James - those who are being saved - hear one another.
Romans 15:7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ
also received us to the glory of God.
There are yet others who are "being brought" and are in
transition - they fight us against these truths but
are at the mercy of God's Written Word - this is a solid
proof that they are in fact being brought.
There are yet others to whom the written Word of God means
nothing - it seems easy enough to determine that they
are not elect and not being brought etc....
However, I do know some men - when questioned about their
own conversion will confess with all of the being and soul
that it was God's Grace alone and nothing they did that saved
them and yet fight against election until the day they die.
It is funny that their personal experience and the their theology
are diametrically opposite to one another.
I do not know if you read the post I put up about false assurance.
I do not think understanding election is fundamental to salvation.
I do however believe that submitting to the Word of God
is in fact a proof of salvation.
I can only think of one thing however that Jesus did say:
Matthew 13:24 ¶ Another parable put he forth unto them,
saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which
sowed good seed in his field:
25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares
among the wheat, and went his way.
26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth
fruit, then appeared the tares also.
27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto
him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from
whence then hath it tares?
28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The
servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and
gather them up?
29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares,
ye root up also the wheat with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the
time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye
together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn
them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Interesting that many believe Christ has not yet returned and
that when He does He will gather first the elect - this parable
says differently - many such things do men have terribly wrong
but that does not mean they are not saved.
One of the saddest things I am witnessing is just how cruel
many in the name of Christ are being to those who study God's Word
the most - namely Preterists. I do not know a single Preterist
who is lazy in studying God's Word and yet the ignorant among
us feel obligated to persecute them - that still does not mean
they are not elect - remember Paul.
It does seem unreasonable that those who are saved act so
violently toward anyone who begs to differ - but they do.
In fact they see it as their duty to Christ- this is not new:
John 16:2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea,
the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think
that he doeth God service.
Paul repented from being a persecutor and became one of the persecuted
after he was converted to the Lord - it does not look good
for some of these to be 'damning' that which they do not understand.
Titus 3:2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers,
but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
I suppose we will always have the brute beast among us.
2 Peter 2:12 But these, as natural brute beasts,
made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the
things that they understand not; and shall utterly
perish in their own corruption;
I just wish I was not so prone to being just like them :-)
Brian |
