Holiness Is A Probability

Ezra Taft Benson said, “The Lord works from the inside-out. The world works from the outside in. the world would take the people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human behavior.”

Holiness is a probability

1 PT 1:1-3

One person said this about Peter “He was likable man, a hasty man, a going man, a loyal man, a rock man, a growing man and an apostle of Hope. This letter has been called the Letter of Hope, courage and Holy Living and states the fact that holiness of life is more important than deliverance from suffering. This letter was written to remind us of our need to live holy lives, conducted with awe toward God and with eager and heartfelt love toward other believers.

Peter begins his first letter to Christians in Asia Minor by acknowledging their election according to God’s foreknowledge, made possible by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, and for obedience and sprinkling by the blood of Jesus.

The Bible does teach election but there has been some disagreement as to what this means. God we find has chosen some individuals to perform a particular service for Him. Priests, the sons of Levi shall come near; for them the Lord your God has chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of the Lord; and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be tried. God chose Jacob over Esau to be the line that the Israel would come. He chose Cyrus to set the Israelites free from captivity many years before he was born. He chose Jeremiah when he was just a young man to preach His word. He chose John the Baptist to be the one to proclaim Jesus was coming. They have been times God has chosen nations to do His work such as Egypt, Israel and Babylon.

God has left it up to us to choose Him and if we do then we become His elected. I have found that the predestination refers only to those who have been saved.

Eph. 1:3-6 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” DT. 30:19 "Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, that you and your descendants might live! Josh. 24:15 But if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve.” MT 11:27-29 "My Father has given me authority over everything. No one really knows the Son except the Father, and no one really knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. JN 20:31 But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life. RM 4:3 For the Scriptures tells us, "Abraham believed God, so God declared him to be righteous." Rev. 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." Let each one who hears them say, "Come." Let the thirsty ones come—anyone who wants to. Let them come and drink the water of life without charge. God’s election purpose is to save mankind from sin. Salvation is offered to all who will believe in His name. The persons who are elected by God are those who come to Him by faith in Jesus Christ. JN 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 2 PT 3:9 “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise to return, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for everyone to repent.”

God elects those who accept His offer of salvation and who chose to serve Him in love and obedience.