A copy from Calvinist corner!

I do not claim to be a Calvinist, but I saw this article and thoroughly enjoyed it.  I wanted to share it to others as well.

Predestination

      If you’re a Christian, you’ve heard of predestination. You must have because the Bible uses the word and teaches the idea. But what is predestination? How does free will fit in? What about man’s sinfulness and God’s sovereignty? Is predestination a fair doctrine or does it make God out to be dispassionate and tyrannical? In this paper, I will attempt to answer those questions.
      Predestination is the doctrine that God alone chooses (elects) who is saved. He makes His choice independent of any quality or condition in sinful man. He does not look into a person and recognize something good nor does He look into the future to see who would choose Him. He elects people to salvation purely on the basis of His good pleasure. Those not elected are not saved. He does this because He is sovereign; that is, He has the absolute authority, right, and ability to do with His creation as He pleases. He has the right to elect some to salvation and let all the rest go their natural way: to hell. This is predestination.
      In response to this definition, some will protest, “Unfair!” It may seem so at first, but you will see that it is quite fair. More importantly, it is biblical. To help you understand predestination, I would like to address several areas in order:

1. The Eternal Covenant
2. Man’s Sinful Condition
3. The Result of Sinful Man’s Condition
4. Man’s Free Will
5. The Necessity of Predestination
6. God’s Sovereign Election
7. Conclusion
8. Objections Answered

     1)  The Eternal Covenant
     Usually, the best place to start a study is at the beginning, and in order to understand predestination better we need to start at its beginning. Its origin can be found in what is called the Eternal Covenant. Hebrews 13:20 says, “May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep.” If you have never heard of the eternal covenant, then you need to familiarize yourself with it because it is vital to a proper understanding of one of the ways God deals with His people. Essentially, God works covenantally.
      A Covenant is a pact or agreement between two parties. It is a contract. The Old and New Testaments are really the Old and New Covenants. Testament comes from the Latin testamentum, which means covenant. In the O.T. the Hebrew word for covenant is always b’rith. In the N.T. it is always diatheke. There are OT covenants that God made with individuals, i.e. Adam (Gen. 2:15-17), Noah (Gen. 9:12-16), Abraham (Gen. 17), the Israelites at Mount Sinai (Ex. 34:28), and David (Sam. 7:12-16), etc., and in the NT there is the New Covenant (Luke 22:20; Matt. 26:28; Heb. 7:22) that was prophesied in Jer. 31:31-37.
      The Eternal Covenant, then, is the covenant made between God the Father and the Son with regard to the elect. This covenant was made before the universe was created and it consisted of the Father promising to bring to the Son all whom the Father had given the Son. “And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day…I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours…Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world” ( John 6:39;17:9,24, NIV).
      In the Eternal Covenant, the Father would prepare the Son a body (Luke 1:35; Heb. 10:5); give the Son the Spirit without measure (Is. 43:1,2; 61:1); always support and comfort the Son (Is. 42:1-7; 49:8); deliver the Son from the power of death (Ps. 2); bring to the Son all whom the Father had given Him (John 6:39; 17:9,24); and give the Son a number of redeemed that no one could number (Ps. 22:27; 72:17). The Son’s part was to assume human nature (Gal. 4:4,5; Heb. 2:10,11,14,15); be under the Law (Ps. 40:8; Gal. 4:4,5; Phil. 2:5-8); and to bear the sins of His people (Isaiah 53:12; John 10:11,15; 1 Pet. 2:24).
      In the Eternal Covenant we see that God has given a certain number of people to the Son and that the Son came to redeem them, to “lose none of them” (John 6:39). We can conclude from this that God had in mind a certain people whom would be His elect. Since God knows all things, He knows those whom He has chosen. Hence, they are predestined from the very beginning of time.

      2) Man’s Sinful Condition
      Man is sinful. He does not become a sinner by sinning. He sins because he is a sinner. He is depraved, which means that sin has corrupted all that he is: mind, soul, spirit, emotions, and body. Man is so engulfed in sin, so thoroughly touched by it, that there is nothing in him that merits or enables salvation. He, therefore, is born into a state of condemnation: “…and [we] were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest” (Eph. 2:3). This is not to say that we are as evil as we can be, rather, that all of what we are is affected by sin.
      The heart is often referred to in scripture as the deepest part of man and the center of his spiritual nature (Esther 7:5; 1 Cor. 7:37; Rom. 6:17; Deut. 29:4). From the heart man understands (Prov. 8:5), reflects (Luke 2:19), feels joy (Isa. 65:14), and experiences pain (Prov. 25:20). Because of his depravity (sinful condition), man’s heart is not only impure but desperately sick: “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jer. 17:9). Also, it is out of the heart that we speak “…out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matt. 12:34), and what is in the heart of the person is what comes out of him: “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man” (Mark 7:21-23). It follows then that man’s understanding, reflection, feelings, and experiences are all stained by sin.
      The unregenerate person is a slave of sin: “For when you were slaves of sin you were free in regard to righteousness” (Rom. 6:20). That means that doing good is not a concern or need of the unbeliever–and naturally so for a person with a sinful nature. The unregenerate is inherently against God: “by abolishing in His flesh the enmity…thus establishing peace” (Eph. 2:15). Enmity is hatred, bitterness, and malice toward an enemy. That was our relationship to God prior to salvation; there was enmity between us.
      So, the Bible reveals the true nature of man. It is evil (Mark 7:21-23), sick (Jer. 17:9), a slave of sin (Rom. 6:20), at enmity with God (Eph. 2:15), and, of course, naturally belongs in hell (Eph. 2:3). It then follows that out of his utterly sinful condition, only sinful desires and effects will follow. The question must then be asked, “How can a sinful person ever desire God?”

      3) The Result of Man’s Sinful Condition
      Because of man’s sinfulness, he is unable to understand God, seek God, or do any thing good: “…both Jews and Greeks are all under sin as it is written, ‘There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one’” (Rom. 3:9-12).
      Because of his sinfulness, he loves darkness rather than light; he loves evil rather than good: “And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil” (John 3:19).
      Because of his depravity, he is incapable of accepting the things of God or understanding them: “But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised” (1 Cor. 2:14). The natural man is the unregenerate man. The natural man cannot understand the things of God. Notice it does not say, “has trouble understanding,” or “can if he’s sincere,” or “will be able to if he chooses God.” It says he cannot understand. Salvation is one of those “things of God,” and so is the understanding of being lost, of being a sinner, of needing repentance, etc. All of these are out of reach of the natural man. He cannot understand them.
      So, in light of these scriptures, how can an unbeliever come to an understanding that he needs salvation if the Bible teaches that he cannot understand his need (1 Cor. 2:14), that his nature is evil (Mark 7:21-23) and that he does not seek God (Rom. 3:11)? It would seem that man’s sinful condition does not permit him to desire, understand, or want God. What effect, then, does this condition have upon his free will?

      4) Man’s Free Will
      Many believe that man, by his free will, by something that resides in him, is completely able to independently accept or reject God. But this belief is not supported in scripture. As I stated above, man’s will by nature is sinful. What then will a sinful free will choose? It will choose sin. His free will, then, would never allow Him to reach out to God.
      But we must ask, “What is free will?”. Generally it is accepted to mean the freedom to choose according to one’s desires. This seems true. But someone is only as free as his nature is free. His will is limited to that which is within his nature. The unregenerate can only choose what his nature allows him to choose. Since he is full of sin, not goodness, his choices can only be sinful.
      In other words, a person can choose to do only that which his nature allows him to do. He cannot simply will to suddenly vanish into thin air or fly like Superman because he is incapable of such feats; his nature limits him. So too with the nature of fallen man. He is severely limited by what he can and cannot do.
      The sinful man:

• cannot understand spiritual things (1 Cor. 2:14).
• is full of evil (Mark 7:21-23).
• does not seek for God (Rom. 3:11).
• is lawless, rebellious, unholy, and profane (1 Tim. 1:9).

      How then can the good desire to want God come out of the unsaved’s evil heart? It cannot! How is he able, in his sinful free will, to desire God when his inclinations are always to reject Him? He cannot. How can he, with his blind and sinful will that is deadened, hardened, and enslaved by sin (Rom. 6:20) ever choose God? He cannot! It is impossible. That’s why Jesus said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26, NIV).
      But some still maintain that God works on a person and slowly teaches and guides him or her into believing. Others say that there is something in a person’s free will that enables him to choose God. They maintain that everyone is equally able to accept or reject. But if they are equally free and equally able, then why don’t they all equally accept God, or why don’t they all equally choose to reject Him? Why are there variations in choice? Are the variations a result of a tendency that God gave them? But God made them that way. Is it because of their environment? But God put them there. Is it because of some physical inclination? But God gave them their bodies. Is it because of their parents’ influence? But God gave them their parents.
      The fact remains, man is not entirely free; he is sinfully free. The unsaved can act freely, but only within the limits of their sinful nature which cannot understand spiritual things (1 Cor. 2:14), does not seek for God (Rom. 3:11), hates God, and is in slavery to sin (Rom. 6:17,20), etc. That is why Jesus said, “No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him…” (John 6:44), and, “No one can come to Me, unless it has been granted him from the Father” (John 6:65). These are not the statements one would hope to find if the sinner were so free to choose to accept or reject God.

      5) The Necessity of Predestination
      I’ve laid the foundation: Man is completely a sinner who is incapable of understanding and coming to God and has a sinful free will capable only of rejecting God. Therefore, in order for salvation to occur, God must predestine. It can be no other way. If this is so, then there should be verses supporting it. There are:

• Acts 13:48: And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; AND AS MANY AS HAD BEEN APPOINTED TO ETERNAL LIFE BELIEVED.
• John 1:12-13: But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, WHO WERE BORN NOT OF BLOOD, NOR OF THE WILL OF THE FLESH, NOR OF THE WILL OF MAN, BUT OF GOD.
• Philippians 1:29: FOR TO YOU IT HAS BEEN GRANTED FOR CHRIST’S SAKE, NOT ONLY TO BELIEVE IN HIM, but also to suffer for his sake.
• Romans 8:29-30: FOR WHOM HE FOREKNEW, HE ALSO PREDESTINED to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
• Ephesians 1:5: HE PREDESTINED US to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will.
• Ephesians 1:11 Also WE HAVE OBTAINED AN INHERITANCE, HAVING BEEN PREDESTINED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE who works all things after the counsel of His will.

      The preceding scriptures clearly show that the Lord is very active in salvation. He did not simply provide the means of salvation, the cross, but He also ensured the application of the blood of Christ through predestination.      

1.  
   1. - draws people to Himself (John 6:44,65).
   2. - creates a clean heart (Psalm 51:10).
   3. - appoints people to believe (Acts 13:48).
   4. - works faith in the believer (John 6:28-29).
   5. - chooses who is to be holy and blameless (Eph. 1:4).
   6. - chooses us for salvation (2 Thess. 2:13-14).
   7. - grants the act of believing (Phil. 1:29).
   8. - grants repentance (2 Tim. 2:24-26).
   9. - calls according to His purpose (2 Tim. 1:9).
   10. - causes us to be born again (1 Pet. 1:3).
   11. - predestines us to salvation (Rom. 8:29-30).
   12. - predestines us to adoption (Eph. 1:5).
   13. - predestines us according to His purpose (Eph. 1:11).
   14. - makes us born again not by our will but by His will (John 1:12-13).

Please consider that it is God who:

1.  
   1. - is deceitful and desperately sick (Jer. 17:9).
   2. - is full of evil (Mark 7:21-23).
   3. - loves darkness rather than light (John 3:19).
   4. - is unrighteous, does not understand, does not seek for God (Rom. 3:10-12).
   5. - is helpless and ungodly (Rom. 5:6).
   6. - is dead in his trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1).
   7. - is by nature a child of wrath (Eph. 2:3).
   8. - cannot understand spiritual things (1 Cor. 2:14).
   9. - is a slave of sin (Rom. 6:16-20).

It is man who:

      How can it be any other way than God’s loving predestination to make our salvation not only possible, but also a reality? Left to man, salvation is impossible: “When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, ‘Who then can be saved?’ Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible’” (Matthew 19:25-26). That is why it must be God who opens the heart: “And a certain woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul” (Acts 16:14).
      This is what truly glorifies God, that in His infinite mercy He is gracious enough to save those who would always reject Him, always hate Him, and always malign Him. Praise Him and His love!

      6) God’s Sovereign Election      God is sovereign. Sovereignty means that God is supreme in power and authority, that He answers to no one, and that He may do as He pleases for whatever reason He chooses. “Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure’” (Isaiah 46:10); “…to do whatever Thy hand and Thy purpose predestined to occur” (Acts 4:28); “…this Man [Jesus], delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross…” (Acts 2:23).
      Out of a people of utter sinfulness and inability, God has chosen, by His sovereign grace, to elect some into salvation and not others. Remember, there is nothing in man that merits any favor, blessing, or mercy whatsoever. For there is no favoritism with God (Rom. 2:11). Each and every person is entirely worthy of wrath and incapable of saving himself. That is why God has chosen a people to Himself out of the good pleasure of His heart. Because without His choosing, none would ever come to Him. Therefore, predestination is a loving doctrine: “…In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ…” (Eph. 1:4,5).
      He chooses some and ignores others not because of what the person has done, or what is foreknown that he would do, but simply because of God’s sovereign choice: “[God] who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity” (2 Tim. 1:9); and, “for though the twins had not done anything good or bad, in order that God’s purpose according to His choice might stand, not because of works, but because of Him who calls, it was said to her, ‘The older will serve the younger.’ Just as it is written, ‘Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated’” (Rom. 9:11-13; see also, Psalm 11:5).

      Sovereignty is why God has mercy on whom He desires and hardens whom He desires: “For He says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’ So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy…So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires” (Rom. 9:15,16,18). This is sovereignty! It is God who is in control.
      Some He has elected to salvation, others He has not: “…for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed” (1 Pet. 2:8); And, “What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? And He did so in order that He might make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory” (Rom. 9:22-23). It seems quite clear that God prepares some for mercy and not others. That is sovereignty.

      7) CONCLUSION

      With a better understanding of scripture, predestination is not the tyrannical doctrine that so many make it out to be. Predestination is really the manifestation of God’s mercy and love. It ensures the salvation of the ones He has called. It properly reveals the true nature of man to be utterly sinful, rebellious, and antagonistic to God. It puts God in total sovereign control, where He rightfully belongs. It removes man’s ability to take any credit at all for salvation, because even the act of believing could not be self-authored in a sinful free will. And, finally, it reveals the greatness of God’s mercy and love and causes the saved to rest in the knowledge that it was God who made their salvation sure, and not their own faulty, sinful wills.

      Objections Answered

      1) How does this doctrine of predestination fit in with a loving God?
      But predestination is loving. Without the loving predestination of God (Eph. 1:4,5) no one would ever be saved. All would go to hell.

      2) If God predestines us, and our sinful wills would never allow us to seek God, then wouldn’t God be violating the wills of those He calls?
      No, because He doesn’t violate their wills when He regenerates them first. Since God calls (Rom. 8:28-30), He first regenerates the nature of the person called. Since the person is then regenerate, with a new nature (2 Cor. 5:17), he is then able to desire God. Therefore, God does not violate his will.
      But some say that faith brings regeneration. Again I ask: How can an unregenerate person have faith in the true God? He cannot. It is regeneration that brings faith.

      3) Does this mean that even if you wanted to be saved you couldn’t if you’re not predestined?
      This question doesn’t reflect a proper understanding of the condition of man. The unsaved don’t want salvation or the true God, so they wouldn’t ever seek salvation. Also, anyone who truly desires salvation is only wanting it because the Lord is drawing him.

      4) Doesn’t Romans 8:29 prove that God looked into the future and foreknew who would accept Him?: “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called.”
      There are two reasons why these verses cannot be used to support that idea. First, if you read the verse, there is a key word that is often missed: “also.” The verse says that the ones foreknown are ALSO predestined. In other words, the same ones foreknown are the ones predestined. It does not say that He foreknew all and predestined some; otherwise it would say, “Of those He foreknew, some He predestined.” It says He ALSO predestined those whom He foreknew. The foreknown are the group He has predestined to be saved.   
      Second, God only “knows” believers. He does not “know” unbelievers. Matt. 7:22-23 says, “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I NEVER KNEW YOU; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”
      John 10:27 says, “My sheep hear My voice, and I KNOW THEM, and they follow Me”;
      John 13:18 says, “I do not speak of all of you, I KNOW THE ONES I HAVE CHOSEN…”
      Gal. 4:9 says, “But now that you have come to know God, or rather TO BE KNOWN by Him…”
      2 Tim. 2:19 says, “…The Lord KNOWS those who are His…”
      These verses show a “knowing” that is related to salvation. Only Christians are “known.” Only the foreKNOWN are predestined. God foreknew; that is, He foreloved His chosen ones and predestined them into salvation. God knows believers, hence the word “foreknown.” Therefore, Rom. 8:29 doesn’t support the idea that God looked into the future to see who would pick Him.
      In addition, God would not look into a person to see if he would pick Him, because if that were so, then God’s choice would depend upon Man’s choice and God would not be sovereign.

      5) What about the verses that suggest you choose God?
      “Whosoever will believe…He who receives… etc.” We see in Scripture both God’s and Man’s hands in salvation. God elects, predestines, draws, and saves. Man chooses, but only after God has saved him (see objection number 2). We experience and understand the act of choosing, but this is because we do so after we’re regenerate. If someone says that he freely chose to accept God and that predestination is untrue, then he is establishing doctrine by his experience. This is something that is to be avoided.
      Acts 13:48 describes the “whosoever.” They are the ones who are appointed to believe: “…and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.” It is obvious from this verse that the ones who believe are the ones who are appointed by God to believe. Remember also Philippians 1:29: “For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” God grants that the elect believe. That is why we are born again not of our wills but of the will of God (John 1:12-13).

      6) But it isn’t fair to only choose some.
      Fairness is that we all go to hell. ALL people deserve damnation (Eph. 2:3). God would be perfectly just to let all slide into the eternal abyss of damnation–and He would still be just as loving, because that is His nature. God doesn’t owe us anything. The question isn’t “Why would He only choose SOME?”; but rather, “Why did He choose ANY?”

      7) What about verses like “I will draw all men to Myself” (John 12:32)?
      The “all” are only the Christians. This may sound absurd at first. The Bible says that Jesus is the only way to the Father (John 14:6) and that there is no other name under heaven by which a man may be saved (Acts 4:12). Can the “all” here mean everyone? What about those who never heard the gospel, like the Aborigines 100 years before Christ? Does the gospel message apply to them? I ask this because how can anyone be saved apart from Jesus, especially when they haven’t had the opportunity to hear the gospel? It seems to me that the “all” of this verse must apply to the elect.
      Incidentally, a discussion of Romans 5:18 sheds light on the biblical usage of “all” when it says, “…there resulted justification of life to all men” (NASB). The “all” there obviously cannot mean everyone, but only a select group, i.e., “the many” spoken of in the following verse.
      In addition, other verses worth examining in this context are 1 Cor. 15:22 and 2 Cor. 5:14. It says in 1 Cor. 15:22, “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” Adam represented everyone in his death. Christ represented the elect in His death as is evidenced by the fact that the only ones who are made alive in Christ (Rom. 6:11; 8:10) are the Christians. The “all” can only be the elect.
      2 Cor. 5:14 says, “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.” The only ones who die in Christ (Rom. 6:8) are the Christians. The “all” can only be the elect.
      If you are interested in a more thorough analysis of verses that say things like “God wants all men to be saved” then click on “All Men Saved.”

      But I actually did choose to accept God.
      That is right. You did. But only because God first regenerated you, freed your will from sin, and thereby allowed you to be able to choose Him. Regeneration precedes faith. The regenerated person is no longer the slave of sin (Rom. 6:6) and is therefore able to desire God. He then DOES choose God.
      This act of regeneration is what God does. Remember, your believing is something God has given you: “For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake” (Phil. 1:29); Also, “Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent’” (John 6:29); And, “…and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed” (Acts 13:48).
      This is also why we are born again not by our own wills, but the will of God: “But as many as received Him…[these] were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12,13).

Predestination

When it comes to a biblical point, many people have different ideas about predestination.  A simple definition of the word would be, “to predetermine”.  I don’t think there would be many people to argue with that definition.  The word, in any form, is only used 4 times in the Bible.  Romans 8:29,30  Ephesians 1:5,11  In each case it is talking about our eternal salvation.  I’m going to try and explain my views on predestination and contrast it with how the world deals with predestination being in the Bible.

I will start by saying I don’t believe that any thing I do here on earth is predetermined.  I believe God created me with a will free to do anything I so choose to do.  If I choose to jump off a cliff tomorrow, I have the freedom to do so.  It was not determined by any one except myself that I sit here and write this article.  It is not predetermined that I study or that I pray or that I spend time with my family.  I have the freedom to make those choices by myself.  I also have the freedom to decide if I want to follow the lord or chase sin for the rest of my life.  Everything that I do here on this earth is my choice just as everyone else has the same freedom to make these choices.  On the other hand there are many things that I have no control over.  I did not choose to be Philip Blankenship.  My parents chose that for me.  I didn’t choose who my parents are, I would have to say that God gave me my parents.  I have been blessed to have wonderful parents.  I did not choose to how tall I am, or how I look or what color my hair is or how big my feet are.  All these things are traits that are passed down to me from my parents.  I have no control over that. 

When the Bible talks about predestination it only speaks of our eternal salvation.  Ephesians 1:5 “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,”.  You can read the verses surrounding this one if you like.  They are very good as well.  When did he predetermine this, before the beginning of time (verse4).  Who’s will is it that he determines it?  It’s God’s will.  According to the good pleasure of his will.  Most people will take these verses and say he chose his people because he knew who would choose Him.  I have a real problem with that theory.  1 John 4:19,  “¹⁹ We love him, because he first loved us.”  If you say that he chose those that He loved based upon who He knew would choose Him then that would be God loving us because we love Him.  Would it not?

Another thing that I would like to point out is that He did not predestine any to go to hell.  Man going to hell is the work of Adam.  “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:“  If we were to say that God predetermined that Adam sinned then we would have to say that God caused sin.  I would have to say that would be blaspheme.  God gave man the will to do freely as he willed.  Adam chose sin just as each everyone else does.  Sin sends man to hell. 

God sent his Son to ransom his people on the cross and to fulfill the promise that he made before the world began and rest assured his promise was fulfilled when Christ died on that old rugged cross.  God did not leave our eternal destiny up to us.  He promised his people a place in Heaven.  Do you believe he fulfilled that promise?  If you believe you are one of God’s elect and you should be thankful and follow after him, worship during your time here on earth.

Just as I am, without one plea!

There is a song that many people sing called, “Just As I Am”.  It is often times used as an “Invitational Hymn”.  Inviting people to come forward and make a profession of faith, and that by doing so you would be given eternal life. 

Just as I am, without one plea, but that thou blood was shed for me, and that Thou bidst me come to Thee. 

This coming can be one of two things.  If this coming is eternal life then it can not be a work of man.  To go to God would have to either be a work of God out of our control or it could mean to follow Him and by doing so that would be an evidence of life.  Here is a few verses from John that I’d like to look at think about and hopefully ponder them. 

John 6:44-47  “⁴⁴ 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. ⁴⁵It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. ⁴⁶ Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. ⁴⁷Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” 

This verse clearly states that no man can come to the Father except He be drawn by the Father.  Lets think about the definition of draw.  What does it mean to draw?  This isn’t a picture that he’s talking about but I’d still like to look at drawing a picture.  Who is in control of what the picture looks like?  The Artist, right!  The picture or the object has no control over what it is going to do, only the artist does.  If God was going to draw us we would have no control over what we look like or end up with, He is in control.  Okay, what if we think about drawing some water from a well.  This I would think would be similar use of the word.  If we went to a well to draw some water, when could we say that the water was drawn?  After the project was complete, right.  So my question then becomes, are we drawn if we don’t come?  If God draws us, are not we water out of the well?  Just like water can not come out of well unless it is drawn, we can not come unto to God unless He draws us.

Now what about that next verse.  Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.  This must mean that everyone must hear the Gospel.  Wrong!!!  This says everyman that hath heard from the Father.  Everyman that has the Spirit placed in him.  The Father is in control of that.  John the Baptist leaped for joy in his mothers womb, I’d say that was a sign of life.  A sign of Spiritual life.  I doubt there was any gospel preaching in there.

He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.  Belief is a sign, a fruit of everlasting life.  If you believe you have everlasting life.  Belief is not the cause but an effect.  Man has no control over who believes only the Spirit of God.

Now I’d like to look at a few verses that speak about what must I do to have everlasting life.  Let’s go to Matthew 19:16-22.

¹⁶ And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? ¹⁷ And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. ¹⁸ He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, ¹⁹ Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. ²⁰ The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? ²¹ Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. ²² But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

This man thought he had kept the ten commandments perfectly.  He thought he could gain eternal life by works.  What must I do?  The answer is not keep the commandments.  No one can do that.  For all have sinned.  Jesus wanted to make that man think.  Had he really kept all those commandments, I really doubt it.  Jesus knew this man was a rich man.  He knew where his true heart lied.  He loved his possesions more than he wanted eternal life.  Man can not choose to follow God without the Spirit in him.  Man cannot choose to have salvation because we are sinners.  We would much rather have the things of this world than the things of heaven.  We cannot give up our pleasures here for something we know nothing about, for something we can’t imagine.  This is a perfect example of all men.  That is what all man would choose if we had to make a choice about earthly pleasures or Heaven.  I struggle with that now.  I feel convicted many times when I make wrong choices.  I have to fight against them.  I could not do that without the Spirit of God and His help.

May God bless you all!!

The Holy Bible : King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995, S. Mt 19:16-22

The Holy Bible : King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995, S. Jn 6:45

The Holy Bible : King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995, S. Jn 6:44-47

The Effects of the Gospel

What is the gospel?  Why is the gospel preached?  What effect does it have on man?  What are the eternal effects?  What is the effect that it has on our earthly life?  These are some of the questions that I want to think through.  These are things that are very important to me.  The gospel in its definition is good news.  In the New Testament most generally the gospel is the good news of our salvation.  It is telling of what the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ has done for his people.  This is the whole purpose of preaching the gospel, that all that has ears to hear it will know of what the Lord our God has done for them.

What do I mean by those that has ears to hear it?  Am I saying that deaf people can’t hear the gospel.  Of course not.  I’m saying that only those figuratively that have ears to hear it, will have any joy in it.  Jesus while he was here on earth often times said, “He that hath ears to hear, let them hear.” Matt. 11:15, Matt 13:9, Matt 13:43.  Those people who are dead in tresspasses and sin can not hear the good news of their salvation, because Christ died for a particular people.  No one knows who those people are, except God.  He said that knowing that not all would get the effect of what he was saying.

If some one bears fruit then he must be a child of God.  All of God’s children will bear fruit, at some point in there life and the gospel is sort of like a fertilizer that helps make the fruit grow.  Kind of like miracle grow.  The fruit is not the cause of some one being a child of God, only proof there of.

Many would like to say that you must hear, and believe the gospel in order to have eternal salvation.  Let us think about that.  To say that you must believe that Christ died for you in order for him to have died for you.  That doesn’t make any since at all.  To say that you must believe that something happened in order for it to be true is impossible.  If Christ died for your sins then how can you believing it make it a reality.  He either did or he didn’t whether you believe it or not.  Man has walked on the moon.  All I have to prove that, is that man says that they did.  I believe that man walked on the moon and by believing that it becomes exciting and seems like an amazing feet for man.  If I didn’t believe that man walked on the moon it would not change the fact that it happened.  The same is true with our salvation.  Jesus died on the cross for our sins.  He “purged” our sins.  He took our sins away.  He cast them as far as the east is from the west.  The power of our almighty is God is infinately stronger than man could even imagine.  To purge means, “to rid of whatever is impure or undesirable; cleanse; purify. “  God by himself purged our sins.  Whether you want to believe this good news or not does not change the fact that he did it.  If it was necessary to hear and believe the gospel then it limits the work of God to the ability of man.  Only the people that man could get to and persuade to believe would have the opportunity to go to heaven.  My God is a gracious god.  He promised his people a place in heaven before the foundation of the earth and He can not deny himself.

There is great joy and comfort that comes to me in hearing the good news, knowing that I’m a sinner unable to please my God.  Romans 3:11 says that there are none that seeketh after God.  Without the help of the spirit that is placed in us upon regeneration we have no way of doing any good.  There is none righteous, know not one.  We are all born sinners, we are born of the seed of Adam.  Psalm 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

I hope these thoughts help to appreciate the things that the Lord our God has done for you.

Philip

“KOSMOS” in John 3:16

---

By A.W. Pink

 

APPENDIX C,
THE MEANING OF “KOSMOS” IN JOHN 3:16

---

It may appear to some of our readers that the exposition we have given of John 3:16 in the chapter on “Difficulties and Objections” is a forced and unnatural one, in as much as our definition of the term “world” seems to be out of harmony with the meaning and scope of this word in other passages, where, to supply the world of believers (God’s elect) as a definition of “world” would make no sense. Many have said to us, “Surely, ‘world’ means world, that is, you, me, and everybody.” In reply we would say: We know from experience how difficult it is to set aside the “traditions of men” and come to a passaGen. which we have heard explained in a certain way scores of times, and study it carefully for ourselves without bias. Nevertheless, this is essential if we would learn the mind of God.

Many people suppose they already know the simple meaning of John 3:16, and therefore they conclude that no diligent study is required of them to discover the precise teaching of this verse. Needless to say, such an attitude shuts out any further light which they otherwise might obtain on the passage. Yet, if anyone will take a concordance and read carefully the various passages in which the term “world” (as a translation of “kosmos”) occurs, he will quickly perceive that to ascertain the precise meaning of the word “world” in any given passaGen. is not nearly so easy as is popularly supposed. The word “kosmos”, and its English equivalent “world”, is not used with a uniform significance in the New Testament. Very far from it. It is used in quite a number of different ways. Below we will refer to a few passages where this term occurs, suggesting a tentative definition in each case:

1 “Kosmos” is used of the Universe as a whole: Acts 17:24 —

“God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth.”

2 “Kosmos” is used of the earth: John 13:1 Eph 1:4, etc., etc. —

“When Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world he loved them unto the end.” “Depart out of this world” signifies, leave this earth.

“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world.” This expression signifies, before the earth was founded — compare Job 38:4 etc.

3 “Kosmos” is used of the world system: John 12:31 etc. “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the Prince of this world be cast out” — compare Matt. 4:8 and 1 John 5:19, R.V.

4 “Kosmos” is used of the whole human race: Rom. 3:19, etc. —

“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”

5 “Kosmos” is used of humanity minus believers: John 15:18; Rom. 3:6

“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” Believers do not “hate” Christ, so that “the world” here must signify the world of unbelievers in contrast from believers who love Christ.

“God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world.” Here is another passaGen. where “the world” cannot mean “you, me, and everybody”, for believers will not be “judged” by God, see John 5:24. So that here, too, it must be the world of unbelievers which is in view.

6 “Kosmos” is used of Gentiles in contrast from Jews: Rom. 11:12 etc.

“Now if the fall of them (Israel) be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them (Israel) the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their (Israel’s) fulness.” Note how the first clause in italics is defined by the latter clause placed in italics. Here, again, “the world” cannot signify all humanity for it excludes Israel!

7 “Kosmos” is used of believers only: John 1:29 3:16,17 6:33 12:47;

1 Cor. 4:9 2 Cor. 5:19. We leave our readers to turn to these passages, asking them to note, carefully, exactly what is said and predicated of “the world” in each place.

Thus it will be seen that “kosmos” has at least seven clearly defined different meanings in the New Testament. It may be asked, has then God used a word thus to confuse and confound those who read the Scriptures? We answer, No! nor has he written his Word for lazy people who are too dilatory, or too busy with the things of this world, or, like Martha, so much occupied with “serving”, they have no time and no heart to “search” and “study” Holy Writ! Should it be asked further, But how is a searcher of the Scriptures to know which of the above meanings the term “world” has in any given passage? The answer is: This may be ascertained by a careful study of the context, by diligently noting what is predicated of “the world” in each passage, and by prayerfully consulting other parallel passages to the one being studied.

The principal subject of John 3:16 is Christ as the Gift of God. The first clause tells us what moved God to “give” his only begotten Son, and that was his great “love”; the second clause informs us for whom God “gave” his Son, and that is for, “whosoever (or, better, `every one’) believeth”; while the last clause makes known why God “gave” his Son (his purpose), and that is, that everyone that believeth “should not perish but have everlasting life.” That “the world” in John 3:16 refers to the world of believers (God’s elect), in contradistinction from “the world of the ungodly” (2Pe 2:5), is established, unequivocally established, by a comparison of the other passages which speak of God’s “love.” “God commendeth his love toward us” — the saints, Rom. 5:8. “Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth” — every son, Heb 12:6. “We love him, because he first loved us” — believers, 1 John 4:19. The wicked God “pities” (see Mt 18:33). Unto the unthankful and evil God is “kind” (see Luke 6:35). The vessels of wrath he endures “with much longsuffering” (see Rom. 9:22). But “his own” God “loves”!!

Made Perfect Forever

I would like to try and look at the first part of Hebrews chapter 10 just a little bit.  Starting in verse 1, it talks about the law service in the old testament and how the sacrifices made were “a shadow of good things to come” and how those sacrifices could never make those who offered them perfect.  Think about that, the sacrifices that they gave were the best of their flock, the best that man had to offer and it had no effect on purging thier sins.  If those sacrifices had any effect on their sins then they would not of had to continue to offer those sacrifices.  Verse 4 goes on to say, “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.”  It took a perfect human sacrifice to take away sins.  Man by nature is a sinner.  God gave his Son, a pure and holy sacrifice, for our sins.  That takes love.  I would not give my child for anyones sins I don’t think. 

We can look at Romans 5:12 to prove that man by nature is a sinner.  Man is born a sinner, that is the fruit that natural man bears, the fruit of a sinner.  Romans 5:12 reads, “Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”  Because of Adam we are born sinners.  We are not sinners because we sin, we sin because we are sinners.  That is something that is passed down to us from Adam.  That was the choice our earthly father made that has effected his whole family.  We don’t have a choice that we are sinners, that is not to say that we can’t choose not to sin.  Even if we chose never to sin we are still a sinner, and because of that we are bound for hell.

Verses 6-8 are still talking about the sacrifices under the law but how God was not pleased in them.  There was no pleasure because the sacrifices had no effect on the sin.  It only brought a remembrance of sins to those who made the offering.  It goes on to say that Christ our Saviour came to fulfill the law and that he, not being born of Adam but of God, could live a rightous and perfect life and follow the law to a T.  His body could be offered to take away our sins.  Verse 10, “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”  This verse says a lot.  We are made perfect by the offering of Christ’s body for all.  The all under consideration here would have to be found in verse 14 where it says, “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”   Them that are sancitfied are them that he made holy through the offering of the body of Christ.

 Verse 14, “For by one offering he hath pefected forever them that are sanctified.”  The sanctified must be the chosen of Christ.  Those that were set apart from the beginning of the world, those that God made a covenant to save.  God promised to save His people from there sins, He sent his Son here to earth to accomplish that and Christ left no stone unturned, he left no loose ends, He cast our sins away, our sins and iniquities He will remember no more.  He got the job done and sat down at the right hand of God.

Now were there is no sin there is no punishment for sin.  Heaven is our home.

What makes a fruit tree a fruit tree?

     Is an apple tree an apple tree because it bears apples, or does it bear apples because it’s an apple tree?  If you were to say that the bearing of apples is what makes it an apple tree then take an apple tree north and see what happens.  It won’t bear apples.  If an apple tree never in it’s life bears an apple is it still an apple tree?  I would have to say yes, it is.  There is a pear tree that never bears pears.  That doesn’t change the fact that it is a pear tree.

     Now, can anything but an apple tree bear apples?  That’s a no brainer.  Only apple trees can bear apples, just as only a child of God can bear the fruit of the Spirit.  If you are a child of God, you are a child of God, the fruit that you bear doesn’t change what you are, it only justifies that you are.  Why do people want to say that the fruit you bear makes you what bears the fruit.  You must be an apple tree in order to bear apples, just as you must be a child of God in order to bear love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, which are the fruit of the Spirit.

     Now some may say that some people bear these fruits that aren’t a child of God, such as Judas for instance.  The only thing I can say about that is, man can be deceitful.  We have an arrangement on our dining room table sometimes.  It looks like it has fruit in it.  That doesn’t make it real.  Just because it looks like fruit doesn’t make it fruit.  Sometimes the only way to tell if it is real is to test it.

   Lastly, I’d like to say, just because a tree isn’t in the right environment to grow doesn’t hinder it’s ability to be tree.  It may not be as strong or as healthy, and it may not bear fruit, but it is still a tree.  The same is true for a child of God.  If a child of God never hears the gospel, he may not grow and learn, or bear much fruit, that doesn’t change the fact that he is a child of God and that God reconciled there sins on the cross.

 Philip

Why do men go to Hell?

I guess I’m asking a silly question to some.  Lets stop and think about the question though.  Why are men going to Hell?  Some doctrine would seem to point that man goes to hell because he doesn’t do something.  If man doesn’t believe and repent from their sins, then he will go to hell, or believe and be baptized then hell will be your final destination.  I think that all would agree that these things are not what send us to Hell.  It is not what we don’t do that sends us to Hell.  It is clearly what we do do that sends us to Hell.  I think that when we look at it from that perspective we can say that sin sends man to Hell.  God has no tolerance for sin.  Romans 5:12 states that by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for all have sinned.  All man has sinned, even infants, all man because of sin is dead spiritually.

 Now the law was sent to show man there sin.  There was no way for man by the law to be justified with out a sacrifice for sin.  In order to put away sin a perfect man, a man without sin needed to die.  Well all man has sinned it passed down from Adam.  The only way to put away sin was for Christ to die.  He did that on the cross and suffered for our sake.  Now if our sins were not put away on that cross, then Christ suffered for nothing.  My Savior suffered more than any man could ever think about suffering on that day.  My sins and the sins of all Gods people were put away on that day.  They were cast away as far as the east is from the west.  My sins are no more.  God can only tolerate me because my savior paid my debt.

Now if my sins were done away with upon that cross then tell me what is going to send me to hell?  You must say nothing.  Whether I believe it or not I still have no sin.  There is nothing that can send me to hell if my sins were paid for on that cross.

Philip

Regeneration

Regeneration is making alive.   It is also referred to as being quickened.   When we are regenerated (Jeremiah 31), we are given “the measure of faith” by God as a declaration of our justification before God, we are made to be able to be aware of spiritual things, we are able to please God, we are made to “know Him” in a spiritual sense, and (very importantly in regard to the utility of the Gospel) we are made to know, understand, and feel sin as the Law of God is written in our hearts.    The Apostle Paul in Romans 7 is a good example.   Before he was born again (to me this is synonymous with regeneration), Paul saw himself as righteous under the law of God.   Then he says, “When the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.”   This commandment was the command to live, or regeneration.   When Paul was regenerated, the Law of God was written in his heart and he saw himself to be a sinner, and justly condemned before God.  In other words, he “found it to be unto death,” even though in reality he was made alive.    We are born again – regenerated only by the Spirit of God.   He speaks life into us.   “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth, it will not return unto me void, but will accomplish that which I please, and prosper in the thing whereunto I sent it.”    (Forgive my not quoting that passage from Isaiah perfectly.)    This is the same power that said “Let there be Light, and there was light.”  It is this same power that said “Lazarus, come forth!”, and Lazarus was made alive.    God breathes (or speaks) life into us, just as He gave natural life to Adam in the Creation.    We are completely passive in this operation of regeneration.   Man has absolutely nothing to do in the new birth.   It is the effectual working of a Sovereign God.   

Now, in regard to the Gospel…..

The Gospel is the Good News of the finished work of Jesus Christ.  It has absolutely no value or effect on a man until AFTER he is born again.   Christ said in John 3 that “except a man be born again, he cannot see thekingdom of God.”   The Scriptures say that “the natural man receiveth not the things of God, neither can he know them, for they are spiritually discerned.”    Also there is a very, very definitive statement in II Tim 1:10, where it says that God “hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.”    Here is a wonderful statement of the utility of the Gospel.    The Gospel NEVER brings life to a person, but it brings that life to light.   There is a profound difference between bringing to life versus making that life known to an individual.A man that is spiritually dead has no ability to receive the Gospel in any fashion.   God must first make him alive before he can even have a heart to be touched by it.   While there have doubtless been occasions where someone has been regenerated while under the sound of the Gospel, the fact that the Gospel was being preached had absolutely no effect upon their regeneration.   Until after they were born again, it was simply foolishness to them.Now, after a person is born again, the Gospel is very important to them, for only in the true Gospel of Jesus Christ can he who has been regenerated and had the law of God written in his heart find any rest, and find any realization of his justification before God.   The Gospel doesn’t make the believer justified before God, it tells the believer that he is justified before God, and therefore provides him justification in the court of his conscience by proclaiming to his lionic accuser that he is clothed with the righteousness of Jesus Christ. 

By: Adam Green

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.

Many people in the world say that belief is needed before you can ever be regenerated.  I’m going to try and point out some verses that are clearly contrary to that belief.  Starting with John 3:36.  John 3:36 states that he who believes has eternal life.  Hath is a past tense verb.  Stating that everlasting life is possessed by those who believe.  If this verse was stating that belief was necessary in order to receive eternal life then it would have to say, “will have.”  It doesn’t say that it says, “already has.”  I would like to say that belief and faith is very similar in meaning and most people use them hand in hand as will I.  So I would like to point out that faith is a fruit of the Spirit.  ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, ²³ Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  So if faith is a fruit of the Spirit, would not you have to have the Spirit in order to bear that fruit.  I have never seen an apple borne without the tree and I’m sure that same principle would have to apply here. 

Another verse I would like to talk about is John 5:24 which says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”  Now again most people would use this verse to say that you must hear the gospel and believe on Jesus in order to have everlasting life.  Well lets look at what this verse does not say.  It doesn’t say, “You must hear my word, and believe on Him that sent Me, to have everlasting life, and to pass from death unto life.”  It is in a completely different tense than that.  The result of the hearing of the word, and believing is once again in past tense.  It is saying that the hearing and belief is a sign that you have everlasting life, not a requirement. 

 Now I believe that all of God’s children will at some point in there life be regenerated by the Holy Spirit and that faith will be placed in there hearts.  The fact that He will do that is not in any way left up to man.  Man’s will, will not get him any where because the natural man can not please God.  If ye have the Spirit of God in you, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit.  The Spirit of God being in us is what gives man the ability to seek after God.  Romans 8:6-9

So how does man believe, “Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”  I say once again that faith is a fruit, an affirmative, not something that man must do.  Eternal salvation is the work of Christ, it was finished on the cross of Calvary.  And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.  The death of Christ was sufficient enough to save all that He died for.  He only died for those that the Father gave Him.