Abigail have another look at that verse you quoted 2Pet 3:9. See who it written to ....the bretheren ie to christians....and who is the "any" referring to. Surely the verse is talking to Christians and the any is any of us (believers) still to come to repentance. Read the verse in context next time.
Our will is not completely free until Christ through His regeneration of us, has made us free. Prior to this we are free to choose but will only choose evil. After we are cleansed we want to choose Christ because His Spirit is in us. Because we are then free we are able to discern and choose either way to live and will face God's judgement on how we used His free gift.
But so many believe in a rapture that removes them before the martyrdom of the tribulation. I think those living N Korea might have something to say about this idea. Look at the survey results.
Thanks for the brief history of the belief. As I said before I can't reconcile a rapture with scripture. Now I see why. It's not there. So many true Christian believers have been duped into following this false doctrine, that it seems to be growing especially by those who don't believe Christ when He said we would suffer for His sake. They want easy believism.
I believe I'm amill. I cannot see a rapture in scripture or an actual period of 1000years for Christ to rule on earth. The questions that both views raise are I believe, insurmountable.
Abigail, Is unbelief a sin? If it is, surely it is covered when you say Christ died for all the sins of the world... therefore everyone must be saved by your reckoning. I believe Jesus when he said all that all the Father gave to Him would come to Him, and he would not cast them out. John 17:9-11 and in Ephesians 1:4 we are reminded that we were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world.
You mentioned the jailer. Who was baptised? The jailer who we are told believed, and his household. Nothing about the household believing, is recorded. As in the old covenant the father and his household was to be circumcised.
Wow JD you are getting more and more away from scripture. So now we are to partake of the Holy Spirit to be saved. The world has not been baptised by the Holy Spirit. When Christ through His Spirit, indwells us we become heirs and partakers of eternal life.
11/25/07 10:09 PM
