Bible Discussion Replies PAGE 264

Hi Adam, good to hear from you I was wondering how you are doing since you haven't posted for a while.

Thanks for these verses about enduring in faith until the end. From these we can know that there is an enemy who wishes to undo us in regards to our faith in our Lord. But we have the Holy Spirit in us to strengthen us in faith and empower us to endure. Thank God for this!

But these exhortations tell us that we should not be lax in our walk with God nor take everything lightly when it comes to our relationship with Him. We should be on guard against the schemes of the enemy, the draw of worldliness, and the deceitfulness o our own hearts due to the sinful nature that must be crucified daily.

The Bible speaks of believers falling away from Christ. We should be diligent for ourselves and watchful of other brethren to help them when they are wavering in faith. The gospel is always in season to hear for ourselves and for those we know who are in doubt concerning their salvation and on the verge of turning away from Christ

Again, Adam, so good to hear from you.

does the Bible say that there is Woman Angels?

I'll do my best to ask this question I would always ask questions about things but I would have a hard time understanding are you talking about the believers or the unbelievers how can I do that which group are we talking about I'm sorry if that's a difficult question thank you

Here's some scripture- this is what really matters:

Rev 14:11-12 - this draws a distinction between people burning in hell and people of God (Christians) who "keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus" Those who are inbetween or lukewarm are rejected and won't be saved: Rev 3:16.

Why would the verse say "remain faithful to Jesus" if they are already "saved" people of God? That is conditional. If people chose to not be faithful to Jesus overall they probably aren't people of God.

Rev 13:8 everyone on earth will worship the beast and will burn in hell for eternity according to Rev 14:11.

Rev 2:23. Jesus will repay each according to your deeds.

Rev 2:25. Hold on to the teachings you have until Jesus comes.

Rev 2:5 talks about falling away from the faith- they need to repent.

Rev 1:8 Jesus is the Lord God.

Jude 1:20 Building yourself up in faith. Suggests that building up and keeping the faith takes effort and practice like a muscle.

The scripture is clear what it means. It is the truth. What some people are saying is not the truth and not based on scripture. Beware of that.

We are 2 ppl, our old man and our new man which is Christ in us the H.G....But at repentance our old man is made clean and the unclean spirit is driven out....But he falls away..He takes 7 more spirits more wicked then himself and they enter in and the last state of that man is worse then the 1 st....He answers to the dog that returns to his vomit and the sow that returns to her mud... Romans 7 :25.....Thats y Paul is saying with my MIND i serve the law of God but with my flesh the law of sin....His mind means the mind of Christ his new man....The H.G....Paul had become 2 ppl...With his flesh means the old man our old adamic nature that was made white at repentance.....But he falls away....Sin revived and i died....Paul was involved in a warfare....Thats y John said he saw war in heaven....Which is our minds where this war is raging And Jesus said violence in heaven....Thats y Paul was saying when i wd do good evil is present with me.....O wretched man that i am....It was only his old man the tare that backslide....That Christ in Paul cd neva fall away....We are not of them that draw back but unto them that press on to the saving of the soul....Our oldman is he that tastes of the H.G. the heavenly gift but he falls away....An old friend that eats at my table has lifted up his heel against me, Judas our flesh, that was in rank with satan....Our old man is the flesh.... In my flesh dwells no good thing.....But we don't care about our flesh its of no value....Its in rank with the forskin that was always thrown in the fire...As our God is a consuming fire....Thats y Jesus wants to bring fire on the earth....Which is baptism of the H.G. and Fire

But when ya read about some falling away it was not that Christ in them the gift of God that fell away It was only their old man that is in rank with satan the flesh....Thats y Jesus refered to Peter as Satan one time...simply b/c of the flesh....His carnal mind...Its impossible to renew our old adamic nature that falls away...

Good morning Adam,

If you read over my comments in this thread and others, including the scripture passages quoted, I think you will find my understanding on some of what the Bible teaches regarding God's Judgement for sin, the Nature of God's Salvation Program, and the sequence of end time events. And most important, the authority of the Bible and how God declares we should approach and interpret His Word.

Much of my understanding is different than what you are suggesting here and in some of your past comments I have read.

Rather than repeat all that here, I'm happy to address my understanding, or lack thereof, of any specific scriptures you wish to discuss.

May God in His Mercy lead us into truth as we continue to read and study His Word, the Bible.

Jimbob,

2 Thessalonians 2 is speaking about the situation that is occurring during the Great Tribulation within the churches and congregations prior to the return of Christ when God's judgment has fallen upon the churches because of their apostasy. ( 1Pet 4:17)

2 Thessalonians 2:3,4 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

The "man of sin" is Satan himself. And 2 Thessalonians 2 is talking about the general condition within the churches where the Bible is no longer the ultimate authority. It is NOT talking about True Believers "falling away" in any sense. In fact True Believes are commanded to flee the churches during the time of the Great Tribulation. (Read Matt 24 and Mark 13).

The reason you and I are understanding the verses you quote differently is that we we have a very different understanding of what the Bible teaches about the Nature of Salvation itself and what it means to be "saved", i.e. to become Born Again.

I have tried to be clear what I believe regarding this and have quoted a few of the many verses that teach this.

Perhaps you might explain your understanding of some of the important aspects of Salvation.

What is our condition before God "saves" us and what does it mean to be "saved", i.e. Born Again?

I have heard that argument many times where someone says anyone who turns from Christianity was suddenly "never a Christian in the first place" but the problem with that argument is it goes against what the Bible says and observable reality. So, a Christian pastor who served for 40 years and falls out of the faith suddenly "never was a Christian" even though he was for 40 years? Is it a miracle that works retroactively that one day a Christian was not a Christian in the past? Then if the fallen away Christian comes back to follow Christ again does it then erase the 40 years of "never was a Christian" where he now was a Christian again? These rules seem make believe and not reality.

My next question then is so if you believe there are many Christians who are serving in the most prominent positions (such as pastors and worship leaders) whom you claim could have never been Christians, that means you think many potential Christians today are not Christians. So, how do you know who is a Christian then? Are you a Christian? What criteria makes someone a Christian or not?

If someone says a sinners prayer after a message and responds and chooses to follow Jesus is that person not a Christian? If he is, then how would he be a Christian, but a Christian pastor who in the future may stumble currently isn't?

As some shared above for every verse that says "I will never blot you out" of the book of life, etc, there's at least double warning about staying on course and to not fall away. So, judging my sheer quantity of scripture, it heavily sides with that, yes, people can fall away. Most of Paul's letters were to churches (Christians) warning them.

Now I must ask WHEN exactly do you believe you are "saved" from hell? Before or after the day of judgment?

God bless.

Thank you Charlie for those thoughts. I must admit that most of them go over my head, especially when I try to relate them to what I read in the Bible. But to focus on some things you have written here that might help me to understand you better.

"the cause of most evil doings is a lack of knowledge as to where we are"; "If we teach spiritual breath first, stillness of mind, governance of emotions and feelings, thought will prevail and prevent waywardness of this I am sure"; "The Christ seed is within us all; such is the grand design of man."

Should I understand then that 'most' of the evil man does is because of ignorance of who he is & where he is in God's Design? That to teach a child in his formative years about mind & emotion control, will enable him to stay on the right path in life? That all who are born into the world have the 'seed of Christ', or as you wrote, "If everybody knew they are in the kingdom of GOD", is this how you perceive the world of fallen man?

If I've understood you correctly, where does the entrance of sin fit in & the subsequent transfer of that sin nature to every person born into the world? From reading, & trying to absorb your beliefs behind your words, it seems that we should understand that all people are God's creation with the Kingdom of God within them & only through self-realization, self-determination & effort, & true & full knowledge of God, can we find peace, happiness & God's acceptance. I realize that I've added my own words that may not reflect yours correctly, but that's how I read them. So my question would be, 'where does the teaching of man's inherent sin nature fit in, with the only repair available to him being through Christ's blood shed; that Sacrifice being man's substitute to satisfy God's Wrath?' If man can simply acquire knowledge & through persistent effort fully realize God's Kingdom within him, would this not negate the whole biblical message of salvation & entire forgiveness & cleansing?

David0921 thank you for your reply.

You said "Someone who falls away and remains in that state was never saved in the first place and was not one of God's elect".

I truly believe ( 2 Thessalonians. 2:3) disproves that statement David, If not then please show me where this is wrong.

The words (falling away) are #646 in Greek; it means defection from truth (properly the state) ["apostasy"] forsake, divorce,

(writing of) divorcement.

This verse is proof that those who are ((falling away)) was True Believers in Jesus Christ.

How else would you explain their receiving a (writing of) divorcement from Jesus Christ?

How else would you explain the "[apostasy"]?

Or the falling away from the truth?

(falling away) is a defection from truth?

Jesus Christ is the truth ( Jn. 14:6) They fall away from Jesus Christ.

["apostasy"] means ((An abandonment of what one has professed, a total desertion, or departure from one's faith, a total abandonment of the Christian faith)) which brings about them receiving a (writing of) divorcement from Jesus Christ.

Those who fall away in ( 2 Thess. 2:3) ((were)) True Believers in Jesus Christ.

Blessings.

Jimbob,

Someone who falls away and remains in that state was never saved in the first place and was not one of God's elect.

There are many passages in the Bible that implore us to " Examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith". And "to make are calling and election sure". And if we are one of God's elect, we will ultimately do just that by crying to God for mercy that he might save us. This includes those that may have come under the hearing of the gospel, and may have given some outward evidence of salvation, but had never become saved.

If we have a gospel where we can take some action to lose our salvation, then we have a gospel of works. And that gospel will never save us. And it is not the gospel of the Bible. Read carefully the passages that I quoted. And there are many others.

Let me ramble a bit about the bible....It is not out moral Compass....If the bible cd have been our moral compass then Jesus shed his blood in vain and the cross was just foolishness....Its the new covenant that book in the right hand of the father the H.G. the man child....That Child of Promise.....She brought forth a man child that is gonna rule all nations....The man child is the H.G. As that which is born of the spirit is spirit which is our new innerman the H.G. the gift of God....

Unless you receive the Kingdom of God as a lil Child you will in no wise enter there in....Smite the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered then i will turn my hand to the lil ONES....The babes and sucklings that worship God with a perfect praise....Thats y Isaiah is saying a lil Child is gonna lead them which is the H.G. That Child of Promise....Which is the multiplication of Christ Jesus via his seed his living WORDS....Thats y Elijah has to come and turn the hearts of the fathers to the Children....His Children....The babes and sucklings ....He shall see his seed and be satisfied....Whosoever receiveth one such child in my name receiveth ME....And who comes in his name only the H.G. That Child of Promise....Which is the multiplication of Christ Jesus....That was the great Promise i will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven....Thats y John saw a number that no man cd number....We have only 1 moral Compass which is the H.G. The Child of promise....A lil Child is gona lead them....Kings shall be your nursing fathers and queens shall be your your nursing mothers....Men and women are gonna birth a baby Christ which is the H.G. the spirit of truth that is gonna reprove the world of sin and judgement righteousness...ok gbu

Hi guys, I wrote a very long comment, and It did not post since it has links and I forgot what I wrote. By the way, thank you for your inputs. I think I should not really rely on one Pastor to teach me doctrines. I mean, it's really important to search and seek in our own. Now I'm starting to get confused, and I felt that I really need to go deeper and deeper in my walk with God.

Now I want to ask if you believe in Once Saved, Always Saved? Where you are saved through the blood of Jesus Christ, and by accepting it, you are saved and not of your good works. Secondly, do you believe in one true bible? A final authority? And that's KJV? I believe KJV is the one true Bible since I've done my research also about Tyndale, King James and the Translators. We believe KJV is the Final Authority, not because it's perfect in translation, but because it was translated with 100% honesty and the translator was inspired by God. Lastly, do you guys believe that we don't need the Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic scriptures since there's KJV, the final Bible that was inspired by God. Also, we can't rely on concordance and dictionary since Ancient Hebrew, Ancient Greek, and Ancient Aramaic were totally different from Modern Hebrew, Modern Greek and Modern Aramaic. People back there have different understanding and interpretation of ancient languages compared to modern ones.

Anyway, I'm sorry if my words are confusing since English is my second language. I really appreciate on what you've shared.

David0921

Thank you for the reply, but you didn't explain that verse. Here's a few more if you would like to try to explain them.

(1) ( Deut. 9:13-14) v14 The LORD says "Let me alone, that I may destroy them, and blot out their name from under heaven: and I will make of thee a nation mightier and greater than they".

(2) ( Rev. 3:3-5) v5 "and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life".

(3) ( Heb. 3:6) "But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, ((if)) we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end".

(4) ( James. 2:14-18) v14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? v15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food. v16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? v17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. v18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

(5) ( 2 Pet. 2:20-22) v20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. v21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. v22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb. The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

(6) ( 2 Thess. 2:3) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a ((falling away)) first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.

On obedience to Civil Authority

Romans 13:1-7 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

1 Timothy 2:1-3 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

Ephesians 6:5-7 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

1 Peter 2:13,14 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

Charlie. Our moral compass, I find, is not always the most reliable yardstick to perfectly attain God's Standard of morality & Truth. Simply because that which is in our hearts & from our many life's experiences can still be tainted by the appeals & persuasions of the flesh. For sure, if we fully believed God's Word & fully submitted to His Spirit to lead us in the ways of righteousness, then there can be great confidence that the path we walk down, our beliefs, our opinions, & the decisions we make, might very closely align with the Truth & Will of God for us. But how often is that the case? While we remain in the flesh, we will always be susceptible to it to some degree. But of course, God doesn't judge us for our human failings or sins of omission, but for the condition of our hearts & minds towards Him, all the while looking to Him for mercy to help us in time of our great need or inadequacy.

What we have been given by God in the written Word is sufficient to know His Will for mankind & for each of us personally. We have to believe that or else we tread on dangerous ground if other writings are readily accepted as Truth. We might then syncretize all writings together hoping to form a greater more fuller body of 'truth', when in fact, Truth might have become adulterated to some degree leaving the reader either hopelessly confused or formulating a belief system based on his own imaginations. It is sad enough when we all read from the same Scriptures & yet find that we can still understand them differently & come to various conclusions. If we then add any other writing to it, what then does that do to our understanding? I think it tragic that some hold to beliefs of the Serpent Seed doctrine, or of a purgatory for a final cleansing, even that works can also bring justification. Where do these beliefs come from - certainly not from the given precious Word of God. We need great care in what we read & what we believe, accepting as truth.

Jimbob,

Galatians 2:16

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Ezekiel 36:24-29

For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Jude 1:24, 25

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

The true gospel of the Bible is a gospel where God does 100% of the work in saving us and our works cannot and do not contribute to our salvation in any way whatsoever.

If we have become saved it is because God has chosen us, paid for our sins, drawn us, and saved us. And He will therefore KEEP us.

If we are following a gospel where we can lose our salvation, we are not following the gospel of the Bible.

Hey David0921,

Thank you for answering, I know Jesus when He was here the first time He spoke in parables for a reason, that generation of the Priests, Pharisees, Scribes, and Sadducees was so corrupt and sinful it was not for them to understand He was the promised Messiah. I see your understanding although my understanding is different. If Revelation is parabolical who is not supposed to not understand it?

There are many understandings of the end times, and some are deceiving not that yours is. What we must do is regardless of what comes we are ready, strong in our faith, and if we are living, we are ready to face death if that is what we must face.

There is a verse I find with the guidance of the Holy Spirit in my understanding of scripture is Matt. 13:52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

Thank you again,

God bless,

RLW

David0921 Thank you for your comment on this post.

I'll keep this short.

Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous. ( Ps. 69:28)

The word (blotted) is #4229; it means to erase, abolish, blot out, destroy, utterly, wipe (away, out)

People are blotted out of the book of the living! This sounds like they are ((loosing)) salvation that they did have, does it not?

Please explain this verse?

Hello Ronald,

Those are good questions.

One of the principles for interpreting the Bible is laid down in Mark 4:33-34.

And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

The book of Revelation is replete with parabolic language that must be understood spiritually and not absolutely literally. And I understand that is not a very comfortable statement to accept for those that want to look at every verse in the Bible very literally. But it is what the Bible declares.

Unfortunately that makes the Bible very difficult to understand in many instances. And much of Revelation falls into that category.

The "first resurrection" spoken of in Rev 20 is, I believe, what happens when our spiritually dead soul becomes Born Again, i.e. raised to life, and God gives that person a brand new "resurrected soul". That person then is not subject to the "second death" i.e. the wrath of God which will be experienced if we have not become saved.

The Resurrection of our bodies occurs at the Last Day, simultaneous with the Rapture when believers will receive their Resurrected Spiritual bodies.

The 1000 years in Rev 20, I believe, is referring to the binding of Satan at the time of the Cross until the beginning of the Great Tribulation when Satan is loosed. ( Matt 24 and Mark 13).

This is a very incomplete answer to your questions, I know.

Hi David0921,

My understanding is the rapture is not a separate event before the second coming of Jesus and my understanding of the white throne judgment is not for just the lost. If I can ask, not to debate but for understanding. If we say at Jesus's second coming, all are resurrected and the living is transformed/raptured and the final judgment happens then, how do we understand the two resurrections in Revelation 19:11-22 and Revelation 20 and the binding of Satan for 1000 years?

Thank You and God bless.

RLW

Bcjta,

I believe God uses the term "last days" in a couple of different ways in the Bible. "Last days" can mean the whole New Testament period or it can mean just the period of the Great Tribulation. This is dependent on the context of the passage. I am personally convinced that we are in the period of the Great Tribulation.

The end of the Great Tribulation will be signaled by the return of Christ to resurrect and rapture all true believers, and execute his final judgment upon Satan and all of those that have not become saved which will include the destruction of this sin-cursed earth, and the creation of new heavens and new earth where all true believers, having received their resurrected spiritual bodies, will live and reign with Christ throughout eternity.

Read Matt 24, Mark 13 and 1 Thessalonians 4.

are we in the last days

2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

2 Peter 1:1-11

Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

I'm grateful and thankful please pray for me my son graduated last night and it was it was raining outside that's what they wanted to do everybody was looking pretty but nobody really care the seeds been planted but he doesn't think Christian Life is exciting I try not to text him too much but I care about him our country is falling apart he says he's doing his own thing so pray for me for peace and for Chris maybe someday somebody will come into his life and he will do better with Jesus Christ I hope my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus that their prayers will be answered in Jesus name I pray amen

Jimbob,

Hebrews 6:4 is NOT suggesting that someone whom God has "saved" can lose their salvation. That conclusion is a perfect example that demonstrates how important it is that in arriving at any conclusion, we MUST compare spiritual things with spiritual. And we MUST NOT isolate any verse or passage from the rest of the Bible.

When we look at everything in the Bible that speaks about the Nature of Salvation, God teaches that salvation is 100% the work of God Himself.

All of mankind because of Adam's sin is DEAD in sin and CANNOT and WILL NOT turn to God. We are by nature in rebellion against God, both in body and soul. Every time we commit sin we are breaking the Law of God for which the penalty is eternal death. And we come under the Wrath of God. But that is not the end of the story.

God in His incomprehensible MERCY has chosen a remnant, the Elect, from before the foundation of the world to save. This required that God in the person of the LORD Jesus Christ to take upon Himself every dirty rotten sin that His Elect would ever commit and bear the penalty for their sin, the wrath of God, eternal death, and then be raised again to eternal life. All of this was actually done before God ever created the world.

When God "saves" one of His Elect, He performs a very real miracle of giving them a brand new resurrected soul which can never die and which can never sin and God will complete their salvation by giving them their resurrected spiritual body at the Last Day.

God's elective program is God's business. But one whom God has "saved" will not fall away and continue in unbelief. We CANNOT lose our salvation.

No matter how sinful or rebellious we have been or are now, it is still the day of salvation and we may cry out to God in the very real hope that God might save us. Read Jonah 3. Read Ezekiel 36.

I believe that Hebrews 6 is not talking about individuals. It is talking about the churches of our day that have become apostate. 1 Pet 4:17

Hey Jimbob gbu my man....Yes i will gladly show you a scripture that proves that Jesus is not the written word ( the scriptures)... John 5:39....Jesus says search the SCRIPTURES ( the written words ) in them you think that you have Eternal life...But it is only them that testifies of me....Which are the living words....When he the spirit of truth is come he will testify of me John 16:13 John... 15:26...which is the H.G. THE LIVING WORD....That book in the right and of the father....THE BOOK OF LIFE....LIVING WORDS..The CHILDREN OF PROMISE..Jimbob if Eternal life were in the written words the bible....Then Jesus shed his blood in vain and the cross was just foolishness....God has something much greater for his ppl then just a bible...A KINGDOM....Peter said where shall we go lord thou has the words of eternal life....which is that book in the right hand of the father that Jesus wrote with is own blood...But without Calvary the Cross there wd NOT have been a book of life of living words, living seeds to multiply Christ in humanity the seeds of the sower are the result of the book of life....Written words the bible cd not accomplish what Jesus did at Calvary....Hope you see this Jim...My words are spirit and life Jesus....That good seed is the living words of God...The Wheat is a baby Christ a living being....Simply b/c the sower of that good seed is Christ the bridegroom....Thats y he has to know us....Child is th H.G..

Jesus plainly tells us no man can come unto me unless my father that has sent me draw him...which is the living word the H.G....The contents of that book of life in the right hand of the father...The book of life....The woman in Rev. 12:5 does not give birth till the book of life is opened....Unless ya receive the Kingdom of God as a lil Child ( the H.G.) you will in NO WISE enter there in....Her Child is the H.G. the spirit of truth that is gonna reprove this whole world of Sin.Righteousness and Judgement a living being that has to be born in us....

Hi Digjot;

Yes, I am doing well.

Keep your spirit up for God truly is in control of this world and of history. Compared to our eternal life with Christ , this mortal life is really very short. God will give us strength to endure and comfort in times of trials. He will guide us through evil times and cause us to rejoice in Him.

Hope to here from you often, Dgjot.

Eph 2:10



8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10

It is by the Grace of God that we are saved, this is through faith in Jesus Christ alone, if not for the unmerited favour towards us all, faith would not have come to us. We were unable to believe before the Holy ghost revealed Christ to us, God choose us, he called us and elected us.

We did not know trust or even know the gospel of Christ. Yet we are gifted but undeserving, knowing We bring nothing to the table, and have nothing to offer; we all start from the same line, sinners.

That is what we are. Thereby we boost not in ourselves or the works and achievements we have or might attained, for we are His, so we boost in God, and all he has worked in us. He is the builder and authe, Knowing who we are, and all we would do, but yet he died for us, who betrayed him. This is grace, this is Gods love. Turn to him, believe and be saved.

Father we thank you today, that you have graced us with your Holy word, which is true and never failing. we thank you for your grace which you shower upon believers and unbelievers alike, we thank you for your mercy and forbearance towards our infirmities. Help us to do the good that you have prepared for us and to walk and live in them as it becomes our way of life.

To clarify my meaning to the Rule I use, Charlie, I don't think my "question suggests restriction in acceptance of truth", rather, my restriction is not dependent on what I perceive to be truth, but the yardstick I use to determine it. If no gauge is used against any body of writing, then I would think that my mind would accept all the ideas & beliefs presented therein, not giving much concern as to what is written & then digested, believing that time & eternity will reveal all.

Rather, the Bible is given to us (i.e. those parchments recovered & preserved for us), so that we might not only learn the Mind & Purpose of God in humanity, but be able to confidently treasure those doctrines & Truths taught, to see how they measure up to anything else presented to us. I don't believe that man needs to attain a heightened state of spiritual understanding to be able to weigh up the differences between truth & error. If we are careful in our reading & study of the Scriptures & knowing that not everything presented to us is true, then Truth & error become apparent.

Even "that God is within every man, male and female" can't be correct, as there are too many Scriptures to show that wickedness & deceitfulness lies in the heart of each one of us and none of us our righteous, not even one ( Jeremiah 17:9; Psalm 14:1-4 & Romans 3:9-18). What we have here then, is whether the words & instructions of men are equal to or more worthy than the Word of God. Not only from the pages of the Bible, but also from visible demonstrations of the workings of men's hearts, we find that mankind has rejected his Creator & His Word, doing all that satisfies his flesh & corrupt mind - all proving that God could never be found in man, but He is clearly evident when He sends His Spirit to regenerate & restore man from an unrighteous to a righteous state. And this is where Truth comes to the fore: when the Bible is held against any other writing, & this other one is found wanting.