Brother Bob, 

  Thanks for your input on Bullinger and other theological sources. I have does quite a bit of thinking about what you have inquired about concerning my post. Firstly, I am certain that most of what I have presented on eternal security have been dismissed out of hand by most because of the conflicting message the Apostle Paul seemingly gives that urges works on one hand and offers unmerited grace on the other.Any competent English fluent free thinker can not fail to understand that things that are DIFFERENT are NOT the same. Pastor Bob is close on most of his doctrine, but in my opinion puts too much credence on his bible knowledge and greek. The King James translators by the Holy Ghost have painstakingly done the translating, so that as per the bible warnings, anyone who adds or subtracts from the intended meaning of a word is treading dangerously.

  Any serious bible student lets iron sharpen iron, and we learn and build upon each others knowledge and observations. We are forced to make personal judgement, with confirmation of agreeable witnesses, of the meaning of a passage. Whilst many of us are accused of extra biblical interpretation, not thinking outside the box, or are a low information crowd, we cannot be dissuaded from letting the bible cross references correct and establish truth, and not run to the greek to change the meaning that doesn't support our theology, but we take it on faith in God's preserved word.

  Concerning Paul's epistles, one such noticeable attribute is that any of his Prison Epistles that he wrote in captivity have a mention of him being imprisoned, and a reserved demeanor accentuating grace, whereas  while Paul was free  the epistles are harsher and more works oriented.Another aspect of salvation is the standing and state of the believer..the standing meaning saved to the uttermost per free grace, and state meaning the condition of the believer as in relationship to the Lord, merits accumulated, rewards, condition of their heart, obedience. We are saved in spite of ourselves for profession unto salvation and genuine indwelling of the Holy Ghost. Now  why the works based doctrine of Pauls letters ? See what Paul says in Romans 1¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

  Why would Paul give priority to his Jewish outreach over gentile ?

Acts 17:1,2

¹ Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:

² And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

Now pastor Bob would tell you Acts is not a doctrinal book but historical. What better attempt to discount a railing contradiction to one's own theology. If scripture is telling us that Paul was entreating the remnant jews and proselytes he was attempting to counter the strongholds of judaism and save those God was blinding due to their national rejection of Christ. In my next letter I will attempt to offer an opinion( heaven forbid an extra biblical private interpretation) as to why the churches in Rev. 1-3 are pertinent to the Lord's focus, when they are addressed, who they are and what the significance.

More in Part 2

Alan T