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Are you the elect?

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KristaD:
Hmmm, I strive b/c He causes me to, b/c He changed what is important to me and I can no longer happily do things that I know displease Him. Honestly I am not in anyway striving for a place in the kingdom or to avoid the lake of fire. Whatever He judges is right for me is right for me and it's just not something that I trouble myself with anymore, I used to but then I just felt unworthy and defeated b/c I knew I wasn't "good enough". I am assured that He is working in me, that He is guiding my life and always has been, and I am assured that He will not let me go and He will see through what He's started to the end but I am in no way assured that what He's doing in my life now will get me out of the lake of fire but like a pp said it will mean less time in it ;).

Kat:

The way I see this is when our eyes are opened to this Truth, we begin the race.  At that point we are among the chosen.  But the only way anyone can be of the Elect is to finish the race.  So if at any point you drop out of the race, you never were of the Elect.  Even Paul knew he was in a race that he had to finish.

1Co 9:24  Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.
v. 25  And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
v. 26  Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.
v. 27  But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Since you can know that you are in the race, because you understand and believe these Truths, Paul continually tells us to give it all we have and never give up.

Heb 12:1  Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
v. 2  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Apostles knew that the Elect were among the Believers they were teaching.  So they always were encouraging them, as Paul said, "run with endurance the race that is set before us" and "do not lose heart."

Gal 6:9  And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Peter says "make your call and election sure."

2 Peter 1:10  Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;

John used "little children" many times to encourage the believers, as a term of endearment.

1John 2:1  My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

1John 2:12  I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake.

1John 2:18  Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.

1John 2:28  And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.

1John 3:7  Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.

1John 3:18  My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
v. 19  And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.

1John 4:4  You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

1John 5:19  We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.
v. 20  And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
v. 21  Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

You can not know for sure that you are of the Elect, but we are the chosen, we are in the race!  Never give up, because we are running for the greatest gift any human being could ever hope to have.

mercy, peace and love
Kat

KristaD:
I see what Paul is saying there but isn't it a carnal motivation to run for the prize?? I mean, to do right and live by God's laws b/c we want our place in the kingdom? Isn't that basically the same as the churchgoers who don't actually love God and say "well if there is no hell then why live right??" If our motivation is a prize then what if there was no prize? What if we knew we weren't going to "win"? To me it just makes no difference if I avoid the lake of fire or reign with Christ, I simply can't respond to God in any other way than striving to do what He tells me and to put off my sin (and that's only b/c He has made that my desire.)

winner08:
Kristian: If that's how Paul taught ( about the race and winning the crown of imperishable) it only can be a good thing (yes)? I mean if Paul thought this was important enough for Paul to teach us, then it would be wise to listen. Yes? What if there was no prize? We shouldn't even consider this because there is a prize (reward) I don't quote scripture because I always mess it up. But I remember Jesus saying somewhere, your reward in heaven. Reward, prize. So I don't think it's a bad thing to strive for a reward in heaven or strive to be in the Kingdom with God at the end of our race. In the Kingdom (reward or prize). It's a very good thing. Now this this just my take on this subject. I could be wrong.

                                                 Thanks, Darren


                                         

hillsbororiver:
Agreed Darren!

Here is more from Paul;

1Co 15:16  For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
 
1Co 15:17  And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
 
1Co 15:18  Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
 
1Co 15:19  If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

And some from Peter;
 
 1 Peter 1

 1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

 2Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

 4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

 5Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

 6Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

 7That 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:

 8Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

 9Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

 10Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

 11Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

 12Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

 13Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Peace,

Joe

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