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Seeking wisdom

Chance7

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Hello. I have been listening to an audio reading of John lately. I have just been wondering about something, something that has been really destroying my faith.

God says he desires that everyone be saved. Then, in John, Jesus plainly says that he blinded people and hardened their hearts so that they would not believe and repent and be saved. How is this Just? He desires all men everywhere to be repent and be saved but he only predestined a certain number of people to be saved?the rest he just doesn’t care about? Where is the love in creating a whole world that he knew most people would burn in hell forever? And he only chose a few that would be saved. It makes me think that there’s not even any point in following God anymore if there are such slim odds. Why would I give up what little tone I have on earth to spend with the family I love and to help others, to serve a God who promises hardships, promises that the world will hate them, and then tells us that many will even strive and still not be able to enter. To serve a God who would just blind people and turn them away like that. Why try to follow a God who gives such horribly little hope? It seems like every time I read the Bible anymore, all I find is less hope and more of a reason why I don’t have any faith in salvation.

Jesus said that he never said anything in secret but spake openly to the world. And yet, he mostly spoke in parables and said many things to his disciples in secret. And he even said that he spoke in parables because he didn’t want them to understand.

I pray not for the world but for those who you have given me in the world/For God so loved the world/for I came not to the world but to save it...In Jesus’ words(not perfectly written from how the Bible says it because my memory is deteriorated.

im not trying to judge God, I’m just trying to understand. Please help me understand.

I just trying to reconcile all this and still follow God and find his love. I just can’t seem to put this all together, am I wrong? I would really like any help. God bless you.

I’m truly sorry but it’s all I can think of to say. I can only be honest. I’m sorry God.
 
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Gifts From Above

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A couple of things.

The scripture says, “Jacob I loved but Esau I hated”. He is the potter and we are the clay. Who are we to judge God’s choosing and his predestination?

Also, you ask the question “why try”? Because the reward is eternal glory that’s why.
 
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Dave L

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Hello. I have been listening to an audio reading of John lately. I have just been wondering about something, something that has been really destroying my faith.

God says he desires that everyone be saved. Then, in John, Jesus plainly says that he blinded people and hardened their hearts so that they would not believe and repent and be saved. How is this Just? He desires all men everywhere to be repent and be saved but he only predestined a certain number of people to be saved?the rest he just doesn’t care about? Where is the love in creating a whole world that he knew most people would burn in hell forever? And he only chose a few that would be saved. It makes me think that there’s not even any point in following God anymore if there are such slim odds. Why would I give up what little tone I have on earth to spend with the family I love and to help others, to serve a God who promises hardships, promises that the world will hate them, and then tells us that many will even strive and still not be able to enter. To serve a God who would just blind people and turn them away like that. Why try to follow a God who gives such horribly little hope? It seems like every time I read the Bible anymore, all I find is less hope and more of a reason why I don’t have any faith in salvation.

Jesus said that he never said anything in secret but spake openly to the world. And yet, he mostly spoke in parables and said many things to his disciples in secret. And he even said that he spoke in parables because he didn’t want them to understand.

im not trying to judge God, I’m just trying to understand. Please.

I’m truly sorry but it’s all I can think of to say. I can only be honest. I’m sorry God.
You need to balance scripture. If you lock on to something and it's not balanced, you will not understand scripture. When John says all men or the whole world, a first-century Jew would understand that to mean gentiles too and not just Jews. Read but don't draw too many conclusions until you spend time in study.
 
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Chance7

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A couple of things.

The scripture says, “Jacob I loved but Esau I hated”. He is the potter and we are the clay. Who are we to judge God’s choosing and his predestination?

Also, you ask the question “why try”? Because the reward is eternal glory that’s why.

I'm not trying to judge God. But I thought God cared about and loved everybody. I don’t see how sending 98% of people to torment is love.

yes, that’s the reward, it why bother if the reward is almost impossible for even the saints to attain.
 
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Gifts From Above

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I'm not trying to judge God. But I thought God cared about and loved everybody. I don’t see how sending 98% of people to torment is love.

yes, that’s the reward, it why bother if the reward is almost impossible for even the saints to attain.

Why bother? What a strange question. Because it’s the eternal destiny of your soul.
 
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Gifts From Above

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I understand. I know how important it is. But it just seems impossible to be saved. Jesus makes salvation out to be almost unattainable.

Then why did he say that little children could be saved?
 
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Gifts From Above

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Where does your faith come from, brother? How do you have such great confidence? I fear God has destined me for destruction because I don’t have any faith like it. Please let me know, I would love that wisdom.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. It is good that you fear him but it is better that you love him.

I go to a really good church and that helps me to stay grounded in the faith. I recommend that you find a good church. I go to the LCMS here is their website: LCMS.org

Brother have you ever heard the Apostle’s Creed? It is a good foundational document for the faith:

 
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Gifts From Above

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No, I haven’t, brother.

The Apostle’s Creed is a historic foundational document of Christianity. You can listen to the video I posted or here I will post the text for you:


Apostles Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth;
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.
 
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Dave L

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I'm not trying to judge God. But I thought God cared about and loved everybody. I don’t see how sending 98% of people to torment is love.

yes, that’s the reward, it why bother if the reward is almost impossible for even the saints to attain.
You are not developing a balanced world view from scripture. It's more of a Roarasach test to reflect what's in your heart.
 
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Of the Kingdom

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Hello. I have been listening to an audio reading of John lately. I have just been wondering about something, something that has been really destroying my faith.

May God bless you, Chance. I don't know if God is fair with everyone, but I'm willing to bet He is fair with you. Jesus says that no one comes to God unless God first calls them. I am pretty sure that God is calling you, and that you **will** have the opportunity to trust Jesus and be saved. That will not only insure that you will ultimately be with God in Heaven, but will overcome many of your fears for this life.

God says he desires that everyone be saved. Then, in John, Jesus plainly says that he blinded people and hardened their hearts so that they would not believe and repent and be saved.

God may blind many for a time. One example, Paul says that many of the Jews were blinded until the gentiles came to faith. Again, I don't claim to know how God works -- but I do believe He wants you in His kingdom, and that He will call you at the right time. Count on it, and be ready.
 
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SANTOSO

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Hello. I have been listening to an audio reading of John lately. I have just been wondering about something, something that has been really destroying my faith.

God says he desires that everyone be saved. Then, in John, Jesus plainly says that he blinded people and hardened their hearts so that they would not believe and repent and be saved. How is this Just? He desires all men everywhere to be repent and be saved but he only predestined a certain number of people to be saved?the rest he just doesn’t care about? Where is the love in creating a whole world that he knew most people would burn in hell forever? And he only chose a few that would be saved. It makes me think that there’s not even any point in following God anymore if there are such slim odds. Why would I give up what little tone I have on earth to spend with the family I love and to help others, to serve a God who promises hardships, promises that the world will hate them, and then tells us that many will even strive and still not be able to enter. To serve a God who would just blind people and turn them away like that. Why try to follow a God who gives such horribly little hope? It seems like every time I read the Bible anymore, all I find is less hope and more of a reason why I don’t have any faith in salvation.

Jesus said that he never said anything in secret but spake openly to the world. And yet, he mostly spoke in parables and said many things to his disciples in secret. And he even said that he spoke in parables because he didn’t want them to understand.

I pray not for the world but for those who you have given me in the world/For God so loved the world/for I came not to the world but to save it...In Jesus’ words(not perfectly written from how the Bible says it because my memory is deteriorated.

im not trying to judge God, I’m just trying to understand. Please help me understand.

I just trying to reconcile all this and still follow God and find his love. I just can’t seem to put this all together, am I wrong? I would really like any help. God bless you.

I’m truly sorry but it’s all I can think of to say. I can only be honest. I’m sorry God.

Hello Chance 7, where do you see or hear in the book of John that Jesus says plainly that he blinded people and hardened their hearts so that they would not believe and repent and be saved ?

I never see or hear that ! Tell me from where you derive this conclusion!

This is what we have heard: "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts." -Hebrews 4:7

If God tells us not to harden our hearts, it doesn’t make sense for Him to harden our hearts.

What makes people harden their hearts? There are those who continue to live in their sins. It is their sins that harden their hearts!

That is why Jesus Christ call all to repentance!

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." -Matthew 4:17

Are you considering why some people are saved while others are not ?
It is because they have not come to repentance! If they all repent, they all would be saved.

Where do God promise hardship ? Tell me where and I will share what I have learned.

I don’t understand what Jesus has said in the
gospel that makes you frustrated and lose hope. I don’t know where to begin help you understand about His love.
 
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SANTOSO

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Where does your faith come from, brother? How do you have such great confidence? I fear God has destined me for destruction because I don’t have any faith like it. Please let me know, I would love that wisdom.


Hello Chance 7,
why you would say that God has predestined you for destruction ?
It seem that you would like to have faith that delivers you out of destruction.

This is what we have heard:
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. -Romans 10:17

If you want to have faith, you have to hear the word of Christ.

If you want to understand what you have heard that Christ have spoken, you have to be born again ?
Have you been born from above ?
 
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