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Tom said:
I have read what I wrote over and over again, and for the life of me I can not think of how you are given the impression that I have told a non-Christian that they are not as good as they should be.
In fact I told him (among other things) that the "Trinity" is the number one essential doctrine of the Christian faith.
I believe he knows that if something is essential, to not believe in it, is to deny an essential teaching of the Bible and thus is not a Christian.
I take it however from his and my conversations, that he is not aware that the Trinity is an essential doctrine.
When I wrote about telling an unbeliever that they are not as good as they should be in contrast to telling them the truth in regard to their hopeless and helpless corruption of nature, etc., it was an ANALOGY, Tom, an analogy to point out your dumbed down statements concerning your friends possible spiritual state due to the fact that he denies the doctrine of the Trinity. That's why I also included the last line of the Athanasian Creed which states all so clearly that anyone who denies the doctrine cannot be saved. Granted, there are exceptions to this truth, e.g., a person who is a babe in Christ and who has been confused by heretical teaching and who is asking questions looking for biblical answers because his conscience is bothering him/her terribly after being exposed to error. How this relates to your friend; you judge. But if the man has been a professing Christian for several years, and someone who you have communicated with before, pandering to him for the sake of keeping the communication going isn't something I believe is appropriate. Again..... you can judge that for yourself.

In His grace,

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simul iustus et peccator

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