Your Most-Asked-About Bible Verse

[@LingoNerd]

Praise God for His sovereignty. As long as we take SOME credit for our turning from sin to Christ, there is room to boast or judge others. Recognizing that my depravity so infected me to the core that I was a rotting corpse prior to rebirth in Christ, I understand in humility that it is truly by grace alone that I have been saved. I can thus proceed in helplessness, relying only on the power of Christ to do likewise for dead men all around as I proclaim the Gospel to them in faith. It takes the burden of their salvation off me while I evangelize (not my eloquence, art of persuasion, or personal skills that draw them to Christ--only Christ draws them to Himself).

[@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000]

Does baptism save?

[@LingoNerd]

​@benjaminsmith2000 Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone. Baptism itself is not a means of salvation but is commanded of all who repent and believe in Christ, as an outward sign of the inward transformation.

[@theprettypeony]

Beautifully said. Thank you.

[@helendeacon7637]

This is excellent. I struggled with these verses for years but now the Sovereignty of God is so comforting and encouraging to me. Thank you Pastor John.

[@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000]

Does baptism save?

[@BilalDeiz]

God has been so merciful to me I exhalt his name now and everyday of my life. The spoken words of this channel has been a daily motivation for me and my family and I am also grateful for the opportunity to financial freedom. God is indeed wonderful, $60k monthly to my portfolio is no joke. Thank you lord 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@kimkicula666]

Wow this is a massive return! How did you do it please. Can you explain, I’m in dire need of solutions to my problems my rent is almost due and we’ve been living off loans and nothing moves exactly the way we planned. I’ll be glad if you respond thanks.

[@BilalDeiz]

Well *Ms Maria Luisa Abrams* has been guiding me through the digital sphere. I’ve been able to pay off my car loan and give back to the community with her help honestly it’s been a game changer

[@Daniel_O0]

I know her! She is an expert and a licensed broker, she is accountable and has all the skills needed to ensure that your investments yield positive results. Her name really rings a bell guys, I saw the first comment and I just knew there could be no other person than her

[@spring0585]

Woah!!! I really think I’ve found my solution. How can I connect with this woman directly please?

[@BilalDeiz]

Yeah you can easily connect with her on

[@fborregoATBeyer]

I needed to hear about "hyper" Calvanism. I wouldn't say I am one. I would not teach like one, but I think I behave as one, more as an excuse to hide and be comfortable in my home. I have been wanting to share more.

[@Ehllix]

I appreciate the honesty. I also struggle to share my faith with non-believers and I yearn to be better...

[@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000]

Does baptism with water save?

[@Beeloved936]

God has the best answer regarding theory. Christ! Christ alone! Sola Scriptura.

[@therustler30]

Thank you John, I needed this.

[@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000]

does a person have to be water baptized to be saved?

[@AyanaInChrist]

This was greatly explained. Thank you for your patience in explaining

[@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000]

does a person have to be water baptized to be saved?

[@DCFNETWORKS]

Thank you ✝️

[@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000]

Does baptism save?

[@PaulLee-rs8uw]

Romans 9:1-29(God's sovereigh Choice❤ ) Matthew 28:19-20😊❤ Matthew 17:8😊❤ Hebrews 12:1-2,2😊❤

[@PaulLee-rs8uw]

Matthew 17:1-13( The Transfiguration❤) "17 And after six days Jesus😊1st❤ took with Peter😊❤ and James😊❤, and John😊❤ his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 And he(Jesus😊1st❤) was transfigured before them and his face shone 😊❤ like the sun( the sun give light), and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses 😊❤ and Elijah😊❤ , talking with him(Jesus😊1st❤). 4 And Peter said to Jesus(😊1st❤), " Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." 4 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice( God😊100%❤,our Father in heaven) from the cloud said, " This is my beloved Son( Jesus😊1st❤ our Lord and our savior in Christ), with whom I am well pleased; listen to him(Jesus😊1st❤)." 6 When the disciples( "...Peter😊❤, James😊❤ and John😊❤ his(James') brother,..."( Matthew 17:1 b or middle of the verse. ) heard this they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7 But Jesus(😊1st❤) came😊❤ and touched😊❤ them(😊❤😊❤😊❤), saying, " Rise, and have no fear." 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus(😊1st❤) only. 9 And as they were coming down the moutain, Jesus(😊1st❤) commanded them, " Tell no one the vision until the Son of Man( " Son of Man"= Jesus😊1st❤) is raised😊❤ from the dead." 10 And the disciples( Peter, James, and John his brother) asked him(Jesus😊1st❤), " Then why do the Scribes say that first Elijah must come?" 11 He(Jesus😊1st❤) answered, " Elijah😊❤ does come, and he will restore all things. 12 But I tell you that Elijah😊❤ has already come, and they did not recognize him( Elijah), but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man( " Son of Man" = Jesus😊1st❤) will certainly suffer at their hands." 13 Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist😊❤."( Matthew 17:1-13 ESV Study Bible. May Jesus😊1st❤ heal others for God's glory in Christ. In Jesus'name, i pray( James 5:14-15😊❤ and John 14:27 " 27 Peace😊❤ I leave with you, my peace😊❤ I give to you.( "you"😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤ 😊❤...ect) Not as( like) the world give do I give you. Let not😊❤ your hearts be troubled, neither😊❤ let them be afraid."( John 14:27 ESV Study Bible) just like Matthew 17:6-8 which I'll repeat said. Matthew 17:6-8 "6 When the disciples( "...Peter😊❤, James😊❤ and John😊❤ his(James') brother,..."( Matthew 17:1 b or middle of the verse. ) heard this they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7 But Jesus(😊1st❤) came😊❤ and touched😊❤ them(😊❤😊❤😊❤), saying, " Rise, and have no fear." 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus(😊1st❤) only."( Matthew 17:6-8 ESV Study Bible, Today do you also lift up your eyes and only saw no one but Jesus(😊1st❤) too like Matthew 17:8 b Said ? When I said Hebrews 12:2😊❤, I meant this Go through by faith in Hebrews 11:1-40( By Faith( trust in Jesus 😊1st❤) then under Hebrews 12:1-2( Jesus😊1st❤, founder ( Jesus😊1st❤ and perfecter (😊1st❤) of our Faith( trust in Jesus😊1st❤)) Hebrews 12:2 "2 looking to Jesus(😊1st❤) the founder(Jesus😊1st❤) and perfecter (Jesus😊1st❤) of our faith(trust in Jesus😊1st❤), Who for the joy😊❤ that was set before him endured the cross(😊❤), despising the shame and is seated(😊❤, you might ask where do Jesus seat?) at the right hand (😊❤) of the throne of God( 😊100%❤)."( Hebrews 12:2 ESV Study Bible) It's also good for us to listen or read Hebrews 12:1-2 too in Christ. So here it comes, Hebrews 12:1-2 "12 Therefore( concluding a thought 😊❤) since we (😊❤ 😊❤ 😊❤😊❤ 😊❤ 😊❤ 😊❤ plus you in Christ) are surrounded😊❤ by (by what? ) so great😊❤ of witnesses(😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤ 😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤ 😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤ 😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤...ect😊❤ in Christ) let us (😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤) also lay aside every weight, and sin( " sin" thing that against the Bible or God's words in Christ) which clings so closely, let us (😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤ 😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤ 😊❤ and u too) run with endurance😊❤ the race😊❤ that is set before us, (😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤ 😊❤ and u😊❤ in Christ) 2 looking to Jesus(😊1st❤) the founder(Jesus😊1st❤) and perfecter (Jesus😊1st❤) of our faith(trust in Jesus😊1st❤), Who for the joy😊❤ that was set before him endured the cross(😊❤), despising the shame and is seated(😊❤, you might ask where do Jesus seat?) at the right hand (😊❤) of the throne of God( 😊100%❤)."( Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV Study Bible) Who do you fix your eyes to see today? ( Hebrews 12:2😊❤and Matthew 17:8😊❤ "8 And when they( Peter 😊❤, James😊❤ and John😊❤ his( James') brother) lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus(😊1st❤) only."( Matthew 17:8 ESV Study Bible) in Jesus'name, i pray( Matthew 17:8😊❤ and Hebrews 12:2😊❤). Amen.

[@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000]

Does baptism save?

[@PaulLee-rs8uw]

Matthew 21:2😊❤ Genesis 30:37-43 " 37 Then Jacob😊❤ took fresh sticks of poplar and almond and plane trees and peeled white streaks in them, exposing the white of the sticks. 38 He set the sticks that he had peeled in front of the flock in the troughs, that is, the watering places, where the flocks came to drink. And since they bred when they came to drink, 39 the flocks bred in front of the sticks and so the flocks brought forth striped, speckled, and spotted. 40 And Jacob😊❤ separated the lambs and set the faces of the flocks toward the striped and all the black in the flock of Laban. He put his own droves apart and did not put them with Laban's flock. 41 Whenever the stronger of the flock were breeding, Jacob 😊❤ would lay the sticks in the trough before the eyes of the flock, that they might breed among the sticks, 42 but for the feebler of the flock he would not lay them there. So the feebler would be Laban's and stronger Jacob's. 43 Thus the man increased greatly and had large flocks, female servants and male servants, and camels and donkeys."( Genesis 30:37-43 ESV Study Bible, Speaking of the word donkey I remember Matthew 21:2 "2 saying to them, " Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me."( Matthew 21:2 ESV Study Bible.Jesus said in quoted in Matthew 21:2b.) Matthew 21:1-2 " 21 Now when they drew near to Jerusalm and came to Bethphage to the Mouny of Olives, the Jesus😊1st❤ sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, " Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me."( Matthew 21:1-2 ESV Study Bible. Now to be fair in Christ i will share in Christ some information from ESV study Bible to give a even more better picture in Genesis 30:31-34 we shared already that " As the payment of his services, Jacob asks Laban to allocate to him all the speckled and spotted sheep and goats ( from Genesis 30:32, 32b) along with every black lamb( Genesis 30:32 middle of the verse and Genesis 30:33a too). Their distinction making allow these animals to be easily distinguished from those that belonged to Laban."( ESV Study Bible.) Do you remember Genesis 30:34-35? "34 Laban said, " Good ! Let it be as you have said." 35 But that day Laban removed the male goats that were stripped and spotted, and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had white on it, and every lamb that was black, and put them in charge of his sons."( Genesis 30:34-35 ESV Study Bible) So inn Genesis 30:35 " Having agree on the wages, Laban secretly removed all the animals allocated to Jacob😊❤ and give them to his sons( Genesis 30:35b "...put them in the charge of his sons"( Genesis 30:35b ESV Study Bible). Yet again, Laban' s deceiful nature influences his treatment of Jacob😊❤."( ESV Study Bible) In Genesis 30:37-39, " To recover the loss of the Speckled and spotted sheep and goats, Jacob😊❤ attempts to manipulate the breeding process of the flocks by placing "...fresh of popler and almond and plane trees(from Genesis 30:37 a) in the troughs where the flocks were watered. These sticks, which have "... peeled white streaks in them( Genesis 30:37 middle of the verse said so), correspond to the genetic makeup of the flocks, producing animals that stripped, speckled, and spotted( Genesis 30:39 b). The text should not be understood to imply any cacaul relationship between the sticks and the newborn animals."( ESV Study Bible) speaking animals the it mentioned "...camels and donkeys."( Genesis 30:43b ESV Study Bible). In Genesis 30:43 the Bible said, "43 Thus the man increased greatly and had large flocks, female servants and male servants, and camels and donkeys."( Genesis 30:43 ESV Study Bible, Speaking of the word donkeys lead me to remember Matthew 21:2 "2 saying to them, " Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me."( Matthew 21:2 ESV Study Bible.Jesus said in quoted in Matthew 21:2b.)

[@PaulLee-rs8uw]

More update in Christ. Matthew 21:2😊❤ Genesis 30:37-43 " 37 Then Jacob😊❤ took fresh sticks of poplar and almond and plane trees and peeled white streaks in them, exposing the white of the sticks. 38 He set the sticks that he had peeled in front of the flock in the troughs, that is, the watering places, where the flocks came to drink. And since they bred when they came to drink, 39 the flocks bred in front of the sticks and so the flocks brought forth striped, speckled, and spotted. 40 And Jacob😊❤ separated the lambs and set the faces of the flocks toward the striped and all the black in the flock of Laban. He put his own droves apart and did not put them with Laban's flock. 41 Whenever the stronger of the flock were breeding, Jacob 😊❤ would lay the sticks in the trough before the eyes of the flock, that they might breed among the sticks, 42 but for the feebler of the flock he would not lay them there. So the feebler would be Laban's and stronger Jacob's. 43 Thus the man increased greatly and had large flocks, female servants and male servants, and camels and donkeys."( Genesis 30:37-43 ESV Study Bible, Speaking of the word donkey I remember Matthew 21:2 "2 saying to them, " Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me."( Matthew 21:2 ESV Study Bible.Jesus said in quoted in Matthew 21:2b.) Matthew 21:1-2 " 21 Now when they drew near to Jerusalm and came to Bethphage to the Mouny of Olives, the Jesus😊1st❤ sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, " Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me."( Matthew 21:1-2 ESV Study Bible. Now to be fair in Christ i will share in Christ some information from ESV study Bible to give a even more better picture in Genesis 30:31-34 we shared already that " As the payment of his services, Jacob asks Laban to allocate to him all the speckled and spotted sheep and goats ( from Genesis 30:32, 32b) along with every black lamb( Genesis 30:32 middle of the verse and Genesis 30:33a too). Their distinction making allow these animals to be easily distinguished from those that belonged to Laban."( ESV Study Bible.) Do you remember Genesis 30:34-35? "34 Laban said, " Good ! Let it be as you have said." 35 But that day Laban removed the male goats that were stripped and spotted, and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had white on it, and every lamb that was black, and put them in charge of his sons."( Genesis 30:34-35 ESV Study Bible) So inn Genesis 30:35 " Having agree on the wages, Laban secretly removed all the animals allocated to Jacob😊❤ and give them to his sons( Genesis 30:35b "...put them in the charge of his sons"( Genesis 30:35b ESV Study Bible). Yet again, Laban' s deceiful nature influences his treatment of Jacob😊❤."( ESV Study Bible) In Genesis 30:37-39, " To recover the loss of the Speckled and spotted sheep and goats, Jacob😊❤ attempts to manipulate the breeding process of the flocks by placing "...fresh of popler and almond and plane trees(from Genesis 30:37 a) in the troughs where the flocks were watered. These sticks, which have "... peeled white streaks in them( Genesis 30:37 middle of the verse said so), correspond to the genetic makeup of the flocks, producing animals that stripped, speckled, and spotted( Genesis 30:39 b). The text should not be understood to imply any cacaul relationship between the sticks and the newborn animals."( ESV Study Bible) speaking animals the it mentioned "...camels and donkeys."( Genesis 30:43b ESV Study Bible). In Genesis 30:43 the Bible said, "43 Thus the man increased greatly and had large flocks, female servants and male servants, and camels and donkeys."( Genesis 30:43 ESV Study Bible, Speaking of the word donkeys lead me to remember Matthew 21:2 "2 saying to them, " Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me."( Matthew 21:2 ESV Study Bible.Jesus said in quoted in Matthew 21:2b.)

[@PaulLee-rs8uw]

Matthew 17:1-13( The Transfiguration) "17 And after six days Jesus😊1st❤ took with Peter😊❤ and James😊❤, and John😊❤ his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 And he(Jesus😊1st❤) was transfigured before them and his face shone 😊❤ like the sun( the sun give light), and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses 😊❤ and Elijah😊❤ , talking with him(Jesus😊1st❤). 4 And Peter said to Jesus(😊1st❤), " Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." 4 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice( God😊100%❤,our Father in heaven) from the cloud said, " This is my beloved Son( Jesus😊1st❤ our Lord and our savior in Christ), with whom I am well pleased; listen to him(Jesus😊1st❤)." 6 When the disciples( "...Peter😊❤, James😊❤ and John😊❤ his(James') brother,..."( Matthew 17:1 b or middle of the verse. ) heard this they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7 But Jesus(😊1st❤) came😊❤ and touched😊❤ them(😊❤😊❤😊❤), saying, " Rise, and have no fear." 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus(😊1st❤) only. 9 And as they were coming down the moutain, Jesus(😊1st❤) commanded them, " Tell no one the vision until the Son of Man( " Son of Man"= Jesus😊1st❤) is raised😊❤ from the dead." 10 And the disciples( Peter, James, and John his brother) asked him(Jesus😊1st❤), " Then why do the Scribes say that first Elijah must come?" 11 He(Jesus😊1st❤) answered, " Elijah😊❤ does come, and he will restore all things. 12 But I tell you that Elijah😊❤ has already come, and they did not recognize him( Elijah), but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man( " Son of Man" = Jesus😊1st❤) will certainly suffer at their hands." 13 Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist😊❤."( Matthew 17:1-13 ESV Study Bible. May Jesus😊1st❤ heal others for God's glory in Christ. In Jesus'name, i pray( James 5:14-15😊❤ and John 14:27 " 27 Peace😊❤ I leave with you, my peace😊❤ I give to you.( "you"😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤ 😊❤...ect) Not as( like) the world give do I give you. Let not😊❤ your hearts be troubled, neither😊❤ let them be afraid."( John 14:27 ESV Study Bible) just like Matthew 17:6-8 which I'll repeat said. Matthew 17:6-8 "6 When the disciples( "...Peter😊❤, James😊❤ and John😊❤ his(James') brother,..."( Matthew 17:1 b or middle of the verse. ) heard this they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7 But Jesus(😊1st❤) came😊❤ and touched😊❤ them(😊❤😊❤😊❤), saying, " Rise, and have no fear." 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus(😊1st❤) only."( Matthew 17:6-8 ESV Study Bible, Today do you also lift up your eyes and only saw no one but Jesus(😊1st❤) too like Matthew 17:8 b Said ? When I said Hebrews 12:2😊❤, I meant this Go through by faith in Hebrews 11:1-40( By Faith( trust in Jesus 😊1st❤) then under Hebrews 12:1-2( Jesus😊1st❤, founder ( Jesus😊1st❤ and perfecter (😊1st❤) of our Faith( trust in Jesus😊1st❤)) Hebrews 12:2 "2 looking to Jesus(😊1st❤) the founder(Jesus😊1st❤) and perfecter (Jesus😊1st❤) of our faith(trust in Jesus😊1st❤), Who for the joy😊❤ that was set before him endured the cross(😊❤), despising the shame and is seated(😊❤, you might ask where do Jesus seat?) at the right hand (😊❤) of the throne of God( 😊100%❤)."( Hebrews 12:2 ESV Study Bible) It's also good for us to listen or read Hebrews 12:1-2 too in Christ. So here it comes, Hebrews 12:1-2 "12 Therefore( concluding a thought 😊❤) since we (😊❤ 😊❤ 😊❤😊❤ 😊❤ 😊❤ 😊❤ plus you in Christ) are surrounded😊❤ by (by what? ) so great😊❤ of witnesses(😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤ 😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤ 😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤ 😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤...ect😊❤ in Christ) let us (😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤) also lay aside every weight, and sin( " sin" thing that against the Bible or God's words in Christ) which clings so closely, let us (😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤ 😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤ 😊❤ and u too) run with endurance😊❤ the race😊❤ that is set before us, (😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤ 😊❤ and u😊❤ in Christ) 2 looking to Jesus(😊1st❤) the founder(Jesus😊1st❤) and perfecter (Jesus😊1st❤) of our faith(trust in Jesus😊1st❤), Who for the joy😊❤ that was set before him endured the cross(😊❤), despising the shame and is seated(😊❤, you might ask where do Jesus seat?) at the right hand (😊❤) of the throne of God( 😊100%❤)."( Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV Study Bible) Who do you fix your eyes to see today? ( Hebrews 12:2😊❤and Matthew 17:8😊❤ "8 And when they( Peter 😊❤, James😊❤ and John😊❤ his( James') brother) lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus(😊1st❤) only."( Matthew 17:8 ESV Study Bible) in Jesus'name, i pray( Matthew 17:8😊❤ and Hebrews 12:2😊❤). Amen.

[@Grissett.t]

After my divorce I went back to my old self ofdrugs and left the faith. I didn't stop believingI was just in despair. God never left and In ever stopped fellowshipping. I couldn't gethim out of my head. In desperation I cameback and have not looked back. I realizedI was an immature Christian and let my circum stance shake my hope. Jesus is always faithful. Plus an influx of $35,000 every month. Thank you Jesus ❤❤❤❤❤❤ Most importantly I keep praying in the spiritmore than ever..

[@Lilsmith860]

God is more than enough for us, and his mercy is new every morning. Hallelujah!!!

[@Darrenbrian]

Keep praying in the spirit sister The devil don't see those lashes coming. Itpicks him unawares

[@Ethanoliver256]

Now that's a testimony! You found Jesus and no going back. Hold fast!!!With love from afar❤❤

[@Hernando739]

1Cor.14_2... for he who speaks in atongue does not speak to men, but toGod... Keep gaining strength in the spirit

[@MonetAlienor]

Ephesians 6:18__ _pray at all times inthe spirit, with all prayers andsupplication, and Jude says pray in the spirit (Jude 20)

[@AyanaInChrist]

🙏🏼♥️

[@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000]

does a person have to be water baptized to be saved?

[@ericdanielski4802]

Interesting podcast.

[@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000]

Does baptism with water save?

[@christophermartinezbedolla8458]

I’m still really confused about this. I’m a believer. I recognize that I now have the choice to believe and trust him which I do! But right now I know that I could choose sin if I wanted(which my flesh desires) I know this. How do I not have the free will to choose what I want even now? I believe God has given me the strength by the power of His might to do his will. &It feels like my choice today and every moment of my battling life. I also recognize I have the ability to choose sin. Can someone give me something to think about? This topic feels like it sucks the joy out of seeking God and that my “will” is an illusion

[@phieble]

Hopefully this helps. In Romans 7, Paul describes his and every Christian's struggle against the sinfulness that remains in us. When we sin it is our choice, but at the same time even though we would rather not sin sometimes we are overpowered by temptation so that we do what we know is wrong and deep down don't want to do. So our will is able to love God, but not totally free to never sin again YET. In Romans 8, Paul says that those who are under the power of their sin nature, which everyone is before new birth, can never please God because they are captive to sin and hostile against God, so they are able to outwardly do good things sometimes but their will is not free to repent, have faith, and worship therefore their seemingly good deeds are filthy before God. So both unsaved people and saved people have some amount of sin in them, and while both make decisions to sin, neither are free to just decide one day that they'll never sin again. The difference is that Christians who have the Holy Spirit are not slaves to the sin nature anymore, so they are able to repent unlike unsaved people, and they are not free to live in willful sin peacefully and turn away from God but never return. It may seem like you can make that choice, but if you are saved Jesus will come after you every time when you rebel and since your will is now inclined to his love and righteousness by the Holy Spirit, you will eventually be convicted and come back so that you won't be lost. When you are unsaved you cannot make yourself want to love and obey God, but when you are saved you cannot make yourself start hating God and desiring to disobey him without eventual repentance, nor can anyone else, which is good because the Holy Spirit's influence over the will of God's people keeps them from losing salvation. When Jesus returns all Christians will be totally free from the presence of sin and fully conformed to his image, then our will is gonna be free to never sin again but only worship and enjoy God forever! Jeremiah 32:37-41, Romans 8:28-32, Philippians 2:12-13, 1 Corinthians 1:7-9, and 1 John 3:1-3 are all encouraging passages when it comes to this issue.

[@rachelsharp7495]

@phieble this was an amazing reply. Thank you for taking the time to write this. I’ve always kinda wondered about our free will and Gods sovereignty coexisting together and this helps me make sense of it. It’s also like electricity, I don’t exactly know how electricity works but I know when I flip the switch on the wall it should come on. So even though I don’t exactly know how to explain how it works, I still trust that the lights should come on when I flip the switch.

[@Ehllix]

I just wanted to encourage you as a fellow believer in Christ, you are NOT alone. The conundrum of free will and God's sovereignty co-existing is often the biggest hurdle in our journey as Christians, myself included. And I'm not going to pretend I fully understand and sometimes still question things. Oh boy do I. However, reminding myself of these things helps me; It is absolutely normal to question things and have doubts and struggle to choose God over sin every.single. day. It is our Cross to bear. Every day is absolutely a battle. And some days you lose, but, like you said, with the gift of His Mighty Holy Spirit dwelling inside us, and the gift of His infallible word in Scripture, we can be strengthened, encouraged and sanctified so that sin eventually no longer has the same sweet taste but is bitter to us. God's word tells me I have free will, and so I trust in that truth. God's word also tells me he is good and faithful to his people and just. His sovereignty works in and around these truths, not against them. His sovereignty highlights his love and faithfulness and just character. I belive this even though I don't always understand the how's or why's of it all. The fact that I don't always understand is a conclusion that honestly makes sense to me. Our God is omnipresent, he stands outside of our dimension, of our reality, of our limited understanding. How could we ever come to know His ways completely? We simply can't. He designed us that way and therefore it is good that we don't understand all things as he does. But I have faith that he gave us all the things we DO need to understand. Contained in scripture. And again, the word tells me I have free will. And that I am loved by a gracious and merciful God. And that His sovereignty DOES NOT make that untrue. And it's in that truth that I find peace. I hope this helps ❤ praying for your peace of mind in this matter.

[@rachelsharp7495]

Exactly. Amen! I don’t believe we were wired to completely understand or comprehend everything there is about God because then where is our faith? I don’t always understand but I do know that I will always trust God and have faith that He knows best and His ways are above my own. His Holy Spirit will always lead us, and teach us I believe.

[@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000]

Does baptism save?

[@AbrahamknewJesus]

Before you read please know that what I am about to say I probably complete heresy in light of the teaching of the Bible: I believe in universal salvation and promote it. I believe when the Bible talks of hell and the eternal wrath of God it is referring to stages, or moments of existence in a person's life, and God can speak of these moments as though they are eternal because God is eternal and just like our sin is ever before him so to is the consequences of the sin we suffer is ever before him. Thus when it says fire that no one can put out I'm hopping that it means the times and trails in our life that no one can save us from that in the moment feels like everlasting hell. Thus, what you have is a endless flat circle, closed that no one can escape, how you experience it depends on your relationship with his moral law at the time but also the past that can never be overcome or forgotten. This is why when you become a Christian, suffering does not end, but appreciation for "heavenly times" is deepen and increases

[@dragonsigner]

In the TV show called young Sheldon. One kid was talking to Sheldon saying it's not fair. Sheldon responds with this exact quote Fair is not what everyone wants to get Fares what everyone deserves..

[@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000]

Does baptism save?

[@Beeloved936]

Benjaminsmith stop playing these games! You're showing a disturbing pattern with this persistent same question per post's This is a ministry to the 'Church', not your own fantasy. Thanks

[@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000]

@@Beeloved936 Does water baptism save?

[@dragonsigner]

@@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000 i guess I'll answer what I know .but Why don't you just read the Bible cover to cover..or ask a pastor or go to church. But from the way I understand it. . Just me. Is baptism is a show of faith.. But at the same time you have to born again of water and of the spirit. Water cleans sins away as well .water refreshes. Some lores on water from other cultures is we were born from water. Water is a gateway between the spirit and physical worlds. . Our body is made up of water. We drink it and clean in it. Water is important.. But most churches ask if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Before you do this. Otherwise it's meaningless so do this When you get baptized..the person performing it .asks you the same questions . And says "I baptist you in the name of the Father, the son and the holy Spirit. At least the ones I've been too Might be a little different based on church...and people. But THE WHY? THE REASON(S) LIKE I SAID. WATER CLEANS. HISTORY LESSON. PEOPLE WANTED TO BE CLEAN BEFORE THEY CAME TO GOD AT THE TEMPLE.. TO BE AS PURE AS THEY CAN BE . REMEMBER EVEN JESUS CLEANED THE FEET OF HIS DISCIPLES. BECAUSE THEY WALKED A LOT IN DIRT. ITS ALL ABOUT BELIEVING. AND TRUST AND LOVE...ALL THOSE THINGS.. BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST BELIEVE ABOUT HIS LIFE DEATH AND RETURN. TRUST IN HIM IN ALL THINGS LOVE JESUS CHRIST AND GOD ITS THAT SIMPLE. BELIEVE REQUIRES HEART. YOU HAVE TO MEAN IT . BUT OUR FAITH, LOVE, TRUST AND BELIEFS ARE GOING TO BE TESTED ALOT. TO SEE IF THEY ARE REAL.. TO OTHERS..GOD ALREADY KNOWS WHO IS HIS AND WHO IS NOT. ITS FOR BENEFIT. AND OTHERS ARE WE A ROCK A MOUNTAIN A TREE PLANTED DEEP. OR A LEAF THAT BLOWS IN THE WIND. DO WE CHANGE OR NOT AND WHAT DO WE CHANGE AND NOT CHANGE. CHANGE IS LAW. EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING CHANGES. NO MATTER WHAT. OK I THINK IM DONE FOR NOW ONE LAST THING PERSPECTIVE IS EVERYTHING

[@liesjeerasmus7433]

This morning I was struggling/puzzled about this text

[@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000]

Does baptism with water save?

[@PMA65537]

In reading Romans treat chapters 9 to 11 as one big block.

[@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000]

Does baptism save?

[@phieble]

Piper's answer to this question is contradictory to believing in the sovereignty of God in salvation. The question is, "Since God has predestined some to salvation and rejected others, thus leaving them to wrath, doesn't this mean that many people don't even the have the chance to repent, or in other words, "Is it true that it is impossible for many to repent since God did not choose them beforehand?" If we're being biblically consistent, the answer is: If God didn't choose you before creation and give you to Jesus for him to die for your sins then yes, it is impossible for you to repent and have faith because no one can unless we are made born again by the Holy Spirit who must give repentance and faith, and the Holy Spirit ONLY makes born again those who will be saved which are only those for whom Jesus died. If Jesus died for everybody then everyone must be saved since he satisfied justice for all the sins of those he died for and declared them justified by God in his words "It is finished," rather than saying, "I've done my part, now do yours or my death was in vain." It would be wasteful and unjust for God to punish Jesus for nothing and then end up punishing someone who Jesus supposedly died on behalf of for the same sins that he was supposed to bear and atone for. To dispute this would be to say that even if God didn't choose you before creation it is still possible for you to choose yourself and come up with repentance and faith on your own and alter God's will and end up saved apart from his sovereign grace and Jesus' death. The invitation of the Gospel is real to everyone and we don't know who Fod has chosen to receive it or not, but the grace required to respond to it and be saved is withheld from all who ultimately don't end up saved, because if it were given to all then all would be saved since Jesus will not fail to save anyone who he calls to himself and for whom he died and rose, according to John 6 and several other passages. The whole argument in Romans 9 that Paul responds to is, "Since predestination is the case, how is God still just for judging someone when it wasn't even possible for them to repent and have faith since God hardened their heart rather than granting them the necessary special grace. Paul's answer is that God has the right to grant saving grace and withhold it from whoever he wills and he's still just because as our Creator he owes us nothing and as sinners we all deserve his wrath and those who don't suffer wrath for all eternity only escape by his prerogative to give mercy and grace based on his own decision and not our worthiness. Sadly, Piper, like many others do, fails to reconcile how God is totally sovereign yet mankind is still accountable for our sin and lack of repentance and faith, which is complex, to be fair, but biblical nonetheless. The emotional weight of this is great and I only believe by God's grace while suffering from sorrow for the lost like Paul expressed at the beginning of Romans 9, so I totally understand why most simply cannot embrace this, yet I cannot deny God's grace and justice alongside his absolute sovereign rights to the destinies of all his creatures. All glory to him alone forever, in Jesus' name!

[@mikehamilton7668]

I think Piper is just stating the verses in question for what they say. Two humans in particular, the antichrist and the false prophet - do they have free will? Wouldn't that be like God taking a chance on the writing of Revelation, in that those two might change their minds and follow Christ? What a mess of that would be to God's Word.

[@phieble]

@@mikehamilton7668 No one, including the antichrist and false prophet, has free will according to Romans 8:5-9. They can only do what God has planned that they will do, and also, all who still belong to the devil only desire to do evil and they are not free to ever desire to repent and stop sinning. Therefore, the false prophet and antichrist are already doomed to destruction as well as all who take their mark, which I think is symbolic, because the Bible says that they will be thrown into the Lake of Fire. So unless it is possible for God to lie and / or not know everything, and the Bible says otherwise, then people's destinies are already decided and we can only make decisions that lead us to our predetermined destiny, and those will be decisions that we prefer to take, so predestination does not equal anyone being a robot or puppet or whatever. Even Jesus said that many are called but few are chosen. It is not possible for all to embrace the Gospel, even though it is offered to everyone, because embracing the Gospel is not about chance but about certainty that is based on God's grace and plan according to Ephesians 1 and 2, and we don't decide on our own to change our minds, humble ourselves and repent. Repentance and faith are impossible because of our sin nature and the devil blinding the minds of the unsaved until God chooses to send the Holy Spirit who gives new birth and then repentance and faith in response to the Gospel, and God has already chosen who those people are going to be and who they are not going to be and it's his right as our Creator and Judge to save us if he wants to even while no one deserves it or to judge us, and we all deserve that. It's called amazing grace because no one deserves it yet God chooses to grant it to some and not to others, all based on his will, when he could give it to none.

[@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000]

Does baptism with water save?

[@phieble]

@@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000 Only repentance and faith in Jesus' perfect life, death, and resurrection saves. No works by us are sufficient or good in God's eyes and none are required. If we only turn from our sin and trust in Jesus alone to save us from God's wrath and satisfy us forever we will be forgiven for everything we've ever done or will do wrong and saved forever and once we're saved God will help us grow and persevere until the end so that we won't be lost. We get water baptized afterwards as a symbolic reenactment and profession of the salvation we have previously received by God's grace.

[@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000]

@@phieble Repentance is a work. Acts 2:38 is evidence that water baptism saves.

[@phieble]

The main issue with free will vs God's sovereign is in misunderstanding what those terms mean and then bringing assumptions to biblical passages that distory what those passages mean. Contrary to what most might think, free will is not "I do what I want," or the ability to make a choice when several options are befote you at any given time. That's active or conscious will which we DO HAVE. Free will means that ultimately we individually and no one else controls or influences the desires and intents of the heart and ultimately we not God or anyone else determines our path as time goes on rather than it already being determined before we make decisions. Biblically then, we don't hsve free will because before new birth by the power of the Holy Spirit no one is free to desire to love and obey God because we are self-centered and bitter against God's truth and agenda from conception because of our sin nature according to Romans 5-7. When we are born again our will is still not free, THANK GOD, because the Holy Spirit inside us influences us to love and desire to obey God regardless of what we suffer or lack and we cannot be as rebellious and bitter against God like we were previously because his love is too strong upon our hearts and our faith and hope are too deep-seated to turn away and never come back to him. So we are able to use our wills to make decisions, to an extent and only based on what God has predetermined for us to choose, but we are never totally free to decide the direction or objects of our will at any moment. We're either the devil's slaves or God's when we will to do things and we can't switch back and forth nor decide freely to stop being the devil's slave and start being God's, which is why the new birth is necessary for repentance and faith to take place and we can't choose when and if the Holy Spirit makes us born again. Ultimate control and rights to everything that happens is what God's sovereignty means. The "GRAND HOW" isn't crucial in our embrace and worship but it does matter for helping clear away some confusion and further soften our hearts in humility. God is sovereign over our wills and destiny yet we are still accountable for what we do because: 1. God's prerogative in planning sin doesn't mean his approval in it happening. - It's not sinful for God to plan sin since he has a good purpose in it ultimately as well as the full right to have things end up the way he intends, but it is sinful to actually want to sin and then do it. 2. God uses secondary causes and agents to bring about his ultimate will so that he doesn't have to actively make certain things happen to ensure his intentions - God's planning sin doesn't mean he gets into people's hearts and hands to do the sin as if we are morally neutral or unconsciously being moved around like puppets or robots. Instead, we all want to sin by default and the devil influences us through temptations based on our ungodly desires so that while God intends sin for a ultimately good outcome we don't, so we are guilty. 3. God's sovereignty toward a ultimate, all-comprehensive goal doesn't cancel out his responsibility to judge individual people and actions - For God to be just he has to punish sin and reward good behavior regardless of the motive behind it and who influenced the decision but didn't themselves carry it out for the person being judged. So for me to say God doesn't have the right to judge me for fornication because he planned it and even saved my child that resulted in that act, for instance, would be to demand that he focus only on the good which he did not me and ignore all the evil intentions and pain that I caused in the bad, which is partiality and contrary to justice. 4. God's sovereignty alone enables and prevents repentance and faith which is his full prerogative - Even at the time of the final judgment, for a person who's not born again to hear about God's sovereignty over their life it won't being about remorse or a desire for them to right their wrongs or to have done anything differently to honor God, which is appropriate and evidences of repentance and faith. Instead, they would just further hate and blame God and not acknowledge that they desired to sin and never truly loved or wanted to love and obey God for who he truly is, thus being deserving and in full agreement of the fate they receive. You can both acknowledge that you did something wrong and rightfully regret your acts and intentions while also being grateful for God planning it and doing something ultimately good with it, but people who are not born again will only justify the wrong that they did and blame God for how he ruled the world and put them in the position to make the decisions that they made which is a grossly wrong and damnable attitude that true repentance and faith will not allow.

[@izaswierczynska6618]

To make a long story short (no time now to analyse thoroughly your answer) - my problem is to reconcile Piper's statements that God chooses some people beforehand for salvation and that He woos (beckons) EVERYONE by general revelation and the Gospel. But this wooing can't be effective if someone is destined for damnation! Wicked circle. What do you think?

[@davidburns6915]

That is robbing God of the glory of salvation.

[@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000]

Does baptism save?

[@bumblebee74814]

Can Satan hear my thoughts? I know that God can but can Satan too and even interfere with it? Also we know God is omnipresent but can we say the devil too is omnipresent? I struggle with intrusive thoughts and I wish to stop this habit of mine cuz it's taking a toll on me.

[@phieble]

@@bumblebee74814 (I am by NO MEANS an expert on this nor a spiritual guidance leader, so what I have to say based on the little information I know is not to be taken as such. Depending on how severe this is for you, professional help beyond what can be offered in KZbin comments may be required and you should also be in regular fellowship with a local assembly of brothers and sisters in Christ and under faithful shepherding of a trustworthy, Spirit-led group of elders and be close enough to at least a few of them to talk to them about this and other issues in your life.) All that said, YES, sadly Satan can hear your thoughts and put negative ones in your head at times, which may be the cause of a lot of your intrusive thoughts. Fortunately, this is not the same as possession, total mind control, or interference with your petitions to God, which Satan cannot do to Christians at any time. You can put up a defense against intrusive thoughts by yielding to the Holy Spirit who also hears your thoughts and to a far greater degree wants to place good, loving thoughts into your mind and even fill you to influence and empower your actions toward loving, productive service for God's honor and others' benefit. ALL Christians should be earnestly praying for this daily! Satan is absolutely not omnipresent as God is, nor does he have nearly as much authority, knowledge, or power as God. In fact, the devil and his demons cannot do anymore than what God permits or assigns them, as we learn from Job, Peter's sifting to deny Jesus, and Paul's thorn in the flesh issue, etc. And while these attacks can be tormenting, they ultimately cannot steal or crush your faith, separate you from God's love, or shut down your communication with God if you are a true adopted child of his who is forever sealed to Christ by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 8) Intrusive thoughts are random and you may not even be consenting to them a lot of the time, so I don't think that they are on the same moral level as desires are, and probably not sinful like intentional, contemplative thoughts that you can consent to emotionally and then act upon. That is, unless you do act upon intrusive thoughts that dishnor God and harm yourself and others instead of going to war against them through constant prayer and renewing your mind with God's word. Good, biblical Christian music can help with this as well! For most people, intrusive thoughts are like something that is happening to them more than something they are actively or volitionally doing, so I would suggest using positive affirmations and thoughts gained from passages in the Bible to oppose or quench those intrusive thoughts like the flaming darts they are. It's definitely NOT EASY but God promised peace that surpasses all understanding to those who keep their minds stayed on him and continually take to him all their cares in exchange for worrying. (Isaiah 26:3 and Philippians 4:4-9) Your path to victory over this could be lifelong with fluctuating wins and losses in the battle of your mind, but God eventually could also miraculously take this very grievous experience away from you through spiritual disciplines. Either way, I want to encourage you that freedom from condemnation, access to God's throne of grace, and ultimate victory over all ailments and sins are all 'Yes and amen' sure promises to those who trust in Jesus and obediently- although imperfectly- endure till the end. Take advantage of every resource God has given you to fight this and everything else you are dealing with, and I am confident that Abba will show you compassion and tend to you like the faithful, very present help in the time of trouble that he is! Finally, commit yourself to growing in your anticipation of the triumphant second advent of our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ. Reading John 14 and 17, as well as 1 Corinthians 15 and Revelation 21 and 22 should prove very useful with helping you develop what I call the "Maranatha-mind." Being Maranatha-minded is essential to all Christian perseverance and one of the few things keeping me sane and helping me to fight apathy / passivity day-to-day! Much love ❤

[@12111scott]

Got close to equating foreknowledge to absolute sovereignty. They are not the same. Foreknowledge is a given from Sovereignty. Not vice versa.

[@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000]

Does baptism save?

[@michaelmcvay1180]

There are rules at my work location that prohibit me from sharing the gospel of Jesus CHRIST wigh other unbelievers at my work location

[@mikehamilton7668]

Michael, you can still be a witness for Him in a "passive" kind of way. Be different from the world. They will see the difference and in time they will know that you are not of this world. The truth of Christ will be seen and proclaimed!

[@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000]

Does baptism save?

[@jirensentry7609]

I am realizing something: we are not made and born to live out free will in a manner that rejects Christ. In His perfect work, The Father through Christ, His Holy Spirit, His word, and Emissaries both of Heaven and Earth all work in harmonious unison to proclaim that Jesus Is Lord to the glory of GOD the Father and to proclaim His Eternal power and Divine Nature, clearly seen and self-evident, being understood from what has been made so that man stands before GOD with no excuse as to why he doesn't and will not believe His testimony spoken and felt all around us. Free Will isn't the uninterrupted, infringed upon and voluntary allowance by GOD via self-determination to reject Jesus as Lord, Is the gift of being freed from all obstacles to make the given and clear and most obvious allowance to finally see and choose to trust GOD without the evils of this world - The lust of the flesh (mind, body, senses ie "hearing, speaking, feeling, tasting wickedness"), the lust of the eyes (darkness of one's light which is greed, lusts, envy, covetousness, etc) and the pride of life (the shameful things of the heart born of the sins above driven by the heart such as wanting be like GOD outside of GOD's orchestration thus perverting said pursuits) interjecting all of that through sinful nature to reject Jesus as Lord and Saviour. If Free Will is the *right* to choose as we see fit, then Rom. 1:20 wouldn't be held against us.

[@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000]

Does baptism with water save?

[@reginaldchesterfield8110]

Good content, but clickbait title. Doesn’t help with searching either.

[@michaelmcvay1180]

I also watch Ray comforts videos on KZbin alot and he said that the sinners prayer is unbiblical and I agree with him 100 %

[@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000]

Does baptism save?

[@thinketernal260]

@@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000 No, God saves, whomever He pleases, through and for the Lord Jesus Christ.

[@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000]

@@thinketernal260 We have to be water baptized to be saved (Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:11-12; 1 Peter 3:21).

[@Beeloved936]

The God of the Old Testament is the God of the New Testament. Ruth was a Moabite. She wasn't a member of any Tribe of Israel. Yet, Ruth is in the direct genealogy of Christ.

[@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000]

Does baptism save?

[@Beeloved936]

@benjaminsmith2000 No. What a silly question. If you're listening to this podcast, you sincerely know the answer?

[@michaelmcvay1180]

If I don't tell other people about the gospel of Jesus CHRIST would I go to hell because I'm not allowed to share the gospel of Jesus CHRIST at my work location because I could get fired

[@everyonehasanopinion00000]

You go to hell for not being in Christ. No particular sin will send you to hell. So, no.

[@mikehamilton7668]

No. If one would believe that, it means that they base their Salvation/Justification, on works, and not on faith alone in Jesus. At worst, by not obeying God, you'd be committing sin. But take heart, every single saint in Heaven was a sinner up to the day they were taken into Heaven.

[@michaelmcvay1180]

I wish don piper could answer my question as to whether I would go to heaven if I didn't tell no about Jesus CHRIST I believe that don piper might be busy in his church ministering to other people I love watching don pipers videos on KZbin

[@michaelmcvay1180]

If don piper doesn't have the time to answer my question as to whether or not I would go to heaven if I didn't tell no one about Jesus CHRIST then it could be true that God wants me to read the Bible and I would have to decide on my own or I would have to decide by myself whether or not I think I would go to heaven if I didn't tell no one about Jesus CHRIST because it very obvious that don piper may not be able to answer my question on his KZbin channel but I believe that Jesus CHRIST knows the reason why don piper may oy may not answer my question so I will just do the best I can with reading the bible and I'll just have to pray to God about this situation that I'm in but thank you for helping me get closer to God may God bless you amen 🙏

[@michaelmcvay1180]

Then I believe that God knows whether I would go to heaven or not if I don't tell no one about Jesus CHRIST

[@michaelmcvay1180]

I remember wearing a hat that says that Jesus CHRIST is the only way to heaven and a guy at my apartment complex yelled a cuss word at me he said the f word at me and then I took my hat off and stopped wearing it

[@mikehamilton7668]

Michael, you must stay strong at times like this. Yes, admittedly easy to say. Proclaim Jesus as your Lord and Savior and He will proclaim you righteous to the Father in front of His entire Creation! If God be for you, who can stand against you?

[@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000]

Does baptism save?

[@billymartin5657]

Terrible explanation. God knows before hand who will be saved and who wont. Period. So if that's the case, Joe blow who won't be coming to the lord,who won't be saved,does not have a chance. Thus, vessels of destruction. People try and make God soft. We are all deserving of hell,but thankfully, He doesn't send all of us there. He elects a small amount. The rest are vessels of destruction. Quit trying to feel as though you need to get God off the hook.

[@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000]

does a person have to be water baptized to be saved?

[@theverystones2643]

This attempted answer highlights why this Bible verse is so contested. Totally unsatisfying. Would be more honest to just say God is sovereign and leave it at that

[@Chmteachet]

Just saying He is sovereign doesn’t address the paradox either. Try listening again, the tension between free will and sovereignty is not ignored despite it being uncomfortable.

[@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000]

Does baptism save?

[@mikelyons2831]

Of course people are messed up over your misrepresenting Romans mid-9, you present it from your Calvinistic theology. You contradict yourself.

[@williamcopeland6683]

How would you do it?

[@mikelyons2831]

@@williamcopeland6683 The purpose of the letter/Epistle (to the church in Rome) is told us immediately in vs' 1:16-17, then telegraphed over & over 2:24, 3:9, 3:22, 3:29-30, 4:9-12, 5:18 (the free gift came to all men, not just the arbitrary elect of Calvinism). Read Paul's conclusions of mid-9 starting in 9:30-10:4!!! Then 10:8-13 (how to be saved, all can be saved). 11:23 (unbelieving Israel can be grafted back in by believing) 11:32 (mercy upon all) 15:8-12 (more about God saving the Gentiles via the Jewish Messiah Root of Jesse) 16:20 (Satan who brought caused the sting of death to all will eventually be dealt with... the reason God sent His Son to redeem the world is because of the Devil Genesis 3:14-15) then ending (16:25-27) with the promise of Abraham being the Father of all nations/salvation offered to all nations.

[@jankoekemoer6034]

Yes I would want to hear. What did Paul mean in the text. How will you interpret it.

[@mikelyons2831]

To summarize Romans mid-9 "God can save the Jews AND the Gentiles anyway He chooses. The purpose of the letter/Epistle (meant to be read in it's entirety) is mentioned immediately in 1:16-17. Then repeated several times (2:24, 3:8, 3:22, 3:29-30, 4:9-12). Notice 5:18 The free gift came to all men...no one is excluded from Jesus rescue mission spoken of in the protoevangelium Genesis 3:14-15, John 12:31, 16:11, 1 Corinthians 15:54-56, Acts 17:30-31, Hebrews 2:14... the mission & purpose of God sending His Son is to redeem EVERYONE from the sting of death via the curse of sin. Now let's skip mid-9 so you don't focus on it like a "trigger" effect. Look at Paul's conclusions of mid-9 starting in 9:30-10:4...does he want people saved or getting the wrath they deserve as Calvinism teaches? Now 10:8-13 (how to be saved all can be saved). 11:23, unbelieving Israel can be grafted back in by believing. 11:32, mercy upon all. 15:8-12, salvation comes to the Gentiles via the Jewish Messiah/Root of Jesse. 16:25-27, the promise of Abraham being a Father to the nations (plural)!! Now look at the passages Paul is quoting from for mid-9...Genesis 25, two nations are in thy womb!! Mid 9 is about Israel (remember 1:16-17). Jeremiah 18, the Potters House. Notice 18:8-10?? God wants everyone to repent, He's not the Doomsday god of Calvinism. Paul quotes from Malachi 1:2-3. Esau did what he did. No one is made to disobey God. Now Exodus, look how many times Pharaoh hardens his own heart before God solidifies his pre-hardened heart 7:14, 7:22-23, 8:15, 8:19, 8:32, 9:7, 9:12, 9:34. It is cult-like to be taught God only wants a few arbitrary pre-chosen elect to be saved & no one else. Many have come out of Calvinism...why is that???

[@mikelyons2831]

@@williamcopeland6683 Appears you've been taught Calvinism. God sovereignly created us in His image & likeness with free moral agency/as volitional beings for genuine fellowship/personal relationship. That's the only way Agape' love & things like "Obedience is better than sacrifice" the instructions in Proverbs, even Jesus' promises of asking, seek & knock & you WILL get results. Also telling us "Blessed are they who hunger & thirst for righteousness they shall be filled". God sovereignly chose the means of our receiving salvation thru Jesus... it's by believing (John 1:12, 3:18, 3:36, 5:24, 6:29, 6:40, 20:30-31, Acts 17 :30-31, Romans 10:8-13, 1 Corinthians 1:21, 1 John 3:23, 5:10, 5:13. So I would take God's position on sovereignty over Calvin's Institutes. The Hebrews 11 inductees are noted for their showing faith in God (that God gives Romans 12:3, 5:18, 5:1-2, 3:21-22)...& we are to immulate them, that's the purpose of that passage. The Roman Soldier whom told Jesus no need to come to my house just say the word, was commended for his faith toward Jesus. Nowhere in scripture is salvation withheld from anyone (Romans 5:18, John 1:9, 1 Timothy 2:4-6, Titus 2:11, Hebrews 2:9, 1 John 2:2, Matthew 11:28, Revelation 22:17)