elkahna's Blog

Hello everyone!

elkahna here.

This post is actually a continuation of two previous posts. One entitled "Lord of All or Not at All" and "Of Deeds or Grace" These were posted in the Faith Blogs. I have a good on line friend "Vittorio" who asks some really great questions and offers his opinions. To really get the jist of what is here you need to read the original posts and the comments that follow. I have been trying to answer his relevant questions and statements but only about half of the desired comment posts so the only way to get the thought out is to write a new post as that is the only way the whole thing will post so here we go.

I appreciate you reading the references and listening to good preaching. I love differing opinions and give a lot of thought to what I write on these here blogs. I like sometimes just to take a slanted stance to see what will shake out but on the subject we are talking about here I am ALWAYS serious.

I am about to give you some really straight information. It is not meant to offend as that is the fartherest thing from my mind so here we go!

Your guest pastor probably didn't just "leave out" the after effects of the walls falling down at Jericho it probably wasn't part of his message. I'm just giving him the benefit of the doubt as I wasn't there. BUT, the ensuing slaughter was what God told the children of Israel to do. There are other instances in the Old Testament where God instructed the Isrealis to kill evey man, woman, child and animal that was in a segment of the land that was given them as the Promised Land. Without going in to a very long explanation if the Israelis had listened to God in ALL his instructions the conflicts that rage in and around them would not be taking place today. (I can explain the statement in scripture but it will take a bit so for the moment humor me :-)

As for Paul, he started out as Saul and was intent on exterminating the early church and all christians until his encounter on the Damascus Road with the Risen Christ Himself. Then he became Paul and was the most zealous of all the disciples and apostles. Paul so wanted his countrymen to come to know the Messiah, Jesus Christ, as Savior and Lord that he even lamented that he would hope that he could be accursed  (separated) from Christ so that some of his countrymen would receive Christ and be saved. Like us they had the free choice to accept Christ or reject Him. There were many added to the fellowships in that day but it was because the people believed the gospel Paul was preaching and were drawn to and accepted Christ freely.

Free will is an absolute must with God. He wants fellowship with us because He loves us. He will never force Himself on anyone. You are a free moral agent able to choose Christ or reject Him. You cannot even come to Christ unless you are drawn of the Father. The fact that you are attending church at all is proof that you are drawn of the Father else you would have no interest at all. Being drawn is simply the opportunity to accept or reject. If you walk away and reject Christ, No asteroid will fall on you. You will continue to live until you die (or the tribulation finishes up whichever comes first)  The Word does say that it is appointed unto man once to die and then the judgement. I would not want to attend that judgement without Christ as my Savior. Nothing will matter there except the Blood of Christ that cleanses away sin.  There will be no curve grade there. Works will not matter. It will be either "Well done  Good and faithful servant" or "Depart from me you accursed for I never knew you" ( Way much more information is needed but for now just believe me when I say that the Word says this. It is not made up by me. You can research it and see for yourself and I encourage you to do so.)

There is no middle ground He is either Lord of All or Not at All. The Bible is the same way. You either believe that it is the Holy Spirit breathed, inspired Word of God or you don't.

What troubles me is that you say that you only believe about half of what you read and that includes the Bible. If I understand right, you really don't believe the Bible IS the inspired Word of God. If that is true, I am concerned for you. There are lots of scripture that lots of people would rather wasn't in there but none the less it is and we cannot pick and choose the portions of scripture we like and disregard the rest. Jesus didn't come to condemn the world but to save it by taking all the sin of the world on His own body and taking the full wrath of God upon Himself and paying the debt He did not owe for one who could not pay (Me and everyone else) His sinless and perfect sacrifice of Himself paid the price for every sin that would ever be committed making a way where there was no way back into the Kingdom of God for us. He fullfilled all of the Old Testament in His coming in the flesh and His Perfect Atoning Sacrifice for all sin.

Believe it and Him or reject it and Him. There is no middle ground.

Thanks for your reads and all your questions and comments. I look forward to future posts and as always value what you have to say. Always keep in mind though, when it comes to this topic I am always serious and fervent about The Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus didn't come to swat us every time we mess up He came  that we might have life and have it more abundantly and that our joy may be full. He is our Advocate with the Father and continually makes intercession for us.

Be Blessed

elkahna