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  1. bdavidc

    What is the purpose of Grace?

    If by “progressive structure” you simply mean that greater responsibility can be entrusted to someone who has proven faithful with lesser responsibility, then yes, I agree with that. Scripture certainly teaches that principle. “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in...
  2. bdavidc

    What is the purpose of Grace?

    I think this clarification helps, because I agree with much of what you are describing when it comes to consecration. A believer should increasingly surrender every area of life to the Lord rather than holding parts of it back. That is certainly biblical. But I still think we need to...
  3. bdavidc

    Dolly Parton Believed in God, but Was It the God of the Bible?

    Romans 5:8 does not say unbelieving sinners are already forgiven. It says Christ died for us while we were sinners. You are adding “therefore everyone is already forgiven” to the verse. In fact, read the context: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus...
  4. bdavidc

    Dolly Parton Believed in God, but Was It the God of the Bible?

    The problem with the Pharisees was not simply that they made judgments. Scripture tells us exactly what their problem was. Jesus spoke of those who “trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others” ~Luke 18:9. He condemned the Pharisees because outwardly they “appear...
  5. bdavidc

    Dolly Parton Believed in God, but Was It the God of the Bible?

    quietthinker, I have very good news to give people. The good news is that Jesus Christ came to save sinners. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” ~Romans 5:8. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” ~Acts 16:31. That...
  6. bdavidc

    What is the purpose of Grace?

    Lizbeth, I agree that believers grow, learn, mature, suffer, persevere, and increasingly walk in what God has already given them. But that still does not establish another entrance into Christ or another stage of salvation. Those are two different things. Acts 14:22 does not say Christians must...
  7. bdavidc

    Dolly Parton Believed in God, but Was It the God of the Bible?

    Yes, she was confused, but I think it went beyond simple confusion. We are not talking about misunderstanding some difficult passage of Scripture. She publicly said things about God and sin that directly contradicted what Scripture plainly says, while presenting those beliefs as Christian. When...
  8. bdavidc

    Dolly Parton Believed in God, but Was It the God of the Bible?

    Yes, I meant “saved,” not “safe.” That was a typo. And no, I do not believe works contribute anything to earning salvation. Scripture could not be clearer: “For by grace are ye saved through faith... Not of works, lest any man should boast” ~Ephesians 2:8-9. Salvation is by God’s grace through...
  9. bdavidc

    Dolly Parton Believed in God, but Was It the God of the Bible?

    That is a dodge, not an answer. You were asked to show where Scripture says the unbelieving, unrepentant sinner is already forgiven. You did not do it. Instead, you turned the discussion into an accusation about “judging others.” That does not make your claim biblical. Jesus said, “Judge not...
  10. bdavidc

    What is the purpose of Grace?

    Yes, the Bible wrote every verse you quoted. What the Bible did not write is the doctrinal structure you are building out of them. That is the distinction you keep avoiding. Quoting biblical verses does not automatically make the conclusion drawn from them biblical. Proverbs 30:6 warns, “Add...
  11. bdavidc

    What is the purpose of Grace?

    The Bible says it, not me. Neither passage teaches the “progressive structure” you are claiming. Luke 12:47–48 is about being held accountable for what we know and the responsibility we have been given. Jesus says, “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.” The servant...
  12. bdavidc

    Dolly Parton Believed in God, but Was It the God of the Bible?

    You have it backwards, and Romans already said so. The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance ~Romans 2:4. It does not say the goodness of God means the man is already forgiven while he stays impenitent. The next verse kills your claim. After thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up...
  13. bdavidc

    What is the purpose of Grace?

    You do not get to invent a structure the bible never wrote and then tell a man he has no eyes because he will not bow to your false teachings. That is fog. That is not revelation. To the law and to the testimony, if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them...
  14. bdavidc

    What is the purpose of Grace?

    That sentence is the whole problem. You said the deeper things are not explicitly stated in the scriptures and have to be mined out. That is not how God teaches doctrine. That is how a man makes something up and then says the Spirit showed him. If that door is open then anybody can do it. He...
  15. bdavidc

    Dolly Parton Believed in God, but Was It the God of the Bible?

    "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." ~ Revelation 3:15-16 If you see a man on the road that leads to hell and you will not warn him, God holds you to...
  16. bdavidc

    Dolly Parton Believed in God, but Was It the God of the Bible?

    I am not judging by my personal beliefs. I am measuring public fruit and public teaching by the bible, and that is what Scripture tells us to do. To the law and to the testimony, if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them ~Isaiah 8:20. Beloved, believe not...
  17. bdavidc

    Dolly Parton Believed in God, but Was It the God of the Bible?

    You are not answering the question. You threw Matthew 5 at me to dodge it. Matthew 5 does not teach that the ungodly are already forgiven. Jesus said except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven...
  18. bdavidc

    What is the purpose of Grace?

    Here is the real issue. A man must be born again before he can rightly understand spiritual truth. Jesus said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Paul said, “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him...
  19. bdavidc

    What is the purpose of Grace?

    You say the Holy Spirit leads us into truths that are not plainly stated in Scripture, then use that claim to justify a doctrine Scripture never teaches. That is dangerous ground. The Holy Spirit inspired Scripture. He does not authorize private doctrines that go beyond what He caused to be...
  20. bdavidc

    Dolly Parton Believed in God, but Was It the God of the Bible?

    That is not what Scripture says. You are taking “Christ died for the ungodly” and turning it into “therefore every ungodly person is already forgiven.” The Bible does not teach that. Romans 5 begins by saying, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus...