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  1. R

    Did Jesus Die on The Cross for The Just/Elect/Saved Whose Names Are Written in The Book of Life OR

    Okay...let's do a quick rewind so that the problem I presented is right in front of our noses. I recently drew a contrasting parallel between the Creator and his moral image-bearers. Scripture teaches that God cannot sin, cannot lie, cannot deny himself; and that only God alone is Good in his...
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    Did Jesus Die on The Cross for The Just/Elect/Saved Whose Names Are Written in The Book of Life OR

    So...not loving God when TU disobey him is not the same as hating him? But the Greatest Commandment of them all doesn't read in the negative, does it? It doesn't read, "Thou shall not hate the Lord your God". No! Instead it reads: Matt 22:36-38 36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment...
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    Did Jesus Die on The Cross for The Just/Elect/Saved Whose Names Are Written in The Book of Life OR

    Indeed we are! But the unregenerate are in conflict with the God they naturally hate. Whereas, true, born again believers are often in conflict with themselves and our own stupidity, and our own foolish decisions, and all the ways we still sin...even though we often don't mean to. How can...
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    Did Jesus Die on The Cross for The Just/Elect/Saved Whose Names Are Written in The Book of Life OR

    This is what I've been asking you. Your soteriology implies that the difference between believers and unbelievers lies in the two groups themselves. The believers must be somehow superior to the unbelievers to have overcome the evil desires of their heart, their sin nature, and their hatred...
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    Did Jesus Die on The Cross for The Just/Elect/Saved Whose Names Are Written in The Book of Life OR

    Fair enough. But this is why I''m hoping you will address my questions, as you find time, that I presented to you in 5673 & 5718 re the fundamental spiritual differences that must exist between believers and unbelievers that will account for why and how the former accepts spiritual truth, while...
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    Did Jesus Die on The Cross for The Just/Elect/Saved Whose Names Are Written in The Book of Life OR

    I in no way meant to discount or diminish scholarly efforts put in by those who have been called to do just that. We are all called to study the Word diligently, carefully and prayerfully. But at the same time, I try to avoid straining at gnats just to swallow camels whole. I'm a big fan of...
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    Did Jesus Die on The Cross for The Just/Elect/Saved Whose Names Are Written in The Book of Life OR

    Yes, I see a choice as well. And the unregenerate (hereafter TU) made the only choice they could make given their state of spiritual death, depraved heart and evil nature. But TU do not want to understand, so this is why they suppress the truth by their wickedness (v.18). And why do they...
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    Did Jesus Die on The Cross for The Just/Elect/Saved Whose Names Are Written in The Book of Life OR

    But you leave out an extremely important salvific element to what I bolded above: The Holy Spirit. Men are born again by the Word and the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a key promise of the New Covenant. And it He who gives understanding. In fact, Jesus also gives us understanding (1Jn 5:20; Lk...
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    Did Jesus Die on The Cross for The Just/Elect/Saved Whose Names Are Written in The Book of Life OR

    Without getting overly or unduly analytical (I try to avoid getting bogged down in the weeds by over-thinking passages as much as I can), I would say that when the Father grants grace to someone to come to (or seek out) His Son, that person will do so in truth -- with a sincere, honest heart...
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    Did Jesus Die on The Cross for The Just/Elect/Saved Whose Names Are Written in The Book of Life OR

    Exactly right. He did not know who Jesus was. He sought out a good rabbi, hoping the rabbi would tell him that he was on the right path to Paradise with all his diligent, perfect law-keeping. Yes, in all likelihood, this rich man had some spiritual standing -- but not enough to understand...
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    Did Jesus Die on The Cross for The Just/Elect/Saved Whose Names Are Written in The Book of Life OR

    I would like to continue unpacking some more truth from Lk 18:18-27 which records the Rich Man's encounter with Jesus. The logical inference from the passage is that this rich ruler very likely sought Jesus out. He approached Jesus respectfully, certainly acknowledging his teaching skills; but...
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    Did Jesus Die on The Cross for The Just/Elect/Saved Whose Names Are Written in The Book of Life OR

    Since you agree that man is evil, then this is a fact that we should not gloss over. When Jesus told his very mixed audience in his Sermon on the Mount that they were evil, he was making a very profound statement about man's essence. Evil is what man IS. When we talk about person's essence...
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    Did Jesus Die on The Cross for The Just/Elect/Saved Whose Names Are Written in The Book of Life OR

    And the very sad thing is that a text like the one above is just the tiny tip of the iceberg. Scripture most certainly does not paint a pretty, attractive or flattering picture of fallen mankind. Man is so broken that only God alone can fix him! Here's another passage this is just as...
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    Did Jesus Die on The Cross for The Just/Elect/Saved Whose Names Are Written in The Book of Life OR

    So then Jesus' death on the cross actually paid the sin debt of a particular group, i.e. all who accepted his offer because they wanted their debt to be cancelled. To say that Jesus paid the debt for "all" (in the distributive sense) and then immediately add "BUT..." that limits its efficacy is...
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    Did Jesus Die on The Cross for The Just/Elect/Saved Whose Names Are Written in The Book of Life OR

    So, you just conceded that God decides whether or not he will ACT on his desire. And since temporal reality isn't the only reality in this universe, then in metaphysical reality we should understand the act of willing to also include to power to actualize. As stated the other day, my neighbor...
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    Did Jesus Die on The Cross for The Just/Elect/Saved Whose Names Are Written in The Book of Life OR

    Wow! Another advocate of NCT! Kool! :cool: I can relate to what you say about God's gifts to his Church, e.g. teachers, pastors, etc. When I was a young Christian, I went through the gambit of eschatological-soteriological systems, beginning with Dispensationalism (very short lived), CT for...
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    Did Jesus Die on The Cross for The Just/Elect/Saved Whose Names Are Written in The Book of Life OR

    I know. A gross understatement if there ever was any. :LOL: I tried to keep as much of your post as I could, so I lobbed off a little at a time to keep my reply and your post within forum limits; but I kept getting the error message. I don't have a problem with Total Depravity and man's...
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    Did Jesus Die on The Cross for The Just/Elect/Saved Whose Names Are Written in The Book of Life OR

    Ez. 28:11-17; Is 14:12-14. I have good news and bad news for you. The good is that you got the two central OT passages right. The bad is that you misinterpret them. First of all, God threw Satan to the earth after he had sinned in heaven (Ezek 28:17c). If Satan had sinned on the earth...