Thank you, Keith! I needed to hear this today. Going through my own pruning. I’ve been anxious about it but I know God is preparing me and my family to be closer to Him.
God bless you Keith, you don’t know how much I needed to hear this today! Just had a huge lightbulb/God moment where everything just came together and made sense!!🙏🏻 Praise Jesus!
I thank you for this. Ive been through a great chastisement over the past year. Five major bad things happened to me in a string, one after another. I wondered why and if it was punishment but I became closer to God as a result. I'm not out of the woods on any of them, but because of your reminder I am aware I may be getting pruned for greater things. It is so painful. But the only more painful thing would be not believing in the divine plan. And we already know a very infamous person who did that and it didn't work out well for him. So let's not go there. Let's open ourselves to the divine plan.
Regarding the issue of whether Christians have an “absolute” assurance of salvation, regardless of their actions, consider this warning Paul gave: “See then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness; _otherwise you too will be cut off”_ (Rom. 11:22; see also Heb. 10:26-29, 2 Pet. 2:20-21).
ST. PADRE PIO: “You must have boundless faith in the divine goodness, for the victory is absolutely certain. How could you think otherwise? Isn’t our God more concerned about our salvation than we are ourselves? Isn’t he stronger than hell itself? Who can ever resist and overcome the King of the heavens? What are the world, the devil, the flesh and all our enemies before the Lord?”
Pray for me. For my wife does not support me becoming a Catholic. I pray the rosary everyday so that one day me and my wife can be in communion with the Church and to ultimately shape my heart like Christ.
Do not be afraid our Lord Jesus Christ is always with us in the Holy Eucharist waiting for us sinners. We will pray for the whole world to repent as Jesus Christ Himself prayed for His Apostle Peter. Luke 22:31-32 -"Simon Simon, behold, satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren".
We are a catholic family but my children does not go to church anymore, and this has been my prayer for so long. I spoke to a priest about this and his answer: St Monica waited forty years🙏
@@elladelacruz2597 As Catholics we must always watch and pray as our Lord Jesus Christ Himself He prayed for His Apostle in :- Luke 22-31-32 - "Simon Simon, behold, satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren".
Prayers for you, Brother. I joined the Church two years ago, and it was very hard for my marriage. But I am trusting that God will call to my wife. Have faith, hope, and love. Our God is God. He can do all things for those who trust Him.
Dear Keith Nester. I am a Catholic catechumen from South Korea who enjoys watching your videos. I am studying to refute Protestants' criticism of Catholicism. As a former pastor, Can you explain the difference between Catholic and Protestant positions on the interpretation of Romans?
Remain in Him. - other translations it’s - Abide in Him. How is this accomplished ? Our Lord tells us in John 6:56 “ Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.”
*John 15: 1-8 =* We must let Jesus love the Father through us, we can't do that without him. Or if you will, we must let Jesus worship the Father through us, we can't do that without him. Because that will truly glorify the Father. *Hebrews 13:15* _Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, _*_the fruit_*_ of lips that confess His name_
How to correctly interpret John 15: The key: every branch in me That is in Christ, a believer, born again As the vine is the source of life to the branch, so Christ is the source of life to the believer. When a believer abides,Christ lives in and through him (Galatians 2:20) When a believer does not abide he is in his own strength. John 15:2 and 6 are referring to the judgment seat of Christ where a believer is not judged for their sin( that was taken care of at the cross), but judged for what they did in their own strength. 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 reveals this truth. Note also verse 15: If any man’s work shall be burned , he shall suffer loss; yet he himself shall be saved. It’s not spin it’s proper interpretation. Please tell me the meaning of: John 10:28-29 Romans 8:1 ( note in 8:1 the phrase “in Christ “)
Protestant response respectfully submitted: The word perseverance might be somewhat confusing because it could seem to communicate that God has started something, and now it is your turn: you must persevere. The biblical teaching, however, is that God has done something; God is doing something; and God will do something. The God who starts is the God who finishes. That is what Paul says in Philippians 1:6: “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” The reason that the doctrine of perserverance at times creates tension and opposition is that the Bible reveals that not everyone who claims to be a Christian is in fact a Christian (Matt. 7:22). As difficult as that is to hear, is it not also a greater comfort to those who are in fact, followers of Christ?
for God to complete that work within us, we must remain in Him. That's why it's a commandment. Catholics don't believe our remaining/persevering is done by merely our own efforts alone. It is by cooperating with God's grace, but is it possible to disobey? Yes, obviously, or Jesus wouldn't bother warning us about it.
It's not confusing at all. It just doesn't fit into your systematic theology, so you have to dance around it a bit. I understand what that's like. Thanks Paul. God bless you, my friend! I always appreciate your comments.
As a Catholic how I understand this is found in St John 6 where Jesus told his disciples ( who ultimately left him) to not work for the food that perishes but work for the food that endures to eternal life. How do I work for the food that endures to eternal life? I have to persevere in the sacraments of reconciliation and Holy Communion which help me attain Gods graces to live a holy and virtuous life which will ultimate lead me to righteous deeds. This is how Christ remains in us and us in him. So I have to finish the race and finish it well. In order for me to persevere or as St Paul put it,finish the race (2 Timothy 4:7-8) I have competed well; I have finished the race;f I have kept the faith. 8 * From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day,g and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance.
@@JWellsUp precisely my point without God’s sanctifying Grace none of us could realize any kind of progressive sanctification in our lives. Is this Grace somehow the monopoly of a Roman priest and therefore only he is able to dispense it? That is utter nonsense. I regularly participate in the sacrament of Holy Communion administered by my pastor (who is called by Christ to perform this role in a local church which is a visible expression of Christ universal church). I receive God’s sanctifying Grace each time I participate. So no I do not need your priest to receive sanctifying Grace. I receive it regularly apart from anything he is doing.
@@paulsmallwood1484 You are beginning to sound as if you have a theological inferiority complex. With an act of humility and submission, it will all vanish. A dare: “IF” you have not already, please consider going to Adoration of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament (also known as “Holy Hour”). Call your local parish and find out when they offer it. Then, just go and sit in silence in Christ’s Presence. Take your bible. Read scripture, pray, contemplate. Tell the Lord of your search for truth, of your doubts, worries, even fears. Then, be as patient with Him as He has been with you. When you receive the grace to know that HE IS THERE, you will be forever changed. Miracles occur in Christ’s presence - of that I can personally attest.
In the spirit realm. who wants mankind to believe that salvation is guaranteed? As well, this denies God's sovereign Power to judge us. Both have the same source.
Thank you Keith and Estelle and everyone here. One of my great daily blessings is finding Keith’s videos lifting us up with our Lord’s word and apply it to our daily lives of “hills and valleys” ♥️🙏
