And if any man have not the spirit, he is none of His........wrote the apostle by that same Spirit.
Jesus said in John 3 "Ye MUST be born again." "Except ye be born again you cannot see the Kingdom of God." "Except ye be born again of water and of the spirit you cannot enter the kingdom of God."
Reading further in that same chapter John 3…..some are fond of quoting v. 17 to make a case that the whole world will be saved after death, while they ignore the very next verse 18……Jesus doesn’t need to condemn anyone because if they believe not on Him they are condemned already.
Jhn 3:17-19
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Jhn 3:36
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Being born of the spirit by faith and belief in Christ is the rule, and I don’t see how that can be disputed when Jesus Himself said it so clearly.
But IF the Lord sometimes makes exceptions to this rule, then I’m open to considering that IF it can be shown in scripture, which so far nobody seems willing or able to show by the word of God in a coherent way. We are supposed to search the SCRIPTURES to see if anything be so, aren’t we? I’m not afraid of the word of God - if it’s true I want it, and if it isn’t true I don’t want it, simple as that – I have no vested interest.
(And IF the Lord makes exceptions to this rule, then seems to me the exception surely shouldn’t be taught as a rule, because that would be misleading and dangerous doctrine.)
I would also like to learn whether or not there is a difference between the spirit being saved and the soul being saved, because I wonder if possibly that might speak to some of this…? I have no problem with looking into that as well. Like where it says to “hand that one over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that his spirit might be saved”….? Does that mean as opposed to his soul being saved? (since soul and spirit are two different words in the Greek.)
Anyway, these are questions I'm bringing to the Lord.
If we examine what JESUS said and what he even called the unbelieving jews
if we examine how paul and others went about and also what they warned those who believed not
Then we know .
They went about making sure to say WHO would be saved and who would be condemned .
JESUS even told them to shake the dust off their feet as a testimony against those who had rejected .
The bottom line is condemnation , damnation awaits those who refused to believe on JESUS the CHRIST .
Now that is a hard line fact .
Our message must be the same . ETERNAL LIFE to those who DO BELIEVE , condmenation and wrath unto the soul
who rejects Christ Jesus .
It is not our duty to figure out what every detail of damanation . God will do as HE DO .
BUT the message remains FIRM . YE MUST BELIEVE , continue to the end ,
The apostels knew the TERROR OF GOD , aka HIS WRATH was and IS REAL .
And therefore knowing the TERROR of GOD they persauded men , YEAH TO BELIEVE ON JESUS THE CHRIST .
HE is who they pointed too . HE is who they all pointed too .
In these last days upon earth , we were warned that many would be given over unto fables
that by them the WAY of TRUTH would be evil spoken of ..
We were warned . No apostle , no not even CHRIST , ever went about trying to simply preach
another love and to find common ground . IT was BELIEVE ON JESUS the CHRIST or perish .
That was the message . And JESUS taught many things and thus we ought to teach all things HE did say and teach .
Yet many today only teach a part of what HE said while omtting the DIRE NEED TO BELIEVE ON HIM .
They go about teaching this love thy neighbor stuff , saying to love GOD etc
and yet GUESS WHO KEEPS GETTING DENIED . JESUS DOES , THUS GOD DOES .
We cant pick only certain parts and omit the others . Stephen and scores of others
were killed and had been also warned TO STOP PREACHING in that NAME . THEY DID NOT stop
BECAUSE THEY KNEW HE ALONE was the ONLY NAME that could save . They often did shake the dust
off their feet as a testimony against those who refused to believe .
And yes many of them spent nights n days in prison . and anytime one asked HOW may i be saved
THEY DIDNT PREACH COMMON GROUND and say HEY it dont matter what you beleive JUST DO GOOD .
NOPE it was BELIEVE YE ON JESUS CHRIST and then of course they would teach HIS teachings .
But they did not omit the DIRE NECESSITY TO BELIEVE ON HIM . yet many today DO just that .