OneAccord

Yikes! What an article!!! That's like preaching the gospel with a gun to somebody's head. Hail Jesus!!!! We'll get everyone's knee to bow one way or another!

The woman is Mary.

Here's what Jesus had to say about denominations or diversity among His followers: Mark 9:38 Now John answered Him, saying, "Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us." 39 But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. 40 "For he who is not against us is on our side.

You might say that Jesus prayed in vain in John 17 when He prayed for unity of all believers. That prayer deosn't appear to have been answered YET, but surely Jesus was not praying in vain? John 17:21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, {are} in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

This is an interesting discussion, I am enjoying it, thank you all for being civil. To not believe in limited atonement is to believe in universal salvation. The problem with limited atonement, which has been brought out well in this thread, is defining it. How is it limited? Is it limited by God to only those who He chose/elected? Is it limited by our response, in which case it would be something more like a conditional atonement. Why is it limited? Because God has predestined an elect people from the foundation of the world? Or because the efficacy of the atonement is dependent on us to believe or choose it? In other words, Christ did His part, now it's up to us, thus limited by our sin and rebellion. This is a very difficult situation theolgically.

"how we live our lives does ultimately affect whether or not we have eternal life" Heaven is going to be a mighty lonely place.

Jesus is my Saviour.....I hope...... I think I'm going to heaven, but I'm not really sure........... The GOOD NEWS is that Jesus died for my sins. The BAD NEWS is I'm not really sure if I'm good enough to win His salvation. The GOOD NEWS is that salvation is a free gift from God, the BAD NEWS is that He will take it away again if we aren't good enough. Yikes!!!! What a gospel!!!! Help!!!!

This Scripture is about Jesus, you have to read it in context: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. "He will eat curds and honey at the time He knows {enough} to refuse evil and choose good. 16 "For before the boy will know {enough} to refuse evil and choose good, the land whose two kings you dread will be forsaken. Was there an age of accountibilty for Jesus, too?

Suzanne, you would make a great Catholic.

I think it will be more like the Garden of Eden, where the animals weren't necessarily pets but that Adam was a steward and keeper and all lived in harmony without fear, death, killing, etc.

Is repentance a works salvation? What exactly is repentance anyway? Salvation is by grace alone, from God, not from us lest we should boast. Repentance is a response to our salvation, not a work that guarantees us entrance to heaven. Repentance doesn't necessarily mean confessing and crying over our sins. I equate the word "repentance" with the word "turn" in the Old Testament. We are born into a sin nature that keeps us turned away from God and following after Satan. This sin nature causes us to be on a downward path in our life until we hear God's call to "TURN", which means to turn around and follow after God. We were going in the wrong direction and by turning/repenting we begin to walk the path or journey of righteousness. The cross is this turning point, the crucifixion of our sin nature. The call from God was the gift of salvation. The salvation is accomplished. It's a done deal. It is finished. The journey then begins. It is wrought with snares and traps that would hinder us from attaining the perfection that is in Christ, BUT I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Children who come to a saving knowledge of Christ at a very young age are especially blessed and are pure joy to be around. They are the best witnesses too. As they grow and mature they will most certainly wrestle with their flesh just like all of us, but that seed of Christ that has been awakened in them will continue to grow and grow, we know not how (Mark 4:27). The Holy Spirit in them will continue to govern them and lead them into all truth, including convicting them of their inherited sin nature and giving them a thirst for righteousness. Or do you not believe that God can and will take care of His little lambs, o ye of little faith? Let the children rejoice and sing and be filled with His mighty love. Do not quench the Spirit in them and cause them to doubt their loving Father in heaven because the spirit of fear can never let you rest assured in your own salvation. Suffer not the little children to come unto me.