Questions, I reckon...

Rom 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Rom 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
Rom 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Rom 4:6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
Rom 4:7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
Rom 4:8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
Rom 4:9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
Rom 4:10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
Rom 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
Rom 4:12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.


When Paul uses all this 'accounting jargon' what does he mean?
When are we justified? -
When our account reaches zero?
When our account has the righteousness of Christ as a debit?
When some of our own righteous works are debited? Can we even contribute?

How far above zero do we have to be to be saved?

If we are imputed, counted or reckoned to be debt free, are we also imputed, counted, reckoned to have a positive balance on account?
If so, how much, who put it there, and whose is it?

Who errs?

Mat 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

They erred, not knowing the scriptures. Apparently the ability to not err comes from knowing the scripture. Which would mean that the scriptures are without err wouldn't it?

Romans 8:14

A Christian believes that there are two forces at work on an individual's life - good and evil. He believes that there are only these two at work, no middle ground. No neutral decisions.
Essentially every one of his decisions are made with this at work behind the scenes, in his conscience as it were. If this premise is true, then it also stands to reason that when several Christians assemble and they make a corporate decision they are also affected by this phenomenon. Either their decision is good or their decision is evil.

Most Christians would call for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in their individual and corporate affairs. Alas, Jesus himself said that where "two or three are gathered in my name there am I in the midst".

Is it a safe induction to say that the Holy Spirit is present giving guidance and inspiration to individual and corporate decisions made? Perhaps a distinction should even be made between individual and corporate decisions. Is there some number needed for a quorum? Jesus said two or three.

Is there something wrong with this logic?

Observations from the bow

It's amazing to me how that some will go to such intellectual lengths to prove that going to intellectual lengths is not recommended.
Then when they see that their Logical Ship: Hypocrite is shown to be quite unseaworthy, how reluctant they are to grab on to the lifesaver marked Belief.

word or Word?

I guess that I have always viewed God as somehow controlling the hand of the Biblical authors as they wrote the words that they were inspired to write. Whether or not it happened in just this way, I knew that God was involved somehow.
However, others say that the Bible is simply a collection of some historians, poets, dreamers, and other motley associated people and their thoughts, recollections and observations. Maybe this is true. To be honest, I am tired. Tired of trying to boil it down to either/or. Black or white. Yes or no. Right or wrong.
Even though I really believe it is one way or the other and that the character of God is stake, I like to think that this whole issue maybe doesn't matter that much.

And, yet... that is so unsatisfactory.