Posted on 12/04/2022 1:16:23 PM PST by metmom
“‘To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven’” (Matthew 13:11).
In the Lord’s Prayer (Matt. 6:10) we see two aspects of the kingdom of heaven. “On earth” refers to the present kingdom, mediated through God’s servants, and “in heaven” refers to God’s universal, direct reign.
Through the centuries the present kingdom has attracted both true and false citizens. Only God can infallibly distinguish true citizens (the redeemed) from false ones. Jesus shows that many branches that seem to belong to the vine actually do not. The spurious ones will be pruned away and thrown into the fire (John 15:2, 6). Such people only superficially identify with Christ but are never really citizens of the kingdom of heaven or part of the body of Christ. They appear to be true citizens only from an imperfect human perspective.
Paradoxically, Scripture uses terms such as Israel, God’s people, and disciples that can include both nominal and genuine believers. Paul does make it clear, however, that “he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart” (Rom. 2:29; cf. 9:6–7). Only at the very end of the age, when the eternal kingdom begins, will those who are true citizens of God’s kingdom be clear to everyone. (Even during the Millennium, when Christ directly rules on earth, there will be disloyal citizens; cf. Rev. 20:7–8.)
The only way now to ensure your kingdom citizenship is to repent, trust in Jesus Christ, and pursue the sanctification that new life in Him brings (cf. Mark 1:15).
Ask Yourself
What should churches do to discern and encourage those who are Christians in name only to put their faith in Christ wholeheartedly? Why do we tend to avoid dealing in touchy matters like these? And what is the result of our reticence?
From Daily Readings from the Life of Christ, Vol. 1, John MacArthur. Copyright © 2008. Used by permission of Moody Publishers, Chicago, IL 60610, www.moodypublishers.com.
Prove to me by scripture that there is any instance in it that anyone who agreed (by simply a complete change of mind only) to be saved through totally committing everything he/she is or does or owns for God's disposition, and that because of that attitude God bestows the permanent unmerited gracious gift of life everlating, that this person with this endowment has desired to return into a depraved disobedient existence.
Prove it to me that there is any such person illustrated anywhere in the Bible as an example of it.
Please!
If you can do that, you will have disproved John MacArthur's theme in this meditation upon which our convictions may be deepened.
Here's what MacArthur wants the reader to consider as a result of pondering on the theology involved:
What should churches do to discern and encourage those who are Christians in name only to put their faith in Christ wholeheartedly? Why do we tend to avoid dealing in touchy matters like these? And what is the result of our reticence?Clearly, one must infer that there are levels of a partial "belief", all of which are shy of a "saving confidence" in Jesus as Savior and Master.
(You don't need to answer this. It's intended as more of a rhetorical question/statement than a quiz.)
Must be tough, being Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Arabian etal.
They don't get the value of a nice ENGLISH translation to guide them to heaven.
Must be tough, being Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Arabian etal.
They don't get the value of a nice ENGLISH translation to guide them to heaven.
Foundations are good. We know for sure that a rock one is MUCH better than a sand one.
But what about the Bible?
Even a cursory glance into its origin(s) will leave someone more confused than when he/she first asked the question.
Just a little digging will show instead of a firm foundation, there are MULTIPLE foundations - each adding or subtracting from the final product.
So many just throw up their hands and settle one, and, in the process, make a claim the others must somehow be lacking in vital information.
To me, it sounds very much like the “I follow Apollo” statement in the NT.
Here: pick one...
https://www.bible.com/bible/compare/1CO.3.4-9
'Tis my curse: No one understands me.
Good question!
Can I start with the low hurdles?
There are an awful lot of conditions that need fulfilled here to make you happy.
Off the top of my head I can think of the Woman at the well, the thief on the cross, the centurion, the woman with the issue of blood, the woman caught in adultery, the guy up in the tree, Thomas who poked around the Truth, and the blessed folks who have not seen.
Good question, but I have another:
How do churches discern those who are Christians in name only ?
Thanks!
It is close to breakfast anyway.
So was the Roman (as big as there globe was)
And that Alexander fella had no more worlds to conquer.
That's what I asked you to find. The conditions that I precisely gave you are those that the scripture declares necessary to qualify for receiving eternal life. Genuineness. (If you can lose it, it was not eternal, was it?)
No works involved. Only the omniscient heart-searching God can discern that state of mind of the "believer," as to whether hearing the Gospel preached faithfully, admits to him/herself of being spiritually dead in sins and unable to "save" oneself out of God's condemnation, and desires with his/her whole heart to be made God's obedient child with sin-debt cancelled and never-ending life in Jesus under His rule the benefit.
Where does the scripture give an instance of someone that having received this gift and experiencing the newness of it, has actually decided to change his/her mind again, and thus reject and abandon this gift?
The examples you named do not fit this description of turning to God for salvation from sin and sinning, receiving birth in the spirit, then deciding to reject God, Jesus, the new life, its benefits, and to return to a life of sinning.
See 2 Peter 2:9-22 for those who spent some time with saved people and the Christian culture, but were NOT saved, finally returning to their old ways.
I would suggest to you that there are many “believers” that turned away from God.
The “believers” have that has those things around the word.
You are talking different things.
There are 4 categories:
1) Those that think they are saved and are
2) Those that think they are saved but are not
3) Those that don’t think they are saved and are not
4) Those that don’t think they are saved but are
So we can look at evidence but are not part of the final decision.
So why don't you describe what the mind-set of a "believer" is then, what his/her belief is regarding God, so that others can know what you mean.
Or is thus just a fluid quantity to you?
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?
Run in such a way as to get the prize.
25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.
27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
Paul seems (to me) that he could lose what he WORKED for.
You want me to do what the Bible fails to do?
The writers of the NT seemed to be ok with merely using the word, without going into all kinds of verbal gymnastics to 'describe' exactly what they are talking about.
They don't look on the heart, but God does.
However, the local assembly leaders may have to evaluate whether a person behaves as though he/she is a CINO, and deal with it accordingly. That is what the Bible counsels the local assembly to do in applying church discipline.
Why do you need anyone to explain that to you, Els?
Salliby’s paperback deals with the question that you proposed, in detail. It would probably better if you read through it before commenting negatively. I have, and more beside it, especially on the foundation, which is the textforms from which the translations are made. Some are better than others. None are “inspired.”
And it is in his widely-accepted common Koine Greek language that the New Testament was written, and still used by Bible scholars.
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