Comments on: Unlimited Calling

By: Beth

Beth — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 18:31:55 +0000

I always enjoy visiting your blog.

The Pistol fires back: I’m very glad you visit. I pray you continue to find it meaningful.

By: Beth

Beth — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 17:25:36 +0000

When I first understood,that God does ALL the work of salvation. There is NOTHING I can do to get myself saved, I was overwhelmed. God clearly teaches election. Only God knows the heart of man. He asks us to love Him,and if we really do love Him—-we obediently do what he commands in his Word.

The Pistol fires back: A strong, Biblical case for God’s sovereignty. You’ll get no argument from me.

By: Shane Vander Hart

Shane Vander Hart — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 06:13:24 +0000

Great post. You are right that we should spend our time speculating on who is in and who is not.

When it comes to the doctrine of elction - where you land depends on how you view man. In the words of Billy Crystal in the Princess Bride - are we “completely dead or mostly dead”? If we are totally, completely dead in our sins, (Ephesians 2:1), then election makes sense. But then that is a wonderful act of grace because we can do nothing in and of ourselves to alter that condition.

Hard topic, but one worth discussing.

The Pistol fires back: Thanks for weighing in. Interesting connection with “The Princess Bride”. I’ll have to dig that up and take a look at it again. Election is a hard topic, a hard pill to swallow for believers and non-believers alike. But, when I learned of it, I found it very freeing that I was not ultimately in charge of my ultimate destiny. Thank God for that.

By: Bill Blackrick

Bill Blackrick — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 05:58:24 +0000

Opening another Can O’ Worms Eh? I think I commented in the past here about the whole “lost people groups” in remote areas going to Hell even if they never heard about Jesus being fair or not. The truth is (this statement is for GraceMark) that Jesus gave the Great Commission to the Disciples to spread the word to the uttermost parts of the earth. Since Christ knew that remote regions of people groups hadn’t heard about him yet, they needed to hear and believe or be eternally separated. It sucks, but it’s God’s word and not mine

The Pistol fires back: I would stop short of saying “lost people groups” are bound for hell. Again, God’s plan of salvation is ultimately a mystery to us. Scripture does say that people “from all nations” will be part of the in-gathering. Who, how many, and at what time, lies in God hands. Certainly Scripture shows us God is capable of “counting as righteous” persons who come before Christ. Wouldn’t it be possible for God to “count as righteous” someone today who has never heard of Christ. Again, from a human perspective, it’s all speculation. Only God knows for sure.

By: Kurt

Kurt — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:55:28 +0000

The reason God did not just “preelect” all humans is because of His greatest desire….relationship. It also would in some way eliminate individuality. So, free will is in play. Except for a few examples: Israel, Moses, Paul, the Disciples. Those are the ones that have been documented in the Word. For any others, your guess is as good as mine. I personally am grateful He chose me.

The Pistol fires back: The only certainty is God’s. As you say, the rest is anybody’s guess. It’s best to cultivate gratitude for those God saves than cop an attitude about those God doesn’t.