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And I don't believe in free will.
yuk.
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God chooses us.
yes. And He chose everyone, because He is the savior of all men, especially those who believe. He's the savior of the
world. He wants all men to be saved and come to knowledge of truth. He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but wants everyone to repent. He stands pleading with us to repent. He didn't send His son to condemn the world but to save it - and all mankind with it. Some resist this. That doesn't mean God damned them before all time. Double yuk.
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I am positionally justified. Anyone who believes in Jesus Christ, and put their faith in Him, is justified. Period. We don't have to work to continue to be justified. The works come naturally as a part of the Spirit working through us. If we don't have the Spirit, we are not saved.
"Positionally justified"? Where's
that in the scriptures?
And again, here you are basically saying, again, justified = saved. They're not the same thing.
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It doesn't say might be saved if everything goes well, it says "shall be saved".
Oh? Better tell St Paul, who earlier (likely the first work of the NT) wrote "By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain."
Or later in the same epistle to the Romans: "Take notice, therefore, of the kindness and severity of God: severity to those who fell, but kindness to you, if you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you also will be cut off."
You're still picking and choosing. You can't point to the passages that speak in the past tense and say, because of these passages, all of these OTHER passages which have conditional and consequential outcomes are foregone conclusions.
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My only point is that a lot of people are fooling themselves thinking they are Christian, touching base on Sunday, and living their lives the way they want the rest of the week. They are fooling themselves. The Scriptures quoted are plainly speaking to those among us who are "tares" not wheat. The chaff will be burnt. It's a warning to make certain our election is sure. Christians should constantly check. But there is no middle ground, either you are saved, or you are not. And if you are, Christ, through the Spirit, will keep you. That's all I'm saying.
How can you say this, then turn around and be so harsh with others about being concerned about their salvation?
How does one make sure our election is sure if we are chosen? Who are we "checking" with, if we don't have free will? This is very confusing.
On the other, since I very much believe that we have free will - and that the scriptures affirm this over and over again, along with
the teaching of the fathers - I think every man should apply the lessons and warning of scripture to himself.
"The one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall."
"Whoever has will be given more, but whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him."
"Do not be arrogant, but be afraid."
"For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."
"be on your guard so that you will not...fall from your secure standing."
"Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air. No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified."
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven."