Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
(Note: "HE IS ABLE TO SAVE THEM TO THE UTTERMOST THAT COME UNTO GOD BY HIM".)
In your estimation....
1* Have those who have yet to "FORSAKE ALL" (Matt.19:27-29) COME to God yet???
2* Have those who "LOVE THEIR LIFE", unwilling to give it up/lay it down (John 12:25) COME to God yet???
3* Have those who have yet to "SERVE AND FOLLOW HIM" (John 12:26) COME to God yet???
4* Have those who have yet to "DENY THEMSELVES, TAKE UP THEIR CROSS AND FOLLOW HIM" (Matt.16:24) COME to God yet???
5* Have those who have yet to "KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS/WORDS" (John 14:21-23) COME to God yet???
6* Have those who are still serving "MAMMON" (Matt. 6:24) COME to God yet???
7* Have those who are still "DOUBLE MINDED" (James 1:8; 4:8) COME to God yet???
8* Have those who have yet to "REPENT" (turn away from their sins and turn to God) (Acts 26:20, etc.) COME to God yet???
9* Have those who have yet to "OBEY HIM" (Acts 5:32) COME to God yet???
10* Have those who still "HATE" their brother (1 John 2:9; 4:21) COME to God yet???
11* Have those who have yet to "TAKE HIS YOKE UPON THEMSELVES" (Matt. 11:29-30) COME to God yet???
YOURS?: "_________"!
MY ANSWER: "NO!" to ALL of the above (Matt.22:37-40)!
Gal 6:
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
I Jn 5:
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
ALL of the above 11 Questions and our Answers to them depends on the kind of "FAITH" one has! What is the "FAITH" of a TRUE Believer/Follower of Christ?: simply, "I hear and I obey!"
Indeed, "Faith" comes by hearing the word of God - but the kind of "Faith" that has "Righteousness" imputed to it (James 2:20-26) is the kind that "Obeys" it as well as when it "Hears" it (ex: "COME to Me"!).
Anything falling SHORT of this "Faith" (unwilling to lay ALL we have and are aside as dung, including our own life in comparison to His; no matter the reason we choose not come ALL THE WAY to God because of it;) --- falls short of the glory of God and the kind of "Faith" I am describing!
And a lack of understanding and obeying the Truth (the words of God) gives a "double-minded" understanding (letting some foolishly choose to believe they can have their cake (sin) now and eat it (take pleasure in it) too! Such thinking LACKS the "Faith" necessary to "Come to Him and Lay it all down WITH Him - and take His own up anew IN Him - and Overcome"!
If anyone lacks this "faith" it is because they have yet to "OBEY, LAY IT ALL DOWN and COME" and be born of God through being "Crucified" with Christ on ALL the above 11 questions I have presented above...
THAT is what "FAITH" is, what it does, how it comes about, and how it lives!!!!!
How's yours doing, friend?
Biff
