“Go therefore and make DISCIPLES of all the nations …
teaching them to observe ALL things that I have commanded you” (Matt 28:19-20)
An old rationalization … It is NOT required to be a disciple to make heaven,
i.e. why not just cruise on the easy OSAS road? (which actually is the broad road)
The main job of a disciple is to OBEY.
IMO, obedient disciples are the only ones Jesus intends to be in heaven.
Side trip: What are we going to do with “all the nations”?
IMO, God desires to save “some” people from every “nation” (small people group).
These “some” are given the free gift of grace-faith, but this just gets them started!
Sanctification consists of 2 stages:
positional (set apart) sanctification …and… progressive sanctification.
“For many are called, but few chosen” (Matt 20:16)
GROUP-1 … IMO, the few called-and-chosen refers to God’s elect in Rom 8:28-30.
GROUP-2 … the many called-but-not-chosen have done their own choosing
to not develop a close personal relationship with the Lord, and
to not co-operate with the Holy Spirit in the sanctification process.
Jesus addresses Group-2: “I never knew you; depart from Me” (Matt 7:23).
They did not really know the Father and the Son resulting in eternal life (John 17:3).
Group-1 obedient disciples will perseverse all the way through to the end (Heb 3:14).
“He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Heb 10:14)
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” (Rom 8:14)
Progressive sanctification ties in with several demanding verses, such as:
“Pursue … holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” (Heb 12:14)
“… having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness,
and the end, everlasting life.” (Rom 6:22)
“the Helper … He will convict the world of sin” (John 16:7-8)
He will convict everyone of their sin: the unsaved, the born-again, everyone.
The GOAL is to eliminate sin … with the indispensible help of the Holy Spirit.
Believers are convicted by God’s Spirit, but they must be willing to co-operate.
The above falls in line with the great multitude of warnings about not sinning.
Paul instructs the church: “beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness
of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Cor 7:1).
“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation” (2 Cor 7:10).
John instructs the church: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9).
Do this to invoke (apply) the cleansing power of the precious blood of Jesus.
In the NT we have this incredible mixture of Blessings, Explanations,
Exhortations … and Warnings that the Blessings are conditional.
The simple Blessings are hooks to catch the little fishes.
Then Jesus Warns to first count the cost of discipleship.
Paul constantly gives Exhortations and encouragement.
And we are Warned that the Blessings are conditional.
All of the many dozens of Warnings are there for a reason!
“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith.” (2 Cor 13:5)
“be even more diligent to make your call and election sure” (2 Pet 1:10)
An example of a Warning in the form of an optimistic Exhortation:
“But we are not of those who draw back (from living by faith) to perdition,
but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.” (Heb 10:39)
teaching them to observe ALL things that I have commanded you” (Matt 28:19-20)
An old rationalization … It is NOT required to be a disciple to make heaven,
i.e. why not just cruise on the easy OSAS road? (which actually is the broad road)
The main job of a disciple is to OBEY.
IMO, obedient disciples are the only ones Jesus intends to be in heaven.
Side trip: What are we going to do with “all the nations”?
IMO, God desires to save “some” people from every “nation” (small people group).
These “some” are given the free gift of grace-faith, but this just gets them started!
Sanctification consists of 2 stages:
positional (set apart) sanctification …and… progressive sanctification.
“For many are called, but few chosen” (Matt 20:16)
GROUP-1 … IMO, the few called-and-chosen refers to God’s elect in Rom 8:28-30.
GROUP-2 … the many called-but-not-chosen have done their own choosing
to not develop a close personal relationship with the Lord, and
to not co-operate with the Holy Spirit in the sanctification process.
Jesus addresses Group-2: “I never knew you; depart from Me” (Matt 7:23).
They did not really know the Father and the Son resulting in eternal life (John 17:3).
Group-1 obedient disciples will perseverse all the way through to the end (Heb 3:14).
“He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Heb 10:14)
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” (Rom 8:14)
Progressive sanctification ties in with several demanding verses, such as:
“Pursue … holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” (Heb 12:14)
“… having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness,
and the end, everlasting life.” (Rom 6:22)
“the Helper … He will convict the world of sin” (John 16:7-8)
He will convict everyone of their sin: the unsaved, the born-again, everyone.
The GOAL is to eliminate sin … with the indispensible help of the Holy Spirit.
Believers are convicted by God’s Spirit, but they must be willing to co-operate.
The above falls in line with the great multitude of warnings about not sinning.
Paul instructs the church: “beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness
of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Cor 7:1).
“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation” (2 Cor 7:10).
John instructs the church: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9).
Do this to invoke (apply) the cleansing power of the precious blood of Jesus.
In the NT we have this incredible mixture of Blessings, Explanations,
Exhortations … and Warnings that the Blessings are conditional.
The simple Blessings are hooks to catch the little fishes.
Then Jesus Warns to first count the cost of discipleship.
Paul constantly gives Exhortations and encouragement.
And we are Warned that the Blessings are conditional.
All of the many dozens of Warnings are there for a reason!
“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith.” (2 Cor 13:5)
“be even more diligent to make your call and election sure” (2 Pet 1:10)
An example of a Warning in the form of an optimistic Exhortation:
“But we are not of those who draw back (from living by faith) to perdition,
but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.” (Heb 10:39)
