http://www.reformationireland.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl? http://www.eblah.com en http://www.reformationireland.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?m-1216261439/ http://www.reformationireland.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?m-1216261439/#num1
I believe the bondage of the will means that man is in bondage to his sinful nature and cannot serve God until he is born again spiritually. Actually he is dead in trespasses and sins.  He is not born again spiritually until the Father calls him out of this world, reveals his sins to him, and Jesus as His only hope.  Then and only then can He become a true child of God.  

It is God that calls us, and gives us to Jesus, when we hear the gospel and God grants us faith to believe.  God reveals the beauty of Jesus to us, and his graciousness and mercy given to us as undeserving sinners  freely in Jesus, which we receive by faith alone.

God opens our spiritual eyes to the things of eternity, and we also see the temporary nature of this life.    That this life is passing quickly and will soon be over.  Life is short at it's longest.  All shall return to dust.  The things of an eternal nature are not seen but by the eyes of faith.  The things we see in this life will fade away.

I am not sure of what the book says, as I have never read it, but this is what I understand about the bondage of the will.  This bondage cannot be broken until we see the true gospel of Jesus, and God's love and mercy given to us in Him.  Then and only then are we free to serve God.  We still continue to battle with the  sinful nature, and the sinful nature does not have dominion over us.    We are kept by the power of God and the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ.  

This does not mean we will not sin, but we sin daily, as we continue to fall short of what we should be, and we repent daily, realizing our sinfulness.  But we also realize we are accepted in the Beloved, forgiven and accounted righteous in God's sight through the imputed righteousness of Jesus.  Jesus is he rock of our salvation, our only hope in this life and for eternal life to come.   We can come to a loving Holy Father in heaven in the name of Jesus, our only mediator, as He is the Father's gift to us, and the only way to come into His presence.  .  The Father is truly love, and is truly just in all His ways.  The glory of God is revealed in the face of Jesus Christ.

If someone else would like to comment I would appreciate it, as I know there is much more to be said.

RaynaRenee









]]> Thu, 17 Jul 2008 03:23:59 RaynaRenee http://www.reformationireland.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?m-1214918335/ http://www.reformationireland.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?m-1214918335/#num1
I would like someone else's comments on this topic.

RaynaRenee

]]> Tue, 1 Jul 2008 14:18:55 RaynaRenee http://www.reformationireland.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?m-1208984468/ http://www.reformationireland.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?m-1208984468/#num1 [16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
[17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
[18] He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
[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.
[20] For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be 1 reproved.


People that refuse the gospel, love their sins, and refuse to turn to Jesus.  They cannot have both, so they choose the darkness. They choose the evil in this world, and do not repent, and do not turn from their evil ways.  To them the gospel is nothing, as to give up evil is too hard for them.   Not only are they to repent but they are to believe the gospel of Jesus.

But to prevent us from being filled with pride, we have these words of warning:

I Cor. 10:
[12] Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall
We can all fall in weak moments, so let us walk humbly with our God, and realize that we are all sinners, depending on the mercy and grace of God.


This needs to be our response to the gospel of Jesus.
I John 2:15
[15] Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
[16] For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
[17] And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Rom.13

[14] But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Heb.12
[1] Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
[2] Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.


II Peter 3:
[7] But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
[8] But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
[9] The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
[10] But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
[11] Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
[12] Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
[13] Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.


Let him that readeth understand the plain words of God.

RaynaRenee





RaynaRenee]]> Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:01:08 RaynaRenee http://www.reformationireland.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?m-1206862608/ http://www.reformationireland.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?m-1206862608/#num1
It is on sermonaudio.com "God's Election" by Mark Gibson.  I am going to listen to it several times, as it is a great comfort to me.

He is the pastor of "The Reformed Presbyterian Church" in Beaumont, Texas.  

RaynaRenee]]> Sun, 30 Mar 2008 08:36:48 RaynaRenee http://www.reformationireland.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?m-1200315733/ http://www.reformationireland.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?m-1200315733/#num1 to receive of God's  grace through the sacraments of the RCC, especially the Eucharist, which is changed into the body and blood of Christ by the power of the priests, who also area supposed to have the power to
forgive sins, and absolve them.  They also designate the "punishment" or the number of "hail mary's"
you are supposed to say.  Then you are supposed to go back and partake of the eucharist, so you can
regain the justification you lost, and start over again receiving the grace of God through the sacraments of the church.  Oh yes, the RCC teaches that they are the only church, with the pope as the vicar of Christ, and is supposed to be the ruler over all the churches of the world, as his word is law, when supposedly
speaking under the power of the so called Holy Spirit.  

Oh yes, they also teach that they corporate with God in their justification before Him, by doing good works which have been inspired by the Holy Spirit which they were supposed to have received through the
sacraments and only through the Roman Catholic Church.  

This all leads to the increase of sin in one's life.  It is called  in the scriptures "the mystery of iniquity".

what blasphemy!!!  

True Protestant doctrine of justification is that all men are sinners, totally depraved, hopeless and lost without the mercy and grace of God given to them by Jesus Christ death, and imputed righteousness
alone, through faith alone.  

God's grace and mercy are described in the scriptures as the Father's love to His people, which were
chosen
from the foundation of the world, but undeserving.   The true gospel of Jesus is to be preached, so that
the "elect" may be
called out of the world, born again and sealed by the Holy Spirit to eternal life.  

Grace is not some substance infused through eating the blood and body of Jesus, but it is the
graciousness of the Father to undeserving man, in the gift of His Son from the Father, received by faith
alone, of which we learn through the study of the scriptures alone.

The Father has provided the lamb, the way to Him, the only way, by the death and righteousness of Jesus imputed to the sinner.  The sinner is forgiven of all His sins and clothed in the imputed spotless robe
of Jesus righteousness, that the Father may justify Him before His throne in heaven.  It is all of faith in
His word that this is so, as that is what is written in the scriptures.  Jesus is our great High Priest in
heaven, our Savior,  our King, the ruler of His kingdom, our only mediator, or reconciliation between man and God.   the Holy Spirit is sent to us by Jesus  to
comfort, guide, instruct, teach, and show us of eternal things as we study the scriptures, and give us
power through the teaching of the gospel to be witnesses for Him.  


This doctrine leads to holiness of life, thankfulness and praise to the Father, for the extravagant, unspeakable gift of His Son.  And also praise, honor and glory to Jesus for the Father has made Him ruler over heaven and earth, as all things are done after the counsel of His will. Jesus was willing to carry out the plan of salvation for sinful man, that those that the Father has chosen and given to Him may become the adopted children of God, and saved to eternal life.   All his mercy and grace are for undeserving sinners through His Son.  This message glorifies God alone, as man had no part in  completing the plan of salvation. We are only the recipients of God's mercy and grace by faith in His Son.

It is called the "mystery of holiness".  
RaynaRenee]]> Mon, 14 Jan 2008 13:02:13 RaynaRenee