Now we are called not only to come out of the world but also to come into the promised rest of God. We are called out in order to strive to enter in. We are saved away from death in order to enter the race for life.
John 5
22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
24 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.
So then the Bible does not teach "enter the race for life". The Bible teaches, passing from death into life. So this is error.
Hardly anyone is allowed to see the promised land before the time of entering. There are a few spies that God has allowed in to see and testify to the church of the wonders of the high calling in Christ.
Are there? Who? Who has seen the world to come? A man who was in the 3rd heaven. But he didn't come back to testify. Seems to me this is presumptuous, to say that one now would go beyond what the Bible portrays. He's not allowed to say what he saw, but you say that others are allowed, and are supposed to?
Since this doctrine isn't taught in the Bible, and since the sole example given of such a thing is contrary to your statement, well, sufficient to point that out.
But almost without exception...these voices are not heard. Just like the 12 spies that were sent over Jordan to investigate the promised land. Of these only two had the faith in God to see that it was possible to possess it.
Faith to see? This is really the crux of the matter with this teaching. Trying to turn faith into sight. Think about, and see if you agree, that these doctrines promote that end.
When we are born again...we join the church in the wilderness. Unless there is a revival going on of course. Otherwise, routinely, the church is set up at a half-way point between the world and the kingdom of God. And this is by design.
Again, Really?
We do not join Israel, and we are not in a wilderness, being born again, being in Christ. Many who fail to teach a true faith in Jesus have left Christians with this horribly mistaken idea that we're waiting for some special annointing, some new power to fall upon us, so that we can actually start to live this Christian life. The horror of that teaching is that you end up telling people who have all the power of God available to them that they are weak, and unable.
I can do all things through Christ my strength.
There is no "half-way" between the kingdom of darkness, and the Kingdom of the Son of God. A kingdom of what, twilight? So this is also error.
In every generation and in every place the church needs to come together and seek the Lord for entrance into the promises of God.
Absolutely agreed! Let all who call in truth upon the Lord walk in His promises. Oh! Right. You said, "entrance into the promises of God". We of course have His commitment to us, now. But we do need to start trusting that reality.
The devil will do his utmost to have the people of God believe the wilderness is all there is in this life and stop people from striving to enter into victory with Christ. He will have us believe that the promised land is in a future afterlife...after we are safely dead...and no longer able to challenge his earthly authority.
I can't speak for the devil, aside from what is in the Bible. And I don't see this written there, so I don't have a comment on what may be in Satan's mind.
Seems pretty clear to most the believers I know that God means for us to live a new and good life here, and even better then. This "either/or" is what I'd call a false dichotomy. It's not that we either look for a better life here, or a better life there. We look for both. Perhaps I'm blessed in where I live, maybe this is more clearly taught in my area.
So very few will actually enter into Christ....either as individuals or even less rarely as a victorious body. People have refused the race of faith for so long that practically no one can discern the high calling of God...even when they read about it in the plain text of the bible.
Jesus did say few would be saved. Of course, when you say this, I know you mean something very different. I know you mean that though we be born again, that unless we are enjoying sinless perfection, then we've not been brought by God into Christ, and Outer Darkness awaits.
Unbeliever refuse the race, not to life, not to salvation, the race to reward and glory. Not a race to be saved.
But essentially yet one more thread expressing the error that though men be born again, though men be filled by the Spirit of the Living God, yet this only means a chance for salvation. And that's the worst error of the lot.
Salvation is being immersed into Christ, in His death, and burial, that as He rose from the dead, we have a new live. All who are born again are in Christ.
Always compare what you read to the Bible. And this means you need to know your Bible. And you won't know your Bible if you come to it looking to prove yourself to the world. Only coming as a child, content to read, and believe what you read. And the truth shall set you free.
Much love!
