Yes, I addressed that in reply #26.

No, I didn't miss your point.  Of course we will be raised to eternal life.

God Bless

Bonnie,

That verse was referring to people drawn during the time of Jesus ministry.

Butch5, that could very well be.

Hi Bonnie,

Yes, I was making a joke. The quote had this statement in it,

 

It says "Certainly no Christian" would think this, Well I do think this. There is another powerful being out there, the Bible calls him the god of this world, and he plays a big role in peoples destinies.

But since the writer of this quote wrote, Certainly no Christian would think this, I asked (sarcastically) does this mean I am not a Christian?

No, that would be up to God, wouldn't it?

No, that would be up to us,


First, I don't know that everyone was in fact rejecting God. How did they go from not believing to believing? They heard the gospel. When we hear the gospel message we are faced with a decision, do we believe it is true or do we not? If we believe it is true then we obviously will follow what it says. john said,


John 1:7-9 ( KJV ) 7The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.  8He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.  9That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.  

John says that through His (Christ's) witness all men might believe, He goes on to say that Jesus lights every human being that comes into the world, this light is understanding. So Jesus gives some level of understanding to every person who is born, this is right in line with what Paul said.


Romans 1:18-20 ( KJV ) 18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them.  20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Jesus also said,

John 12:32 ( KJV ) 32And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.  

So Jesus draws all men to some degree, we have to decide if we are going to answer that call. Joshua did,


Joshua 24:15 ( NKJV ) 15And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Jacob did,

Genesis 28:20-21 ( KJV ) 20And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,  21So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:  

Paul did,

Acts 26:12-20 ( KJV ) 12Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,  13At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.  14And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.  15And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.  16But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;  17Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,  18To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.  19Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:  20But showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.  

Here we have 3 major players in the Scriptures all saying that they choose to follow the Lord. I find Paul to be especially interesting since so many people use his writings to try to support unconditional elect, yet Paul himself here indicates that it was within his power to choose whether or not he would choose the Lord.

segell---Who makes God's Word come alive?

God's word is alive.


I think this was answered above.

I believe that to be absolutely incorrect.  How and why do you put a time restraint on that?   Please read Jesus prayer in John 17, Butch.  It goes beyond His time on this earth.

John 6:36-45 ( KJV ) 36But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.  37All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.  38For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.  39And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.  40And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.  41The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.  42And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?  43Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.  44No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.  45It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 

No man could come to Christ unless he was given to Christ by the Father. Let's read Jesus prayer in John 17.

John 17:6-12 ( KJV ) 6I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.  7Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.  8For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.  9I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.  10And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.

11And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.  12While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. 

Notice that Jesus says those that thou gavest me, past tense. They were given to Christ, this is a reference to the apostles. Jesus said He has kept those that God had given Him. Also notice that after the cross we see no reference to anyone coming to Christ, how can someone come to Christ when He isn't there? Notice that in the same prayer Jesus spoke of people in the future, he said,

John 17:20 ( KJV ) 20Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 

Jesus said those who shall believe on Him, not those who would come to Him. Again how can you come to Christ when He isn't there? One last note, Jesus also said,


John 12:32 ( KJV ) 32And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. 

Jesus said if He was lifted up He would draw all men  to Himself. So we see that after the cross it is Jesus who draws men, not the Father.