Bell and heretics like him will only create confusion and cause problems within the church.

I had to read Cooper’s tweet several times trying to figure out if he just typed without thinking. Either way it’s very poorly worded. I hope Cooper explains what he meant on his blog very soon. If anyone has Cooper’s ear then please ask him to explain this statement in detail.

Change comes after we’re saved and as a result of salvation. It’s the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit that changes us, not the resurrection.

The appeal to Romans 6 (though we can’t be sure exactly what part the author had in mind) is yet another echo of the Bell approach to the resurrection as being primarily a personal, mystical experience. The historical resurrection, according to the emergents, is not nearly as important as the personal spiritual resurrections we can experience. This adopted Cooper tweet completely falls in line with that.

Cooper may very well mean the latter. After seeing your previous discussion regarding grace, perseverance of the saints, etc… I’m not going to go there! Honestly, I not sure which side is right, or even which side Cooper would side with.

My argument is simply that the original post that claims that “Cooper seems to be endorsing the idea that believing that the resurrection is a historical fact is optional to our faith” is reading more into Cooper’s words than were intended, or should be reasonably inferred from them.

As to Cooper’s tweet, I do think it’s pretty ambiguous. I guess it really depends on what he means by “being changed.” If he means that by faith in Christ we become born again and new creatures, I agree. If he means that because we believe the resurrection we are saved if we “turn from our sin” and become a Christ-follower, I disagree. I guess I couldn’t really draw conclusions based on that little info, but I agree that it’s subject to multiple interpretations, some which are right, some which are wrong.

I lean more towards your view of what I think he said. Acknowledging the resurection doesn’t save, but if you don’t believe in the resurrection, you can’t go any further in your faith. Resurrection is part and parcel to faith.

If so, we agree. The point that Cooper is making is that knowledge alone does not equal salvation.

James Duncan- I disagree that this tweet needs to be reworded. It was clear as the sky in San Diego to me. Cooper’s statement is remarkably similar to what I’ve heard pastor’s say from the pulpit throughout my life.

Now, maybe if I’d just heard Bell say something similar, I’d have read it as you did. But I still don’t think it’s fair to read anything into his tweet beyond what he actually said.

John 4:10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

I think Jesus probably knows what he’s talking about

Jesus died for everyone, but saves only those who call on the name of the Lord in faith.

Acts 2:21: And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.