This may be a good point to bring up some questions, and I hope that other TT'rs chime in as well.
Many of the points that we discuss on TT require a tremendous amount of research (biblical and extra-biblical) in terms of scanning, cross referencing, and word studies, to understand. And, to understand many of the NT concepts, we even need OT knowledge into characteristics, traits, and customs of OT Jewish society, to fully understand all of the implications of the NT.
Do you really think that it takes all of that research to be a Christian? If you tell me that one can gain all of the knowledge of the things you purport to know with just a daily reading of scripture, without all of the digging and research, I must disagree.
While we all have time (or can at least make time) to read the scriptures, not everyone has the time (or can make the time) to perform the research that most theologians, bible scholars, and commentators have, and to be honest, most people may not even have the mental focus or the skills it takes to do that type of research and arrive at the level of understanding at which every commentator believes they have arrived.
I am sure all great (and even more not-so-great) biblical scholars believe that their study was led by the Holy Spirit, and perhaps in many instances it was. But if that is so, how can we have Arminius and Calvin, both claiming to have been led by the Holy Spirit, yet arriving at two completely opposing viewpoints. How can the irreconcilable differences of the many "christian" organizations claim to all have been led by the spirit to the exclusive truth of scripture when they are diametrically opposed on so many points? God is not a God of confusion, and the Holy Spirit does not lead men down mutually exclusive paths.
When I read a commentary, including all of those opinions on TT, I cannot take it as the 100% truth, because men have agendas, preconceived notions, desires to see things a certain way, and most (if not all) commentaries are tainted by certain theological assumptions. For example, I find the futuristic view of dispensationalists to be flawed, yet the dispensationalists I debate are sure that theirs is the ONLY proper eschatological view, and most are willing to argue their futurist viewpoints to the death! Regardless of how sincere any commentator is when they produce their commentaries, they are always colored by their pre-beliefs. If I want to trust a commentary, then I have to go off and repeat the same research as the commentator, and I will most likely arrive at a different conclusion (depending on how persuasive an argument he has produced, and how astute I am as a bible scholar) because I do not have the same theological background or training that he has.
Thanks for going this far...you are over half way...now the rest...
I believe that there is a simple answer to this. I believe that the message is simple. I believe that our salvation and standing with God cannot be based upon our ability to do the deeper research necessary to arrive at many of the concepts that we discuss here on TT, and also that we cannot depend on the many commentators to reveal the truth to us, lest we find ourselves jumping through many man-made hoops to no avail. And, also, our salvation and eternal destiny cannot depend on whether we are Arminianists or Calvinists (or adhere to any other of the broad-ranging theological "formulas").
I have faith that God's tremendous grace and mercy have saved me, and I did not learn this by reading commentaries or by believing any man, or jumping through any hoop. It is an easy message to glean from the scripture. Even a topical reading reveals this. And, I think anyone who can read can read the Bible, or can hear a simple presentation of the Gospel from the Bible, can understand this. And the message is not difficult. Yes, I believe that the Holy Spirit is agent in the process of understanding and heeding this simple message.
Many of you now may be anxious to tell me that I have to be perfect (without sin), or that I have to observe the sabbath, or that the sabbath has been moved to Sunday, or that I have to be of a certain religion, or that I am still under the law, or that I have to be circumcised, or I have to circle the sanctuary three times before going into it, or that I have to participate in secret rites derived from occultic practices in a temple adorned with Masonic symbols, and a whole bunch of other stuff onto which you dearly hold. You each probably want to point out my error and place me on the "correct" (pronounced "your") path to salvation. Folks, it is not that complicated. None of these rituals or hoops can add one thing to the salvation Christ has already provided.
Perry
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