Hiddenthings
Well-Known Member
Who is the us?Colossians 1:13-14
He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, / in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Again, its a message received and believed upon and only applies to those who were (past tense) dead in their sins.Colossians 2:13-15
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
God's unfolding message of salvation began in Gen 3 and finishes when sin and death are finally swallowed up - but not all will enter New Jerusalem.When and where? At the cross IN Jesus. For who? All humanity.
Your belief in Jesus is your acknowledgement and gratitude. Your gratitude did not bring God's self sacrificing love into existence. It was there before the foundation of the World. It is revealed IN Jesus.
True, but not everyone.Does God leave himself without a witness in circumstances where men have not heard or understood? No no no no. His Spirit strives with all men and women through all ages. Because they haven't seen or understood this gift does this mean it's not theirs? Of course not.
Will they get to see it? I think yes. Examples would be, Noah, Abraham, Samson and the many mentioned in Hebrews 11....and no doubt many many others from the far flung corners of the Earth not mentioned....even from Pagan territories.
Regardless of what you and I believe, "God knows those who are His" - the irony with the 2 Timothy 2:19 is that Paul is citing Moses' words in Num 16:5, re the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.Disqualification comes when with sustained defiance (just like Satan) men do not care, do not want and trample underfoot what has been freely given them and substitute their own ideas.
Death is preferable to them than facing 'the one who loved them and gave himself for them' .....as we see in Revelation 6:16
His love to/ for them is seen by them as being wrathful. Something dreadful and terrible has twisted their minds. They have been deceived.
And what do we learn of such a truth? “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”
This recalls Numbers 16:26 (LXX): “Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men.” In that case, judgment fell by the hand of God Himself, not by Moses.
You see Quiet the same problem which Paul wrote to Timothy about is in this forum - we would be naive to consider otherwise!
How should Timothy fulfill his responsibilities in the household of God when opposition and false teaching were spreading?
Already men like Hymenaeus and Philetus were undermining the doctrine of the resurrection, unsettling the faith of some (2 Tim 2:17–18). It might have seemed as if the very foundations of truth were crumbling.
Should Timothy despair, abandon the fight, or flee like a hireling before wolves of rebellion, pride, and error?
Paul’s answer is emphatic: “Nevertheless [despite everything], the foundation of God stands firm” (v.19).
But how can we be sure of this? Paul points to the “seal,” the divine guarantee: Though men may corrupt, oppose, and twist the truth, they cannot overthrow it. “The Lord knows those who are His.” In His time, God Himself will deal with those who are not.
If we truly grasp that everything lies at all times in the hand of the Almighty, and that we ourselves are but small instruments in His vast purpose, then we will be delivered from that restless anxiety which produces rashness, harshness, and despair.
Some may believe confessing the name is not required
Some may even believe those who do are saved
Few will be found to have confessed the name of the Lord AND turned away from wickedness.
The Master's agony is known to them who do.
Feel better?