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NASB | Matthew 10:33 "But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 10:33 "But the one who denies and rejects Me before men, that one I will also deny and reject before My Father who is in heaven. |
Subject: Is God's love really unconditional? |
Bible Note: Dear PaPah, I'm not offended. No one can hurt your feelings when you realize that if they knew you like God knows you, they could say much more hurtful things with grounding in the complete truth! You asked, "If nothing ever does anything contrary to its nature, and I've been given a new nature through Jesus Christ, how comes I so often do things that are displeasing to Him?" Because God has decreed that believers will progressively grow in sanctification. (See post #189339) Progressive sanctification is what John Bunyan called "The Holy War." The writer of Hebrews called it the pursuit of holiness -- it is the process (versus the position) of sanctification. Sanctification involves conflict with yourself, with your flesh, with the world, and with Satan. The Puritans used to say that if a person was not battling sin, then that person should question whether they are a Christian at all. Consequently, your struggle is an expression of you being what you are! The great thing about it, though, is that the conclusion of this process will be perfect holiness in glory. You asked, "...But, can't what I say or do be either a positive or negative influence on that persons life?" Certainly. What's more, we'll be judged for every idle word! What I was trying to communicate is that redemption is entirely a work of God. His eternal purpose cannot be thwarted. This attribute is what we call sovereignty. Nothing can impede God's redemption of His elect. Nevertheless, we are privileged to speak His Word to others. You commented, "...I do believe that the conversion experience is not always a fast U-turn." (sic) This would, of course, depend on what you mean by "conversion experience." Certain aspects of the ordo salutis (order of salvation, see post #151193) do happen objectively (experience would be something happening subjectively) and do happen in an instant. If we are to be good stewards of God's Word, we must take care to use language that accurately reflects what He has revealed. Conversion has a very specific theological meaning (see post #151653). I assume that by "conversion experience" you really are speaking of the entire process of redemption. In that case, redemption "started" in eternity past (Ephesians 1:4) and will continue for an uninterrupted and unending number of days in the future (Revelation 21:3). The life of the believer will be characterized by a general bent toward righteousness (see post #152574). You wrote, "...it would be possible to turn people even farther from faith in Him by what we say or do." The lost cannot be more lost or less lost (see post #143317). They are simply lost. In Him, Doc |