Who Decides?

[Van]

Say God commands the lost to love God with all their heart, mind and spirit. Who decides whether a lost person meets that command? The person who is keenly aware of his or her shortcomings or God? What if the person did his or her best, gave it their all? Can God determine with perfect justice the command was fulfilled? Yes of course He can.

How about the command to love others. Who decides whether a lost or saved person meets that command? The person who is keenly aware of his or her shortcomings or God? What if the person did his or her best, gave it their all? Can God determine with perfect justice the command was fulfilled? Yes, of course He can.

It is more difficult for a rich person to enter heaven, than for someone who has little in the way of earthly treasure. Why is it more difficult. Because wealth provides a false sense of security, and to stop relying upon our worldly treasure, forsaking what we had grown to cherish, is more difficult, than to turn to and rely only upon God when we are aware of our fearful insecure status before God.

How about being perfect? Does anyone think they are perfect? Hopefully this is not news, but every single born anew believer is perfect. How are we to "be perfect?" By receiving the reconciliation provided by Christ's perfect sacrifice!

Bottom line, God commands and we do our best to comply. He decides whether we met His command. And His decision is perfect, just and of course merciful and gracious.

Praise Be to God!

 

[37818]

New Say God commands the lost to love God with all their heart, mind and spirit. Who decides whether a lost person meets that command?

That commond is Law.
Mark 12:29-30, And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

Galatians 2:21, I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

 

[Van]

That commond is Law.
Mark 12:29-30, And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

Galatians 2:21, I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Once again you post without stating your point. Who decides whether the person met the requirement? God does.

 

[37818]

Once again you post without stating your point. Who decides whether the person met the requirement? God does.

None can meet the Law. Romans 3:10.

 

[canadyjd]

God does not command us to “just do the best you can”. God’s standard is perfection. Consider the OT Law. If you fail to keep just one aspect, you fail it all and are condemned.

Jesus commanded us to be perfect as His Father is perfect. He did not command us to “just do the best that you can.

Anything less distorts the commands of God and also His just condemnation of sin.

peace to you

 

[Dr. Bob]

Of course, God alone decides. He knows the thoughts and intents of the heart, while all we can see are (oft-misleading) outward action and results. The poignant story of the rich young ruler meeting Jesus verifies this. The man did all the right things, but Jesus looked into his heart and saw that the actions (even though good in man's eyes) were NOT good in God's eyes.

Obvious corollary is that NO lost person can judge themselves by doing "xyz" commands+. None. Never saw a dead person grab a lifeline or believe or will. Even our own sinful heart is not honest with ourselves and excusing our sin. Only those who are quickened miraculously by the holy Spirit of God can love the Lord God with all their heart, life, strength, mind, soul, et al. Not of works, lest we all would boast of it.

 

[Van]

None can meet the Law. Romans 3:10.

Yet another post without stating the purpose.

There are none righteous. Does that mean God cannot decide who meets His commands? Who knows unless you state your understanding.

 

[Van]

God does not command us to “just do the best you can”. God’s standard is perfection. Consider the OT Law. If you fail to keep just one aspect, you fail it all and are condemned.

Jesus commanded us to be perfect as His Father is perfect. He did not command us to “just do the best that you can.

Anything less distorts the commands of God and also His just condemnation of sin.

peace to you

I explained how every born anew person is perfect. I did not say we were perfect if we did our best.

 

[37818]

Yet another post without stating the purpose.

There are none righteous. Does that mean God cannot decide who meets His commands? Who knows unless you state your understanding.

Romans 3:19-20, Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Galatians 2:21, I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

 

[Van]

Since it is God who decides whether to credit our flawed efforts as being righteous

Romans 3:19-20, Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Galatians 2:21, I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Who decides whether to justify a person? God does!

 

[37818]

Who decides whether to justify a person? God does!

It is understood God said in Revelation 20:15, And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

So how do you think one can know one's name is in God's book?

 

[Van]

It is understood God said in Revelation 20:15, And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

So how do you think one can know one's name is in God's book?

If you believe it is God who either writes the name of His chosen ones in the Lamb's book of life, and does not write the names of those not chosen, then I assume you are affirming that God decides who meets His commands.

It is obvious error to think you are saved because you professed belief in Christ or spouted Lord, Lord.
God decides who He will save, by His grace alone, through crediting our faith, or not, alone.

 

[37818]

If you believe it is God who either writes the name of His chosen ones in the Lamb's book of life, and does not write the names of those not chosen, then I assume you are affirming that God decides who meets His commands.

It is obvious error to think you are saved because you professed belief in Christ or spouted Lord, Lord.
God decides who He will save, by His grace alone, through crediting our faith, or not, alone.

Those of us who are saved know God through the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 8:15-17, For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

 

[Van]

Did the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16- 26) actually do "all the right things?" Nope He was unwilling to put Christ above his worldly treasure. But in the person's mind, he had done all the right things. Thus it is God who decides, not the person seeking acceptance, the one who wills or does things. See Romans 9:16. It is impossible for a person to merit salvation, but with God, all salvations are possible. He decides. If a person misses just a little, God can reject his or her effort, but on the other hand, if a person misses a whole lot, like me, God can credit my faith as righteousness. God decides on whom He will have mercy!

 

[Van]

Those who are saved know God through the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 8:15-17, For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

People can think they are saved, yet the Lord will say I never knew you. The issue is not whether a saved person has been sealed in Christ with the Holy Spirit, the issue is a person can believe that he or she has been indwelt, even a lost person.
Professing believers are to examine ourselves at communion to see if we are "of the faith." That is where we obtain our "blessed assurance, Jesus is mine."

 

[37818]

Romans 6:23, For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

[37818]

People can think they are saved, yet the Lord will say I never knew you.

The religious and lost trust in their works. Verse 22.
Matthew 7:21-23, Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

1 John 5:9-13, If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

 

[Van]

The religious and lost trust in their works. Verse 22.
Matthew 7:21-23,
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

1 John 5:9-13, If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Nope, some trust in their "faith" but to no avail. See Matthew 13.

 

[Van]

God decides to whom He will give the gift of eternal life. Just because someone receives the gospel with joy, does not mean their faith in the gospel will result in salvation.

God decides!

 

[37818]

Nope, some trust in their "faith" but to no avail. See Matthew 13.

So are you denying the genuine saved actually know God and know they are saved?