posted
There seems to be one key thread that connects all of the man-made religions of the world. Apparently all of them, past and present, operate under the belief that individual persons (usually, any or all) can make individual, personal decisions on salvation and a future life for themselves. They do this normally by becoming a member of a group and performing some works whereby they earn salvation and the future life after death.
This approach seems to affect all worldly religions (Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and yes even Christianity). Of course, in Christendom, it typically ends up that a person can make his own personal decision to be saved and the church grants salvation to that person when he complies with its prescribed forms of works. But essentially it remains a personal choice of one to come to the church and receive its salvation after performing its works for salvation.
But of all religions, there is only one which seems to depart from this formula--the Hebrew faith of YESHUA. That faith stipulates that man can obtain salvation and a future life by obeying all, 100%, of the Torah, after testing in a suitable and mature state, evidently something past age 30 as happened with YESHUA (Lev 18:5; Deut 5:33; 11:27; 28:1-14; 30:11-20; Neh 9:29; Prov 4:20-22; Ezek 18:5-9, 19, 21; 20:11-21; 33:12-19; Matt 19:17; Rom 2:13; 10:5; Gal 3:12; I Jo 2:3; Rev 22:4).
But the problem we all face is that we quickly become sinners and earn death instead of life. Once we earn death, we can never obey any law or do anything to earn life. But YESHUA was fully tried and tested in the flesh to around age 34-35 and He sinned not. He therefore earned life.
This then brings up the question of reconciliation in hopes that one can be reconciled back to YHWH--which is allowed in the vein of YESHUA's substitute sacrifice. But here, Christendom falls back on the worldly view of life--which you earn with your personal decision to follow some prescribed works of Christendom (but the problem is that one can never earn life after he has once sinned. So the Christian approach is wrong).
However, the biggest problem with Christendom and all of the other worldly religions is that per the Word the decision on salvation is not made by an individual person. Strangely enough, per the Book, The ELOHIM makes the decision on who and when.
The Word defines the who in the form of persons called the election. And YHWH decides who they are. The people selected do not make the decision on their calling to salvation--Mk 13:20; John 15:16-19 (this one is key); Mt 20:16; 22:14; Acts 13:17; I Cor 1:27-28; Eph 1:4; Jas 2:5; II Tim 2:13; II Pet 1:10; Rev 17:14.
Now Christians can holler to no end that they are saved and have salvation thru their decisions and works. But no, not by the Book. It is YHWH WHO decides who He will save and when HE will do it. He is SOVERIGN.
In the Hebrew, there are four main steps--Qara (meaning YHWH's call); Hineni (the elected one's response); Berit Hadashah (the resulting covenanted relationship); and Hesed (loyalty to the covenant). YHWH makes the call of the election who were chosen by the lot (yes, He rolled the dice and their numbers came up) before the foundations of the earth were laid (call this predestination or whatever, but it is set forth in Romans 8).
The ELOHIM makes His choice reality by granting the elected two gifts of grace--faith and repentance. Yes, saving faith is a gift (Rom 10:6; 12:3; I Cor 12:9; Eph 2:8; Col 2:12; Heb 12:2; I Pet 1:5), and saving repentance is a gift (Matt 9:13; Mk 2:17; Lu 5:32; Acts 5:31; 11:18; Rom 2:4; II Tim 2:25). You see, He has to do this in order for grace and life to come from His works and not the works of the chosen. The chosen have no works or merits as they are sinners who earned death.
By the way, repentance is extremely important in this and it happens because He makes it happen to the election. On repentance (which is correction and change, see the story of Achan at Josh 7:2-26). Yes, YHWH could make any son of Adam repent if it is His will.
And who are these called and chosen ones. Truth defines them. That's why truth is so critical to everything of importance (see Jo 4:24; 8:32). Can some of them be in this forum? i hope so; but then, maybe not. i do understand from the Word that in this 6000 years of Adam, the total number will be 603,550 (they are refined silver in the Book). In future age(s) and times, there will be others (who are resurrected from the dead to have their day in court and be judged).
So, how about the reader? Do you share this understanding or something different on this theme? i hope there is some agreement on this in this forum. But then, maybe not.
posted
Interesting subject, RD. Many are unable to discuss it without getting their feelings hurt. I hope we are above that. Truth is, this topic is seldom brought up in house church circles. Obviously, some very dear Christians just don't see it. I know I don't understand it, either. This is one of those places where I just have to bow before God...
Lamentations 5:21 Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; I love this passage. Reminds me of Him loving us first as the cause that we love him. So, I decide but it is he who made me alive to do so. Unless we are born again, we cannot even see the Kingdom - much less want, will, or desire to enter into it.
Here is both the invitation to come and the fact that we cannot, by ourselves, do so - all in a single passage. From John 6. All that the father gives me shall come AND him who comes, I will not cast out. Amazing!!!!
Why did we believe? Great question. We all know this text: John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
But what about the next verse? John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, BUT of God.
Come unto me, Jesus invited. On that we can agree. Praise his name!
God decides salvation but not without our consent. God is love and love always allows liberty. With God, that liberty extends to our choice of whom we will serve. Love can only operate in this manner. Love never forces nor coerces. It was because of this freedom to choose that Adam and Eve could fall from grace. Now our natures are perverted by sin so God must provide our lack. We do not have a perfect will to exercise. Nor do we have a noble character to choose rightly. So God provides to all that which they lack. If they desire to have it they need only ask.
What about the election. Yes, there is an election. God's promises come with conditions. Those who comply with the conditions of the covenant will be elected. Have you read this in the Bible? “God resists the proud but gives grace unto the humble.” God has elected that only the contrite and humble will receive anything. That is the condition of his election. Seems simple enough yet many are willing to experience extreme pain rather than humble themselves before God and admit they are weak and need his help. Adam and Eve were certainly elected. But through disobedience they lost everything. If not for the promise of a Savior they would have been without hope. Through faith in the coming Messiah they were restored to favor with God.
Don't think this a strange thing for it is still God who works in us "both to will and to do of his good pleasure." But not without our permission. Those who feel they have need of nothing are likely to ask for little or nothing. What do you suppose they will receive? Nothing, of course. Remember, “God resists the proud but gives grace unto the humble.” Jesus said that he came to save sinners and to open the eyes of the blind. This describes us all. But some don't see themselves as so bad and think they see. I guess they disqualify themselves, don't they?
Ponder this thought. Had Christ been unwilling to die for us then we would have had no choice. Everyone would have been in the same sinking boat. But when Christ agreed to die, then we had a choice. And scripture tells us that Christ was slain before the foundation of the world. Indeed, the plan was laid out before this world was created. It was a done deal. Yet, it was not until much later, when the time was right, that Christ actually died. So since God knows all things--certainly he made provision for sin--then he must have calculated the cost to himself and the universe before he created this world and Adam and Eve. Yet, and here is the amazing part, he still created them as free moral agents. They were still given freedom of choice. Isn't that amazing?! That is love. Because God's character is that of love he will only accept what we freely give--even our loyalty. "Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." This is something to remember as your rear your children. You are to train them up in the way they should go but you are not to be their will. You are to teach them to exercise their will and to learn between right and wrong but you are not to control them like a brute animal. Their will must remain free or they have nothing. They must obey you because they love you. In fact, we might hear you repeating the words of Jesus. "If you love me, obey my commandments."
You know, it was to reveal sin and lead men to Christ that God gave his children his law. It should have humbled them and caused them to plead for mercy and grace. But in their pride they said, "All that the Lord has said we will do." God knew they couldn't succeed. But neither could he force them to love him. They twisted the covenant that God wished to make with them and they failed because they sought the righteousness of God on their own terms. Early in scripture we hear God saying that he would make a new covenant with his people. Not like the one at Sinai where the people promised to obey. But God promises to write his law in our hearts and minds. He promises to accomplish this. He does not expect us to do this work for ourselves. We know this because scripture says the first covenant failed because their flesh was weak. Well, our flesh has just been getting weaker. Maybe now we will humble ourselves and plead for help. But if we don't feel our need then will we plead? The law is perfectly suited to bring us to Christ. It exposes our sins and that should drive us to Christ for salvation.
I really like this verse in Deut. It is the words of God after hearing the Israelites promise to keep all his commandments. I think it tells much about what it takes to obey the Lord.
Deut 5:29 "O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!"
Remember, the Lord said, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God" with all thy heart, soul, and might. Do you know who loves his Lord the most? Why, it's the one who has been forgiven the greatest debt. When we look into the perfect law and see our poverty of righteousness, and comprehend our just rewards, then we have a sense of the greatness of our debt. And, oh what joy, what relief, when Jesus forgives that debt. What a grateful heart we will then have. But the one who seems pretty good in his own eyes, the one who hasn't had his poverty exposed by the law because he has failed to look into it deeply, will not feel he had much of a debt to pay and will not appreciate the gift of Jesus. His appreciation of forgiveness will be in direct relationship to his perceived debt. He gratitude for Jesus' sacrifice will be likewise.
It is obvious that God wants us to be righteous and that his law defines that righteousness. It is also obvious that God doesn't force our compliance to his law. So how does he get us to obey if he doesn't make us obey? Ah! "If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me." The cross of Christ! The sinner, realizing he owes a debt he is unable to pay finds that debt forgiven at the cross of Christ. Does his heart yearn for such a friend? Does it respond to this almost irresistable demonstration of love? Yes, many will respond. The elect--those who see their need and humbly plead their poverty.
posted
"(John 1:12)...but as many as received him, to them gave he the power to become the sons or God..." The key word here is "become" verses an instantaneous happening.
Heb.12:6-8, tells us that walking in obedience and enduring chastisement, marks us as his children. If we do not obey and endure correction, then are we not sons. Children inherit from their fathers. And eternal life (salvation) is inherited.
There are also many "if's" in scripture. I Cor 15:1-2 tells us that we are saved by the gospel of Jesus Christ, IF we keep in memory truth preached unto us by the apostles... otherwise our believing is in vain.
I share with folks from the scriptures that it's God's design than none should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Then we should all walk in that way that leads to life, holding firm our faith unto the end. If we quit along the way, we forsake eternal life; for those who endure unto the end shall be saved not those who have great starts. Our salvation rests upon our ongoing believing and obedience to the word, and not merely based on a single decision.
"I am saved" a statement of faith and the will of God. However, if I don't continue in that faith than I am in danger of being a cast away. No man can pluck me out of God's hand; however I am able to choose to leave, like Demas who loved this present world. But a glorious hope awaits those who hear and do the will of God, abiding in the vine, earnestly contending for the faith once delivered to the saints.
Email this page to someone.
