I am seeking the Lord in prayer over this latest subject and what has become a plethora of debated doctrinal issues. We need as in all issues to be a Berean; and to make sure we actually understand what scripture; and in these cases the "meat of the Word" actually means. ( 1 Cor. 3:2). In order to contend for the truth we have to make sure that disunity and strife aren't being utilized by the enemy to bring weakness to the brethren and especially that it won't cause any seed of bitterness in us to rise up where we would; for instance not be led to pray for one another as we should. ( Heb. 12:15 actually says "root" of bitterness). In many cases there may be more than one truth; such as man RESPONDING to Christ's gift of repentance through action which is of course necessary as well as "working out our salvation with fear and trembling" ( Philippians 2:12). Not only would we be robots if there wasn't some "symbiotic" relationship going on we wouldn't exist at all. In one sense we have to die to self or be "crucified with Christ" ( Gal. 2:20) when we begin to be Born Again; but it is a process of sanctification; which some proceed quickly and others slowly; and most probably in fits and starts of variable length.
I have brought this idea up as is similar to the concept mentioned here of knowing future actions of Jacob and Esau. It would seem Esau is eternally lost; but there were some things even he did to at least stop his plans on destroying Jacob after they met after Jacob's wrestling in the wilderness with the Angel of God. We could look at Moses; for instance who perished along with the rest of the generation; clearly he was a saved man but one error in particular (striking the rock in anger) was enough to keep him from walking into the Promised Land at the end.
We could look at this subject of only some being saved either with total predestined plans of God or His foreknowledge of what men would do.
I know that God saves us into a right, holy, blessed relationship with Him and not to make us robots for Him to direct. He regenerates us so we can be spiritually alive to and in Him so we can take hold of the salvation provided us in Christ.
In all my years of walking with God I have never viewed the way God has redeemed me as making me a robot without any freedom of will. In fact, being regenerated to faith in the Gospel and our Lord has freed my will from the bondage of sin that kept me unable to respond to a call to salvation. But because of God's grace to me as a young as I was, my will was freed so I could respond to His call to salvation and walk in it all my life. How blessed it is to have such a lifelong walk with the true God! I wish this was so for every person, but God does what He pleases and knows the best time to bring someone to be born from above and to faith and to the fellowship of God and the body of believers.
We certainly can be diligent in prayer for those God puts on our hearts to ask for His mercy and grace to come upon them to save them. There is a purpose for God asking us to pray for others, evangelize others, and stand in the gap for others that we may not really know this side of heaven. But God doesn't need any of these things to bring someone to faith. Look at Saul! He was saved when Jesus appeared to him, changed in that moment when Jesus spoke to him. But God's will for us to do these things and His will for those we lift up to Him and share the Gospel with is perfect,, so we continue in obedience and trust that God will come to bring salvation to all of whom we ask of Him.
I am seeking the Lord in prayer over this latest subject and what has become a plethora of debated doctrinal issues. We need as in all issues to be a Berean; and to make sure we actually understand what scripture; and in these cases the "meat of the Word" actually means. ( 1 Cor. 3:2). In order to contend for the truth we have to make sure that disunity and strife aren't being utilized by the enemy to bring weakness to the brethren and especially that it won't cause any seed of bitterness in us to rise up where we would; for instance not be led to pray for one another as we should. ( Heb. 12:15 actually says "root" of bitterness). In many cases there may be more than one truth; such as man RESPONDING to Christ's gift of repentance through action which is of course necessary as well as "working out our salvation with fear and trembling" ( Philippians 2:12). Not only would we be robots if there wasn't some "symbiotic" relationship going on we wouldn't exist at all. In one sense we have to die to self or be "crucified with Christ" ( Gal. 2:20) when we begin to be Born Again; but it is a process of sanctification; which some proceed quickly and others slowly; and most probably in fits and starts of variable length.
I have brought this idea up as is similar to the concept mentioned here of knowing future actions of Jacob and Esau. It would seem Esau is eternally lost; but there were some things even he did to at least stop his plans on destroying Jacob after they met after Jacob's wrestling in the wilderness with the Angel of God. We could look at Moses; for instance who perished along with the rest of the generation; clearly he was a saved man but one error in particular (striking the rock in anger) was enough to keep him from walking into the Promised Land at the end.
We could look at this subject of only some being saved either with total predestined plans of God or His foreknowledge of what men would do.
Thanks for your remarks on this topic.
I know that God saves us into a right, holy, blessed relationship with Him and not to make us robots for Him to direct. He regenerates us so we can be spiritually alive to and in Him so we can take hold of the salvation provided us in Christ.
In all my years of walking with God I have never viewed the way God has redeemed me as making me a robot without any freedom of will. In fact, being regenerated to faith in the Gospel and our Lord has freed my will from the bondage of sin that kept me unable to respond to a call to salvation. But because of God's grace to me as a young as I was, my will was freed so I could respond to His call to salvation and walk in it all my life. How blessed it is to have such a lifelong walk with the true God! I wish this was so for every person, but God does what He pleases and knows the best time to bring someone to be born from above and to faith and to the fellowship of God and the body of believers.
We certainly can be diligent in prayer for those God puts on our hearts to ask for His mercy and grace to come upon them to save them. There is a purpose for God asking us to pray for others, evangelize others, and stand in the gap for others that we may not really know this side of heaven. But God doesn't need any of these things to bring someone to faith. Look at Saul! He was saved when Jesus appeared to him, changed in that moment when Jesus spoke to him. But God's will for us to do these things and His will for those we lift up to Him and share the Gospel with is perfect,, so we continue in obedience and trust that God will come to bring salvation to all of whom we ask of Him.
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