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Two things to consider: 1. God desired that all should be conformed to the stature of Jesus Christ, whether it be here on earth or when you expire, you shall be converted instantly upon coming face to face with Jesus.
That is biblical in that He "predestined it".
2. Because of our individuality as gods of the lesser kind, meaning without power other than making decisions concerning our thoughts, we have consequences, good or evil, due and payable here on earth.
Number two is what our hang ups are all about. That is what we argue in these type of forums. everybody has an opinion apart from that which God has predestined.
What God has predestined, we have no control over, only our behavior, which could be a blessing or a curse.
That is up to us to figure out.
My view is that you work at finding God which ever way you are able to; so that He take notice of you and bless you.
He will never turn anyone away regardless!
blessings, AJ
Did the Pharisees immediatelly convert when they came face to face with Jesus? Who crucified Jesus if everyone who ever saw Him was converted?
Can you provide some Bible verses saying that people are converted when they expire?
"Romans 11:32 For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all".
I like the Concordant Literal Translation
"For God locks up all together in stubbornness, that He should be merciful to all."
Until God unlocks our stubborness we will remain in the condition of Romans 3:10-18.
But when He unlocks our stubbornness and lays hold on us by His sovereign grace and makes Jesus "choice" in our heart, then we will begin to obey just like Saul of Tarsus and Nebuchadnezzar did.
Physical death does not terminate God's determination to eventually save everyone from everything from which they need to be saved, especially their stubborn will, for "God will have all men to be saved" (1Tim. 2:4).
Did you read the part that says God bound everyone over to disobedience?
Or as Rodger pointed out, "God locks up all together in stubbornness"?
The same saving grace that laid hold on Saul of Tarsus, and Nebuchadnezzar, will, in due time, successfully lay hold on everyone for "God will have all men to be saved."
It not likely will be as dramatic, but nonetheless it will be an achievement of God's grace, plus nothing.
The same saving grace that laid hold on Saul of Tarsus, and Nebuchadnezzar, will, in due time, successfully lay hold on everyone for "God will have all men to be saved."
It not likely will be as dramatic, but nonetheless it will be an achievement of God's grace, plus nothing.
The strawman that people erect in this issue concerning God forcing salvation upon mankind is that they imply that the force God uses will be to force a person to be something or someplace continually against their desires.
The problem is that they do not apply biblical force as an influence that is designed to bring about and create a willing heart in all mankind.
Proverbs 16:9 in a very basic form describes this.
"Man devises a way in his heart, but God directs his steps"
There is also another verse that states the result of God directing our steps.
1 John 14:9 We love God because he first loved us.
We love God due to a reaction to an action of force. That is biblical force and yes indeed God subjects us to that force without our permission to do so.
So biblically God does force us to love him, but with God it brings about willing hearts.
The doubters will just have to get over it and they will.
The same saving grace that laid hold on Saul of Tarsus, and Nebuchadnezzar, will, in due time, successfully lay hold on everyone for "God will have all men to be saved."
It not likely will be as dramatic, but nonetheless it will be an achievement of God's grace, plus nothing.
You are referring to the after-death salvation process.m but there is no Biblical proof for such process. That belief was created only support the universalist view.
Mercy on them all. All=Jews and Gentiles alike. Mercy on all = salvation available to all, not forced upon everyone.
I think that you're so funny Finn ... In a twisted sardonic sort of way. You believe that God is going to force most of humanity to bow and confess Christ is lord(say uncle) against their wills before he throws them into the eternal torture pit and that it is good and righteous "justice!" ... But when you hear that God causes people to have a change of heart and mind and be saved, you act as if the very idea insulted you.
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When God lays hold on us by His sovereign grace
The "force" of God's saving grace
