| Author | Message | ||
| Jim02 Registered user Username: Jim02 Post Number: 1379 Registered: 5-2007 |
Colleen, C: He's just asking you to receive Him and let Him be the One who sovereignly directs your life. J: How does that work? I hear and read your words. But do not understand how to make this my functioning premise. If I am getting in the way, it is because I am confused and conflicted. | ||
| Jim02 Registered user Username: Jim02 Post Number: 1380 Registered: 5-2007 |
Nowhitehats, “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” I did not refer to a scripture about confessing, but was referring to the opposite of that cycle of law , sin , confessing checklists. The SDA teach that we must have no unconfessed sins, a legalistic checklist existance. I certainly can list a number of passages that can lead to that thinking. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Or passages that speak of being forgiven already in a global sense. EGW can be quoted both ways. She also said , 'it is not the occasional deed or misdeed but the general direction of the life'. This might be one of those valid points, but by the time you blend in the legalism checklist and inventory of sins requiring constant confessions hour by hour, you end up so yoked and preoccupied with personal behaviour and thoughts that you stop living in a rational or balanced way. This is but one of those spokes to or from legalism. Part of the big picture. If we are set free from the law and have entered into a saved reality, things are different, not sure yet what they are, but there is a difference and I am trying to discover what it is. What is intended and how complete it is. Still not sure how we are lost, or not lost. How Grace is to work, and what does God do with really messed up lives and broken abilities. Giving up the struggle is not universal in what it means. I honestly believe that God expects me to press on in pain no matter what. I do not know how or if my own life will be healed or if I am transitioning into a new reality and the past as I knew it is gone forever. Between health issues, stress, and limited resources, this may be as good as it gets. Nonetheless, If I can find strength for each day and comfort in Christ. Then , I will strive to be at peace with that. If God has new joy and healing for my future, I have hope. We talk about trust. THat is all a part of this. | ||
| Jim02 Registered user Username: Jim02 Post Number: 1381 Registered: 5-2007 |
Hello Paul Cross, P: I believe that passages such as Jeremiah 31 reflect God's efforts to bring the people of Israel back the the covenant relationship [New Covenant]. J: This brings to mind something that I have been trying to see in the whole of the Bible. Where God was after relationships more than legalism. Where the covenants that really matter are one sided and NOT dependant on us to make happen. I still am troubled why we as humans under the law of the OC were taught to keep the law, aim at it, focus on it , work at it etc. It was as if it were a set up. In the NC NT the real deal is approached. The unlocking of awareness of futility is revealed. Could they have known this in the OT OC? Did they understand relationship was more important? I think King David did. He was a murderer. Yet he was pardoned, yet he sufffered imense loss. When the law was given, Moses came back to camp to discover rebellion. 3000 died. Why were they killed? The law? Lack of loyalty, Discipline for the whole, ??? When I look at the covenants, part of me wants to see that the NC was there all along in some way. The promised Saviour. But I also see a confusion as to who God is. His nature and His reaction to sins. I am confused about His law. If He knew we could not keep it, why did He kill those people? If God is the same, why did David not suffer death for his murder? Why did Jesus not condemn Mary Magdela sp. ? Was God experimenting? I heard one time a preacher say, God is the master of games. A response to our tendancy to play games with God. Some of this is about dispensation eras. In any case. I hesitate about the law because I wonder why it was so consequential and now apparnetllt it may not be. If the Tree of knowledge is what brought us the ministry of death. Why did God apply it for those many years? Can we go back, can we get back to not havinging the knowledge of sin and evil. Is that the plan of Salvation? | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 13075 Registered: 12-2003  |
Jim, you asked, "So what is the true model? the true way?" Jesus said, "I am the Way, the truth, and the life." This is not a metaphor, nor does it mean Jesus shows us the way. He is not the "way-show-er". He IS the Way. This means that when I believe in His blood shed to make atonement for my sin, I am quite literally transferred out of the domain of darkness and placed into the kingdom of God's beloved Son. Picture this: there is a box without any door or opening. All of us are born into this inescapable box...it is the box of human death, the domain of darkness, where all of us are born serving the spirit who is at work in the children of disobedience. We are born into Satan's territory, and there is no way out. Period. Enter Jesus. He came in mortal flesh, but wrapped up in the flesh He "smuggled" life into this no-way-out tomb of death where EVERYONE is born. He "smuggled" Life into the human race. Ever since Adam, there had been no life in the human race. Jesus brought God and God's life into the human race in His own human, mortal body. Because Jesus the Man never sinned and was not born in sin (His spirit was always ALIVE), He qualified to be the Perfect Sacrifice for human sin. Because He was infinite God, He was qualified and able to take onto Himself the sin of the entire human race. So He died in the flesh—His human body bled and died—and as He was dying on the cross, He actually "became sin" so that we could "become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:21). He paid the only acceptable price for sin: He died a human death and shed human blood. Only human blood could pay the wages of sin for humanity. And think about it: we do not "pay" for our sins. We are born "being paid"—earning the "wages"—of sin. We do not make a choice to sin and pay the price sinning requires. No. We are born without a choice; we are born dead sinners, and our spiritual, inescapable death is our WAGE for human sin. We don't pay; we earn death just by being born. But Jesus, because He never received the WAGE of sin—death for being born in sin—was able to choose to die for us and thus, by virtue of His perfect righteousness, PAID for human sin. His payment got us out of debt. But we can't receive the benefits of His payment unless we repent, admit we are dead and hopeless, and throw ourselves on His mercy and receive His blood as our payment. So, even though the price for our sin is paid, we can't receive life based on His blood. His blood gets us out of debt, but we are still dead. We have to have LIFE to come to life. Blood pays our debt; Jesus' resurrection brings us to life. That Life Jesus' smuggled into the domain of darkness, wrapped in human, mortal flesh, did not die when Jesus died. In fact, death could not hold Jesus because His identity as God, His eternal God-life could not allow His body to be claimed by decay. He rose from the tomb by the Life that was in Himself which was indivisible from the Father and the Spirit. He rose on the third day because He was ALWAYS alive! His innate LIFE exploded death from the inside. That had never happened before...it wasn't bombed from outside, but LIFE swallowed up death from the inside. So, when we receive Jesus' payment that gets us out of debt and stops our natural "wage" of death, we receive also His Spirit who brings our spirits to life. We are transferred out of the domain of darkness when we become alive by the Holy Spirit. Our spirits are now alive. We are now IN CHRIST. He brings us into Himself as His body, and He is now the "inescapable box" in which we live. He IS the way. We cannot escape our natural tomb of death unless we receive Jesus and thus become born again. This actual act of being born again is the moment we are transferred, because that is the moment we receive LIFE. And we exit that box of death by receiving Jesus' payment for our natural death and are made alive IN HIM. He literally IS the Way, the Door. We don't do a blessed thing to get out of death! We simply believe that He's done it all, and we receive His payment for our debt and give up our natural drive to "pay Him back". He asks us to rest in Him and receive Life. We are transferred by His miracle of Life. He IS the way. The commandments have nothing whatsoever to do with it. The commandments represented the righteousness that God requires of His living saints...and they showed us we can't, under ANY circumstances, achieve it. So we have to receive Jesus instead. We move from the external revelation of righteousness and our attempts to please Him into receiving Jesus and being hidden in Him because we've been indwelt by His Life. When we have His Life, we literally—not figuratively—have Jesus. He Himself takes us into Himself, and just as His death becomes our payment for sin, so we then receive and become His righteousness because we've been incorporated into Him. He IS the way. We receive Him, and the law has no more function. He IS the fulfillment of the shadow of the law. The law described (partially) the righteousness of God which He expects of His children. Jesus embodies that righteousness and makes it possible for us to qualify because He gave us His blood, and He gives us Himself. When we receive Jesus, we can rest. We're done with every attempt to please God. Now we rest in Jesus. We now live not in a debt of sin, but in a debt of love. We cannot repay or thank Him adequately. What He now asks of us is to trust Him and to allow Him to show us where to put our feet and how to let go of our need to control and manage. He now cares for us, and He credits us not with righteousness but with Jesus Himself. We are righteous because Jesus has incorporated us into Himself. Colleen | ||
| Jim02 Registered user Username: Jim02 Post Number: 1382 Registered: 5-2007 |
Hello Colleen, Thank you for writing in such detail. I do appreciate your kindness and effort. C: He paid the only acceptable price for sin: He died a human death and shed human blood. Only human blood could pay the wages of sin for humanity. J: This is a point where the teaching of God being in flesh was to prove the commandments could be kept in the flesh. Vindicating the law. But honestly, from what I can tell, this is a false teaching. You said human blood must be shed. I am not sure why Christ took on humanity. Do you have any passage reference that supports this teaching. Human blood was required. Or a passage to say why God had to become human? All I know of presently is the SDA teaching that it was to prove the 10C were capable of being kept by humans. C: But we can't receive the benefits of His payment unless we repent, J: Repent as in confess? Repent as in turn away from or change or stop a behaviour , belief or attitiude. | ||
| Paulcross Registered user Username: Paulcross Post Number: 213 Registered: 4-2005 |
Jim My appologies, I had a response almost complete but through an error of my own - I lost it. Condensation: - As I read you post #1381 and was repeatedly drawn back to Galatians and his discussion of the role of law past and present. Clarity always increases when I do a intensive reading of Galatians. Time to do it again. Our fellow posters have wisdom and insight and read the Galatians material it is so illuminating. Paul Cross | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 2199 Registered: 7-2007 |
Jim; here is a verse that sums up what Colleen said: "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23 | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 2200 Registered: 7-2007 |
Yes, Jim, the teaching that Jesus came to PROVE that humans could keep the commandments is a false teaching. Repent simply means to "turn." Turn to Jesus and accept Him, Jim. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 13078 Registered: 12-2003 |
Jim, here's a text:
Adventists use this text to say He had to "be like us" in order to show the law could be kept. This passage, however, actually says He had to be like us in order to suffer and to become the propitiation for our sin. He couldn't have done it apart from being human. Moreover, He didn't come to help angels. He came to same humans. Jim, you are reading these passages using EGWs hermeneutic to interpret the words. Just read the words as they are written. Don't assign implications and assumed meanings to them. They mean just what they say, without interpretation. Colleen | ||
| Christo Registered user Username: Christo Post Number: 283 Registered: 2-2008 |
Hi Jim, Quote: Chris: The world, and our flesh are always trying to tell us we aren't saved, but don't you believe it. J: Chris , do you believe that Salvation is unconditional? I believe that experiencing Salvation is conditional on believing it. If you don't believe it you won't experience it. Just remember eternal life includes now. Today is the day of salvation. Salvation is through the blood of Christ, not of our own works. He gives you Salvation. take it Jim. Believe it Jim J: Any key passage that tells you that? Jim, It is written in my heart. I could have all the bible verses in the world, but if Jesus isn't written in my heart I have nothing. I always liked the scripture that says, " as a man believeth, so shall it be done unto him." From a practical point of view, one might as well believe the most wonderful thing possible, HAVING BEEN, AND NOW BEING RECONCILED TO GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. Through his blood and resurrection, In His mercy and love, Chris | ||
| Jim02 Registered user Username: Jim02 Post Number: 1384 Registered: 5-2007 |
Here is a simple question. Assuming I have accepted Christ as my Savior and have satisfied everyones semantically correct expression of faith and belief on the merits of Christ for the forgivness of my sins and His imputed righteousness. If I never overcame a sin problem, a fear, propensity to anxiety, a phobia or whatever else you want to toss in the mix. Would I still be saved? or Is there a reality inside of this faith where God would be displeased and thus say, not genuine enough, failure to do xyz, did not grow fast enough, just not enough _______ etc. "could" I be lost for personal failure? If I said , Lord, help my unbelief, confusion, lack of comprehension, inability to figure it out......could I be lost by some default situation? If so , what is that default situation? If broad is the way to hell and the majority is headed there, then how is it that they are headed there? Many are called few are chosen. How do I know I am chosen? | ||
| 1john2v27nlt Registered user Username: 1john2v27nlt Post Number: 356 Registered: 5-2009 |
Jim, along with asking all your questions here, do you read the whole bible, with your questions in mind, asking God for answers? Or do you never ask your questions of God, but only of others? The first few trips reading through the whole bible I was just looking for confirmation of what I had been taught, & what I already thought was truth. Then I began to read with questions written down in my journal. The scripture I use as my ID was burned into my mind the first time I read all the way through the scriptures. I claimed it. God SAID the Holy Spirit is my teacher. And I don't need anyone else to be my teacher. I decided to be very daring & do just that. Others can have input, but the Holy Spirit is my Teacher - my ultimate Truth Authority. I CAN TRUST GOD & His Word. On subsequent trips through the bible I found 2 scriptures, one in the OT & one in the NT that tell me that I myself by my own effort will never overcome sin. But I WILL be saved. AM saved. Ezekiel 36: 25 “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations. Read the chapter for the context. Verse 27 says you WILL follow my decrees & obey because My Spirit is IN YOU. This is the New Covenant promise. Then all through the NT we read of believers confessing faith in Jesus Christ & being filled with the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Again, read the whole chapter for the context. These two passages are where God spoke His truth to me as I read the bible for myself. If we WALK IN THE SPIRIT WE SHALL NOT fulfill the lust of the flesh. Get into the Word of God alone, for yourself, asking & trusting God to be your teacher. Jesus said it himself - Matthew 11:28-30(NLT) 28 Then Jesus said, “COME TO ME, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. LET ME TEACH YOU, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” STOP asking humans BELIEVE GOD BELIEVE HIS WORD LET HIM teach you Read only the bible for a while. Read it through several times. Get a giant print, double column, bible & JUST READ all the way through it. Then do it again, and again, & again. . . .never stop just reading the whole counsel of God. Don't highlight, underline, write in margins, stop & look up anything - - just read. Read rapidly, but not so fast you don't comprehend. Think of it as uploading software into your brain for God the Holy Spirit to work with in transforming your mind through His TRUTH. In our devotional life there is prayer, Bible study, AND Just Reading the Bible. Just reading the whole bible is sadly neglected by most believers, including clergy & teachers. Praying for you, J9 | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 13082 Registered: 12-2003 |
Very good post, J9. Jim, you are not saved or lost by your works. You are saved or lost on the basis of what you do with Jesus. Before we are born again, we have absolutely no choice about "being good". Even if we give our money to the poor and our bodies to be burned, it counts for absolutely nothing. If we managed never to break a commandment, we would be guilty of sin and worthy of death. Once we have the life of God in us, the Holy Spirit indwelling us, we are literally placed in a different location. Instead of being citizens of the domain of darkness, we are IN CHRIST. We cannot be taken out of Christ any more than we put ourselves into Him. God transfers us out of the domain of darkness into the kingdom of His Son. When we are in Christ, we still sin, but we are no longer defined by sin because our spirits are no longer dead. Death is our natural condition; disconnection from God. When our spirits become alive through faith in Jesus, we are no longer defined as being dead in sin. Even though we give in to our flesh, we now have the choice to repent and to submit our temptations to Him. None of these sins, however, "unsaves" us. We cannot be "unborn". We are called to live godly lives in Christ Jesus, but that is not a command for salvation. That is a command that doesn't even apply to unsaved people. Unsaved people can't live godly lives, even if they do no end of good and altruistic deeds. Those deeds count for NOTHING because they flow from a dead spirit. Once alive, however, sin is not our identity. Jesus is, and we are children of God. Our identity is new: we are members of God's family. Even if we sin, we aren't kicked out of the family any more than a parent would kick out his adopted child if he disrespected his adoptive parents. Our Father's love brings us back to repentance and restoration of fellowship, but we never lose our family identity. Colleen | ||
| Paulcross Registered user Username: Paulcross Post Number: 215 Registered: 4-2005 |
Jim From Post #1384; #1 Assuming I have accepted Christ as my Savior and have satisfied everyones semantically correct expression of faith and belief on the merits of Christ for the forgivness of my sins and His imputed righteousness. Line #1 "accepted Christ as my Savior" - Jim if you do that you are saying that Christ is the source of your salvation - it is his therefore NOT yours. You have crossed a critical and defining line that changes EVERYTHING. This is no longer yours, you do not define it, you do not create it, you do not sustain it by your actions, your faith will not improve it - faith by nature is binary "0" or "1" - you have it or you do not. Either you accept Christ as your Savior or you do not. As one preacher has put it, it does not matter if you are Woody Allen or Sylvester Stalone in the faith department - it is not the quality of your faith but where you put your faith that results in Salvation. Putting your faith in Christ as your Saviour rather than in how much you will be able to contribute to a "faith cymbiosis" with Jesus is what opens the door of salvation. See Colleen's post (thanks Colleen it moved me - I needed that review today). Line #2 "If I never overcome" - Jim the bad news is that you can't do more that dabble in change of behavior (and that is sadly inadequate), the good news is that Jesus HAS overcome and you are In Him if your have accepted Christ as your Savior. Your options are simple once you have accepted Christ as your Savior - live in freedom, live in the Spirit, revel in His perfection. The question is NOT "Would I still be saved?", the question is, "now, do I experience that freedom?" Line #3 "Is there a reality inside of this faith where God would be displeased ...?" You give yourself too much credit... Jim you do not bring anything to this relationship with Christ that qualified you for salvation, your did not earn it by doing enough or the right things to get salvation, Jesus Paid it all, Paul reminds us that in this relationship with God - we are DEAD. HOW can we possibly underperform so as to disappoint God's expectations of us? Or when did Christ turn over our case to us for maintenance? Galations 3:2-3 ESV "2 Let me ask you only this: Did you recieve the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?" (Jim read the context when you have a minute - actually read the book - GREAT stuff). Line #4 "If... by my unbelief, (Jim we have already posited acceptance of Christ) lack of comprehension, inability to figure it out..." - The question you and I have to ask ourselves is... is this about my need to "know it all" versus my being content with the majesty and mystery of God being obscured from my understanding and at the same time being the beneficiary of his COMPLETE and perfect salvation FOR ME. My thoughts Jim God bless as you read His Word... Paul Cross | ||
| Christo Registered user Username: Christo Post Number: 284 Registered: 2-2008 |
Hi Jim, Quote: Jim:If broad is the way to hell and the majority is headed there, then how is it that they are headed there? Many are called few are chosen. How do I know I am chosen? As it is written:, 13Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Scripture reads, and what's written in my heart clarifies that, the straight gate is Jesus, and not perfect behavior or at all times being unaffected by spiritual battles. Paul talked about fighting the good fight, and you better believe he was under all kinds of spiritual attack, he fought it by putting on Christ. Trusting and having faith in the promises of God. The promises of the covenant in Christ and all the adjunct benefits of the Covenant in Christ. Not the promises of, or even a co-mingling of promises of the old covenant of the Law. Faith in Christ is the only sinless position there is , as scripture tells us this by being written: Whatever is not of faith is sin. I stand by my statement that the world, and the flesh are always trying to convince you that you are not saved. If this were not true, and if this were not compelling, what would be the fight? There would be none. So when you are buffeted by anything that gives you the appearance of being separated from Christ, know that it is not true, because the maker of the universe promises that he will never leave you or forsake you. When you have episodes in your life, that judging by appearances seem outside of Gods rest, do not judge by appearances, but judge righteous judgement. What is righteous judgement? It is being justified by Christ. Like Pavlovs dog, press that button in your soul that says Justified by Christ, and believe it. You will find yourself more and more going to that button of Justified by Christ, because it is the only way that gives rest. This should not be viewed in terms of failing to exist properly in the world, as in like, oh here I go again having to go to Christ again, because I am such a failure in the flesh. This should be viewed as victory, I have put on the armor of Christ,I have put on Christ, I am victorious through Him. This should be viewed as overcoming the world. Many are called to go there, go to Christ, but in many situations, even those who know to do so get so wrapped up in their drama, or circumstances, that they choose not to go to Christ with their every need, but choose to judge by appearances. You will know you are chosen, when you choose to go to Christ with your every need. From moments of Faith to moments of Faith , Overcoming the world, resting in Him. Amen. Chris | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 2208 Registered: 7-2007 |
Yes Jim; a resounding YES!!!  Once a person has accepted Jesus, they are SAVED THEN! EVERYBODY will have sins still left over (not overcome) when Jesus comes back. That fear comes from Ellen White who got her doctrines from the devil himself! | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 2209 Registered: 7-2007 |
(Yes, to the first question, "would I still be saved?" because once you are saved, then you stay saved, or the Bible wouldn't be true. And the Bible IS true!) | ||
| Jim02 Registered user Username: Jim02 Post Number: 1385 Registered: 5-2007 |
I asked the questions I did not because I am unable to think or comprehend for myself. I want to know how people think. How they got to their conclusions. I ask to broaden my own basis of understanding. Most teachings about Grace trend towards unconditional standing. Most of the time, I have trended towards a belief that everything in the Bible is conditional. Because of that little word "if". I looked it up. How many times is "if" in the Bible? 1,595 times in 1,420 different verses of the King James version of the Bible. Similarly, a search revealed that the word ?IF? appears: 1,673 time in the English Standard Version 1,588 times in the American Standard Version 1,670 times in the Modified King James Version This is why, and perhaps it may be because of my SDA background, that I struggle with global statements of any kind. A great part of New Covenant Theology depends upon disengaging the under pinnings of the Old Testament understanding of our relation to works and law. While I have made progress, I have more to learn. J9, Yes , I have read the whole Bible. And I have read my Bible pretty much Daily for decades. I have read the NT so many times, I have lost count. I have read the Bible in several translations as well. I have a marked up Bible, colors and all. Underlined, stars and check marks you name it. I have newer ones that I have not marked at all, because I want to see without prejudice all the word. Not trying to impress anyone. Just the fact that I have read to saturation. Yes, I ask God questions everyday. I ask for understanding, wisdom, a path, providence, guidance, clarity, anything that will help me go in the right direction. This world is full to brim with deception, trickery, half truths, mixed up theology. Sensing God's Holy Spirit to recieve or comprhend truth. Every faith system on thsi planet claims that. If indeed then, it is or is also by the truth of scripture, then understanding it , in context is vital. Hearing by the word of God. Faith comes this way. Now, Jesus said , ye do err, not knowing the scriptures. Kind of tells me , knowing the scriptures is important. As I learn new teachings, how people interpret, I too am able to grasp elements that I have missed even after scriptural saturation. Studying the word is both personal and corporate. If I stop asking Humans. I will drift back into tunnel vision and most likely legalism. PaulCross, You said faith is binary. I do not think that is a completely true statement. (respectfully). Jesus said if we had faith as small as a mustard seed. There are degrees of faith that either will withstand or fail trials and tests. This is all about building the faith and conviction to endure changes in my believe system against the confusions out there with various teachings. Whatever is not of conviction is sin. Line 2:What do you mean by experience freedom? What you said in line #3. THese are indeed what I am trying to embrace. Line 4: I do not need to know it all. But I do need to know if there are things I need to know. What are the if's? Christo, you wrote: Scripture reads, and what's written in my heart clarifies that, the straight gate is Jesus, and not perfect behavior or at all times being unaffected by spiritual battles. J: I pray that this is pure truth. C: You will know you are chosen, when you choose to go to Christ with your every need. J: Yes ! Asurprise, This is what I am trying to discover. I am trying to build up my faith in these things. | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 2210 Registered: 7-2007 |
Yes, if you choose God, then that's PROOF He's chosen you! "and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world." 1st John 2:2 Jim, since Jesus is the sacrifice for the sins "the whole world," and since not everybody will be saved; what is the ONE thing that the unsaved won't have done? The ONE thing is that they won't have accepted Jesus! That's ALL you have to do, Jim! Just accept Jesus! "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16 The WHOEVER in this verse takes care of the worry about who is chosen. Why don't you listen to the last few sermons on 1st John by Pastor Rick at Trail Christian Fellowship? http://www.trail.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=85347 | ||
| Paulcross Registered user Username: Paulcross Post Number: 216 Registered: 4-2005 |
Jim, Thanks for talking the time to comment on yesterday's post. I have a couple of observations; >>>>>Jesus said if we had faith as small as a mustard seed. >>>>>There are degrees of faith that either will withstand or fail trials and tests. I do not see my saved state as being entered into by faith and then a greater or continually advancing or enhancing faith as required to "go beyond" or retain "good standing". Have I misunderstood your intent? I am afraid I may have - my apologies Jim. >>>>>I think you meant to quote the text as "Whatever is not of Re: >>>>>Line 2:What do you mean by experience freedom? For me - to "experience freedom" is anchored in two passages, Hebrews 4:9-11 and Matthew 11:28-30. It means relying on Christ for the past, present and future and resting from my initiative and freely accepting His "free Gift" to me. Reconciliation NOW! >>>>>What you said in line #3. These are indeed what I am trying to embrace. >>>>>What are the if's? Regarding my eternal standing before God I think I would b e hard pressed to find ifs as it is HIS work and His gift to me Paul Cross |
