For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
James Kraft
Just my opinion, but it is far harder to get someone out of religion than it is to save an ubeliever. Man is bent on finding religion whether it is true or not. Satan is working over time to deceive as many as he can. I cannot believe the heresy being taught by some that should know the truth.
Right now I feel like we would do good to keep the ones that are truly saved from the false teachers that are out there. To many read the bible under black light and do not understand scripture. We need people that have disernment and quit teaching the doctrines of men.
Do I have it all? No, but I have enough to tell the true from the false in most cases, and have the basic knowledge of the scripture thanks to my preacher father and many other good men.
The Lord brought me out of the grave 4 years ago, and began to work in my life like never before. I claim nothing but the blood of Jesus to save any one who will call on His name. I believe when Jesus nailed all of my sins to the cross and washed them away with His blood He saved me by His grace and mercy. That is the gospel that paul preached, and the only one I will accept.
Like Paul, any one who preaches another gospel should be accursed. These immigrants are going to be bringing in their own religion with them and deceive our own. I do not believe Gods elect can be deceived. But even so we need to be in the word to know the truth. As someone once said during the civil war, "Trust in the Lord, but keep your powder dry."
Danny Hickman
It took you a while but you finally said it. You said 'God's ELECT can't be deceived.' That's the BEST of the good news.
I had a preacher dad the same as you. He ain't the reason I believe the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have 2 brothers who are God fearing Christians. Neither is my dad the reason they are saved. God doesn't have any grandchildren.
Yes, I believe Jehovah saves whole families. But it ain't a certainty. "Jacob I have loved; Esau I have hated." (Malachi 1:2) Maybe this statement here and cited again in Romans 9 is about the earthly relationships these two brothers had with God. Maybe it isn't speaking of their eternal rest. Maybe.. (I believe it is) But it is speaking of ELECTION!
I understand your comment, however. I'm saying that, knowing and understanding the truth isn't of us, our parents, or the church in which we are raised. All of that is ordained by God. Jacob and Esau "heard the same preaching growing up" and they took opposite paths in their lives. The Word emphasizes it vividly. Family ties is no guarantee. We're talking about Abraham's grandsons, even!
Those of us who are blessed to know and understand a tiny bit about Jesus IS BLESSED OF GOD! Chosen by God to know Him!
'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, the mighty man in his might, nor the rich man in his riches, but let him who boasts boast that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth.' Jeremiah 9:23, 24