You got a Chinese takeaway!
Sorry? Itâs about what you bring to the party. We know He brought love.
The point is a joyous adoptive family party. (The continuously rebellious that kept running into the street suffered permanent damage.)
What, that trumps love?
Those that are out of sight are out of mind, so your question is an irrelevant non sequitur.
I thought so. Youâre excluding everyone not in your elect happy family. Thatâs me. Thank God.
Nope, sorry. It works the same for those of Arminian persuasion, too.
A plague on all their houses.
Fitting together the facts of scripture concerning grace, faith, and works is definitely one people struggle with.
It caused Martin Luther to name the epistle of James âthe epistle of straw.â Which means failing to fit all the pieces of the puzzle together, he simply wanted to throw one of the pieces away.
It caused Calvin throw away nearly half the Bible which very clearly speaks of our role in making a choice and having faith.
Matthew 19:25 When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished, saying, âWho then can be saved?â 26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, âWith men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.â This is the foundation of the gospel of salvation by the grace of God â something which only God can do and we cannot. But nowhere in this passage does it say that it doesnât matter what we do. On the contrary, when the man asked what he must do to be saved (Matthew 19:16), Jesus begins by asking what he has done. He keeps asking until the man gives up, showing there is no end to what we need to do. That salvation is a 100% a work of God doesnât mean we donât need to do anything. The work of salvation by God is a work in us, changing and transforming us. It requires faith because we have to be open to that change. The point of Matthew 19:16-26 is that looking for what is enough to be saved is the wrong attitude. There is no enough. Our salvation is not and never can be something which we have accomplished. This is why Jesus doesnât answer the man by saying he should have faith, because the manâs attitude was contrary to faith itself. Faith can never be the answer to the question of what is enough. This agrees completely with Romans 10 which says that faith doesnât ask the question of who is saved and who is damned. This also agrees with James 2:26 that faith without works is dead. Faith simply does what is right for its own sake without looking for payback. Salvation is not something we accomplish by doing the right things and that includes believing the right things. So when Jesus says âYour faith has saved you,â He is not talking about a way in which people have accomplished their own salvation. It is about pointing to people who had the right attitude of faith of not trying to claim a reward to which they are entitled.
Ephesians 2:8-9 âby grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.â
All the pieces fit together. We do what God asks, âcease to do evil, learn to do good, seek justice, correct oppression,â and help those in need (Isaiah 1:17), because of a faith in goodness which is the very opposite of entitlement. We have to stop looking for payback, counting brownie points, and asking what is enough. That will get us nowhere for it puts up a barrier against the change which God is seeking to bring about in our heart. Having the law of God written on our hearts is the very meaning of salvation itself. It is not about getting a pass to heavenly rewards, it is about becoming a heavenly person.
You are correct in saying He brought love. Love does not allow an unrepentant, wicked person into His Kingdom. Only the children born again by faith, trust in Him will be a part of His family. All others will be thrown into the Lake of Fire. That is what a loving and holy wrathful Lamb of God will do. Thus saith the Lord.
That was loving. 
Which C19th English Lord? When?
Like Jesusâ hard sayings, the love comes first.
Tell that to the first born of the Egyptians in Exodus.
No the real God. God as He is. Not the one of Jewish myth.
1 Like
It is apparent you donât have confidence in Godâs words through the prophets or the words of Jesus or the Spirit through the apostles. Therefore we have no foundation for a profitable conversation.
I have no confidence in your mish mash of dated, selective, limited English interpretation of ancient Greek texts of Aramaic native speakers with Hebrew minds.
No.
My friend, hello again.
Forgive me if I am ignorant about your take on this, I havenât read everything youâve written.
What will happen to those who are wicked and unrepentant? Iâm not talking about tribals who have never heard the Gospel or even those who intellectually cannot accept Jesus for one reason or another. Letâs just put those aside for a moment.
Truly abominable people, wicked people, the worst of the worst. Suppose that God does not punish them. What would you say happens with them?
Thanks, friend. 