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Amazing song! Let's sing of the goodness of our God!

To Apologia: Perhaps I wrote too hastily and therefore invited your interpretation which of course I don’t agree with. I believe there are three wills at play which are God’s will, man’s will and evil’s will. The point that I was trying to make is that in the Bible we are exposed to God’s will by his relationship with man in terms of salvation after the fall of Adam from Heaven. That said we don’t have much information about God Himself. I hold that a search for God is very helpful however within the framework of salvation. Simply stated much about God we do not know. You say, we have a “will but it is not autonomous.” This is a very difficult sentence to contemplate. For if I say I have a will but it is not autonomous it is a will that has to be redefined. Be my guest. I believe God is Sovereign and allows man and evil to go against his Will. I neither believe that God wanted evil to break ranks or for Adam to fall. Therefore God’s Sovereignty dictated by Him allows for granting choice to his subjects. I think this shows the greatness of God’s Will. I believe the mistake you’re making is your boxing God into the earthly realm alone while not realizing God’s Will is eternal and goes beyond this earth. For starters explain why Jesus says, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my Kingdom is not from the world.” (John 18:36). But Christ goes to his fate, putting a great qualification in his words (falling into the will of the world). I don’t quite know how to put this, but God’s Sovereign Will can not truly be fully understood by man. That goes for the broken pottery. As far as the theories I’m glad that you take comfort in being Calvinist. But I worry about some aspects such as pride or not trying to save an unelected person (I don’t attribute this to you but these things can happen). My main point if we choose to believe in a set of values, let them bring us closer to God thru faith. Faith being key.

Greetings Monarchy, There's so many scriptures that can back your question up...but I feel if you don't have them in your spirit or heart during times of trial or afflictions they become (because of our mindset) useless. The Words purpose is to operate in whatever stage of life we find ourselves in.. it exalts us to go higher and during times of trial, afflictions or whatever may come to distract us...be there to not only help us to examine ourselves, but to sustain us, to encourage us to hold on...to press on...to see what the end will be. Christ redeemed us through His blood...all we have to do is believe and receive. The Word of God acts as a receipt and guarantees that as long as we trust in Him..we are His own. These are trying times for the saints of God...simply because the time is so near...hold fast to your faith in knowing that you are Gods property. Search His word and let Him speak to your spirit-man and as He does this the Holy Ghost will be fed and exercised...He is our Helper, and when we may lose our train of thought..He reaches in and brings Gods promise back to us. When times like this comes (yes, I've been there) I repent and began to speak positive to what ever the enemy maybe saying to me...I turn the Word on him.... I am the child of the Most High God, the sheep of His pasture, I know His voice, no stranger will I answer, I'm fearfully, wonderfully made in Him will I trust, when you satan.. my enemy comes in like a flood, God lifts up a standard before you....Greater is He thats in me..than he that in the world...God so loves me, that He give His only Son and because I believe and has received Him...I have everlasting life... start calling things that be not (or feel not) as if they were, and they shall become. Whatever we need from God concerning any area of our lives...search His word, fill up on it... Monarch, you will find that you are God's property... 2J

2Cor13:5 "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" Gal5:22,23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." 2Pet1:3-13 "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance." Since we are unable to actually look into another's heart and see their faith or ours or even the Holy Spirit who indwells those who have been born of the Spirit. We look to the fruits of the Spirit to see Christ in them. Signs and wonders can be counterfeited like Pharaoh's court magicians who threw down their staffs which then, turned into snakes by the evil one's ability. The fruits of the Spirit are grown by abiding in the vine or in Jesus' word. For the faithful, maturity is a part of walking in the Spirit. Walking in the Spirit is how we fulfill that the Kingdom of God is not in word but in power and these signs(Mk16:17-20) shall follow them that believe. The gift of the Spirit is given to each one to profit with-all, but the gifts operate by faith and so, to not believe in one's gift, whatever it is, is to not use it. Fluency comes through use and then those who use their lesser gifts are to pray for better gifts. In fact, Paul tells us to desire the best gifts. Such is the signs of our times, sadly; when except there is a falling away, the end shall not come. Where Jesus himself asked, "when I return, will I find faith upon the Earth?" Let's practice a little self-sacrifice and put down all of our entertainments and study, filling our minds with the word of God and make a daily prayer list to take to the Lord, a habit. Even a quick mention can make a huge difference as we can see in 1Jn5:16,17: "If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death." That's life being given to one of the brethren because of a prayer from one who would stand in the gap for those who are perishing. If life can come from a quick emotionless prayer, imagine the Lord's delight to move in an area of need at the fervent prayer of one who adds fasting to their prayer of faith.

Loved it!!!

I have been following this thread for some time now. It appears to me that it has become out of control. It’s almost as if both sides have blown their tops and are almost at the point of anger and almost have a hate for each other; which I admit is a strong word and perhapse misused. In John 13:34-35 (NIV) We read, “34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35, By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Sadly, in my humble opinion; the love has gone out of this thread. If you go back and read all the post from start to the latest, this thread is not a very good example to put forward Christ who died for us. The Christ that shed His blood and for God that gave His only begotten son to die for our sins. Jesus said, I am the way the Truth and the Light. In my opinion we loose that light if we fight in anger with someone that disagrees with our views be it doctrinal or way of worship. Anger is never without an argument, but seldom with a good one. This is what the thread has turned into. It saddens me. Just my two pence worth for what it’s worth. (And yes probably not much) Nigel.

Tag, Great question, which I feel requires, some thought and prayer before I respond in whole.{Add-on, I think for me the greatest danger is not the doubt, I may temporarily have during times of trails, for I am by nature driven to my knees, seeking God, when I do find myself in need of Him during a trail. My greatest time of doubt seems to be in the good times, for it leads to a sense of complacency (a self-satisfaction) in my salvation. In which I may loose sight of God's Grace and the Faith, that He gave me. >>>>>>>>>>> more to pray about........... The words of Blessed Assurance come to mind. The assurance that once we have accepted Christ Jesus, the believers receive the God's spiritual blessings, in the form of the Holy Spirit. The sovereign election of the Father. Eph 1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, Eph 1:14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory. So we can stand firm in our Faith and Grace, knowing that the words of that old time song, hold true to His promise to us. "Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a fore taste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, This is my story, Born of His Spirit, wash in His blood. This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long; This is my story, this is my song , Praising my Savior all the day long. Eph 1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, Eph 1:14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory. The Holy Spirit who seals is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance. The “deposit” is more than a pledge which could be returned; it is a down payment with a guarantee of more to come (cf. “the first fruits of the Spirit,” Rom_8:23). “A deposit guaranteeing” (used elsewhere in the NT only in 2Co_1:22; 2Co_5:5). It guarantees believers’ “inheritance” of salvation and heaven (1Pe_1:4). In essence, the “deposit” of the Holy Spirit is a little bit of heaven in believers’ lives with a guarantee of much more yet to come. Believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit until the redemption of those who are God’s possession. This redemption is not release from the guilt of sin; that was spoken of in Eph_1:7 and the believer is already “God’s possession.” Instead, this is the believer’s ultimate, final release from the presence of sin (cf. Rom_8:23; Php_3:20-21). Jesus will never give up on those that know His voice, even though we may wonder of the path now and then, Jesus, will always be willing to hold out His Hand, to lift us out of the hole we may have climbed into, or fallen into. Proof, is not only found in the words of God, but, in the soul of every believer that turn their backs to Christ, and were forgiven and accepted back into the fold, once they blew all they had. Lord Forgive me for ever doubting. Dennis

All of us are God possessions as others here have already confirmed, but not everyone here has successfully endured to the end, because the end for each us is not yet, or we would not still be here, still being tempted, and still working the works of God (hopefully) while it is still day. Soon the night cometh when no man can work, but in the meantime... When we are drawn to Christ, we are stewards left with responsibilities put into our hands by God. We are stewards of our flesh and blood bodies as well as of our material goods and opportunities; and also the spiritual gifts that we have received. What does it require for us to be changed from a steward to a son of God? What does it take for us to be changed into a joint-heir with Christ? When can we be assured that we are a part of the Body of Christ and that we will never lose that place? "... Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?" Job 1:8 In spite of the good report God gives about Job in that verse, Job had a long haul ahead him. He had some more growing to do as do we. Our growing must continue until we have come to end of our course, which will be probably be when the dirt is finally thrown on our faces. if we do not grow then we will stagnate and finally and completely die without God.

The Tea Party is the far right wing of the Republican Party. It is currently heavily influenced and funded by the Koch Brothers and their PAC's, such as Americans for Prosperity. These same people also have involvement in the lobbying organization ALEC, which stands for the American Legislative Exchange Council, which definitely would be a worthwhile Google search if you're not familiar with it. It is very much the right wing of the Republican Party - they do not ever caucus with Democrats in Congress! In no way could this ever be considered to be a 3rd party. You are incorrect as disgruntled Democrats were instrumental in founding of the TEA party. What you are putting forth here is left wing propaganda designed to undermine the truth and validity of the TEA party. Looks like you bought the leftist line. There are still democrats that belong to the TEA party as well and republican members, and they are far from all being the "far right wing" of anything. You are misinformed to say the least. On another note a commentator yesterday said of the "demonstrators" that are currently lost and clueless, that they are blood suckers, mindless, and irritating, welcome to the flea party. I thought that was an accurate summation and worth sharing.

So what about the part of the verse that you have not addressed. "and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction". Pre-trib folks also believe that they will be raptured before the antichrist appears. But this verse also says the "day of Christ will not come until the antichrist is revealed,(for who and what he is) the son of destruction. One can not simply focus on only one part of a verse and come to a true and qualified conclusion or belief that is based on only half of a whole. We must take ALL of the verse into account not just half. Which means that if we take into account all of the verse then it should be pretty clear that to believe that we will be resurrected both before the great falling away and before the antichrist is revealed it is a controdictory scriptural belief given the fact that this verse clearly says that we will not be going anywhere until both the falling away happens and the antichrist is revealed No insult intended here but according to this verse it should be a no brainer.