Renniks
Well-Known Member
He preserves the believers. It's that simple. Look at all the promises in scripture. Who are the promises given to? Ultimately, they are for believers. No belief, no promises of being granted eternal life. You are imposing on scripture the idea that God causes us to be faithful, when scripture is full of warnings about remaining in him and not falling away.What? Can you even understand your self destructive argument here, that "God preserves the faithful. If they are no more faithful, they are no more his."? Wow! If God preserves them faithful, they will be preserved, that is, kept to be faithful. The preserving is God's responsibility, not them who are being preserved by God.
Further, we are talking about those God reserved for Himself. If God reserved them, what does that mean, but that they have been saved? Why do you not seem to understand any of that?
In the four Gospels we see the believing remnant in those who “…looked for redemption in Jerusalem” (Luke 2:36-38). These would be those like Simeon, Anna, Zacharias and Elizabeth, Mary, John the Baptist and all those who believed God’s promises. The Lord referred to them as the little flock, for in Luke 12:32 He said, “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.”
Show me where God promises to preserve anyone who is not a " saint" or " believer"
When God chooses a remnant, they are those who are spiritually undefiled, or righteous according to His standards. There were cases where a remnant survived despite the fact that they were worthy of destruction (Jer 5:10, 18, Jer 8:3) These are exceptions and confirm that God is a merciful God, and will do whatever he needs to to bring redemption to future believers.
The remnant aren't chosen unconditionally.
Zephaniah 3:12–13
12 “But I will leave among you A humble and lowly people, And they will take refuge in the name of YHVH. 13 “The remnant of Israel will do no wrong And tell no lies, Nor will a deceitful tongue Be found in their mouths; For they will feed and lie down With no one to make them tremble.”
In our day, who is preserved? Those who believe and follow Christ.
" My sheep listen to my voice; I know them,and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish;no one will snatch them out of my hand."
The listening and following one is preserved forever.