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If we are among God's flock, we will persevere, by His strength and design. Too bad everyone doesn't believe this. It makes persevering a lot easier when we know it is according to His will for our lives.

It is unfortunate that you do not see the circular argument you present... You tell us that those of the flock persevere - and I agree. Yet, what you don't see is WHO IS PART of this flock.

"I'm part of the flock"

"why"

"Because I'm of the elect and all the elect are part of the flock."

How do you know you are of the elect?

"Because I am part of the flock Can't you understand that???"

Oh boy... No. Does Jesus name you as part of the flock?

{said with a stamping of feet and jumping up and down}"But I'm part of the flock, so when the bible talks about the flock, Jesus is speaking about me personally."

"Naturally... It is good to know that you have told God that you are part of the flock. And here I thought God decided who was part of the flock.

You have no way of knowing that you will be part of that flock at the end, until you are judged accordingly. God judges ALL, and at that time, it will be obvious which side of the fence you belong. But until that time, all we can do is "know" today whether we are persevering. We do not know we will persevere 10 years from now. That is denying the possibility of falling away. People fall away, people who make the exact same claims that you do (I am part of the flock because I said so).

Persevere until the end. Do not presume.

Regards

You really aren't going to like this answer if you can't understand the sheep parable. There is only one flock, and you only come to it if the Father draws you, period.

The word Christian means an anointed one.

A "Christian" is an anointed one because he has received the Holy Spirit from Christ "the Anointed." Anointed by Whom? By the Father, at Jesus' baptism.

"But ye have an unction [or "anointing"] from the Holy One," that is, from Christ; and again. "the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you" (1 John 2:20, 27), for just as we read of "the Spirit descending and remaining on him" (John 1:33) so He abides with us "forever" (John 14:16).

The sheep are all branded with an indelible brand, but even so, the sheep knows to Whom it belongs .

Isaiah 1:2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.

1:3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.

The rebellious do not know who owns them, but those who have repented and returned,do.

Why am I part of His flock?

Because it was God's good pleasure to appoint me to His righteousness and not to His wrath.

"For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him." -- 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10

How do I know this? Because I have Trinitarian faith in His Son as my Lord and Savior, the only propitiation for my sins God will accept.

"Be not afraid; only believe." -- Mark 5:36

It is good to know that you have told God that you are part of the flock. And here I thought God decided who was part of the flock.

God has told me I am part of His flock by the words of Scripture.

"I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me." -- Psalm 119:93

The Holy Spirit quickens us by the word of God. Yes, Jo kus, I believe that. And it is a sad situation that your church does not reaffirm this truth in your mind.

"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." -- 1 John 5:13-15

I believe John. I believe Paul. I believe Peter. I believe Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I believe that Jesus Christ, God Himself, died on the cross to pay for every one of my sins so that I will stand before God blameless, and loved by Him who created me to glorify Him and to enjoy Him forever.

Your church tells you to be uncertain, fearful and not "presumptuous."

Scripture tells us to presume all we can in and by and for His name.

"But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." -- 2 Timothy 3:14-15