Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: cash@uunet.uu.net (Peter Cash) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Once Saved Always Saved Message-ID: Date: 21 Dec 89 07:40:17 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Convex Computer Corporation, Richardson, Tx. Lines: 34 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu >Dave Mielke writes: >> The problem with this line of reasoning is that it conflicts with your >> earlier and correct statement that a person is only saved through the >> actions of God Himself. If I can remain unsaved by the act of refusing >> then I necessarily become saved by the act of not refusing, i.e. >> accepting. At the very least I would be able to arrogantly stand before >> God in heaven and confidently proclaim that at least one of the >> reasons that I am there is because I did not refuse His offer. Sure, we are saved through God's grace, and that grace is entirely undeserved. But since when is accepting charity "arrogance"? If I stand before God in heaven and say, "I took you up on your offer," then I'm being arrogant? I'm a beggar, nothing more. Yes, I stuck out my hand to receive the gift--but that's surely not cause for arrogance or pride. As to why God made me this offer, I don't know. I do think that it's extended to everyone, and that some people take what's offered, and some do not. Some go in to the feast, and some remain outside. I guess I like C.S. Lewis' view, as put forth in _The Great Divorce_ best: anyone can take the bus to heaven, but many just don't like it there. The light is so bright, the grass so prickly...and they don't much care for Him who dwells there. Why are some men like that? I don't know. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Die Welt ist alles, was Zerfall ist. | Peter Cash | (apologies to Ludwig Wittgenstein) | cash@convex ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~