Post by Natalie on Jan 14, 2020 20:50:46 GMT -6
I see two ends of a spectrum - - One side says that God picks who is going to be saved. He basically gives them the faith and then they believe in Jesus. The other end says that God saves everyone.
The truth is in the middle.
Here's an interesting picture – Isaiah 65:1-2 I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, “Here I am, here I am,” to a nation that was not called by my name. (showing that God will accept Gentiles who come to Him) (Then He turns to the Jews) I spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices; ”
Why would God wait continually for the Jews to come to Him if it's up to Him to give them the faith to believe?
God makes Himself known and man must believe.
But man must believe in this lifetime.
John 12:44-48 And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. And whoever sees Me sees Him who sent Me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in Me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects Me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.”
Hebrews 9:27 “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.”
As I said God makes Himself known. I posted the following in a different thread:
He has revealed Himself to all: Romans 1:19 “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.” “The heavens declare the glory of God...(Psalm 91:1)
He gave all men a conscience: Romans 2:14-15 “For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them.”
God uses the Law to show us our sin. Romans 7:7 “...Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin...”
He uses the Holy Spirit to convict unbelievers: John 16:7-9 “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you. And when He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgement: concerning sin, because the do not believe in Me.”
He uses His Word: Romans 10:14-17 “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without preaching? … For faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ.”
More specifically, the preaching of the Gospel: Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” and Ephesians 1:13 “In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.”
God has made Himself known and people must seek Him before they die in their sins. (John 8:24 ..."for unless you believe that I AM he you will die in your sins"...I capitalized I AM because “he” is not in the original.)
The truth is in the middle.
Here's an interesting picture – Isaiah 65:1-2 I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, “Here I am, here I am,” to a nation that was not called by my name. (showing that God will accept Gentiles who come to Him) (Then He turns to the Jews) I spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices; ”
Why would God wait continually for the Jews to come to Him if it's up to Him to give them the faith to believe?
God makes Himself known and man must believe.
But man must believe in this lifetime.
John 12:44-48 And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. And whoever sees Me sees Him who sent Me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in Me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects Me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.”
Hebrews 9:27 “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.”
As I said God makes Himself known. I posted the following in a different thread:
He has revealed Himself to all: Romans 1:19 “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.” “The heavens declare the glory of God...(Psalm 91:1)
He gave all men a conscience: Romans 2:14-15 “For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them.”
God uses the Law to show us our sin. Romans 7:7 “...Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin...”
He uses the Holy Spirit to convict unbelievers: John 16:7-9 “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you. And when He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgement: concerning sin, because the do not believe in Me.”
He uses His Word: Romans 10:14-17 “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without preaching? … For faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ.”
More specifically, the preaching of the Gospel: Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” and Ephesians 1:13 “In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.”
God has made Himself known and people must seek Him before they die in their sins. (John 8:24 ..."for unless you believe that I AM he you will die in your sins"...I capitalized I AM because “he” is not in the original.)
