; I always thought he wanted me to keep trying to do things his way.
It's a little bit like the message the Episcopalians and other post-modern Christians preach: That God loves us so much he can't stand to see us fail and he will save us regardless. Or, "Everybody's predestined to salvation" because God is such a good guy he just WOULDN'T throw anyone into Hell. It happens, IMHO, because we want to forget that God has TWO essential parts of his nature, not one. We want to believe/trust in his Love and we want to forget about his Justice. But he is BOTH loving and just.
I'm glad I'm not the Judge! I could handle either Justice OR Love, but not both together.
Have you given any consideration to that we used to disagree quite a lot and now we agree quite a lot? It amazes me sometimes!!
In faith, Dave
Viva Texas
dave@christos.cjb.net, dpeirce@christian.net
He that makes himself a sheep shall be eaten by the wolf.