Some Underlying Assumptions
J.C. Thibodaux
As I've debated this challenge a bit, one thing that keeps being brought up is that I have presuppositions or am making assumptions. Well, despite whatever proverbs exist about what happens when we assume, the fact is that some logical assumptions are necessary for any kind of framework in thinking. Take belief in the Bible for instance, while skeptics can raise many an argument against it, we assume in our discussion of conditional vs unconditional security that the Bible is the true and inerrant word of God, and leave the mowing down silly skeptic skoler arguments to the Christian apologists. So I present here a brief list of relevant underlying assumptions and premises I employ along with a deduction drawn from them. Please note that when I employ the term 'believers,' I am referring to those with genuine saving faith in Christ.
Assumptions:
I assume that regardless of how many or what types of people hear or read one of God's warnings, if it speaks of those warned as possessing things that only pertain to believers (such as eternal life), then the warning includes believers specifically and primarily in its address.
I assume that if a warning is addressed to us as believers, then that warning along with whatever given consequence it carries is applicable to us.
Scriptural Principles:
If God gives believers a warning, then He means it to be heeded, believed, and obeyed by us (1 Timothy 4:16, Acts 5:9).
If God lists a consequence with a warning, then it is not to be taken lightly or written off, but feared (Hebrews 4:1, Romans 11:20).
Deduction:
I deduce from the above statements that if one teaches a doctrine that says a warning given directly to we as believers is not truly applicable to us, or that the consequences for its violation are impossible for us to suffer, then he renders it void, in that he has in effect stated that the consequences of the warning need not be feared by those to whom it was delivered, and by the fact that he makes the things spoken to us in scripture speak nonsense in admonishing us against one impossibility contingent upon another.
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