@GodsGrace
Greetings Fran,
My wife and children are saying the same to me; one of my son-in-law's told me to come to the hospital he will have me a room and everything there for me, and wanted me to come and stay until I'm better ~ a lot of my children and even grandchildren are in the medical field. I'm an old man that loves the comfort of my own house, bed, etc.
Fran, read very carefully what I have said....God does indeed seek his sheep, but not goats. He seeks all without "distinction" from every nations of this world, every tongue, etc., but he does not seek all without exception...Fran, as you well know, some of the first converts to the early church were Italian, some of your own people.
Acts 10:1
“There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,”Fran, soon I would love to discuss Cornelius with you and others here very soon Cornelius was a born again child of God before Peter ever met him, Peter was sent to bring the gospel to him that he might be saved in a practical sense, but more on this later.
'All men" meaning not just Jews only, but all without dictinction, Jews and Gentiles which he did as we see in the rest of the holy scriptures.
1st John 1:3,4
“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full."Fran, John and all the apostles wrote unto others believers, not to the world, that would had been a total waste of time. John made it very clear that he wrote to them, NOT to get any born again, but, so that their present joy, would increase and be full!
Fran, what would we know about Jesus the Son of God without this apostolic declaration? Nothing. We do not believe God and Christ by oral tradition, but many writers (Luke 1:1-4).
What is the purpose of the apostles seeking out God’s elect? For fellowship with God! After the doctrine of Christ – the true body of knowledge about Him – is relationship. There is a practical salvation from the hopelessness of this life in knowing Christ (2nd Timothy 2:10).
Learning of Jesus, where He is now and He will return, is our religion (I Cor 15:19). This comes through the written word of God to us.
v4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
We do not limit these things to the first three verses, but neither do we minimize them. There is fellowship in the verses before and after this verse, indicating both included. Fellowship with God – by doctrinal truth and godly conduct – is the basis of real joy. These things = plural demonstrative adjective for the content of verses 1-3 and more. It is a shame to watch carnal Christians (if they are saved) look for joy in the world.Why did John write? Why did the Holy Spirit inspire him and then preserve the letter? The that here, like above, is a conjunction for John’s goal and purpose for writing. That. Introducing a clause expressing purpose, end, aim, or desire: often with may. Because this glorious God … and His Son … love us and want our utmost happiness. Any lack of fulness of joy is always our fault, not His, and we miss His intentions. Our God is terrible, but He loves His adopted children and wants to dote on them. Why do any parents adopt? To take a deprived child and drastically improve its life. How much joy does God want us to have? Filled with all you can receive (Romans 15:13).
Last edited:
