Eternal Salvation Is Free; Ruling With Christ Is Earned

[Vine Abider]

I saw this topic on another forum and thought it would be good to discuss here too.  I think this is a very succinct way of putting things.

What do you think?

[D. Adrien]

1 Cor. 2:9

But, as it is written,

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—

 

Perhaps for some of us. There are parables that allude to being given cities to rule over and the number of these cities vary with how much overcoming the Christian succeeded at. Others may have been sidelined and lost any reward due to lack of effort perhaps?

Those who exceeded expectations rule over worlds?

 

[TheBlade]

"For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him.”

[AdHoc]

On 3/20/2024 at 8:41 PM, Vine Abider said:

I saw this topic on another forum and thought it would be good to discuss here too.  I think this is a very succinct way of putting things.

What do you think?

The title is good, and should prove to be provocative. Prince Charles, now King Charles had a long way to the throne of Great Britain.

He was born to a Queen which gave him the Birthright to the throne. He had no say in his birth. His mother paid the price of childbirth.

But it is a great step from the mother's paps to the throne of Great Britain. So Charles' parents set about a constant training from his earliest years to be a king worthy of the name of Windsor, and a king who could serve his people. He must wear the kingly clothes, be subject to his schoolmasters, suffer discipline and learn politics. As a young man he is sent to the military and though a coming king, he must eat his share of mud. But all the while, a bevy of watchers hover in the shadows. The king, though he learn some hard lessons, must not be maimed.

But what if Charles is strong-willed, a rebel and slothful. He likes fast cars and guns. He favor parties rather than politics. And soon he has had a few accidents under the influence of alcohol and drugs in which his friends lost their lives. He is soon DISINHERITED by his mother the Queen. On a certain fateful day he is publicly stripped of his titles.

And now we take stock:
- Charles is born to a Queen. Can he be unborn?
- Charles has the life of his mother. Can Charles be stripped of his life/nature?
- Charles is subject to the constitution of England. Can he be prosecuted?
- Though Charles be a king-in-waiting, can he be stripped of the title and the office?

So it is with the Christian. Current Christian theology teaches that salvation is a PLACE - heaven. It also teaches that we have certain rules to follow. But on closer examination it is found that salvation for a Christian is fivefold and does not end with a PLACE.
1. He is a sinner. He needs to have his sins forgiven. This was bought by the death of Another - it is FREE
2. He must be BORN into a royal family. This is achieved by faith and is FREE
3. He has a long record of a bad character. His character must be transformed. Like Charles, he must COOPERATE in this schooling
4. He will die one day. If he is to be useful, he must be resurrected. This return to life is done by Another - FREE
5. He will be judged whether or not he is worthy of Christ's KINGDOM. This EARNED by years of proving that he has God's interests and Name at heart

Point 1, 2 & 4 are FREE. To achieve point 3 he must have self-discipline. He must be prepared to deny his own wishes. In point 5 he must be righteous in all his dealings for, later, with the power invested in him, he would cause great damage to people, country and his name. In Matthew 19 a rich man wanted to HAVE LIFE. Jesus assures him that because he had recognized and confessed Jesus as divine, he HAD LIFE (by rebirth). But now the Lord Jesus tells him he needs to ENTER LIFE. And our Lord Jesus uses THREE concepts interchangeably. The (i) ENTERING LIFE (v.17) is the same as (ii) ENTERING the Kingdom of Heaven (v.23), is the same as (iii) being SAVED (v.25). The man FAILED. He was not prepared to PAY THE PRICE. He had God's Law at heart, but not ALL of God's interests. He was born again and he will be resurrected, but when Christ sets up His Kingdom on earth when He returns, the rich man will be shut out. And so will the evil servant of Matthew 24, the slothful servant and the foolish Virgins of Matthew 25.

[AdHoc]

On 3/20/2024 at 8:47 PM, D. Adrien said:

1 Cor. 2:9

But, as it is written,

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—

 

Perhaps for some of us. There are parables that allude to being given cities to rule over and the number of these cities vary with how much overcoming the Christian succeeded at. Others may have been sidelined and lost any reward due to lack of effort perhaps?

Those who exceeded expectations rule over worlds?

 

Amen! Count yourself blessed to have seen this. 90% of our brothers and sisters in Christ think heaven is salvation.

[Marilyn C]

On 3/21/2024 at 6:47 AM, D. Adrien said:

1 Cor. 2:9

But, as it is written,

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—

 

Perhaps for some of us. There are parables that allude to being given cities to rule over and the number of these cities vary with how much overcoming the Christian succeeded at. Others may have been sidelined and lost any reward due to lack of effort perhaps?

Those who exceeded expectations rule over worlds?

 

Hi Adrian,

 Jesus said that to the people of Israel. In the millennium some people of Israel will rule over cities. The nations that are left after the Lord judges them will need teaching of God`s laws and ways. (Micah 4: 1 - 3)

[Marilyn C]

`To him who overcome I will grant to sit with Me on My throne...` (Rev. 3: 21) 

We overcome by the word of God and Christ`s precious Blood. We are to overcome the false teaching of the wicked one and trickery of men -

- that our inheritance is on earth whereas God`s word says heaven.

- that we are to advance the kingdom of God when God`s word says we are to become like Christ and build up the Body.

- that we are the bride, when God`s word says we are the New Man.

- that we come back to this sinful earth when God`s word says we rule on Christ`s own throne in the third heaven.

- that we are on this sinful earth in the tribulation when God`s word says we are on Christ`s own throne judging the world system and fallen angels.

- that we are on this sinful earth in the millennium when God`s word says we are on Christ`s throne in the third heaven ruling over all.

- that Christ`s throne, seat of power is on the earth when God`s word says He is far above all, in the third heaven.

 

[NConly]

1 hour ago, Marilyn C said:

`To him who overcome I will grant to sit with Me on My throne...` (Rev. 3: 21) 

We overcome by the word of God and Christ`s precious Blood. We are to overcome the false teaching of the wicked one and trickery of men -

- that our inheritance is on earth whereas God`s word says heaven.

- that we are to advance the kingdom of God when God`s word says we are to become like Christ and build up the Body.

- that we are the bride, when God`s word says we are the New Man.

- that we come back to this sinful earth when God`s word says we rule on Christ`s own throne in the third heaven.

- that we are on this sinful earth in the tribulation when God`s word says we are on Christ`s own throne judging the world system and fallen angels.

- that we are on this sinful earth in the millennium when God`s word says we are on Christ`s throne in the third heaven ruling over all.

- that Christ`s throne, seat of power is on the earth when God`s word says He is far above all, in the third heaven.

 

I am thinking Israel is Zion. In Micah 4 who is the daughter mentioned a couple times seems important?

Edited March 22, 2024 by NConly
add

[Wayne222]

Everyone who is born again overcomes. But in different degrees. Everyone will rule with Christ in the body of Christ. 

[Wayne222]

1 hour ago, Marilyn C said:

`To him who overcome I will grant to sit with Me on My throne...` (Rev. 3: 21) 

We overcome by the word of God and Christ`s precious Blood. We are to overcome the false teaching of the wicked one and trickery of men -

- that our inheritance is on earth whereas God`s word says heaven.

- that we are to advance the kingdom of God when God`s word says we are to become like Christ and build up the Body.

- that we are the bride, when God`s word says we are the New Man.

- that we come back to this sinful earth when God`s word says we rule on Christ`s own throne in the third heaven.

- that we are on this sinful earth in the tribulation when God`s word says we are on Christ`s own throne judging the world system and fallen angels.

- that we are on this sinful earth in the millennium when God`s word says we are on Christ`s throne in the third heaven ruling over all.

- that Christ`s throne, seat of power is on the earth when God`s word says He is far above all, in the third heaven.

 

Christ is coming back to the earth. Zechariah 14. His feet will be on the mt of olives. The new Jerusalem will be on the earth. So heaven comes to earth. The saints go through the tribulation. After the seventh trumpet sounds the dead will raise.