Should Obama Appoint a Protestant to the Supreme Court?
Fifty-one percent of Americans identify themselves as Protestants, but only one member of the U.S. Supreme Court claims that religion: John Paul Stevens, the justice deemed likely to retire at the end of the term.
Catholic justices have been in the majority on the U.S. Supreme Court since 2006, the Washington Post reports. With the confirmation of Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the court now has six Catholics. Two other justices, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen G. Breyer, were raised in the Jewish faith, although Breyer was married in an Anglican ceremony and has a daughter who is an Episcopal priest.
The Post considers whether the religious make-up of the court should affect the next court appointment. “Here's the kind of question that might violate the rules you learned about proper dinner conversation: Does President Obama’s next Supreme Court nominee need to be a Protestant?” the Post asks....
Mike wrote: How much does the sinner have to know of the consequences of sin in order to be saved? Repentance is a turning around, a change in direction, toward God, not a sorrow of the world about the bad stuff one has done. Is hell avoidance the motivation God wants us us to have in order to turn to him? Or gratitude for the shed blood of his Son?
I believe that a sinner must know something about the danger he is in. He must realise that he is at enmity with God and under his wrath. Or else, what does "salvation" really mean to him? Jesus Saves! Yes, but saves from what? And to what?
Are we not at peace with God? No, not until we are saved.
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Romans 5:1 KJV
and
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Romans 5:9 KJV
Surely we must warn sinners about the "wrath to come" while telling them of the loving sacrifice of the Saviour? I get this from two texts of the same chapter in Paul's letter to:-
Michael Hranek wrote: There is alot one might do to "Be Saved By God and For God!" in things such as: First - They can observe the witness God gives of His existence in the Universe He Himself by Himself alone has made. Second - They can heed the witness of their own conscience in what is right and wrong before our God He has given them in their own conscience. Third - They can go with the drawing of the Spirit Fourth - They can listen to what God Himself says to us in the Bible AND apply their mind and heart to what He says
Ah the Pope will be proud of you Michael.
The papist doctrine of salvation by works appears to have remained and stuck well with you in your move from the RCC.
Like your brother Jacob Arminius, it has clearly become an old popish conviction you just couldn't give up.
Election is a term used in the Arminian camp as being in the hands of God, BUT clearly God needs help from Michael and co - otherwise it doesn't work.
Well at least you gave up the worship of old bones and other relics. Thanks be for small mercies eh Michael.
John UK wrote: --- You see bro, if a preacher proclaims Christ in all his loveliness, and the Spirit convinces of sin and judgment, then the motivation for desiring salvation is correct. But arminist "turn or burn wallers" will create selfish mercenaries.
How much does the sinner have to know of the consequences of sin in order to be saved? Repentance is a turning around, a change in direction, toward God, not a sorrow of the world about the bad stuff one has done. Is hell avoidance the motivation God wants us us to have in order to turn to him? Or gratitude for the shed blood of his Son?
Acts 20:21 "Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."
Michael Hranek wrote: John UK Somehow I have difficulty (to put it mildly) in seeing any huge difference among those who claim "Calvinism is Christianity". As to the beloved C.H. Spurgeon one doesn't have to be any kind of a Calvinist in exhorting sinners to repent and believe. Do they?
I'm not convinced that any Calvinist would say Calvinism is Christianity.
But among those who hold to "the biblical doctrines of free and sovereign grace" there are really only two camps:
#1 The good guys and #2 The bad guys
Secondly, here is the verdict:
The good guy Calvinists proclaim Christ and HIS work, concluding with a short exhortation for convince sinners to repent and believe.
The Arminists say very little about the marvellous Christ, his person, his works, his redeeming sacrifice, his resurrection and ascension; rather they focus most atention on "what the sinner must DO." Check out any sermon on SA and see if what I say is not true.
You see bro, if a preacher proclaims Christ in all his loveliness, and the Spirit convinces of sin and judgment, then the motivation for desiring salvation is correct.
But arminist "turn or burn wallers" will create selfish mercenaries.
John UK wrote: Ahem....Brother Michael. [See Michael's post dated 3/13/10 5:53 AM]
Did it escape your notice that there is no command nor instruction in the whole of the New Testament as to "how" one "must" be born again?
The reason for this is that one is "not" born again of the will of man, nor or the will of the flesh, but born "of God". And man does not have the capacity to bring this to pass. When I repented and believed on Christ it was as a result of being "quickened" by the Spirit. I was not "quickened" by the Spirit because I had believed on Christ.
If you get a hold of this, brother, it will enliven your own ministry.
Excellent comment John! Natural life begins at conception and so does spiritual life.
"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." 1Peter 1:23
"Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures." James 1:18
The natural man may do the same things which a regenerate man does but he only does them by imitation, not by inclination. There must be life before there can be activity. To argue against this is to reverse God's order...
Mike wrote: Kindling, John. As to your question- John 3:19 "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." How do they know their deeds are evil?
We have kindling in Wales, Mike. It is wood finely chopped up to help start a fire going. Surely you're not a spiritual arsonist, are you?
Men know their deeds are evil because of Jesus:
That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. John 1:9 KJV
But what they don't know is the consequences of evil:
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23 KJV
It is only the Spirit which can convince and convict men of the wage of sin, and of the redemption to be found in Christ Jesus.
John UK wrote: --- Have you never wondered why sinners aren't queueing up to receive eternal life as a free gift? Think about it, and tell me why bro. Mike NY Don't you start! There'll be no end to it, you know.
Kindling, John.
As to your question-
John 3:19 "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."
John UK wrote: Now now Michael, you've no excuse this time, as I've told you many many times that the position you are referring to is that of hypercalvinism, which is NOT biblical and NOT Calvinism.
John UK Somehow I have difficulty (to put it mildly) in seeing any huge difference among those who claim "Calvinism is Christianity".
As to the beloved C.H. Spurgeon one doesn't have to be any kind of a Calvinist in exhorting sinners to repent and believe. Do they?
Now if you want to give something your consideration look through the Book of Acts and see how the apostles were concerned (one might even use the word - insisted) that believers be filled with the Holy Spirit a reality that should tie immensely with His ministry in the life of one saved and born again. And to put it mildly Calvinism simply isn't the same as being filled with the Holy Spirit. And I have to think any honest Calvinist knows (can see if they are willing) there is a entire world of difference.
Let me say, "Does one receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit by doctrines of Dort, the WCF, the 5 points or by hearing with faith?" By asking in faith of the Father for what He Promises!
Michael Hranek wrote: And isn't this along the lines what some are proposing "If you are one of the predestinated elect do nothing and don't you dare do anything, make sure and certain you don't do anything because God WILLS to save completely and entirely arbitarily only the forechosen and if you actually do anything or imagine you have a Promise from God you can believe on it must be a do it yourself false wicked works salvation."
Now now Michael, you've no excuse this time, as I've told you many many times that the position you are referring to is that of hypercalvinism, which is NOT biblical and NOT Calvinism.
Mind you, I don't mind going through it with you again, if you're still unsure of your understanding of what true biblical doctrine is.
Or you could start off reading or listening to some of Spurgeon's sermons. He was a great exhorter of sinners to repent and believe, while knowing that the natural man has NO capacity to accomplish either.
Have you never wondered why sinners aren't queueing up to receive eternal life as a free gift? Think about it, and tell me why bro.
John UK wrote: Yes but the word 'saved' is different from the words 'born again'.
John UK Sure it is.
We simply cannot make ourselves Born Again. It is human impossible to save ourselves.
But I will stand by my premise - just do NOTHING - and I can give you good assurance you need not worry about going to heaven and being with Christ and obeying Him there.
And isn't this along the lines what some are proposing "If you are one of the predestinated elect do nothing and don't you dare do anything, make sure and certain you don't do anything because God WILLS to save completely and entirely arbitarily only the forechosen and if you actually do anything or imagine you have a Promise from God you can believe on it must be a do it yourself false wicked works salvation."
Why the nerve of some people to plead with sinners to seek Jesus Christ with everything in them, no matter how wretched their sins have been, no matter how much they know they have nothing good to offer God and how the very best of human good works could never buy a single drop of the blood of the Son of God...because Jesus is a great and wonderful Savior who will save and not cast out those who come to Him genuinely calling upon His named to be saved from sin!
John UK wrote: Yes but the word 'saved' is different from the words 'born again'. ---
Different words, but no separation between them. If one is born again of the Spirit, one is saved. If one is saved, one has been born again of the Spirit. He who has the Spirit HAS eternal life already. Amazing grace!
Michael Hranek wrote: John UK I thoroughly disagree with this kind of premise. There is alot one might do to "Be Saved By God and For God!" in things such as: First - They can observe the witness God gives of His existence in the Universe He Himself by Himself alone has made. Second - They can heed the witness of their own conscience in what is right and wrong before our God He has given them in their own conscience. Third - They can go with the drawing of the Spirit Fourth - They can listen to what God Himself says to us in the Bible AND apply their mind and heart to what He says AND under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, with knowledge God has given of His Son Jesus Christ they can call upon the Name of the Lord to be saved.
Yes but the word 'saved' is different from the words 'born again'.
Besides, in order to maintain your premise, you have to come up with a good reason why the 'natural man' is totally oblivious to the 'spiritual'.
And were you saved, brother, by an application of your intellect, as you suggest, or by the 'enlightenment of the Spirit'? If the latter, are 'all' men so enlightened? If "No", why are they not all enlightened? If "Yes", then what is our Lord trying to accomplish?
John UK wrote: Ah but there "is" nothing we can do to get saved, is there?
John UK I thoroughly disagree with this kind of premise.
There is alot one might do to "Be Saved By God and For God!"
in things such as:
First - They can observe the witness God gives of His existence in the Universe He Himself by Himself alone has made.
Second - They can heed the witness of their own conscience in what is right and wrong before our God He has given them in their own conscience.
Third - They can go with the drawing of the Spirit
Fourth - They can listen to what God Himself says to us in the Bible AND apply their mind and heart to what He says
AND under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, with knowledge God has given of His Son Jesus Christ they can call upon the Name of the Lord to be saved.
My "premise" would rather be along the lines of there is nothing one must do to be eternally lost and rightfully damned in hell forever as a wretched inexcuseable enemy of God - Just do NOTHING.
btw I have a good example to follow in this, One who said:
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
Michael Hranek wrote: John UK Why should there be when God tells us what we must do (nothing???) to be saved.
Ah but there "is" nothing we can do to get saved, is there? If we could then that would be a "work" wouldn't it? And it is "by grace" that we are saved, "not" of works. Are you saying that God's grace can be unsuccessful? That he has to take a back seat, watching and waiting and hoping that the sinner will "make" the right decision?
There are plenty of exhortations to sinners in the Bible, as you well know, and have posted some up. We are told to repent of sin, believe on Christ, seek the Lord, call upon his name, be reconciled to God, receive eternal life, become sons of God through faith in Christ etc. etc.
But you never read any sermon or exhortation in the New Testament, where the preacher has focussed on the new birth and told men to set about it.
For example, there are no 'You need to be born again by completing these three simple steps' sermons in the Bible.
However, in many Christian circles, this is exactly what is preached, and it results in many folks being deceived by a faulty "method" and experiencing a pseudo conversion.
John UK wrote: Ahem....Brother Michael. Did it escape your notice that there is no command nor instruction in the whole of the New Testament as to "how" one "must" be born again?
John UK Why should there be when God tells us what we must do (nothing???) to be saved.
Careful there enlightened brother or you will be falling into the born again (saved) before and apart from repentance and faith as "taught" by some (too many).
Scripture (you know what God Himself says to us) is clear:
For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!”
and in other passages:
But as many as RECEIVED HIM, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those WHO BELIEVE in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.
Michael Hranek wrote: After all didn't someone named Jesus tell a certain prominent religious leader a shocking reality: "You must be born again."
Ahem....Brother Michael.
Did it escape your notice that there is no command nor instruction in the whole of the New Testament as to "how" one "must" be born again?
The reason for this is that one is "not" born again of the will of man, nor or the will of the flesh, but born "of God". And man does not have the capacity to bring this to pass. When I repented and believed on Christ it was as a result of being "quickened" by the Spirit. I was not "quickened" by the Spirit because I had believed on Christ.
If you get a hold of this, brother, it will enliven your own ministry.
wrought wrote: The Arminian is always so near - yet so far!
mr/ms wrought
Do you have a problem with people coming to know God personally and experiencially in the New Birth in the Holy Spirit? After all didn't someone named Jesus tell a certain prominent religious leader a shocking reality:
"You must be born again."
Now if you think you've got to be Jewish to belong to God perhaps you ought to.... keep the Sabbath circumcise your male children (and yourself if you need it) eat a kosher diet...
and how many observable commands did God give to the people of the Nation of Israel with whom He has covenant???
In things like what crops they planted and when to give the land its rest, how their roofs needed a parapet lest someone accidentially fall off, oh! oh! oh! how about stoning a man and a woman caught in adultery?
Shouldn't you find them all out and observe them???
Now about Obama appointing a "Protestant" to the Supreme Court I might ask..."Would Obaman desire a "protestant" who seeks the joining together of church and state such as the Roman Catholics did resulting in an approved persecution of dissentors something the "Reformed" and Pilgrims in Massachusetts similarily believed and practised too?"
Jim, where *do* you get your history from? Geo. Washington was a vestry member of Pohick Church near Mt. Vernon, which was Episcopal & not Reformed - it's easy to look up.
"unlike some people who won't join a church because they themselves are 'too perfect' to be corrupted"
You must be referring to someone else, since this is a *gross* distortion of my rationale.
You say you agree with *almost* all IHCC teachings. Which are the exceptions? Surprise me...
COMMENTS | 
There is alot one might do to "Be Saved By God and For God!" 
[See Michael's post dated 3/13/10 5:53 AM]
