What took place at the cross?

Bob, that Matt 7 verse is declaring the importance of living for Christ, in a pure, holy manner, untarnished by the world. We can clearly see that living for Christ in todays world is a little like walking the edge of a razor blade, trying to remain pure in a decadent society! We must strive to remain in that pure, holy, narrow channel, free of contamination! We must follow Rom 12:1,2.
Matt 7 actually refers to both the narrow and wide gaits as being gaits assumed to the kingdom. The narrow gait is by faith, the wide gait includes all the false religions of works and self-righteousness. That true way is very narrow and few there are that find it v14. Christ told us the way is a difficult way, not just walking an aisle, signing a card, saying a "sinners prayer" but a life changing salvation that reflects God's true work in a life for Him.

Those people in v21 that He addressed: "Not everyone who says, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom" Some of them claimed they did many works for the Lord and even did them in HIs name but He told them He NEVER knew them; not just that He DIDNT know them, but had never known them, as they were not His own, no realationship had ever existed! All those who were stiving but not entering via the narrow way were doing so by their own ideas, efforts and man made doctrines, not by a life well lived for Christ alone! In those verses Christ clearly shows that we must first count the cost as the christian life is not an easy one. The thief on the cross will receive the same benefits as all of God's own because his heart was real, placing all of his God given faith in His Lord!

Two groups of people will be present at the judgment! God will read hearts and separate those who took the narrow way from those who took the wide, sheep from goats! Many are called, few are chosen! Why, bacause so many are singing, "I did it my way!"

 

ROFL, Didnt realize you had such a sense of humor Ray! Either that or you are very, very young not to remember Frank Sinatra's rendition of that song! Old favorite of mine when I was still Armenian!! lol

 

Ray, BTW At the churchI attend we only do traditionally, scripturally biblically, never contemorary, making no effort to please man's desires but God's! No contemporary services, at all!!Doesnt compute with scripture! Those contemporary services are the man pleasing type, focused on the desires of the congregants, not a holy God we worship in spirit and truth!!No mega church, no seeker sensitive, no purpose driven, no 'best life now'! Just sound scripture exegesis!
Blessings,

 

Bob, I am fully aware that Christ was both the high priest and the sacrifice! That he died for every single person's sins I do not agree! I'm not sure which question specifically you'd like an answer to but this I know, that Christ died for His own! Remember I lay no claim to being a great theologian, just a little mud ball that knows God and that His Son came to die for those that were given to HIm by His Father. He said so Himself and that works for me!
Regarding the 1John 2:2 verse that seems to trouble you I will offer a quote from Pink:
" Let others rest on the sands of human speculation and twenttieth-century theorising if they wish. That is their business. But to God they will yet have to render an account. For our part we had rather be railed at as a narrow-minded, out-of-date, hyper-Calvinist, than be found repudiating God's truth by reducing the Divinely-efficaious atonement to a mere fiction."
God will not allow one drop of Christs blood to be wasted on someone who rejects HIm, that I know! Christ died for His own! Count on it!
Your verse in question refers to not only Jews but also to the Gentiles. If Christ is the propitiation for those who are lost as much as for the saved, then believers would have no assurance. Did Christ actually die for those who right now are in hell? I dont think so as that would render His most valuable and holy blood a waste! Just didnt happen that way Bob! Believe it! Faith!!

 

Christ lived, died, was buried, and rose again about 2000 years ago. </font>[/QUOTE]I'm not so familiar with what Mormons believe! God's Holy Word is our source for faith, doctrine and life! He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world back in eternity past and put our names the Lamb's book of life! All of our lives were destined at that time according to God's decree! We have a choice as to how we will live, whether for HIm or not. Thats the only two options. We who choose to place our faith in Him who called us from spiritual death are of His elect, His very own and were chosen before time began!
Read Ephesians and also Psalms 139 for a fuller understanding of our sovereign God's plan for us!
Blessings to you,