Foreknew (προγινώσκω) to know beforehand
Romans 8:29a (NASB95)
29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son
This verse does not say that God chose us and excluded others. It says that He knew beforehand if we would respond to Him.
2 Peter 3:9c (NASB95)
9 The Lord . . . (is) not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
The above verse means He wants you.
The Lord knew I was perishing because I thought I was good enough, better than others. So, He gave me mental illness for ten years until I had nothing and was ready to accept Him as my Savior. (Then He called me . . .)
Repentance does not mean to clean yourself up to give yourself to God, either. That is impossible. Repentance means you change your mind about sin and ask JESUS to give you a new perfect spirit from Him.
Ezekiel 36:26a (NASB95)
26 “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you
And getting a perfect new spirit doesn’t mean you will have immediate perfect new actions, either. Your soul (thinker, feeler, chooser) is not your spirit and isn’t new or perfect. However, now as you obey Jesus the lies you believe that drive your wrong actions are replaced with the truth, and your soul is renewed.
Romans 12:2 (NASB95)
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Jesus would rather die than live in eternity without you, so He did. He loves you so much that He has done everything so you can live with Him forever. He knows how hard life is. He knows our weaknesses, our faults and our failings. He doesn’t fault you. He took the blame Himself. There is nothing He would not do in your best interest. Even Mental Illness has become a blessing to me because God uses it as a platform for me to tell all people how much Jesus loves them, just as they are, mental illness or not.
He loves you, He is waiting right now to hear from you. Take that leap of faith. He will catch you, every time.
Praise the Lord! He catches us and holds us close!
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