Paul starts with himself...
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Paul starts with himself and his converts who were the first to hope in Christ. He might have meant the Jews, as God gave them the first opportunity to receive Christ.
That word "predestined" has brought some of our fellow Christians to the idea that some have been predestined to salvation before birth. One group (Presbyterians) who were being ordained as pastors had to swear that even if they were predestined to damnation, they would still serve the Lord as long as they lived! I like to think that God has predestined all of us to be saved, but that he "foreknows" that some will reject his salvation. This may be heretical, but I believe God sends no one to hell. We go because we have rejected the one who has saved us. It is our fault if we are damned, and all God's blessing that we are saved.
All those who became believers after Paul became part of the body of the faithful were saved. I can't see that it makes any difference to me if I came in early or late -- just so I made it!
The Holy Spirit is our guarantee that we have made it! He manifests himself in many ways by our actions and words, but also by our thoughts.
I still get letters from my friends in Nepal, excitedly telling me about how many new souls they have brought to Christ every week! On our shores, how many church members can count how many they have brought to Christ every year or in their lifetime? I mention many times about my friend, Pastor Tir, who died in Nepal a few years ago. He was the first Christian in Nepal, but now there are over 2 million! It all started by the mission of that one man! How many on earth can make that claim? Has anyone counted the results of Paul's ministry? The real point is not how many, but are we doing what God gave us to do and sharing the joy of his salvation and seeing others saved because of us -- even if it is only our own children?
Paul certainly goes to extremes to point up the sacrifice of Jesus and what it means to us. It makes us wonder if it is possible to overstate what Christ has done for us! Are we feeling grateful enough? Can we ever feel grateful enough?
That word "predestined" has brought some of our fellow Christians to the idea that some have been predestined to salvation before birth. One group (Presbyterians) who were being ordained as pastors had to swear that even if they were predestined to damnation, they would still serve the Lord as long as they lived! I like to think that God has predestined all of us to be saved, but that he "foreknows" that some will reject his salvation. This may be heretical, but I believe God sends no one to hell. We go because we have rejected the one who has saved us. It is our fault if we are damned, and all God's blessing that we are saved.
All those who became believers after Paul became part of the body of the faithful were saved. I can't see that it makes any difference to me if I came in early or late -- just so I made it!
The Holy Spirit is our guarantee that we have made it! He manifests himself in many ways by our actions and words, but also by our thoughts.
I still get letters from my friends in Nepal, excitedly telling me about how many new souls they have brought to Christ every week! On our shores, how many church members can count how many they have brought to Christ every year or in their lifetime? I mention many times about my friend, Pastor Tir, who died in Nepal a few years ago. He was the first Christian in Nepal, but now there are over 2 million! It all started by the mission of that one man! How many on earth can make that claim? Has anyone counted the results of Paul's ministry? The real point is not how many, but are we doing what God gave us to do and sharing the joy of his salvation and seeing others saved because of us -- even if it is only our own children?
Paul certainly goes to extremes to point up the sacrifice of Jesus and what it means to us. It makes us wonder if it is possible to overstate what Christ has done for us! Are we feeling grateful enough? Can we ever feel grateful enough?
