More Biblical Evidence on Honoring Political Rulers

Last updated on: September 8, 2018 at 4:39 pm By Dave Armstrong

For background, see these writings of mine about respect for political rulers (especially the first one): Holy Scripture: Honor and Respect Political Rulers [2-2-17] Crass Political Bigotry vs. Biblical Teaching on Honoring Rulers [Facebook, 5-18-17] King Saul was chosen by God, who told the prophet Samuel to anoint him. Likewise, political rulers (in general) are: from God, instituted by God. what God has appointed, God’s servant for your good. the servant of God to execute his wrath on the wrongdoer. ... Read more

God’s Judgment of Sin: Analogies for an Atheist Inquirer

Last updated on: September 6, 2018 at 7:07 pm By Dave Armstrong

[Words of atheist or agnostic (?) heleninedinburgh will be in blue] ***** I’ve been dealing with several of the objections to God’s alleged character flaws in my series vs. Seidensticker (so far with zero response from him, after 14 critiques). ‘Character flaws’ is a pretty tactful way to put it. The flood in Genesis, perhaps? Sodom and Gomorrah? God as the Creator has the “prerogative” to judge His creation when they have gone astray. We have earthly judges (by analogy) who do... Read more

Should We Pray for All People or Not (1 John 5:16)?

Last updated on: September 5, 2018 at 2:09 pm By Dave Armstrong

1 John 5:14-16 (RSV) And this is the confidence which we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15] And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him. [16] If any one sees his brother committing what is not a mortal sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal.... Read more

Dialogue w Baptist on Romans 1:1-3 & Justification

Last updated on: September 5, 2018 at 7:03 am By Dave Armstrong

[This material is from a short-lived e-mail exchange with a Baptist friend, in January 1997 (originally intended to be a comprehensive Bible study of Romans and later edited: on 11 August 2000). Her (selective) words will be in blue, but this is primarily my own contribution to the dialogue. Verses are from the NRSV Bible unless otherwise noted.] ***** Romans 1b-2 . . . the gospel of God which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures. I think often... Read more

Dialogue on Grace (vs. Anti-Catholic Phil Johnson)

Last updated on: September 4, 2018 at 6:09 pm By Dave Armstrong

Phil Johnson is the Executive Director of popular Protestant expositor John MacArthur’s Grace to You ministry, and ordained elder and pastor at Grace Community Church. The following dialogue took place on the public Theology List. Phillip’s words will be in blue. ***** I’d like you to show me where the Catechism of the Catholic Church says anything about God securing our cooperation by grace. Gladly: #1989, 1992-1993, 1996, 1998-2003, 2007-2010, 2018, 2022-2023, 2025-2027, pp. 482-487, 489-490. #1996 reads: Our justification comes from the grace of God.... Read more

On the Abp. Vigano-Pope Francis Crisis, Ten Days In

Last updated on: September 4, 2018 at 4:17 pm By Dave Armstrong

Just to clarify and make it abundantly clear, for the record (and I’ve been saying most if not all of this from the beginning of this mess): People are choosing sides. My view is to wait till all the information we can obtain is in, and make a reasoned judgment. I think we’re far from that and are only in the beginning stages. The two sides of this need to talk to each other. But that rarely ever happens... Read more

Romans 2-4 & “Works of the Law”: Patristic Interpretation

Last updated on: September 4, 2018 at 3:15 pm By Dave Armstrong

[patristic citations in blue] ***** We are not intrinsically sinners. We were originally created without sin; baptism removes the penalties of original sin, and we will be sinless again if we make it to heaven. Righteousness comes only from God, and He transforms us, and we cooperate with him to become more holy all the time. Grace is always primary and initial. As soon as we accept that grace we can then cooperate with it to do good works bathed in... Read more

Comparative Soteriology (Salvation): A Handy Chart

Last updated on: September 3, 2018 at 4:42 pm By Dave Armstrong

TOTAL DEPRAVITY CALVINISM Yes ARMINIANISM See note LUTHERANISM See note CATHOLICISM No All these belief-systems accept original sin and sola gratia: absolute necessity of God’s grace to be saved and to have the results of the Fall overcome (“total inability”), and deny Pelagianism and semi-Pelagianism: the doctrine that man can initiate salvation. Classic Arminians and Lutherans (along with Catholics) are often falsely accused of semi-Pelagianism because they believe in human free will. Lutherans also falsely accuse Catholics of same, in their confessions, because we deny... Read more

Seidensticker Folly #14: Something Rather Than Nothing

Last updated on: September 3, 2018 at 4:10 pm By Dave Armstrong

Atheist and anti-theist Bob Seidensticker runs the influential Cross Examined blog. He asked me there, on 8-11-18: “I’ve got 1000+ posts here attacking your worldview. You just going to let that stand? Or could you present a helpful new perspective that I’ve ignored on one or two of those posts?” He also made a general statement on 6-22-17: “In this blog, I’ve responded to many Christian arguments . . . Christians’ arguments are easy to refute.” He added in the combox: “If I’ve misunderstood the Christian position or Christian arguments, point that... Read more

Heaven-Earth Communication in Book of Revelation

Last updated on: September 2, 2018 at 9:23 pm By Dave Armstrong

James White Contradicts Explicit Biblical Teaching on the Communion of Saints Yet Again! Reformed Baptist anti-Catholic apologist Bishop “Dr.” [???] James White, stated in his post, “A Brief Comment on the ‘Communion of Saints’ and Catholic Blogger ‘Devman'” (7-22-09): [T]here is a fundamental separation between those who are alive in this world, and those who are alive in the next. . . . You simply do not find the saints on earth communicating with the saints in heaven . .... Read more