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Hey Niki, Thanks for the response. First, I don't mean "illumination" in the basic sense of providing light. I mean the doctrine of illumination which I tried to spell out. This is a doctrine about how someone comes to a knowledge of biblical truth...through divine illumination. Let's look...

Some doctrines just seem to be assumed. There is no real biblical support for them, but they continue to be perpetuated regardless of their lack of Scriptural backing. I believe the doctrine of illumination falls into this category. Let me briefly explain this doctrine and then give some...

The early church was heavily persecuted and even at one point in its early existance was the object of eradication by the Roman government. So to say there were no paid traveling ministers as proof that such a thing is negative is ridiculous. Of course there were not as most churches were...

In Christ, 1. I agree with part, but I think you are combining some verses with some additional assumptions not spelled out in Scripture. Please post the verses that support these ideas and we can discuss them. As far as the verses and other ideas you did post on this matter... The point...

So when do we know when the Spirit is invited? When someone listens to you? Those who accept the teaching of the NT are accepting the Holy Spirit and His testimony about Jesus. Period. The ways people try to split up the Trinity is baffling to me. Someone accepts the truth about Jesus as...

Are you a Jehovahs Witness?

CRFTD, Thanks for answering my questions. Please do not misunderstand me. I am not saying that the Spirit doesn't work in powerful, insightful and miraculous ways. My point is simply that I don't see Scripture saying this is normative for every believer. So I am not claiming that Phillips...

Hmm, well I still just don't see this concept in Scripture. The texts you refer to are talking about those who are believing and responding to the teaching and words of Jesus. I think we all do this. I don't think Jesus has in mind here a quickened inner spirit apart from any verbal or...

This is the type of problem we run into. Two "Spirit-filled" believers who are convinced that the moving of the Spirit happens in very specific ways. Im not trying to discount you two, but I am simply trying to display the kind of confusion this brings for non-charismatics such as myself. One...

Yes, it is "power" which in other places Paul speaks of the "power" of the spirit as conviction, not miracle working. Even if he is referencing miracle working...this is miracles "among them" and not "through them." We read in Acts that Paul did some miracle working as he went through the...

Okay. So I am glad you are in agreement about the point of Romans 9. So why would Paul be focusing on God selecting certain individuals regardless of their actions as proof of this point: Why would Paul derail to talk about sovereign selection of individuals regardless of what they do when his...

CRFTD, I agree that signs are not proof of a disciple. I do think that verse is in question that says that, but I wont get into that now. I do think we need to use extreme caution when pointing to Acts as normative for everyday Christian experience. God did amazing things in Exodus, but...

Justin, I think I understand your point, but I still think both your terminology and your direction are concerning. First, "doctrine" is not a bad thing. It's simply a set of beliefs taught by the church. Paul told Timothy to "watch his life and doctrine closely. If you do you will save both...

Not sure what this has to do with the OP Angelina, Thats true. America's nations founders were not to fond of anything that had to do with King James or any other king. They wanted a government of the people.

FHII, Let's not confuse faith response as a necessary requirement for salvation and "works." Faith is not a work. And God mandating salvation in an irresistable manner on a subject is not "faith" either in my opinion. The point in Malachi is that God showed preference to Israel and they were...

Justin, I know you know that Scripture tells us plainly that "man does not live on bread alone, but every word that comes from the mouth of God." So the idea that you would encourage someone to "lay down the 'word' for a bit and just concentrate of his Spirit" is very troublesome. To place a...

FHII, If you track the source of this quote, it comes from Malachi. This text is not about God hating Esau as a person, but God choosing Israel over Edom for his service. So, I would disagree that God hated Esau as an individual, but that God predestined Jacob and the nation of Israel to...

In Christ, Thanks for the response. 1. Yes he was a sinner crying out. But both Calvinists and Arminians would agree that he recognized his need for God through God's grace, not his own innate goodness. The text where we find "many are called but few are chosen" is based out of a parable of...

FHII, I agree with you that often the students of a teacher will simplify their teachers views to make it more palatable and easier to spread. Sometimes this does damage to the actual teachings of the person themselves. This is true of pretty much every significant figure in church history...

Williemac, Thank you. Well, as I read Revelation, these letters are written to the "churches." Thus, it seems to me that these people already have the indwelling Christ and that Jesus is encouraging and correcting his own. I think this is why he says things like, "I will remove your...