I've come to the opinion that those who fall away were NEVER truly of us. God knew they'd fall away before time began. God knows who are His and who will stand in glory with Him on the last day as we post here. It truly is settled in Heaven. Many of God's saints will struggle with sin. Yet they will overcome through Him. They are His... and He is theirs.
I've come to the opinion that those who fall away were NEVER truly of us. God knew they'd fall away before time began. God knows who are His and who will stand in glory with Him on the last day as we post here. It truly is settled in Heaven. Many of God's saints will struggle with sin. Yet they will overcome through Him. They are His... and He is theirs.
Not true... foreknowledge and being right toward God for a length of time are not the same issues of judgment. Many will stay and hot for a while and cool over time and might fall away. You act like they never where saved. Typical reformed junk.
I found his teaching refreshing. I'd been in church for 21 years. I'd attended two different Apostolic churches that were very legalistic. I never had full confidence in my salvation (I know my imperfections all too well). I was suffering from "burnout" because each church focused on "service"... service, service, service, service. I found myself operating in areas outside of my calling to please the church. Nearly everything I did was to please the church. I was in the mindset that if I wanted to please Jesus I had to do all these religious things. Also... I thought that I'd find my fulfillment in serving the church. The result? Total burnout and break down of my family. My wife abandoned the faith and eventually even left me to go "live it up".
I've now discovered "grace". I've discovered that Jesus DOESN'T want ME doing anything for Him... but rather Jesus desires for me to overcome by allowing Him to live through me. My fulfillment comes from serving Him and being one with Him. I was purchased by His blood. ALL sins are forgiven. Even those I've not committed yet. If you think about it... all my sins were still future when He was crucified. Jesus is all knowing... Jesus already knows who are His and who are not His. It's set. He isn't in Heaven HOPING we are saved... He knows who the elect are, called according to His purposes. And daily I make my calling and election sure through prayer and seeking to be "one" with Him.
It's amazing really. Since learning this principle I've discovered that as I walk down the street... I feel Christ's thoughts impressed upon me. I don't see things the way I used to see them. I don't see people the way I used to see them. Sometimes it's like Christ's own heart is beating in my chest. There are times in prayer when I'm home that I feel as though He could call me home that very instant. When I do sin now... I realize that the guilt and shame that I feel is due to me acting below the nature He's given my through the presence of His Spirit in me. It's so true what the Bible says. If any man truly knows the Lord... he cannot continue in sin. The child of God will eventually say, "I can't take this anymore. I'm getting outa here." God is so good to us. It's ALL about Him. It's not about us or our silly little standards. It's about Him IN us. Here's a verse I used to live by....
Philippians 2:12
12Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
But I never really internalized the very next verse....
Philippians 2:13
13For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
In the NLT it reads:
Philippians 2:12-13 (New Living Translation)
12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
It's all about allowing JESUS to work in us, giving us the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. Our own vain efforts and religiousity will never suffice. It shocked me when in prayer Jesus said He was disgusted with me. He impressed upon me that He didn't want me to be a good Apostolic...nor did He desire that I follow the ways of our "elders" in Pentecost. I wept in prayer and asked Him, "Lord, then what do you desire me to do?" He said, "Be like me. I'm your standard." I was worried because no man can be like Jesus. That's when He said, "This is only possible if I live MY life through you."
Since then... I've been so free and I've experienced victories in areas of my life I had struggled with for years.
That's my testimony. I just wanted to give God some glory.
Not true... foreknowledge and being right toward God for a length of time are not the same issues of judgment. Many will stay and hot for a while and cool over time and might fall away. You act like they never where saved. Typical reformed junk.
People ARE what God sees them to be. God wasn't up in Heaven while one was "hot for a while" hoping they'd "hang in there". God knew the day they first set foot in a church they were not His and would cool and fall away. God saw them as they ARE. God wasn't guessing, hoping against hope, that they'd stay hot and be saved. Jesus already knew Judas was a devil when He called him to be a disciple. In God's mind... Judas was... Judas. All who fall away are to God what they ARE. If a person falls away they may have tasted the salvation provided in Christ... but from before creation God already knew they were not His own.
Simple truth.... God knows who are His.... has known since eternity past. Christ died to provide atonement and salvation for all of God's elect. Not a one will perish. The requirement for salvation is absolute PERFECTION. That's why the elect are hidden in Christ... He who is perfection.
Simple truth.... God knows who are His.... has known since eternity past. Christ died to provide atonement and salvation for all of God's elect. Not a one will perish. The requirement for salvation is absolute PERFECTION. That's why the elect are hidden in Christ... He who is perfection.
wow foreknowledge = no reality it just is... LOL Dude the failure of foreknowledge of reformeddoctrine is they look at it from a absolute God MADE it that way thus it must happen because he said so. No it will happen because reality of free will in relation to God created a certain outcome he knew. Sure the end won't change but the reality of the interaction IN TIME of if we are saved or not is determined on our response. You show the typical weakness as you do on Trinitarianism. You take a argument and use it blindly like someone else does by equating two things togethor that are not meant to be.
Because God in the end is not suprised by who is lost or not doesn't change the reality of how justice is done in real time. Yes people are saved and lose salvation and walk away to come back later. N TIME GOD does justice to them. Foreknoldege does not negate this.
lol
wow foreknowledge = no reality it just is... LOL Dude the failure of foreknowledge of reformeddoctrine is they look at it from a absolute God MADE it that way thus it must happen because he said so. No it will happen because reality of free will in relation to God created a certain outcome he knew. Sure the end won't change but the reality of the interaction IN TIME of if we are saved or not is determined on our response. You show the typical weakness as you do on Trinitarianism. You take a argument and use it blindly like someone else does by equating two things togethor that are not meant to be. 
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