Allan said:
I did a quick scan and left off the "why". So what I responded to was "does God chasten us?"
He loves us is why He chastens us.
But lest we forget, God so loved the world too. :laugh:
Though He doesn't chasten them, He extends His love toward them via His Son.
This is the only post that can be worked with. Others are sidetracks.
Its getting near the end of pages, so lets lay it all out.
ok..Rev says "who I love, I chasten".
You said above God does not chasten the world.
This would go along with
Romans 1....where Paul tells us God "
gave them up"
it would also go along with
Isa 43: 3 where God said...
I gave Egypt for thy
ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
and it would also go along with Isa 53..where God the Father say toward the Son...I divide him (
The Son)
[a portion] with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong;because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and
he bare the sin of many,
So I agree with you, that God
does not chasten all, for He gives up some for the love of others, just as the Bible says.
and..
Matthew 20:28 "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and
to give his life a ransom for many." would seem to agree with this notion....right?
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As to the 7 Churches in REV....they were the elect of God, or the non-believer will be kings and priests in the kingdom.
4John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
5And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
6And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Allan, the Bible is wrote to Gods people. This is why the non-believer cannot understand it, without Gods help. "If my people, which are called by my name"....is a call for the choosen to get right with God. This does not mean non-believers are not within the church building, for they are. But the letters are addressed to Gods people. Now please note, that Gods people also include the Jews. And no, the jews are not all believers. The Jews were chosen for other reasons, and some are not chosen toward salvation.
In chapter 3..please notice
8 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
after they are called down for their lack of works, they are then counseled. Does verse 8 sound like the romans road to salvation? Can you buy salvation? No..you know this. But you can layup white raiment and gold and crowns, with the work you do for the kingdom after salvation.
When we read books that addrees church problems, it is addressed mainly to those in leadership of the church, in order for them to do something about it.
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You see...God does
love His people.
Jhn 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and
I lay down my life for the sheep.
Now I know you do not think this applies to all Saints.
Jhn 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends
But in fact it does. For
most people think that the Holy Spirit is given to the whole Church of God, and not just the 11. And this is what is found in the passage just below the above verse.
26But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
You see this is the same message through the whole Bible.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it
One would have to overlook most of the Bible, in order not to believe in limited atonement.
Like this verse..
Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Psa 44:3 For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.
Ye [are] my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I [am] he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.