Santiago,
You said, "I do not have an answer as to why God only saves some."
That is where a major problem in salvation in predestination only surfaces. It makes God and his word incomplete. It makes God erratic and unpredictable. It makes him condenm people before they are even born. And thats how you get the horrible theology that people pass off on this thread that God does not love everyone! And the funny thing is, he answers this problem you have in the bible so clearly. He chooses those who choose him....
Mark 9: 23
"`If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
Mark 16:16
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Luke 7:50
Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
John 3;14-15
Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:18
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
John 3:36
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."
John 5:24
"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.
John 6:35
Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
John 6:40
For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
John 6:47
I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.
John 11:25 -26
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
John 12:46
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
Acts 2:21
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'
Acts 16:30-31
He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household."
Romans 10:4
Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
Romans 10:9
That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:12-13
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 *
The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
2 Thessalonians 2:12
and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
1 Timothy 2 1:4
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Hebrews 10:39
But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
1 John 5:5
Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
1 John 5:10
Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son.
So you see James, now you have your answer. Don't get hung up on that we have a sinful nature and we can not make a good spiritual decision for God in the flesh. That is true according to scripture when we are alive on this earth, but he provided us the opportunity to make the decision to accept the gift of salvation outside of our sinful condition. And my original point that started most of this conversation, and as Nancy put so nicely, is that the decision came before the world was even created, before we had the opportunity to commit any sin.
Here is Nancy's post again....
Message 13231974
God Bless,
Steve
Ps - Chris, here we are, to the end as you so desired! I finally finished proving my statement, "1. He chose us, before we chose, 2. but based upon our decision!" as promised! |
