Quote:
Originally Posted by Steadfast
Wrong dispensation, Slick. The theif was in a different dispensation... one before Jesus died and, thus, the 'will of the testator' was not yet in effect.
Next answer?
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Oops, my bad.
OK, let me ask you this. You are 100% certain that you have the correct formula for salvation, straight from Scripture, clear as day. Right? Never mind that there are some who disagree (they must be evil folks, not to accept such a clear command from the Lord). You have it right, and they have it wrong. Fine.
Suppose on your first day in Heaven, you are given the job, the
honor, of manning The Gate for a day. They give you a really nice laptop computer that has all the information you need about each candidate's life. The exact wording used at their baptism, the full history of their life, including the state of their hearts! (I said it was a nice laptop!)
Now, before you get started, Peter himself starts to tell you what to look for. Do you stop him and say "No, that's OK. I already know. Read it, understand it, no need to repeat it."?
Peter says, "Oh, good for you! Alright, then, I'll be back in a few hours to check on things."
First candidate. Your hand is on The Switch. (It has an "Up" position and a "Down" position. It's in "Neutral" for now.) Looking over this guy's records, you see that everything is in order. Oopsie! Except for one thing. The preacher that baptized the poor guy said, according to the audio, "...in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit". Ah, so close.
DOWN!
Yes, this is an impossible, ridiculous hypothetical situation. But, just asking: are you really
that certain you have it right?
But in fact, it's not so hypothetical. By preaching what you are preaching, everyone who believes you is
trusting you! Trusting that you got it right. Resting their own eternal lives on what
you have taught them.
Nervous? No? Not even a little??