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NASB | Revelation 7:17 for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Revelation 7:17 for the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will be their Shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of the waters of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes [giving them eternal comfort]." [Ps 23:2; Is 25:8; Ezek 34:23; Rev 21:4] |
Subject: What would prompt these tears? |
Bible Note: Rowdy: One of the fruits of all my years on this earth is the realization that there are well-intentioned people who, no matter what Ephesians 2:8,9 says, no matter what the Bible doctrine of salvation by grace says, no matter how strong the clear Bible evidence is that man's righteousness is as filty rags to the holy God [Isaiah 64:6], no matter that God gave His Son and His Son gave shed his blood as atonement for man's sins past, present, and future -- no matter what -- they simply will not trust the promises of God enough to entrust Him fully with their salvation. Simply put, they just don't get it. They do not understand the doctrines of grace. They really don't comprehend the work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration and His indwelling work of sanctification in the life of the regnerate believer. And beyond a certain point it becomes apparent that further discussion with people who avidly espouse works-based salvation is fruitless. And Rowdy, the doctrine of salvation by grace alone is not a philosophy in any sense. It is based not on man's philosophy but solely on God's word. The doctrine of salvation by works definitely IS man's philosophy, man's invention; it is a thread common to all major religions except orthodox Christianity. The views you described in the first item on your list are decidedly not represenative of those the regenerate believer holds. No regenerate believer views God's gift of salvation, His salvation by grace, merely as a free ticket to heaven. "Cheap grace" is what Bonhoeffer called it, and cheap grace, as Bonhoeffer pointed out, is not what the Bible teaches. The regenerate believer is created in Christ Jesus for good works (Ephesians 2:10), and the doctrines of grace do not in any sense abrogate the Christian's responsibility to lead a godly life, to "be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord." [1 Cor. 15:58]. Nevertheless, leading a godly life and abounding in good works do not save us (only the blood of Christ can do that), and they do not guarantee our salvaton, they do not tighten it, seal it, make it more secure. God has already done that for the born-again believer. "(God) also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge [2 Corinthians 1:22]. ...... Rowdy, someone else may wish to address the remaining four points of your post, but I will pass. They cover ground that has been plowed many times over with you on which I and a number of other users have sown seeds. I can think of no cogent reason to do anything but stand aside let the ground bear fruit, if indeed the ground is fertile and the seeds germinate. I see no sense to be made of continuing to spar with you on this, of bouncing the ping-pong ball back and forth on it. A parting note on your fifth point. There is no man who can escape condemnation if all he can offer as atonement for his sins are his works. "Just as I am without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me." There is nothing under the sun that can save anyone but the blood of Jesus Christ. --Hank |