Eternal Life

[NarrowRoadDisciple]

I believe if one allows this to remain in their life, God is not in him, because God causes us to avoid this (Phl 2:13).

Except God doesn't force us to do anything. We have the free will to obey or disobey Him. Not exactly a smart thing to do, but if God made us autonomous robots without free will, then this would not be demonstrative of God's love. It's God's love that we come to Him by our decision to accept Christ and His sacrifice for us, dying to self/world, and becoming born again. It's God's love that we worship Him, glorify Him, and obey Him of our own volition. It's not God's love if He forces us to worship Him, glorify Him, and obey Him.

 

[NetChaplain]

Except God doesn't force us to do anything. We have the free will to obey or disobey Him. Not exactly a smart thing to do, but if God made us autonomous robots without free will, then this would not be demonstrative of God's love.

I can relate to your comment, but I do not consider Him working in us to desire His pleasure (Phl 2:14) "forcing." If He doesn't put this desire in us we are left with our own sinful nature nature. If must be from the new nature in which His Spirit works in us (Eph 3:16).

Blessings!

 

[rozz]

Yes. In Romans 8:30, we read - Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. Paul uses the past tense for a future event to stress it's certainty.

Yes Romans 8:30 is a wonderful clarifying verse. Paul is reaffirming much of Jesus's promises to believers. Eg.1) what Jesus's promise to Martha in John 11:25,26 "....He who believes in me will live even though he dies;......"
Eg2) John 10:28-" I give them eternal life and they shall not perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand."

Jesus guarantees believers in him- his sheep- eternity in heaven with him. This is the Good News.

Let us all as true believers and his true sheep grow deeper in love with Jesus our God.
And also with his Father and the Holy Spirit.

 

[NetChaplain]

Let us all as true believers and his true sheep grow deeper in love with Jesus our God.
And also with his Father and the Holy Spirit.

Hi Rozz - Like your reply and esp. your comment here, which reminds me why the epistles of John have an above-average appeal to me--they often mention of love to God and others.

I believe our desirous love for God has no limitations, but our practical love to God is commensurate with our practical love to all others (1 Jhn 4:20). Thus in my opinion, the closer the saints draw in love to one another, the closer we draw to God (James 4:8). Love to one another is the sole physical manifestation of belonging to Him (Jhn 13:35).

Blessings!