It is the belief that God is loving and merciful and that he desires all to be saved that comforts me and gives me peace about people I love who do not (yet) trust in Jesus as their savior. I know it is ultimately between them and God and that I cannot be responsible for whether or not a person is saved or not. I can only be faithful to do what he has asked me to do and that is to preach the gospel in both word and deed - I honestly believe it is the main reason we are not whisked off to heaven the moment we believe. We are to be a light to the world pointing all to Christ. It is this very commission he gave us that leads me to understand that ALL have to come to that point in their lives when they decide what they are to do with the light God has given them.
I understand that neither Calvin nor Luther nor Arminius nor any other theologian has the corner on absolute truth regarding free will and predestination. I can try to see the picture that encompasses all the doctrines that are based on Scripture and conclude that we really won't know the big picture until we have been given the mind of Christ - because that is what it will take to grasp the fullness of it all. What I DO know is that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ alone - on this we can know God has not left us to wonder.
AMEN!
What I DO know is that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ alone - on this we can know God has not left us to wonder.
AMEN!!!
Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day." -- Deuteronomy 10:14-15"Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD's thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.
Amen!