Benjamin Joseph

We don't need Reformed theology today that is cold-hearted, severe, legalistic, narrow, and fixated on a cold God who dislikes his people. We do need Reformed theology that is warm-hearted, joyfully holy, hopeful, humble, and fixated on a warm God who adores his people.

1. Hell isn’t a place, it’s Gods eternal destruction of the wicked. 2. The doctrines of grace, commonly referred to as Calvinism, are biblical truths, not false doctrines. 3. Yes God is sovereign and has ordained all things, including the murder of His own son and even the fate of the wicked & the saved. It’s not blasphemous, it’s God being God. It’s blasphemous to say its blasphemous. 4. You’ve never met a Calvinist who says his family is predestined for hell because no one know Gods sovereign decree, they could be but the elect are only made known through their faith in Christ, even strong unbelievers may turn out to be elect, so that’s why. 5. In the context of Titus 2:11, “all people” = all kinds / categories of people, not every individual without exception. Paul has just listed: different ages, both sexes, different social statuses (even slaves) So the natural reading is: The saving grace of God is not limited to one class, it extends to every type of person. 6. God is “patient toward you…” Peter is speaking to believers, he addresses his letters to the elect believers. So “any” and “all” most naturally mean: -any of you -all of you The point isn’t that God is trying (and failing) to save every individual, but that He is patiently ensuring that none of His people(elect)are lost, all will come to repentance before judgment. :)

Owen didn’t say anything about boring testimonies vs exciting testimonies, he didn’t belittle anyone for growing up in a Christian home and not really realising when they were saved. You misunderstood his point, his point is that a person who continues dishonouring peoples gospel testimonies is probably not saved.. that’s WHY they dishonour gospel testimonies. He’s not saying the person dishonours because they themselves didn’t have as epic of a gospel testimony, but because maybe they haven’t been born again, they haven’t had a heart transformation that causes them to love the gospels work in others lives. That’s his point. @ostrachan

Perfect example of toxic testimony culture. Earlier this week I quote tweeted a “what’s your testimony” tweet not expecting it to blow up like it did. And there was actually a reason I was hesitant to even post it. Owen shows why. I want my kids to have a boring testimony. What Mr. Stachan would equate with having “no gospel testimony” because they may never be able to point to some moment of crisis in their life like their dad did. It’s why I don’t actually like sharing my testimony. Because I don’t want others to have doubts because they can’t point to some cataclysmic moment in their own Christian walk where they can definitely say they were regenerated. Shaming people who have boring testimonies for the sake of elevating those with diabolical pasts is a crafty way of turning how sinful one’s past is into a barometer for if you’re a “real” Christian or not. It’s sick.

Mothers, It's not that you're not worthy of a job, it's that a job is not worthy of you. God made you irreplaceable. Your children need you more than any employer. Society needs you to raise godly children more than any career. You’re vital—at home You’re disposable—at work.

Saving faith is never alone, but is always accompanied by works.

If you say saving faith originates from self rather than God, or that self ultimately determines ones salvation or that God wants everyone saved and He did His best but at the end of the day all the power is with mans freewill whilst God crosses His anthropomorphic fingers hoping for as many to be saved as possible before He Himself destroys them… then you have forsaken the power of the Gospel, abolished true saving grace and given man the glory that God deserves. The power of the Gospel is that God saves, not that He tries to save or wishes to save or can’t save unless man cooperates with Him. Regeneration precedes faith, this is the gospel and nothing else.

We are saved, justified and granted eternal life by faith alone, and this faith is the necessary and immediate fruit of a regenerate heart. Many have a false form of faith in Christ that does not save, this faith may feel real, sound right and even resemble true saving faith in some aspects. It may be intellectual, emotional, experiential or even passionately sincere, and yet it is a false faith, a faith that does not save. This form of faith is produced by an unchanged heart and therefore lacks the spiritual life that constitutes saving faith. In contrast, true faith flows from the new birth, and because it is alive, it inevitably produces transformation, perseverance, and a growing love for Christ, not merely His benefits. At its core, saving faith receives Christ as He truly is, Lord and Saviour, not merely by saying “Christ is Lord,” but by entrusting oneself to Him from a new heart in a way that yields a genuine, though imperfect, submission to His lordship.

We all know the answer is no

@craigiem12 Welcome to God :)

If Calvinism/meticulous determinism is true, that means every human thought, word, and deed comes from God. There’s no distinction then between us and God; we’re puppets that do exactly what he wants every second, and yet He sends us to hell for the very behavior he controls.

Historically the sharpest minds in theology were also the most aware of mystery

Study to show yourself approved, if you do not study, and yet speak confidently, you will show yourself to be in error.

If two people hear the same gospel, and one believes while the other rejects it, what ultimately made the difference? God, or man? Every theology must answer that.

That’s great to hear brother. I personally believe that if we make Gods election of individuals unto salvation based on His for-seeing or future peoples decisions rather than Gods sovereign and gracious will, not only does it fall short of the biblical text but it ultimately makes man sovereign and not God, it also gives people a reason to boast. Instead of grace being the deciding factor of a persons salvation, the idea of libertarian freewill of man becomes the ultimate deciding factor of one’s salvation. This takes the glory away from Gods saving grace and puts it into man. And in that view, why is one person saved and not another? Not grace… it’s because “i was more humble”, “i was more spiritually inclined”, “i was in a better position in life”, “i was more knowledgeable”, “i saw my need for a saviour more than others” and the list goes on. Biblical saving grace removes all opportunity for boasting, it’s God from start to finish. These are my thoughts and understanding. We actually met in Bath in England once. Glad we can interact on here so many years later. God bless your studies.

@benjaminjozif I am studying through it all again.

Do you see election as a primary reason why people are in hell or the only reason why people are in heaven?

Godspeed. It may take a civil war fought with swords and scimitars to take your country back. But the Brits could get it done with the Cavalry. May the British repent and return to the faith that made them great to begin with. And may God restore Britain to the British.

I’m very convinced of my theological beliefs, some more so than others, yet I remain open to being wrong about all of them.

If you believe all the miraculous spiritual gifts are continuing in the church today, show me them. You not only lose this battle theologically, but ironically, experientially too.

I’d sit right next to my brother Mike Winger so I could correct him on spiritual gifts

It’s a great human error to speak confidently about things we have never truly studied.

@Canonandcreed @needGod_net You do realise there are 3 senses in which we are being saved, don't you? We were saved, we are being saved and we will be saved. Why not be charitable and simply recognise Ryan is speaking of salvation in the sense of "we were saved”(justification).

@needGod_net Salvation isn’t by faith alone. Salvation is more than justification. Why do you keep repeating this error after having been corrected numerous times?

Faith alone for salvation does not produce laziness or disobedience, it actually produces greater obedience. Why? Because we know how much we've been forgiven (the one forgiven much loves much). So we do good works out of gratitude & love, just not as a requirement for heaven.