Greetings, I have another interesting Hub for you. This one has to do with "Who are the Called According to His Purpose? " You will find this statement by the apostle Paul in Romans 8:28 > And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

If there are some called now then this also means others will be called sometime in the future if not called now. And what about all the other humans not called since Adam and Eve were created? What will happen to those that were never given the opportunity to know the "Way" of God? Will they be automatically destroyed because they never bothered to find out or has God not revealed His purpose to them yet. Jesus Christ said, "Many are called but few are chosen, John 22:14." Did He mean only some would be allowed eternal life and some would never receive it because God has set a certain limit as to how many would be called? Is this calling of God limited to only a few forever?

This Chapter Eight of Romans is one of the most revealing books of the Bible because it reveals God's real purpose for every human created and what they can become whether Jew or Gentile, slave or free, or male or female, Galatians 3:28-29. Are you in Jesus Christ? If you are then there is no condemnation on you! It is because you no longer are walking according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the Law of sin and death, Romans 8:1-2.

So what does it mean walking in the flesh. This is the result of Adam and Eve's sin that cut them and us all off from the Tree of Life or Holy Spirit in Genesis 3:22, Revelation 22:2. Walking in the flesh means being cut off from God and going the way of the god of this world Satan the devil. All flesh has been deceived since then except for such as God has called to salvation. The sad news is that our human nature is trully the nature of Satan the Devil who wants us all dead, Genesis 6:5-7, Revelation 12:9. Being cut off from God is usually our first choice since our human hearts typically are deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, Jeremiah 17:9. And the way of humans will usually lead to a physical and eternal death unless God Almighty chooses to redeem us as he did Noah and his family, Genesis 6:18, Proverbs 14:12 > There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

This is why this Chapter Eight of Romans sets a new direction for us of just how God's plan for salvation of the human race will finally be accomplished. There is nothing wrong with the Laws of God because they are holy, just and good and come from the Righteous God of heaven and earth, Romans 7:12. It is the breaking of these Laws that leads to sin and death but human nature without the Holy Spirit living in us is to weak in the flesh or carnal mind to keep them, Romans 8:3. So God the Father sent His Son Jesus Christ to destroy the works of the flesh by giving His life for us. Up until this time very few were called by God to understand God's plan of salvation for all of humankind. Now many more can walk according to the Spirit, Romans 8:4-9.

So now we can have Christ in us because the Spirit is a "Life Giving" Spirit and we can have access to the Father through the Holy Spirit and Christ living in us, Romans 8:26-27, and we can become the sons and daughters of God, 2 Corinthians 6:17-18, John 14:23, John 3:3-8. It is the Holy Spirit, Ruach HaKodesh who has conceived us in Her spiritual womb the Church and birthing center for new children of God, and will finish our change when Christ returns the second time, Revelation 20:4-6; 22:17. This is the whole point of this Chapter in Romans 8:1-39. Salvation is by Grace because God has called those in the past history of the early New Testament Church and now in this present day. I wish that all could understand this calling now but it is not for everyone now no matter what some will try to tell you.This is only part of God's plan of salvation that is for the few called now, Matthew 22:14. Few to God can mean multiple millions or even billions, Isaiah 66:7-9. This will be the first harvest of souls, Matthew 9:36-38, Leviticus 23:24-28.

If God is calling you now and you do not get side tracked by one of Satan's many deceptions, you can make it if you keep seeking God's "Way," Matthew 6:33. Jesus pointed this out in His parable of the sower when He showed us that of four different types of people called only one group would be fruitfull, Matthew 13:3-23. it doesn't mean the others would not make it but some never fully understood at that time what was expected of them. Some would have to be martyred to work out their salvation while others would be protected. But as the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:29, of those now called to God's purpose, they have been predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son Jesus Christ whether in the grave, martyred or saved alive. All the rest would have to wait for the White Throne Judgement, John 7:37-39, Leviticus 23:36, Revelation 20:11-13. Since all humans have sinned and fall short of the glory of God They will be given their first chance to repent, be baptized and receive the Holy Spirit. The school of hard knocks will be over, because Satan will be gone forever, Revelation 20:1-3,10. Plus they will have all those changed to God's Son's and Daughters from the First Resurrection and those qualified from the Millenium to help them to be born into the Kingdom of God by Ruach HaKodesh, with Jesus Christ as our King here on earth, Revelation 5:9-14.

Have you been predestined? Are you seeking the Kingdom of God now? Is your hope in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ? This is really your choice "if" God is calling you? Do you want to be justified and glorified at the better First Resurrection. If you really want to, then follow Jesus Christ because he is that Way to salvation. Repent and be baptized and receive the Holy Spirit and be born again into a more awesome better life as part of the Bride of Christ, Revelation 19:7-16; 20:4-6. God never said that it would be easy so you will need to get set in your mind the things that God wants from you. Remember if God is for us, who can be against us. God will save us as we keep faith in Him and His Son, Jesus Christ, Romans 8:31-32, Hebrews 11:6.

There will be those who are of this world that will hurl charges at us and accuse us of evil and want to kill us, but remember these things were prophesied by Jesus in Matthew 24:4-13 > We must endure to the end of the final days of this world's evil rulers. We are not to let anyone seperate us from the love of Christ, not tribulation or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness peril, or sword, Romans 8:34-35? Remember as it is written in Psalm 44:22 and here in Romans 8:36 > "For your sake we are killed all day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter." Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. So you will need to be persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to seperate you from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, Romans 8:37-39. Are you alert and ready?

So who were the faithful before us and who are the faithful now? In the book of Hebrews it tells us who some of the faithful were, starting with Noah, but there may have been others besides Noah and his family. In Gensis 5:24- it states that Enoch walked with God and was taken by God somewhere. Usually one that walks with God is one who obeys God and keeps His commandments, Psalm 119:172. No one else is mentioned besides Noah and his wife and three sons plus their wives, Genesis 5:29; 6:8. Next Abraham and Sarah are mentioned they obeyed God, Hebrews 11:8-11. Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph along with Moses, Rahab, Samson, Barak, Jephthah, David and the Solomon, Isaiah, Nathan, Ezekiel and all the Prophets with, Esther and Mordecai were all very faithful, Hebrews 11:32-34.

And of course all those faithful called since Jesus Christ including the twelve apostles, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Jesus Christ and all the other disciples down through the ages who died in Christ who obtained a good testimony, Hebrews 11:33-39. Now in these last days are those called to repentance in the many different churches of God and groups like the Voice of the Martyrs, Open doors With Brother Andrew, Prayer for the Persecuted Church that preach the gospel for Christ. Some have died already but many need to be perfected yet, and their work is cut out for them. All seem to have some problems that they need to overcome to receive the promises from God that no one has received yet. The people called now have the greatest opportunity to preach the gospel and is a great calling in these last days so that those called before would not become perfected apart from us, Hebrews 11:40.

Some of the churches called believe in a "rapture" meaning God will take many Christian to a place where they will be safe from the Great Tribulation as the elect, Matthew 24:21-22. This word 'rapture' is not found in the Bible but there are verses that speak of a place of safety from this horrible time. Revelation 7:1-8 says 144,000, or twelve thousand are sealed from each of twelve tribes of Israel. This is interesting in that it doesn't say anything about them being taken to heaven by any rapture or to a place of safety on earth though they are redeemed after being sealed, Revelation 14:4-5. It might be that they will go through the Tribulation and survive alive. It is not clear here were they go but they are alive. but there is a mixed multitude that does die at this time for Christ, Revelation 7:9, which corresponds with Revelation 3:14-22, which tells us about the Laodicean Church of God. This church has not been doing as Christ and the Holy Spirit have taught them to do but have something that keeps them from receiving God's blessing of protection for three and one half years, Daniel 12:11-12.

There is a Church called the Philadelphia Church of God in Revelation 3:7-13, this one is promised a safe place of refuge from the Tribulation for 3 1/2 years. There are verses in Revelation 12:14-16 that fit very well with these Christians in Revelation 3:7-13 These verses show that there will be some lett behind to face the wrath of Satan, Revelation 12:17. Those left behind however do keep God's Commandments but there is something that keeps them from being protected at this time that God is not happy with, see Revelation 3:14-22. Their problem may be that they keep the wrong day of worship (the right day is the 7th Day Sabbath) or they do not recognize the Holy Spirit as a member of the Godhead or they have refused to have women in their ministry. Any of these problems could cause them to be placed in the Great Tribulation. Jesus Christ says of them that they are lukewarm, rich and wealthy and are self satisfied with themselves, thinking that what they are doing is okay and inline with God's Commandments, Exodus 20 and Leviticus 23:1-44. but Jesus says they are miserable, blind and naked spiritually, Revelation 3:17. These are not the "remnant" left alive but those who are Martyred along with others for Christ, Matthew 24:8-13, Revelation 7:9.

However, not all that are martryed are Laodiceans. There are some already receiving persecution and martydom while they preach the gospel for Christ. Such groups like: The Voice of the Martyr's, Open Doors With Brother Andrew , and the Prayer for the Persecuted Church have been doing this for quite sometime along with others we have not yet heard about in foriegn lands. There are millions of new Christians in China (over 100 million and growing every day. Plus there are many more in North and South Korea, Africa, Iran, Irag, etc., willingly suffering persecution for Christ. These people are very special to Christ and God and are very "hot" to preach the Gospel willingly and are not like the Laodiceans in, Revelation 3:16, who are neither cold nor hot but lukewarm. But the Faithful are full of faith and will rule with Christ on the earth, Hebrews 11:33-39, 1 Corinthians 15:50-58, Revelation 5:10. These people are from both 7th Day and 1st Day Churches who profess Jesus Christ the best that they can with all there hearts and souls under severe trials, Romans 10:11-13, Luke 8:15; Luke 6:22.They are not perfect but are made perfect through fiery persecutions because some of the things that have been taught are not Christian, like the keeping of Sunday worship, Easter and Christmas. However, their hearts are right and they are willing to suffer for Christ, even though their understanding is far from perfect 1 Corinthians 3:9-15.

This is where Christian Faith is being fullfilled daily as they go about the Work of God faithfully and fearlessly, Romans 8:36-37 > As it iswritten: "For your sake we are killed all day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter." We are conquerers for God the Father and Jesus Christ because we recognize the Holy Spirit as person of the Godhead and a need for more laborers for the harvest, namely 'Women', Acts 2:17-18. "Yet in all these things we are more then conquerors through him who loved us." So we must be persuaded that nothing will keep us from our calling in Christ, Romans 8:38-39.

Jesus wants us to shine as lamps of great light before others so they can see the good works done in us by the Holy Spirit and glorify our Heavenly Father, Matthew 5:14-16. We are not to hide the truths of God but preach them faithfully even though we might be persecuted and killed for doing so, Luke 8:16-17. So we are to shine as great lights and glorify God in heaven; "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven". Now is that time to step up and be counted. Now is the time to get ready. We that are called must be overcomers and endure to the end of this age to inherit all things promised to us by Jesus Christ, Revelation 3:5,11-12, 20-22> "He (or she) that overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out their names from th book of life:but will confess their names before my Father and before his angels". "Behold I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him (or her) a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out no more, I will write on him (or her) the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him (or her) my new name". "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him or her and dine with them and they will dine with me. To him (or her) that overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat with My Father on His throne. He or she who has an ear, let him or her hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

So the point of all these past six thousand years was the postponement of Plan A, which was to eat only from the Tree of Life and set the scene for humans in a world of no sin with a happy world of peace and security forever. No sin then no death, nor pain, nor suffering eventually receiving Eternal life and live forever. Wow! A Plan B had to be instituted to replace Plan A because of letting sin to enter into our human enviroment. Don't worry Plan A still has a priority with the God Family, there are just a few things that will need to be re-ajusted. Namely the author of sin would have to be removed once and for all from the whole universe and the enviroment of humans if we are to inherit the earth and the universe forever, Revelation 12:9; 20:1- 10; 5:10.

Plan B was planned to remove Satan in Genesis 3:15 > "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed (demons and sinners) and her seed ( Jesus Christ and repent sinners); He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel." in this Plan B, Satan is told by Yahweh that a Savior would come from woman to replace the Devil and his evil followers, demons and unrepentant humans. The Redeemer would suffer death at the hands of Satan and deceived humans, but would die for the sins of the world. This came to pass in 31 A.D., when Jesus the Christ died on the Cross for all humans, at the hands of deceived Jews and Romans, Matthew 27:46-50.

Now the restoration of Plan A would be put back into action for the next three thousand years and completed after the Millenium on the Last Great Day when the Holy Spirit will be offered to all that never knew clearly of this way, Leviticus 23:39, John 7:37- 39 > And on the Last Day that Great Day of the Feast, Jesus stood and cried out saying. "If anyone thirsts let him come to me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit (Ruach Ha Kodoesh) was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified." Our God is a merciful God who didn't come to destroy us but to save all that believe the Gospel of His Son Jesus Christ, John 3:16-21.

Our Lord God Jesus Christ brought with Him a better way for humans to live that became lost in the garden of Eden when Adam and Eve and all humans were forbidden to eat of the Tree of Life during the early stages of human life and for nearly the next four thousand years. This has to do with having access to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is symbolic of the Tree of Life, Romans 8:1-2; Genesis 3:22, Revelation 22:14, that would help free us from sin and death. This way of Jesus is called Love, or God's desire to restore us to His Family, 2 Corinthians 6:17-18. It is through God's love for us that Jesus came to restore us to Plan A , 1 Corinthians 13:8-13. Jesus said we are to love Him in John 14:15 > "If you love me, keep My Commandments. And I will pray the Father and will give you another Helper, that He might abide with you forever- the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive (unless called by God), because it neither sees Him nor knows him; but you know him, for He dwells in you", John 14:23.

In John 15:9-10, Jesus reminds us all that, "As the Father loved Me, I also loved you, abide in My love. If you keep My Commandments you will abide in my Love just as I have kept My Father's Commandments and abide in His Love. so this love of God is of the utmost importance if we want to be in God's Family, 1 John 4:7-21. The only way this can be achieved is when we are begotten of God's seed Jesus Christ and conceived of the Holy Spirit in the Church of God, John 3:3-8,16-17. We become God's Sons and Daughters along with Abraham through Christ who came as God's "SEED" , Galatians 3:26-29.> "For you are all the sons and daughters of God through faith in Jesus Christ. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise.There is no other "Way", John 14:6-7,15; 2 John 5-6.

The Lionswhelp