Si_monfaith
Let God alone answer through us
- Feb 27, 2016
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Faith is not a gift. Salvation, by grace and through faith, is a gift. All the evidence we need for faith is a gift. The very opportunity for us to respond to the gospel in faith is a gift.
Faith itself, however, is what God requires of us (Jn 6:28-29) - not a dead work we could never achieve, but a receptive response to the work of Christ.
"For by your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.…" Rom 10:9
Sheep is not another word for 'elect,' by the way. The symbology of sheep is used throughout the Old Testament for the people of Israel. Even within the sheep, there were bad sheep (Ezek 34:20-21,) and being a sheep did not guarantee salvation in all cases (Zech 11, Rom 11:7.)
Jesus makes a number of parables in Jn 10, each with different focuses and points.
When a symbol is commonly found in scripture (trees, eagles, sheep, leaven, seas, etc.) it might not always have the same exact meaning (context will generally give what is being compared, however) - nor is every prophecy or parable using a similar symbol giving the same point. That is why it is very difficult (and not recommended) to insist that a symbol means a particular concept and then build a doctrine off of that self-proclaimed interpretation.
Jesus is clear in Jn 10 that the only way to be saved is to come through the gate - Himself. Sheep outside the gate do not hold salvation - though they may once they follow the Shepherd through the gate. Gaining access to the fold another way (like hopping a fence) doesn't make one part of Jesus' sheep.
Jesus' prophecy of the two flocks becoming one is described further in Rom 11:17-24
"If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!"
"and being a sheep did not guarantee salvation in all cases (Zech 11, Rom 11:7.)".
Israel refers to the elect not the biological descendents of Abraham. Sheep doesn't refer to the biological descendents of Abraham.
" the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!"
The natural branches that were cut off in the past 2000 years are already in hell along with the rich man who pleaded for Lazarus to be sent to his brothers. Will they be brought out of hell to be grafted again?
You have misunderstood the passage.
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