[xJones]

No, it must be read with all of Scripture and taken as a whole. We are not free to lift only verses that appeal to us and ignore those that do not. Eze. 33:11 is as much a part of God's holy Word as is Jer. 17:9, Eph. 1:4, John 6:44, and Gen.

Well, you since ignore your own advice, I feel free to lift some single verses to support my side of the debate.

"And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:2).

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

"For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4).

"Who (speaking of Christ) gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time" (1 Timothy 2:6).

"For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead" (2 Corinthians 5:14).

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15).

"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).

"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent" (Acts 17:30).

"Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life (Romans 5:18).

"But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man" (Hebrews 2:9).

[Lexinom]

Sovereign grace applies in all the verses you've cited, without a single exception. The fact that not all repent at God's command brings His just condemnation - which would be upon us all but for His mercy. The command still stands, whether men do it or not. As for all Scripture: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" (2 Tim. 3:16). I know not a single person who can digest the whole revealed counsel of God (Scripture), as we see through a glass darkly, stained by our own sin. That is why there is a large number of sects and denominations. If we say we have no sin, we are liars, and the truth is not in us.

I do not care so much about winning a debate, but am concerned about your welfare and others'. I would ask that we consider if what has been written has been written in love. Consider all in the light of eternity (our days are numbered here), and consider carefully the motives, whether carnal pride (the "yeast of the Pharisees"), or conviction of sin, or out of genuine concern for the spiritual welfare of others. Churches today are full of fleshly and world-centered appeal, and filled with people who are blithely marching down the road to Hell. I realize this is neither popular nor comfortable to consider. Alexander Comrie wrote that many become Christians with a "skip and a jump" and then continue on as though nothing in their lives had changed. That was in the 1700s, and man's nature (incl. yours and mine) has not changed since. We do not want to hear those dreadful, final words: "I never knew ye; depart from me, ye workers of iniquity." The warning you cited, Acts 17:30, applies to you and me as well - even as professing Christians! - and not just one time, but all our lives.