Non sequitur, Mark, you of all people should know that. Where does it say Peter was saved, or Paul, or John? How asserting faith in the promises of God equates to a "declaration of self to ranks of the saved" is beyond me. I am trusting in the EXACT same words Jesus spoke to the multitudes, to his disciples, they to their followers and from them to us through Holy Scripture. Whats more, God knows my name, and he is the ONLY one who counts. Why is it so impossible to accept that God can be trusted?
You say "The Judgment of Christ is not about what seat you get watching heavenly football on Sundays" as if that is what I think or believe. Reading that only confirms my fear that the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who died to make us free, is lost on you. It sounds as if you have no faith in Christ to save you at all but must live in constant fear that any minor failure on your part has the power to condemn you for eternity. I don't read trust or love or surrender or faith in your words but only dread. That someone has to formally be named a "saint" to know they have made it to Heaven at all is a disconnect with what God has already said.
I don't want you to proclaim me or carry me on your shoulders because it isn't about that. It is each person one-on-one, between them and God, accepting or rejecting his GIFT of eternal life. What do you do with this gift? Why mock anyone who steps out and says they have accepted it? Why doubt that God truly gives assurance and comforts his children with his presence, answers their prayers, provides all their needs, forgives and cleanses them from all their sins and is, right now, preparing a place for us? Why doubt that the Holy Spirit is within each of us who are his, working within us to conform us to the image of Jesus, teaching us the way to walk in holiness and growing our faith?
You must choose whether or not you will believe Jesus, believe what he clearly has said and rest in his precious promises. Nobody can do that for you and no place or person can grant to you what only God can give. I KNOW I have eternal life because I have received the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. I believe he died on the cross to pay for my sins - a debt I could NEVER have satisfied. Because of him, I am redeemed and for eternity I will dwell with him and it is all because of HIM, not me. Grace is not something to mock, it is the ultimate sin to do so, and unless it is repented of, it will send one to Hell for eternity. Don't mock grace, please, and don't mock those who live by faith in the grace of God.
Amen! Glory to God! Thankyou Lord Jesus!
Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. (Malachi 3:16-17)
Non sequitur, Mark, you of all people should know that. Where does it say Peter was saved, or Paul, or John?
That's a very good question. We believe that they were saved.
How asserting faith in the promises of God equates to a "declaration of self to ranks of the saved" is beyond me. I am trusting in the EXACT same words Jesus spoke to the multitudes, to his disciples, they to their followers and from them to us through Holy Scripture. Whats more, God knows my name, and he is the ONLY one who counts. Why is it so impossible to accept that God can be trusted?
You keep interchanging faith and knowledge. I don't say that God cannot be trusted. He is not fallible. You and I are.
You say "The Judgment of Christ is not about what seat you get watching heavenly football on Sundays" as if that is what I think or believe. Reading that only confirms my fear that the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who died to make us free, is lost on you. It sounds as if you have no faith in Christ to save you at all but must live in constant fear that any minor failure on your part has the power to condemn you for eternity. I don't read trust or love or surrender or faith in your words but only dread. That someone has to formally be named a "saint" to know they have made it to Heaven at all is a disconnect with what God has already said.
Every time I make my point on this matter, the retreat begins. You may read dread; but I think that my faith is every bit as strong as yours. You also have repeated the fallacy that only declared saints make it to Heaven.
I don't want you to proclaim me or carry me on your shoulders because it isn't about that. It is each person one-on-one, between them and God, accepting or rejecting his GIFT of eternal life. What do you do with this gift? Why mock anyone who steps out and says they have accepted it? Why doubt that God truly gives assurance and comforts his children with his presence, answers their prayers, provides all their needs, forgives and cleanses them from all their sins and is, right now, preparing a place for us? Why doubt that the Holy Spirit is within each of us who are his, working within us to conform us to the image of Jesus, teaching us the way to walk in holiness and growing our faith?
You have not merely said that you have accepted it, you have declared that you know of your salvation. Do not conflate faith and knowledge and we will post more evenly to each other.
You must choose whether or not you will believe Jesus, believe what he clearly has said and rest in his precious promises. Nobody can do that for you and no place or person can grant to you what only God can give. I KNOW I have eternal life because I have received the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. I believe he died on the cross to pay for my sins - a debt I could NEVER have satisfied. Because of him, I am redeemed and for eternity I will dwell with him and it is all because of HIM, not me. Grace is not something to mock, it is the ultimate sin to do so, and unless it is repented of, it will send one to Hell for eternity. Don't mock grace, please, and don't mock those who live by faith in the grace of God.
I do not conflate faith and knowledge; and I reserve the right to upbraid those who do.