When an opportunity is missed in a sporting event, it can eventuate in a lost game.
When an opportunity is missed in a business deal, it can eventuate in a lost account or lost income.
When we miss an opportunity in life it can eventuate in a lost relationship, life or soul.
Our moments are precious, our ops are rare. Paul said, “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:16
Because of other people making comments, I responded.
Because of other people making comments, I responded.
I don't believe that God makes our choices for us.
I believe God has provided for all people to be saved through faith.
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
If I miss my opportunity to share Christ with someone, that person may not have another opportunity and therefore that person can be lost.
It was mentioned that Jesus would not lose any that the Father had given Him. I responded
It was mentioned that Jesus would not lose any that the Father had given Him. I responded
The John 6 passage says the ones whom the Father gives to Christ are those who come to Christ by faith (Jn. 6:35-40). There is nothing said of the Father giving anyone to Christ, except by faith. Faith is the condition of salvation. For we are saved by grace through faith. Without faith it is impossible to be saved. Faith is our response to God, faith is not God violating our own will.
(The person in the discussion was a 5 point Calvinist)
...you assume that God is basically forcing faith on some and denying faith to others. Your assumption is based on your belief that God elects man unconditionally and unilaterally.
(The person in the discussion was a 5 point Calvinist)
...you assume that God is basically forcing faith on some and denying faith to others. Your assumption is based on your belief that God elects man unconditionally and unilaterally.
For those who may not know, the five points of Calvinism are as follows (TULIP).
Total Depravity... Meaning that man is not only corrupted throughout his entire being, but is so fully corrupted that he is unable to make a choice for Christ. However, we believe God enables all men to make a free will choice.
Unconditional Election... Since Calvinism believes humans have no free will, then they do not believe humans can choose to believe, repent, confess or obey God. Therefore, God must unilaterally and unconditionally choose who will be saved and unilaterally choose to allow the others to be lost, without any hope of salvation. This is called double election; election to salvation and election to damnation.
Limited Atonement... Since Calvinism claims that God unilaterally chooses to save some people through the atonement of Christ, they claim that Christ did not die for the sins of the whole world. Their position says that whoever Jesus died for must get saved.
Irresistible Grace... Since Calvinism believes that God chooses who will be saved and that Christ only died for those who are unilaterally and unconditionally chosen, then those people must become recipients of grace, not by faith or submitted will, but by God's imposition.
Perseverance of the Saint... Simply stated, this is the belief that whoever God has unilaterally and unconditionally chosen to be saved will never lose that salvation, regardless of what they do, since salvation is all by so-called sovereign choice.
DLG...
My original statement was, "a lost opportunity can eventuate in a lost... soul." I followed this initial statement by saying souls can be lost because others fail to share Christ with them and a person can lose his own soul because he fails to have an active and present faith in Christ. However, Jesus said it is possible for a soul to be lost (because salvation is dependent on faith).
I. Jesus Said It Is Possible For A Person To Lose His Soul...
MATTHEW 16:24-26 (same word as “perish” in Jn. 3:16).
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
MARK 8:34-36
34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
LUKE 9:23-25
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
II. Every Soul Which Wills Not To Hear (accept) The Message Of God Through His Prophet (Including Jesus), Shall Be Destroyed (lost)...
ACTS 3:23
23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
III. Believers Have The Assignment And Responsibility To Convert A Christian And Save His Soul From Death And Sin...
JAMES 5:19-20
19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
20 Let him know, that he which converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
IV. Christians Can Cause Other Christians To Perish (Be Lost)...
1 CORINTHIANS 8:11
11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
Total Depravity... Meaning that man is not only corrupted throughout his entire being, but is so fully corrupted that he is unable to make a choice for Christ. However, we believe God enables all men to make a free will choice.
Unconditional Election... Since Calvinism believes humans have no free will, then they do not believe humans can choose to believe, repent, confess or obey God. Therefore, God must unilaterally and unconditionally choose who will be saved and unilaterally choose to allow the others to be lost, without any hope of salvation. This is called double election; election to salvation and election to damnation.
Limited Atonement... Since Calvinism claims that God unilaterally chooses to save some people through the atonement of Christ, they claim that Christ did not die for the sins of the whole world. Their position says that whoever Jesus died for must get saved.
Irresistible Grace... Since Calvinism believes that God chooses who will be saved and that Christ only died for those who are unilaterally and unconditionally chosen, then those people must become recipients of grace, not by faith or submitted will, but by God's imposition.
Perseverance of the Saint... Simply stated, this is the belief that whoever God has unilaterally and unconditionally chosen to be saved will never lose that salvation, regardless of what they do, since salvation is all by so-called sovereign choice.
DLG...
My original statement was, "a lost opportunity can eventuate in a lost... soul." I followed this initial statement by saying souls can be lost because others fail to share Christ with them and a person can lose his own soul because he fails to have an active and present faith in Christ. However, Jesus said it is possible for a soul to be lost (because salvation is dependent on faith).
I. Jesus Said It Is Possible For A Person To Lose His Soul...
MATTHEW 16:24-26 (same word as “perish” in Jn. 3:16).
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
MARK 8:34-36
34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
LUKE 9:23-25
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
II. Every Soul Which Wills Not To Hear (accept) The Message Of God Through His Prophet (Including Jesus), Shall Be Destroyed (lost)...
ACTS 3:23
23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
III. Believers Have The Assignment And Responsibility To Convert A Christian And Save His Soul From Death And Sin...
JAMES 5:19-20
19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
20 Let him know, that he which converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
IV. Christians Can Cause Other Christians To Perish (Be Lost)...
1 CORINTHIANS 8:11
11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
