"I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living. I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted: I said in my haste, All men are liars." Psalm 116: 9-11

It is indeed tempting to make the generalization that all men are liars. But we see a qualification to the Psalmist's assertion. David says that it was hastily stated. Thankfully, there is an exception, Jesus Christ our Lord. The exception doesn't negate the rule. The rule stands because there is an exception. There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Our Lord said, "No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." If one possess faith to believe these things, is that not evidence that he was chosen in the Exception before the world began?

Our Lord tells us that the devil is the father of lies.  The devil was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth.  Is there a greater lie than to believe you are alive and entitled to life and life more abundantly when you are in fact dead?   Paul found himself in such a conundrum. He said, "I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.  And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death."  How shall one be extricated from death in sin and trespasses and be transformed to one capable of believing the truth? With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Yet it is impossible for God to lie. 

Our Lord said, "Abide in me, and I in you". These that abide in the Lord shall make their calling and election sure.  If one does these things, he shall never fall and an entrance shall be ministered unto him abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  Our Lord said, "The branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me." Those that perpetuate the errant theology that men must decide to abide in Christ in order to gain eternal life would fall under the category of those that are "without".  Scripture says, "For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie."

Our Lord said, "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." These things are believed in the land of the living, the Lord's Church. What an exceptional place it is! 1/27/2006 Elder M. Hoogasian