Post by nathanb on Dec 6, 2007 10:25:19 GMT -5
ozelaine said:
Nathan, God's provision for His people in eternity is not based on what they accomplish or do in this life but on what Christ has done and accomplished for them.If we are to be judged on how we finish, none would qualify for salvation for we are sinful. God makes it very clear that our salvation is a gift, which is eternal life.
How much sin do you think God will ignore when we are finishing our lives? If we have any sin, even a milimeter, God cannot accept us. What then makes us acceptable to God except Christ's perfect righteousness? Christ is the only remedy for our sin. His sacrifice paid the price for our sin and took the effect of it away. His righteousness is credited to our account when we believe the Gospel and are born again. What more could we add to that perfect righteousness that would help to qualify us for eternal life?
Repentance is a very real part of our lives but it cannot accomplish anything unless backed by the sacrifice and righteousness of Christ. Once we are saved/born again sin does not keep us separated from God ever again. We fail, we fall, we sin but that sin cannot be charged to our account anymore because the wrath of God has been transfered to Jesus. Christ’s death for the sins of His people does not mean that they will never again commit those sins, but that He has paid the penalty in full which those sins incur.
How we finish is guaranteed by us being God's children and those whom He has given to Jesus to die for. God has predestinated those whom He fore-loved to salvation. God has entrusted a people, whom He chose before the foundation of the world, to His Son. He has done this that His Son should die for them and establish a perfect Righteousness for them. In John 17:3 Jesus adds, "And this is life eternal, that THEY (whom the Father has given Him) might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom Thou hast sent." This is a specific prayer for a specific people. All those whom the Father has given to His Son are the ones Jesus prays for and gives eternal life to.
Our eternal destiny is not about us at all it's only ever about Jesus Christ and what he has done for His people, those whom God has chosen to save.
ALL the glory belongs to God!
Blessings, Elaine.
Thanks, for your post, Elaine.... when I have more time I want to share my understanding on what you wrote. I agree on many of things which you wrote.