----- Original Message -----
Sent: March 18, 2006 10:22
Subject: Re: [TruthTalk] torrance
Lance I don't have to know everything he has ever
taught or call myself a "Torrance expert" to know
what he says in the piece you posted. We are
back to what is a dog?, what is a cat?. What is a black dog?
What is a big black dog?. I am sorry to touch
your idol Lance. all tha ttime would have been much better
spent in God's Word - He will let you know for sure
what He means when one comes on His terms.
That which follows is a phony self-deprecatory
commentty: Even though I've listened to everything he's taught that's been
recorded since 1954 and, have read nearly everything he's written, along
with many books that are about him/his work yet (here it comes) I'D NOT CALL
MYSELF A TFTORRANCE EXPERT.
You're wrong on this one Judy! Let it go and,
move along. If indeed we have but a week left then, let's not dwell overlong
on your misunderstanding of T. F. Torrance.
Since he quotes the Scots Confession, I would say
his understanding could be found
therein.
Judy:What is 'The Reformed Doctrine of
Election' as T. F. Torrance understands it (not as you understand
it)?
In his writing below about "existential decision"
Torrance confirms Calvin's doctrine of "Total Depravity" which teaches
that fallen mankind is akin to a literal corpse and unable to make a
decision that is anything but evil .. Unconditional Election follows
along with Limited Atonement. I figure his Limited Atonement would
conflict violently with the way you see the "incarnation" so
possibly Torrance veers off here a little but so far it sounds like
Calvin's other points are in place.
"But the Scots Confession laid the axe to the root of any such
movement when it insisted that we have to spoil ourselves even of our
own regeneration and sanctification as well as justification. What is
"axed" so radically was the notion of "co-redemption" which in our day
has again become so rampant, not only in the Roman Church, but in
Liberal and Evangelical Protestantism, e.g., the emphasis upon existential
decision as the means whereby we
"make real" for ourselves the kerygma [proclamation] of the New
Testament, which means that in the last resort our salvation depends
upon our own personal or existential decision.
That is the exact antithesis of the Reformed doctrine of election,
which rests salvation upon the prior and objective decision of God in
Christ.
It is Justification by Grace
alone that guards the Gospel from corruption by "Evangelicals,"
"Liberals," and Romans alike."
