There is freewill choice though, ohzone. That is what needs to be understood, and, sadly, is not, for certain, by nilE, and, you, and, a few others, who, yes, believe in Calvanism.
I want to direct you to 2 John 18-29 , to fully understand what FAITH is given us by God
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But, not yet....
I want you to understand this, FIRST, small details before
BIG :
Summary: Those who go out with John and the others that are not Christian, are, therefore, anti Christ , or, to put it, Scripturally quoted, 'antichrists.'
I'm sure this much we can agree with.
Then, those that left John and the other Christians were NEVER with them in the first place, and, this means they were anti Christ, their minds were NOT open to RECEIVING the faith that God measured for them. Again, though God gives each man a measure of faith. Man MUST accept that faith. Does this make sense, ohzone ? Man MUST believe on His own , 'believe in His name,' says 1 John 1:12, think it is. And then that man is 'born of God.' This is HOW that is done, no zippy, whippy regeneration and implantation happening, the man MUST choose BOTH Christ, BY FAITH, and, later, then, He MUST accept the Holy Spirit, again, this is BY FAITH.
Then, this is understanding of Eph. 2: 8-9 and add verse 10 IF you want the whole desire of God, who wants us to be His worker. We are 'His workmanship,' again, I think we have an agreement here.
ace
Now, we go back to those with John and the others who NEVER belonged (to Christ) in the first place.
What kind of freewill determinism words does John USE for those who are with Christ. Does John say that they are His no matter what, or, does John urge those who are with Him following Christ as Christians to 'remain' in Him and to 'continue' in Him.
So, although, yes, 100% agree, God KNOWS all, He is 'all and all,' and IF that does not help you understand His sovereignty then nothing else will. He is in control but He has given us FAITH, a 'measure' to us, this means, an amount of faith. Now, we do not know how much that is, but, ALL us can assume that it is ENOUGH for all, especially coupled with His mercies 'new every morning,' and His grace, which Paul let's us know is 'sufficient.'
So, here is OUR job to INCREASE our faith, how do we do that, by having FAITH
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Soooo complicated, eh, ohzone
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But, it's NOT, for Christ is who INCREASES our FAITH right, we just read 1 Cor. 3 and understand this truth. Paul waters, Apollos plants, etc. and God is the One who increases both's faith as both 'are one' working ,or, in service to the Lord, who is righteous.
Righteous=
- (of a person or conduct) Morally right or justifiable; virtuous.
- Perfectly wonderful; fine and genuine.)
And, how do we maintain our faith, and, righteousness (right-standing with God) ??? BY FAITH, by REMAINING in Him, by CONTINUING in Him....
Now, read this, and, notice the bold-faced words, ohzone:
1 John 2 (Let's just put it all in there for you, but notice the blackened bold words , again, I say to you)
1My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
2He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
Love and Hatred for Fellow Believers
3We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.
4Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.
5But if anyone obeys his word, love for God[SUP]
a[/SUP] is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him:
6Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
7Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard.
8Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.
9Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister[SUP]
b[/SUP] is still in the darkness.
10Anyone who loves their brother and sister[SUP]
c[/SUP] lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.
11But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.
Reasons for Writing
12I am writing to you, dear children,
because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
13I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have overcome the evil one.
14I write to you, dear children,
because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong,
and the word of God lives in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.
On Not Loving the World (greennnice: remember, revelation, too, Scripture says, 'He who overcomes....'
15Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father[SUP]
d[/SUP] is not in them.
16For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.
17The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
Warnings Against Denying the Son
18Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.
19They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us.
For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.
20But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.[SUP]
e[/SUP]
21I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth.
22Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son.
23No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
24As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning
remains in you.
If it does, you also
will remain in the Son and in the Father.
25And this is what he
promised us—eternal life.
26I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray.
27As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you,
remain in him.
God’s Children and Sin
28And now, dear children,
continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.
29If you know that he is righteous, you know that
everyone who does what is right has been born of him.