Cheryl Schatz

Ben, You wrote: Everyone is a God-hater until they have true belief in Jesus – those who continue on in true faith are distinguished by their works and their spiritual life. That is the whole point – the ones who listen to God, the ones who believe in Jesus, are the ones who have been given to Jesus by the Father… I appreciate that this is your belief, but the Bible doesn’t say this. Cornelius was not a God-hater until he had true belief in Jesus. He was called a God-fearer. Also Lydia was not a God-hater until she knew who Jesus was. She also was called a God-fearer. I agree that the ones who believe in Jesus are the ones who have been given to Him by the Father, but I do not see that the ones who listen to the Father were given to Jesus before they listened to the Father. The LORD of hosts says “They will be Mine” not “They already are Mine” in Malachi 3:17. The giving by the Father is of those who already belong to Him in faith and He gives these ones to Jesus so that they can believe in Him and be saved.