I decided to post this which was a response in questions to what I believe in on another forum
As for the knocking on the door, it is either a truth or it is a lie. Much of what is taught and discussed is seen from the eyes, shall I say a very narrow mindset of people, I say that not to be nasty in any way. Coming from Africa, and particular South Africa, the rapture, hellfire is not heard of much apart from some Pentecostal fundamentalists. The word preached here is mostly on the Love and the need to be saved, there is no or else and most churches have statements of eternal separation rather that etrnal damnation.

Anyway back to the question. If God does not knock, what then? If God does not draw, what then?

Sorry I cannot answer without posing those questions. The traditional view to answer that is quoting Romans 1:18-20 but that creates a "2nd" way and that contradicts what Jesus said "I am the way, NO MAN...."

All knees will bow to the glory of the Father. I read this not in "I told you so" mindset.

The demons know His name too.

Jas 2:17 Even so, if it does not have works, faith is dead, being by itself.
Jas 2:18 But someone will say, You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith from my works.
Jas 2:19 You believe that there is one God, you do well; even the demons believe and tremble.
Jas 2:20 But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Jas 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Jas 2:22 Do you see how faith worked with his works, and from the works faith was made complete?

Just a correction, demons are not in hell (grave). That scripture is within teaching of works. See the works here are God ordained not man ordained.

I am not a context only guy but this is a favorite quote that if one is challenged do they believe in God/Jesus and respond yes, but in the questionnaires' opinion are not saved.... Many miss the true intent of the message, it is about God's works not man's works. The faith of Christ not the puny faith of man.

As for repentance let us look at Strong's definition

G3340 μετανοέω metanoeō met-an-o-eh'-o
From G3326 and G3539; to think differently or afterwards, that is, reconsider (morally to feel compunction): - repent.

And Miriam Webster

Main Entry: 1 re·pent Pronunciation: \ri-ˈpent\ Function: verb Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French repentir, from Medieval Latin repoenitēre, from Latin re- + Late Latin poenitēre to feel regret, alteration of Latin paenitēre — more at penitent Date: 14th century intransitive verb1: to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life 2 a: to feel regret or contrition b: to change one's mind transitive verb1: to cause to feel regret or contrition 2: to feel sorrow, regret, or contrition for

From RCC teachings of penance we can see how repentance is derived and wrongly understood what it actually means.

If you check the NT, repentance stated was always by a 1st witness.

Can you see see repentance as a work? I do, in the sense of the modern definitions. This again puts the power of "free-will" and gets man into bondage atoning for his own sins. Thus the cross is of no effect.

The sad thing with current theology is that the re-birth and subsequent "freedom" we are supposed to have in Christ is negated. I liken it to trying to cross the Jordan but merely being baptised and then going back to bondage under the law and religion instead of crossing the divide into liberty.

Before I continue, I do not condone sin and sin has consequences in this life, sowing and reaping, yet the sin we commit is taken care of by the cross. By that, laws' if based on the bible or not, exist and there are consequences for murder. Likewise, murder, lust etc. as Jesus taught, in the mind is already a sin, cursing a brother is a sin as great as murder. Now think about it. You curse a brother, and another and another, soon how many friends are you going to have, sin and consequence, cause and effect. So yes there are laws to abide to, both secular and biblical. Yet the new law is about Love thy neighbor, turn the other cheek etc. Love begets love, hate, hate etc. sin, consequence.

That said I am opposed to any church that propagates the 10 commandments. This places people in bondage to an old covenant that is no longer valid, least of all for Gentiles. If you want to obey the 10, obey all 630 odd, that includes finding a Levite priest to do the blood sacrifices and also requires a temple, neither exist and you will have to convert to Judaism and get circumcised if you are male. "Ouch"

God said He will write the law in our hearts instead of stone.

The old covenant was man's way to reconcile to God, the new covenant is God's way to reconcile to man. Man wanted a list of laws, God wanted relationship. Man wanted kings, God wanted to be The King. Delegating all authority to His Son Jesus, The Son came to be in the flesh and to be the King that the Jews desired, yet they still sought a warrior King, not a meek and humble man in the form of the Messiah.

God's plan for the restoration of mankind again was not an event, it is a process. This is where many miss the mark. Sure the cross always will be "the event" but that was the start, not the end. It was the end of the old covenant followed by the destruction of the temple and the things that happened ±70AD. You must also understand, world as known in biblical times constituted of the then Roman empire, they did not know of Japan, Australia, the Americas etc. back then. However, Jesus knew.

Looking at how the questions are posed, there is an "I" factor prevalent, can you see it? This is the trap set by the enemy to get us into the "working our salvation" mode.

By Jesus' sacrifice, the "I/me" is removed from the equation. We all fall short, no matter how religious and pious we pretend to be, all by Grace lest any man should boast. Does that mean we have no responsibility?

No, after the knocking and the drawing and our subsequent opening of the door, probably the only thing I can relate to from Calvinism is "irresistible grace", we are required to seek out and search and get to know the Father. It is post re-birth that we have "free-will" to do this or not. It is this post event where the Holy Spirit is a gentleman; pre rebirth, He has to be forceful. (See Paul's conversion)

If God relied on man finding Him pre-rebirth, no one would come or at least a very few.

Much of what mainstream Christendom has today are misinterpretations of guys like Augustine and the later reformers.

As you know, I do not believe in the rapture. In fact when I got saved, I told God to leave me here, I would rather be preaching the "Good news" as opposed to escaping. I never really believed it until I exchanged HS inspiration direct teaching for those of men. The Trinity was another thing I was introduced to. My very first bible, Good News version was checked out by my cell leader and the typical 1 John 5:7-8 verses checked to make sure "and these three are one" was there. When asked why, he could not really explain it.

Things like the Trinity, Rapture, Fallen Angels, Lucifer = Satan have all become paramount to belief yet when challenged, personally, few can explain their beliefs. These are all stumbling blocks and are not key to our faith in Jesus Christ. Many, if not all of these myths, were introduced with the merging of Christianity to Greco/Roman paganism in the early church. Evangelicals reject the "blessed Mary perpetual virgin" myth, why not the others?

As a side note: Holy Eucharist, the biscuit wafer, whatever, is borrowed from Egyptian mythology representing the sun god Ra. The rosary and incense, from Hinduism, the papal robes, from Emperor (Caesar) worship. All this grew and permeated the minds of many till the reformation. At the advent of the reformation, the beginning of enlightenment, break-aways took place rejecting the RCC doctrines yet they brought many with them. Even as little as 10 years ago, the reformed churches in SA were barred from teaching rebirth.

In closing, you asked trusting Jesus in all this? Is your faith of your own or is it a gift? The way I understand it, faith is a gift and it is the faith of Christ we have and not of our own. See what ever you "appear" to do of your own, in reality, if you are honest with yourself, it all defers back to God.

Notice anything profound in that? here is a quote to illustrate my point.

Joh 5:19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, The Son can do nothing of Himself but what He sees the Father do. For whatever things He does, these also the Son does likewise.


Joh 15:5 I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

Blessings