I think, though I am not sure, that everyone on here believes that not everyone will be saved. Jesus came to save everyone but most will choose not to accept this wonderful gift. We might use big words and various semantics to say the same thing but I believe most of us are on the same page here. Now there might be some that want to argue till the cows come home what a certain word in a certain text means but that is not the right way of studying the Bible. You have to take the overall theme, not just a text here and there.

Redfog

Colin and Debbie, the idea that we are saved by default and that we must consciously choose to reject Jesus in order to be lost doesn't ring right with me. I believe we are born lost, and that we must choose to be born again in order to inherit the kingdom of God.

John
3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

5T 515
You need to drink daily at the fountain of truth, that you may understand the secret of pleasure and joy in the Lord. But you must remember that your will is the spring of all your actions. This will, that forms so important a factor in the character of man, was at the Fall given into the control of Satan; and he has ever since been working in man to will and to do of his own pleasure, but to the utter ruin and misery of man. But the infinite sacrifice of God in giving Jesus, His beloved Son, to become a sacrifice for sin, enables Him to say, without violating one principle of His government: "Yield yourself up to Me; give Me that will; take it from the control of Satan, and I will take possession of it; then I can work in you to will and to do of My good pleasure." When He gives you the mind of Christ, your will becomes as His will, and your character is transformed to be like Christ's character. Is it your purpose to do God's will? Do you wish to obey the Scriptures? "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." {5T 515.1}

I think that wether one is born saved or lost is irrelevent (except possibly for those who never grow up to a mature age). This becourse in Romans Paul seem to argue that nature reveals enough so that everyone will have the choise for or against God before they die.

/Thomas

And what of the Children that have died before the age of their own personal reasoning??? The scripture states a HUGE responsibility to Parents! That we must pray, and raise the children in the word...
-We are born in sin (lost) and it is throgh Him that we are GIVEN (from Him) the gift of salvation! and Oh yes "once saved does not equate to ALWAYS saved" We must surrender daily, hourly, breath to breath!

Redfog, if I were to take you seriously I would have to believe that the conversations that are recorded in the Bible had no meaning to the people who heard them. After all, they did not have available all the additional information you have. To what lengths will we go to deny the teachings of God?

It is good to know that MM believes that all infants who die automatically go to hell. He can't even send them to Limbo anymore. Of course, he must suddenly claim ignorance of the writings of EGW that go against that grain. It is this kind of confusion, lukewarmness, that God warns against.

Darius it's good to have these sureal conversations now and then I guess, but this is too much. In any case I'm heading South for a few days, like about 10 or so. Catch ya'll later.

Redfog

Redfog, this may be surreal to you. To me it is the stark reality that our lack has kept the Lord away. That is not a joke to me.

Darius, your base allegations regarding what I believe about infants and hell are unkind and incorrect. Your caustic views and demeanor are, as usual, unwelcome here. Please take care to post your views in a winsome way. Thank you.

By the way, just in case you or anybody else is curious, I believe the salvation of infants is in the hands and heart of sweet Jesus, who will make no mistakes as to the eternal reward of babies who die before the age of accountability.