Saved, which means what?

[amadeus]

Well yes, I disagree, in that, we are talking about an effectively dead person. And one who is effectively dead can't effectively do what you say there he ought to do. So, how then could an effectively dead one save himself or get himself saved? He just effectively can't. As I have pointed out, unless one is born from above (born again) he cannot see nor can he do anything in that regard. Now, it is God who saves and He is the one who chooses the people who will be His people. And to those whom God had chosen from every nation, place, and generation, God goes out to them, in His perfect time, and works out to save them, recreating them by rebirth, and ultimately transform them to conform to the image of the Son, Jesus Christ.

Tong
R1060

Does not the Father attract dead people to His Son so that they may attain to Life? They do then have their choice to go in the direction of the attraction or not! I have explained this, this time, but we have some basic differences which until one of changes, will make agreement difficult of impossible! You are trying to convert me to your way of believing. I have been where I am on this point from day one and many people have discussed or argued with me on it with almost no change on my part.

Remember again that only God increases anyone. He may use someone for that, but someone deciding to do that on his own will likely not accomplish what he thinks that he might...

 

[marks]

The fact that we have a choice is indisputable. The more interesting question, in my opinion, is why we choose the alternatives we do. If we have freedom of the will, why is sin inevitable? It seems to me that a doctrine of salvation must address the inevitability of sin. Jesus had freewill and yet he was without sin. I would love it if, someday, God could cause it so that I never sin again. What a glorious blessing. To truly have freedom of the will, always doing what we know is right.

Jesus said a number of times, be it to you according to your faith. I believe that our death in Christ has freed us from our sins, competely and fully, and by relying on this reality, we can live in that life.

". . . the motions of sin, which were by the Law . . ." living with the idea that though you've been born again in Christ, that now you have to maintain good standing to achieve a "final salvation" causes us to think according to what is good, and what is evil, and I'd better do good, and better not do evil, and this is the mind of the flesh.

The mind of the Spirit is that we love Him because He first loved us, and in Christ, nothing can ever separate us form the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Renewing the mind is learning to think in this new way. And once we realize that we are not on some performance driven salvation process, or even that our intimacy with God is somehow prevented by sin (the desire to hide from God is of the flesh, same as the feeling of condemnation), we find sin's sails fall flat, the energy is gone, because we are trusting in Christ, and He is cleansing us from sin.

If you wish to explore this more, I'll be happy to share.

Much love!

 

[amadeus]

What differences, may I ask?

Primarily the difference is between where I stand on OSAS and where you stand on it. I believe that if a person really believes in OSAS in his heart and lives also by the Word of God striving to follow God's lead, God will see his heart and judge accordingly. What is in the person's heart insofar as intentions and faith makes the difference with God rather than the details of this belief/doctrine versus that one.

I cannot support OSAS myself because of what is already in my heart and mind. For me to do so would, I believe, go against where the Holy Spirit is leading me. I cannot speak for anyone else on this. I will give people advice or recommendations when they ask me or I will point people toward God according to what I am shown for the moment. But... I have more than one friend who stands closer to where you are on this point and I believe that they believe they are right. I believe that at the moment they would please God. But... as I have said I am not God.

If differences in one's person and in the situation in this earthly life we are in, then my answer to your question is, Yes.

 

[amadeus]

I agree, except for the part where you said that they were unclean beast. For they are man and not beast. Perhaps, what you mean to say is that after they disobeyed God, they were no longer clean and were as beast or like beast which does not have the "Life".

I meant that they were beasts as Solomon described it saying both that we are beasts and/or that we are like beasts.. We are by wisdom to kill those beasts, which Paul might call the "old man" of us . This is that work, which some might say is not necessary in order to finally be saved. I, on the other hand, believe that is necessary so as not to be not cast out into outer darkness should we would try to enter in without being fully prepared.

I am not aware of any "beast nature" of man taught nor spoken in scriptures, such as that which pushes a man to go against God.

Perhaps "push" was a poor choice of words on my part. Consider every dead man walking around in the flesh does work in death, which is certainly outside of where God wants us to be with Him. I believe that the two, the old man and the new man in us continue after we have met and received Jesus as Lord to battle within us as James describes it [4:1]. But what is ultimately needed is for the new man to win. The wisdom received, be it described as Jesus or the Holy Spirit quickened scripture, is to kill the beasts which want to lead us back into sin.

There are many bibical references to beastly men and or men as beasts. Here are some:

"I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?" Ecc 3:18-21

"So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee." Psalm 73:22

"Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table." Prov 9:1-2

"And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will." Dan 5:21

"But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;" II Peter 2:10-12

"But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves." Jude 10

 

[Tong2020]

Does not the Father attract dead people to His Son so that they may attain to Life? They do then have their choice to go in the direction of the attraction or not! I have explained this, this time, but we have some basic differences which until one of changes, will make agreement difficult of impossible! You are trying to convert me to your way of believing. I have been where I am on this point from day one and many people have discussed or argued with me on it with almost no change on my part.

Remember again that only God increases anyone. He may use someone for that, but someone deciding to do that on his own will likely not accomplish what he thinks that he might...

Pardon me, but I don't read God attracting dead people to attain to Life, in scriptures. What I do read is that, for God, fallen mankind were all dead, even while they still have "physically life". Now, I guess that there is no dispute what dead or effectively dead means, or is there? And what I do read in scriptures is that fallen mankind, effectively dead as they were, must be born from above (born again) to be able to see the kingdom of God. Now, it is only God who could do that which is impossible for man to do, that is, the rebirth of one. And only when one who is effectively dead is born again by the working of God, according to His will, purpose, pleasure, and glory, that such a one receive Life, and thus will be dead no longer.

I would not say I am trying to convert you to my way of believing. I would say that I am presenting you arguments against some of your statements which you may want to consider and ponder upon, as I would also consider and ponder upon the arguments you present. And that's all the good I could possibly do relative to that. For I believe that it is the Holy Spirit who convicts and converts the person.

Tong
R1066

 

[amadeus]

The fact that we have a choice is indisputable. The more interesting question, in my opinion, is why we choose the alternatives we do. If we have freedom of the will, why is sin inevitable? It seems to me that a doctrine of salvation must address the inevitability of sin. Jesus had freewill and yet he was without sin. I would love it if, someday, God could cause it so that I never sin again. What a glorious blessing. To truly have freedom of the will, always doing what we know is right.

I see what men call "free will" as ultimately only two choices: God's Way or not. Jesus spoke of it as God or mammon. Here we see how Joshua describes it:

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15

Paul spoke of the "old man" versus the "new man".

John the Baptist spoke of the one needing to decrease while the other increased:

"He must increase, but I must decrease." John 3:30

Within man's own ways, there may be different choices, but ultimately there are only the two. If we do not choose to follow God first, then we have chosen other way, the wrong way, the way of death.

We have free will in this sense... to do it our way retaining our own reins and thereby directing our own steps. When we do that we are choosing to remain in or to return to the death in which we were in when born to our natural mother. The only Way to get out of that place of death is to give the reins to God as often as we are faced with a Life or death decision. God sent His Son to open up the Way for us and to allow us to receive the Holy Spirit to lead us the right Way...

"O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." Jerem 10:23

"O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!" Psalm 119:5

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." Rom 8:14

Who is leading me: Me or the Spirit of God?

 

[Tong2020]

Primarily the difference is between where I stand on OSAS and where you stand on it. I believe that if a person really believes in OSAS in his heart and lives also by the Word of God striving to follow God's lead, God will see his heart and judge accordingly. What is in the person's heart insofar as intentions and faith makes the difference with God rather than the details of this belief/doctrine versus that one.

I cannot support OSAS myself because of what is already in my heart and mind. For me to do so would, I believe, go against where the Holy Spirit is leading me. I cannot speak for anyone else on this. I will give people advice or recommendations when they ask me or I will point people toward God according to what I am shown for the moment. But... I have more than one friend who stands closer to where you are on this point and I believe that they believe they are right. I believe that at the moment they would please God. But... as I have said I am not God.

We can ask ourselves this question: Am I in Christ Jesus? We could only answer for our own self. Now this is the truth that scriptures clearly says on that, that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.

Those who are in Christ Jesus, who are they? Are they not those whom scriptures said, do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit?

Those who are in Christ Jesus, are they not those whom scriptures say are saved?

Those who are in Christ Jesus, are they not those whom scriptures said God had predestined to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ?

Tong
R1067

 

[amadeus]

Christ died for my past sins and my future sins. Of course, I continue to sin every day. But, my purity before God is not diminished in Christ. Confession does not make me pure, we all sin without awareness (i.e., some people are prideful and never know it).

Well if that is what you really believe, it is between you and God, but I will add a few things for your consideration.

What is it you have faith in... that God will overlook every thing we do wrong without regard to whether it is premeditated or an oversight or how serious of an offense it is [murder or theft or rape or little white lie versus a big black one, etc.]? When our continued "sins" after we have been "saved" hurt other people, does God simply ignore what we have done? No more repentance or repayment of debts required?

I am obviously not where you are on this.

"... According to your faith be it unto you." Matt 9:29

Does it ever stop being "according to" our faith?

 

[amadeus]

Pardon me, but I don't read God attracting dead people to attain to Life, in scriptures.

"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:44

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10

What I do read is that, for God, fallen mankind were all dead, even while they still have "physically life". Now, I guess that there is no dispute what dead or effectively dead means, or is there? And what I do read in scriptures is that fallen mankind, effectively dead as they were, must be born from above (born again) to be able to see the kingdom of God. Now, it is only God who could do that which is impossible for man to do, that is, the rebirth of one. And only when one who is effectively dead is born again by the working of God, according to His will, purpose, pleasure, and glory, that such a one receive Life, and thus will be dead no longer.

I would not say I am trying to convert you to my way of believing. I would say that I am presenting you arguments against some of your statements which you may want to consider and ponder upon, as I would also consider and ponder upon the arguments you present. And that's all the good I could possibly do relative to that. For I believe that it is the Holy Spirit who convicts and converts the person.

Give God the glory!

 

[amadeus]

We can ask ourselves this question: Am I in Christ Jesus? We could only answer for our own self. Now this is the truth that scriptures clearly says on that, that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.

Those who are in Christ Jesus, who are they? Are they not those whom scriptures said, do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit?

Those who are in Christ Jesus, are they not those whom scriptures say are saved?

Those who are in Christ Jesus, are they not those whom scriptures said God had predestined to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ?

Tong
R1067

While people should not, they do follow the pattern of the children of Israel in the wilderness. Every day and every time that they recognized they had broken one of the laws, which God gave to Moses, they had to go the priest with their sacrifice so that atonement could be made. They would do that and then go back out of the tabernacle and break the laws anew knowing that they would need to go back to the priest again with another sacrifice. They never got closer to God than the outer court doing that. The priests twice each day went through the 1st veil to the Holy Place. Once a year the High Priest went through the 2nd veil to the Most Holy Place. But the people...with two exceptions, never really approached the glory of God behind the 2nd veil, did they? They never got it into their hearts what God really wanted as they murmured and complained repeatedly in spite of the physical miracles He performed for them and which they witnessed. Caleb was one of the two exceptions:

"But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it." Num 14:12

So even then among those natural children of Jacob there was always a better Way. God was not looking for carnal sacrifices, but hearts! We see also at a later time that David also "had another Spirit with him" as he wrote these words:

"O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.
For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." Psalm 51:15-17

God sent His Son so that no man would have to go through a priest for each and every sin and no man would have to try obey all of those 613 laws...

Did He make the Way easier for us? Not really, rather He made the killing of an animal to hold things off unnecessary. The beasts needing to be killed, were the beasts within men that led men to sin repeatedly. [We have the means to do that, do we not?] We understand why men did that in the OT and we understand why God was so patient and merciful with those people who did not know Jesus and did not have the Holy Spirit within them all of the time. He had patience and mercy for them up until the 10th rebellion then instead of the Promised Land they receive natural death.

For us? We have direct access to the power of God without a priest. We may be the priest ourselves and enter in through the 1st and, yes, even through the 2nd veil if we are properly prepared. But repeatedly we are not prepared and repeatedly just like those children of Israel we go right back into our old sins and sinful ways. The power to get rid of them all is within us, but we still love too many things more than we love God to completely surrender so that He can do the necessary work in us.

The children of Israel did not get to skip the trials in their wilderness on the way to their Promised Land. Even Joshua and Caleb whose hearts were right... went through all of those trials.

Who are we that we should be able to skip all of those trials when we have the power of God in us to make it through them?

Remember that God has never changed and He is no respecter of persons. He has give us more than He gave those children of Jacob, so why then should we not die when we effectively call Jesus a liar by saying... "well we are going to sin, but it is OK because God loves us more than He loved the children of Jacob"?

And of course Paul must have been off base when he wrote this:

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." Rom 12:1

And Jesus must not have meant it when He said this:

"But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." Luke 12:48

And Jesus must have been lying when He said this:

"And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." Mark 10:26-27

Did Jesus say somewhere else that He could do all things except stop a man from sinning while still in this flesh?

Where is Jesus now?

"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" Col 1:27

The Holy Spirit can do all things within us, yes? Yes, unless we are quenching the Holy Spirit as most bearing the Christian label are doing very much of the time.

A whole lot of people today, it seems to me, who say that they have, either never received the Holy Spirit or they are quenching continually the Holy Spirit.

 

[Tong2020]

I meant that they were beasts as Solomon described it saying both that we are beasts and/or that we are like beasts.. We are by wisdom to kill those beasts, which Paul might call the "old man" of us . This is that work, which some might say is not necessary in order to finally be saved. I, on the other hand, believe that is necessary so as not to be not cast out into outer darkness should we would try to enter in without being fully prepared.


Perhaps "push" was a poor choice of words on my part. Consider every dead man walking around in the flesh does work in death, which is certainly outside of where God wants us to be with Him. I believe that the two, the old man and the new man in us continue after we have met and received Jesus as Lord to battle within us as James describes it [4:1]. But what is ultimately needed is for the new man to win. The wisdom received, be it described as Jesus or the Holy Spirit quickened scripture, is to kill the beasts which want to lead us back into sin.

There are many bibical references to beastly men and or men as beasts. Here are some:

"I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?" Ecc 3:18-21

"So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee." Psalm 73:22

"Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table." Prov 9:1-2

"And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will." Dan 5:21

"But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;" II Peter 2:10-12

"But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves." Jude 10

Regarding the "beast nature", what I could see in all of those passages is that fallen man are pictured (figured) as beast, not that they are beast.

Regarding the "old man" and the "new man", scriptures said that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, that is, a new man. The "old man" refers to the former self of those who are in Christ Jesus, and is no more. In my view, that while those who are in Christ Jesus are now a "new man", he is still has the body of the "old man" that he was, that is, the flesh, which Paul calls the "body of death". So that, there is this still this struggle with sin, sin that dwells in the flesh. But this struggle will only be for some time, as this body of death will be done away with when our time on earth is over. The "old man" is no more.

Tong
R1068

 

[amadeus]

Regarding the "beast nature", what I could see in all of those passages is that fallen man are pictured (figured) as beast, not that they are beast.

Regarding the "old man" and the "new man", scriptures said that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, that is, a new man. The "old man" refers to the former self of those who are in Christ Jesus, and is no more. In my view, that while those who are in Christ Jesus are now a "new man", he is still has the body of the "old man" that he was, that is, the flesh, which Paul calls the "body of death". So that, there is this still this struggle with sin, sin that dwells in the flesh. But this struggle will only be for some time, as this body of death will be done away with when our time on earth is over. The "old man" is no more.

Tong
R1068

Well I have answered your questions with scriptures. There a many more scriptures but I won't try any more. I thought I said that before but I was drawn back in... I am tired and I cannot convince you. To draw your conclusions, I believe that you have had to set aside or change the meaning of some or many verses of scriptures so as to arrive at your conclusion. You certainly have not given me explanations to explain away the problems I see with your whole scenario.

It may a more comfortable for some people to believe what you believe, but I cannot. As I have already said, God may allow it. Not with me as it insists on God breaking His own Word to make a way for men.

 

[Tong2020]

"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:44

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10

"draw" in John 6:44, in my reading, does not mean to attract, as have their choice to go in the direction of the attraction or not.

John 6:37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.

With regards John 10:10, the "they" there that Jesus was referring to are His "sheep". And what does Jesus said concerning the "they"?

John 10:27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.

Tong
R1069

 

[bbyrd009]

Bible Search: confess your sins to God

 

[Waiting on him]

Bible Search: confess your sins to God

Lol, to confess simply means to come into agreement with.

 

[marks]

Those who are in Christ Jesus, are they not those whom scriptures said God had predestined to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ?

That is how I see it.

Much love!

 

[amadeus]

Can't repay my debts. Only Jesus can. Repentance occurs daily when I regret the sin, what are you implying? Jesus died for all sins for all time, future sins as well as the sins of Adam. There are no limits to the cleansing blood of Christ. I do not confess to human priests, if that's what you are implying. That would be futile, and not Biblical. I confess my sins to God and/or to the person I have wronged. Nothing more is required.

About you I am implying nothing. I simply disagree with you on the point I mentioned. Have a nice day and may God bless you!

 

[amadeus]

"draw" in John 6:44, in my reading, does not mean to attract, as have their choice to go in the direction of the attraction or not.

John 6:37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.

With regards John 10:10, the "they" there that Jesus was referring to are His "sheep". And what does Jesus said concerning the "they"?

John 10:27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.

Tong
R1069

So then you have decided. I continue to disagree while you simply ignore the conflict your position causes as to who God is! Perhaps you are OK with that. I cannot be and unless you are able to clarify it in some way, I guess we are finished here. Thank you for the discussion.

 

[VictoryinJesus]

Can a person start loving someone and then further along the road stop loving that someone? Don't try to answer that. Simply consider it!

have considered it. ‘Can a person start loving someone and then further along the road stop loving that someone?’ Maybe so, nothing about this world is certain. But then I have to ask can God love someone and then later down the road stop loving that someone? I’m not arguing Amadeus. I have questions the same as you and do hear the ‘if’s ...if you continue, if you endure. He tells us who continues. He tells us who endures. Christ. To me those ‘if’s mean, if one endures and continues it is not by their own merit or ability to bear ...but reveals Christ as the endurance and bearer so no flesh can boast in what it has done, borne, possessed or endured.

as far as milk and so many said to be still in need of the milk. Which holds more responsibility In what lacks ...those mature and having the spiritual meat or those who lack it?

 

[amadeus]

have considered it. ‘Can a person start loving someone and then further along the road stop loving that someone?’ Maybe so, nothing about this world is certain. But then I have to ask can God love someone and then later down the road stop loving that someone? I’m not arguing Amadeus. I have questions the same as you and do hear the ‘if’s ...if you continue, if you endure. He tells us who continues. He tells us who endures. Christ. To me those ‘if’s mean, if one endures and continues it is not by their own merit or ability to bear ...but reveals Christ as the endurance and bearer so no flesh can boast in what it has done, borne, possessed or endured.

as far as milk and so many said to be still in need of the milk. Which holds more responsibility In what lacks ...those mature and having the spiritual meat or those who lack it?

So many questions and answers? This is what I see at the moment, but it may be different tomorrow...
Who or what is hated by God? In the end of a man that which is loved continues, if there is anything. What happens to that which is hated? It is burned up.

Correct answers? Are they needed? On some things, yes, but even on deciding which ones are really needed, people disagree. Some people cannot wrap their heads around even the questions, much less the answers! God does not punish us for having a wrong answer. He may punish us for purposely doing something when we know better. What do we know and what do we only believe or hold in faith? God knows! Ultimately our judgement comes back to that one verse, which has nothing to do with our score on any theology test...

Lu 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

We cannot make to the end alone no matter what. Only by surrendering can we make it because His strength is necessary to get us through it all...

Take hold also of that verse and the parable where two used their talents wisely and one simply buried his...