b.a. from uk 1/12/06 11:03 AM

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i fear just as much for those who describe themselves as "calvinists" but deny there is an offer of mercy to sinners in the gospel, who see themselves justified from eternity (rather than elected in eternity past and brought to repentance and faith and justified in time)and who make the ground of their hope their belief that they are elect (else there is no mercy promised in the gospel) rather than Christ. such doctrine negates the need to strive to enter in, in obeying the gospel. ultimately, it is not our repentance and belief which saves us (it is Christ), these both being given from God, yet repent and believe we must. we must run the race, knowing that He works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure.
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I have little idea of what you are facing there. If you are faithful to Christ it has to be persecution and threat to your life along with a very strong temptation to compromise to get along with your neighbors.

But still to see anyone saved Muslim or Catholic it is not dialogue with them but the preaching of the cross, not the preaching of getting along or loving each other, or what you can find in common (Muslims and Catholics both highly regard Mary) but Jesus Christ and Him Crucified, buried and risen from the dead.

See it?
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For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Jesus said that He did not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. Something is seriously amiss with a theology that thinks regeneration preceeds repentance and faith.

But it will go against our new nature that we recieved at salvation and grieve our hearts. This is quite different from those who habitually practise sin with no remourse and show they have never been changed born again of the Holy Spirit.

Mike your statement greatly overlooks the Worthiness of God and salvation is a work wrought by God. Sure fallen man has no desire when left to Himself to obey God but when confronted with His reality in the preaching of the Word of God under the conviction of the Holy Spirit it is very much that wretched sinners, not all but some, cry out to Him to save them from their sins.

Calvinists love to cry they were predestined and elect and somehow miss the reality God is worthy and it is sinners who choose to confess their heinous sinfullness, knowing they deserve His eternal wrath, and hearing His call to them desire to be changed something quite impossible with them, to be saved from sin and made right with This Great God who deserves to be loved and worshipped and trusted and proclaimed, who so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

So how do you pray in faith???

Simple you forget the ignorant speculations of religious scholars, thet don't know the secret will of God either, and pray trusting God is quite pleased to be who has revealed Himelf to be and to fullfill the promises He has made to us in His Holy Word.

It is as if with them God has no compassion, that He doesn't really respond to those who cry out to Him on the basis of faith because they've heard of His character and His promises. With them He only does what He has predestined to do, so prayer makes no difference and doesn't change anything as it is all predestined.

Yet another example your religion is what you want to do and that you are quite readily listen to those of the world.

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I have no plans to be Baptized again. And my late Uncle who had converted from the RCC to the Baptist Church about three years prior to passing away told the Baptist minister after my late Uncle had received Christ as his Savior that because my Uncle had been Baptized as an infant that he had no intention of being Baptized again and the Baptist minister agreed that my Uncle did not have to be Baptized again.
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I was raised Catholic where they told me I was 'born again' when I was sprinkled as an infant - quite the damnable lie - along with I shouldn't read the Bible another lie, that John Huss deserved to be burned at the stake and I could go on. Things moist "evangelicals" pretend aren't real like the worship of the Eucharist.

Look it up for yourself in the Catechism of the Catholic Church 841 offically signed by JPII - Catholics and Muslims worship the same God.

Again the Roman Catholic Eucharist is either a lifeless piece of bread and those bowing in worship to it are frightful idolaters or it is Christ Himself physically present and we should all bow to "him".

So you can either realize this and make a stand (the Biblical stand of faithfulness to Christ and labor to see the lost saved) or commit spiritual prostitution by tolerating or dialoging or joining with them, assuming God has told us the truth in the 10 Commandments that idolatry is an iniquity of those who hate Him.