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To: Claud

>>It is possible for someone to know Christ interiorly, but never having been exposed to a missionary, to not really be able to put the Name to the Face so to speak.<<

No, it is not. All reprobate are at a natural enmity with God. There are none who seek. We don't know anything of true salvation until the moment we are indwelt with the Holy Spirit, which finally opens our eyes to our sin.

His word will accomplish what He means it to accomplish, and if he means to save someone in a remote location, he will vouchsafe the method of which His word will be delivered.

Graham states that some can be saved having never heard of a Bible or Jesus, but through some belief in "a" god, and living a different life. That's works-based, and not rooted in scripture. If that were indeed the case, Jesus would not have left us with the Great Commission.

Graham also states "I think everybody that loves Christ, or knows Christ, whether they're conscious of it or not, they're members of the Body of Christ."

That is a completely un-biblical position. Ps 10:4, Rom 3:9-18, Mt 25:32-33 state the opposite.

>>but I'm sure if you pressed him on it, he would say that they are being saved by Christ, with Christ, and through Christ--whether they know it or not.<<

Given his growing trend towards ecumenalism, I would say not.


55 posted on 12/29/2005 6:26:06 AM PST by ItsOurTimeNow ("Hail Him who saved you by His grace, and crown Him Lord of All")
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To: ItsOurTimeNow
No, it is not. All reprobate are at a natural enmity with God. There are none who seek. We don't know anything of true salvation until the moment we are indwelt with the Holy Spirit, which finally opens our eyes to our sin.

So by your schema, no one could ever turn to Christ, because if sinners/heathens are at *total* emnity with God and cannot even seek Him, they are beyond all hope of grace, beyond all hope of the Spirit ever operating within them.

How, pray, can a man turn from sin to God if not through grace?

57 posted on 12/29/2005 8:28:39 AM PST by Claud
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To: ItsOurTimeNow; topcat54; Gamecock; RnMomof7
His word will accomplish what He means it to accomplish

Amen. Scripture is the means by which God has chosen to dispense His saving grace through faith in Jesus Christ. I suppose He could do it some other way, but so far, He hasn't.

"For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." -- John 5: 22-24.

Thus you're correct, IOTN, when you reference the Great Commission where Jesus instructed all Christians to preach the word of God to all nations and races so that all whom God has given to Christ will be brought home.

Salvation's not a game of chance. All whom Christ was sent to redeem will be redeemed. God is not surprised by any face He sees in heaven.

64 posted on 12/29/2005 11:28:47 AM PST by Dr. Eckleburg (Semper eo pro iocus.)
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