John Piper Readying to Step Down; Successor Candidate Named
A candidate to succeed influential pastor John Piper at Bethlehem Baptist Church was announced by the church's elders Tuesday. Piper said he is "overjoyed" at the selection while he continues to be a part of the succession process.
The leaders of the church, based in the Twin Cities metro area of Minnesota, nominated Jason Meyer, who is currently assistant professor of New Testament at Bethlehem College and Seminary.
The congregation will first vote on May 20 in order to approve Meyer as an associate pastor for the church. His starting date to fall under Piper's pastoral mentorship and an "overlap" period between the two would be Aug. 1 if the church votes in favor of the decision....
they don't need to read the Old Testament--even though that's a good idea--but they can look at the New Testament as well.
1 Corinthians 6 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.---NASB
Nonbelievers, never perform good works that are acceptable to God.
Ephesians 2 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.---NASB
JFB Commentary wrote: … unto good works—"for good works." "Good works" cannot be performed until we are new "created unto" them. Paul never calls the works of the law "good works." We are not saved by, but created unto, good works.…
The problem is religious people can be very dangerous. It was religious people who lied and sentenced my Lord to death.
parqificus wrote: Roman Catholics are the same as any other reprobate which need to be evangelised and brought to the truth. The only difference is that the RC are religious! Of course it is entirely dependant upon God as to whether HE will use His disciples to reach the religious reprobate with the truth. As Jesus remarked about the religious reprobates, quote; "22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you:"
identify friend or foe wrote: Your church is a divided house. 90% of your members are fine with Catholics and, together arm-in-arm, would gladly sign the Manhattan Declaration. But 10% of your numbers presume Catholics follow an unbroken succession of biblically-murky "anti-Christs" and who would loath breaking bread with or even using the same toilet or drinking fountain as them. If your church is headed by Christ, and He insists that you be one, why do you maintain an unsearchable chasm on this vital concern? Why don't your leaders gather to heal your schism between Fundamentalist and Evangelical factions?
You'll have to define church before making comments if you expect to make sense. But you might have to get over thinking it's an ecclesiastical corporation, with a president, and college of vice-presidents, making decisions for the restless workers down the ladder, all the while maintaining the illusion of unity.
As for the silly toilets and drinking fountains thing, you have a greater body count than we, so that makes us the minority, doesn't it? On top of which, the RCC is the true expert on anathemas and excommunication. Not very friendly.
parqificus wrote: And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you:"
Well said. I want to emphasize, what was the sin of those condemned in Matt. 7:21ff? That they DARED appeal to their good works before God! It's not that these weren't good works; quite the contrary, they were what Jesus did too, during His ministry! Nothing in the text suggests that these were outwardly wicked men, rather, they, like sincere Catholics & others, held to a false doctrine of justification.
“Doing the will of My Father” here simply means believing the truth; if good works were meant instead (as many preachers claim), then Jesus's warning would be absurd, for no evil works are mentioned.
identify friend or foe wrote: But 10% of your numbers presume Catholics follow an unbroken succession of biblically-undefined "anti-Christs" and would loath breaking bread with or even using the same toilet or drinking fountain as them
Roman Catholics are the same as any other reprobate which need to be evangelised and brought to the truth. The only difference is that the RC are religious!
Of course it is entirely dependant upon God as to whether HE will use His disciples to reach the religious reprobate with the truth.
As Jesus remarked about the religious reprobates, quote; "22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you:"
identify friend or foe wrote: Your church is a divided house... Why don't your leaders gather to heal your schism?
It's about truth & falsehood, salvation & damnation, not political bandwagons, headcounts, or religious celebrities (whom I have little use for, Catholic or ”Protestant”).
And I do not know of anyone, even in my social circles, who would “loath using the same drinking fountain” as Catholics. That's a ridiculous Strawman, often employed by Catholic apologists who want to play the victim.
Mike wrote: 1) You should be more concerned that the RCC is separate from the Church which is headed by Christ.
Your church is a divided house. 90% of your members are fine with Catholics and, together arm-in-arm, would gladly sign the Manhattan Declaration. But 10% of your numbers presume Catholics follow an unbroken succession of biblically-murky "anti-Christs" and who would loath breaking bread with or even using the same toilet or drinking fountain as them.
If your church is headed by Christ, and He insists that you be one, why do you maintain an unsearchable chasm on this vital concern? Why don't your leaders gather to heal your schism between Fundamentalist and Evangelical factions?
pillar of truth wrote: 1) Sounds like the Fundamentalists and Evangelicals need an arm wrestling match to settle their differences about the Roman Catholic Church. On one side, Evangelicals concur that Catholics may be saved. On the other, Fundamentalists agree that no Catholic ever has nor ever could be saved.
2)Meanwhile, the Church continues her two millenia voyage as the pillar and foundation of truth. The Bible remains in her care. ---
1) Looks like you think differences between others are relevant. You should be more concerned that the RCC is separate from the Church which is headed by Christ.
An RC can be saved the same way as any other lost person. He who says otherwise is wrong. Being RC or any other religion doesn't save, nor can it.
Romans 10:12 "For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him."
2) Historical exaggeration, to be really kind. But what is historically true, is the persecution and execution of those who dared to attempt make Scripture available to the unwashed. Scared to death that ordinary people might learn what it said, and power be lost, yes, they indeed tried to see that the Bible would remain "in her care."
pillar of truth wrote: ... Last, since Evangelicals outnumber Fundamentalists by 10 to 1, the odds of the Roman Catholic Church losing this match are slim to none.
pillar of truth wrote: Roman Catholic Church losing
"(a) To my mind, it is idolatry to have images and pictures of saints in churches and to give them a reverence for which there is no warrant or precedent in Scripture. And if this be so, I say there is idolatry in the Church of Rome. (b) To my mind, it is idolatry to invoke the Virgin Mary and the saints in glory and to address them in language never addressed in Scripture except to the Holy Trinity. And if this be so, I say there is idolatry in the Church of Rome. (c) To my mind, it is idolatry to bow down to mere material things, and attribute to them a power and sanctity far exceeding that attached to the ark or altar of the Old Testament dispensation; and a power and sanctity too, for which there is not a tittle of foundation in the Word of God. And if this be so with the holy coat of Treves, and the wonderfully multiplied wood of the true cross, and a thousand other so-called relics in my mind’s eye, I say there is idolatry in the Church of Rome. (d) To my mind, it is idolatry to worship that which man’s hands have made—to call it God and adore it when lifted up before our eyes. And if this be so with the notorious doctrine of transubstantiation.... there is idolatry in the RCC." (JCRyle)
What does a Christian believe? This is what they believe, The Five Solas of the Reformation. These by the way, the Romish church says are anathemas, and of course, Christians would say anyone who doesn't believe them are cursed by God. There is no Reversing the Reformation as far as any Christian is concerned.
"After examining some of the key Roman Catholic doctrines, it is clear that all too often the traditions and teachings of men have been substituted for true biblical doctrine.
You need to ask yourself seriously: Am I a Roman Catholic because I have studied the Bible and found that its doctrine is identical with that of the church? Or am I a Roman Catholic because I was raised in the church? Should I trust my soul to a church that practices idolatry? Should I trust the salvation of myself and my family to a church which changes its doctrine to cater to the surrounding culture (e.g., Vatican II), when biblical doctrine never has and never will change? Should I trust my place in eternity to a church which explicitly denies the biblical doctrine of salvation (e.g., Council of Trent)? Are you willing to read the Bible and obey what it says, even when it runs contrary to what your family and friends believe? Jesus said that you must love and serve Him more than your own family, even more than your own self (Lk. 14:26)." (Brian Schwertley)
As John says: To think, you are so very close to the truth on this website yet, in your totally depraved nature, you cannot comprehend what is before your very eyes.
"So the question becomes, “How can someone believe and confess that their works contribute to their salvation and be saved?” (as Roman Catholics do). My answer is this: perfect doctrine does not save anyone. Sufficient doctrine is an indication that someone is saved. I believe deeply that justification is by faith alone (sola fide) ...
"Therefore, both Protestants and Roman Catholics will stand before God with a greater realization and confidence that our works had nothing to do with our present state of eternal blessedness. Roman Catholics will have a bigger learning curve than Protestants in my opinion, but both of us will be overwhelmed by how grace is really grace. Most Roman Catholics will have a sudden realization that it truly was their faith in Christ." -Credo House
superlatives wrote: In the Catholic "dark ages"...
You're still living in the dark ages.
If you want to engage, choose a moniker and stick to it, instead of changing every five minutes. Otherwise I can only see you as a devil, determined to make out a good case for the RCC, to lead others astray.
Deceivers very often slink about in the shadows, being anonymous, and have no respect for God, having the scriptures but not believing them; having a pope and bowing down to his every word; having statues which are none other than false gods; committing sin with the getout of jail clause of an imaginary purgatory.
To think, you are so very close to the truth on this website yet, in your totally depraved nature, you cannot comprehend what is before your very eyes.
superlatives wrote: In the Catholic "dark ages" even kings didn't enjoy air conditioning and HDTV but neither did the world endure pandemic fornication, STDs, abortion, single motherhoodism, divorce, remarriage, adultery, homosexuality, transvestitism, darwinism, atheism, suicide, legalized same-sex marriage, consumerism, surveillancism, materialism, obesity, secularism, UNism, globalism and other modern evils unleashed upon them. ..
Then your reading of history is very different to mine. Immorality was rife as too was corruption in both State and Church.
Roman Catholicism was no friend of the people then, neither is it now.
superlatives wrote: In the "Catholic dark ages" they didn't have air conditioning and HDTV but neither did they have pandemic fornication, STDs, abortion, divorce, remarriage, adultery, homosexuality, atheism, suicide, same-sex marriage, consumerism, surveillancism, materialism, obesity, secularism, globalism and other evils unleashed upon them
Oh Look!
The Roman catholics believe that sin is a modern invention???
Just shows that RC Tradition teaches nothing Biblical but lots of stupefaction to those gullible enough to follow the papal antichrist.
Thus do they worship the dumb idol - mayhap they are made in that image!
2Thes 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
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Dr. Alan Cairns | 5/11/2009
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