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Sid Davis's avatar

So much good stuff in here! - reformed humanism vs reformed fundamentalism - scholasticism vs humanism - philosophy as a consolation - reformed writings as dialogues with history - and more!

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Joel Carini's avatar

Thanks! I really appreciated the perspective Nathan brought to the conversation.

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Nathan Enas's avatar

Some Bible helps us properly understand “total depravity”. “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭6‬). “But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” (Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭23‬). Both faith-full and un-faith-full image-bearers can do “good” (eg, work hard for a living), but only the faith-full can please God with his “good works”, and only if his good works “proceed from faith”. Thus, Augustine taught that post-fall un-faith-full man was “not able to not sin”, while post-fall regenerate faith-full man was “able to not sin”.

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Nathan Enas's avatar

Some Bible helps us properly understand “total depravity”. “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭6‬). “But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” (Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭23‬). Both faith-full and un-faith-full image-bearers can do “good” (eg, work hard for a living), but only the faith-full can please God with his “good works”, and only if his good works “proceed from faith”. Thus, Augustine taught that post-fall un-faith-full man was “not able to not sin”, while post-fall regenerate faith-full man was “able to not sin”.

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Nathan Enas's avatar

Some Bible helps us properly understand “total depravity”. “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭6‬). “But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” (Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭23‬). Both faith-full and un-faith-full image-bearers can do “good” (eg, work hard for a living), but only the faith-full can please God with his “good works”, and only if his good works “proceed from faith”. Thus, Augustine taught that post-fall un-faith-full man was “not able to not sin”, while post-fall regenerate faith-full man was “able to not sin”.

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