Salvation itself is a miracle; described by Christ Himself as illustrated in Matthew 9:5 where the physical healing is contrasted to sins being forgiven. It would be nice to see this today where many are promised to receive their blessing or miracle or something to that affect where mammon is clearly the subject of intent for many of these practitioners who act as an amateur magician playing the old shell game; as it were. Everyone wants to live forever; what is the elixir therefore? But only the sick need a physician ( Luke 5:31) thus a self righteous Pharisee may have been enamored with that statement if they didn't detect He was referring to their self righteousness masking a corrupt and sick soul.
Part of loving others unconditionally is believing God can take someone like Saul of Tarsus and turn them around. It took time for the early church to accept that; not that you can blame skepticism on their part initially. We don't need to sugarcoat the Gospel but we do need to trust God to work in His elect. Saving faith can transform the worst person to a new creation; alternatively the nicest person (or sweetest frame according to one hymn) can't be trusted. Nice agreeable people are a much greater danger to themselves because they don't have others who can readily prosecute their character; and we can be drawn to such individuals ourselves and justify their rebellion to the extent that we are drawn into the same sin (such as an attractive female and adultery). Rebellion is as witchcraft ( 1 Samuel 15:23); this verse was brought up to me a long time ago in a discussion related to a rebellious wife and her actions.
The church; therefore needs to be separate and pure from the contamination of the world. This isn't like a secret society of rites that exclude outsiders but a sanctity that ultimately draws IN those God has called and chosen for such a path on the narrow road. We should be REAL people!
The fact that God loves people is indisputable and is not willing that any should perish but that all shouid come to a knowledge of the truth " Does not mean all will .
The fact that God loves His neighbour does not save them .
It is that love expressed in and through Jesus Christ can save them .( John 3;16)
The term " unconditional love' needs to be used with care .
For while all men are as it were reconciled to God by the Lords death . " For as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness so must the Son of man be lifted up and if I be lifted up ,I will draw all men unto me" In that He said ALL who then is left out?
No one . But are all saved? No .
"For if the rock falls on us we will be ground to powder ,but if we fall upon the rock we will find mercy "
The sin now is not all the infinite things men can do contrary to God . It is the rejection and not believing in zHim who God has sent "
Thus people are raised from the dead either unto life or unto death .
"The Holy Spirit convicting men of sin rejecting Christ .
Of righteousness because I go unto the zFather .
And of judgement "
Everybody enjoys the sun and indeed the rain when it's felt needed . But it is written " God sends the rain on the just and the unjust " do not even the tares rejoice when it rains?
Salvation itself is a miracle; described by Christ Himself as illustrated in Matthew 9:5 where the physical healing is contrasted to sins being forgiven. It would be nice to see this today where many are promised to receive their blessing or miracle or something to that affect where mammon is clearly the subject of intent for many of these practitioners who act as an amateur magician playing the old shell game; as it were. Everyone wants to live forever; what is the elixir therefore? But only the sick need a physician ( Luke 5:31) thus a self righteous Pharisee may have been enamored with that statement if they didn't detect He was referring to their self righteousness masking a corrupt and sick soul.
Part of loving others unconditionally is believing God can take someone like Saul of Tarsus and turn them around. It took time for the early church to accept that; not that you can blame skepticism on their part initially. We don't need to sugarcoat the Gospel but we do need to trust God to work in His elect. Saving faith can transform the worst person to a new creation; alternatively the nicest person (or sweetest frame according to one hymn) can't be trusted. Nice agreeable people are a much greater danger to themselves because they don't have others who can readily prosecute their character; and we can be drawn to such individuals ourselves and justify their rebellion to the extent that we are drawn into the same sin (such as an attractive female and adultery). Rebellion is as witchcraft ( 1 Samuel 15:23); this verse was brought up to me a long time ago in a discussion related to a rebellious wife and her actions.
The church; therefore needs to be separate and pure from the contamination of the world. This isn't like a secret society of rites that exclude outsiders but a sanctity that ultimately draws IN those God has called and chosen for such a path on the narrow road. We should be REAL people!
The fact that God loves His neighbour does not save them .
It is that love expressed in and through Jesus Christ can save them .( John 3;16)
The term " unconditional love' needs to be used with care .
For while all men are as it were reconciled to God by the Lords death . " For as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness so must the Son of man be lifted up and if I be lifted up ,I will draw all men unto me" In that He said ALL who then is left out?
No one . But are all saved? No .
"For if the rock falls on us we will be ground to powder ,but if we fall upon the rock we will find mercy "
The sin now is not all the infinite things men can do contrary to God . It is the rejection and not believing in zHim who God has sent "
Thus people are raised from the dead either unto life or unto death .
"The Holy Spirit convicting men of sin rejecting Christ .
Of righteousness because I go unto the zFather .
And of judgement "
Everybody enjoys the sun and indeed the rain when it's felt needed . But it is written " God sends the rain on the just and the unjust " do not even the tares rejoice when it rains?
This comment thread is locked. Please enter a new comment below to start a new comment thread.
Note: Comment threads older than 2 months are automatically locked.
Do you have a Bible comment or question?
Posting comments is currently unavailable due to high demand on the server.
Please check back in an hour or more. Thank you for your patience!
Report Comment
Which best represents the problem with the comment?