Nostr notes by Josh

"All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one ...

2026-05-20T00:31:27Z

"All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out." -John 6:37

"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day." -John 6:44

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life." -John 6:47

"But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you." - John 10:26

"And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand." - John 10:28

It certainly sounds like Jesus knows who His sheep are before they know they're His, and He calls them to Himself irresistibly, and they believe, and those who believe already have eternal life and will never perish, and that Jesus really wants them to know without a doubt that they are really His and need not fear losing salvation, because that demonstrates the depths of His love, the glory of His character, and motivates to far greater works for the sake of His name.

It is absolutely ludicrous to say a justified person can lose their justification. Christ knows His own.

This is the freedom of sonship. Don't content yourself with slavery to a harsh master. Don't be content with being out on probation. Don't keep making mud pies in a slum because you can't fathom a holiday at the sea. God is bigger and better than you can imagine. There are oceans of grace in Christ.

If you are really preaching the gospel, you should at some point ...

2026-05-12T16:05:57Z

If you are really preaching the gospel, you should at some point be misunderstood as teaching antinomianism:

"If a man’s preaching is, ‘If you want to be Christians, and if you want to go to heaven, you must stop committing sins, you must take up good works, and if you do so regularly and constantly, and do not fail to keep on at it, you will make yourselves Christians, you will reconcile yourselves to God and you will go to heaven’. Obviously a man who preaches in that strain would never be liable to this misunderstanding. Nobody would say to such a man, ‘Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?’, because the man’s whole emphasis is just this, that if you go on sinning you are certain to be damned, and only if you stop sinning can you save yourselves. So that misunderstanding could never arise . . .

Nobody has ever brought this charge [antinomianism] against the Church of Rome, but it was brought frequently against Martin Luther..." -D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

"A sinner depends on the righteousness of Christ for ...

2026-05-12T15:52:21Z

"A sinner depends on the righteousness of Christ for justification to no good purpose if he does not rely on it only, and neither in whole nor in part on his own obedience." -John Colquhoun, on the theology of Galatians, in his Treatise on the Law and the Gospel

The only legitimate motive to repent is because you might lose ...

2026-05-11T16:55:17Z

In reply to nevent1q…y5fu
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The only legitimate motive to repent is because you might lose your salvation if you don't? Seriously?

"[Antinomianism] is the charge that formal dead Christianity ...

2026-05-11T16:52:41Z

"[Antinomianism] is the charge that formal dead Christianity – if there is such a thing – has always brought against this startling, staggering message, that God ‘justifies the ungodly’..." -D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

I said that with reference to your view that a justified person ...

2026-05-10T23:59:29Z

In reply to nevent1q…ngjl
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I said that with reference to your view that a justified person can lose their justification.

I'm saying a person is justified by faith alone and not by works. If this is true, then nothing can separate a person once justified from the love of God in Christ (Rom.8:38-39). Not even disobedience. And that should move a person to far greater obedience than Rome's carnal theology ever could. That is the biblical gospel, and there is no other.

Faith is a grace, the work of God, not of man. The grace of faith *rests* on Christ for perfect righteousness and full payment of sin as the only ground of justification.

So yes, anything a person does for justification is not faith but rather a dead work (Gal.2:16).

According to your theology, that would include your whole life as a Roman. I hope it isn't true, but it seems very likely. You should repent.

Roman Catholicism is a caricature of the actual catholic faith. ...

2026-05-09T01:07:28Z

In reply to nevent1q…et3p
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Roman Catholicism is a caricature of the actual catholic faith.

Trent anathematized anybody believing sola fide. That is, the gospel. There is no other gospel, as Paul teaches in Galatians. Phil. and James don't mean what you think they mean. Infused righteousness is useful for sanctification, not justification. That Rome teaches a person can lose their justification is all you need to know to conclude Rome's gospel is no gospel at all. I do not care that they say it is of grace. It is actually of works; their position is logically inconsistent. They talk out of both sides of their mouth. Every false teacher maintains he is still preaching the gospel, but is it actually? I am saying their argument is flawed, and if taken to its logical conclusion entails a rejection of the only legitimate pathway to reconciliation with God, which is faith alone. So far as I can tell, you don't understand the meaning of justification by faith alone and think it entails antinomianism. Nothing could be further from the truth.

My only hope for you and others like you is that the faith you believe is better than the one you articulate, because there is no salvation in what you describe. Rome's religion is man's religion dressed in Christian clothing, a tale as old as the garden. You should repent. Maybe your faith in Christ is sincere, God will judge, but at the very least you're very confused. Sincerely seeking God isn't what justifies, it is faith alone in Christ alone.

I believe Calvin is talking about the doctrine of implicit faith ...

2026-05-08T02:26:13Z

In reply to nevent1q…4svr
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I believe Calvin is talking about the doctrine of implicit faith wherein a Romish church member is said to believe everything the church believes without knowing what the church believes.

You believe Christ's sacrifice enables you to work to attain righteousness. Protestants believe Christ's righteousness is received as a gift. One of those is good news, and the other is not.

It is no hostility to tell people the truth (Gal. 4:16).

Are Muslims sincerely seeking God, and do you seek unity with them as brothers in Christ?Where do you draw the line in your ecumenism? I draw mine at the gospel of God's free grace.

Rome is not your home. Repent and put your full confidence in ...

2026-05-07T15:53:22Z

Rome is not your home. Repent and put your full confidence in Christ's goodness.

"We do not obtain salvation either because we are prepared to embrace every dictate of the Church as true, or leave to the Church the province of inquiring and determining; but when we recognize God as a propitious Father through the reconciliation made by Christ, and Christ as given to us for righteousness, sanctification, and life. By this knowledge, I say, not by the submission of our understanding, we obtain an entrance into the kingdom of heaven. For when the Apostle says, “With the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation,” (Rom. 10:10); he intimates, that it is not enough to believe implicitly without understanding, or even inquiring. The thing requisite is an explicit recognition of the divine goodness, in which our righteousness consists." -John Calvin's Institutes 3.2

Scripture does not teach that good works are necessary for a ...

2026-04-02T14:29:23Z

Scripture does not teach that good works are necessary for a spiritually dead person to reach life.

It does teach that it is necessary for a person who has reached spiritual life to do good works.

Are you ready? ...

2026-03-31T20:48:03Z

Are you ready?

Should be fixed.

2026-03-31T11:16:45Z

In reply to nevent1q…ty59
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Should be fixed.

Yeah, those mountain horses knew how to cover ground up in the ...

2026-03-31T11:16:24Z

In reply to nevent1q…vtp7
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Yeah, those mountain horses knew how to cover ground up in the hills.

And that'll do it. I remember coming home to the Midwest and feeling superhuman walking up the little rolling hills after months in the mountains.

Looking through some old photos and found a shot of my favored ...

2026-03-31T02:24:44Z

Looking through some old photos and found a shot of my favored mount from my wrangling days in the Montana wilderness. This boy had some horsepower.

Chicks are growing up. Liking the Easter Eggers. ...

2026-03-30T21:36:07Z

Chicks are growing up. Liking the Easter Eggers.

It's therapeutic. #nevent1q…j5qy

2026-03-30T02:26:46Z

It's therapeutic.

quoting
nevent1q…j5qy
Gm! Vibe check— Here’s your moment of zen.

Not a bad way to spend a sunny spring day 🍁

It's pretty to look at and better to taste.

2026-03-28T17:54:32Z

In reply to nevent1q…fxn6
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It's pretty to look at and better to taste.

Not as of now. Maybe in the future.

2026-03-28T17:54:03Z

In reply to nevent1q…fmzg
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Not as of now. Maybe in the future.

Filtration process needs some fine-tuning but we got 'er in ...

2026-03-28T00:04:41Z

Filtration process needs some fine-tuning but we got 'er in jars. Best syrup I've tasted.
#maplesyrup #sapstr

Getting close... #maplesyrup #sapstr ...

2026-03-27T22:42:57Z

Getting close...
#maplesyrup #sapstr

Yeah, I have seen those out there. Not sure how they work either. ...

2026-03-26T16:27:24Z

In reply to nevent1q…h72z
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Yeah, I have seen those out there. Not sure how they work either. Maybe we'll upgrade someday. It is the best. Great on ice cream too. I used to drink the Crown maple whiskey when they had it. I still have to try mixing it in myself. Fun tradition worth handing down.

It is of vastly greater importance that you teach your kids to ...

2026-03-26T13:07:59Z

It is of vastly greater importance that you teach your kids to worship God on Sunday than it is they participate in sports.

Even if they become an Olympic champion, it's not going to be much benefit if they lose their soul.

#semperreformanda

Time to get some more sap rolling. Barrel cooker was today's ...

2026-03-26T02:51:30Z

Time to get some more sap rolling. Barrel cooker was today's DIY project with the kids.
#maplesyrup #sapstr

Price caps are for commies. They guarantee shortages. ...

2026-03-25T17:14:52Z

Price caps are for commies. They guarantee shortages.

quoting
nevent1q…u8ff
Bipartisan Senate bill to cap insulin for Americans at $35 has new momentum
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/bipartisan-senate-bill-cap-insulin-americans-35-has-new-momentum

"And if we too have said like Peter, 'You are the Christ, ...

2026-03-25T13:43:20Z

"And if we too have said like Peter, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God' ... we become a Peter, and to us there might be said by the Word, 'You are a Peter,' etc. Matthew 16:18. For a rock is every disciple of Christ..." -Origen, Commentary on Matthew 12.10 🤔

#Romenomo #semperreformanda

If you teach that faith gets you into the New Covenant, but works ...

2026-03-25T13:27:07Z

If you teach that faith gets you into the New Covenant, but works are necessary to keep you in the New Covenant, you are not teaching the gospel.

#semperreformanda #thelawandthegospel #repent

Is the power of positive thinking enough? ...

2026-03-24T15:09:28Z

Is the power of positive thinking enough?

#semperreformanda #christianostr #biblestr #preachtheword

They are the laws that are not moral or civil laws. Like Passover ...

2026-03-24T02:27:29Z

In reply to nevent1q…w8e2
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They are the laws that are not moral or civil laws. Like Passover or the Feast of Booths.

Cooking sap is better than therapy. #sapstr #countryliving ...

2026-03-24T02:16:29Z

Cooking sap is better than therapy.
#sapstr #countryliving

Big, thick venison chops from last fall's doe. Reverse seared ...

2026-03-19T23:17:16Z

Big, thick venison chops from last fall's doe. Reverse seared on the pellet grill. Big hit.
#huntstr #eatwild

The hardware is free too, in certain areas. Referral link gets us ...

2026-03-19T22:56:57Z

The hardware is free too, in certain areas.
Referral link gets us both a month free. https://starlink.com/residential?referral=RC-3175290-68163-66

quoting
nevent1q…qqpg
Starlink now has a residential plan for $50 a month up to 100mbps. In case nobody told you like nobody told me.

https://starlink.com/residential?referral=RC-3175290-68163-66

2026-03-19T22:47:22Z

In reply to nevent1q…wjj7
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https://starlink.com/residential?referral=RC-3175290-68163-66

Starlink now has a residential plan for $50 a month up to ...

2026-03-19T22:43:17Z

Starlink now has a residential plan for $50 a month up to 100mbps. In case nobody told you like nobody told me.

It's official. We're tapping. #provideandprotect ...

2026-03-19T20:20:32Z

It's official. We're tapping.
#provideandprotect #sappingseason

If you are working for justification, it implies that you are not ...

2026-03-19T14:03:35Z

If you are working for justification, it implies that you are not yet justified in any meaningful sense. But the Christian is inseparably joined to Christ by a genuine faith—Christ who is Himself death to sin, resurrection, and spotless righteousness (Eph. 1; Col. 3:3-4). Therefore, if you are working for justification, you remain a stranger and alien to Christ, cut off from Him, and dead in your sins.

#thelawandthegospel #thewholechrist #christianostr #biblestr

Get your burpees in. You'll thank yourself the rest of the ...

2026-03-19T11:14:27Z

Get your burpees in. You'll thank yourself the rest of the day. Do 10. Catch your breath. x10. Full body workout. Breaks the bood-brain barrier. Pack it up and take it wherever you go.
#gm #provideandprotect

Ceremonial laws like circumcision are fulfilled in Christ. They ...

2026-03-19T02:33:23Z

In reply to nevent1q…2l08
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Ceremonial laws like circumcision are fulfilled in Christ. They are shadows. Christ is the substance. You can do what you like with them, but they are obsolete.

Good morning. Paul told the Galatians that if they became ...

2026-03-18T14:42:26Z

Good morning. Paul told the Galatians that if they became circumcised, Christ would profit them nothing (Gal. 5:2). But in Acts 16:13 he himself circumcised Timothy. Either Paul was a hypocrite or the issue in Galatians is not circumcision itself, but circumcision done in an attempt to be justified, which is what 5:4 says.

The same principle applies to any work done in an attempt to be justified, including baptism or the Lord's Supper or helping a neighbor. It would mean you are severed from Christ.

The Whole Christ is received by faith, apart from any works, and in Him is eternal life.

#gm #grownostr #thelawandthegospel #biblestr

There is a difference between authority and inerrancy. Scripture ...

2026-03-17T22:45:10Z

In reply to nevent1q…kg7w
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There is a difference between authority and inerrancy. Scripture is inerrant. The church isn't. Therefore whatever Scripture says has the authority of God behind it. The same cannot be said for whatever the church says.

I never trusted an authority to tell me what is and isn't canon. I read the books myself. I certainly took the testimony of the Protestant churches to heart as part of that process. I tried reading non-canonical works. But Scripture speaks unlike any other book. It makes better sense of the world than any other book. It reveals a path of salvation unlike any other, and all the individual books speak of the same truth, different voices, without contradiction. The manuscript evidence shows that there is no significant alteration or variation in the texts over spans of hundreds or even thousands of years. It doesn't trouble me that some churches have different canons. Just like I'm not bothered by some people who say that 2+2 might equal 5. (They do exist.) I weigh the evidence and make a rational judgment. Many other saints down through the ages have made the same judgment. Christ preserves His church. I have not seen any evidence to suggest the Protestant canon is a novel tradition. You identify and understand Scripture by reason. You receive it by faith. The apostles' teaching forms the keys to the church, and their teaching is accurately and sufficiently summed up in the Scriptures of the NT.

"Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason - I do not accept the authority of the popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other - my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen." -Luther

There is a difference between authority and inerrancy. Scripture ...

2026-03-17T18:36:46Z

In reply to nevent1q…uwkv
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There is a difference between authority and inerrancy. Scripture is inerrant. The church isn't. Therefore whatever Scripture says has the authority of God behind it. The same cannot be said for whatever the church says. That includes the church's determining what is and isn't Scripture.

I never trusted an authority in itself to tell me what is and isn't canon. I read the books myself. I took the testimony of the Protestant churches to heart as part of that process. I tried reading non-canonical works. But Scripture speaks unlike any other book. It makes better sense of the world than any other book. It reveals a path of salvation unlike any other, and all the individual books speak of the same truth, different voices, without contradiction. The manuscript evidence shows that there is no significant alteration or variation in the texts over spans of hundreds or even thousands of years. It doesn't trouble me that some churches have different canons. Just like I'm not bothered by some people who say that 2+2 might equal 5. (They do exist.) I weigh the evidence and make a rational judgment. Many other saints down through the ages have made the same judgment. Christ preserves His church. I have not seen any evidence to suggest the Protestant canon is a novel tradition.

"Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason - I do not accept the authority of the popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other - my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen." -Luther

"The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to ...

2026-03-17T14:58:03Z

"The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, depends not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God (who is truth itself), the author thereof; therefore it is to be received because it is the Word of God."

https://www.the1689confession.com/1689/chapter-1

The church doesn't make Scripture God's word. It recognizes that it is God's word. It is what it is. 2+2=4 even if the whole world says otherwise.

"The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to ...

2026-03-17T14:12:34Z

"The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, depends not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God (who is truth itself), the author thereof; therefore it is to be received because it is the Word of God."

https://www.the1689confession.com/1689/chapter-1

The church doesn't make Scripture God's word. It recognizes that it is God's word. That's what it is. 2+2=4 even if the whole world says otherwise.

Good morning. If you expect to complete your justification by ...

2026-03-17T13:00:57Z

Good morning. If you expect to complete your justification by your own good works, you are under a curse (Gal. 3:10-11).

Justification is a one-time declaration that a person is righteous in God's sight based on the merits of Christ. Believe the good news.

"For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; In every place incense shall be offered to My name, And a pure offering; For My name shall be great among the nations,” Says the LORD of hosts." -Mal. 1:11

#christianostr #biblestr #thelawandthegospel #wedistinguish

"The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to ...

2026-03-16T20:36:35Z

In reply to nevent1q…nyzq
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"The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, depends not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God (who is truth itself), the author thereof; therefore it is to be received because it is the Word of God."

https://www.the1689confession.com/1689/chapter-1

The church doesn't make Scripture God's word. It recognizes that it is God's word. Just like an apple doesn't have to say it's an apple to be an apple. That's what it is. It's not an orange no matter how many people agree it is. 2+2=4 even if the whole world says it isn't.

We could go on and on. I hate seeing people, especially younger guys with families, "go home to Rome." There's nothing for you there.

Ask your priest what he thinks the Galatian heresy was about. Ask him what he thinks Paul meant when he called all of his own works "skubala" with respect to gaining Christ and being found in Him (Phil. 3:8).

"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits ...

2026-03-16T13:05:52Z

"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing." -John 6:63

"Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?" - Gal. 3:3

#biblestr #christianostr

A lot of religions make a lot of remarkable claims. It ...

2026-03-15T01:09:57Z

In reply to nevent1q…nu7f
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A lot of religions make a lot of remarkable claims. It doesn't mean they're true.

Scripture is the Protestant's magisterial authority. It is the law and the gospel of Christ our king. He wrote it to reveal things to us in a way we could understand. Have you ever noticed how many times in the gospels Jesus asks the question: "Have you not read?"

We have no magisterium. Christ rules His church from heaven by His Word and Spirit. This does not mean we do not have ministerial authorities. We have living teachers, pastors, scholars who have the Spirit of Christ living and working in them. We also have great regard for creeds and confessions. It just means we do not consider them authorities in themselves. (Don't trust, verify.) They are subject to the word of God. Members of churches are also subject to the authority of the church, and if they teach or live in such a way that is contrary to the church's belief, they may be put under discipline. We have no popes in Protestantism: we believe it is right for each of us to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. That includes submitting our interpretation to another and being willing to accept correction, especially from a faithful pastor or other church leader.

What is baffling to me about other traditions is that they seem to doubt their ability to interpret the Scriptures accurately themselves, but at the same time they seem very confident in their ability to interpret the church fathers' interpretation of Scripture. Claiming these church leaders had extra-biblical revelation (hidden knowledge) via spoken word, regarding the fundamentals of the faith, not included in Scripture, and asserted after the time of the death of eyewitnesses to the risen Christ, is quite a problematic, and, in my view, very cult-like claim.

There is no getting around using your own individual rational mind to come to a conclusion. The way to determine the truth of any matter is not to ask who the person (or group) is who is saying it--it is to determine whether it conforms to reality or not.

A well-informed Protestant will not argue that it is Protestants who made the hard fork. The Reformers sought to retrieve the teaching and practice of the ancient church. The claim is that Rome veered off. The claim is that we are more catholic and apostolic than you are, and you got into novelty regarding the substance and essence of the faith, particularly regarding the authority of Scripture and the way of salvation.

To paraphrase the apostle Paul, "...even if we, or an angel from heaven, or a bishop or bishopric that claims direct succession from the apostles by the laying on of hands, or a pope who is the supposed head of the church and direct successor to Peter, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed." As I understand it then, Trent is the hard fork. Apostolic succession is irrelevant if it has failed to preserve the true gospel as handed down by Paul in his written letters (which certainly would not contradict his spoken word).

"...a Christian man has in his faith all that he needs, and ...

2026-03-13T12:47:51Z

"...a Christian man has in his faith all that he needs, and needs no works to justify him ... they who imagine that they are fulfilling the law by doing the works of chastity and mercy required by the law (the civil and human virtues), might not be confident that they will ... be saved; they are included under the sin of unbelief, and must either seek mercy or be justly condemned." —Luther, On the Freedom of a Christian
#gm #grace #thelawandthegospel #wedistinguish

🫡 Onward.

2026-03-13T12:23:36Z

In reply to nevent1q…4gkd
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🫡 Onward.

Oh man. We had one crawl under the truck and up under the hood ...

2026-03-13T01:46:55Z

In reply to nevent1q…hgzn
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Oh man. We had one crawl under the truck and up under the hood into the engine area. Could not get it out. Trying to be proactive and keep them from getting a foothold this year. But they got a duck already one night. And the coyotes heard it and came and picked off a chicken later. Too many varmints.

They're out of control. This is #3 already.

2026-03-13T00:54:02Z

In reply to nevent1q…29e3
_________________________

They're out of control. This is #3 already.

Raccoon warfare season 2 is underway. #provideandprotect ...

2026-03-12T14:51:55Z

Raccoon warfare season 2 is underway. #provideandprotect #homestead

Exactly. 👍

2026-03-12T12:41:47Z

In reply to nevent1q…yf7p
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Exactly. 👍

Jesus said, "My yoke is easy and My burden is light." ...

2026-03-12T12:39:22Z

Jesus said, "My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matt. 11:30).

You lose this the minute you make your own works part of the basis on which God declares you righteous in His sight.

It doesn't matter if you claim they are works carried out by God's grace.

The entire weight of God's perfect law is hung around your neck like a millstone.

You must accomplish it to gain eternal life.

That is not good news.

#christianostr #biblestr #gm

"This free grace of God is always exposed to that charge of ...

2026-03-11T16:26:28Z

"This free grace of God is always exposed to that charge of antinomianism...If you do not make people say things like that sometimes, if you are not misunderstood and slanderously reported from the standpoint of antinomianism, it is because you do not believe the gospel truly and you do not preach it truly."
-D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Amen.

2026-03-11T15:27:48Z

In reply to nevent1q…zkdk
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Amen.

Eternal life isn't a gift if you can lose it by disobedience. ...

2026-03-11T13:55:48Z

Eternal life isn't a gift if you can lose it by disobedience.

#christianostr #biblestr #gm

Understood. That sounds a lot more like probation than sonship. ...

2026-03-11T13:47:41Z

In reply to nevent1q…mt56
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Understood. That sounds a lot more like probation than sonship. So much of the NT appeal to obedience is an appeal from identity: you are sons, therefore act like sons. You have been crucified with Christ, therefore die to sin and live to righteousness. It seems your view would completely undercut any motive to obedience from identity. The effect of Rome's teaching (no matter their supposed objection) is that I might be a son, but I have to choose to keep obeying to really find out. This makes sonship much more of an achievement than a gift of God's grace. As you say, you must choose. It's a relationship that can end. Therefore, I conclude, it is a relation based on works rather than grace. I don't see how in your view the NT is in any way essentially different from the OT. "If you obey, then you'll live."

Roman Catholicism has no appeal to me. I think I understand it pretty well. I was taught some of its distinctives by teachers who thought they were teaching Protestant theology. It is very easy to slip into the Galatian heresy. It is far easier for the mind of of the flesh to comprehend. The god of Rome is far too fickle and his medicine far too weak to save my soul. I have been far too acquainted with the depths of my sin. I agree with Charles Spurgeon: if I could lose my salvation, I would.

My interest in RC is merely speculative and experimental, for the purposes of evangelism and defending the truth. (I do not recognize a genuine Roman Catholic as a brother, because Rome clearly teaches a different gospel; indeed, a different religion when it comes to the substance of it, though there is agreement with Christianity in important areas).

It is amazing to me that someone could say that a person who is in limbo between a state of righteousness and sin (grace and flesh) could enjoy the blessing of being seated in the heavenly places in Christ. That is the Holy of Holies. You must be covered in blood and washed to enter there. Some provisional or temporary covering could never suffice in light of God's holiness. On the other hand, I don't see how it could be an encouragement if Paul is talking about something that a person believing now might never reach in the future.

We also believe in an ongoing, lifelong process of purification for the Christian and for the church. We call it sanctification, and we distinguish it from justification. Justification leads to sanctification. Faith is not a good work (it is the work of God), but it produces good works. A person already made righteous in Christ begins to live righteously. This process of sanctification is evidence of justification, not the grounds of it. If you love the RC Church because they have a catechism, that is no reason to favor it over Protestantism. The Reformed churches have catechisms and confessions of faith as well.

The design of RC seems to be to deny people assurance and keep them debtors to the law and slaves. I don't see any way the gospel according to Rome leaves it open to the charge of antinomianism. You seem to think that is one of the principle virtues of Romanism, and the vice of Protestantism. Curiously, Paul's preaching did leave him open to the charge of antinomianism (Rom. 6:1). If your gospel could not possibly be misunderstood in such a way, do you think it may be possible you're not teaching the same gospel? Think about it.

A person is justified by faith. A person's faith is justified ...

2026-03-11T01:27:20Z

A person is justified by faith.

A person's faith is justified by works.

Don't confuse the two. Distinguish.

The Bible teaches that a person is justified by faith. It does ...

2026-03-11T00:14:10Z

The Bible teaches that a person is justified by faith. It does not teach a person is justified by faithfulness.

Good news: Christ is crucified for you. Believe and you have ...

2026-03-11T00:03:03Z

Good news: Christ is crucified for you. Believe and you have life.

Not good news: Christ is crucified for you. You have a chance to reach eternal life if you keep the rules.

You who believe in Me, you have eternal life, you will not come ...

2026-03-10T22:25:18Z

In reply to nevent1q…pxr7
_________________________

You who believe in Me, you have eternal life, you will not come under judgment, you have passed from death to life, but, on the other hand, you who believe might not have eternal life, you might actually come under judgment, and you might pass back from life to death. Really?

I have much to say, but I will try to stick with this text: Jesus ...

2026-03-10T22:13:49Z

In reply to nevent1q…gctv
_________________________

I have much to say, but I will try to stick with this text: Jesus says the person who believes already has eternal life. In other words, the believer already has possession of unending bliss, and the happy enjoyment of it in Christ, who Himself is the true God and eternal life (1 John 5:20). (Eph. 2:6 goes so far as to say a believer is already seated with Christ in the heavenly places, at the Father's right hand). And He says this believing person does not come under judgment. He says they have already passed from death to life.

Is the Roman position that a person raised from the dead to eternal life (the happy possession of endless bliss) can still die and come under judgment?

#christianostr #biblestr #grownostr #faith #christian ...

2026-03-10T18:37:58Z

#christianostr #biblestr #grownostr #faith #christian

quoting
nevent1q…tuln
Serious question for the Roman Catholics: What do you do with John 5:24?

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life."

If the person who believes already has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, then how is it that someone in the position of so-called "initial justification" could lapse and fall into eternal torment (which, as I understand, Rome teaches is possible)?

Serious question for the Roman Catholics: What do you do with ...

2026-03-10T18:37:12Z

Serious question for the Roman Catholics: What do you do with John 5:24?

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life."

If the person who believes already has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, then how is it that someone in the position of so-called "initial justification" could lapse and fall into eternal torment (which, as I understand, Rome teaches is possible)?

You're right. It's a slippery slope.

2026-03-10T18:28:42Z

In reply to nevent1q…3jwl
_________________________

You're right. It's a slippery slope.

That is a steal. I can't throw stones.

2026-03-10T18:26:01Z

In reply to nevent1q…y89v
_________________________

That is a steal. I can't throw stones.

Have you not heard? ...

2026-03-10T18:24:34Z

Have you not heard?

#goodnews #reformation #christianostr #biblestr #grownostr

New chicks. #homestead #grownostr #selfsufficiency ...

2026-03-03T22:54:12Z

New chicks.
#homestead #grownostr #selfsufficiency

Nostr event nevent1qqsqn555evmkycc8n4l2sedtn9pe696qjsfxsam8grq0c37t6npkatqzyz4yj4dnkcre4c70h35rqstzthcu98wt8egyq624yd6m0l8fm72du0sqhkq

2026-03-03T16:34:54Z

I'd say the foundation of any civilization is the virtuous ...

2026-01-28T23:51:10Z

In reply to nevent1q…cfxj
_________________________

I'd say the foundation of any civilization is the virtuous individual. As opposed to wicked and vain individuals. A virtuous individual ordinarily will seek marriage and children and seek for the good of his country, with his own long-range happiness in mind.

Is the argument that a nation is formed by covenant in the same ...

2026-01-28T23:28:18Z

In reply to nevent1q…z89c
_________________________

Is the argument that a nation is formed by covenant in the same way a household is formed by a marriage covenant?

Nostr event nevent1qqsvenagsqnjx0epmz66fv67f3wqvxrf7yhdc8mnzwctexk7x7l5rkszyz4yj4dnkcre4c70h35rqstzthcu98wt8egyq624yd6m0l8fm72duj589tk

2026-01-27T23:32:37Z

In reply to nevent1q…lga7
_________________________

I don't disagree with the importance of the household, but ...

2026-01-27T19:14:50Z

I don't disagree with the importance of the household, but every time I see someone make the argument that the household is the basic building block of civilization *over against the individual,* I just have to wonder how it is possible there can be a household without individuals. And if you cannot have a household without individuals, then how can the household be more basic to civilization than the individual?

quoting
nevent1q…d7xm
The household—not the individual—is the basic unit and building block of civilization.

This is why the constant upending of the household has dealt a death blow to the culture, the body politic, the church, and every institution.

Everything we face now in the West is downstream of the hollowing out of the household. This mean that the recovery of productive, covenantal, sovereign, and faithful households is of the utmost importance. Restore the household, restore civilization.

Young men, take note. Husbands and fathers, take note.

#RecoverTheHousehold #ToChristAlone #FatherlyFrame #grownostr

nevent1q…awps

How should you respond when suffering wrongfully? ...

2026-01-27T19:05:35Z

How should you respond when suffering wrongfully?

#christianostr #biblestr #faith #christianity

Get your deads in. #liftstr #gm ...

2026-01-16T14:08:42Z

Get your deads in.
#liftstr #gm

New Discourses: Integralism, Authority, and the Refactoring of ...

2026-01-13T15:49:36Z

New Discourses: Integralism, Authority, and the Refactoring of Social Order | Michael O'Fallon

Episode webpage: https://soundcloud.com/newdiscourses/integralism-authority-and-the-refactoring-of-social-order-michael-ofallon

Media file: http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/2241967361-newdiscourses-integralism-authority-and-the-refactoring-of-social-order-michael-ofallon.mp3

Now it's hunting season. #gm #huntstr ...

2025-11-26T13:36:07Z

Now it's hunting season.
#gm #huntstr

Nice doe on the ground. #wigundeer #huntstr ...

2025-11-24T02:28:41Z

Nice doe on the ground.
#wigundeer #huntstr

Mastering the art of the mobile gym. #nofatgenerals ...

2025-11-22T19:57:28Z

Mastering the art of the mobile gym.
#nofatgenerals

Nostr event nevent1qqsxl5ddmfz5fgrstpv900suesdcg7s76smkfr5r6w2uvk66llcezjqzyz4yj4dnkcre4c70h35rqstzthcu98wt8egyq624yd6m0l8fm72du97arxd

2025-11-20T15:29:35Z

In reply to nevent1q…zdw7
_________________________

Nostr event nevent1qqsz4yj0a8crwvpu57czvqev8xnuhuh0dazwplhr2zewzjaf4y9h0mszyz4yj4dnkcre4c70h35rqstzthcu98wt8egyq624yd6m0l8fm72dueqzskm

2025-11-20T15:29:25Z

In reply to nevent1q…teuu
_________________________

Bands and rucking by the lakeshore this morning. #gm

2025-11-20T15:28:57Z

Bands and rucking by the lakeshore this morning. #gm

The church is not your surety of eternal life. Christ is. ...

2025-11-20T15:26:25Z

The church is not your surety of eternal life. Christ is.
#faithalone #christalone

Family friendly socialism. Free people don't want or need ...

2025-11-20T12:43:43Z

Family friendly socialism. Free people don't want or need this.

quoting
nevent1q…5a39
⚡️🇺🇸 NEW - Sec. Scott Bessent: Thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill, every American child born over the next three years will receive a government investment account that grows in the stock market. When these young Americans turn 18, they will be able to access this account, learning the power of compounding returns and building real financial literacy along the way.

Good works are evidence of justification, not the cause of it. ...

2025-11-19T02:28:55Z

In reply to nevent1q…zrf6
_________________________

Good works are evidence of justification, not the cause of it. God declared Abraham righteous by faith alone: his faith was counted for righteousness. His later works made his faith evident in good works, such that his faith was 'justified' before men. This is the kind of justification James is talking about: you show me your faith, I'll show you mine. The question is the evidence of saving faith, and the sort of faith that saves (there is such a faith that cannot save), not the ground of justification. A person claiming to have faith before other people is justified in his profession when he bears fruit in keeping with repentance. Apart from works there is no justification to say a person has saving faith.

Rome does hold that good works are necessary to justification. ...

2025-11-18T14:38:17Z

Rome does hold that good works are necessary to justification. They call them “works of grace,” such that, with God’s help, you may work for your own justification. If justification is a declaration that a man is just, and it is based and depends partly on your own merits or works, then it is of works. You are still under the law and not under grace. If you already have the grace at conversion, but you are not finally justified, and must display the fruits thereof *for justification*, then what is yet required for your final justification is not grace (which is freely given), but works. Then you are a savior to yourself, and Christ is no advantage to you (Gal. 5:4), for you are yet bound to keep the whole law, in all of its rigor, in order to be accepted unto life (Gal. 5:3; Gal. 3:10). If your title to eternal life depends at all on your own works, though they be “works of grace,” you are under a curse.

quoting
nevent1q…w2mc
I’m not a Catholic but this just isn’t true — and I don’t just mean in the ancient pre-schism catholic church, I mean even today in the latest Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), this isn’t true.

There’s much to complain about with the RC church, but one nice thing is that their “magisterium” systematically articulates every aspect of their theology with painstaking precision (dating back pre-schism, with later innovations that they refer to as “doctrinal development”).

The east may criticize that the west over intellectualizes the mysteries and misses the “phronema” (the heart), but from a western and especially reformed perspective RC provides an exact articulation and exegesis on these topics.

For example:

Salvation is initiated and completed through Jesus Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection, which provide infinite merit for the redemption of humanity (CCC 1992; Hebrews 7:25)

Justification begins with faith and baptism, infused by God’s grace (CCC 1987–1995; Romans 3:24). Good works are necessary as a response to grace, not as a prerequisite or independent contribution (James 2:14–26).

And where it aligns closer to Calvinist/reformed confessions goes back pre-schism, to Augustine. Catholicism explicitly rejects Pelagianism (and semi-pelagianism) and affirms there is no human effort towards salvation without grace, that God is 100% responsible for your salvation, and man is 100% responsible for sin and rebellion against God.

The seeming contradiction was resolved earlier in Chalcedon (5th century, pre schism), that the person of Christ, fully human and full God, has a divine will and human will — and a “synergoi” between the two, that is, man and God cooperating (from man’s perspective free will, from the divine perspective complete sovereignty).

The Catholic rebuttal to reformed confessions (and TULIP more generally) is similar to the eastern (e.g., confessions of Dositheus) — basically a series of anathemas that most reformed theologians actually agree with, such as explicitly stating that God is never the author of evil.

The concerns from EO and RC are about these edge cases where Calvinism leads to moral determinism, or deism (clockmaker God) — and it’s important to point out that this is exactly what happened, e.g., to the Puritans (the most hardcore Calvinists and Christian nationalists to ever exist — whose theology I love, but the bad fruits of Harvard and Yale are undeniable).

Similarly, I’d be careful about the “violating free will” line, even staunch Calvinists reject that way of thinking as it leads to the view that God is the author of evil. The reformed position on this is technically not that different from the EO and RC position (despite all the Internet strawman versions). I think best articulated in that Jonathan Edward’s quote.. which RC and EO fully agree with.

"...make a tree bad and its fruits will be bad..." ...

2025-11-11T12:50:18Z

In reply to nevent1q…klqn
_________________________

"...make a tree bad and its fruits will be bad..." -Matt.12:33 Something that is *materially* good but done from an impure motive is not a good work. It does not please God.

We have a lot of rutabagas in our garden. From all external appearances they look great. But when you cut into them they're rotten to the core. I don't consider them good vegetables, and we throw them in the field to rot.

Any work done *for* justification is done from an impure motive that betrays a critical misunderstanding of the nature of God.

I'm saying Satanists can't do good things.

2025-11-10T23:37:38Z

In reply to nevent1q…483d
_________________________

I'm saying Satanists can't do good things.

Nostr event nevent1qqs83tu59vewpmzy2289usff0h5hh06cdpjrx20hkyk5vade0eryw0szyz4yj4dnkcre4c70h35rqstzthcu98wt8egyq624yd6m0l8fm72dursvpft

2025-11-10T23:05:53Z

#justification

👍Hope you'll read Perkins. Justification is the marrow of ...

2025-11-09T23:20:18Z

In reply to nevent1q…h0a7
_________________________

👍Hope you'll read Perkins. Justification is the marrow of divinity.

You are exactly right about Luther and exactly right that Canon 9 ...

2025-11-09T22:14:47Z

In reply to nevent1q…wplt
_________________________

You are exactly right about Luther and exactly right that Canon 9 specifically rejects justification by faith alone (sola fide) and not justification by faith (which is what Rome holds).

The disagreement is not over whether works have any place in the Christian faith, but it is over the place of works strictly in the matter of justification. Rome teaches that good works are necessary to justification, with the caveat that those works which are necessary to justification are worked in them by Christ, as a fruit of grace (as you said). Protestantism teaches that a man is justified by faith alone, apart from any works, but solely resting on Christ’s work accomplished for us (Phil 3:9; Titus 3:5). Rome teaches justification by infusion of righteousness; Protestantism teaches justification by imputation of Christ’s righteousness (Rom. 4:5, 8). For Rome, justification is a process; for Protestants, an instantaneous event.

Protestants understand faith as a mere instrument, as an open hand receiving Christ’s righteousness; Rome conceives of faith as a meritorious work affording a person a title to justification (faith formed by love).

We both agree that saving faith is never alone but will always work. Where we disagree is in seeing good works as the fruit of justification vs. seeing good works as necessary causes to justification. Faith produces good works of man, but faith itself is not a good work of man.

As Luther said, “[Faith] is a work of God, not of man, as Paul teaches (Eph. 2:8). The other works He works through us and with our help, but this one He works in us and without our help.” -The Babylonian Captivity of the Church

In the end, if the gospel is to remain good news, justification must be grounded solely on what Christ has done for us, and not on anything He does in us (Phil. 3:8-9). Here is the disagreement. What Rome teaches is actually a form of the Galatian heresy, wherein we begin by grace and finish with works (again, in the matter of justification), rather than the Christian gospel, which is all of grace and all of Christ.

You're welcome. I am referring to Rome when I say that. Canon ...

2025-11-09T01:49:41Z

In reply to nevent1q…n896
_________________________

You're welcome. I am referring to Rome when I say that. Canon 9 of the Council of Trent anathametizes anyone who holds to justification by faith alone. It is an explicit rejection of the apostles' teaching and of the only gospel that can save.

If justification is not by faith alone, then it is of faith plus works; and if justification is of faith and works, then every man is effectively a savior to himself, the gospel is no longer good news, and Christ died for no purpose (Gal. 2:21).

Rome may have a continuity of their institution, but they cannot claim a continuity of faith with the apostles in the matter of justification.

It is the doctrine on which the church stands or falls, and Rome cannot stand.

Happy to share more if you're interested.

Seeing a fair bit of this lately. Fleeing a superficial ...

2025-11-08T19:18:07Z

Seeing a fair bit of this lately. Fleeing a superficial evangelicalism makes sense, but fleeing to a tradition that explicitly rejects the gospel doesn't. If you're considering such a move, at least make sure you're making an informed decision. William Perkins interacts extensively with Rome's claims, makes it clear where Protestants (Reformed Catholics) agree, and what constitutes the dividing line.

quoting
nevent1q…eqnp

I've found something beautiful in the Catholic Church.

Growing up in Protestant and evangelical congregations laid a lot of groundwork, but left me struggling to identify wholeheartedly with faith. There was something missing for me—especially in the most difficult questions; Good vs Evil, free will, humility. For a long time, I passively avoided engaging.

Recently something changed for us. We both felt a need for more in our spiritual lives. Something supernatural led us to our first Catholic Mass—and with it, a new feeling of finally being home. That something, I fully believe, is the Holy Spirit.

Over the past several months, I’ve moved through the stage of excitement and discovery—diving deep into reason, research, history, and tradition—only to enter the stage of terror. “Trapped by truth,” as I’ve heard it said.

I can no longer deny or neglect my calling to the faith. Tomorrow, my wife and I enroll, asking for full communion with the Church as we continue through OCIA together toward Confirmation.

God is good. Christ is King. 🙏⚔️

Digging in. #philosophy ...

2025-11-07T12:39:26Z

Digging in.
#philosophy

Is this for real? #nihilism ...

2025-10-28T20:17:11Z

Is this for real? #nihilism

Nostr event nevent1qqsyj08dnrcvuhgsl45e9zj0pukeslz58ht5qf20rxxc04utmv5595gzyz4yj4dnkcre4c70h35rqstzthcu98wt8egyq624yd6m0l8fm72dugl8lv8

2025-10-28T19:57:15Z

Do you believe what God says about your sin? ...

2025-10-20T20:00:21Z

Do you believe what God says about your sin?

#christianostr #biblestr

It's a thrill.

2025-10-08T01:03:58Z

In reply to nevent1q…7kx8
_________________________

It's a thrill.

Haha not the biggest around but he'll do. It was a good hunt.

2025-10-08T01:02:47Z

In reply to nevent1q…mcyy
_________________________

Haha not the biggest around but he'll do. It was a good hunt.

Big Tom down. #huntstr #grownostr ...

2025-10-07T22:29:51Z

Big Tom down.
#huntstr #grownostr