Who Said That?

Who said that?

"Christ offers us the gift of salvation, and he will not go back on his word. But you and I are entirely capable of going back on our word by abandoning Christ and thereby forfeiting his gift of salvation . . . . Let's consider Saint John's . . . statement: No one can snatch out of Christ's hand those who whom the Father has given him. No external power is capable of wresting us out of Christ's loving embrace (Romans 8:28-29); but you can do it, if you decide to willfully rebel against God through mortal sin (1 John 5:16-17). If you die unrepentant in that state, you will have lost your salvation because you will have, in effect, snatched yourself out of Christ's hand."

OK, take a stab . . . Put your guess in the comments below. No google searches, please!

Update on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 at 11:05AM by Kim Riddlebarger

These truly remarkable words of will-worship come from Catholic apologist Patrick Madrid.  For those of you who guessed that these words came from an Arminian theologian, heed well the warnings of Toplady and others, that Rome and many Arminians, use the same biblical texts in the same way to attack monergism.

Comments

[Keith Conley]

Wesley?

[BrianR]

Horrible, just horrible. Is it Finney?

[Chris Coleman]

Norm Geisler?

[Rick B.]

Hath God really said no one can snatch you out of His hand?

I would guess some televangelist like,

-Hagee
-Copeland
-The one southern preacher who's always turning red and screaming...

[Ivan]

The grammar is not poor enough to be Copeland.
I will agree that Finney and Wesley are good stabs at it.

[Ron]

Wesley

["lee n. field"]

Reads like a modern evangelical, and I'm guessing an American.

I dunno, maybe Billy Graham?

[Scott]

I'll go with Finney.

[Scott Roper]

The use of italics for emphasis suggests a more modern author than Wesley or Finney. The style is too conversational for either. The use of "Saint John" may be another clue.

[turmeric]

Evanjellyfish don't know what "mortal sins" are. This is probably a modern Roman Catholic. Too conversational to be Pope Benny, as English isn't his native language.

[Some guy]

Let me throw out a wild guess. Perhaps its the "evangelical" "Presbyterian Roman Catholic" Hugh Hewitt. Did I properly describe Mr. Hewitt? I'm just repeating a description I heard he gave of himself.

[Ron]

Hmmmm...Scott & tumeric makes some good points. The language is conversational, like a web posting or a popular book or article, and "mortal sin" certainly sounds Romish. Benedict XVI?
But it doesn't read like a papal statement...

[The Highland Host]

Not Wesley. It's not his style (which I know very well). It's not Nelson Price, is it?

[GrinningDwarf]

I used to say that before I got 'Reformed'! It's basic Assembly of God doctrine!

[zrim]

wow, that's really comforting stuff. but good for keeping folks in line, i suppose, if that's what you are concerned with. who said it will likely not be a surprise.

zrim

[Zack Flummerfelt]

I used to be Catholic and so I remember reading that somewhere. It's a Catholic apologist but I don't remember which one.

[Jeff A.]

Neibuhr? Neihbur? Knee burr?

[Auggie Hippo]

The "gift of salvation" language is reminiscent of the ECT document. My guess is that it's one of the authors.

[Saulzallido Van Til]

Charles Finney....!!

[Mark Lewin]

C.S. Lewis...seems to fit all the clues everyone has raised, he was an Anglican and expressed similiar views in 'Modern Christianity' if my memory serves me right.