The outcome is certain

[FineLinen]

Outstanding news

The God of glory ultimately prevails

Every knee bows, every tongue confesses "You are Lord."

Please note

"Shall confess" = homologeo

1 John 4:15 =

"Whosoever shall confess (homologeo) that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God."

Romans 14:11 =

"For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow (kampto) to me, and every tongue shall confess (homologeo) to God."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNIv1MIXlj8&t=2s

[FineLinen]

If a man pays all he has for an entire flock of sheep, how many do you think he would take with him?

And how would he take possession of them? Let's say that they are held inside a corral, would he open the gate and let them scatter over the pastures and hills as they all pleased?

Or would he back his truck and trailer to the loading ramp to guide and drive them out of the corral and into the cattle trailer?

If need be, I believe he would take hold of the reluctant ones and drag or carry them inside the trailer until there would not be one sheep left in the corral.

With patience and understanding, he would work with them until he was 100% successful in taking possession of all that he paid for. Not one would be lost or left behind.

[FineLinen]

This speaks very clearly of what the original manuscripts say about Jesus pouring out His blood for all the people in the world. By doing, then eventually taking them ALL into His possession, even the unwilling ones. In John 12:32, He said: "If I be lifted up from the earth, will draw (Grk. drag) ALL unto me."

However, with the influence of some translations, another, and very different, story is told about the Lord and those for which He paid the full price. If using the same scenario, it would go something like this:

"After the man paid the agreed price for a flock of sheep, he wants to take possession of them all; but due to their "sacred free-will" he knows that such is impossible. So he opens the gate with hopes that his loving invitation of a new life will entice them to walk up the ramp and into the trailer. Of course, he knows only one or two of them will do so, while the others have no intention of accepting a new lifestyle. Therefore, he might threaten them with being eternally tortured with fire and demons after they run free and finally die. He might get one or two more to fearfully jump into the trailer; but he drives home nearly empty handed while the rest of the sheep he bought runs and frolics over the pastures and hills to face a horrible fate after exercising their irrevokable free-will."

Really, folks, would anybody settle for only one or two that happen to chose to walk through the gate and into your trailer after it was opened? How about you? Would you really just invite them to come out of captivity? Or would you go inside and drive, and drag, if necessary, each and every one out of the prison corral?

We know the answer, and Jesus will do no less. Since He paid the price for all, He will not stop driving, drawing, and dragging until ALL are in His sacrificial arms of power and love. He will totally succeed in that for which His Father sent to do, which was to be the Savior of the world, the WHOLE world, ALL the world.

Religious mind-sets cause people to believe that a person cannot be saved except by the volition of one's own will. There is a willful act when a man or woman confesses Jesus as their Lord; but this will originates in Christ and not man. Without the Spirit drawing upon their hearts, it is impossible for those of the natural mind to desire the living God.

For instance, Paul said that "The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Romans 8:7. And Jesus made it crystal clear, "No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him..." John 6:44. However, there will be a day when every man, every woman, and every child will know God; for again, as mentioned above, Jesus assured us: "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will *draw all men unto Me" John 12:32.

*draw (Grk. helku helk : to drag, [literally] ~Elwin Roach

[Reverend G]

Wow, first time back here in a couple years, so glad to see it is still here.
My own take on this situation doesn't really involve anyone running free and wild.  I am certain Jesus will draw all to Him.  Certainly His goodness, His love, everything He exudes will draw even the worst of us to Him.
I am certain as well that we all will be certain of our saving grace.  I think the only separation between us and Him at that point will be between our own ears, so to speak.
Imagine, confronted with your wretched misdeeds, seeing how they affected and hurt others, and then knowing that His sacrifice was for you and those like you, and that you are welcome.
It could take some mental introspection to process just how special that is, and to find in oneself some self-forgiveness, to accept what has been given.
Just my opinion.

[FineLinen]

"We are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together for good,  for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfill his designed purpose. For he knew all about us before we were born and he destined us  from the beginning to share the likeness of his Son. This means the Son is the oldest among a vast family of brothers and sisters who will become just like him.

Having determined our destiny ahead of time, he called us to himself and transferred his perfect righteousness to everyone he called. And those who possess his perfect righteousness he co-glorified with his Son!

So, what does all this mean?

If God has determined to stand with us, tell me, who then could ever stand against us? For God has proved his love by giving us his greatest treasure, the gift of his Son. And since God freely offered him up as the sacrifice for us all,  he certainly won?t withhold from us anything else he has to give.

Who then would dare to accuse those whom God has chosen in love to be his? God himself is the judge who has issued his final verdict over them??Not guilty!? Who then is left to condemn us? Certainly not Jesus, the Anointed One! For he gave his life for us, and even more than that, he has conquered death and is now risen, exalted, and enthroned by God at his right hand. So how could he possibly condemn us since he is continually praying for our triumph?

Who could ever divorce us from the endless love of God?s Anointed One?

Absolutely no one! For nothing in the universe has the power to diminish his love toward us. Troubles, pressures, and problems are unable to come between us and heaven?s love. What about persecutions, deprivations,  dangers, and death threats? No, for they are all impotent to hinder omnipotent love, ...]I live with the confidence that there is nothing in the universe with the power to separate us from God?s love. I?m convinced that his love will triumph over death, life?s troubles,  fallen angels, or dark rulers in the heavens. There is nothing in our present or future circumstances that can weaken his love. There is no power above us or beneath us?no power that could ever be found in the universe that can distance us from God?s passionate love, which is lavished upon us through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One! ~TPT

[Ross]

Religious mind-sets cause people to believe that a person cannot be saved except by the volition of one's own will.

There is a willful act when a man or woman confesses Jesus as their Lord; but this will originates in Christ and not man.

[/quote]

Many wars have happened over this very issue.

Ironically Isaiah points out that the pot cannot say to the potter why it has been made.  Jeremiah also makes that observation.
Then Paul refers to that concept.
Yet the flesh constantly argues about this.
Interesting that we cannot have any say in our physical birth, and yet haggle over the spiritual when we have only one Father.
The outcome is, and was, fixed before the world began.
Man makes many mistakes and we imply/state that God will also make mistakes.
We have gone from the sublime to the ridiculous.
But the best news is that God NEVER FAILS.

[FineLinen]

The scope of Christ's Love =

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage...08&version=KJV

"Nothing shall separate us."

The whole groaning creation v.20 & 22.

They and us v.23

Nothing = oudeis =

No one, nothing at all.

[FineLinen]

"I believe implicitly in the ultimate and complete triumph of God, the time when all things shall be subject to Him and when God will be everything to everyone . For me, this has certain consequences. If one man remains outside of the love of God at the end of time, it means that one man has defeated the love of God and that is impossible. Further, there is only one way in which we can think of the triumph of our God. If God was no more than a King or judge, then it would be possible to speak of his triumph, if His enemies were agonizing in hell or were totally and completely obliterated and wiped out. But God is not only king and Judge, God is Father He is indeed Father more than anything else. No father could be happy while there were members of his family for ever in agony. No father would count it a triumph to obliterate the disobedient members of his family. The only triumph a father can know is to have all of his family back home again. ~William Barclay