Bible Discussion Replies PAGE 223

Gigi

Part 2

The Old Testament sacrifices and offerings was a foreshadowing of Christ, and the individual responsibility was on him and there were consequences. Some were saved and some were not!

They all were under the same influence and given the ability to receive according to his response. Faith in that economy system that pointed towards Christ.

When the brazen serpent in the bible was lifted up it was an invitation for all!

We got to be careful to describe God's Devine nature as something he chooses to be. God doesn't choose to love! God IS Love! God doesn't choose to be Righteous! God IS Righteous! God doesn't choose to be Just! God is supreme Justice and those attributes work together and never cease.

When we lay all those attributes out it paint a picture of a merciful, loving God who so loved the "WORLD", that he gave his only begotten Son, that "WHOSOEVER" believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (It doesn't say just the elect and it don't cause speculation in the righteousness of God!)

If we say we don't know then everything we present should be considered opinion not absolute.

We may not be able to fully comprehend the degree of Gods attributes to the fullest, but we know God ways is higher than ours!

SO, by the word of God and the indwelling spirit we are expected to display the love of God in our lives.

1 John 3:17-18 reads,

"Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

How do we reconcile God not giving the invitation and opportunity and shutteth up his bowels of compassion to a lost world what is required for salvation considering Matthew 7:13. "for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

See Part 3

Hi Gigi.

You referenced Jerimiah 3:13 in saying that God has loved us (His chosen) with an everlasting love.

Here is Jerimiah 3:13 "Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD.

Perhaps you had another verse in mind. Also, you can't take what was written for Israel and apply it to the church.

As requested, here is what I believe.

Part 1

When considering John 3:13-21 and many other scriptures and then to contribute God's Love, Mercy and Compassion to only the elect is error.

The scripture clearly says For God so loved the WORLD, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the WORLD to condemn the WORLD; but that the WORLD through him might be saved. John 3:16-17.

The invitation is to ALL!

Look at the conditions in verse 18)

"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

However you stated, We are not given the reason why He chooses some AND NOT OTHERS or because some unregenerated people will choose to be righteous due to their faith in God because they CANNOT have faith in God unless God graces them with it. So I ask you, How is the Love of God and Mercy displayed to them?

Note;

I'm not asking how and why God chooses to do the things you say he do!

I'm asking how do God display the Love of God?

The crucifixion is God's Love on display!

This is important to understand considering Matthew 7:13-14 Enter 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:

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

See part 2

Day 11 January 11, 2025 I Timothy 4:7-8

West Angeles Church Consecration Calendar

I Timothy Verse 7

My interpetation REDAPPLETREATY4MEONLY " Believing in God not to be in self man and woman to become godliness. Exercised practices such as reading holy bible, praying, fasting to become godliness". Defined Quoted result " edifiication,meditation,digest to goldly life by conversation. In truth, sincere, in faith, ferventy,purity. "To your life by "Heart"Quoted REDAPPLETREATY4MEONLY "

I Timothy Verse 8

My Respond:

A worshipper of God ,one result is you have inner godliness.

I Pray to allow me to see God and be with God myself, with West Angeles Church Cogic Cathedral, with supporting West Angeles Church Cogic Cathedral. (eternal life)

Examples of myself REDAPPLETREATY4MEONLY

Attending Service at West Angeles Church Cogic Cathedral and prayer. 2023-2024 Volunteering Events. 2024 Sunday School, 2024 Through the bible Tuesday nights ,My personal ministries websites.

Word Spoken and Written by REDAPPLETREATY4MEONLY

Thank you Giannis. Deuteronomy 7:6-8: "For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt."

It seems that was already in God's Mind & Plan that He would 'create' a special people (as you mentioned), & that would happen coming out from the people of the world; and according to His Oath made to Israel's forefathers, setting His Love upon them. God could have chosen any people, but was it just a random selection/chance that the lot fell on Abraham & his progeny? Or did God already know that Abraham would be the one to obey the call & leave everything behind in obedience, in love & servitude to the Living God? Or, could God have selected a dozen possible men from the world & pick the one who showed the greatest propensity to obey & follow Him? We could have many options, but without God's Omniscience being at the forefront in His Elective Program, to me, nothing else seems to fit for understanding (to some degree) the mysterious workings of God.

Hello Chris'

It does make any difference whether we talk about Israel or the church when we refer to "selection". Both were selected, for different reasons but with the same way. Israel for bringing the Savior into the world and the church for bringing the Savior all over the world.

Has God chosen Israel? Actually the answer is that God didn't chose but actually created Israel through Abraham. So all Israel through the centuries was invited/selected to participate in His plan to bring the Savior on earth but not everybody was willing to participate. Everybody in that nation was selected but not everybody accepted that invitation. It says somewhere that (in my words) many are invited but few are selected. Why would God invite somebody whom He wouldn't want to save? Here the free will of people comes into account.

Similarly Judas was selected and invited to be an apostle but he didn't guard his heart and eventually loved money more than Jesus, and we know his end.

If God selects someone for any reason other than knowing beforehand their attitude towards His gospel, then He would had been an unrighteous God. And we know He is not. Jesus has revealed to us everything we need to know about God, His character, His attitudes, etc

Thank brother Spencer,

There is a lot packed into this verse ( 2 Corinthians 4:4), and much more can be said but I tried to keep it short. Yes, I agree, Israel's blindness is temporary. God has made a promise to Israel and when the Lord returns, that promise will be fulfilled.

Blessings to you also!

Page 2. Giannis.

And you're correct about 2 Peter 3:9 & of course, John 3:16,17. How could we speak of a loving God Who has 'suffered long with a wholly sinful & depraved world, & yet not be willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance'? And this verse could not be applied solely to the elect whom God will save, and not the world of sinners, because He would know that according to His Plan of Election, that the Elect would definitely be saved & could never perish into everlasting fire - for that is not His Will & Plan for His Elect. It therefore must mean that God is giving the world time to hear the Gospel, be convicted by His Holy Spirit, repent, & be saved - and this salvation & rebirth they receive reveals God's Election for them; and yes, God already knew they would be saved & those who would refuse His Son. GBU.

Page 1.

Brother Giannis. Always glad to hear from you & receive your understanding of the Word of God. This subject of election I have temporarily laid aside, as I await GiGi's commentary on it specifically, as she continues with her subject of God's Attributes/Character which I've appreciated very much.

But since you've raised it here, and cited Romans 9:9-16 in respect of Esau & Jacob, I also referred to this Scripture in my response as you've seen. My emphasis was on the fact that God's Sovereignty in Election in this case was based wholly on His choosing the descendency of Israel, His chosen people, and NOT for the salvation of their souls: each one in Israel, along with Isaac, Jacob, Esau & all of Israel, were still responsible before God for their faith, obedience, & devotion. So, there would be many in Israel, then & now, who would be rejected by God for salvation in spite of their Election, receiving the Law & Promises. Indeed, "not all Israel which are of Israel" ( Romans 9:4-6).

I understand from what you've shared here, that you too believe in the "foreknowledge of God" in His election of those to be saved. Romans 8:29,30 and 1 Peter 1:2 particularly reveal this Truth. Now, I realize that some have 'reinterpreted' 'Foreknowledge' (Gk. prognosis) to be in relation to His Sovereign Plan without any factor affecting it (whether from man or God Himself): i.e. He simply chooses & it happens. Whereas, I believe, and please correct me if I'm mistaken, that 'Foreknowledge' in the New Testament refers to the prior knowledge of God, particularly seen in His Omniscience and Sovereign Plan. It implies God's prior knowledge of all events, all individuals, of all time, and quite often in the context of His redemptive purposes for mankind. This term is used to express the concept that God, in His infinite Wisdom, knows all things before they happen and has a predetermined plan for creation and salvation according to that knowledge. To Page 2.

Hi Chris

May I intervene in your discusion with GiGi about the "elected" people? It is true that God selects people for salvation. But why does God select some persons over some other? The story of Jacob and Esau gives us the answer.

Romans 10-15, "10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;

, 11(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) 12It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 13As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. 14What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."

God selected Jacob over Esau not of works. actually both men were not born yet, but due to His grace. But how is that grace is granted to somebody? The lives of both men show the answer. Jacod wanted to receive the promises given to Abraham, Esau thought those promises were not of any value so he sold them to Jacob for some food, similarly Judas sold Jesus for some money. They both gave away the most valuable thing in the world for something useless, they completely humiliated God and His promises. Jacob didn't do any work so that the promises given to Abraham to be given to him, but simply believed in God's promises and went for them, Esau didn't. So God who knows beforehand what both men will do in the future selected Jacob. Just think if God selected Esau. How it would seem to us that God selects somebody who doesn't believe in Him and humiliates His promises? Not possible, isn't it? So God selects people according to how they will stand infront the salvation He offers to people through Jesus. It says somewhere that the will of God is that ALL people will be saved, but not everybody believes in Christ, so they are not selected.

No problem, S. Spencer,

I know you are working during the week. Hope the storm doesn't cause any trouble for you and your family.

Day 10 January 10, 2025 Matthew 25:14-30 KJV West Angeles Church Consecration Calendar

Matthew 25: Verse 14

My Interpetation REDAPPLETREATY4MEONLY:

"Jesus Christ is God. Is One to all the World.God's word to believe he is the only God. (Refrence one example applied to servants)

Me REDAPPLETREATY4MEONLY example has applied my faith believing Jesus Christ Is God end of law unto New Testament Holy Bible - Romans 8:2 KJV"

Matthew 25 Verse 16

My Interpetation REDAPPLETREATY4MEONLY:" Father and Son are one Jesus Christ is God"

Matthew 25 Verse 19

My Interpetation REDAPPLETREATY4MEONLY: Says God's word is with faith to receive.

Matthew 25 Verse 20

My Respond:

God will prosper me in all labour's.

Matthew 25 Verse 21:

My Respond:

I believe this scripture helps me to be apart of West Angeles Church Cogic Cathedral. Myself identified as member.

Matthew 25 Verse 28

My Respond:

Scripture supports me to have joy on my own life away from the Christian Church

Matthew 25 Verse 29

My Respond:

Supports me to do the will of God attending Sunday Service, giving supporting West Angeles Church Cogic Cathedral, Reading my Holy Bible, prayer and fasting.

Word Spoken and Written by REDAPPLETREATY4MEONLY

Hi Gigi.

Just wanted you to know, I haven't been ignoring you.

I've been trying to finish up this work week and get prepared for this coming winter storm.

I haven't been able to give much time to the site this week.

I figure this storm will make me set still and allow me to focus a little more on the site.

Blessings

I have no wisdom to give but that which scripture states:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path. Be not wise in your own eyes. Depart from evil". (This is from my own memory, as I don't fully understand how to use "Reply" yet). Albeit, it seems you are struggling to 'do the will of God' and are having difficulty just 'resting in the Lord'. The Bible teaches us to 'rest', but it is difficult to rest when you are 'troubled about many things'. Like Martha (who wanted to 'serve the Lord' and couldn't understand why Jesus didn't tell her sister Mary who was sitting at Jesus' feet, listening to His Words, to come and help her 'serve') you are focusing so much on doing it 'right' that you aren't able to rest and 'let the Lord lead you'. Jesus told Martha, "Mary has chosen the good part which shall not be taken from her." The Bible always reinforces 'resting in the Lord,' 'wait on the Lord and He shall direct your path'. Martha thought Mary was just being lazy, but Mary was actually 'waiting on Jesus' by listening to His teachings. Personally, I believe Martha missed out on a surprize blessing from the Lord by scurrying around trying to cover all the bases. Jesus had fed 5,000 with a few fish and a couple of loaves of bread! Don't you think He could have fed ALL those in Martha's house if she had just rested and 'let Jesus take the helm of her boat?' Our own efforts and works often lead us astray and block both physical and spiritual blessings that God wants to shower us with. Psalm 91 gives the answers to ALL our efforts "The Lord is my Shepherd, I SHALL NOT WANT* (*my emphasis). He makes me to lie down (rest) in green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters, He restores my soul. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (a dark, scary place), I will fear no evil for THOU ART WITH ME*. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me"

..REST/TRUST

MotherMac to Blessed90'

Thank you so much. May God continue

to bless you and your Mom. Amen!

Great point Brother Jesse.

"It wasn't Satan that blinded their minds that made them unbelievers. It says Satan hath blinded the minds of those who believe not. So, the unbelief came first.

I believe Israel's "temporary blindness" as a nation is directed at the ministry of the Law. It wasn't meant to give life under the Levitical priesthood.

Blessings

GOD'S MERCY

PT. 8

We were dead in our sins, hostile to God as His enemy, blind to the gospel's truth, and separated from God our Savior. But God chose us and made us spiritually alive, blessed us with faith to believe the gospel and put our faith in Jesus. It is all a gift of God and none of us can boast of any works we did to receive it all!

This concludes this section of my study. I will continue with a new section soon. Thanks for reading. I know that some will not agree with some of my opinions here and I am fine with that. I welcome input, of course. And I hope to inspire others to think deeply and prayerfully on these topics as I have so as to come to a better understanding of these great truths taught in the Scriptures. I so love how God leads us to come to know Him and His ways more and more as we seek out the Scriptures His truth and though our interpretations may be weak, in error, or in need of more growth, God works with us in our human inability to know in full, but in part. This life is truly a journey towards knowing Him as our only hope for eternal life.

THE MERCY OF GOD

Pt. 7

The justice of God's sending of humans into the darkness and the fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels is that this is a preferred choice (though unaware of the full implications of this choice) and will remain so throughout all eternity. They will not have God, and therefore in the profoundest sense of the word, they will not have Him as they wish.

If Christians think in any degree that God is unrighteous in this judgement, it is because we have not yet considered how great the weight of sin is. We must come to see that God's Son is so precious in his sight that He will crush as with a rod of iron those who are opposed to his Son's glory and honor.

The real question believers should ask is not how can a loving God condemn sinners. The really amazing question is why would a holy God save sinners at such infinite cost to his own dear Son?

Some also ask, "Why is it then that God who saves some does not save all?" The Bible is clear that He does not. Yet, we are told in Scripture that Jesus did for the sins of the whole world. So, why are not all people saved? Certainly God is able to have elected every human to salvation and only had the devil and his angels inhabit the lake of fire.

Perhaps all are not saved (Universalism) because God us glorified both in His grace and mercy and also in His wrath and judgment on sinners. So that in electing a portion of humanity rather than all, He is more fully glorified than if He saved all and no human would receive His wrath and just judgment that comes from His hatred of all that is unholy.

As believers, it is so very important for us to know and believe that this would be our judgment, too, if God had not chosen us and drawn us to Christ by His mercy. We should ever express our gratitude and praise to God for the glory of His mercy and grace given to us when we were yet sinners.

See Pt. 8

GOD'S MERCY

Pt. 6

To men who have refused to change in their attitude towards God, it will mean there will be no prospect or desire for change and repentance before him, and to those who have never loved Jesus Christ as Savior, it will mean they will go throughout all eternity never knowing what it means to know Christ's love nor to love Christ as Savior in grateful response, and therefore experiencing a loveless eternity.

In this life, God's mercy is "new every morning", but unregenerate humans are too blind and sin-numbed to experience it. But to those He elects to salvation, His mercy in redeeming them will last throughout eternity. Without God giving grace of regeneration and faith, no human would know God's redeeming mercy. But, He has brought that mercy to those He chose for salvation before the beginning of the world. Believers should be so thankful for having been chosen and drawn to Jesus through God's mercy and grace!

With God's grace and mercy being freely given, why will God still judge unregenerate sinners? How is His severe and eternal judgment appropriate to the sins committed against Him?

1. It is appropriate because it has been freely chosen. No human being has ever been, will ever be damned against their will. They choose it.

2. It is appropriate because what men and women know the righteous decrees of God about disobedience to Him and choose break His commands and even flaunt their disobedience before God. ( Romans 1:32)

3. It's appropriate because humans have consistently ignored God's providences.

4. It's appropriate because humans have despised the offer of Christ, who is able to save all those who come to God through Him.

5. It is appropriate because it is universally true of the natural man that he seeks a heaven devoid of God's throne and empty of God's presence.

See. Pt. 7

GOD'S MERCY

Pt. 5

Our heavenly Father is always merciful. And the Bible even calls His throne, "the throne of grace where we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." ( Hebrews 4:16)

Whereas Romans Chapter 1 tells us why God's wrath is upon sinners, Paul appeals in Acts 14 and in Acts 17 to the patience of God among the nations, to the way in which He has favored us with his general providences, and has set in the very created universe hints for man that show His glory, to indicate to us that He is to be worshiped and glorified, and how it is that throughout the course of history, He has been patient in the outworking of his plan and also in the present, remains patient before the final judgment in order that every opportunity may be given for men and women to repent.

He has not sent us immediately to hell. He has been patient for all of His planned events to occur and He has filled our lives with blessing, upon blessing, upon blessing. He's given to humanity the gift of the Scriptures that speaks God's words to man in all its power and glory. And, as the ultimate mercy, He has sent his own dear Son who will come again to judge the elect and the unbelievers.

Humans are condemned not because they have hated God's holiness only, but because they have hated His patience, His grace, His loving-kindness, His offer of mercy, all of which is free to us! But as Paul says in Romans 10:3, humans have rejected these free gifts from God in exchange for desiring to establish their own righteousness before Him and refuse to submit to the righteousness offered in Jesus Christ.

To men who have turned from communion with God, it means they shall have no communion with God. To men who have not seen the significance of the blessings of the earth, it means they will never enjoy the blessings of the new heaven and the new earth.

See Pt. 6

GOD'S MERCY

Pt.3

Psalm 103:1-20 highlights how good God's mercies are to us.

103:1 "Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6 The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.

14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;

18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

19 The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

20 Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word."

There is One who is in heaven, whose throne is there, who rules all the affairs of men and sees everything that we do. He is not sometimes merciful to His elect.

See Pt. 4

GOD'S MERCY

Pt. 2

God, as the only God, who is sovereign above all, is utterly free to show mercy to whom He will - and He has chosen to be merciful to His people who have been elected, called, and reborn in the Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Mercy of God made human. He himself was, and is, the mercy of God to us

In ( Exodus 34:6-7) God again highlights to Moses that He is gracious and merciful.

God is not unjust; by no means will He clear the guilty and simply ignore or sweep sin under the rug. Yet, as these verses show, the first and greatest truth for His people to know about Him is He is "a God merciful and gracious."

His grace and mercy shine as the apex of his glory. He is "slow to anger" - He is patient and yet, even in such justice, he is slow to anger. Wrath is his righteous response to evil, but it is not his heart.

Romans 9:22-24 gives us the deepest glimpse into God's heart, and what we find at bottom is mercy. This is perhaps as deep as the Bible goes in explaining to us why God governs his creation as he does. Paul puts it in the form of a question, not because he's unsure of the truth, but for rhetorical effect, because it is awesome and sobering to contemplate.

"22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?"

God does, indeed, show his righteous wrath. He is holy. To not demonstrate wrath in a world of sin and rebellion against Him would be untrue to Himself and unloving to His people. God is able to do just as He promised concerning unregenerate humanity. Severity in God always serves his heart of mercy - "to make known the riches of his glory to his people, who are the vessels of his mercy."

See Pt. 3

Next section:

GOD'S MERCY IS NEW EVERY MORNING AND NEVER FAILS

Every sinner is in need of God's mercy. When one realizes this and cries to God for mercy we admit to deserving eternal punishment for our sins as well as being undeserving of His mercy. By rights, we should be under his impending wrath, like all mankind ( Ephesians 2:3) - but for "the tender mercy of our God" ( Luke 1:78), in which Jesus took god's wrath in our place and allows for our sins to be forgiven.

In Titus 3:4-7, the apostle Paul gives us one of the best descriptions of God's mercy as revealed in Jesus Christ:

4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

God's mercy forgives and saves us specifically because He withholds the punishment, condemnation and wrath we deserve.

Romans 5:9

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

1 Thessalonians 5:9

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

1 Thessalonians 1:10

And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

Exodus 33:19 reveals a great glimpse of God's mercy. In one of the most important passages in all the Bible, after Moses has asked God to show him his glory, God answers, "I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name 'The Lord.' And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy."

When asked to show his glory, God puts his goodness in grace and mercy on display - and his utter freedom in showing his mercy to whomever he chooses.

See Pt. 2

Hello again, S. spencer,

In regards to you question about the serpent on a pole that Moses lifted up in the desert which Jesus referenced, here are a few thoughts of mine.

When the Lord instructed Moses to raise the serpent in the wilderness, anyone of people of God (the chosen) could look to the serpent and be healed. The context of that account was not an action to be taken for the whole of humanity, but for the people God selected to be His people, a holy nation. So, we are dealing with the people God had set aside for Himself just as the elect are those God set aside before the creation to receive salvation.

My own question is: did every person among the Israelites who were bitten by the fiery serpents look to the raised serpent for healing? The text said that many had been bitten and died prior to the raising of the bronze serpent. And the text does not say that everyone who was bitten id look to the serpent to be healed and remain alive. But in this text, the whosoever are those who were bitten and did look to the bronze serpent for healing and life. They had faith to believe what the Lord had said would happen through Moses.

Similarly, in a much grander way, Jesus saying that He would be lifted up as the serpent was for people to have life, He meant that anyone who did who believed in Him through the Word of God in the Gospel will also be saved and have eternal life. The whosoever in this case are those who do believe in Jesus, not the ones who did not believe. Otherwise, everyone would be saved whether they believe or not. I do not think that the Bible teaches such universalism.

Over the course of church history, many millions or even billions have heard the call of the Gospel, but only those who belie3ve will receive salvation and eternal life. I pretty much think that we both agree on this point. So, where we differ is perhaps on who the elect are, how they become elect. Perhaps even other aspects of this topic. I will consider this and post later.

Very enlightening Brother Jesse!

2 Corinthians 3:15-16But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.

Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

( The it mentioned here is their heart!)

It is Israel that was blinded because they sought righteousness by the Law. Romans 9:31-32 and other places.

Also Romans 11:6-11 reads

"And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the ELECTION hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded

(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:

Let their eyes be darkened that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

A temporary blindness! Romans 11:25-26.

Quoting you!

Paul says very clear, very open, very bold, you know exactly what the gospel is. It isn't hidden. It's not behind a vail. It's out in the open.

That's very clear. The Gospel, "The Good news, or A good message "

What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.

But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; Romans 9:30-32.

Peter sums this up in Acts 15:5-11.

Great study!

God bless.

Hello, S. Spencer,

I will speak to your last pint first.

God so loved the world. He loves His creation and is benevolent in administering His reign over it.

I believe that God loved the elect from before the world began and works in the life of the elect to bring them to faith and salvation. I do not believe that He begins t love us after we are saved. Jeremiah 3:13 says that God has loved us (His chosen) with an everlasting love.

As to your point about the "whosoever" of John 3:16 and the availability of salvation to all I believe that the Gospel is to be preached to every nation, tongue, and people. It calls people to be reconciled to God. Unregenerate people cannot believe the Gospel because they do not want to. They are unable to respond to the call of the Gospel because they are dead in sin and cannot please God or seek Him. Unless God does a work of grace in an unregenerate person, they will to reject the Gospel call and will to be at enmity with God. They are truly hopeless to come to Christ. I believe that only those who God regenerates are able to obey the call of the Gospel and that these people are the "elect".

For now, this is all I wish to write in this post addressing some of your questioning of what I have posted. I appreciate your response and will spend some time considering your other points.

I would like to ask one thing of you, though. Would you explain what you think about the topics I posted on, not to query me but to explain your position as I have done. That will help me understand more fully your viewpoint. Thanks in advance.

Day 8 January 8,2025 Romans 12:2 KJV West Angeles Church Consecration Calendar

Me being a member at West Angeles Cogic Church Cathedral Los Angeles, California

Romans 12: Verse 2

My interpetation: REDAPPLETREATY4MEONLY

"Putting God first and only God no other. Loving God with your heart first. Mark 12:30 KJV, Matthew 6:33 KJV.Jesus Christ is the only way to divine healing.

Letting God control you by listening and following instructions of his voice and word.Allowing your body to become like Jesus- holy, righteous,holiness."

Me identifying myself as Christian before and member at West Angeles Cogic Church Cathedral I conformed to God Romans 10:9-10 KJV having faith Hebrews 11:1 KJV and practice reading my Holy Bible Trusting God.

Word Spoken and Written by REDAPPLETREATY4MEONLY

Yes, Mother Mac

We are so blessed in our Savior!

Gigi.

GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD.

Part 2

I stated, In the context of your posting, God so loved the world should be kept in John 3:16.

Gigi the reason I say that is because you contributed "WHOSOEVER" to only the elect when I mentioned it to Carlton as salvation being an invitation to all.

Whosoever thirst in Revelation 22:17 is the same whosoever in John 3:16.

God so loved the world is uniquely cosigned to John 3:16 because of what follows! "That he gave his only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life"

Let's examine that verse and include the previous verses.

14) And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

My questions to you would be, Jesus gave the example of Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness.

Was that to emphasize an elect or was it for the whole congregation?

And if God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that only the elect might be saved. When did he began to love them "after" he chose them or before?

If you're saying he loved them "before" he chose them then that would include "ALL" being that there was no difference between them all.

So, the whosoever is an invitation to All!

If he loved them after he chose them.

Are you saying God is partial?

It is getting late. See part 3 over the weekend as I read over a few more postings.

Blessings.

(2 Corinthians Part 10):

2 Corinthians 4:9 - Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

He says I'm persecuted. The word persecuted in the Greek means to chase or to pursue. When Satan persecutes a Christian, he chases that person. There's nothing Satan can do except chase people, which is why Paul goes out of his way to say "Stand in Christ. Don't run. You have the armor of God on!

2 Corinthians 4:17 - For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

For our light affliction, again THLIPSIS/Stress, which is but for a moment. So, he says in this earthly life, I see that the hardships that we have to go through, it's like compared to eternity, it's just a minute.

It works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; So, when you compare this affliction, or stress for now, compared to the glory that we're going to experience in the future, there's no comparison!

2 Corinthians 5:1 - For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Interesting that he calls his body a tabernacle, or more literally a tent, SKENE in Greek. When this tent dissolves, and it is also interesting that he's a tentmaker. But when this tent dissolves, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

(2 Corinthians Part 9):

2 Corinthians 4:4 - In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not. Please catch this: It wasn't Satan that blinded their minds that made them unbelievers. It says Satan hath blinded the minds of those who believe not. So, the unbelief came first. And secondly, Satan comes, and he blinds their minds, and the word mind is not PSUECHE (the psyche), but the NOEMA, the perceptive processes of the mind. Satan made it so that they could not perceive the truth of Christ any longer.

And he does this, lest the light of the glory of the gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine in them. So, he prevents it. They disbelieved the word. They're in the process of unbelief and Satan comes and blinds their minds.

2 Corinthians 4:7 - But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

But we have this treasure, and that would be God's Spirit, in earthen vessels, and the word earthen is making reference to dirt or clay. It's the same word is used for the potters that mix and make clay. But it's basically the word dirt.

2 Corinthians 4:8 - We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

We are troubled on every side, and that's the word THLIPSIS, which has to do with pressure and stress. We are pressured and stressed on every side yet not distressed. It's not the end!

Secondly, we are perplexed. The word perplexed means the sense you get when you come to a fork in the road and you don't know which way to go, left or right. You are perplexed. Which way do I go? I don't know! But then he says but not in despair. Despair means there's no way out. We might be perplexed but we know there's a way out. We just don't know what it is yet.