I have a question.

[kross]

Psalm 95 v 7b - 8: Today, if you will hear His voice;

"Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, As in the day of trial in the wilderness,

Would the red text be talking to the chosen only? If so..why? That doesn't make sense -

Psalm 100 v 5: For the LORD is good;

His mercy is everlasting,

And His truth endures to all

generations.

Macquaire Dictionary:

Mercy - Compassionate or kindly. Forbearance shown towards an offender, an enemy - compassionate, pity or benelovence.

Is Psalm 100 v 5 talking only about the "chosen"? If so, why would the verse mention mercy - if mercy means to show forbearance to an offender? If they are the chosen, then they wouldn't be the offender..does it mean to those who are sinners as well and have a Hope in coming to know Him?

More likely.

His truth endures to all generations - everyone has the opportunity to know Him.

You wanted me to explain my views so here is just a little of what I believe. What I have posted in these last two replies larryt are my own ponderings and not from others - all my ponderings stem from the Word and not from a whacky book.

I would point out that the old testament is written to and for GOD's chosen people (Israel). Those adopted into the promise to Abraham are still the generations of Abraham/Israel. These were not promised or scritptures written to those who were not HIS chosen people.

[Guest HIS girl]

The downfall with your comment kross is Christians today read the Bible and take the promises in there as their own. You probably have done that as well. Christains read the Bible and apply the verses to their own lives. This is done on a daily basis.

Another thing about being Saved and the proof of it - is the fruit that being Saved bears - yes one can struggle for many years with a hangup AND be Saved but honestly - if other areas of their life remain the same and not much change has taken place - I would be doubtful as to there being a true conversion.

A Follower will bear fruit consistent to the Word.

[kross]

The downfall with your comment kross is Christians today read the Bible and take the promises in there as their own. You probably have done that as well. Christains read the Bible and apply the verses to their own lives. This is done on a daily basis.

Another thing about being Saved and the proof of it - is the fruit that being Saved bears - yes one can struggle for many years with a hangup AND be Saved but honestly - if other areas of their life remain the same and not much change has taken place - I would be doubtful as to there being a true conversion.

A Follower will bear fruit consistent to the Word.

That is not a downfall, the scriptures are for Christians. We are the seed of Abraham, adopted in CHRIST, to all generations. I did actually said that. (though looking at it now, it is not clear)

The guy who lead me to the LORD was a homosexual who battled every day for years. He lead many to the LORD and taught very well. GOD used him in many ways.

Salvation is by Faith, it is not based on how sanctified a person appears, it is based on trusting JESUS.

[Guest HIS girl]

The downfall with your comment kross is Christians today read the Bible and take the promises in there as their own. You probably have done that as well. Christains read the Bible and apply the verses to their own lives. This is done on a daily basis.

Another thing about being Saved and the proof of it - is the fruit that being Saved bears - yes one can struggle for many years with a hangup AND be Saved but honestly - if other areas of their life remain the same and not much change has taken place - I would be doubtful as to there being a true conversion.

A Follower will bear fruit consistent to the Word.

That is not a downfall, the scriptures are for Christians. We are the seed of Abraham, adopted in CHRIST, to all generations. I did actually say that.

The guy who lead me to the LORD was a homosexual who battled every day for years. He lead many to the LORD and taught very well. GOD used him in many ways.

Salvation is by Faith, it is not based on how sanctified a person appears, it is based on trusting JESUS.

I know the Scriptures and it's promises are NOT downfalls - what I was pointing at is the downfall of RESTRICTING the promises ONLY to those in the OT. That is what I thought you were implying.

AND yes, I know a woman who, whilst a raging alcoholic, was a Bible teacher and led a couple through THEIR alcoholism - it was THROUGH that, that SHE was able to release the hold alcoholism had on her. God will use ANY situation for His purpose...AND she DID bear fruit consistent with the Word...I know Salvatrion isn't by works and I have not once said that...that is what Jesus is talking about when He responds to their lament - " I never knew you." - they went through the "physical" motions of Christianity but there was NO Spiritual connection with God whatsoever. THAT is ALL about relationship with the Father....

[Guest HIS girl]

For those of you who believe in a select/chosen people before time as we know it - please, how do YOU explain what Jesus said in Luke 19 v 10:

"for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

[Smalcald]

The downfall with your comment kross is Christians today read the Bible and take the promises in there as their own. You probably have done that as well. Christains read the Bible and apply the verses to their own lives. This is done on a daily basis.

Another thing about being Saved and the proof of it - is the fruit that being Saved bears - yes one can struggle for many years with a hangup AND be Saved but honestly - if other areas of their life remain the same and not much change has taken place - I would be doubtful as to there being a true conversion.

A Follower will bear fruit consistent to the Word.

That is not a downfall, the scriptures are for Christians. We are the seed of Abraham, adopted in CHRIST, to all generations. I did actually say that.

The guy who lead me to the LORD was a homosexual who battled every day for years. He lead many to the LORD and taught very well. GOD used him in many ways.

Salvation is by Faith, it is not based on how sanctified a person appears, it is based on trusting JESUS.

I know the Scriptures and it's promises are NOT downfalls - what I was pointing at is the downfall of RESTRICTING the promises ONLY to those in the OT. That is what I thought you were implying.

AND yes, I know a woman who, whilst a raging alcoholic, was a Bible teacher and led a couple through THEIR alcoholism - it was THROUGH that, that SHE was able to release the hold alcoholism had on her. God will use ANY situation for His purpose...AND she DID bear fruit consistent with the Word...I know Salvatrion isn't by works and I have not once said that...that is what Jesus is talking about when He responds to their lament - " I never knew you." - they went through the "physical" motions of Christianity but there was NO Spiritual connection with God whatsoever. THAT is ALL about relationship with the Father....

I think it is also, I agree.

But of course a relationship means obedience; love means you will obey the one you love; it does not mean spitting on someone you love. We spit on God, we spit on Christ every time we sin.

But let

[Guest HIS girl]

The downfall with your comment kross is Christians today read the Bible and take the promises in there as their own. You probably have done that as well. Christains read the Bible and apply the verses to their own lives. This is done on a daily basis.

Another thing about being Saved and the proof of it - is the fruit that being Saved bears - yes one can struggle for many years with a hangup AND be Saved but honestly - if other areas of their life remain the same and not much change has taken place - I would be doubtful as to there being a true conversion.

A Follower will bear fruit consistent to the Word.

That is not a downfall, the scriptures are for Christians. We are the seed of Abraham, adopted in CHRIST, to all generations. I did actually say that.

The guy who lead me to the LORD was a homosexual who battled every day for years. He lead many to the LORD and taught very well. GOD used him in many ways.

Salvation is by Faith, it is not based on how sanctified a person appears, it is based on trusting JESUS.

I know the Scriptures and it's promises are NOT downfalls - what I was pointing at is the downfall of RESTRICTING the promises ONLY to those in the OT. That is what I thought you were implying.

AND yes, I know a woman who, whilst a raging alcoholic, was a Bible teacher and led a couple through THEIR alcoholism - it was THROUGH that, that SHE was able to release the hold alcoholism had on her. God will use ANY situation for His purpose...AND she DID bear fruit consistent with the Word...I know Salvatrion isn't by works and I have not once said that...that is what Jesus is talking about when He responds to their lament - " I never knew you." - they went through the "physical" motions of Christianity but there was NO Spiritual connection with God whatsoever. THAT is ALL about relationship with the Father....

I think it is also, I agree.

But of course a relationship means obedience; love means you will obey the one you love; it does not mean spitting on someone you love. We spit on God, we spit on Christ every time we sin.

But let's look at scripture again; Jesus in responding to that lament said this:

21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'

It is pretty clear exactly what Jesus meant here, and it is not about going through the physical motions of Christianity, it is about practicing lawlessness. Look at the first sentence, "he who does the will of my Father in heaven" he who does, not just he who says he believes.

I am not promoting works as salvation, I am simply saying the relationship of which we all seek and are part of will necessarily have implications for how we live, and a lack of a relationship will also have implications for how we live. Words are just that words, we can say we believe all we want and it will not make it so.

There is nothing I have said that has gone against that verse.

To practice lawlessness whilst going through the motions of Christianity is a clear indication one has NO relationship with the Father....

By their deeds one will know if one is a disciple of Jesus. From the heart flow the issues of life - if the heart is renewed - the deeds will bear fruit of that change. This is where folks go wrong - it is the HEART connection - the relationship - the intimate relationship that God wants - NOT empty MEANINGLESS words and motions...anyone can say they are saved and fool others into thinking they are..it is done on a daily basis - it is by the fruits and consistent fruit. People always think fruit as being works - it is a mindset as well - the renewing of the mind - daily.

[Smalcald]

Yes we agree.

[kross]

The downfall with your comment kross is Christians today read the Bible and take the promises in there as their own. You probably have done that as well. Christains read the Bible and apply the verses to their own lives. This is done on a daily basis.

Another thing about being Saved and the proof of it - is the fruit that being Saved bears - yes one can struggle for many years with a hangup AND be Saved but honestly - if other areas of their life remain the same and not much change has taken place - I would be doubtful as to there being a true conversion.

A Follower will bear fruit consistent to the Word.

That is not a downfall, the scriptures are for Christians. We are the seed of Abraham, adopted in CHRIST, to all generations. I did actually say that.

The guy who lead me to the LORD was a homosexual who battled every day for years. He lead many to the LORD and taught very well. GOD used him in many ways.

Salvation is by Faith, it is not based on how sanctified a person appears, it is based on trusting JESUS.

I know the Scriptures and it's promises are NOT downfalls - what I was pointing at is the downfall of RESTRICTING the promises ONLY to those in the OT. That is what I thought you were implying.

AND yes, I know a woman who, whilst a raging alcoholic, was a Bible teacher and led a couple through THEIR alcoholism - it was THROUGH that, that SHE was able to release the hold alcoholism had on her. God will use ANY situation for His purpose...AND she DID bear fruit consistent with the Word...I know Salvatrion isn't by works and I have not once said that...that is what Jesus is talking about when He responds to their lament - " I never knew you." - they went through the "physical" motions of Christianity but there was NO Spiritual connection with God whatsoever. THAT is ALL about relationship with the Father....

"I am what I am by the grace of GOD"

Just so you know that we are on the same page (almost) about scritpures, the quote from 2Tim 3:16 "All scripture is good for teaching, rebuke...." is referring to OT scriptures. I was not referring to the promises being downfalls either. I was stating that your statement about my point being a downfall was not really a downfall. I was simply pointing out that OT and New Testament scriptures are written to GOD's chosen people.

[kross]

For those of you who believe in a select/chosen people before time as we know it - please, how do YOU explain what Jesus said in Luke 19 v 10:

"for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

Because HIS chosen are the sheep of HIS flock that are gone astray and HE leaves the 99 and goes after them. HE calls them by name and they know HIS voice and will not follow another.

The shepherd goes to the sheepgate and calls out those who are HIS, only. HE doesn't call those that belong to someone else.