Statement of faith of a church that supposedly believes in the doctrines of grace.

Quote
Free will vs God's sovereignty

Man is by nature an enemy of God; spiritually dead in his sin (Colossians 2:13; Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 8:7-8). His will is so enslaved to sin, he cannot even understand, nor spiritually discern, the things of God (I Corinthians 2:14). Therefore, man’s only hope for redemption rests solely on the unmerited grace of a merciful God (Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-10). Those redeemed through faith in the atoning death of Christ on the cross (when He experienced God’s wrath, satisfying His holy justice as punishment for the sin of all who would believe; I John 4:10) are called God’s chosen or elect, because salvation is the gift of God’s sovereign and amazing grace, not the result of the best efforts or works of a spiritually dead man (Romans 8:28-33; 9:11-13, 16; 11:5-6; Col. 3:12; I Peter 1:1-2; 2:8-9; Hebrews 12:2).

Quote
MaryP, said:

"satisfying His holy justice as punishment for the sin of all who would believe"

William, you are not disagreeing with that statement, right? The way you said it, it sounded like it was something else you had a problem with, but I trust you don't.

Mary, first off I apologize for never having responded to your question.

To answer, I would say that alone and by itself there is nothing wrong with the statement.

-BUT-

I wonder why was it added in the first place and although I don't know the the hearts of those who wrote the statement my suspicion is that it is to make their statement more palatable (agreeable or pleasant). So lets remove this (when He experienced God’s wrath, satisfying His holy justice as punishment for the sin of all who would believe; I John 4:10) and see what we get.

Quote
Free will vs God's sovereignty
Man is by nature an enemy of God; spiritually dead in his sin (Colossians 2:13; Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 8:7-8). His will is so enslaved to sin, he cannot even understand, nor spiritually discern, the things of God (I Corinthians 2:14). Therefore, man’s only hope for redemption rests solely on the unmerited grace of a merciful God (Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-10). Those redeemed through faith in the atoning death of Christ on the cross are called God’s chosen or elect, because salvation is the gift of God’s sovereign and amazing grace, not the result of the best efforts or works of a spiritually dead man (Romans 8:28-33; 9:11-13, 16; 11:5-6; Col. 3:12; I Peter 1:1-2; 2:8-9; Hebrews 12:2).

Now isn't that better? <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/giggle.gif" alt="" /> The Canon's of Dord't delt with this slippery snake (if indeed that is what it is) of Arminianism concerning the foreknowledge of God in the "FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of Divine Predestination" and the rejection of errors.


The true doctrine concerning Election and Reprobation having been explained, the Synod rejects the errors of those:

I. Who teach: That the will of God to save those who would believe and would persevere in faith and in the obedience of faith, is the whole and entire decree of election unto salvation, and that nothing else concerning this decree has been revealed in God's Word.

For these deceive the simple and plainly contradict the Scriptures, which declare that God will not only save those who will believe, but that he has also from eternity chosen certain particular persons to whom above others he in time will grant both faith in Christ and perseverance; as it written: "I manifested thy name unto the men whom thou gavest me out of the world," John 17:6."And as many as were ordained to eternal life believed," Acts 13:48.And: "Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love," Ephesians 1:4.




Hope you have (had) a good Thanksgiving,
William