Understanding God’s election
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Paul explains the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15.
The gospel concerns the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Who and how God saves anyone is not the gospel, more so, an attempt to explain election.
We know definitely that John the Baptist was predestined but Jesus said that John the Baptist.
Was least in the kingdom of Heaven and anyone who believes in Jesus is greater than John.
Please explain?
The gospel concerns the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Who and how God saves anyone is not the gospel, more so, an attempt to explain election.
We know definitely that John the Baptist was predestined but Jesus said that John the Baptist.
Was least in the kingdom of Heaven and anyone who believes in Jesus is greater than John.
Please explain?
Two distinct nations and one was chosen and the other was not.
One nation knew God and the other did not know God.
The covenants belonged to one nation and not the other.
The Gentiles were grafted in but the Jews already occupied that place.
Once the Jews crucified their creator everything changed.
The chosen nation became the unchosen nation!
The Jews got the red light and the Gentiles got the green light.
The Gentiles have the green as long as they continue to believe.
Yet the Jews can also get a green if they choose to believe.
One giant mystery!
One nation knew God and the other did not know God.
The covenants belonged to one nation and not the other.
The Gentiles were grafted in but the Jews already occupied that place.
Once the Jews crucified their creator everything changed.
The chosen nation became the unchosen nation!
The Jews got the red light and the Gentiles got the green light.
The Gentiles have the green as long as they continue to believe.
Yet the Jews can also get a green if they choose to believe.
One giant mystery!
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Of course, the text was written by Jews.
The Jews dominated the Old Testament and the Gentiles have a minor role in the new.
The New Testament is basically the fulfillment of the Old Testament.
We need a Gentile author in the New Testament and I nominate myself, vote for me!
You want a different take on history, vote for me!
The Jews dominated the Old Testament and the Gentiles have a minor role in the new.
The New Testament is basically the fulfillment of the Old Testament.
We need a Gentile author in the New Testament and I nominate myself, vote for me!
You want a different take on history, vote for me!
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My point was that something died, that is, death was introduced.
How death itself plays out is a manifold problem to deal with.
None of us are in the garden now as we are in a fierce battle both within, the flesh and
the Spirit. And in a spiritual battle against the forces of darkness.
All I know is flesh and blood does not inherit the kingdom of heaven.
How death itself plays out is a manifold problem to deal with.
None of us are in the garden now as we are in a fierce battle both within, the flesh and
the Spirit. And in a spiritual battle against the forces of darkness.
All I know is flesh and blood does not inherit the kingdom of heaven.
The Jews pursued Jesus and they were unable to execute Him because of Roman law.
The Jews would have executed Jesus in a blink of the eye, if they could have.
In Paul's day the Jews were the enemy of the gospel.
1 Thessalonians 2:14-16
For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you suffered the same things from your own compatriots as they did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out; they displease God and oppose everyone by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. Thus they have constantly been filling up the measure of their sins; but God's wrath has overtaken them at last.
The Jews would have executed Jesus in a blink of the eye, if they could have.
In Paul's day the Jews were the enemy of the gospel.
1 Thessalonians 2:14-16
For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you suffered the same things from your own compatriots as they did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out; they displease God and oppose everyone by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. Thus they have constantly been filling up the measure of their sins; but God's wrath has overtaken them at last.
But many positive things are said in scripture about Abraham, aren't there? In fact, God held him in such high esteem he promised to make the patriarch the father of many nations and that many nations would be blessed by his seed (Christ). Is not Abraham not the spiritual father of all believers? How come Adam isn't if he was such a great man of faith?
In fact, I'm surprised that you would cast aspersions upon Abraham since he is spoken of so highly in scripture, being accorded the great honor of being called God's "friend" (Isa 41:8; 2Chron 20:7; Jas 2:23). But where are the positive accolades for Adam?
And I can't be convinced of your position because it sends up too many red flags. Your theory presents too many unprecedented things going on in the post-fall account that make me uncomfortable. If God saved Adam apart from faith, that would be unprecedented. But if you say that God saved Adam due to his faith, then we'd need chapter and verse on that, etc, etc.
And then we do have Job's inspired commentary that Adam hid his transgression, and that would have been very displeasing to God.
Or can we find any text in the bible wherein God "drives" his faithful people out of the land? God has always driven his and/or Israel's enemies out of the land or...out of God's temple as Jesus did with his Father's enemies. The fact that God drove Adam out from the garden AND omitted Eve from his decree speaks volumes -- at least to me. Yes...Eve left the Garden with Adam...but that was her temporal punishment -- not eternal!
In fact, I'm surprised that you would cast aspersions upon Abraham since he is spoken of so highly in scripture, being accorded the great honor of being called God's "friend" (Isa 41:8; 2Chron 20:7; Jas 2:23). But where are the positive accolades for Adam?
And I can't be convinced of your position because it sends up too many red flags. Your theory presents too many unprecedented things going on in the post-fall account that make me uncomfortable. If God saved Adam apart from faith, that would be unprecedented. But if you say that God saved Adam due to his faith, then we'd need chapter and verse on that, etc, etc.
And then we do have Job's inspired commentary that Adam hid his transgression, and that would have been very displeasing to God.
Or can we find any text in the bible wherein God "drives" his faithful people out of the land? God has always driven his and/or Israel's enemies out of the land or...out of God's temple as Jesus did with his Father's enemies. The fact that God drove Adam out from the garden AND omitted Eve from his decree speaks volumes -- at least to me. Yes...Eve left the Garden with Adam...but that was her temporal punishment -- not eternal!
I do not know what you think faith is....
But, it's probably not as simple as the Bible makes it to be.
It's probably faith + something you deem equally important.
Abraham simply heard the Word, and he believed it.
Abraham had faith for that reason. What he believed = faith.
What Abraham believed was his 'faith!'
All other things Abraham did that might have been wrong did not disqualify him from being called 'the friend of God.' James 2:21-23
But, it's probably not as simple as the Bible makes it to be.
It's probably faith + something you deem equally important.
Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:17
Abraham simply heard the Word, and he believed it.
Abraham had faith for that reason. What he believed = faith.
What Abraham believed was his 'faith!'
All other things Abraham did that might have been wrong did not disqualify him from being called 'the friend of God.' James 2:21-23
For a few centuries they were corrupting churches.
Given the Jews knew the Old Testament and the Gentiles knew nothing.
The Jews had a huge advantage over the Gentiles.
The influence of the Jews over the Gentiles declined over time.
Probably not for over a millennia now.
I believe the biggest enemy these days is the world itself.
Technology, social media, no time to read the scripture, no time to pray, far too many
distractions. I think every Christian struggles now.
Given the Jews knew the Old Testament and the Gentiles knew nothing.
The Jews had a huge advantage over the Gentiles.
The influence of the Jews over the Gentiles declined over time.
Probably not for over a millennia now.
I believe the biggest enemy these days is the world itself.
Technology, social media, no time to read the scripture, no time to pray, far too many
distractions. I think every Christian struggles now.
Mankind was created as flesh and blood and that represents a problem.
Can flesh and blood eat from the the tree of life and live for ever?
An important question then persists.
How come we ate from the wrong tree?
Was Adam's mistake in choosing the wrong fruit or was the tree of life not attractive enough?
We need to summon Adam because He knows.
Can flesh and blood eat from the the tree of life and live for ever?
An important question then persists.
How come we ate from the wrong tree?
Was Adam's mistake in choosing the wrong fruit or was the tree of life not attractive enough?
We need to summon Adam because He knows.