I'm sorry GH, but it appears that we are talking about two very different things right now?
Debating an issue may seem futile, and I agree with you, depending on the players of course. But, establishing God-given doctrine is an objective and uncompromising endeavour.
You see what you are doing? It’s the other persons fault…the other person makes it futile. You and your ball of scriptures are right, and they and their ball of scriptures are wrong. That constitutes a perpetual division and cyclic debate…..chasing your tail. This is the topic. Why chase your tail.
It is more correct to ask the question why? Why are there two sets of opposing scriptures?
What generally happens is that you disregard or explain away the meaning of their scriptures and they reciprocate and disregard or explain away the meaning of your scriptures. That is what why I call it scriptural dodge ball. Nothing gets accomplished or resolved. No one learns anything.
Shortly after coming to this forum I would find people going round and round on topics, so I would list all the scriptures that were pertinent to each side of the debate. They still did not catch on.
And this is exactly, historically speaking, what has happened to Christ’s Church. People don’t ask the questions they should. People don’t ask, how can this be a never ending debate? Different people, different time periods over and over again, doing the same thing.
Again, are you saying that one cannot ever justify their point, due to the myriad of sources of information? Or, that Biblical exegesis (note the key word Biblical), is open to interpretation?
Each side justifies their point. From there a person can choose what side they believe in. But if you just choose a side, if each of you just choose a side, then both of you could be wrong. There maybe a reason that there are opposing scriptures or there maybe a meaning in why they seem to oppose each other.
The other side of the coin is that I am not applying this is true of every topic.
You really haven't stipulated where your specific contention lies, you've just offered a few criticisms without making a conclusion or resolve?
lol, I am not a troll. I am not criticizing, I am trying to make you think! Prove a point? lol The point has already been proven when the Bible was written, now it your job to understand it.
I profoundly disagree with your 3 God theory, and your inclusive view of uninspired or non-canonical text. But, are you saying that you can't prove your point, regardless, because it's too subjective, or that we first both have to agree on the sources of information from where we derive our conclusions?
I take no offense that you disagree with the 3 Gods formula. I have as you say “proven” the 3 Gods formula in Grailhunter’s corner and it is strictly biblical….
Again proving a point is not that hard, but if you have opposing scriptures proving an opposing point, you should look into why that is.
During the era of the early Church there were several formulas running around in regard the connectivity of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. You could make a good sized list of them. From there it has been a continual debate...the question is why? If you do not ask, nothing gets proven, no one is convinced, and no one learns anything.
GH, thank you for your response, but sorry, you are just not being assertive enough. But, fortunately, you implied something affirmative within your evasive explanation, that I've managed to extrapolate a conviction somewhere. (excuse the bluntness).
You said that '...you have proven the 3 god formula..' Great, you finally took a stance, got off the fence, and just made an affirmation about something! This is incumbent for all Bible students, ...or, in your case, gods-fearing people (since your not sola scriptura), that is, to establish dogma.
...that is what you did, right, or are you just stating an opinion that you feel is open to be undermined? You are really speaking in riddles?
I emphatically believe that only the Father is God. And that to deny this, is condemning.
That no human is currently in heaven, but Christ.
That man does not have a fallen nature.
That salvation is only through Christ Jesus.
.....
I understand most of the opposing arguments for all my convictions above, but still hold to them as God-given truth.
Why in the world are you telling me to still consider the other side, and to not be so dogmatic???? That is, such an elementary and obvious exegesis to hold to? Meaning, the first part has already been done, and thus the 2nd part just naturally follows.
You are the one going in circles, if you don't just make up your mind on an issue. 30000 denominations can't all be right, 5 different opinions cannot all be correct, truth is not ambiguous nor contradictory.
You spent 3/4 of your explanation stating the obvious, i.e. people have differing opinions. We get that, no one ever disagreed, no need to repeat it anymore.
Again, and again, and again, what the heck are you getting at? Are you not sure about anything?