Fate vs. faith

[Abiding Grace]

Very good! Did you realize in writing this that there are many beliefs in God but only two operative gospels in effect now? One of those gospels, the everlasting gospel, knows the Godhead (Ro 1:18-20) worships and thanks Him but is not saved. In this group are largely children who cannot comprehend sin and so, cannot repent of their sin and selfish nature. So yes, these have a very primitive "measure of faith." All kids, it would seem, brought up in Christian homes would be included here for sure, right? In the Bible, Job and Cornelius are examples of adults that were "safe" under the everlasting gospel until God sent "messengers" (Job 33:23-32) to tell them the gospel.

However, when one understands his sin guilt and selfish nature, the gospel of Jesus Christ is what that person needs. Receiving Christ unto salvation, one has yet a greater measure of Christ .. and so on as one grows in Christ/grace.

skypair

TWO gospels? No, I don't think so. Jesus died on the Cross once. What are the biblical proofs of such a notion?

 

[Abiding Grace]

"Fate," events and destiny determined by the gods, was what the Greeks put in opposition to "free will." Calvinists chose to believe in fate (sovereignty of God) rather than free will (God-given sovereignty of man over his own choices and destiny).


Assuming that He wants such sovereignty at all times (as Calvinists do). However, God has sovereignly chosen to be sovereign over the CONSEQUENCES of men's decisions rather than overpower them.


Sure .. but that last thought is kills total sovereignty. "Permissive will" is, at its heart, allowing man to sovereignly choose for himself of his own will what he will think, do, say, etc. That is how God's sovereignty works .. we choose - He either judges or has mercy.


…like Calvinists say that He does, right? They tell us that God determines our fates — saved or reprobate — before creation.

skypair

Do you have any scripture that supports your view? I have read through the Bible many times and I've never seen your idea there.

God Bless

 

[Abiding Grace]

"Fate," events and destiny determined by the gods, was what the Greeks put in opposition to "free will." Calvinists chose to believe in fate (sovereignty of God) rather than free will (God-given sovereignty of man over his own choices and destiny).


Assuming that He wants such sovereignty at all times (as Calvinists do). However, God has sovereignly chosen to be sovereign over the CONSEQUENCES of men's decisions rather than overpower them.


Sure .. but that last thought is kills total sovereignty. "Permissive will" is, at its heart, allowing man to sovereignly choose for himself of his own will what he will think, do, say, etc. That is how God's sovereignty works .. we choose - He either judges or has mercy.


…like Calvinists say that He does, right? They tell us that God determines our fates — saved or reprobate — before creation.

skypair

Where are your biblical supports for this view. Where in the scriptures does it say that free will is involved in salvation? It doesn't. In fact it says the complete opposite.

John 15:16: "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you."

Acts 13:48: "And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed."

2 Thessalonians 2:13: "But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:"


God Bless

 

[brionne]

brionne, nice to meet you.

When I post, I like to make sure that I have some scriptural support for my foundation. I have never found a single verse in the Bible that says we have free will unto salvation. To the contrary, it says that we are saved by grace and that we cannot do anything to earn it.


Ephesians 2:8-10 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God.

John 6:44 - 4 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

1 Peter 1:2 - Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

John 15:16: "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you."

I look forward to reading your posts. God Bless.

Thanks for your reply... I think you'll agree that we have free will, yes?

What does free will mean to you? (not trying to change the subject here, but the subject of human free will, being saved and being chosen to rule with Christ in heaven are all very different things and one does not discount the other)

I can have free will and not be chosen, or I can have free will and be chosen. But being chosen does not mean i have no free will. Of course i agree that I cannot use my free will to choose to go to heaven... but those who do, still have free will which they must still use to remain loyal and faithful.

 

[OzSpen]

"Fate," events and destiny determined by the gods, was what the Greeks put in opposition to "free will." Calvinists chose to believe in fate (sovereignty of God) rather than free will (God-given sovereignty of man over his own choices and destiny).


Assuming that He wants such sovereignty at all times (as Calvinists do). However, God has sovereignly chosen to be sovereign over the CONSEQUENCES of men's decisions rather than overpower them.


Sure .. but that last thought is kills total sovereignty. "Permissive will" is, at its heart, allowing man to sovereignly choose for himself of his own will what he will think, do, say, etc. That is how God's sovereignty works .. we choose - He either judges or has mercy.


…like Calvinists say that He does, right? They tell us that God determines our fates — saved or reprobate — before creation.

skypair

skypair,

It's time for you to provide quotes with references for these kinds of statements by you: 'like Calvinists say'; 'as Calvinists do'; 'Calvinists chose to believe in fate'.

Pulling these phrases out of the air does not confidence to me that you know what you are talking about.

Oz

 

[101G]

GINOLJC, to skypair, "However, when one understands his sin guilt and selfish nature, the gospel of Jesus Christ is what that person needs. Receiving Christ unto salvation, one has yet a greater measure of Christ .. and so on as one grows in Christ/grace".

Agreed. be blessed.

 

[bbyrd009]

I have never found a single verse in the Bible that says we have free will unto salvation. To the contrary, it says that we are saved by grace and that we cannot do anything to earn it.

38if they change their attitude toward you in the land where they are captives, if they pray to you toward the land that you gave their ancestors, and the city you have chosen, and the temple I have built for your name,

2Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

5Remember how far you have fallen. Return to me and change the way you think and act, and do what you did at first. I will come to you and take your lamp stand from its place if you don't change.

 

[Abiding Grace]

Thanks for your reply... I think you'll agree that we have free will, yes?

What does free will mean to you? (not trying to change the subject here, but the subject of human free will, being saved and being chosen to rule with Christ in heaven are all very different things and one does not discount the other)

I can have free will and not be chosen, or I can have free will and be chosen. But being chosen does not mean i have no free will. Of course i agree that I cannot use my free will to choose to go to heaven... but those who do, still have free will which they must still use to remain loyal and faithful.

Thanks for you kind reply.

We do have free will regarding most things. I can choose to eat a green salad or a fruit salad. Other examples abound. But we do not have free will when it comes to salvation. There is not a single verse in the Bible that says so.

Scripture teaches that the elect were chosen before the foundation of the world.

Ephesians 1:4-5: "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,"

Ephesians 1:11: "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:"

2 Thessalonians 2:13: "But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:"

2 Timothy 1:9: "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,"

God Bless

 

[Abiding Grace]

38if they change their attitude toward you in the land where they are captives, if they pray to you toward the land that you gave their ancestors, and the city you have chosen, and the temple I have built for your name,

2Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

5Remember how far you have fallen. Return to me and change the way you think and act, and do what you did at first. I will come to you and take your lamp stand from its place if you don't change.

Huh? None of these verses show that we have free will unto salvation! Am I misunderstanding you?

 

[perrero]

When you

This is false! My faith is in God alone for salvation and God's way of explaining what he does is called election. Please don't second guess me because you got it wrong this time.

What is fate? It is 'the will or principle or determining cause by which things in general are believed to come to be as they are or events to happen as they do' (Merriam-Webster Dictionary 2017. s v fate).

I do not find any concept of fate in the Bible. I do find teaching on God's sovereignty - He is in control or in charge (Ps 115:3; Prov 16:9; Rom 8:28).

What is God's sovereignty?

Sovereignty can be defined as having supreme authority, control, and power over all that has happened, is happening, and will happen in the future in all times across all history. Christians define it as the ruler of the universe, God, having the right, the authority, and the power to govern all that happens and what has, is, or will happen being in accordance to His divine will. He has the right to achieve His purposes and has the power to bring about circumstances that dictate whatever He wills to come to pass. He has complete control of everything and there is nothing that is done that is not done by or allowed through His will. This is expressed by Paul in Romans 8:28 as he writes that “we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose" (source).​

While God is in charge, he has given human beings the freedom to obey or disobey him (2 John 1:6; Titus 1:16). There are other things that God gives in answer to prayer: 'You do not have because you do not ask God' (James 4:2 NIV).

God is sovereign but he doesn't act according to fate.

Oz

When you hold Sovereignty as the prime attribute of God, you fall into error.
Was God sovereign prior to creation? Sovereign over what, over who?
Was the Father sovereign over the Son, or maybe the Spirit sovereign over the Father?
If you want to single out an attribute, it should be that God is Love.
And if God is love, he would never be so cruel and evil as to create billions of beings knowing full well they are going to hell.
This is totally contradictory to; "God is not willing that any should perish."
The believer is predestined, NOT predetermined, in Christ.
God wants a personal relationship with everyone He creates and there are only two ways to achieve this.
1) You create beings who respond to you automatically, sans free will. This is the safest way but is no different than playing in a sandbox with GI Joes.
2) You take the risk and create beings with free will, free choice and allow them to truly set the course of their eternal destiny. But the moment you know what that decision is before it even exist in the mind of that being. You are back to 1).
And God is capable of doing this as nothing is impossible to Him.

 

[perrero]

Thanks for you kind reply.

We do have free will regarding most things. I can choose to eat a green salad or a fruit salad. Other examples abound. But we do not have free will when it comes to salvation. There is not a single verse in the Bible that says so.

Scripture teaches that the elect were chosen before the foundation of the world.

Ephesians 1:4-5: "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,"

Ephesians 1:11: "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:"

2 Thessalonians 2:13: "But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:"

2 Timothy 1:9: "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,"

God Bless

Unfortunately this is wrong. Predestination can only be in Christ, who was slain before the Foundation of the world.
God's forgiveness was executed before we ever existed. Therefore our destiny or predestiny will always be rooted in the Lamb slain
before the Foundation of the world.
Look at the 4 verses you quoted you will see this. (I bolded and underlined)

 

[skypair]

TWO gospels? No, I don't think so. Jesus died on the Cross once. What are the biblical proofs of such a notion?

Actually, there are 3 gospels. 1) The everlasting gospel (Ro 1:18-20, Rev 14:6) that applies when no other gospel is known. 2) The gospel of the kingdom — that when Messiah would come, He would forgive sins and set up His kingdom (Mt 4:23, 9:35, 24:14). 3) The gospel of Jesus Christ .. which you already know, I think.

skypair

 

[skypair]

Do you have any scripture that supports your view? I have read through the Bible many times and I've never seen your idea there.

The main evidence is Rev 21-22 — God doesn't win all the battles, but He wins the war. But look at Simon Magus, Acts 8. He believed and was baptized but God didn't accept him into the kingdom. God knows the heart and demands obedience to the gospel before He will forgive and save. That is, we can "choose" to be saved but we cannot control the conditions under which we are acceptable to God.


skypair

 

[skypair]

It's time for you to provide quotes with references for these kinds of statements by you: 'like Calvinists say'; 'as Calvinists do'; 'Calvinists chose to believe in fate'.

Pulling these phrases out of the air does not confidence to me that you know what you are talking about.

Calvinists clearly claim that God chose to save them from before the foundation of the world and that man is incapable of choosing salvation himself. I need nothing but TULIP to prove their stance.

However, it is quite possible that Calvinists don't know what God is talking about. It can hardly be argued against that Calvinism is "doctrines of men." Calvin "Instituted" (pun intended) it by cobbling together an entire theology out of many passages of scripture — just like the Catholics did before him. But we are not saved by the doctrines of men, Oz.

You need to realize that Calvinism is man's religion .. man's wisdom. That you have citations regarding free will and I don't is an example of knowing the LETTER of the Word but not the SPIRIT. In Deut 30:19 is a clear example of God giving man a choice according to his own will of a) blessing and life or b) cursing and death. Can't you see how MAN has mucked this up and deceived you?

skypair

 

[Abiding Grace]

The main evidence is Rev 21-22 — God doesn't win all the battles, but He wins the war. But look at Simon Magus, Acts 8. He believed and was baptized but God didn't accept him into the kingdom. God knows the heart and demands obedience to the gospel before He will forgive and save. That is, we can "choose" to be saved but we cannot control the conditions under which we are acceptable to God.


skypair

Revelation 21:22 doesn't speak about wars or battles. It's about the temple.

Simon didn't really believe or Jesus would have accepted him.

I believe you are seeing things that are not there.

There is only one gospel.

 

[Abiding Grace]

Unfortunately this is wrong. Predestination can only be in Christ, who was slain before the Foundation of the world.
God's forgiveness was executed before we ever existed. Therefore our destiny or predestiny will always be rooted in the Lamb slain
before the Foundation of the world.
Look at the 4 verses you quoted you will see this. (I bolded and underlined)

I have read your post, but perhaps I am misunderstanding you. Do you have any scripture that says God gives us free will unto Salvation. I've read through my Bible many times and I have never come across it.

The elect are chosen before the foundation of the world. Only the elect can receive salvation.

John 6:37 - All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

John 6:44 - 4 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

1 Peter 1:2 - Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

God Bless

 

[FHII]

skypair,

It's time for you to provide quotes with references for these kinds of statements by you: 'like Calvinists say'; 'as Calvinists do'; 'Calvinists chose to believe in fate'.

Pulling these phrases out of the air does not confidence to me that you know what you are talking about.

Oz

It's a pet peeve of mine anytime people start talking about Calvinists and what they believe. I've read Calvin's work and he wasn't a calvinist! In fact, it may surprise you just how Catholic he could tend to be.

I know where the "calvinist" beliefs came from and it was from long time followers of his long after his death.

Again... Just my peeve. But I wonder just how much folks know about Calvinism other than what they read from Wikipedia.

 

[perrero]

I have read your post, but perhaps I am misunderstanding you. Do you have any scripture that says God gives us free will unto Salvation. I've read through my Bible many times and I have never come across it.

God Bless

Deuteronomy 30:19
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

 

[brionne]

Thanks for you kind reply.

We do have free will regarding most things. I can choose to eat a green salad or a fruit salad. Other examples abound. But we do not have free will when it comes to salvation. There is not a single verse in the Bible that says so.

Scripture teaches that the elect were chosen before the foundation of the world.

Ephesians 1:4-5: "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,"

Ephesians 1:11: "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:"

2 Thessalonians 2:13: "But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:"

2 Timothy 1:9: "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,"

God Bless

I agree that the 'elect' or the 'annointed' ones who will rule in heaven with Christ were most certainly always destined to be. God had put that plan into action as soon as Adam and Eve rebelled.

But even after someone is called, they can be later rejected as was the case with Judas.
We also have Jesus warning to elected christians that they had to maintain their loyalty to keep their position. Revelation 2:5 shows they can be removed from their calling.

To me this shows that these ones still have to use their free will in the right way. They must remain loyal and faithful when under test..if they don't they will be rejected.

 

[Abiding Grace]

I agree that the 'elect' or the 'annointed' ones who will rule in heaven with Christ were most certainly always destined to be. God had put that plan into action as soon as Adam and Eve rebelled.

But even after someone is called, they can be later rejected as was the case with Judas.
We also have Jesus warning to elected christians that they had to maintain their loyalty to keep their position. Revelation 2:5 shows they can be removed from their calling.

To me this shows that these ones still have to use their free will in the right way. They must remain loyal and faithful when under test..if they don't they will be rejected.

Thanks for your thoughtful reply.

The Bible teaches that one cannot lose their salvation:

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning (James 1:17).

But, God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life (Romans 5:8-10).

And, this is the promise that He hath promised us, even eternal life (1 John 2:25).

And, for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance (Hebrews 9:15).

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me hath everlasting life” (John 6:47).

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24).

“Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal” (Matthew 25:45-46).

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:15-16).

Then said Jesus unto the twelve, “Will ye also go away?” Then Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life” (John 6:67-68).

These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:1-3).

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation m received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God (1 Peter 1:18-21).

I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever; nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past (Ecclesiastes 3:14-15).

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

“For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. How think ye? If a man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And, if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish” (Matthew 18:11-14).

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And, I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one” (John 10:27-30).

“And, this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day” (John 6:39).

“While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition [Judas]; that the scripture might be fulfilled” (John 17:12).

We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not (1 John 5:18).

“But, if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: But, when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils” (Luke 11:20-22).

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that in you, than he that is in the world
(1 John 4:4).

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13).

“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (Matthew 24:24).

They went out from us, but they were not of us: for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us (1 John 2:19).

Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:2-6).

And, the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen (2 Timothy 4:18).

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen (Jude 24-25).

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD ; and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed (Psalm 37:23-26).

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

“Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat; but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not” (Luke 22:31).

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God". Hebrews 12:2


As to Revelation 2:5, there are many differing views, but none show a personal loss of salvation, but a rebuke to the church at Ephesus. Since the
scriptures I posted above call for God preserving us, finishing the good work that He began, it's unlikely that any true Christian would not repent.

Grace, faith and repentance are gifts.

Ephesians 2:8-9New American Standard Bible (NASB)
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God.

Romans 12:3New American Standard Bible (NASB)
3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

2 Timothy 2:25New American Standard Bible (NASB)
25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,

God Bless!