Hate Of Reformed Theology

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Socialite

Blume, do you believe in triumphalism? One day we will finally overcome, and in large part, we have overcome now. However, that gap between imperfection and perfection is still glaring and real. Sin is present with me everyday. I am able to avoid "living in it" with the help of the Spirit in my life. Still, there are times I live according to the flesh, and I make a mess.

I think it actually boils down to whether or not it is possible to maintain a walk after the Spirit that is mentioned in Gal 5 -- so long as we walk in the Spirit we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Paul did not say this could not be maintained. Though we make mistakes, theoretically, due to what Paul said, it seems it is possible to maintain this walking after the Spirit and never sin again. Though sin is still in us as a moral force, walking after the Spirit (which is dependence on the Spirit) keeps sin dormant, so to speak. It is such a temptation for us to take things into our own hands and thereby cease walking after the Spirit. In such times we will slip into sinful activity. The propensity is in us to take things into our own hands. I actually think that this is inbred in us because we ate the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil.

What Paul "clearly" taught in Romans is anticipated response to Jewish Christians that this powerful message of Grace, though it sounded like we could sin and it wouldn't matter (where sin abounds, grace also more abounds), it certainly doesn't mean we should continue on living in rebellion to God. On the contrary, we are now slaves to righteousness, and the Spirit is our way to new life. Paul never trumpeted "Real Christians will never sin."

I did not say "real" Christians will not sin. But rather ANY Christian can change their expectations to sin instead to believing we are above sin due to the reasoning Paul provided in Romans 6.

I think it primarily is a problem of us expecting to sin. And Paul removes that expectation to trade it for expectation to not sin by walking us through the reasoning of how we have been raised above the domination of sin through our unions to Christ's death. Only when he walks us through this can we begin to grasp our actual position and potential. So it is enlightened Christians who can cease sinning. Not "real" Christians.

The reality is, like sickness, sorrow, a creation travailing, we are all waiting for our final day of redemption.

Brain candy? Pot shot IMO. Some of the finest brains in theological circles are Calvinist. Hardly people trying to categorize God or "figure him all out." They are honest, bible-believing brothers, who love God, love His Story, and this is what they see in the Story.

I do not doubt their sincerity. But ALL intellectuals have a temptation of enjoying brain candy in the issue. It is just that some groups emphasize the intellectual exercises that can be experienced in theology than others. I think of the Roman Catholics who, seemingly solely out of intellectual reasoning, arrive at the conclusions they hold regarding Mary being sinless, etc. Their reasoning seems to make sense, but the bible never flatly stated what they claim are natural conclusions.