Kevin 'Magdalena' Graham wrote:Pahoran insists that Will Schryver is the only person who knows with absolute certainty, what Will Schryver meant. Everyone is a master of their own mind.
Of course, this is true for the most part.
But then he violates his own axiom with a non sequitur when he says that because this is true, it must also be true that Will Schryver does not believe his calling and election has been made sure.
Well, how does Pahoran know this, especially after telling us that only Will Schryver knows what he meant? The answer is sad: because Will says so!
You see, Pahoran has not only conveniently excluded the probability that Will is lying. He has also conveniently excluded the possibility that he is lying. For Pahoran, Will's say-so is definitive proof that he never intended to convey this in a literal way. And he doesn't have the courage to address the matter of Will's credibility, for obvious reasons. Talk about your lost causes...
That's false, of course.
The possibility that Will might be lying would be relevant if and only if there was some contradictory evidence in play. Because then, we would be in a position to weigh up the credibility of the contradictory evidence against Will's credibility; and then it would become necessary to actually evaluate the weight of the allegations attacking his credibility.
But in this case we have no other evidence but Will's word. It might (or might not) be as weak as dishwater, but it is still all the evidence there is, and therefore Trump's the evidence-free speculation offered in rebuttal.
Kevin 'Magdalena' Graham wrote:I will stand before God at the last day secure in the knowledge of my unwavering loyalty to Him and His Kingdom, and notwithstanding my human weaknesses (of which I have many) I will be redeemed, while apostates like you and dissonance (barring your imminent repentance) will have cause to weep, wail, and gnash your teeth.
Notice Will's response resembles nothing of the "endure till the end" doctrine, which flies in the face of once saved always saved. Will clearly declared that he knows with absolute certainty that he is going to heaven. How is this significantly different from saying he knows his "calling and election" has been made sure?
Can you actually read? Will cited his own "unwavering loyalty to Him and His Kingdom." That sounds rather a lot like "endure to the end," because if he doesn't endure to the end, he won't be able to describe his loyalty as "unwavering," will he? It is certainly not the least bit compatible with "I can get away with anything now."
And to anticipate the inevitable derail: no, I don't think he should be gloating about his future destiny or consigning his message board opponents to flames of woe. But that's not actually the question before us in this thread, is it?
Regards,
Pahoran