At long last...

here we are....so sorry for the delayed post.


It's difficult to know where to begin, with this being such a huge and controversial subject. But, we shall commence to write what God has shown us in his word, and through the wonderful writings of Godly men.

We'll start off with one of our foundational beliefs, and that is the wonderful power of choice that God has given each individual. It started way back in the beginning with Adam and Eve. God told them, "Here's the tree, do not eat of it." We all know the story. Their choice drove them from the garden forever...and brought evil into the world for the first time.

Know ye not; that to whom you yeild your selves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness. Romans 6:16

And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root of fatness of the olive tree;
Boast not against hte branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
Thou wilt say then, the branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear:
For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
Behold therefore, the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity, but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise, thou also shalt be cut off.
And they also if they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in. For God is able to graft them in again.
For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree wich is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature, into the good olive tree how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree.
For I would not brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conciets... Romans 11:21-25
Note how it refers to ' Them which fell '. Here we have a good olive tree, and because of unbelief, some of it's branches were cut off. God in His mercy, took us and ' grafted ' us into this good tree. He then warns us against boasting to the fallen bracnches. For the root (God!) is bearing us up and giving us life and power, not us the root.
He then goes on to say how we must continue in His goodness; otherwise we also shall be cut off.
If we choose to follow, he will lead us every step of the way...right to the gates of eternity. if we choose to have an evil heart of unbelief, he will cut us off.
He then says that they that disbelieved, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in, for God is able to graff them in again.
We can clearly see the picture He is trying to paint. Us as Christian people have made the choice to believe. To be graffed into Christ- to be filled with His spirit. In order to practice the presence of God we must make daily choices to let His spirit have free reign. If we, through an evil heart of unbelief, start erring, and continue to let rebellion have it's way, Christ says we shall be cut off. For if we live after the flesh we shall die. Romans 8:13
Paul says " I keep my body and bring it under subjection, lest by any means when I have preached to others, I myself should be a cast away."
Now the question comes...Is God sitting up there with a stern look and a stick in His hand just waiting till we cross that line and he can cut us off? God forbid. Jeuse sits at the right hand of God, interceding for us. (Romans 8:34) All heaven is on our side. Yet if we allow the devil to bring in rebellion slowly into our hearts, and we choose to turn our face against God, he will not force us into repentance. It is our choice.
Once we have made the choice to follow him...Oh, GLORY! His mercy is indescribable.
You may say...." Well, I sin every day....am I not willfully sinning when i lose my temper? Does God not 'cut me off ' because I willfullly sinned?"
Again, God sees our hearts. Are we saying "I reject Christ. I'm mad. I want nothing to do with Him anymore. I'm ready to quit. ", or did I fall into temptation, see my need of Christ, and repent? Were it not for his mercy, we would be cut off in the beginning. He sees our innermost heart. We believe that by God's grace, we do not have to sin every day, but wonderful, indescribable victory, can be ours- daily. PRAISE the Lord!
......to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Romans 8:6
The scripture says, in the latter times men shall DEPART from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. Often it reminds us to take heed, lest we fall. We must be in prayer, living day by day with our hearts in tune with our Jesus. Then, and only then can we live out a vibrant christian life.
All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. But Praise God, Jesus came to free us from the law of sin and death, loose our chains and set us ALL free! (note the 'ALL' calvanists)

Well, this is a rather scatterbrained excuse for a 'civilized' debate, but hey, it's a start I guess.
Let us all press toward the mark of the high calling, and look diligently at the prize set before us!