* http://zinjanthropus.wordpress.com/2009/10/03/the-feet-of-ardipithecus-ramidus/

Ardipithecus ramidus was a tree climber and had opposable big toes (for grabbing tree branches with his toes) like the opposable thumb on apes but not on humans. His feet were like hands as on the apes at our local zoo.

Ardipithecus ramidus left no written record and human writing doesn't appear for "millions of years" later.

World population is now approaching 7 billion and is estimated at 150 million back in the year of 1 A.D.

If human population is millions of years old, why didn't it reach numbers in the millions or billions until recent centuries?

As a Christian, I've been asked about my supposed "blind leap of faith" but evidence for God abounds.

However, unbelief in the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe is a blind unbelief. Blind unbelief fails to see the considerable degree of design and order in the universe as well as the abundant beauty within the Bible and the beauty of the mercy, justice, and righteousness that God wonderfully brings about.

The words, works, origin, and destiny of the Lord Jesus Christ are like that of no other.

wrote:
...There is a yoke in Christ, but He did all the work: It is finished.

The church at large is called to send, to go to all nations, to preach, to make disciples, to love their God and to love their neighbor. Talents are to be invested and not to be buried.

Christ's reward is with Him even to give every man according as his work shall be (Rev 22:12).

Justification is by faith without works but the type of faith that justifies is the type of faith that loves and works.

Paul told the Romans that he had received grace and apostleship "for obedience to the faith among all nations". (Romans 1:5; 16:26)

"Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation". - John 5

All will live in some state forever. Many are alienated from Christ the King and need to hear and heed His Word.

The call in 1 Co 15 is to be "always abounding in the work of the Lord".

Praise Him wrote:
nl- you are in error...

I'm grateful that God began to draw me to Himself at a young age and continued patiently with His Work. I grieve at my sins.

Another Jonathan Edwards sermon title is: "Persons Ought to Do What They Can For Their Salvation".

Even natural man can flee lusts; perform outward duties of morality; search the Scriptures; observe the Sabbath; control his tongue and thoughts; strive in all branches of duty to his neighbor. Lost sinners increase their sin if they neglect this.

"Though we can't save ourselves by own own strength, yet salvation is a prize which God hath set up for us to run for".

"Though men can't convert themselves, yet you are directed and advised by God to seek conversion..."

"...he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him". - Hebrews 11

"Ask...seek...knock..." - Matt 7

Doing nothing and listless seeking will not suffice. God uses means. God's Sovereign Work must be sought diligently.

praise Him wrote:
...You must understand the WHOLE counsel of God...

2 Chronicles 7:14 'If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and SEEK my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land'

Proverbs 8:17 '...those that SEEK me early shall find me'

In our generation, many go often to Google to seek for information. In our generation, God continues to reward those who diligently seek Him.

praise Him wrote:
What do you do with Psalm 14:2,3? Or Romans 3:11?

As a type, Noah labored long and hard to build an ark for the saving of eight souls.

Bartimaeus called to Jesus insistently above a crowd that tried to quiet him. Four others climbed a roof to help a paralytic go near Jesus Christ.
If physical healing was earnestly sought and later given by Jesus Christ, should not spiritual healing also be earnestly sought?

"Salvation is go great a thing, so glorious an attainment, that 'tis worth the while for a man to do his utmost every day during his whole life in the use of all proper means that he may attain." - Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)

God is not obligated to save instantly those those who make a decision for Jesus or name the five points.

Sermon titles by Jonathan Edwards:

-The Manner in Which the Salvation of the Soul is to Be Sought

-Persons Ought to Endeavor to be Convinced of Sin

praise Him wrote:
nl, you must remember the ministry of the Holy Spirit, He convicts the world of sin.......

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?" - Luke 11:13

The Holy Spirit is offered to those who will ask the heavently Father. Prayer and asking the heavenly Father are forms of seeking God. Diligent use of all appointed means is necessary. God is a great King. He has given commands. Neglect of God's commands is sin.

"For strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it"

DJC49 wrote:
_____
Read the rest of the chapter.

nothing wrote:
God draws us {John 6:44}.......
Salvation is a gift, not of works, that no one should boast...{Ephesians 2:8-9}

Yet, if one never finds eternal life, then is God to blame? God forbid. God has already moved first and given natural life and breath to men and women. Almighty God has already moved first and given general revelation in creation and special revelation in the Bible. Men and women are obligated to respond. They are obligated to use their life and breath while they still have time before death to use available revelation and reason to seek after God. They sin if they don't. God calls all men everywhere to repent. They don't need to wait for God to make additional moves beyond the moves He has already made.

nothing wrote:
As a lost sinner, we do not seek God...

"Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith". - Galatians 3:24.

Lost sinners need to brought to Christ and the preaching of the law of God is a means of grace to bring the lost to Christ. Lost sinners ought to pursue all of the known means of grace. When lost sinners pray, then they are seeking God and this is right. Even if their prayer is sin, it is less of a sin than neglect of prayer.

"Salvation is so great a thing, so glorious an attainment, that 'tis worth the while for a man to do his utmost every day during his whole life in the use of all means that he may attain" - Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)

nothing wrote:
so you believe in salvation by works, God can't move until you do!!!
.......
I am not denying the fact that we should seek Him...
........
I don't find in His word where He draws out this seeking process.

If we should seek God, then failure to seek is moral failure and sin.

Doing nothing is sin. Referring back to Mt 25, the virgin bridesmaids were in sin because they slept and did nothing to get oil and prepare. The one who buried his talent and the ones who neglected those sick and in prison, hungry, etc were in sin because they did nothing.

The rich young ruler sought Christ and asked what he must do to be saved. Christ addressed the sin of coveting and he went away. This prolonged his seeking. In the days before doctrines of easy believism, it was common for many to continue for years seeking assurance.

All are told to Work out their salvation in fear and trembling. Fruit and assurance take time. The spirit moves unseen in regneration (John 3)

Christ called dead Lazarus to arise and come forth.

Evangelists call dead sinners to seek, repent, and believe.

nothing wrote:
nl. we seek God ONLY after He has drawn us to Him, and broken our prideful hearts.

nothing wrote:
No where in the biblical salvation do I find where God needs me to help Him along.

Yes we must be born again and to bring that about is beyond our strength.

However, please do not encourage the sin of neglecting to seek God. Please put no obstacles in the way of those who aim to seek God and obey Him and love Him will all of their natural strength until...... they receive his supernatural strength and are born again and abide continually with Him in His Supernatural power.

However, in the end, not all who own His Name will be owned by Christ at the last.

In Matthew 25, ten virgin bridemaids were waiting for the bridegrooom (Christ) but only five had oil in their lamps and were truly ready for the bridegroom's coming. The rest were shut out. Later in Matt 25, those who did nothing with their talent were shut out. Those who did nothing for those isolated, sick, hungry, thirsty and cold were shut out.

Matt 25:31-32 --- When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.