Post by ybrown on Jul 28, 2006 23:08:25 GMT -5
jasmine said:
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
-Paul is saying that Most important of all things..is to pray. The paul goes on to list the different types of prayers. Supplication-precise request for specific needs. Prayer- a general word embracing various kinds of prayers, confession, adoration, so on and so forth. Intercessions- prayers to God on the behalf of others. Secondly paul is saying here" There is a reason why prayers should be offered by ALL men. Secondly prayers help bring about salvation for others. Some of us are saved because Some one took the time to pray for us while we were yet in our sins. Which Above all, Most imporantly, We should PRAY. Prayer is good and acceptable to God because it was written that men should always pray and faint not, so obviously there is strength given when we pray.Paul is also saying that we should pray so that we can enjoy a "tranquil" life. Meaning that we should lead a quiet and peaceable life with the utmost reverence and respect for those in authority.
So, so true.
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
So what is paul saying in these verses: Paul is saying that There being ONE GOD implies that he must have the same desire toward alll people, which is, their salvation. There is One mediator which means he's made the same provisions for all people, which is Redemption. Paul is also saying that Jesus gave himself to be a ransom for all men, which will be testified in due time. Due time also means " Proof" and I believe that JESUS sacrifice is Proof enough, that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in HIM, SHALL have everlasting life. That his desire is that all men be saved.
Very true. I am with you on this. It is God’s desire, God’s will that all men be saved.
The reason why I posted all those scriptures before is because God states this will, this desire over and over again. He repeats it throughout all of scripture. He doesn’t want us to miss it. He wants us to know it and know it well.
I myself have a desire that ALL men will be saved, that they would turn from their wicked lifestyle, and place their hope and trust in Jesus, so that they too can experience the Goodness of God.. but guess what? There will be people who will NOT accept Jesus. They will reject him, and my dear sister GOD already knows this. God is not going to force himself on any man, as he has clearly stated that if we would draw nigh to HIM, he would draw nigh unto us.
This is where we don't agree, and the only reason why I disagree is because scripture tells me not to.
So you say that because God wills something doesn’t mean He’ll necessarily get it, comparing God’s wants and desires with your own wants and desires.
Essentially you think that God’s will is like man’s will.
You believe God’s will coming to pass depends on man (men saying yes to Christ). You believe that salvation is a free-will choice.
I hope I’ve summed up your points correctly.
Firstly, God’s Word NEVER returns void.
Isaiah 55:11 tells us:
"So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."
The Message translation says it this way:
"So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it."
This is the sure Word of God, it doesn't fail, it doesn't return void. It always accomplishes that which it was sent to do. Always, not occasionally, not when God is in the mood. He never changes, He's always the same. He is consistently consistent. The same yesterday, today and forever.
When God speaks, things happen. Genesis 1 is testament to that.
Something that we have to be careful about is comparing what we want with what God wants. Comparing our will with His goes against scripture, and God tells us not to do it:
Isaiah 46:5:
5 "So to whom will you compare me, the Incomparable? Can you picture me without reducing me?
He goes on to admonish Israel for worshipping idols, then He declares:
8 "Think about this. Wrap your minds around it. This is serious business, rebels. Take it to heart. 9 Remember your history, your long and rich history. I am GOD, the only God you've had or ever will have-- incomparable, irreplaceable-- 10 From the very beginning telling you what the ending will be, All along letting you in on what is going to happen, Assuring you, "I'm in this for the long haul, I'll do exactly what I set out to do,'
So we can’t compare the will of God to anyone’s else’, including our own. No one else is like Him and no one has a Will like His. His will goes forth no matter what.
God makes sure that we know no one else is like Him and that His word, His promises, and His will won’t return void.
Just in case we miss this point, He reiterates it again in another passage in Isaiah as well as several other places in scripture. This is something He wants us to know.
Lastly, salvation is not of man. Whomever the Father sends to the Son, the Son NEVER loses.
John 6:44 states it plain: No one can come to Me unless the Father draws him. The Message states it even plainer so that there is no doubt about with whom salvation originates:
44 You're not in charge here. The Father who sent me is in charge. He draws people to me--that's the only way you'll ever come. Only then do I do my work, putting people together, setting them on their feet, ready for the End.
So not only are we not in charge as to WHEN we come, His grace is so irresistible that Jesus tells us:
37 Every person the Father gives me eventually comes running to me. And once that person is with me, I hold on and don't let go. 38 I came down from heaven not to follow my own whim but to accomplish the will of the One who sent me. 39 "This, in a nutshell, is that will: that everything handed over to me by the Father be completed--not a single detail missed--and at the wrap-up of time I have everything and everyone put together, upright and whole.
Again what does the Father give the Son and why?
2 You put him in charge of everything human So he might give real and eternal life to all in his charge. 3 And this is the real and eternal life: That they know you, The one and only true God, And Jesus Christ, whom you sent. 4 I glorified you on earth By completing down to the last detail What you assigned me to do.
So this is what we know –
In regards to God’s Will:
- It is God’s will that all men be saved
- His will and His Word never returns void. He always get what He wants
- Man cannot thwart God's Will or His plan.
In regards to salvation:
- God wills that salvation come to all men
- Salvation only comes to those that come to Jesus Christ
- The Father is the One that sends anyone to Christ
- Once they get to Christ, Christ never loses not a one. He’s in it for the long haul. This is His longsuffering.
- Those that come to Him get everlasting life
We should also point out that since God tells us to pray to pray for the salvation of all men, we need to pray for the salvation of all men.
Do we question Him or do we do it?
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will (which we know it is), he hears us. And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him.
God answers our prayers according to His will and according to His wisdom, His love for us and His holiness. James 5:16 tells us that the prayers of the righteous availeth much.
So we need to know that God uses our prayers in His plan of salvation. He draws us and saves us so that we pray for the unsaved. That is how He reaches all.
We've got some praying to do!
For every person that we pray salvation, he is sure to receive it.
Who are we to question His will?
Do you not know that your prayers are one of the most powerful forces on this earth?
Does this make sense?
Jas 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
-hmm, Paul " I intend" that men in every locality pray, geography being no factor in this. Pray everywhere lifting up holy hands, (which means with a "PURE LIFE", which is without (wrath and doubting) which means disputes. A Pure life, which is also referred to " Conversation" or LIFESTYLE in the bible.
Ps 50:23 - Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.
Eph 2:3 - Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Eph 4:22 - That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
1Pe 1:15 - But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2 peter 3:9-18
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Good scriptures that we should all heed!