Chose “us” before the foundations of the world, doesn’t refer to selected individuals. In light of other verses, “us” better describes a collection of individuals. It refers to a group that choose Him. Otherwise what’s the point of scattering seed all over (parable of the sower) if He knows it’s only going to plant in a particular spot. Many...many verses elude to this logic. You would have to omit much of the New Testament explained your way. If that was the case, why not only love the church, and hate our enemies. Loving is what softens the heart so the seed can germinate.
Does God love everyone
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Please don't make me bring the big guns out, there's more than 1000 characters so I can't list them here but you can knock yourself out reading these 
https://www.openbible.info/topics/election_and_predestination
https://www.openbible.info/topics/election_and_predestination
Please don't make me bring the big guns out, there's more than 1000 characters so I can't list them here but you can knock yourself out reading these
https://www.openbible.info/topics/election_and_predestination
https://www.openbible.info/topics/election_and_predestination
I belong to the Lord. He opened my eyes, and lit my path to Him. I want nothing this world has to offer. Even if I suffered miserably it couldn’t sway my love for Him, because, I expect nothing from Him. He is the Master, whatever my fate in this life or the next I believe His justice is best.
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When I say follow him to the best of our ability I am talking about denominations. People are brought up in different denominations and have some difference of opinions that doesn't mean just because they have some minor issues that they are not saved or will be lost. God judges the heart if they have accepted his call and gave them their whole heart then they are his and are saved.
I hope I'm making myself clear, but probably not so I'll try and give an example of what I'm saying.
I don't believe much of anything that a Catholic believes except for Jesus died on a cross, but I don't think that means all Catholics are unsaved and will be lost. This is where I think some are saved and doing the best they can. Not that they should stay in that position, but that they should continue to seek God and study his word and grow in him. Yet, he judges the heart and he knows who is saved and who is not. Are they following the word of God, in my opinion no, but I don't know their hearts so I can't say who is saved and who is not.
As for Calvin and Arminius, I am not for either of them. I don't believe all of what Calvin or Arminius said.
As far as salvation goes, I believe God saves us we don't save ourselves and can't. God draws us to his son Jesus Christ. It is our choice to accept him or not. He doesn't force it on anyone and he doesn't withhold it or reject anyone either . He does the saving. If we accept him and repent then we are saved.
I hope I'm making myself clear, but probably not so I'll try and give an example of what I'm saying.
I don't believe much of anything that a Catholic believes except for Jesus died on a cross, but I don't think that means all Catholics are unsaved and will be lost. This is where I think some are saved and doing the best they can. Not that they should stay in that position, but that they should continue to seek God and study his word and grow in him. Yet, he judges the heart and he knows who is saved and who is not. Are they following the word of God, in my opinion no, but I don't know their hearts so I can't say who is saved and who is not.
As for Calvin and Arminius, I am not for either of them. I don't believe all of what Calvin or Arminius said.
As far as salvation goes, I believe God saves us we don't save ourselves and can't. God draws us to his son Jesus Christ. It is our choice to accept him or not. He doesn't force it on anyone and he doesn't withhold it or reject anyone either . He does the saving. If we accept him and repent then we are saved.
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All we have to do is repent and surrender to him when he calls and reach out to him and believe that he will save us.
Let’s encourage that hope and faith not cast a stumbling block in our brothers way by saying God only chooses some and others have no chance.
Let's encourage others to learn of God and grow in his grace. Let's always be ready to give a reason for the hope which is in us. Which to me is Jesus Christ and his sacrifice and salvation.
Let’s encourage that hope and faith not cast a stumbling block in our brothers way by saying God only chooses some and others have no chance.
Let's encourage others to learn of God and grow in his grace. Let's always be ready to give a reason for the hope which is in us. Which to me is Jesus Christ and his sacrifice and salvation.
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Yes, I agree that the natural man is void of the Spirit and cannot fully understand until he is saved. But I also believe that God draws all men to Jesus and deals out a measure of faith to everyone. It is then up to them whether to surrender to him and accept that faith or not. If they accept his call then they receive the Spirit and begin to walk in the Spirit and not the flesh and can grow in grace and knowledge.
John 12:32 says
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
Now to me this does not mean that all will be saved but all will have the chance to accept his gift of salvation or not.
John 12:32 says
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
Now to me this does not mean that all will be saved but all will have the chance to accept his gift of salvation or not.
We are all born into this world as "DEAD IN SINS" after the error Adam made. We stay in that condition (the natural man, dead in sins) until sometime between our natural birth and our natural death, God, by his sovereign grace, puts his Spirit within us while we were still dead in sins, like the natural man in 1 Cor 2:14, unable to accept, repent, confess, etc. Eph 2:5, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace are ye saved). They receive the Spirit before they can accept or surrender.
If the natural man cannot discern spiritual things, what is he going to have faith in. Furthermore, Faith is a fruit of the Spirit, and until he has the Spirit, he cannot have faith, and God does not give the natural man faith. A spiritual God is not going to give the natural man anything of a spiritual nature, because he cannot discern them.
He deals out a measure of faith to everyone. Therefore none of us have an excuse. We are all given a chance. The Holy Spirit has come to reprove the world of sin. Meaning to me,when God sends out his call to someone he will light it up and we can choose that light and belief or we can choose to remain in darkness. God made the way and gives everyone a chance, but we have to accept it or not.
Psalms 53:2-3, God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that understand, that did seek God. Every one of them is gone back; they are altogether become filthy, there is none that doeth good, no, not one. This is why God choose before the foundation of the world an elect people and gave them to Jesus to purify them and make them wholly and without blame before him. Only his elect will act on his calling.
Amen, but who are God's elect and how did they become that way. Did they not believe on the Son of God and choose to come to the light rather than stay in the darkness? Again was that not their or our choice?
John 3:16-21 King James Version (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
John 3:16-21 King James Version (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
The Greek translation, according to Thayer's says the word "WORLD" in John 3:16 means "Pertaining to BELIEVERS only. Also in John 3:17, 1:29, 6:33, 12:47, 1 Cor 4:9, and 2 Cor 5:19. It might help, if you think real hard on the meaning of 1 Cor 2:14, to understand what the natural man cannot do, until God puts his Spirit within him as indicated in Eph 2:5.