<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div>Thanks for your response. Here are some thoughts:</div><div><br></div><ul class="MailOutline"><li>You are right. I am definitely talking about those that "love him and are called according to his purpose."</li><li>Allow for death in the idea of good. It seems that death comes before, if not just before, conforming to the image of Christ. It is a hard doctrine if not treated with gentleness. Good for the kingdom and ultimately the subjects of the kingdom may cost them their lives. It has certainly cost the lives of many in martyrdom</li><li>Regarding hardening: We must remember that without Christ we are all under condemnation already. As you said it is good to remember as well that hardening and sin itself can be a form of punishment. God is light and their is no darkness in him (1 John 1:5). While God may allow men to further wallow in their own evil, he himself is not responsible. God has given men the blessing of being free agents. (Romans 1:18-2:11) They may do as they please, and with a special work of the Spirit to regenerate them, they will remain enemies of God. (Eph 2:3,Rom 5:10, I Pet 1:22)</li><li>These are both hard and comforting doctrines. They can lead to a spiritual pride and arrogance, or they can lead to humility and grace. In a sense, it all depends on the heart that receives them. The flesh is so twisted and the Enemy so wicked that they can take precious truths and make them weapons against the Gospel.</li></ul><div><br></div><div>Now the two wills...what do you mean?</div><div><br></div><div>Peace - Heath</div><br><div><div>On Jul 26, 2008, at 9:39 PM, <a href="mailto:asuecleaver@aol.com">asuecleaver@aol.com</a> wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0; "><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></blockquote></div><br></body></html>