heartstrings

Well, now that you mentioned it, McArthur's false god must hate you and I as well because, we're both still sinners. For that matter, he must hate McArthur as well because he's a sinner too. Yes, God will put (lost)sinners in Hell. But while they're still breathin' there's still hope. Like I posted above, God was ready to annihilate the city of Nineveh. Their death was imminent. But at the same time, God was making sure Jonah arrived to preach to them. If that isn't love I don't know what is.

The Bible says that "God is angry with the wicked every day" and He is ready to judge us for our sin. I'm reminded of the city of Nineveh. God was ready to destroy them and their destruction was imminent. They were about to die and burn in Hell for eternity. But at the same time, God was actively making certain arrangements to get Jonah there to preach to them; and God made sure he got there. When Jonah preached, they then repented. So God repented of the imminent destruction and they were saved from His wrath. God demonstrated His great love, by getting the man of God to Nineveh on time and I'm sure God gave him the words to say. We should not preach "love only" but we shouldn't preach only "hate" either. The Holy Spirit deals with hearts by "sin, righteousness and judgement". We can show them all the sin and judgement we want, but if there's no love in it, it ain't the gospel. Thank God I was shown all three.
 

I just heard a Calvinist in my Facebook feed, John McArthur, saying that God hates sinners. I've heard and seen this debated many times. Some say God hates the sin but loves the sinner and others say that God hates both and use various scriptures to prove it either way. But what Mr. McArthur says doesn't agree with one thing. Jesus Christ Himself told us that, to be like God, you have to "Love your enemies". So,  if someone does something to you, in a really serious way, you are commanded by God to do something that he wouldn't even do Himself? By that logic, you would be taking a higher road than God would. I don't think so. God says his ways are higher than our ways. So God, being perfect, can indeed love his enemies. I, myself, have a tough time trying to do that. You can take all the verses you want which seem to say that "God hates sinners" but you still have to deal with what God says right here...........
Matthew 5:43Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

It says they are "cast" into the lake of fire so, somebody has to do the casting.

He allows them to make a decision to either seek and follow him, or to reject him and spend eternity in the Lake of Fire where death and hell end up being cast. 

Romans 5:8... God loved us while we were yet sinners and died for US. 
Ezekiel 33:11 tells us that God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. 
I don't believe God hates the sinner. But, being a just and HOLY God he must punish the sin of the wicked. 
Let me add Morales, I didn't post the OP, so I really don't know who you were addressing.

The Bible says that "God is angry with the wicked every day" and He is ready to judge us for our sin. I'm reminded of the city of Nineveh. God was ready to destroy them and their destruction was imminent. They were about to die and burn in Hell for eternity. But at the same time, God was actively making certain arrangements to get Jonah there to preach to them; and God made sure he got there. When Jonah preached, they then repented. So God repented of the imminent destruction and they were saved from His wrath. God demonstrated His great love, by getting the man of God to Nineveh on time and I'm sure God gave him the words to say. We should not preach "love only" but we shouldn't preach only "hate" either. The Holy Spirit deals with hearts by "sin, righteousness and judgement". We can show them all the sin and judgement we want, but if there's no love in it, it ain't the gospel. Thank God I was shown all three.
 

Luke 23:
39And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
This man acknowledged that he deserved his punishment, that Jesus was Lord, that Jesus had a Heavenly Kingdom, and he asked for God's mercy. He basically turned against himself and turned to God, all at the same time. There's no "step one, step two" etc. The instant one believes It's like doing an "about face". About the "prayer" thing. No, you don't have to say "words" to be saved; a deaf-mute can be saved. Salvation takes place in the heart. But, again, nothing wrong with praying a "one time prayer" like "God be merciful to me a sinner" either  if it's from the heart.

Someone "abducted" my daughter I'd be out for blood and destruction.

Now, stuff like this....
Step 1 Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner,
2 I ask for Your forgiveness.
3 I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead.
4 I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life.
5 I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior.
The 1, 2, 3 repeat after me "salvation" yeah, I agree, I doubt very seriously many if any get truly born again that way. But to basically say that people can't have any assurance in their salvation because they prayed a one time prayer? I mean, what's up with that?

"So many people are deceived! And so many youth are deceived! And so many adults are deceived! Into believing, that because they prayed a prayer one time in their life they are going to heaven." -Paul Washer 
That would depend on the faith and repentence that went into that "one-time" prayer. Because, if the Holy Spirit indwelled that person during that prayer, he's as saved as he can possibly be. I certainly wouldn't make such a statement as he has here.
 

We have a piano and an organ(which no one plays anymore). Occasionally I'll play guitar. We have no drums, but foot-tapping is allowed.

This is the phrase which caught my attention:
"So many people are deceived! And so many youth are deceived! And so many adults are deceived! Into believing, that because they prayed a prayer one time in their life they are going to heaven." -Paul Washer 
The reality of whether one has truly repented and believed is between them and God. But let me get what this man is saying; is he saying it takes more than one prayer? Or...works? I mean, so, a "one time prayer" isn't enough, even for someone who truly repents and prays that prayer from the heart? That's what is sounds like he's saying.
 The publican, in Luke 18, who stood afar off, smote his breast and said "God be merciful to me, a sinner" prayed that "one time prayer" from the heart,  and "went down to his house justified". It was the pharisee who said his empty, meaningless "prayer": "God I thank thee that I am not as other men are" who was still lost and "deceived".  Just one "one time prayer" like the publican's is all it takes for Jesus to come into your heart, and the Holy Ghost indwells you forever. 
 
 
 
 

Men "began to call upon the name of the Lord" in Genesis 4:26. (see also John 1:12 and Romans 10:14) The ones who did so, include the named individuals in Genesis 5 who were also ancestors in the lineage of Christ (Luke 3:36-38), Then Genesis 6 is subesquently a continuation and summary of the individuals and events in Genesis 4 and 5.. Genesis six then says that God destroyed the world because of four(4) things.
1 The wickedness of MAN was great
2 His imagination was on evil continually(MAN's)
#3 Violence filled the earth (angels?)
#4 It repented Him that he had made MAN
It makes no mention of the sins of angels, Just man. And the Bible says that an angel cannot be a "son of God". Hebrews 1: 5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? Yes, angels did fall, but they are reserved in chains of darkness.
 
You mentioned Jude. Jude chapter 1 speaks of three(3) groups of sinners, and their sins, from the Old Testament:
The angels "despised dominion"
The Israelites "spoke evil of dignities" (Moses and God)
The Sodomites "went after strange flesh" (They were sexual perverts)
Then Jude makes the comparison that the "filthy dreamers" of Jude's time, were doing all three of these sins.
Where people get it wrong is they try to say that the angels mentioned in Jude were the ones "going after strange flesh" and ignore the fact that it was the homosexuals of Sodom who were doing that. They then use it to prove their "angel cohabiting with women" belief.

Good news today: our 3 Sunday School kids came back today. They missed the last two weeks (time change and birthday party). It always makes me nervous when they miss that much because it's easy to then not want to come back. They, however, seemed happy to be there. We sure were!
Hubs and son go faithfully door-knocking every Saturday. There have been interesting visits, but no visitors. Until today. A young man came this morning and said he'd like to come back. He and his fiancé are moving in May to Texas, but if he will continue to come, and if she will come, we get to minister to them for a while anyway.

My better half is out of town until Monday, I don't sleep well, almost none, when she's gone. When I lose sleep I get grumpy so, I'll get back to you on this later.  Oh wait, it's almost quitting time, that's a good thing. ?

Mysteries like.... "his ways are higher than our ways"? (also an incorrect understanding)

When I got saved I said, no, screamed one word (((((JESUS))))))!!!!!!!. Looking back now, I would liken it to the desperate scream of a drowning person about to go down for the last time. I had heard the Gospel in the message, saw myself as a wicked sinner, had been shown the righteous holiness and love of God, realized I deserved Hell and  didn't want to go to there. I didn't know what to say, I just screamed it out right there in the pew on my way to the front of the church and I don't reckon the thought even occured to me to care who heard it. It was just God and me and, from my perspective, He was right there in the room. That was my prayer of faith. That is of no merit of my own. God set before me the ultimatum and the opportunity to choose death or life and I chose life.
I don't know how Mr. Washer would assess that but, that matters not to me. What he needs to assess, is the fact that his Calvinist leanings are false doctrine, I mean, who would truly put their trust in a Jesus who only died for a few and purposely chose to not enable the rest of humanity to believe so that they could go to Hell for some sick concept of "glory"? That doctrine is a misrepresentation, a lie, about the very character of God. I'm glad I had never even heard of that mess before I got saved. The man can't even get the character, the very heart, of God right so how can he teach people about salvation...."easy believism" or  to be qualified to speak of people not showing any fruit in their life? What kind of fruit is in his? 

So I thought a light-hearted thread might be fun...got any good news or blessings to share? I'll start...
This past Saturday we had the baby shower for my DIL and my soon-to-be-born first grandchild, Asher. I know you all know this, but I am SO EXCITED!   Add to that my niece is expecting a boy in July. Asher will have a cousin to be growing-up friends with.  
We had a lot of ladies at the shower, most of whom were church ladies from our church and the one Sarah grew up in.  I was able to share the gospel in the event that someone wasn't saved. But we talked about rearing a child in the way he should go...and how Jesus is that Way. 
Sarah and Asher were celebrated with a lot of great gifts, but even more than that was the fellowship that we were able to have. All of the ladies there were proof of the love so many have for Sarah. Made my heart happy. And what a help the gifts are/will be for the parents.
Asher will be here in about 5 weeks. Otto (my great-nephew) about 3 months later. I've yearned for babies around me for so long and God is giving me two this year (that I can send home with Momma! ? ).
So what's good in your life right now?

When Jesus told the religious leaders of His day that they were of their father the devil, He was referring to the devil's spiritual children, not physical children. As an angel, he cannot procreate. All the lost are children of the devil, children of wrath, until they come to the Lord Jesus Christ and trust in Him as their Saviour.

When I got saved I said, no, screamed one word (((((JESUS))))))!!!!!!!. Looking back now, I would liken it to the desperate scream of a drowning person about to go down for the last time. I had heard the Gospel in the message, saw myself as a wicked sinner, had been shown the righteous holiness and love of God, realized I deserved Hell and  didn't want to go to there. I didn't know what to say, I just screamed it out right there in the pew on my way to the front of the church and I don't reckon the thought even occured to me to care who heard it. It was just God and me and, from my perspective, He was right there in the room. That was my prayer of faith. That is of no merit of my own. God set before me the ultimatum and the opportunity to choose death or life and I chose life.
I don't know how Mr. Washer would assess that but, that matters not to me. What he needs to assess, is the fact that his Calvinist leanings are false doctrine, I mean, who would truly put their trust in a Jesus who only died for a few and purposely chose to not enable the rest of humanity to believe so that they could go to Hell for some sick concept of "glory"? That doctrine is a misrepresentation, a lie, about the very character of God. I'm glad I had never even heard of that mess before I got saved. The man can't even get the character, the very heart, of God right so how can he teach people about salvation...."easy believism" or  to be qualified to speak of people not showing any fruit in their life? What kind of fruit is in his? 

When I got saved I said, no, screamed one word (((((JESUS))))))!!!!!!!. Looking back now, I would liken it to the desperate scream of a drowning person about to go down for the last time. I had heard the Gospel in the message, saw myself as a wicked sinner, had been shown the righteous holiness and love of God, realized I deserved Hell and  didn't want to go to there. I didn't know what to say, I just screamed it out right there in the pew on my way to the front of the church and I don't reckon the thought even occured to me to care who heard it. It was just God and me and, from my perspective, He was right there in the room. That was my prayer of faith. That is of no merit of my own. God set before me the ultimatum and the opportunity to choose death or life and I chose life.
I don't know how Mr. Washer would assess that but, that matters not to me. What he needs to assess, is the fact that his Calvinist leanings are false doctrine, I mean, who would truly put their trust in a Jesus who only died for a few and purposely chose to not enable the rest of humanity to believe so that they could go to Hell for some sick concept of "glory"? That doctrine is a misrepresentation, a lie, about the very character of God. I'm glad I had never even heard of that mess before I got saved. The man can't even get the character, the very heart, of God right so how can he teach people about salvation...."easy believism" or  to be qualified to speak of people not showing any fruit in their life? What kind of fruit is in his? 

I have to say that in the first Bible college I attended, this type of prayer he's railing against was prevalent! I have to admit that this type of prayer has always bothered me, not in the fact that coming to Christ isn't easy, but, that no repentance was evident before the prayer was lifted up. Now, at MBBC, Dr. Cedarholm always told us to explain fully the necessity of repentance towards God and for being a sinner. Not many converts, but the ones who did pray were usually the ones who grew and showed the true signs of salvation.  

"So many people are deceived! And so many youth are deceived! And so many adults are deceived! Into believing, that because they prayed a prayer one time in their life they are going to heaven." -Paul Washer 
That would depend on the faith and repentence that went into that "one-time" prayer. Because, if the Holy Spirit indwelled that person during that prayer, he's as saved as he can possibly be. I certainly wouldn't make such a statement as he has here.