The Unconditional Election Debate: An Universalist Perspective

NOT IN WORD ONLY, is what the Bible says.

So YOU are the one DENYING the power of the Holy Spirit, and claiming words are enough without him.

"wow you heard it here"
nope we are discussing the word of God, the gospel message as Gods grace which you deny

nice try with your bait n switch.

stay on topic and stop diverting.
 
Of course I'm saddened you accept Flower's deceptions in his denial of our need for God's internal grace, and embrace his proposition of self-righteousness that humans do not need this help from God.
Huh? The word of God is right, powerful, living, and sharper than any two edged sword. Read Heb 4:12.

(Heb 4:12) For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
However, please realize, the point here is not whether you agree with Flowers, but whether civic has slandered and falsely accused my depiction of what Dr. Flowers actually says, and that is the subject currently.
Who's right and who's wrong does not concern me in the least. All I know is that the word of God is right, powerful, living, and sharper than any two edged sword.
 
I will add this to the conversation as well- All by Gods grace- the word of God Hebrews 4:12- living and active.

“…you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:15-16).
 
Huh? Read Heb 4:12.

(Heb 4:12) For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Who's right and who's wrong does not concern me in the least. All I know is that the word of God is right, powerful, living, and sharper than any two edged sword.
Amen right to the heart. Powerful indeed. Gods grace in action. The sword of God.

Jesus said His words give life. From the Word Himself. :)
 
And more proof what the early church taught and believed.

The Early Church Fathers likewise seemed to agree with this understanding:

Athanasius wrote, “The Holy Scriptures, given by inspiration of God, are of themselves sufficient toward the discovery of truth.”

Irenaeus, (130-202) wrote, “We have known the method of our salvation by no other means than those by whom the gospel came to us; which gospel they truly preached; but afterward, by the will of God, they delivered to us in the Scriptures, to be for the future the foundation and pillar of our faith,” (Adv. H. 3:1)
 
They believe what John taught in His purpose statement in the gospel after his name.

John 20:31 clearly lays out what his inspired words are meant to do:

“…these [scriptures] have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”
 
And I will quote Leighton Flowers below what he actually believes as do I.

Do you see the clear contrast between the Arminian and myself on this point? The Arminian thinks I believe “the gospel is sufficient without the personal work of the Holy Spirit,” whereas I actually believe, “the gospel is sufficient BECAUSE it is the personal work of the Holy Spirit.”

Should we ever conclude that God’s words, graciously inspired by His Spirit, are somehow insufficient to lead anyone who hears them to faith and repentance?

Need there be some kind of extra grace that makes the grace of the gospel powerful enough to lead one to salvation? I see no convincing evidence of this need in scripture, do you? If you do see it, is that because God has granted you a grace which makes you more capable of seeing truths revealed in scripture that He has kept from me and other believers? Or could it simply be that we all have the same gracious revelation and any errors of interpretation or suppressing of its truth is due only to our own free choices?

I suspect that much of the dispute within in the church over the centuries would not have been necessary if we simply dropped this unfounded presupposition that God’s gracious work needs more grace to work.



 
Who's right and who's wrong does not concern me in the least.

If someone is slandering someone unfairly and unjustly, a true Christian would care about it.

That is the morality and values that Christ taught.

It so ironic that legalistic Christians so often fail in their own morality they confess they have.
 
"I don't think it requires some internal working of the Spirit that's supernatural and mysterious for someone to come to faith. I think the external means are sufficient..."

If anyone agrees with the above statement, they have denied their sinful need of God's undeserved gracious sanctification, and claimed an inherent goodness that is self-righteous apart from the perfect Work of Christ on the Cross.

If anyone agrees with the above statement, they have denied the presence and power of the Person of the Holy Spirit and his personal undeserved work in the heart, and replaced it with dead dry intellectual words that they label "Holy Spirit inspired," yet which no longer need his personal presence and power. Direct double speak and internal contradiction.

This is God's truth in the innermost being, and the standard of God's perfect Law that every human being has always fallen short of, and the depth of our need for God's grace.

The Lord convict the hardened heart, the seared conscience, and the stubborn will, and unveil the heart's self-deception.
 
If anyone agrees with the above statement, they have denied their sinful need of God's undeserved gracious sanctification, and claimed an inherent goodness that is self-righteous apart from the perfect Work of Christ on the Cross.

If anyone agrees with the above statement, they have denied the presence and power of the Person of the Holy Spirit and his personal undeserved work in the heart, and replaced it with dead dry intellectual words that they label "Holy Spirit inspired," yet which no longer need his personal presence and power. Direct double speak and internal contradiction.

This is God's truth in the innermost being, and the standard of God's perfect Law that every human being has always fallen short of, and the depth of our need for God's grace.

The Lord convict the hardened heart, the seared conscience, and the stubborn will, and unveil the heart's self-deception.
And I will quote Leighton Flowers below what he actually believes as do I.

Do you see the clear contrast between the Arminian and myself on this point? The Arminian thinks I believe “the gospel is sufficient without the personal work of the Holy Spirit,” whereas I actually believe, “the gospel is sufficient BECAUSE it is the personal work of the Holy Spirit.”

Should we ever conclude that God’s words, graciously inspired by His Spirit, are somehow insufficient to lead anyone who hears them to faith and repentance?

Need there be some kind of extra grace that makes the grace of the gospel powerful enough to lead one to salvation? I see no convincing evidence of this need in scripture, do you? If you do see it, is that because God has granted you a grace which makes you more capable of seeing truths revealed in scripture that He has kept from me and other believers? Or could it simply be that we all have the same gracious revelation and any errors of interpretation or suppressing of its truth is due only to our own free choices?

I suspect that much of the dispute within in the church over the centuries would not have been necessary if we simply dropped this unfounded presupposition that God’s gracious work needs more grace to work.



Prevenient Grace: An Arminian Error

Why I Prefer Not To Be Called An Arminian: I’ve often told people that I am not an Arminian, but that is not because I dislike Arminians; nor is it because we disagree over that many issues. In fac…
 
Okay, straight from the Flower's mouth.


WORD FOR WORD:

"I don't think it requires some internal working of the Spirit that's supernatural and mysterious for someone to come to faith. I think the external means are sufficient..."

A godly person would apologize for slandering me.

That is what a godly person would do.
He is talking about regeneration as in Calvinism which precedes faith and salvation.

Way to misrepresent both him and myself.
 
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