QUOTE (Here Am I @ Nov 22 2008, 01:54 PM)

Regarding Quintessence... I found this explanation to be very interesting:
"All human beings are made of the same divine quintessence. The only difference between them is that some have been transformed by the Holy Spirit which enables enhancement of this quintessence and to develop it, while others are left to have it remain dormant.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
-Ephesians 2:8-9
That's great "Here Am I".
We can ponder the link between the "essence" and the "essential" while marvelling at the symbolic association between
grace and the number 5. The nexus between this and the origin of our word "quintessence" , I'm sure, is not just coincidence. As you rightly post, it is only by God's grace that we exist in any configuration at all, and it is God's grace that is essential to our becoming new creations.
QUOTE
We can refer to this quintessence as the image of God. If we compare ourselves to Jesus, the distance between us is obviously immense. But if we were not of the same quintessence as He, He would not have said: ‘The one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these.’ To be able to do what Jesus did, WE MUST SHARE THE SAME NATURE. Lead cannot do what gold can do, because it is not of the same nature. As for us, it can be said that we contain within us an atom of gold, but it is completely surrounded by an entire gangue of base materials. The Holy Spirit transforms (Romans 12:2) these worthless materials into gold, so to speak.
When we are born again we are given A NEW NATURE:
Yes, a divine alchemy is made possible when the grace of God flows through the conduits of our faith.
QUOTE
The difference is that, those whom God has predestined to receive salvation develop this quintessence as the Holy Spirit works in them, to perfect them unto holiness.
This is in fact, a very profound truth. God is not willing to chose anyone who is not willing to allow Him to work His spiritual alchemy. Judas Iscariot had every opportunity to remain faithful but chose to resist the Spirit of Jesus and the Word of God. The fact that he would do this was always knowable by God, just as every breath we take and every beat of our heart is already known to Him.
He knows who will be faithful to Him and He is not, metaphorically speaking, pacing up and down in heaven anxiously thinking: "Goodness me, how many saints have I got coming! How can I work it out?QUOTE
We have what we have only because we are the objects of HIS CHOICE. HE CHOSE THE ONES HE DID SIMPLY BECAUSE HE CHOSE THEM. (Romans 9:15) We can go no further. We have no claim to any praise in this regard. Instead, it should humble us, stun us, into overflowing praise, gratitude, obedience, and zeal that He has given so much to those so undeserving to receive it.
I always like to bring the Parable of the Sower into any discussion about God's chosing of the elect.
Luke 8:12-15 "Those by the way side, are they that hear; then comes the devil, and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. (13) They on the rock are they, who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. (14) And that which fell among thorns are they, who, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. (15) But that on the good ground are they, who in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience." The wayside is marginal land used as a pathway and it is hard because, along with the "seed", it gets trodden down by travellers and observers who don't actually enter into the field. There is no growth, and the devil removes the Word of God as fast as it is spread.
So God cannot chose unbelieving wayside hearers. The rocky ground is also too hard for the Word to sustain growth on, especially when testing times are experienced.
So God cannot chose those with rocks of rebellion in their heart.The uncultivated soil is full of weeds, thorns and thistles, and these smother and dominate the Word.
So God cannot chose those who don't clear the weeds and thorns of chaos and confusion from their hearts.The good soil is cultivated and watered and fertilised so that it brings forth fruit with patience.
Hallelujah! God can chose those whose hard hearts, like unproductive fallow ground, are turned over, softened, and prepared by the ploughshares of repentance until they are willing and able, not just to receive His Word when it suits them, but to cherish and keep it forever. In a sense, God in His foreknowledge has no choice other than to chose and predestine anyone who receives and keeps His Word. These "good soil" ones are described in the parable as having
"an honest and good heart." Blessings from Michael.