If God adopted some from before the foundation of the world, what point — if any — would there be in Baptism? An empty ritual?
Every man's life is like riding a bicycle on board a train. We think we're peddling to our destination all on our own, but the train is heading where God intends
Agreed. Our final destination is not affected by what we do; it's where we go from there that is, because "it is "appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment." [Heb 9:27], for "the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds." [Mat 16:27]
But God ordained from before the foundation of the world to freely give some men a ticket bought with the blood of Christ and that ticket will take them all the way home
We believe that Christ's sacrifice made it possible for all men to be saved, as God is not partial. The train we are on is not taking us to paradise, dear lady, but to our death. It isn at that last station that God decides what will be our eternal home. According to Scriptures, that decision is based on how we behave on the train.
We firmly believe that those who are Christ-like in their hearts will be with God for all eternity.
How very Jewish of you. ;-)
It sure is depressing and worrisome, one day all is good and the next day our Saviour sacrificed himself for nothing, because it all depends on the works you do, or don't do.
In all our discussions about translations (which I find open new avenues of study for me) has anyone said that it was a mistranslation when Jesus said "it is finished"?