Ephesians 1:4

THE PEOPLE GOD CHOOSES – PART 3

(August 19, 2024) Brian Bell shares more on this theme, quoting from 1Samuel NLT(1996)…

In Part 1 of this short series, we looked at some thoughts about Noah, whom we might call him ‘God’s boat builder.’ And while God declared him to be the only righteous man on earth at that time, we also saw that Noah was overtaken by sin.

The sin of Noah did not take God by surprise, it was in God’s foreknowledge, yet it did not prevent God from choosing and using Noah and what encouragement that should bring to our hearts today.

In Part 2, we looked at some thoughts about a woman God chose to place in a leadership position, Deborah, a prophetess and judge.

(more…)

RECOGNISE YOUR BATTLEFIELD!

(November 19, 2023) Angeline Selvakumari shares important points…

Going to visit a friend recently I was relying on Google Maps for directions but ended up getting lost! Admittedly GM was trying to guide me on the best route, but it was not ideal and I found myself going in circles and beginning to lose patience.

While waiting unsure at a traffic light, I asked a cyclist in front of me for directions. To my relief, he offered to lead the way. I decided to completely ignore my navigation system because I had confidence in the person I was following. He knew the way very well having been there before.

It was such a relief to have someone to rely on for guidance!

  • Have you ever wished that you had someone like this to navigate your life?
  • Someone who could make tough, complex decisions on your behalf, and all you had to do was follow?
  • Christians have someone like that— Jesus. He knows our past, present, and even our future.

Jesus has been to our tomorrows already. He knows everything even before it happens to us. This is because He chose us before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4) and has a beautiful plan for each of us.

(more…)

THE ‘BIG QUESTION’

(October 11, 2021) Dr Jim McClure, noted theologian, shares in-depth on what can be a distracting issue…

Here is a topic that has often distracted Christians and divided home Bible study groups – Did God select in advance those who would be saved or is the exercise of our free will to accept Jesus as our Saviour the deciding factor?  How many fruitless hours have been wasted in argument that has often been dogmatic, hostile and divisive!

The ‘Big Question’ which often stirs people is this: Is our salvation determined by God’s decision or by ours? The problem is finding an unambiguous and unequivocal answer because there is an apparent conflict between the biblical concepts of God’s sovereignty and human free will. Does God decide in advance who will be saved and who will be lost? 

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is j1.png

This is a massive theological issue that has been addressed in multiple books by many profound theologians so I admit that my comments here are most inadequate.  However I hope that they may be of some help.

(more…)