Need clarity regarding this Predestination thing and something related to an election?

You didn't break it down yet

You didn't break it down yet

I'm so sorry, I started it then got pulled away on a 3 day weekend that the Lord kept me busy. I never forgot though.

Here are some of the points I was thinking of when I made the original comment,

I wanted to go back through to point out some of the things you said spot on that lead me to say what I did about you. I didn’t go all the way back, but in comment

#159
“Like you had doubts about free will/losing salvation... I have also had my own doubts. And yes... am pretty much stuck in the hows/whys... Rather than acting out anything. You said... One side has a too high a view of men. I hope i haven't portrayed myself as such a one in my discussions... Because i have come to a point wherein i feel terrible about myself and my nature... so handicapped by my sinful nature.”

Me- The fact you see “your” nature this way is truth, outside of Christ, but there is a danger from the other direction, and letting the guilt of sin your struggling with paralyze you from still proclaiming truth. This is a very ha4rd thing to do, to0 actually go to Him when you know you’ve disobeyed Him. But we still must, there is nowhere else to go, and this is also how He molds us more into His image. The fact that these things bother you so, in my opinion anyway, point to Him already having changed you. We don’t feel so much guilt when we are in the flesh, we have to many ways to justify anything we do, and it’s just so awesome embracing the sin.

In #196 you say

“I have to agree upon the guilt feeling.. Its a huge burden of guilt... like as though millions are slipping through our hands while we still struggle to understand this whole thing... And every passing day.. brings guilt.... every single death... the statistical analysis of the rate of death, no. of deaths.... it makes everything look hopeless.”

Me- This is 100% true….Before Jesus. He is that hope, and He had V-I-C-T-O-R-Y, the hope is there calling, that is why He transforms use and tells us to “go and make disciples of ALL nations”, This is the bigger picture, this is “the” Way, “the” ONLY Way, Jesus Christ, and we are the means by which he brings everything under and into Himself, as we were created to be. BTW I absolutely love your view and understanding of death and the gravity of the situation.

In comment #202 You literally cant get any closer to the “main point” of all reality than this-

“Yeah. The just shall live by faith. I know that there ain't any good in me... And any good flows through me only by leaning on Him... havin faith. Trying myself to be good without faith had made me stumble and broke me... i can't do anything without Him. I mean... I need Him. He is Love.”



Me- This is the whole point sister, and frankly I think it’s nothing short of amazing, and I praise God that you see things this clearly sister. I praise God in Jesus name for showing us these truths, and the futility of focusing on any wickedness out here instead of having it pinpointed on our glorious Creator, this is tragically our nature outside of Him, and I praise God He showed me “my way” for what it truly was. Nothing.



In #208



“But its comforting... If i dont have to feel guilty...2 of my batchmates, one a Hindu, another a Muslim died in a bike crash. I felt an urgency within me then... about people's eternity... people can leave at any moment.. I felt a pressure within me... My life must reflect Christ in me i thought but.. I looked at how miserable i was... I mean... more than focusing on studies.. My mind drifted upon the next person who would die without the gospel. Got me more concerned about eternity than the present moment and this life... and my studies... Like i wanted to throw this burden at God Himself... I cannot handle it. And now am trying to trust Him with this... This huge thing... Am trying to rely on Him... And thats where am struggling within. Am unable to give this burden to God.. Unable to trust that He would handle this wisely... Because of a lot of Scriptural doubts... I know its wrong but am trying to tell Him that i don't agree with His plan... of the elect... I know am not better than Him... but still at times i doubt His love when i see Him selecting some people...am trying to search out His heart behind this. Am trying to make sure He isn't playing a joke on humanity and laughing backstage. If He is doing that... Then let Him tell me that... I also will laugh at my own misery.”



Me- Oh my goodness, I just can’t help but see God is going to use you powerfully. I really don’t want this to just be a “catch phrase”, I also want to share some idea of how He is working this in my life. At the start , in my experience, and usually how everyone I’ve talked to testifies that starting out I had no clue what I was doing, I just knew God was real and I wanted to tell people. I also learned that the fastest way to clear a room of the lost is to start talking about Jesus, that said where better to share the truth than a place where they literally can not leave 8^D , anyway this is where God put me and I started sharing Jesus. At first when I went up there some times I’d get 2 request for “one on ones” and they’d both refuse when called, now by His power I can’t go up there without 5 or 6 request for me specifically. Bigger than that (which is ALL Him BTW, this is His power and glory) after about 2 years of doing it, I can actually see God at work in them, bringing them to life. It’s is amazing, and He starts small, but you just know that we have to separate the things of this world from God’s love. God does not sit laughing at anyone, God loved the world like this, He gave is ONLY Son to be the perfect sacrifice and to take the punishment of Gods righteous wrath for all who come to Him. The wickedness of man, and the injustice of this world will be judged, we can trust in our God on that, but look at all He did so that we might be reconciled, He gave us a way out of the hopelessness.

Then in # 607 you said

“I don't want to point fingers but a Church is supposed to be run by the Head who is Christ... Isn't it. Why would the Head want me to be left out. I try looking for Him.. But in a certain Church His love was apparent... just by the way a man greeted and hugged everybody with love in his eyes at the entrance. If God ain't present inside a Church... If the pastor is the head... I sense deep pain, and anger. Where is the Father? He knows every member individually and loves each one. Without His presence, it is like a boring party and a feeling that i don't belong.”

Me- I believe you’re spot on here, and this is something He is really only just opening my eyes to the importance and gravity of this concept of “togetherness’ 5 year into my walk. This kind of insight is truth, and I think you’re spot on and believe that only God opens our eyes to truth like this.

I just think you are so active in the way you think, in the questions you ask, and the points you make. I would just like to encourage you by saying that I hear our Shepard’s voice in the things you say and the way you come at them. I truly believe that God has a plan for all of us, but will be using you to proclaim His truth and power in amazing ways.



These are just a few examples of what I’m talking about, but it’s not the specific words, it’s the overall spirit you put out, and this is why I said what I did. I pray God continue to draw you closer everyday deepening your understanding of His glorious truth. I also pray He show you the truth of crippling guilt and the burden it puts on you. Jesus doesn’t chain us at all, He breaks chains. I pray you banish all that keeps the truth from being proclaimed from her mind and heart especially this false guilt. Let her see the beauty of your plan in peace, because in you there is a peace this world cannot offer and in this woman I hear a love for you, a desire for righteousness, to not only proclaim Your Name in words, but to go out and show it in deeds, in the world, in love, right now here today!!! May His kingdom come, may His will be done ON EARTH as it is in heaven, and I pray this all in KING Jesus mighty Name. Amen

Jim, if the Flesh (Old Man) were truly DEAD (as you claim) it would be INACTIVE, You would NOT SIN AT ALL. Dead things don't do ANYTHING.



Do you even understand what a contradiction in terms is?

Look it up.

You are confusing how God judges believers (as sinless - because of imputation) and yet, because we still have an active flesh, we SIN.

You are trying to have your cake and eat it to.

Are you can keep labeling my posts as "boring" or with with the big red "X" because you tripped up and don't have the humility to admit it.

"Predestined to be conformed to His son." Are the elect, many are called but few are chosen and faithful, these will rule with Christ because He rules in them. He that has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin. these have a crown of Life: eternal beings. Not all believers are overcomers. Some will be saves but as through fire, but lose their reward, they do not become eternal beings but remain among the nations of the saved who walk in the light of the City, The new Jerusalem. I could go on but that could be overwhelming and you only need to be fateful to walk in the Light you have to get more light.

This is just a strait up assertion you are making with nothing to back it up. I see you didn't touch the scripture you use to make your case? Are you a child of Satan or not? It says if we sin we are children of the devil. Sense we sin so much we mush all be lost, according to you. \you have no balance, avoid any real point I'm making and can not seem to get past your sin to declare the truth of the power of Jesus the Christ to make us a new creatures, like the text literally says, but you argue with. I have offered olive breach after olive breach and you slap them away and refuse to come to any kind middle ground or agreement. You will not answer anything I ask, and apparently you have it all figured out. I agree you do still sin and you cause division because of pride. You just have to be right, and can't see anything but "your way", when you turn from "your way" to His you will find out exactly what I'm talking about. Here you go, YOU WIN, YOUR RIGHT, everyone proclaim you still sin, HaHa, God you can't make us new.

Happy now sinning Christian? You go proclaim that life changing message.

BTW, this answers the nanosecond question. God can save us in a nanosecond because we don't have to have full understanding. Just enough to repent towards God and have faith in Jesus. That can happen in an instant. That is new birth. All the other stuff follows as we grow from infancy, to children, to young men, to maturity in faith

Jim, if the Flesh (Old Man) were truly DEAD (as you claim) it would be INACTIVE, You would NOT SIN AT ALL. Dead things don't do ANYTHING.

I can tell you that I was raised in church, made a profession of faith at an early age, in childhood, (but I don't think I was converted because of ensuing events), began using drugs in early teens, mocked Christianity in mid teens, fascination and dabbling in occult, late teens, full blown hater of God, early twenties, blasphemer, early twenties, heavy drugs, started hearing and seeing things that weren't there, thought Satan wanted to enter my body, was terrified of being alone or walking into a dark room...

One night in a terror called out to God to help me. Holy Spirit shone a bright light, filled with sorrow over my sin, called on Jesus' name, and all that garbage fell of of me instantly. No more drugs, no more hate, no more blasphemy, no more fear. Total and radical change.

Whole thing happened almost instantly. Since then I have had struggles and have not always been the man I am called to be, but God has kept me, and I know if He didn't, I would have fallen away long ago

Here is my testimony @BillG

Have you mentioned me here because of my post on the not by works thread?

Here is my testimony @BillG

Did you understand the profession you made as a youngster?

What does the Bible mean when it says... '' the elect''... Who are these?
And if salvation is for all and Jesus died for all.. Why is there an elect..?..

No. That’s the problem I think with a lot of people, adults included.

Depending on context "the elect" can mean (a) specific individuals, (b) the believing remnant of Israel, and (c) all believers in Christ.

Divine election is according to God's foreknowledge (1 Pet 1:2), which means that those who would believe and obey the Gospel would be elected or predestined for perfection and glorification.

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [elect] to be conformed to the image of his Son, [perfected] that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (Rom 8:29,30).

Election is NOT for salvation, since God will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim 2:3,4)

What does the Bible mean when it says... '' the elect''... Who are these?
And if salvation is for all and Jesus died for all.. Why is there an elect..?..

What does the Bible mean when it says... '' the elect''... Who are these?
And if salvation is for all and Jesus died for all.. Why is there an elect..?..