This is a great response, I think we can all agree that prophecy was written so that we may believe....looking back in “time passed” even in genesis when the “seed” of Abraham was promised...we see prophetic scripture relating to the Lamb of God, and what the Lamb of God will accomplish. All through the old and into the new....yes prophecy, but I do not see the gospel itself, as it pertains to the Cross, in a finished capacity, Christ had not been crucified yet, so how could those in Matthew, Luke, Mark and John, preach “present tense Sanctification”
This confuses a babe in Christ to believe he cannot “come as you are”, awesome hymn, and creates judgement between brethren, it arms members of the church with a watchful eye, waiting to shun and treat another as an unbeliever.(because in reality, no one gets this right, you’ll never know that guy is going through) .you may not do this yourself, but it is fully embraced all over the place, and I have seen the wreckage and experienced it myself..
I understand John 3:16 etc....But this was all things to come, to a people that did not understand. Therefore, why is It used as present day doctrine, which emphasizes works and repentance( this word right here alone, will set off a firestorm) , (good but IMB, a contradiction if considered a prerequisite to salvation)
The epistles of Paul, given by God, the same author, an obvious change in Grace through Faith without works...(yes you can find repentance in the epistles) but it is obviously defined in a capacity that focuses on grace...repentance is “abused” and without works, to the satisfaction of your brethren, seems to provoke others against each other, defined as “turning toward god”, well what the heck does that mean?? wouldn’t you have to? The poor guy is there in the church!!That’s no different than saying, to open the door, you must turn the knob! If applied perpetually you can just keep turning the dang thang as if Christ didn’t die for you, until it falls off, and you just end up walking away...
With “works” church members arm themselves with it and define it as a means for judgement, and then say they are not judging...WHAT?? Im covered in the blood of Christ! Back off! And take that fully assembled LOG CABIN out of your eye!!....praise be to God, thank you Jesus!!