Consider the fact
John 3:18 1 John 5:12-13 and Romans 8:8-9 vehemently speak contrary to your form of belief in God's salvation through Christ.
Proof of being eternally saved, for all who are tried: Matthew 24:24. John 10:28-29.
Your statement here is contradictory, on the one hand you claim
John 3:18;
1 John 5:12, 13 and
Romans 8:8, 9 speak “
vehemently”
against the idea that every man must be tested before receiving eternal life.
And then you quote
Matt 24:24 (?) and
John 10:28, 29 as “
Proof of being eternally saved, for all who are tried.”
So which is it, do you or don’t you believe every man must be tested before receiving eternal life?
It should be noted that all the scriptures you quoted here apply specifically to believers or followers of Christ during the Gospel Age. This is particularly pointed out in your quote of
John 10:28, 29 had you also included the preceding verse,
Verse 27, viz.
“
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
"
Other sheep I have which are not of THIS fold (“
this fold” being in reference to the Overcoming Church);
them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold and one Shepherd."(
John 10:16)
During the Gospel Age the Lord has but one Church,
one flock who follow him. "
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." (
John 10:27) From the very first there has been no change in the Lord's flock, either in the terms of discipleship or in the reward promised (the same terms have been offered to both Jew and Gentile alike); as we read, "
Ye are called in one hope of your calling."(
Eph 4:4)
“The "
other sheep" evidently refer to others who will become the Lord's followers under different conditions and under
a different call from that which has gone forth during the Gospel Age. The present flock is called upon to sacrifice the earthly nature and become partakers, with the Master and Shepherd, of the divine nature. (
Rom 12:1, 2; 2 Tim 2:11, 12; 2 Pet 1:3, 4) The Lord's flock of the future
will not be invited to sacrifice and to a change of nature, but will, on the contrary, be privileged to maintain and retain the human nature; and by obedience will
gradually, step by step, experience
Restitution (
Acts 3:19-21) to perfection of mind and body and morals, lost through sin in Eden and redeemed by the great Sacrifice at Calvary.
These are not now of the “
flock,” (i.e. of “
this fold” mentioned in
John 10:16)
for they are not invited to the divine nature (immortality)
and a heavenly mansion or inheritance, but will be invited to a perfect earthly nature and to Paradise restored during the reign of Messiah.
And if they should pass their final test at the end of that age this perfect earthly nature will be theirs eternally.
All must be tested as to their loyalty to God
Satan was tested as to his loyalty to God. Adam and Eve were tested as to their loyalty to God. In the time of Noah the angels were similarly tested--not as to whether they preferred right to wrong, but as to their entire loyalty. Jesus Himself was tested as to His loyalty to the Father. The Church during the Gospel age is being tested to their loyalty to God, so likewise at the end of the Millennial Age will all mankind be tested to their heart-harmony with God, to see if they be worthy of eternal life.
I would suggest you read our blog post entitled, “
WHICH IS THE TRUE GOSPEL?” beginning with
Part 4, for a better understanding of what exactly we believe the true gospel to be and our belief in God's salvation through Christ.
