Do we decide to be saved?
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And I agree. That is why those Jews who Peter told that story to said "So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”[Acts 11:18b]
I agree that nature teaches the lost there is God. I think where our problem comes from understanding each other's stance, is I am thinking about those in remote areas who never heard the gospel. Maybe you're thinking along the lines of the lost in the United States and Canada.
Those in remote areas who know there is a God, do not know the God of the bible. They attribute some sort of image, a statue, a tree, or some other inanimate object to Him.
The only was they can know Jehovah is through His word. They can know He exists, but not anything about who He is.
In Matthew 7, Jesus is speaking to those who were brought up through the word of God, via the OT scriptures.
Those in remote areas that have not heard the word, will not seek the God of the bible, but gods of their own makings.
Faith comes from hearing the word of God, not via nature. You're not being Sola Scriptura.
God promised to reveal Himself to those who sought Him. It matters not if you are in some huge metropolis or out in the boonies of nowheresville. The Holy Spirit of God can reach those with no satellite TV and/or no Bible, or of a tribe with many false gods. Even those with access to all kinds of information have the Holy Spirit of God attesting to them.
That my friend is good question.
You Asked...Why did God wait so long to send someone? which I have pondered for some time now..
Look to creation in Genesis.... In 2Pe 3:8.."But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day."
The first seven days of creation although they were completed in 7 respective 24 hour periods or 1 earth day, they still represented 1000 years each to the LORD. Adam died at the age of 930. The Lord told Adam that if he ate of a certain tree of Knowledge, he would surely die that day. Well, Adam live 930 years but if 1000 years on earth is one day to GOD, then ADAM did indeed day on the day he partook of the Fruit of the Tree.
Through the Generations of Adam to Noah and Noah onward, we can safely say that we are close to the end of the 6,000 year. In fact, by Hebrew calendar, the Lunar calendar day (365 days /per year) tells us the year of 2018 is actually 5778 which started Nisan 1, or March 17 of 2018.
That is about 225 years away from the beginning of year 6,000. While we cannot account for these years, we can be assured the prophecies that God give in the Bible will BE FULFILLED faithfully as others prior to them have been fulfilled and we are very very close to those prophecies coming together.
Rem, this one thing....BIRTH PANGS....While we have seen them for many a year, in recent year they have been increasing little by little. Now, they seem to be at a place where the time between them is less and less until the time between them is zero. It is here at this time period, I believe the Church will be Raptured and the Anti-Christ introduced to the world.
There will be a gap between the Rapture and the enforcement of that covenant between Israel and "Death and HELL" which open Daniel's 70th week. This gap could be any amount of time but most likely will be from 1 to thirty years. Nobody Knows.... But I do know the Anti-Christ has to have time to come to power because He comes to power by commanding PEACE in the world.
After Daniel's 70th Week, we have the 1000 Years of the Millennial and Jesus Christ Rule here on Earth.... and then we have Whatever time it takes GOD to call up each person in HELL and speak to them individually before casting them into the Lake of Fire. This will also take so time to do (earth standards that is)
So we have around 5778 years (2018) + Gap (15 years) + 7 years + 1000 Years = Year 6800. If it takes 200 earth years for God to interview each person in Hell, would 200 years sound about right....???? I do not know how fast HE can interview each person.
What I am trying to get at is that GOD is going to have that DAY of REST (HIS Sabbath) or the 7,000th year.
As each individual on earth will "DIE ON TIME" so will the 7,000th year BEGIN ON TIME.....GOD's TIME and Earth's Time.
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Again, faith comes by hearing, and hearing the word of God. It does not come my these mystical means. This is as anti-missionary as they come.
As Romans 1:20, they will be w/o an excuse when they stand before Him condemned. Even those who never heard the gospel will stand before Him condemned, w/o an excuse.
You are being anti-Biblical. Who convicts the world of sin??? And-
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.[1 Cor. 1:21]
The preaching of God's word is what God chose to use to save ppl from their sins.
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”[SUP] [/SUP]But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”[SUP] [/SUP]Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.[Romans 10:14-17]
As Paul wrote, "how can they believe in the One whom they have not heard? And how can they hear w/o someone preaching to them? Natural revelation is not preaching to them. It takes the word of God, not nature, to bring one to saving faith.
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,[Eph. 1:13]
It is only after one has heard the word of the God, that they can be saved. Nature does not attest to the gospel of the Christ.
The preaching of God's word is what God chose to use to save ppl from their sins.
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”[SUP] [/SUP]But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”[SUP] [/SUP]Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.[Romans 10:14-17]
As Paul wrote, "how can they believe in the One whom they have not heard? And how can they hear w/o someone preaching to them? Natural revelation is not preaching to them. It takes the word of God, not nature, to bring one to saving faith.
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,[Eph. 1:13]
It is only after one has heard the word of the God, that they can be saved. Nature does not attest to the gospel of the Christ.
I agree with this that the Spirit testifies we are God's children. But the Spirit works through the word of God to save the lost. God has ordained the preaching/witnessing of His word to save the lost.
If you had been paying attention, you might have noticed that I was not talking about faith, but knowledge of God's existence. If you had been paying attention, you would have noticed that I mentioned Romans building off of EG's post of the same verses, and gone on to say that people, knowing there is a God, will seek Him, and are without excuse not to, and that those who do seek, are promised to find, because God will reveal Himself to them, which you called mystical and said was not Biblical even though it is all there in the Bible.
Good night SG.
But I don't believe God does this in today's world. God reveals Himself, savingly, via the scriptures. Mot in dreams, visions, nature, etc.
However, they are not seeking the God of the bible. That's my point.
Many missionaries, no doubt, have been killed when they told tribes their god was not the true God.
You know I love ya SG and you have serious comedy and writing skills...but I have to disagree with the visions.
Where can you show biblical proof that ppl have visions today? I know ppl will readily jump to Acts 2:17. But in the book of Acts, ppl are raised from the dead, Peter raised Dorcas and Paul raised Eutychus. Ppl laid in the street hoping Peter's shadow would fall upon them as he passed by. I guess they were healed by his shadow, but not for sure if they were. Ppl were healed by Paul's handkerchiefs and aprons he touched. Cornelius had a vision. A crippled man was healed and he ran and leaped for joy.
So, if ppl are going to use Acts 2:17 as 'proof' that visions are for today, then the other miracles during this Apolstolic age are still viable.
I just don't see crippled ppl being touched and they raise and walk. I don't see the dead coming to life by the touch of another person. Ppl aren't cured by clothing that has been prayed over. Churches around here grossly abuse this practice.
I am a cessatioinst, and these gifts were for the purpose of establishing the church, and when the last Apostle died, these gifts ceased, imo.
As for ppl seeking God, read all of Psalm 119. It is about ppl seeking God. But look at who David is encouraging to seek God.
FYI, it ain't the Philistines, Jebusites, Hivites, Hittites, Egyptians, Assyrians, et al.
FYI, it ain't the Philistines, Jebusites, Hivites, Hittites, Egyptians, Assyrians, et al.