“When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were APPOINTED for eternal life believed.” (Acts 13:48)
Heard what?
"For so the Lord has commanded us, I have placed you as a light for the Gentiles, THAT YOU MAY BRING SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH” (Acts 13:47)
Not OFFER salvation, but "BRING" salvation. What we see today, 2000 years later, among Christianity is not even close to this “light”. What we see today is various Religious groups asking for you to join them in order to receive this salvation - by a free will choice of your own. And if you refuse you are said to be condemning yourself to eternal separation from God and unending punishment in the lake of fire.
Yet here is what God says about Salvation…
“For the grace of God has appeared, BRINGING salvation to all men…He made known to us the mystery of HIS WILL, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of ALL THINGS in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been PREDESTINED according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of HIS WILL,… but God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, MADE US ALIVE together with Christ - by GRACE you have been saved…” (Titus 2:1; Ephesians 1:9-11; 2:4-5)
It is not that there was not a choice made in the matter of Salvation, but it was God who "chose" - not you or me! Here is exactly how the Bible states this…
“You did not choose me, but I CHOSE YOU…” (John 15:16)
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as HE CHOSE US BEFORE THE FOUDATION OF THE WORLD...In love HE PREDESTINED US to adoption as sons THROUGH Jesus Christ to Himself, ACCORDING TO THE KIND INTENTION OF HIS WILL” (John 15:16; Ephesians 1:3-5)
Back to the first verse quoted above. Who are those “appointed”? Traditional Christian theology says those who CHOOSE to accept Christ and honor God. Traditional Muslim theology says those who CHOOSE to accept Mohammad and honor Allah. The bible, however, says that ALL MANKIND has been chosen BY THE DEITY HIMSELF and appointed and predestined to eternal Salvation…not eternal condemnation.
“It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance…we have fixed our hope on the living GOD, who is the Savior of ALL MANKIND, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things.…” (1 Timothy 4:9-11)
Heard what?
"For so the Lord has commanded us, I have placed you as a light for the Gentiles, THAT YOU MAY BRING SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH” (Acts 13:47)
Not OFFER salvation, but "BRING" salvation. What we see today, 2000 years later, among Christianity is not even close to this “light”. What we see today is various Religious groups asking for you to join them in order to receive this salvation - by a free will choice of your own. And if you refuse you are said to be condemning yourself to eternal separation from God and unending punishment in the lake of fire.
Yet here is what God says about Salvation…
“For the grace of God has appeared, BRINGING salvation to all men…He made known to us the mystery of HIS WILL, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of ALL THINGS in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been PREDESTINED according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of HIS WILL,… but God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, MADE US ALIVE together with Christ - by GRACE you have been saved…” (Titus 2:1; Ephesians 1:9-11; 2:4-5)
It is not that there was not a choice made in the matter of Salvation, but it was God who "chose" - not you or me! Here is exactly how the Bible states this…
“You did not choose me, but I CHOSE YOU…” (John 15:16)
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as HE CHOSE US BEFORE THE FOUDATION OF THE WORLD...In love HE PREDESTINED US to adoption as sons THROUGH Jesus Christ to Himself, ACCORDING TO THE KIND INTENTION OF HIS WILL” (John 15:16; Ephesians 1:3-5)
Back to the first verse quoted above. Who are those “appointed”? Traditional Christian theology says those who CHOOSE to accept Christ and honor God. Traditional Muslim theology says those who CHOOSE to accept Mohammad and honor Allah. The bible, however, says that ALL MANKIND has been chosen BY THE DEITY HIMSELF and appointed and predestined to eternal Salvation…not eternal condemnation.
“It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance…we have fixed our hope on the living GOD, who is the Savior of ALL MANKIND, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things.…” (1 Timothy 4:9-11)