God does not love all mankind.

[selfdissolving]

The vessels of honour and dishonour are among the brethren...apart from the world. The elect are they that persevere in their seeking of God. Even Cain was not a lost cause if he had just persisted in trying to please God...

The brethren are the vessels of honor. Also called the Church and the elect. God does not dishonor the Church, we are the beneficiaries of his goodness through Christ Jesus.

John 6:28-29
Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

Jesus has already completed the work. It is impossible to please God outside of Jesus Christ, because at the very root of every good work is selfishness and self-seeking. We will not escape self until we are given new bodies.

Think about some of the good works you've done and ask yourself why you really did them. Was it not to benefit you in some way?

 

[Latour]

The brethren are the vessels of honor. Also called the Church and the elect. God does not dishonor the Church, we are the beneficiaries of his goodness through Christ Jesus.

John 6:28-29
Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

Jesus has already completed the work. It is impossible to please God outside of Jesus Christ, because at the very root of every good work is selfishness and self-seeking. We will not escape self until we are given new bodies.

Think about some of the good works you've done and ask yourself why you really did them. Was it not to benefit you in some way?

It says...in a great house there are both vessels of honour and vessels of dishonour. IF we purge ourselves from the deeds of the flesh then we will be fit for honour. Many Christians remain "half converted" as it were. There are many who see no need to learn righteousness...because they have been taught error. Many have been taught the opposite of what is written in the bible....as in...we will be judged easier because we have received so much. The truth is that Christians will be jufged very hard because of the grace they have received. it is only fair to do so. Or...we can't add anything to what Jesus did. But the truth is that God is waiting to see what we will become...what we will do with what we have been given. We will be judged by what we say and do....not by the gifts we have received.

Many believers have given up on truth....even on the kind of logic that Jesus used to convey the kingdom of God.

Who would you expect to dig the bigger hole...a person who was given a spoon...or a person who was given a shovel? So then the person with the shovel...more will be expected of him. Most modern doctrine doesn't even stand up to simple logic such as this.

We have many warnings about this... the 10 virgins...the church of Laodicea...those who say "Lord, Lord" but don't do what Jesus says..

Paul says..."if He spared not the natural branches...

Come judgment day there will be many surprises.

 

[reneweddaybyday]

Think about some of the good works you've done and ask yourself why you really did them. Was it not to benefit you in some way?

What about the good works God ordained we should walk in? Since God is at work within us both to will and do of His good pleasure, there are going to be good works following.

The thing is, we can’t just lay back and rest in the good works we did last year, last month, last week, yesterday, or even a minute ago. We are to forget those things which are behind (both the good works God ordained we should walk in and the not so good works we did when we strayed from Him) as we press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

 

[Latour]

What about the good works God ordained we should walk in? Since God is at work within us both to will and do of His good pleasure, there are going to be good works following.

The thing is, we can’t just lay back and rest in the good works we did last year, last month, last week, yesterday, or even a minute ago. We are to forget those things which are behind (both the good works God ordained we should walk in and the not so good works we did when we strayed from Him) as we press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Amen! We are the ones responsible for our own walks. If we are satisfied with a walk outside of the intimacy with God...that is on us. This is the message of Paul. Peter stresses the importance of using our time here wisely in the fear of the Lord.

 

[grace77]

Amen! We are the ones responsible for our own walks. If we are satisfied with a walk outside of the intimacy with God...that is on us. This is the message of Paul. Peter stresses the importance of using our time here wisely in the fear of the Lord.

Yes. We are linear, time-oriented...God is eternal. I understand that we can have as much of Him as we want, and that He has done everything He is going to do in Christ, so that puts the ball squarely in my court.

 

[ForestGreenCook]

The brethren are the vessels of honor. Also called the Church and the elect. God does not dishonor the Church, we are the beneficiaries of his goodness through Christ Jesus.

John 6:28-29
Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

Jesus has already completed the work. It is impossible to please God outside of Jesus Christ, because at the very root of every good work is selfishness and self-seeking. We will not escape self until we are given new bodies.

Think about some of the good works you've done and ask yourself why you really did them. Was it not to benefit you in some way?

I think you have misquoted John 6:29. In my KJV it reads; ( THAT ye believe) not ( TO believe) is the work of God. Believing, faith and the other fruits of the Spirit the natural man cannot believe in spiritual things until he is born of the Spirit, and has the fruits thereof, according to 1 Cor 2:14.

 

[Latour]

I think you have misquoted John 6:29. In my KJV it reads; ( THAT ye believe) not ( TO believe) is the work of God. Believing, faith and the other fruits of the Spirit the natural man cannot believe in spiritual things until he is born of the Spirit, and has the fruits thereof, according to 1 Cor 2:14.

It is the faith OF Jesus Christ. And to be more precise we are to believe INTO Christ. There is nothing a human can do since it is a work of God.

 

[Dayone]

Just a question for anyone: Could you tell a total stranger that God loves them and He gave His only Son to die for their sin?

 

[shrume]

It is the faith OF Jesus Christ. And to be more precise we are to believe INTO Christ. There is nothing a human can do since it is a work of God.

Human beings can respond to the gospel by choosing to believe it.

If someone wants to do the work of God, he needs to choose to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

[Latour]

Human beings can respond to the gospel by choosing to believe it.

If someone wants to do the work of God, he needs to choose to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Sure he can...but that is not the same as entering into Christ. Being born again is by the will of God...and entering into Christ is by appointment in the selection of God. However, a person can believe what they wish to.

No man can do the work of God for Him by believing he can do it. Think about it. Does God really need our help?

But the kind of faith required to believe into Christ is given from above. Can a person with even the largest amount of human faith (belief) move even a molehill? But the smallest amount of God faith moves mountains. That's how we can discern the origin of the faith. Faith is a gift of God.

 

[OstrichSmiling]

Not redundant per se.

God gave pharaoh many opportunities to let the children of Israel go. Pharaoh kept resisting God’s Will and each judgment was a response from God to pharaoh’s hardening of his heart.

At any time pharaoh could have let the people go, but he persisted in his foolishness.

Even after the final judgment, pharaoh pursued the children of Israel and finally left off after the incident at the Red Sea.

We also have to keep in mind that the children of Israel were steeped in the idolatry of Egypt. They had been living in Egypt for 400+ years and had picked up many of the idolatrous practices. God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt with His Mighty Hand. He led them with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.





Again, Romans 1:18-32 shows all the steps on the downward spiral to reprobate mind. It doesn’t happen overnight. It happens over time and over many, many instances of resisting God.

Sad, really, because God does give mankind many, many opportunities to turn from their foolishness.

When all is said and done and the unbeliever stands before God come Judgment Day, they will have no excuse before Him. God gives every opportunity to man to turn from his foolishness and no one will be able to say to God that He did not give them a chance to believe in Him.

Pharaoh given the ultimatum to let the Israelites go happened with Moses. Or, Moshe as he would have been called. Prior to that human slavery of all conquered tribes was the norm in ancient Egypt.
There is no evidence in Exodus to support your claim about Pharaoh's heart.

Pharaoh's heart was hardened by God in Exodus

Your argument that Pharaoh's heart was hardened prior by Pharaoh himself is sometimes supported by those that quote 1 Samuel 6:6 Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when He had wrought among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed?

Even if let us say for the sake of that argument Pharaoh's heart was hard. One would have to be to keep slaves, yes? God himself hardened Pharaoh's heart even further so as to have him withstand the persuasion of the horrific effects of the ten plagues God sent upon the people of Egypt. Not just Pharaoh suffered this. Everyone in the domain of Pharaoh's control in Egypt would have suffered loss of the waters of the Nile, crop failure, etc...God saved the Israelite's from the death of their first born by the forewarning. Kill a lamb and brush its blood on the door frame to stave off his angel of death.

Pharaoh's heart hardened by his own human bad nature was one thing. Having God harden it to withstand persuasion to let his people go is a much stronger force.
We see this God given resistance put upon Pharaoh in numerous chapters in Exodus. And this then kept the Israelite's in bondage until the death of Pharaoh's own son perished by that curse of death to the first born of every Egyptian house.

 

[Latour]

Just a question for anyone: Could you tell a total stranger that God loves them and He gave His only Son to die for their sin?

Sure. But a person should be moved by the Spirit to do more than just possibly annoy another person with what could be considered as just a religious idea.

We should act on the Spirit...not a human zeal.

 

[shrume]

Sure he can...but that is not the same as entering into Christ. Being born again is by the will of God...and entering into Christ is by appointment in the selection of God. However, a person can believe what they wish to.

And when a person chooses to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, he is sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit, and becomes saved.

No man can do the work of God for Him by believing he can do it. Think about it. Does God really need our help?

In spreading the gospel so people have the opportunity to hear it so they can choose to believe it and become saved? Yes, God does need our help.

But the kind of faith required to believe into Christ is given from above. Can a person with even the largest amount of human faith (belief) move even a molehill? But the smallest amount of God faith moves mountains. That's how we can discern the origin of the faith. Faith is a gift of God.

No, the gift is salvation BY faith, something anyone can choose to have.

Calvinism is a false doctrine.

 

[grace77]

Sure. But a person should be moved by the Spirit to do more than just possibly annoy another person with what could be considered as just a religious idea.

We should act on the Spirit...not a human zeal.

Yes. A beloved brother once said that our "witnessing" to the lost was the Holy Spirit in us.
We must wait and be animated by Him.

 

[notuptome]

Sure he can...but that is not the same as entering into Christ. Being born again is by the will of God...and entering into Christ is by appointment in the selection of God. However, a person can believe what they wish to.

No man can do the work of God for Him by believing he can do it. Think about it. Does God really need our help?

But the kind of faith required to believe into Christ is given from above. Can a person with even the largest amount of human faith (belief) move even a molehill? But the smallest amount of God faith moves mountains. That's how we can discern the origin of the faith. Faith is a gift of God.

Faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God. Rom 10:17

Zeal to witness to the lost comes from a heart that wholly embraces the finality of Gods judgment upon sin.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

 

[shrume]

Pharaoh given the ultimatum to let the Israelites go happened with Moses. Or, Moshe as he would have been called. Prior to that human slavery of all conquered tribes was the norm in ancient Egypt.
There is no evidence in Exodus to support your claim about Pharaoh's heart.

Pharaoh's heart was hardened by God in Exodus

Your argument that Pharaoh's heart was hardened prior by Pharaoh himself is sometimes supported by those that quote 1 Samuel 6:6 Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when He had wrought among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed?

Even if let us say for the sake of that argument Pharaoh's heart was hard. One would have to be to keep slaves, yes? God himself hardened Pharaoh's heart even further so as to have him withstand the persuasion of the horrific effects of the ten plagues God sent upon the people of Egypt. Not just Pharaoh suffered this. Everyone in the domain of Pharaoh's control in Egypt would have suffered loss of the waters of the Nile, crop failure, etc...God saved the Israelite's from the death of their first born by the forewarning. Kill a lamb and brush its blood on the door frame to stave off his angel of death.

Pharaoh's heart hardened by his own human bad nature was one thing. Having God harden it to withstand persuasion to let his people go is a much stronger force.
We see this God given resistance put upon Pharaoh in numerous chapters in Exodus. And this then kept the Israelite's in bondage until the death of Pharaoh's own son perished by that curse of death to the first born of every Egyptian house.

Ex 8:15) But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
Ex 8:32) And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go.
Ex 9:34) And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.

God's will was for Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. God is not duplicitous. He would not have Moses tell Pharaoh to let Israel go, but then harden Pharaoh's heart so that he would not. That would make God untrustworthy.

In the OT, pretty much everything that happens is attributed to God, whether it's good or bad. In the NT, Jesus made known the spiritual war we are in, and that God is love, He is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.

 

[Dayone]

Sure. But a person should be moved by the Spirit to do more than just possibly annoy another person with what could be considered as just a religious idea.

We should act on the Spirit...not a human zeal.

I agree for the most part....
I was trying to show that the love of God is available to all.. Its not that God does not love all mankind, but mankind needs to respond to His love... God initiates and its man response. God shows His love for All by giving His Son to die for their sins...

 

[Latour]

I agree for the most part....
I was trying to show that the love of God is available to all.. Its not that God does not love all mankind, but mankind needs to respond to His love... God initiates and its man response. God shows His love for All by giving His Son to die for their sins...

We are willing...but still under control of the Spirit. We wait on the Lord.

 

[shrume]

We are willing...but still under control of the Spirit. We wait on the Lord.

If you're waiting to be saved, decide right now to believe the gospel, and you will be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit, the guarantee of salvation (Acts 2:38; Eph 1:13; Rom 10:9-10).

 

[OstrichSmiling]

Ex 8:15) But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
Ex 8:32) And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go.
Ex 9:34) And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.

God's will was for Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. God is not duplicitous. He would not have Moses tell Pharaoh to let Israel go, but then harden Pharaoh's heart so that he would not. That would make God untrustworthy.

In the OT, pretty much everything that happens is attributed to God, whether it's good or bad. In the NT, Jesus made known the spiritual war we are in, and that God is love, He is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.

You stopped the bold of the scripture in Exodus 8:15 right before it said this, as the LORD had said.

These are the aforementioned verses re: God hardening Pharaoh's heart. 1599 Geneva Bible Exodus 7:2 Thou shalt speak all that I commanded thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he suffer the children of Israel to go out of his land.
3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my miracles, and my wonders in the land of Egypt.
4 And Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out mine armies, even my people, the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, by great [d]judgments. (13) So Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not to them, as the Lord had said.

Exodus 9:12 And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them, as the Lord had said unto Moses.

Exodus 10:1 Again the Lord said unto Moses, Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might work these my miracles in the midst of his realm, [verse19 And the Lord turned a mighty strong West wind, and took away the grasshoppers, and violently cast them into the red Sea, so that there remained not one grasshopper in all the land of Egypt.
20 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go.
[verse 27 (But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go.)
28 And Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from me: look thou see my face no more: for whensoever thou comest in my sight, thou shalt die.[]

Exodus 11:4And Moses said, Thus saith the Lord, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt.
5 And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth on his throne, unto the firstborn of the maid servant, that is at the mill, and all the firstborn of beasts.
6 Then there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as was never none like, nor shall be.
7 But against none of the children of Israel shall a dog move his tongue, neither against man nor beast, that ye may know that the Lord putteth a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.
8 And all these thy servants shall come down unto me, and fall before me, saying, Get thee out, and all the people that are at thy feet, and after this will I depart. So he went out from Pharaoh very angry.
9 And the Lord said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hear you, that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.
10 So Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: but the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he suffered not the children of Israel to go out of his land.


Exodus 14:4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart that he shall follow after you: so I will get me honor upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host: the Egyptians also shall know that I am the Lord: and they did so.
5 ¶ Then it was told the king of Egypt, that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we this done, and have let Israel go out of our service?
6 And he made ready his chariots, and took his people with him,
7 And took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them.
8 (For the Lord had hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he followed after the children of Israel: but the children of Israel went out with an high hand.)