FreeGrace2 said:
Why bother with what you think is "implied" when we have very clear verses that SAY that believers possess eternal life and recipients of eternal life shall never perish.
No, I don't believe that. You are very confused, even though I have been crystal clear. God is the One who saves believers. He saves those who believe. The Bible even says that plainly.
1 Cor 1:21 - For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
Go to Eph 1:4. It says, "God chose us...to be holy and blameless". The "us" in v.4 is clearly defined in 1:19 as "us who BELIEVE".
All believers in the NT are chosen for service. There are NO verses that say that people are unconditionally chosen for salvation.
The unconditional election is of ALL believers and is for service. iow, every believer is chosen to serve. Simple enough.
What's the context here? Bearing fruit. That is service, not salvation.
John 6:70,71
70 Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”
71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)
Judas was elected as the betrayer. God didn't force him to. God KNEW he would if given the opportunity, and Judas was quite the opportunist.
Why bother with what you think is "implied" when we have very clear verses that SAY that believers possess eternal life and recipients of eternal life shall never perish.
I agree that all believers possess eternal life, but that is not the topic of our discussion. The topic is by what means are they delivered eternally. You think that the unregenerate person's belief is what causes them to be delivered eternally.
1 Cor 1:21 - For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
I believe the scriptures to say that God choose a people, not because of their belief in the things of the spirit but because of his sovereign will, according to his election (Rom 9:11)
All believers in the NT are chosen for service. There are NO verses that say that people are unconditionally chosen for salvation.
The unconditional election is of ALL believers and is for service. iow, every believer is chosen to serve. Simple enough.
John 15:16 - Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.
John 6:70,71
70 Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”
71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)
Judas was elected as the betrayer. God didn't force him to. God KNEW he would if given the opportunity, and Judas was quite the opportunist.