Like any man-made doctrine...total depravity has a good point...but goes too far. If this extremist doctrine were true...there would be no need for free will or a judgment. We could not be held responsible for the evil we in fact do...as it would be seen as the animals who do things by nature.
Of course no one can be holy without God making them so. The election of grace is all God. This is the way of saints. And yet after that divine calling and empowerment, the would-be saint must still choose God in the moment.
So then a greater gifting brings MORE responsibility. The saints will be judged harder...as they who teach others also must face a harder judgment....more exacting.
God's direct intervention is like a fire.
But there are spin-offs to fire...namely heat and light. This heat is to fire as righteousness is to holiness. Many people will turn to righteousness because of the presence of holiness...just as many will be warmed by a fire. many will walk in the light ...indirectly from God...through the saint in whom Christ is living.
The saints are IN the fire. They are the fuel to the fire. As such these are the light of the world.
But many will be warmed and remain by the fire. These are the righteous...who are many. The saints are the bride of Christ...and the righteous are the guests. The saints rule with Christ from Zion and are priests to God and kings over the nations...and the righteous are in the nations that are saved.
Many are called, few are chosen. So then God selects His elect as fuel to a fire that leads many to salvation by example. We all have choices to make...and we each are given free will to stay the course we are given...or not.
Of course no one can be holy without God making them so. The election of grace is all God. This is the way of saints. And yet after that divine calling and empowerment, the would-be saint must still choose God in the moment.
So then a greater gifting brings MORE responsibility. The saints will be judged harder...as they who teach others also must face a harder judgment....more exacting.
God's direct intervention is like a fire.
But there are spin-offs to fire...namely heat and light. This heat is to fire as righteousness is to holiness. Many people will turn to righteousness because of the presence of holiness...just as many will be warmed by a fire. many will walk in the light ...indirectly from God...through the saint in whom Christ is living.
The saints are IN the fire. They are the fuel to the fire. As such these are the light of the world.
But many will be warmed and remain by the fire. These are the righteous...who are many. The saints are the bride of Christ...and the righteous are the guests. The saints rule with Christ from Zion and are priests to God and kings over the nations...and the righteous are in the nations that are saved.
Many are called, few are chosen. So then God selects His elect as fuel to a fire that leads many to salvation by example. We all have choices to make...and we each are given free will to stay the course we are given...or not.