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God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)

According to this doctrine [of total depravity], man in his present condition since the fall is so polluted with a principle of evil that every aspect of his being and personality is affected by it. The term depravity refers to the moral disposition or inclination of fallen man’s nature toward evil and against good. This principle of sin and moral pollution is such that man is by nature opposed to what is true and righteous. The inclination of his heart, the delight of his soul, the orientation of his will is toward wickedness. Nothing compels him to sin. He sins because he loves it. He revels in it. He has no taste for God, but relishes evil and pursues it with voluntary zeal.
Sam Storms

One does not have to remove all consequences for sin (i.e., to pardon) in order to forgive. It may be just and necessary for an offender to suffer consequences for wrong, but the motive of the one imposing or requiring the consequences cannot be malicious. We are not permitted to desire the ultimate harm of the offender. The gospel always provides hope, always seeks restoration. Even when the criminal is sentenced, and we properly rejoice to see justice done, the Christian also desires to see the offender recognize the sin, repent, and know spiritual restoration. Forgiveness does not require pardon from consequences; it requires an absence of malice (i.e., no desire for the person’s spiritual harm) even in the application of those consequences. We may well desire justice, but desires for personal revenge or spiritual damage are not our right as Christians.
Bryan Chapell

    • Fatima

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    Fatima

    FATIMA

    BASIC R.C. BELIEF A Village in Portugal, near where Mary is supposed to have appeared in 1917 to 3 children (aged 10, 9, and 7). Her instructions were that devotions to her Immaculate Heart be established throughout the world, and that only by doing this could a more terrible war be averted. She asked that Russia be prayed for and consecrated to her Immaculate Heart. At first, these visions were not believed, but solar phenomena witnessed on October 13, 1917 convinced many of their reality.

    In October, 1930, the Pope declared that apparitions worthy of belief, and devotion to Our Lady of Fatima was authorized under the title Our Lady of the Rosary. In October, 1942 Pius XII consecrated the world, and especially Russia, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

    Although this devotion is authorized, it has never been declared an article of faith, so a Catholic is free to disbelieve Fatima.

    POST VATICAN II

    In 1982, Pope John Paul II visited Fatima to give thanks for his having been spared during the assassination attempt several months before.

    From International Fatima Rosary Crusade full pagee ad, THE NEW YORK TIMES, 6/17/90. “On May 13, 1917, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to three children in the Portuguese village of Fatima. She brought them a heavenly message of hope and warning for a sinful and war-torn world. Over the next six months, Our Lady returned to give the children further messages, asking for prayer, reparation and consecration and forewarning of dire world events if Her requests were not granted. She insisted that we pray the Rosary every day.

    “Before She departed, Our Lady told the children at Fatima, `Only I can help you.’ On October 13, 1917, Heaven itself confirmed Our Lady’s Message with the great `Miracle of the Sun,’ witnessed by 70,000 people. In the years following, five successive Popes have approved Our Lady of Fatima’s message. Pope John Paul II on May 13, 1982, went to Fatima, Portugal, to thank Our Lady of Fatima for saving his life from the assassination attempt exactly one year before and said that the `Message of Fatimna is addressed to every human being’ and is `more relevant and urgent’ than ever,.

    “On July 13th, Our Lady revealed to the child seers what has become known as the `Secret’ of Fatima. Given in three parts, the first was a terrifying vision of Hell. The second part was the startling prediction of the rise of Communist Russia, the spread of its errors and its continuing drive for world domination. The third part of the Secret, which was meant to be revealed in 1960, has not yet been officially released by the Papacy to whom it was entursted.

    “Over the years, however, many scholars and investigators have been able to piece together the basic substance of the Virgin’s secret message. Brother Michael demonstrates conclusively that Our Lady’s Third Secret is nothing less than an explicit prediction of the terrible crisis taking place in the Church today.

    “The loss of faith and defection of millions from the Church is a direct result of disobedience to God and Our Lady and the rejection of our holy Catholic Tradition in the name of modern `reform.’ Cardinal Ratzinger (one of the few who has read the secret) has confirmed that it `concerns the dangers to the Faith and therefore to the life of the Christian and therefore to the world.’

    “The third part of the Fatima Secret is meant for you. It tells you how to save your soul by guarding against today’s false doctrines, false practice and the wolves in sheep’s clothing now in our midst.”

    CHRISTIAN COMMENT

    Supernatural manifestations that don’t glorify Jesus are Satanic in origin. (II Thessalonians 2:9,10)

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