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What Jesus said
It is quite the perplexing anomaly MerWeb: anomaly – what Jesus said here about our Salvation.
“You have not chosen Me,
but I have chosen you….”
Born of God
If you have been born again, “reborn from above“…this is what Jesus is saying to you:
John 15:16-17
16 You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you
and I have appointed and placed and purposefully planted you,
so that you would go and bear fruit
and keep on bearing,
and that your fruit will remain and be lasting,
so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name [as My representative] He may give to you. 17 This [is what] I command you: that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another.
Jesus also said, “Whosoever will may come”
And He said,
“…when he had called the people unto him
with his disciples also, he said unto them,
Whosoever will come after me,
let him deny himself,
and take up his cross,
and follow me.”
– Mark 8:34 KJV
I can scarce understand the apparent paradox here MerWeb: paradox. Scripture tells us both: (1) “chosen” and (2) “whosoever will may….”
We have a choice to make
We all are invited, most certainly. But we have a choice to make. Salvation for the “chosen”, “the elect”, is not a shoo-in MerWeb: Not a slam dunk.
He has chosen, but we must choose to accept His forgiveness. We cannot rest in His choosing us – – and then go and live however we want. What a farce – that!
Chosing “sinful”
As has been said: We don’t get into a Holy Kingdom by chosing “sinful”. Ain’t happenin’. Ever. No matter how you slice it MerWeb. The truth of salvation is
“not changed or affected
by the way a situation is
thought about or described“
– Miriam Webster No matter how you slice it
God’s realities
No matter what you opine about it, or how you choose to describe what God said about salvation – the Truth is His. You change nothing in God’s World.
It is what it is: It is God’s World. If you are wrong about His offer, then you are wrong forever. I would say: Get on God’s side and be in the Truth…on the right side.
You can step out of your world. Just do it. Step into God’s World.
The God who makes Salvation
Jane: You really think that what you say in argument with the God who makes Salvation – will change His Way? No. Not a chance in Hell for that.
The “change” part is your part. God does not change. You must change… accepting Him 100%.
You can’t change God’s Word about “being lost” or “being saved”. It is as immovable as Yosemite’s El Capitan rock.
You cannot change “how to get saved“. Salvation if a God thing. It is His simple solution to sin. Not yours to solve.
But you can change your eternity. You can change your final destination. You can undo your “being lost”. Accept His forgiveness. Choose to accept Jesus and follow Him… and you become “saved”. Wow! How incredible is THAT!?
The first step to discovering God
is wanting to.
He is there,
but I’ve got to
want to know more
about Him.
I choose to
– or not.
– Source: Want it
The “whosoever” passages put the choice onto us:
“choose you this day whom ye will serve….” – Joshua 24:15 KJV
“whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” – Acts 2:21 KJV
“whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” – John 3:14-16 KJV
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation].” – Matthew 11:28 AMP
When it comes to getting saved – God is “pro-choice”. Not with abortion, but as in: He is all for making the choice to repent and follow Him.
Don’t go corrupting your Salvation confession of faith by adding anything into the mix that is not from what Jesus says about it. Like:
* Don’t add your own philosophy and other religions What good are they with Jesus?
* Don’t wing it with your own puny human manmade opinions
* Don’t include the many misinterpretations of Scripture coming from Charismania
* Be wary of what smacks as false in the Charismatic world
* Start and finish with the same type of faith Jesus gave to His disciples
* Approach God with great respect
* Pray with sincerity and truth
Getting saved is absolutely the most important “transaction” you will ever carry-out. Why on earth would you start a life with Jesus by using someone else’s tenets of faith that they baked up?!
You are responsible for yourself. Don’t mess it up.
The Perspective Issue
There is no need to be conflicted by the many theologically drawn-out analyses of some kind of issue between election and choice: (1) “chosen in Him” and (2) “whosoever will may come”. The over-anal-analysis experts are not helpful.
The Bible makes it clear. When we hear the Gospel: We must be careful to make our choice. Choice is what makes Salvation ours: If Jesus is not our choice, then we stay on the broad road to destruction.
No choice – no Heaven. No choice made – nothing gained.
There is a choice to make. The choice is here. The choice is ours to make. The choice is now. The time limit is ticking.
His Salvation is limited to the here and now. There is no “later”. Loose your “now” (through death) and you loose your chance to choose. Be “forever with Him” starting here – before you loose it in death.
Heaven for us starts when we die… but we immediately begin our forever life the moment when we get born again. It is time to give it up for Jesus.
We have a choice to make: Serve God or not. Joshua 24:15
God’s perspective
I like Spurgeon’s analogy: As we approach the Gates of Heaven, we look up and see the engraving with man’s perspective saying, “Whosoever will may come.” But after entering, we look back at the portal behind us — at God’s perspective where another statement is etched. God had written, “Chosen in Him before the foundation of the world.” See Ephesians 1:11, Colossians 3:12, 1 Peter 2:9.
The Whosoever Passages
Jesus said, “Whosoever will – may come”.
Here are the “whosoever” passages. See all 17 in one link
or individually: Matthew 7:24, Matthew 10:32-33, Matthew 16:25, Mark 8:34-35, Mark 8:38, Mark 10:15, Luke 9:24, Luke 9:26, Luke 14:27, Luke 14:33, John 3:14-16, John 11:26, Acts 2:21, Romans 10:13, Romans 13:2, James 4:4, Revelation 22:17.
If indeed we have been chosen in Him, by Him, it is then up to us to “come after Me”. If you “get saved”, well then, that means you were definitely “chosen in Him before the foundation of the earth”. Ephesians 1:4
If you go to your grave rejecting Jesus, living your own way, well then, that means you are one of those “Whosoever People” who failed to – make the turn.
I see God’s perspective from God’s specificities for Salvation, each of which absolutely requires we choose Him over all else.
We must remember, however: the faith required to get saved does not come from us. We can’t drum-it-up. “Not of yourselves.” There is nothing good in us – to be able to choose Him on our own. Scripture says,
Salvation is “by grace…through faith.” His grace is His “undeserved, gracious gift of God”. IF it came from our self…we could boast about our choice, but Paul remarks that there will be no boasting in Heaven about how we were so smart to choose Him.
Many are the fools who are “merely listeners”. Those who “like Jesus” and “like” what they hear Hebrews 6:4-9. However they “…fail to internalize its meaning]”, deluding themselves “[by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth].”
James 1:22
But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God’s precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning], deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth].
“it is by grace”
Merely liking Jesus Hebrews 6:4-9 is the best the flesh can do. But salvation requires more than a human is able to anti-up. And that is where God’s grace plays-out: “it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved…” Ephesians 2:8.
God requires specific salvation parameters to get saved, and, it is all that. Salvation is. But the anomaly is that we cannot obey to the extent of His parameters — unless He gives us the faith necessary to actually believe. If we could – it would be “salvation by works”… and then – we would be boasting throughout eternity.
Salvation is all about Christ and what He did for us on the cross. We will never boast about how great we are to have believed. God is the One who gives us the faith needed to believe.
It makes a difference who we follow. Who we obey. Who we stick with. Who we worship. The Other Side away from Jesus is no side to stay with. I really rather prefer to walk with Jesus.
It is true that I’m Christian because He chose me, but it is also true that I am Christian because I personally approached God and I personally accepted His forgiveness. This is dynamically evident because I personally follow Jesus. I’m not perfect (yet) but I am following Him.
You are most likely
“not really of us” 1 John 2:19
if you are
not living in obedience
to Jesus Titus 1:15-16
See They were not really of us
I am very very saddened because of the dismal future awaiting those who have deviated from obedience. Some have deviated “like an apostate“, others because of unbeliefism, and others because of being stupid with the Bible.
Multiple warnings against falling away from true salvation reveal to us how prevalent this danger is. Prophecy predicts a huge falling away from the true faith in these end days. Don’t fall for it.
Revelation 22:17 KJV
“…whosoever will,
let him take the water of life freely.”
FOR MORE:
Have you taken of “the water of life freely”? Revelation 22:17 Or have you put it off time and again… and still remain following yourself?
________
“Whosoever will may come….” Excerpt: Any and all may come to Jesus for salvation. God is not just calling some. God is calling all people to repent and follow Jesus. From there we continue our journey with “all the privileges and rewards of a new life with Him”.
Specific salvation parameters to get saved
Specific salvation parameters Jesus absolutely requires
Following “a faith of the same kind as ours” in 2 Peter 1:1…the same type of faith Jesus gave to His disciples. Why on earth would you start a life with Jesus by using someone else’s tenets of faith?!
Prepare Your Eternity with great fear and trepidation…be extra careful to be as specific in our salvation as He is.
Now is the acceptable time…now, not tomorrow which may never arrive
Right on the edge of trusting Him forever
Pure Gospel Verses About Salvation
Pure Gospel – nothing added, nothing taken 0ut
Salvation. True version – False version
The Whosoever People who miss the turn to Jesus
I’m Christian because He chose me
Salvation is immediate – not delayed until after “enduring to the end”…we immediately begin our forever life when we get born again
Born of God…this is what happens when you are born again – reborn from above
Born again – reborn from above – References in the Bible 18 Bible results for “born again”
Heaven for us starts when we die
Living a forever life – now…we immediately begin our forever life when we get born again.
Salvation is immediate – not delayed until after “enduring to the end”
It is time to give it up for Jesus.
Your Spiritual Journey to Eternal Life
Being tested to know for sure your faithfulness to God
Being an “evangelical” in today’s wild and wooly ungodly culture
The Dead Calm as your journey ends
Why you are an apostate, not saved, still lost
Outward religion but inward… everything unclean
You plant your life so carefully and put a fence around it
Why you are an idiot…IF you say there is no God
What a Crock – Having No Religious Affiliation
The logic of “If this – then that” to explain useless faith
The faith of “anything goes” Excerpt: Hymenaeus and Alexander (1 Timothy 1:15-20) “made a thorough mess of their faith” by loosening-up the true Gospel. They started thinking “anything goes”.
What kind of belief in Jesus did they have, anyway – – to where “anything goes”? Not my kind of faith. Not the kind of faith of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Paul.
Virgins, Talents, and Judgement
Are you a lucky virgin? Excerpt: There were 10 virgins on their way to the feast of the bridegroom. Only thing is, five of them ran out of oil for their lamps, hurried back to the shop to buy more… but when they finally got back — the only door to the party was shut tight. They lost out. Got locked out.
Ever grasped that feeling of being wrong with Jesus?
Are you being warned by the Holy Spirit about being “out“?
When you are wrong and just don’t get it
Prove Me Wrong (annotated version) Excerpt: The Bible shows us clearly what God has been doing throughout the history of mankind. We see what Jesus has done for us. Read it for yourself. Prove me wrong!
Connect the dots to Jesus who said “Depart from Me”
Following “a faith of the same kind as ours” in 2 Peter 1:1
What smacks of falseness in Charismania
Speaking with love about what is true and what is false
Defining who is a false teacher – versus – just a dumbhead who got it wrong
Why Believe Such Stupididiotic Things?!
Imagine what “being saved” has meant to you Excerpt:
What it has meant to me – “being saved”
I am absolutely, supremely jazzed by the thoughts – as I have paused to imagine what “being saved” has meant to me. Pause a moment to think of this with me, will you?
I am ready! I am, right this moment, now, a child of the King. As Scripture teaches it, I am Positionally Declared “Not Guilty“ by the Judge of All.
When Jesus saved me, I was declared to be no longer condemned to eternal death (past tense). I am still in the human temp status of incompleteness (present tense), but, my position MirWeb with God is “forgiven forever by the blood of the Lamb”.
I am now free, and can never ever be subject to His condemnation. Never ever again will I be condemned by God – – because I have been forgiven by God.
Third thing…You personally accept Jesus as Savior & Lord
Fourth thing…You are instantly saved
Deviating from obedience like an apostate
The Way to Salvation always involves obedience to Jesus
Getting to Heaven is not a religious thing Excerpt:
I am frightened by the standard set by God for entrance into His Kingdom, into His Family. “Few there be that find it…” Matthew 7:13-14. It is no small thing to be forgiven by God, accepted by God, made a child of God, to finally become a member of God’s family.
Salvation by Almighty God is done by Him as we give Him our all. It’s all or nothing. If we do not respond by a life given-over completely to Him, then we are fooling ourselves. We are still damned all to Hell. Bummer of bummers.
Heaven. What’s it going to be like? Excerpt: Heaven is where – all the earth experience is behind us — without the enemies of our soul to wreck everything:
Heaven is going to be like this…What it is Excerpt: What He told us it is going to be like for those who follow Him. *Excerpts taken from Windows into Heaven and Heaven is where earth is behind us.
Transformed in Heaven…there everything changes. It’s going to be HUGE!
Heaven is where earth is behind us – James 4:8 Excerpt: Hell was created for Satan, not for us. Heaven is being created by Jesus – – for His followers. That is God’s loving plan for us – heaven. Not hell. But we’ve got to want it!
Passing on through to the other side Excerpt: For the true believer, we can have perfect peace and rest approaching our death. For it is through grace and sheer mercy that He has made us able to be called His children.
“…you were washed [by the atoning sacrifice of Christ], you were sanctified [set apart for God, and made holy], you were justified [declared free of guilt] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the [Holy] Spirit of our God [the source of the believer’s new life and changed behavior].
– 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
I rejoice in the promise of God that His Kingdom is my home. It is very exclusive, very luxurious, very special. Better times are coming. What a time we will have there — together forever! Forever young!
The Other Side Excerpt: As we are seeing these days, there is a world of difference between Christ and Mohammed, between following the teachings of Christ – and following the teachings of Mohammed.
Choosing Christ takes you up a very different pathway and you end-up very far from where the pathway of Islam takes you down. And the same is true with all other religions. It does make a difference – an eternity of difference. Are you following Christ?
There is only an outside chance I will ever die
“I actively press on.” How ’bout you? – Philippians 3:12-15 Excerpt:
Are you actively making it a point in your daily life — to “take hold of” perfection? Or, are you okay with “normal”? Merely being a normal human is not what we are called-out to be.
Paul was a high achiever for Jesus. And he exhorts us all to be that
Called by Jesus to be forever on a higher level
In this moment right now Jesus makes me perfect
Only my God Jesus makes me perfect in this moment
My simple frequent practice of repentance
Pairing with God…An easy morning prayer to start it right
Forgive me oh Lord for I know I have sinned…Repenting, in this moment right now I am perfect
PIC: Highlight Truth Ministries.Facebook
My wild and crazy stallion heart
It may be that I have offended God – so I have ineffective prayers and am wimpy
Simple view of life…the here and now
Flesh and blood absolutely cannot inherit the Kingdom of God
The one-off offer Jesus makes to everyone
Following. Heaven is for those who follow Him Excerpt: Have you truly been born again, changed, given new birth by the Holy Spirit – now a child of God? If you receive Christ as Lord and Savior, you instantly are changed into a brand new creation! Life begins new.
Your disappointment is scheduled
The Bummer…of bummers
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