tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23067594.post116474305449724045..comments2023-11-03T06:08:32.801-07:00Comments on Deep Thoughts: Jesus and the rich young reprobateAaron D. Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16286503917552301877noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23067594.post-1164862397453448952006-11-29T20:53:00.000-08:002006-11-29T20:53:00.000-08:00Aaron states it well. We agree on much and disagr...Aaron states it well. We agree on much and disagree on much and I even find a way to also agree and disagree with Aaron on some things. In the end, no two people believe exactly the same because no two people have exactly the same relationship with God.<BR/>God's intent is most certainly grace for everyone. He didn't send His only son to die so that a few chosen could be given grace, but everbody. Unfortunately He cannot force the gift upon us and in the end many will have left the gift untouched underneath the Christmas tree, some will have accepted it without ever really opening it up and diving in, but I hope to be viewed as the 2 year old ripping into it and exploring every inch of it to make sure I have fully received the gift that was bought for a very high price.<BR/>I agree with you Elijah that we simply cannot fully understand just how God loves us, but that it is deeper and more perfect than our brain comprehends.<BR/>PeteAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23067594.post-1164828214761208222006-11-29T11:23:00.000-08:002006-11-29T11:23:00.000-08:00Thank you for your comments Elijah. We agree on a...Thank you for your comments Elijah. <BR/><BR/>We agree on a lot of things, but also disagree on a lot of things. Since I do not have time to respond to everything you have said, let me elucidate a few points for clarification purposes.<BR/><BR/>First, I am glad that you have rejected limited atonement. This would make you a four-point Calvinist, which is the position taken in classic dispensationalism (at least the Dallas Theological Seminary version). I don't mean to label you here. I'm simply saying there are respectable evangelicals that agree with you on this point.<BR/><BR/>Second, when I said that loving the rich young ruler only in a creational sense was a form of self-admiration, I was not implying that as something morally wrong on the part of God. If you read my book, "The Angels are Watching" (you can find a link to it on my website www.greatcommissionsociety.com) you would see that I take a high view of God receiving glory from His creation. <BR/><BR/>Thirdly, I maintain that Romans chapter 9 is a reference to corporate vocational calling, not an election of individuals to salvation and damnation. <BR/><BR/>Fourthly, you, me, and Pete all seem to agree that the first 11 chapters of Romans form the crux of Paul's systematic theology of salvation. I would invite you to read the very last verse which, to me, sums up everything Paul has said up until that point, "For God has committed all men to disobedience, so that He might have mercy on every man."<BR/>I maintain that God's intent is mercy for everyone.<BR/><BR/>Fifthly- I am not a universalist. I do not believe that everyone will be saved. I do believe, however, that God's intention is to save as many as possible. <BR/><BR/>Have a great day.Aaron D. Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16286503917552301877noreply@blogger.com