Is the "free gift" of salvation really free? - Honestly?

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Behold

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That saw cuts both ways.
Especially for those (like you) who are never learning or ever able to come to the knowledge of the Truth.

[


As i posted to you on another of your "false gospel" Threads.

John 14:6.

"Jesus is THE TRUTH"..

So, because i KNOW THAT, i just told YOU so.

You dont understand this yet, because you are too busy asking questions, because you have no real answers.. @St. SteVen
 

Behold

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What does it mean that "Jesus is the truth"?

It means that "in Jesus, are hidden all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge".

It also means that God's word is "Spirit and Truth", utterly.

It means that the Holy Spirit is the "Spirit of Truth".

Also notice this.

Someone like Barak Obama, or Oprah Winfrey, will say...>"there are many Paths to God".

But Jesus says........none are TRUE, as Im the "only Way to the Father"... which is THE Truth.
 

St. SteVen

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Also notice this.

Someone like Barak Obama, or Oprah Winfrey, will say...>"there are many Paths to God".

But Jesus says........none are TRUE, as Im the "only Way to the Father"... which is THE Truth.

[
 

Behold

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[

"The Way to Jesus".......is..

Our "Faith is counted by God, as righteousness".

Christianity begins for the SINNER, when they initially trust in Christ, and this results in eternal "justification by faith" without works or water.

So, once God has seen their faith in Christ, in their Heart, then God does 3 things..

God accepts their faith, forever.

God forgives all their sin, forever.

God creates in them the "new birth" which is to be born again "in Christ" as "one with God".

Now, what is that "new birth"........actually.

Well, its literally the reestablishment of Spiritual Union with God, that Adam lost for us all, in the Garden.
But this time, because of The Cross of Christ........this Spiritual is guaranteed to be ETERNAL because its based on the finished work of Jesus on The Cross., and that is why its "the GIFT of Salvation"..
 

Jay Ross

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Luke 14:28 NIV
“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and
estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?

No, Luke 14:28ff is not about the cost of discipleship, but rather it is a parable about the present times and the nation of Israel's attempt to, in their own strength, to resurrect their "Temple" in the vein hope of being able to reconnect with God.

In these parables Jesus is telling the Israelites that: -

  1. they do not have the means by which they can rebuild the Temple,
  2. the nations around them laugh at them and will rise up to stop them from completing the construction of the third temple,
  3. the nations will assemble within sight of Jerusalem to prepare for a battle against Jerusalem,
  4. Jesus will be seen by Israel judging the king of the earth and overcoming them within sight of Jerusalem,
  5. Israel will consider if with their resources they can overcome the king in battle with the nations,
  6. Israel will come to realise that they cannot overcome the king fighting with the nations and will seek His terms of peace, and
  7. Jesus warns Israel that if they have lost their saltiness that they will be discarded and thrown onto the dung heap.

In telling these parables to the nation of Israel, 2,000 years ago about the circumstances that Israel is finding themselves in today, Jesus is indicating the time that Israel will be redeemed by God so that they can enter once more into God's purposes, but with a very clear message that if they do not measure up that they will be discarded from that time onwards.

Yes, we Christians can apply these parables to us too if we have eyes to see and ears to hear.

Shalom
 

David Lamb

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No, Luke 14:28ff is not about the cost of discipleship, but rather it is a parable about the present times and the nation of Israel's attempt to, in their own strength, to resurrect their "Temple" in the vein hope of being able to reconnect with God.

In these parables Jesus is telling the Israelites that: -

  1. they do not have the means by which they can rebuild the Temple,
  2. the nations around them laugh at them and will rise up to stop them from completing the construction of the third temple,
  3. the nations will assemble within sight of Jerusalem to prepare for a battle against Jerusalem,
  4. Jesus will be seen by Israel judging the king of the earth and overcoming them within sight of Jerusalem,
  5. Israel will consider if with their resources they can overcome the king in battle with the nations,
  6. Israel will come to realise that they cannot overcome the king fighting with the nations and will seek His terms of peace, and
  7. Jesus warns Israel that if they have lost their saltiness that they will be discarded and thrown onto the dung heap.

In telling these parables to the nation of Israel, 2,000 years ago about the circumstances that Israel is finding themselves in today, Jesus is indicating the time that Israel will be redeemed by God so that they can enter once more into God's purposes, but with a very clear message that if they do not measure up that they will be discarded from that time onwards.

Yes, we Christians can apply these parables to us too if we have eyes to see and ears to hear.

Shalom
You say that Luke 14:28ff is not about the cost of discipleship, but rather about the present times and the nation of Israel's attempt to, in their own strength, to resurrect their "Temple" . But that doesn't fit with the context. Look at the three preceding verses:

“Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. "And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” (Lu 14:25-27 NKJV)

He immediately tells the parable about building a tower. So it is about the cost of discipleship.
 
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Jay Ross

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You say that Luke 14:28ff is not about the cost of discipleship, but rather about the present times and the nation of Israel's attempt to, in their own strength, to resurrect their "Temple." But that doesn't fit with the context. Look at the three preceding verses:

“Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. "And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” (Lu 14:25-27 NKJV)

He immediately tells the parable about building a tower. So, it is about the cost of discipleship.

Your conclusion that Luke 14:28ff is about the cost of discipleship shows a lack of understanding of this passage.

The parable of checking if the nation of Israel has the means to be able to rebuild the second temple, which was levelled in 70 AD, places this parable squarely into the events that are happening in Jerusalem today. The word "tower" in this parable is a metaphor for the temple.

Matthew 21:33-36 and Mark 12:1-12 speaks of God building a tower/temple in the middle of His vineyard which he then leased out to his vinedressers.

Now in this parable in Luke 14:28ff we are told this
Luke 14:29-30: - 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'
NKJV
After Israel is not able to rebuild the temple, we see that the Kings of the earth gather at Armageddon for one last attempt to trample God's Sanctuary and His earth Hosts, but in verses 14:31-32 we see that there is a King, I assume Jesus, judging the kings of the earth at Armageddon. When Israel realises that this king is more powerful than they are, they immediately seek His terms of peace, and those terms are that they must forsake all to become His disciples
The chapter end with a warning that if their salt has lost its saltiness, then they would be thrown out onto the dung heap and rejected in keeping with the parable of the wicked vine dressers.

Yes, you are right about Luke 14:28ff touching on the cost of discipleship, but this passage also points to when God will begin redeeming Israel again.

It is my view that Luke 14:28ff will unfold in around 20 years from now.

You sight context as a reason to reject what I had posted, but you have only focus on one aspect of Luke 14:28ff and not considered how Luke 14:28ff fits into the End Time prophecies.

Shalom
 

David Lamb

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Your conclusion that Luke 14:28ff is about the cost of discipleship shows a lack of understanding of this passage.

The parable of checking if the nation of Israel has the means to be able to rebuild the second temple, which was levelled in 70 AD, places this parable squarely into the events that are happening in Jerusalem today. The word "tower" in this parable is a metaphor for the temple.

Matthew 21:33-36 and Mark 12:1-12 speaks of God building a tower/temple in the middle of His vineyard which he then leased out to his vinedressers.

Now in this parable in Luke 14:28ff we are told this
Luke 14:29-30: - 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'
NKJV
After Israel is not able to rebuild the temple, we see that the Kings of the earth gather at Armageddon for one last attempt to trample God's Sanctuary and His earth Hosts, but in verses 14:31-32 we see that there is a King, I assume Jesus, judging the kings of the earth at Armageddon. When Israel realises that this king is more powerful than they are, they immediately seek His terms of peace, and those terms are that they must forsake all to become His disciples
The chapter end with a warning that if their salt has lost its saltiness, then they would be thrown out onto the dung heap and rejected in keeping with the parable of the wicked vine dressers.

Yes, you are right about Luke 14:28ff touching on the cost of discipleship, but this passage also points to when God will begin redeeming Israel again.

It is my view that Luke 14:28ff will unfold in around 20 years from now.

You sight context as a reason to reject what I had posted, but you have only focus on one aspect of Luke 14:28ff and not considered how Luke 14:28ff fits into the End Time prophecies.

Shalom
I just don't see that Jesus suddenly changes the subject, from saying, "And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” in verse 27, to some supposed rebuilding of the temple in verse 28 and following.
 
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Jay Ross

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I just don't see that Jesus suddenly changes the subject, from saying, "And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” in verse 27, to some supposed rebuilding of the temple in verse 28 and following.

Well, I can only point out what I have been shown from scripture. Whether or not you accept what I have posted, is really not my problem.

I have been shown from scripture how many prophetic End Time events, like Luke 14:28ff, fit together to all occur in around 20 years' time.

Probably, I may not be around in 20 years' time, to have, what I am seeing in the scriptures, confirmed for me, but my spirit is at peace, knowing that what I have posted will come to pass around the year 2044.

Shalom