So I was sitting in Bible study this past Wednesday, and we were in 1 Peter 1:1. There was a question raised about "God's elect":
1 Peter 1:1-2 New International Version (NIV)
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To God's elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:
Grace and peace be yours in abundance.,
The question was raised why God chooses some to be his people and not others. Quickly the discussion gravitated to the fact that since Jesus came, died on the cross, and rose again, people today choose Him of their own free will. They choose to accept his free gift of eternal life with him.
I raised the question "before Jesus came when it was Jews and Gentiles, could a Gentile choose to become a Jew?" I was told no. Then I made the comment, "well thank goodness all of us who are here were born when we were because had we been born before Jesus came, we would have been labeled a Gentile."
Then I wondered what hope is there for all those Gentiles who were born before Christ. I'd hate to imagine they would all be sentenced to hell all because they were not one of God's chosen people, a Jew.
Then someone made the comment, that during the final judgment, all will have a chance to accept Christ or deny him.
Question 1: I was told some will choose Heaven and others will choose Hell. Then I wondered, well why would anyone deny Jesus at the final judgment? If they see Jesus again, in all His glory, and have an opportunity to live in paradise, why would anyone in their right mind deny Him and choose Hell?
Satan loves no one. Satan hates Christians just as much as his own followers. Denying Christ and choosing Hell is worse than prison.
Final thought's: Before Jesus came, the Lord chose the Israelis to be his people. After Jesus came, we choose the Lord of our own free will. We can either accept Him or deny Him.
1 Peter 1:1-2 New International Version (NIV)
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To God's elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:
Grace and peace be yours in abundance.,
The question was raised why God chooses some to be his people and not others. Quickly the discussion gravitated to the fact that since Jesus came, died on the cross, and rose again, people today choose Him of their own free will. They choose to accept his free gift of eternal life with him.
I raised the question "before Jesus came when it was Jews and Gentiles, could a Gentile choose to become a Jew?" I was told no. Then I made the comment, "well thank goodness all of us who are here were born when we were because had we been born before Jesus came, we would have been labeled a Gentile."
Then I wondered what hope is there for all those Gentiles who were born before Christ. I'd hate to imagine they would all be sentenced to hell all because they were not one of God's chosen people, a Jew.
Then someone made the comment, that during the final judgment, all will have a chance to accept Christ or deny him.
Question 1: I was told some will choose Heaven and others will choose Hell. Then I wondered, well why would anyone deny Jesus at the final judgment? If they see Jesus again, in all His glory, and have an opportunity to live in paradise, why would anyone in their right mind deny Him and choose Hell?
Satan loves no one. Satan hates Christians just as much as his own followers. Denying Christ and choosing Hell is worse than prison.
Final thought's: Before Jesus came, the Lord chose the Israelis to be his people. After Jesus came, we choose the Lord of our own free will. We can either accept Him or deny Him.