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.

As far as animals in heaven: Rev 5:13 says And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, {be} blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever." This is a picture of heaven from John's Revelation. It looks like all the animals will be there, too, praising Him. Isaiah speaks of the lion laying down with the lamb, of children being able to play with cobras. Not only will there be animals in heaven but the Gen. 3 curse will have been lifted from them. When God destroyed all flesh from the earth in the flood, He saved 8 people alive AND every species of animal. When He made the proimise with the rainbow He made it to the animals as well: Gen 9:9 "Now behold, I Myself do establish My covenant with you, and with your descendants after you; and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you; of all that comes out of the ark, even every beast of the earth. Romans 8:20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. Also consider the sparrows: Luke 12:6 Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? {Yet} not one of them is forgotten before God.

In other words, many believers who think they are going to heaven are decieved, this would have to be the worst deception of all. Not only do unbelievers not make it to heaven, but so do believers that are decieved. This really narrows the playing field.

Tuesday, May 3rd, 2005 Bush Administration Allied With Sudan Despite Role in Darfur Genocide -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Los Angeles Times has revealed that the U.S. has quietly forged a close intelligence partnership with Sudan despite the government's role in the mass killings in Darfur. We speak with Ken Silverstein, the reporter who broke the story, Salih Booker, the director of Africa Action as well as Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the days after the Sept. 11 attacks, President Bush issued an ultimatum to the world: "Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists." Three and half years later, it has been revealed that the Bush administration has allied itself with a government listed as a state sponsor of terrorism and one that the administration has accused of committing genocide against its own people - Sudan. A major expose in the Los Angeles Times on Friday revealed that the U.S. has quietly forged a close intelligence partnership with Sudan despite the government's role in the mass killings in Darfur. The Sudanese government has since publicly confirmed it is working with the Bush administration and the CIA. Eight months ago, former Secretary of State Colin Powell accused the Sudanese of carrying out a genocide in Darfur. Already 180,000 have died in the region from fighting or hunger. But relations appear to have since changed -- for the better. One senior Sudanese official the LA Times that the country had achieved "complete normalization" of relations with the CIA. The Times reported that the CIA sent an executive jet last week to Khartoum to ferry the chief of Sudan's intelligence agency to Washington for secret meetings sealing Khartoum's sensitive and previously veiled partnership with the administration. The Sudanese intelligence chief - Major General Salah Abdallah Gosh - has been accused by members of Congress of directing military attacks against civilians in Darfur. He also had regular contacts with Osama bin Laden during the 1990s. Last month, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice sent a letter to the Sudanese government calling for steps to end the conflict in Darfur. But the letter, reviewed by the Times, also said the administration hoped to establish a "fruitful relationship" with Sudan and looked forward to continued "close cooperation" on terrorism. http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/05/03/1357228

In second Thessalonians, Paul tells us that God will send a strong delusion. Is this a deception of sorts? Why would God want to delude His chosen elect?

You mean democracy isn't everything it's cracked up to be??

"Lest ye become like little children ye cannot enter the kingdom of heaven........" I think our brains definitely get in the way of the Spirit. Can retarded people really be saved if they can't fully grasp their sin nature????? The notion of this precious child not necessarily being saved because she can't fully grasp her sin nature is absurd. Salvation is a free gift from God, not based on how good we are at repenting.

My daughter is just like the little girl you described and there is no question in my mind that she is in Christ and has the Holy Spirit dwelling in her heart. His sheep hear His voice, the lambs too. My prayer for her would be that nothing would come along and quench that spirit in her, no one snuffs out the light. But remember also, that God is fully able to take care of His own. Meanwhile, enjoy her pure and wonderful joy in the Lord!!!!! It's a beautiful thing! What a witness!!!!!

We see this same sort of thing going on in Rev 5:13, every created thing praising the Lord, including those under the earth. Revelation 5:13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, {be} blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever." This is a great question, what are those 'under the earth'? Some think 'under the earth' is Sheol or hell. Or those now sleeping in their graves. Literally it could mean all the creatures who live under the earth, earthworms, moles, etc. In the Rev 5:13 verse, not only is every creature bowing down and confessing that He is Lord, but they are actually praising Him. Is this forced praise?