Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
(Galatians 4:1-7)
As we follow the process of salvation at the hands of Christ, it truly is an awe inspiring, and amazing revelation to the repentant sinner. As we are led through the process, and only if we are led through the process we have so far looked at; being chosen by God, being born again of His Spirit, being brought to faith in the Son, and repentance towards God, and being justified by God. We are led to a most precious place ever known to man, and that is to enter into a state of sonship with the Father in Heaven, and a place of brotherhood and heirship with Christ Jesus Himself.
Contrary to the popular deception of the world, and apostate ministries rooted in the flesh, not all men are God’s children. In fact, only those who have been imputed the Righteousness of Christ as their own, may be truly recognised as children of God, and the remainder of humanity are children of the devil. When we understand this truth and the implications of it, the very thought of being recognised by God Almighty as His own children, is truly breath taking!
In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.
(1 John 3:10)
Once again, as with the previous stages of our salvation, it is solely by the hand of God and the will of God, from start to finish, and not of our own accord. Even though we are able to excercise our own free will, it is never, and cannot ever be outside the boundaries of the Will of God. Regardless of how we may perceive that we have come into faith in Christ, the truth is that if we are truly in Christ, it is only ever because God Himself has chosen for us to be there, according to His will and purpose.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
(Ephesians 1:3-6)
Because we who believe are adopted as sons, we find ourselves not just in intimate and privilaged relationship with God the Father, but we also find we have a guaranteed inheritance, sealed with the deposit of the Spirit of God Himself, indwelling our heart.
In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
(Ephesians 1:11-14)
In conclusion I would like to point out one thing, lest any of us should wrongly boast. We have not been chosen by God because we are somehow worthy, but purely out of His will and purpose, and nothing more. His purpose being to glorify Himself by manifesting throughout all ages the riches of His grace, poured out upon those of us who are to be found in Christ.
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
(Ephesians 2:4-7)
As His children, how can we respond in any other way than to lay down our lives before Him, and worship Him? Let thanksgiving be constantly upon our lips, may we constantly seek after the revelation of His Word, and the empowering of His Spirit, that we may walk in a manner that is worthy of those who bear His name.
For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
(Colossians 1:9-14)
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Amen to all that is written above,however I would continue that verse in Colossians 1;19 to verse 23 If indeed you continue in the faith;grounded steadfast and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard.
This was my point all along,I did not intend to be controversial,but we must explain all scripture as it is.That IF in the bible is always a condition.Is it suggesting here that we can stop continuing,or we can move away from the hope of the gospel which we heard? Paul is praying for them just for this,that they might continue.Jesus says remain in me,and I remain in you.God bless and may the Lord bring us to the true knowledge of scripture that we might one day have one mind.
Thanks for your comment Joyce. I’m sorry if you felt the verse was being cut short, so here are the verses you pointed out anyway:)
For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
(Colossians 1:19-23)
I am in total agreement with you my sister, and always have been regarding abiding in Christ until the end. Perhaps our differences lie in our perception of the relationship between God’s will and man’s will. But I think we both agree on the following, as far as I can tell.
Whoever comes to faith in Christ, and in the Final Day is ushered into eternal glory; from start to finish, the whole process of redemption for every single believer, will be entirely and solely down to the Grace of God. The victory will be His, and all glory and honour will belong to Him alone.
God bless, and thanks again for your input,
John.
Amen to that.At last we agree,we all know what God’s will is. 2 Peter 3:9 that nobody should perish but have everlasting life.He died for all not some priveldged few,Romans 2:4 the goodness of God leads you to repantace,then on verse 5 there is a famous BUT. but in accordance with your hardness and your impertinent heart.We see man’s will,here which the Lord leaves free.2 Peter 15 they have forsaken the right way (so they were in the right way to begin with) and gone astray.all of 2 Peter is about these false prophets and teachers,the word of faith mainly. then Luke 13:6 I tell you,no: but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.There is still hope for these people to repent,to get back into the will of God,but repantance is something you have to be willing to do.It cannot be forced on anyone.Gods will is that all mankind will be saved,God gives everyone the opportunity,but unless we lay down our will and learn obedience like Jesus did.We have to crucify the flesh with Him,He cannot do that for us,or He will be a dictator.What did satan tell God about Job,he said of course this men worships you because you build a wall around him,leave him on his own and then you will see how much he loves you.So God allowed him to test him,and in the end Job surrendered his will to the Lord and said Thy will not mine.I believe that if you continue in the way you will be saved,there is that condition.Not once you make a confession of faith and are born again,you cannot turn back,all these scriptures verfy that.You have to remain,and we have no excuse not to except that we want to do it our way.We start in the spirit but then decide to go on in the flesh.The longer we remain in the flesh,the longer we are striving with the Holy Spirit,who is long suffering and will keep trying to bring us back,but if we eventualy do not repent than we shall likewise perish.Gods will is that all should come to repantance and be saved, but do all do that?
Joyce stated in above post,
There is still hope for these people to repent,to get back into the will of God,but repantance is something you have to be willing to do.It cannot be forced on anyone.Gods will is that all mankind will be saved,God gives everyone the opportunity,but unless we lay down our will and learn obedience like Jesus did.
Do you mean that “will” to be “would” or do you believe that in the end all of mankind “will” be saved?
Do you believe that God is soveriegn enough and able enough to look into the timeline of the past and present and future and to know us enough (each person, who was born, has been born and yet to be born)to know who will and will not believe?