And in our day there are so very many who have chosen to not love God but love the flesh and the things that please it rather than love God and be heir to His Promises.
An astonishing characteristic of this age is that some will even admit that they believe God cannot lie and that whatever God Promises will come to pass, yet when you show them what God Promises they choose to argue, using all sorts of demonically brilliant lines of doubting, usually anchored to pride of self.
One of the most famous lies is the antithetical argument that Jesus's work on the cross requires us to finish the task to 'earn' salvation, earn God's Garce! As if a man can force God to love him! You show such a person Jesus's own declaration on the Cross and they still wiggle into some pride-based argument of the necessity for their works to finish what He declared 'tetelestai' over.
You show such an one that Jesus said it is finished and they will launch into some sophistry regarding vagueness or ambiguity of the declaration, knowing but choosing to ignore that Jesus was there on that Cross for a single Universe shaking purpose, not to fulfill part of some vagueness. Looming there before them all the time is the simplest action God could desire from them, to just say thank you, Jesus, and receive the bounty in God's Promises. But their pride and selfishness will not accept even so Great a Promise.
Someone should write a book listing the many lines of lies used to reject so Great a Promise, so great a witness, so great a Heavenly offer, and include the 'why' for the foolishness in each argument. ... Oops, there are such books already, including the bible stories, yet still 'they' spit in God's face now.
I would disagree...
Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
1Th 4:9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another,
And, this is a wonderful gift from God that He would force us to walk in His statues and obey His ordiances.
But their pride and selfishness will not accept even so Great a Promise.
And so were we until God opened our eyes and ears.
.....”It is of our free will that we choose His offered Grace”....
Amen!
Titus says the grace of God has appeared to all men, not some, but ALL... It is there for everyone to apprehend if they will listen. ..... God does not pick out any culture or people group to perish, neither does he do this with individuals..... The bible makes it clear Christ is the only way to God. No one is born a Christian, but must be reborn to be one..... This gives everyone a level playing field.
(Let us Reason)