Not By Works

Arminians believe free will is exclusive to the point of contradicting election, Calvinists believe election is exclusive and that there is no actual free will. But the Bible indicates both exist. It is a paradox. In fact a lot of things in the Bible seem contradictory, but as the Bible cannot contradict itself, it seems to contradict before our eyes, until we fully understand it. Paradox is actually helpful. It assures that your understanding it correct: if the seeming contradiction is cleared, you know you've understood correctly.

Per example, it is impossible to understand the teaching about being born again if we think like Nicodemus. How will a man enter the womb again, right? Or to understand Jesus' teaching about the body and blood of Christ, that many took as cannibalism and left Jesus. Paradox invites us to patiently meditate on Scriptures until it is clear.

I do not take seriously anyone anymore who will pit fight Scriptures to disprove one side with the other on any such deep issue.
There is only one hint given in the Bible to my knowledge, when it comes to how election and free will work together:

1 Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

We are elect according to the foreknowledge of Father God. Even before we were formed in the womb, God already knows all the choices we will make and who will you become, and that you will ultimately come to repentance and choose to follow Jesus. See also Jer 1:5. God doesn't have to wait for the future to play out, He lives eternally - He already knew from the foundation of the world what was the cost to pay, for saving you. This doesn't contradict having free will. I will stop there because that's the extent of what I know. And I'd like @VCO to chime in and help with his insight.

I think the word initially is missing. Initially one can hear the voice of the Lord or Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of the Father, to answer a question elsewhere here, and respond which is what happened to me.

I responded yes I’ll go your way, and the bondage of sin was immediately broken. However, it was the Word and teachers of the Word that brought understanding that I was born again.

Then baptized with water...and then Holy Spirit.

I believe I would have gone to heaven right after my response yes if I had passed on then.

But eternal security was hard for me to accept so my walk was up and down until I began to study.

Decon was and still is a great help to me. I admire his stance without wavering and I would call this the Spirit of Elijah.

He’s evangelistic.

Did you hear the Gospel first.

sorry but your post does not make sense to me.

Are you saying that @star @eternally-gratefull @stonesoffire and others are calling themselves Apostles?

When you stand before him as we all will as you say why is the name Dorothy different to everyone in comparison with such titles they choose?

Do you believe you are an apostle?
Do you believe you have a title above those who disagree with and those who disagree with you?

With regards to when we stand before him he will not be asking us "What we have decided we deserved to be called"

Surely sister you must be seeing this.

Who is full of pride?

If it's not the above then who is it?

Galatians 5:9
9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

Acts 12:23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
------
2Chr 14:12 So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.
----
Gen 38:9 And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother.
Gen 38:10 And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also.

for a few....

I have a disdain for people who "read" the Bible,
this means you do not study the Bible....

Question, what part of scripture do you not believe?

Hi @jackrosie ...
Maybe you could open up another thread of your own with questions that you need answers to...
You will get more answers to what you are seeking then in here unless it is about saved by grace and not works...

The only reason I am saying this is because questions on other matters derails the thread...

Not beyond Jesus saves us from going to hell. but sunday school and vacation bible school I heard the stories and fell in love with them.

Hit and miss attendance doesn’t stabilize anyone.

The hellfire and brimstone sermons terrified me. It took a long time to understand Father for me.

I’m way behind as usual on reading so will be quiet until I catch up.

Ok...thank you,I will do that..otherwise as you say it derails the thread.plus if it’s a question thread I will get more answers...thanks again Rosemary x

Yahweh is His Word....

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

I really dont speak much on this, but this is non sense.
I noticed...
broadcast your feelings, the Gospel is to be preached...
cant quote scripture , solid food , have barely received milk...

How I know? Your fruit shows.... We are called to be fruit inspectors...

Here a word from the wise God:

1Tim 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

God bless....

This isn’t the only forum Bereshith. Perhaps another would be more to your liking? I’m facing surgery too soon and I know how it feels.

Would you call the following biblical?


Sure. I have heard the voice of God since childhood and became saved as a child although no one preached the Gospel to me.

The majority also stood and screamed.....Crucify Him and Give us Barrabbas....if some saying one thing makes it right and true then that logic can be used to justify anything......dwell on that truth!

One accusation after another....she says she has concerns for us....the greater concern is found in the one that cannot simply testify of the Ευαγγέλιο......But hey....it is what it is!

My brother is a programmer...been writing code since the "Vic 20" , has worked for IBM, now for Fidelity....also has his own business on the side called Human Span.....He has been programming for like 40 years.....He also despises the ALL CAP rule and regularily uses Caps to make EMPHASIS......and of course when I was accused of this I told the truth why I was USING ALL CAPS WITH CERTAIN WORDS....and basically called a liar and told I was YELLING........ridiculous!

Forgiveness wasn’t being talked about Dottie.

Will try this again. Perhaps I wasn’t clear enough. And I’m not spiritualizing the two kingdoms that scripture plainly speaks of.

For entrance into heaven, the requirement is believing and receiving the blood sacrifice of Jesus as an exchange of our unrighteousness, for His righteousness. Called the Kingdom of heaven in scripture which is referring to heaven, the dwelling place of God.

The kingdom of God, which is within when Holy Spirit takes up residence, so to speak, and begins the transformative work of “saving our soul” is what your focus seems to be primarily.

Luk 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:


Luk 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

We are connected to heaven when we are born from above and Holy Spirit is always at work conforming us into the image of Jesus.

When I said I am concerned, it’s genuine.

I did not say you were the devil. I did not call you any names. When our words question anothers faith as to belonging to God because of our judgements about someone’s walk, then it’s a “hath God said”. Same as the serpents lies continually against the faithfulness of the Lord.

I got smacked down myself by the Lord when I complained to Him about my husband, Why He required what I felt was a stricter walk with me concerning something specific than He did with me.

His answer was just “I didn’t require it”. He was stern. Eventually I began to understand why. He paid a heavy price for us all and His gift is freely given to all who will receive. For it’s the will of the Father that all be saved. That’s scripture too.

We are to build one another up. Not tear down.

Sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise after being born again from above.

I remember that post!