=Grubal Muruch;578347]That's the same as concluding that, I don't KNOW if I'm healthy, and in my opinion I don't need to know...
No it"s not. It's the same as saying if God gives me an infirmity in this life I Trust His grace is sufficient for me. It's the same as saying all things work to good for those who Love God.
You NEED to KNOW if your healthy physically and Spiritually. That's only logical.
Why is that logical? Exactly how does one know they're spiritually healthy? Does he sask himself if he's spiritually healthy? What if I should have an infirmity and God has given it for prides sake? What if a messenger of Satan is sent to buffer me like Paul. He who aquires much knowledge aquires much sorrow. Is sorrow spiritually unhealthy? Yet Jesus was aquainted with sorrow. In fact Jesus was counted as an infirmed. What wisdom dares judge the infirmity of others and declare who are the blessed of God? Can we see into our own hearts or must God shine the light there?
We must remove the plank from our own eyes before we remove the speck from our brothers.
Grubal, you asked if I was certain I am elect and I said honestly and forthrightly no. I need not lie to anybody, now do I? Why should I fear? What's the difference between knowing and faith? Do you know you are healthy for certain? I know I am not certain nor do I need to be. I just need to trust in Christ for he is able to finish the work in me that he began.
In 1 John 5:13 it states, "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
Yes , I've read it many times. Even better is this, Romans 8:38-39
King James Version (KJV)
38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
A great scripture, but does it say here I should take such a Love for granted? Do you think that is what scripture is saying? Should we just say, way to die for us Lord and give him a round of applause? Everyone loves to read these verses including myself, but we do not want to hear any verses that preach about the severity of God. Isn't that a little lopsided? I seek spiritual health by balance and temperance, honesty, humility and meekness. These things are never attained by saying I know I have them.
Just having hope doesn't cut it, you must KNOW. After all don't you want to KNOW where you'll spend eternity???
It will be what it will be Grubal and we shall all see in the end what it is. Why should I take my eyes off the race before me as if I had already crossed the finish line?
I know that I am not yet there yet, even as Peter sometimes sank when he walked on water. It will not do me any good to convince myself otherwise. I'm still working on turning water into wine.
Why do you think I said this?
childeye---There are those who say I must conclude that I am elect or God would not be the loving kind and merciful God I proclaim Him to be. I understand the argument and they make a good and solid point. There is no flaw in their argument.
Grubal---You may be proclaiming that God is those things, but, is Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior? Are you trusting Him for the forgiveness of your sins? Have you been, born again by the Holy Spirit? Does the Holy Spirit dwell within you through the Grace of God? If you can't answer all of these in the affirmative then you need to do some more seeking...Right now your making assumptions based on other peoples opinions and the idea that you proclaim God as a kind Loving, and merciful God . The Bible says, "You MUST be born again.
I will simply tell you I know Love when I see it and that Love is on the cross and can confirm to you that this Jesus displays a love that is not of this world. He must be the Christ who was sent by God. Of that I am certain. I've already told you I could not even do that without the Holy Spirit. But I have not yet been redeemed and either have you.
God wants you to KNOW you are forgiven. He wants you to KNOW you are Saved by His Grace.
Relax Grubal. Yes I know I am forgiven even as I forgive. However, even Paul said he could yet be rejected. 1 Corinthians 9:27King James Version (KJV)
27But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
1 Corinthians 14:33 says, "For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints." God does not want you to be confused about what you believe...
Yes, thank you for your concern. I know what I believe. What's so confusing about Love God with all your heart mind and soul and your neighbor as yourself? Sounds pretty simple to me.
Romans 10:9-10 says, "That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Oh my Grubal, you are really something special. I've seen enough football games to know that one.
Ephesians 2:8-9
King James Version
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
I believe that would be my line as one who preaches men should not boast that they believed as if they decided to come by their own prerogative. Wouldn't that kind of be like the prodigal son saying he came back to give his Father another chance?
We come to God with our small amount of (mustard seed faith) and He gives us "Christs faith" that we might believe. Mark 9:23-25
Yes how true, the mind of Christ. Thank God for that mustard seed.
New King James Version (NKJV)
23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe,[a] all things are possible to him who believes.”
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!”
Well there goes that deaf and dumb spirit and now the will of this man is freeeeeee. So sad there are many an enslaved wills that need be set free from deaf and dumbness.
As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. [43] And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. [44] She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
[45] "Who touched me?" Jesus asked.
When they all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you."
[46] But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me."
[47] Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. [48] Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."
Yes that is a great story and a great lesson.
Here in these verses are instances where mans own faith was used to bring about positive conclusions...(mustard seed faith.) Christ's faith is applied during the Salvation process. But at first we must come before God. (Hebrews 11:6) But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Amen.
It's better to be safe than to be sorry later...
Actually I'd rather be be sorry now and safe later. Re-read my post that is what it was all about.
