Assurance and Self Examination in 2 Corinthians 13:5

[@diegocorea4613]

Something that I love as a reformed (presbyterian) man of Dr. Cooper is that he is excelent on giving assurance of salvation to christians. I love how you deal with souls Dr. Cooper. I would rather hear a sermon of you on assurance then Paul washer with his sermons causing anxiety instead of giving hope.

[@AlphaOmega888]

In America I would not associate the words 'Reformed' (or 'Calvinist') with the legitimate 'Presbyterian' church. They are two completely different things (one is Christian, the other(s) is not). Remember America is largely pagan: -"More than *half* of US adults, *30% of evangelicals* believe Jesus isn’t God: study" -Christianpost -"44 Percent of *American Believers* Think *Jesus Sinned,* New Survey Finds" -Christianheadlines

[@Dsingis]

I'd say that is one of the core pillars of Lutheranism, assurance of salvation. Because Luther himself struggled heavily with assurance.

[@diegocorea4613]

@@AlphaOmega888 I am from Honduras and I assist in a presbyterian church (PCA) and it is the most biblical church I've been too. I am doing membership and they are very formal and thoughtful on every área. As far as america I can't have an opinión since I've never been in América.

[@AlphaOmega888]

@@Dsingis "I'd say that is one of the core pillars of Lutheranism, assurance of salvation." - no that is the core pillar of just another cult in America - pick any of the 40,000 of them. The 'pillar' talk is cult talk laregely used in Islam and Mormonism. For Christians there is one pillar talk and it regards the truth (instead of making your own truth ie: creating a new pillar). Notice he's writing *real people* about how they should conduct themselves in *real life* in his *real church* that share the *same conduct.* Nothing figurative here regarding the pillar being the Church is and where the truth is. 1 Tim 3:15 I write so that you may know how you ought to *CONDUCT YOURSELF* in the HOUSE of GOD, which is *THE CHURCH* of the LIVING GOD, *THE PILLAR* and GROUND of the *TRUTH.* 'Assurance' is what American folk-pagans use to mislead you out of the Christianity into their pagan folk-religions and we end up with this: "More than *half* of US adults, *30% of evangelicals* believe Jesus isn’t God: study" -Christianpost "44 Percent of *American Believers* Think *Jesus Sinned,* New Survey Finds" -Christianheadlines

[@emilianoking9400]

@@AlphaOmega888I think when he says Presbyterian, he means the truly Reformed conservative churches. Not the heretical liberal churches

[@villarrealmarta6103]

Such a comforting message. We would convince ourselves that we aren’t Christian’s if we stare at ourselves long enough.

[@carlosaugustowelte9247]

As a Reformed Baptist, I enjoy very much to be in touch with the Lutheran perspective on some issues and I Think Dr. Cooper's videos a great source for that. Unfortunately, it's very common to misunderstand Reformed perspective on assurance as a "Works-based assurance". If it were something like this, even not in concept, but in practice, it would result in a result in a "works-based salvation", something that Reformed perspective on the issue is not. First of all, as in this video and another one of Dr. Cooper's videos, we can see that the Reformed and Lutheran perspectives are not the same on the issue, but they have some things in common. For example, that is not based in an emotional experience as modern evangelicalism sometimes teach. Reformed perspective on assurance is not "works-based" not only because it would nullify the concept and role of God's grace in it, but it would be unachievable, since we'll never be perfect in this world. Also because good works, in their external appearance, is not exclusive of true Christians. Reformed assurance is "character-based" or "fruit-of-the-Spirit-based". The basis for that is the understanding that the same grace that justifies us is the same begins and keeps sanctifying throughout life. So, if your life do not reflect a process of being transformed in the character of Christ, of presence of the fruit of the Spirit in your life, in a life of repentance, of a fatih that gets more and more mature with time, and of relying on the unmerited grace of God, you should question if the Holy Spirit really saved you. Similarly to the Lutheran perspective, but not identical, Reformed theology also values the means of grace as the ordinary means in which the Spirit operates sanctification, and the importance of communal Christian life also as not only evidence but also a mean of grace. May be I'm wrong, but, in this issue, I see more a difference of emphasis than of concept, and the different ways both traditions articulate their understanding of it. And I personally see that throughout History not only Lutheran and Reformed, but also Arminian traditions have been caricaturized by some people inside these traditions, and sometimes not well understood in contemporary evangelicalism. That's some thing that really makes harder for Christian to avoid adiaphora being reason for communion and unity in the body of Christ, and in secondary issues, just agree to disagree and celebrate the common ground that we really have.

[@SilentHistoryTx]

I have been a fan of Flame for a long time. It was through Flame that I was first introduced to Christian Rap. It's wild that we both ended up in the Lutheran Church.

[@UnTotal1-Requess]

Another great video from Pope Cooper!

[@villarrealmarta6103]

Haha

[@emilianoking9400]

The Great German Pontiff!! Lol

[@DonaldJacobson-h4t]

You’re 💯 percent right Dr Cooper. I want to compliment you on your ability to rightly ignore certain commenting trolls. 😊

[@LXX-Mercedes]

Paul was asking the Corinthians to check whether they were in the faith, not whether they were one of the elect

[@lazaruscomeforth7646]

Paul says to examine oneself, not one's works, and to see if one is in the faith, not if one is in the works.

[@AaronMiller-rh7rj]

(side note) the Wiedner Institute youtube channel came up for me!

[@The_Catholic_Christian]

Not trying to argue, but how you reconcile assurance of salvation with Philippians 2:12? Peace!

[@Thatoneguy-pu8ty]

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Context 😊) And yes, we should be assured of our salvation. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

[@joshnelson3344]

Paul is telling them to work *out* the salvation that they already have in Christ. He’s not telling them to work *for* it. As Luther famously said, “God doesn’t need your good works, your neighbor does.”

[@The_Catholic_Christian]

@@Thatoneguy-pu8ty Quoting verse 13 and merely saying "context" is not helpful. I mean, why not quote verse 11, or 10, or the entire chapter and say "context"?

[@The_Catholic_Christian]

@@joshnelson3344 Except Paul doesn't say that; he says "work out _your own_ salvation".

[@Thatoneguy-pu8ty]

@@The_Catholic_Christian I’ll give you some more context. Check out chapter 3 v 9. Of course, if you wish to read the whole chapter, I would encourage it and I’ll post it for you. I know you are trying to twist this into works based salvation, but it simply won’t work. Note that Paul says work out your salvation- not “work FOR”. The gift of God is righteousness for all who believe.

[@nemoexnuqual3643]

A text needs grading criteria. Hebrews 11, Romans, Galatians, and the gospel of John all give us that criteria: faith in Jesus, repentance, baptism.

[@Aiden_The_Lutheran]

I haven't even watched the video and I already know Pope Cooper cooked

[@wagnavian]

Pope Cooper holds the continuing apostolic office of the Apostle Peter

[@williammarinelli2363]

Paul's message in 2 cor is Christ centered in ch 1 thru 9. Then, ch 10 thru 13 is defense of his apostleship for that subset of Corinthians that insinuated that Paul is a fraud. See 13:3 for specifics on who was addressed in 13:5.