Peter McKenzie

Hi Cheryl, At this point, I think it is best if I do go back and read your articles before resending too much more. It does seem to me that we are stuck a bit and it would be good to clarify things – if we are to continue in a productive manner. Here is a snippet which I offer as an example that may typify our greatest divide – and also my perspective as I read your comments. You wrote: I am not saying that the Father is giving people unconditionally to Jesus. Not back then, not after Jesus spoke the words and not now. Salvation is conditional on faith. Would you like me to document the condition of faith from the Scriptures? First of all, I have a good understanding that salvation is by faith – so you need not express any doubt in that regard. Your offer here to explain this to me is somewhat telling. It reveals that you seem to think that perhaps I am deficient in that knowledge. I do find that a bit troubling – but I am willing to ignore that in order to get to the crux of the matter. (If you are interested in looking at some solid evidence that salvation is conditional by faith, I can send you a response I wrote to a universalist who was championing Romans 5:18 as a proof text for universalism. In that article I listed 9 times prior to 5:18 where Paul notes the condition). Secondly, you have inserted the word “unconditionally” into the equation. I have never said anything about an “unconditional giving” at any point so you can rest assured that there is no impasse for us there. My view – so that you are clear on that, is that there was a conditional giving at the time of Jesus’ ministry on the earth – but there is NO giving now whatsoever. IOW the Father is no longer giving care of the Jewish believers who believed prior to Jesus’ arrival over to Jesus today. I will report back after I have read the articles.