salvation for the lost

[mrs]

Nothing can be accomplished without God's ok. I might be optimistic but I'm not a heretic. Since God is all powerful, is perfect, has a perfect plan to save humanity and so on, why would he let a single person perish?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8,9

[Gerioke]

Matthew 19: 25 And the disciples, hearing this, were greatly surprised, saying, Who then may have salvation?

26 And Jesus, looking at them, said, With men this is not possible; but with God all things are possible.

[NITE OWL]

If you went around witnessing to everyone you met, people would think you were crazy. That's not what God wants. ( these are my belief's ) God wants us to be a living witness. That's not to say you shouldn't witness, but it's not up to us who gets saved and who doesn't.

Christ said "Love your neighbor as yourself". Treat people the way you want to be treated.

We are to be sowers of the Word. All we need to do is plant the seed of Light. Someone else will water it. God will make it grow. ( if it is His will )

We have no say in the matter of who is saved and who isn't. We can't pray righteousness into someone.

God calls us. It's up to us whether we accept or deny.

No one ever witnessed to me. No one ever told me about Christ. Church was for people in nice suits who drove nice cars. I don't know why He chose me, but I truly believe He did.

I'm starting to babble here...sorry.

Read Matt. 5-6-7. Study those 3 chapters. Take your time...go slow. Ask God to open your eyes to His Word. ( I believe the Lord's prayer is a key element in getting your prayers answered ) Just about everything you need to know is in those 3 chapters.

Anyway...it's not up to us to save people. If it were, Christ will have died for nothing. Know what I mean?

Later...Have a good one.

[Gerioke]

I wasn't implying that it were up to us. I was implying that as Ovedya said we could pray to have their hearts softened after we witness to them.

What logical reason could there be to reject everlasting life? If we witness to them then we can't blame lack of knowledge. If we interceed for them then we can't blame spiritual death. What is left?

[NITE OWL]

I wasn't implying that it were up to us. I was implying that as Ovedya said we could pray to have their hearts softened after we witness to them.

What logical reason could there be to reject everlasting life? If we witness to them then we can't blame lack of knowledge. If we interceed for them then we can't blame spiritual death. What is left?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

When you witness to someone, do you tell them everything there is to know about God? Do you explain false doctrines, false teachings. the rapture, tithing, taxes, witnessing, and on and on. You would have to spend years with each person you witness to in order to say lack of knowledge isn't to blame.

Simply telling someone that Christ died for them means nothing to that person unless they fully understand the concept of God.

Do you get what I'm saying?

The first time someone witnessed to you, did you walk away knowing everything?

When you pray for the person you witnessed too, are you 100% positive that God will fill that individual with His Spirit? Does God answer each and every one of our prayers?

Think of it like this....Could you explain the principles of math to a five year old? Everything from simple 1+1 to complex problems and expect them to grasp the idea without any studying on their part?

If a muslem, hindu, or buddist witnessed to you, would you accept their beliefs without questioning the existence of their god?

Not everyone is destined to spend eternity with God. We can't pray righteousness into anyone. If we could, there would be no sin and no need for Christ.

Each of us has our own calling. God has a job for us, we just need to figure out what it is. Some of us sow. Some of us water. But it is God who has the final word. It is God who decides who gets into His kingdom and who doesn't, not us.

Perhaps today you will sow to one person and tomorrow water another. Do you get what I'm saying?

Anyway...I hope this helped.

Later.

[Gerioke]

I wasn't implying that it were up to us. I was implying that as Ovedya said we could pray to have their hearts softened after we witness to them.

What logical reason could there be to reject everlasting life? If we witness to them then we can't blame lack of knowledge. If we interceed for them then we can't blame spiritual death. What is left?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

When you witness to someone, do you tell them everything there is to know about God? Do you explain false doctrines, false teachings. the rapture, tithing, taxes, witnessing, and on and on. You would have to spend years with each person you witness to in order to say lack of knowledge isn't to blame.

Simply telling someone that Christ died for them means nothing to that person unless they fully understand the concept of God.

Do you get what I'm saying?

The first time someone witnessed to you, did you walk away knowing everything?

When you pray for the person you witnessed too, are you 100% positive that God will fill that individual with His Spirit? Does God answer each and every one of our prayers?

Think of it like this....Could you explain the principles of math to a five year old? Everything from simple 1+1 to complex problems and expect them to grasp the idea without any studying on their part?

If a muslem, hindu, or buddist witnessed to you, would you accept their beliefs without questioning the existence of their god?

Not everyone is destined to spend eternity with God. We can't pray righteousness into anyone. If we could, there would be no sin and no need for Christ.

Each of us has our own calling. God has a job for us, we just need to figure out what it is. Some of us sow. Some of us water. But it is God who has the final word.

Perhaps today you will sow to one person and tomorrow water another. Do you get what I'm saying?

Anyway...I hope this helped.

Later.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You seem to be missing my point. I try not to repeat myself

It is God who decides who gets into His kingdom and who doesn't, not us.

1 Timothy 2

1 I exhort, then, first of all, there be made supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, for all men:

2 for kings, and all who are in authority, that a quiet and peaceable life we may lead in all piety and gravity,

3 for this is right and acceptable before God our Saviour,

4 who doth will all men to be saved, and to come to the full knowledge of the truth;

What is so hard about accepting the fact that God desires no one to perish. Is God not awesome? Is God not powerful?

24 And again I say to you, It is simpler for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a man with much money to go into the kingdom of God.

25 And the disciples, hearing this, were greatly surprised, saying, Who then may have salvation?

26 And Jesus, looking at them, said, With men this is not possible; but with God all things are possible.

How clear is that?

[mrs]

[1 I exhort, then, first of all, there be made supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, for all men:

2 for kings, and all who are in authority, that a quiet and peaceable life we may lead in all piety and gravity,

3 for this is right and acceptable before God our Saviour,

4 who doth will all men to be saved, and to come to the full knowledge of the truth;

What is so hard about accepting the fact that God desires no one to perish. Is God not awesome? Is God not powerful?

24 And again I say to you, It is simpler for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a man with much money to go into the kingdom of God.

25 And the disciples, hearing this, were greatly surprised, saying, Who then may have salvation?

26 And Jesus, looking at them, said, With men this is not possible; but with God all things are possible.

How clear is that?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It says He wills it, not that it will happen.

"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."

"For he saith to Moses,I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Thou will say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who are thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?"

"According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will."

[NITE OWL]

We live on a planet that is ruled by satan. God's will is that no one should perish. But because satan has dominion here, there are some who will never know the truth.

God doesn't want anyone to die in their sins. He wishs no one to perish.

But....we have the free will to believe or not to believe. That's the difference between salvation and damnation. Because of Eve's transgressions, we have the right to accept or deny God.

God wants us all to come to the knowledge of Him, but because of satan that will never happen.

Yes we are to pray for others but that does not mean they are saved. God said pray for your enemies, for by doing so you heap hot coals upon their heads.

God is looking for those who will follow Him in faith. That's why He instructs us to pray for the lost. He wants to know if we genuinely care for others. Even our enemies.

Not everyone comes to the knowledge of God. If that were not true, there would be no need for Christ.

If this doesn't answer your question. Explain it...without scripture. Just say what's in your heart. I mean when you talk with others in your life do you talk to them in scripture? Make your question as simple as you can. When quoting scripture you must remember that there's other scripture surrounding that verse. The meaning you get from one verse may be different from someone elses. So keep it simple.

Don't give up...if we didn't answer your question, try asking it in different way.

I gotta go now. Bills to pay.

Y'all have a good one.

[Gerioke]

" With God all things are possible" tells me that God can do what ever he wants despite those of you who disagree.

If He has indeed predestined us for salvation, then what's the worry about anything? Why have discussions about right and wrong? Why bother witnessing at all? It will make no differenc since we are predestned.

True, there maybe some with no good in them what so ever, and they may perish. But I believe there is a possibility that it is even simpler than we think because God is great. He has no issues to cause Him to stumble. He has nothing to fear by showing an unfathomable amount of mercy. God will ultimately choose who goes where and at what time. We can only speculate if what we think we know lines up with what Jesus actually said. Evil is the absence of God. Where there is no God, evil will spend eternity. Where there is God, souls will rejoice. I have decided to remain an optimist and continue to bless the unloveable. You can continue believing what you will and we can still be friends because God is greater than satan. God will prevail and His power will become evident when all is said and done.

Praise Jesus

[stevehut]

1- does this give God a legal right to make salvation a part of their destiny even though they reject it?

2- God being a just God has a perfect plan so that none will perish.

3- Witnessing needs to be followed by prayer in order to give God the legal right to save the lost.

4- Since He is just He cannot save somebody who has not asked.

5- Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

1- Does God have rights? Um, ya, I would say so. In any event, I believe the person you're praying for still has a responsibility to believe and repent just like you and me and everyone else.

2- Oh, I believe plenty will perish. God's plan provides salvation for all, but many reject him.

3- I'm sure that God is glad that you recognice his "rights"

4- Ah, you don't think God is all-powerful? Sounds dangerous to me.

5- Yup. But every person still needs to respond.