Predestination is misunderstood...

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Dec 18, 2023
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No I didn't say I wouldn't give it away to anyone. I said if I gave it away and it wasn't due to an obligation, it is grace.
God owes no one anything. Every act on His part is necessarily of grace. This is my supposition.
So your saying you would give your life savings away to anyone.
 
Dec 18, 2023
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Perhaps. I've done it before. That's why I told you at the outset it is not as much as you suppose.
Perhaps you would, but perhaps suggests you would need to think about it first.

Generally speaking cameron people give there life savings to there family first..

Now would they give they're life savings to there family first before anyone Cameron.

Then when you can answer that Question Cameron, answer why would life's saving in a will only be given away when death as fell.
 

Cameron143

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Mar 1, 2022
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Perhaps you would, but perhaps suggests you would need to think about it first.

Generally speaking cameron people give there life savings to there family first..

Now would they give they're life savings to there family first before anyone Cameron.

Then when you can answer that Question Cameron, answer why would life's saving in a will only be given away when death as fell.
Perhaps just means I would pray before doing so. But if the Lord confirmed the request, I have no problem giving anything away. I'm a simple steward. It's not mine to begin with. I'm tasked to improve what God gives me stewardship over. Using money and assets to break yokes of other people is capital improvements in the kingdom of God.
Now I'm not under the allusion that this mindset is widespread, but it should be. So no, I don't believe most people live this way. Your own scepticism leads me to believe you haven't found this to be the case with those you know. Doesn't make it any less true.
 
Dec 18, 2023
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Perhaps just means I would pray before doing so. But if the Lord confirmed the request, I have no problem giving anything away. I'm a simple steward. It's not mine to begin with. I'm tasked to improve what God gives me stewardship over. Using money and assets to break yokes of other people is capital improvements in the kingdom of God.
Now I'm not under the allusion that this mindset is widespread, but it should be. So no, I don't believe most people live this way. Your own scepticism leads me to believe you haven't found this to be the case with those you know. Doesn't make it any less true.
Ok Cameron have it your way.
 

sawdust

Active member
Feb 12, 2024
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Darwin, NT
Romans 3:23-24 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 5:15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the
many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came
by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ
, abound to the many! Romans 11:3-6 “Lord, they have killed
Your prophets and torn down Your altars. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well”? And
what was the divine reply to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the
knee to Baal.” In the same way, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if it is by grace,
then it is no longer by works. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace.
I read that and see the gift as the unmerited favour. Grace is the means by which that favour is delivered.

I was taught the term "undeserved kindness" and I learnt to question that definition very early on in my Christian walk. Not because it didn't have that element in it, but with all the other places grace is mentioned, I recognised it was more than kindness at work.

Grace is real power which is why the arrogant are resisted by God and not given more grace. God's will gets done in the world and especially in the believer by means of His grace.
 

Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
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Romans 3:23-24 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 5:15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the
many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came
by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ
, abound to the many! Romans 11:3-6 “Lord, they have killed
Your prophets and torn down Your altars. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well”? And
what was the divine reply to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the
knee to Baal.” In the same way, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if it is by grace,
then it is no longer by works. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace.
Its God's purpose to give us grace..
Grace is to get us to where His Grace intends for us to become at maturity in Christ.

Romans 8:29

For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image
of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers."

Its His own purpose to get us to conform to the image of His Son.
But?
The only believers who "merit" grace are humble believers.


James 4:6​
Moreover, He gives greater Grace wherefore He says,
"The God keeps on opposing the proud. . .
but keeps on giving grace to the humble."


Its only believers with humility that finds merit with God!
Its the proud believer that finds God refusing to give grace!
He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble and oppressed." Proverbs 3:34​


So? Grace is not unmerited! The proud do not merit it.


.........."but keeps on giving grace to the humble."

Receiving God's grace is conditional.
For one must merit receiving grace by having humility!

For the proud believers are refused grace by God.
The proud do not merit God's grace.

Saying "unmerited favor" sounds so good to the ears...

Knowledge of God's Word, when we are needing correction, will over ride how we feel good about a matter,
no matter how good what we used to believe made us feel...

Its just like those who love how they feel to say 'Mary is the mother of God.'

With that in mind...

............................ wishing you greater grace and peace!
 

Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
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Then it wouldn't by definition be grace. But wouldn't you still be indebted for the original and ongoing grace?
I was just playing along. The idea you proffer has no merit to begin with. It only as we walk in the Spirit and Jesus lives in and through us that we are ever pleasing to God. This is grace upon grace.

So.... :rolleyes: Our believing in Christ merited nothing in God's eyes?

Having faith pleases God!
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God
must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." Hebrews 11:6

Its our soul's believing that begins God's flowing of the grace we need to be growing in knowledge and understanding.

Sad to report..

Hyper Calvinism was an attempt to resolve the seeming dilemma we face when we realize that God is omniscient.
Its influence has crept into the minds of many in the body of Christ today.... Not just those who call themselves Calvinists.

Yet? If God allowed for the Catholics to test his humble ones?
Calvinism is the 102 course in such testing.

grace and peace ................
 

Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
1,132
175
63
Romans 3:23-24 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 5:15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the
many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came
by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ
, abound to the many! Romans 11:3-6 “Lord, they have killed
Your prophets and torn down Your altars. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well”? And
what was the divine reply to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the
knee to Baal.” In the same way, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if it is by grace,
then it is no longer by works. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace.
If anything...

The Cross was God's unmerited favor!

Romans 5:8

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. "
grace and peace .................
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
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So.... :rolleyes: Our believing in Christ merited nothing in God's eyes?

Having faith pleases God!
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God
must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." Hebrews 11:6​

Its our soul's believing that begins God's flowing of the grace we need to be growing in knowledge and understanding.

Sad to report..

Hyper Calvinism was an attempt to resolve the seeming dilemma we face when we realize that God is omniscient.
Its influence has crept into the minds of many in the body of Christ today.... Not just those who call themselves Calvinists.

Yet? If God allowed for the Catholics to test his humble ones?
Calvinism is the 102 course in such testing.

grace and peace ................
You believing in God is all due to grace. Have you read Ephesians 2:8-9. It's not of you. There's nothing for any of us to boast in.

Exercising faith once we are saved is the only way to please God, but that is only done as Christ lives through us. We can do nothing apart from Him. Still nothing for us to boast about.

It's always about what God does, and not us. Otherwise, we are living to our glory, and not His glory.

2 Corinthians 10:17...Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord...

It's not about Calvin, or me, or you. It's about Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
 

PaulThomson

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2023
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Why does everyone agree that grace means unmerited favor? That is not quite right...
For God wants us to transform by grace into what will merit his favor! Blessings.
Because the giving of grace is unmerited before it is received. But there may be an expected response to receiving that grace after receiving it..
 

Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
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You believing in God is all due to grace. Have you read Ephesians 2:8-9. It's not of you. There's nothing for any of us to boast in.

Where is there boasting to be found in believing in Christ?

That would be like a half starving man boasting that he ate a meal from the Church soup kitchen down the street that is welcoming all to partake.
 

Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
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Because the giving of grace is unmerited before it is received. But there may be an expected response to receiving that grace after receiving it..
But if grace produces in you what God finds merit in?
The next increment of grace given is because one now merits grace.
That is why the humble ones go from grace to grace! Ending up being with what is called, "greater grace!"


James 4:6​
Moreover, He gives greater Grace wherefore He says,

"The God keeps on opposing the proud. . .
but keeps on giving grace to the humble."



Grace is given on the basis of what grace has already produced in the believer's ongoing transformation.

It looks like you might have to let go of that Calvinism bug you caught....
For some take great pride in claiming to be unworthy for God after they are saved..

But we should not think of ourselves as being worthy, or as unworthy.
For we should be too busy being occupied with the process of God's transformation taking place as God keeps giving us more and more grace...

Grace expands our capacity. And, in return, our expanded capacity opens a next door for even more grace!

Moreover, He gives greater Grace wherefore He says,

"The God keeps on opposing the proud. . .
but keeps on giving grace to the humble."


Greater grace keeps on adding more and more weight and mass to our spiritual flywheel...

grace and peace ................
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
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Where is there boasting to be found in believing in Christ?

That would be like a half starving man boasting that he ate a meal from the Church soup kitchen down the street that is welcoming all to partake.
You were the one boasting in believing.
 
Dec 18, 2023
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1 Timothy 1:14-16

Amplified Bible, Classic Edition



14 And the grace (unmerited favor and blessing) of our Lord [actually] flowed out superabundantly and beyond measure for me, accompanied by faith and love that are [to be realized] in Christ Jesus.

This is the amplified version, and as you can see it's an insertion, by someone defining grace to how they want it be to known, and not how God defines it.

It's no wonder so many are in the opinion, you really can't blame them.

But what really is annoying is the fact that scripture should not be added to like this, as they have done in the amplified bible.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
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I never heard any boasting. I heard a sane response to the grace of God. Afterall, to believe in God is what we are designed to do is it not?
Go back and reread his post. He said: So our believing in Christ merited nothing in God's eyes?
 
Dec 18, 2023
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Go back and reread his post. He said: So our believing in Christ merited nothing in God's eyes?
Well according to The gospel its not enough to just to believe Cameron


Luke 24:45-47

New International Version

Jesus own words

45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem..


This clearly says after the cross that after Jesus is risen, unless a person repents and believes he will perish.

And it's the same before the cross


Luke 13:3

New International Version

Jesus own words.


3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.


Tell me Cameron which one is it, must we only believe Jesus will forgive us without repenting and he will pour our his grace on us.


Or must we repent first before he pours out his grace on us.

It looks like it's saying after Jesus is risen you must repent in his name to receive Grace, or would you say all you have to do is believe and you will automatically be forgiven, without the need to repent.

Don't you have to be forgiven before you can receive Grace.

Then I also have to remind you I can' only see merited favour here.

I've just heard a sermon that people don't actually have to repent, what do you think about that. 🤔