The elect.

[Daddysgirl.2]

I have a question beloved of God. Perhaps unpopular and/or inappropriate.

What is the purpose of the elect in this lifetime/eon or ages passed? Is it only to learn obedience through the things which we do and will suffer anlll as our Lord did?
Is it a narrow pervasive path of judgement and suffering?

[arion]

All have to go through 'the lake of fire' some in this lifetime and others in the resurrection to judgment.  God's elect are enduring the fires of correction and chastisement now and the rest will experience it later. 

[Dave in Tenn]

Here's an unpopular and inappropriate answer.

Mic 6:8  He explained to you,O man, what is good or what the LORD requires from you; but only to execute equity, and to love mercy, and to be prepared to go with your God.

That seems like a good place to start understanding.

This one is maybe a bit less "obvious"...so much so that it really can't be understood with theology.

1Pe 4:17  ...because it is the time of the beginning of the judgment* from the house of God, and if first from us, what the end of those disobedient to the good news of God?
1Pe 4:18  And if the righteous man is scarcely saved, the ungodly and sinner—where shall he appear?

*Judgement G2917
κρίμα
krima
Thayer Definition:
1) a decree, judgments
2) judgment
2a) condemnation of wrong, the decision (whether severe or mild) which one passes on the faults of others
2b) in a forensic sense
2b1) the sentence of a judge
2b2) the punishment with which one is sentenced
2b3) condemnatory sentence, penal judgment, sentence
3) a matter to be judicially decided, a lawsuit, a case in court
Part of Speech: noun neuter
A Related Word by Thayer's/Strong's Number: from G2919

A couple more?  To become able to "teach" Proverbs and "preach" Ecclesiastes from our own experience.

[Daddysgirl.2]

It is particularly difficult to rejoice through suffering and trial at the moment. When you find yourself standing all alone(physically), perhaps even on the sand/house built on sand. When your biggest enemy is the beast within. When despite all effort, you battle to become the Sermon on the mount Christian or "believer" as I like to reference myself and want to be.

How?
When I'm stricken, I strike back. I withhold not only the first, but the second cloak too. I ask/ or need reassurance or motivation for giving anything now. I mourn but do not feel merciful. I prefer peace but not interested in enforcing it though I *think* I make attempts to make it. I am that salt that has lost its saltiness & not good for anything, the light whose shine is dimmed, only I speak of my own good deeds.
So yes, judgement shall begin in the house of God, but am I still that house? My mercy is highly selective and my spiritual house so shaky I struggle to find the Lord in there.
All I have are His (Word)s, line upon line, precept upon precept. Sometimes finding good nuggets but ever so quick to lose them at first sign of provocation.

[Porter]

Yes you are still in that house as long as you call Jesus Lord. But if you don't do what Jesus says, then the salt will lose its flavor and be thrown out with the rest of the flavorless salt.

I'm not sure the idea is to rejoice as you're suffering, but to know that after you have suffered for a little while, you will rejoice. What is "suffering" if not judgment?

Joh 16:20  "I assure you: You will weep and wail, but the world will rejoice. You will become sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy.

The tables will be turned when it's time for the earth to be judged.

Mat 22:11  And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

Mat 22:12  And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

Mat 22:13  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Mat 22:14  For many are called, but few are chosen.

The Kingdom of God is made up of the many called and the few chosen. Everyone who calls Jesus Lord is in that Kingdom, but the Kingdom or REIGN of God is not in everyone that calls Jesus Lord.

I think it says a lot that you are at least aware of some of your flaws. That is in part how judgment works. It's meant to make you sorrowful to lead you to repentance. It's meant to break the spirit within you.

[arion]

2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Luk 12:47-48  And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.  But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.


Here again is the many vs the few.  As painful as this life might be it is much better to be 'beaten with few stripes' than many. 


1Pe 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:


God has us right where he wants us and whether or not we are to be beaten with many stripes or few stripes God has it all under control.  When I came to learn some of these truths I was always worried about screwing up God's plan for my life through disobedience.  We know that 'nothing can separate us from the love of God' but we also know that our sins are a hinderance and can cause God to hide his face from us.

My own personal revelation was that I wasn't powerful enough to mess up God's plan for my life or my salvation.  The beast within had the hubris to believe it could derail God's plan for me but in reality it could not.  God has us right where he wants us and he will accomplish his good will in us in his timing and not ours. 

[ralph]

2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Luk 12:47-48  And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.  But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.


Here again is the many vs the few.  As painful as this life might be it is much better to be 'beaten with few stripes' than many. 


1Pe 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:


God has us right where he wants us and whether or not we are to be beaten with many stripes or few stripes God has it all under control.  When I came to learn some of these truths I was always worried about screwing up God's plan for my life through disobedience.  We know that 'nothing can separate us from the love of God' but we also know that our sins are a hinderance and can cause God to hide his face from us.

My own personal revelation was that I wasn't powerful enough to mess up God's plan for my life or my salvation.  The beast within had the hubris to believe it could derail God's plan for me but in reality it could not.  God has us right where he wants us and he will accomplish his good will in us in his timing and not ours.

God, indeed, has us right where he wants us.  We are EXACTLY where we are supposed to be.

Psalm 139:16
16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.