But we don't rebirth ourselves, folks get born again by submitting to Christ, looking to Christ, 'giving it up' for Jesus, opening the heart and making some confession. Then the HS gives the increase. It's hard for me to see how this state of submission can occur under threat, which just creates undue pressure and takes away the sincerity of confession. Full and voluntary confession is what is needed.
UR supports the idea that we walk the narrow path primarily out of wanting to please God in true love, rather than the terror of unspeakable consequences if we don't. The prospect of shame and waste of God's gifts is of course also a motivator. Unbelievers are supposed to see how we live and recognise the light of love and truth in our lives, a City on a Hill cannot be hid...
A state of submission comes when we see our need for Christ. Remember the parable of the prodigal son. He didn't come until he saw his need. Jesus gave plenty of threat warnings to people. It si better to cut off your hand or pluck out your eye than be cast into hell. Jesus told people that they should be more afraid of God than man because man can kill the body, but God can kill the body and the soul.
Just as the weeds
oare gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at
nthe end of the age.
pThe Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all
qcauses of sin and
rall law-breakers,
sand throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place
tthere will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
He said there will be the righteous who enter eternal life but the unrighteous into eternal.punishment.
Jesus talked about the man in hell who wanted to leave and warn others.
Jesus himself said all are condemned except those that believe. So, warning people is a loving act. Warning your loved one of the consequences of his actions is a loving act. Telling a man who is about to commit adultery that it's just fine and not to worry about it is unloving. It's loving to warn h of the destruction in his life and the lives of his family is a loving act.
The sincerity of confession comes when we see our need for Jesus. And that need often comes when we see the ultimate consequences of our sinful ways. Just like the man on the cross.
You MUST be born again. You MUST be born again. BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ. WHOSOEVER BELIEVES on him will be saved.
I understand your difficulty in wrapping your head around this. But there is NO scriptural support for the doctrine of all are saved in the end. They are not and Jesus says so. He WARNED people about it.
Once we are saved we walk the path that God intends us to walk through the power of the Holy Spirit and Christ within us the hope of glory. I'm saved, not by my ownight or my own power but by the righteousness of Christ within me. But I had to repent of my sin, believe in him for my salvation. Recognizing my need for him.
I commit sin, but he is faithful.and just to give me my son when I confess it. Just like you say. But I have to believe in him. I can't ask someone who I don't believe in to forgive me and cleanse me from my unrighteousness.