PREDESTINATION REVISITED
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First Word
Does God hand pick some to go to Heaven and
others to go to Hell?
Predestination or
Calvinism
teaches that EVERYBODY is predestined to go to Hell,
but God in His grace chose to SAVE SOME from that
fate.
God did not send the rest to Hell; they were ALL already going to Hell;
that would be double jeopardy.
Dead – Dead - Dead
- DEAD - Man is so dead in
his sins that he can’t even reach for a life preserver even if it’s
floating right next to him. But God
has chosen to “make it possible” that he CAN reach out.
- Fate
Debate
– Arminius say men have
to make a choice; Man has part, but can resist God – Calvinist says no, that’s
not right – It’s all God; man can’t do anything – Man cannot resist the
calling of God – Then there’s the Hybrid
versions... Taking some parts from
each.
- Intellectual
Gymnastics
- Did God choose us or did we choose Him…
I think Yes… Both are
right. It seems to me there is an
action on God’s part to draw
men, and an action on man’s part to
come – Or maybe not. - Which blade in a pair of scissors is the
most important?
- The Big
Question – Does
God under the New Covenant draw ONLY SOME men or are His ways past
our finding out?
Rom 11:33 – God’s ways are past finding out.
33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom
and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past
finding out!
Eph 2:1-2 – We were DEAD
in our transgressions.
1 As for you, you were DEAD in your
transgressions and sins,
2 in which you used to live when you followed the
ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who
is now at work in those who are disobedient.
NIV
John 6:44 – It is God that
draws man to Him
44 No one can come
to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise
him up at the last day.
NKJV
John 6:65 –
It is God that enables you to come
65 He went on to say,
"This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father
has enabled him." NIV
Rom 9:16 - Not by what we do, but by God’s mercy.
16 It does not, therefore, depend
on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. NIV
Yeah, but what about this?
- Does God as the
creator or potter make some people for heaven and others for Hell?
- Muslim’s believe this - Sura 3:129 – Allah has predestined some to paradise and
some to hell. Sura 32:13
– Allah sends to hell whomever he wants.
He created a multitude of spirits and men specifically for the
purpose of sending them to hell.
- In the strictest
sense of Christianity,
- Doesn’t God harden the
hearts of those He wants to as well as blesses the hearts of others? - YES He does. - God, in
His Plan called Nebuchadnezzar, King of
Isa 64:8 – We are clay
molded as God chooses
8 We are the clay, you are the potter; we
are all the work of your hand
Jer 18:6 – God can do as
He pleases with the clay
6 "Can I not do with you as this potter
does?" declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the
potter, so are you O house of Israel
Rom 9:21 – Some made noble, some made common
21 Does not the potter have the right to make out
of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some
for common use?
Rom 9:15 –God chooses who He will have mercy on.
15 "I will have
mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have
compassion." NIV
Rom 9:18-
God hardens the hearts of who He wants to
18 Therefore God has mercy
on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
NIV
Jer 27:6 – Israel
6 Now I will hand all your
countries over to my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon
Heaven or Hell
·
When
I became a member of the Presbyterian Church, they explained to me about
“Predestination” and I told them I hung my hat on John 3:16 , that “whosoever will”
may come. - They said that was fine, but
they just wanted me to know what they taught.
·
What
I read in scripture is that, we as followers of Christ have been predestined
to be conformed to the image of His
Son. And that He who has BEGUN this work of “conforming” us will
complete it.
·
What is the Image of His
Son? Christ has a heavenly Calling –
He is in the presence of God – He will rule and reign forever.
·
The justified Christian in a glorified body; will
be called to Heaven into the presence of God, face to face with
Jesus Christ, to rule and reign with Him. – We have begun.
Rom 8:29-30 – Predestined -
conformed to the Image of Jesus
29 For whom He foreknew, He also PREDESTINED to be conformed
to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many
brethren.
30 Moreover whom He PREDESTINED these He also called; whom He called, these He
also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. NKJV
Phil 1:6 – He who begun
the work in us will complete it
6 being confident of this very thing, that He
who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus
Christ; NKJV
So What’s the Point
·
The word “predestination” is found only four times
in the Bible and it is when Paul was addressing two groups of believers. The first group is called WE” and is the
Jews; the second group is called “YOU” who are the Gentiles; both groups
known as “US” were followers of “The Way”;
Jesus Christ.
·
I
have no problem in embracing the thought that in the OT, God hand selected and
predestined “these men” for His glory, before the foundations of the
earth; both Jew and Gentile to be the first among many to receive “The Promise”
of salvation.
·
The FIVE POINTS of the FATE
DEBATE
·
POINT ONE – God chose in advance to have mercy on the
Gentiles who had not pursued Him. That’s
you and me. The Gentiles were actually
the objects of God’s wrath, but now have been predestined to participate
with Israel
·
POINT TWO – Predestination is not
about individuals, but about groups; Jews and Gentiles. ( with the Gentiles meaning everybody else that is not a Jew. ) – “Believers” in both groups are predestined to
be adopted as sons of God. The
once separated two groups have become one humanity in Christ. - There is now no difference between believing
Jew and believing Gentile.
·
POINT THREE – Those that call upon
the name of the Lord and believe in their heart are predestined to be
saved. - It is NOT every Jew; the natural
children of Abraham who are God's children, but it’s the children of the promise; Jews as
well as Gentiles who put their faith in Jesus Christ.
·
POINT FOUR – Predestination
does not alter mans “Free Will” to choose although God already
knows his decision. - The hidden wealth of the Gospel was always there
for the Gentiles and is only now being revealed; but it’s up to THEM to
seize the opportunity.
·
POINT FIVE -The message is: The “growth
process” to conform the Christian into the image of Jesus Christ
is predestined to be completed.
·
Predestination is the revelation of
God’s hidden plan to extend the gospel to the “Dirty, Rotten, Low Down, Scumbag
Sinners; the Rejected, Revolting GENTILES.
·
Those
that “call on His Name” are predestined to become Justified, Glorified,
Holy and Blameless
·
Gentiles are predestined to have the same “opportunity”
as the Jews to come into the Kingdom of God
Rom 11:17 – Gentile Believers, now have Jewish Roots.
17 If some of the branches have been broken off,
and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the
others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, NIV
Rom 9:6-7 – Not all
descendents from Israel Israel
6 For not all who are descended from Israel Israel
7 Nor because they are his descendants are they
all Abraham's children. NIV
Rom 9:8 – The children of
the PROMISE are predestined
8 In other words, it is not the natural
children who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise
who are regarded as Abraham's offspring. NIV
Eph 1:4-5 We were chose to
be Holy and blameless
4 For he chose US
5 he PREDESTINED
US to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with
his pleasure and will- NIV
Eph 1:11-14 – Two groups;
Jews and Gentiles
11 In him WE(Jews) were also chosen, having been PREDESTINED according to the plan
of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,
12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in
Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
13 And YOU (Gentiles)
also
were included
in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.
Having believed, YOU were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy
Spirit,
14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance
until the redemption of those who are God's possession-to the praise of his
glory. NIV
John 10:16 – I have sheep
that are not Jews, but are Gentiles
16 And other sheep I have, which are not of
this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there
shall be one fold, and one shepherd. KJV
Eph 2:11 -13 – The Gentiles once separated now brought near
11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who
are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who
call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the
hands of men)-
12 remember that at that time you were separate
from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once
were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. NIV
Eph 2:19-22 – The Gentiles
are no longer foreigners.
19 Consequently, YOU (Gentiles) are no longer foreigners
and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's
household,
20 built on the foundation of the apostles and
prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
21 In him the whole building is joined together
and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.
22 And in him YOU too (Gentiles,
not just Jews) are
being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his
Spirit. NIV
Eph 2:14-16 – Create one
humanity out of two
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made
the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,
15 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its
commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new
man (humanity) out of the two, thus making peace,
16 and in this one body to reconcile both of
them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility NIV
Rom 9:30-31 – The Gentiles
attained righteousness
30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who
did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even
the righteousness of faith;
31 but Israel
Rom 10:12 – There is now
no difference between Jew or Gentile
12 For there is no difference between Jew and
Gentile-the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on
him, NIV
Rom 9:8 – The Children of
promise are predestined
8 In other words, it is not the natural children
who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise who are
regarded as Abraham's offspring. NIV
Rom 9:22 -24 – Jews and Gentiles were prepared in advance
22 What if God, choosing to show his wrath and
make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath-prepared
for destruction?
23 What if he did this to make the riches of his
glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for
glory -
24 even us, whom he also called, not only from the
Jews but also from the Gentiles? NIV
Rom 9:25 - Call the Gentiles my people' who are not my people
25 As he says in Hosea: "I will call them
`my people' who are not my people; and I will call her `my loved one' who
is not my loved one,"
Rom 10:13 - Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
13 For "Everyone who calls on the name of
the Lord will be saved."
Rom 10:9 – Confess with
your mouth and believe in your heart
9 That if you confess with your mouth,
"Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from
the dead, you will be saved. NIV
Change in Priesthood
- I’m In;
your Out
- The Old Covenant eligibility for “The
Promise” was determined by your birth; you had to be descendent of
Abraham whose seed gave us the “Levitical Priest”.
- Jesus was not from
the tribe of Levi therefore He could not be a Levitical Priest.
- There was a change
in the Priesthood when Jesus was made a Priest after the order of
Melchizedek, a higher and older order than that of the
Levitical Priesthood.
- When there is a
change in the Priesthood there MUST
be a change in the Law. A
new covenant.
- The
New Covenant
begins not at the birth of Jesus, but at His death – Jesus was born “Under
the Law” of the Old Covenant – He referred often to the Torah, the
writings of Moses and amplified those laws to show that they could
not possibly be obeyed – His teachings were directed to those who were
still “under the law”.
- He taught that they must
be born again; “Out from under the Law” - That He would give them a
new heart and put His Spirit in them. - He said, even if they drift away, He
would not disown them, but would remain faithful.
- His death demolished
the wall between the Jew and the Gentile drawing
- We serve God now
without being subject to the Old Laws. - There are only two New Covenant Commandments
or Laws – 1) Love God with all
your heart, soul and mind – 2)
Love your neighbor just as you love yourself.
Heb 6:20 - Jesus was a
Priest after the order of Melchizedek
20 where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on
our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of
Melchizedek. NIV
Heb 7:12 – Change in Priesthood – Change in Law
12 For when there is a change of the priesthood,
there must also be a change of the law. NIV
Matt 22:37-40 – Two
Commandments only
37 Jesus replied: "`Love the Lord your
God with all your heart and with all your soul and with
all your mind.'
38 This is the first and greatest
commandment.
39 And the second is like it: `Love your
neighbor as yourself.'
40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two
commandments."
John 12:32 -33 – Lifted up on the Cross drew all men unto Him
32 When I am lifted up from the earth, will
draw all men to myself."
33 He said this to show the kind of death he was
going to die. NIV
2 Cor 5:21 – Jesus without sin, took our sin
21 God made him who had no sin to be sin
for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. NIV
2 Peter 1:4 – We can now
participate in His Devine Nature
4 Through these he has given us his very great and
precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine
nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
Heb 10:14 – We have been made perfect forever
14 because by one sacrifice he has made perfect
forever those who are being made holy. NIV
John 3:3-7 – You must be
born again to see the Kingdom of God
3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the
truth, no one can see the kingdom of God
4 "How can a man be born when he is
old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his
mother's womb to be born!"
5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no
one can enter the kingdom of God
6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives
birth to spirit.
7 You should not be surprised at my saying, `You
must be born again.'
Ezek 36:26-27 – I will
give you a new heart and spirit.
26 I will give you a new heart and put a
new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you
a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to
follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. NIV
Phil 2:13 – God’s Spirit in us gives us the desire to do good.
13 for it is God who works in you to will
and to act according to his good purpose. NIV
Heb 8:10 – He put His laws in our hearts and mind.
10 This is the covenant I will make with Israel
2 Tim 2:13 Even if we drift away, He will remain faithful
13 if we are faithless, he will remain faithful,
for he cannot disown himself. NIV
Righteous
·
Are you as righteous as the Disciples or Paul
or maybe Billy Graham’; How about the Pope?
Did you say NO…? Well the scriptures say YES... We are as righteous as
Jesus Christ; we are clothed in His righteousness.
·
This
is not a blasphemous statement, its scriptural FACT - So take ownership.
2 Cor 5:17 – When we believe, we are a new creation
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new
creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
NIV
Gal 3:6-7 – When we are a
new creation, we become righteous
6 Consider Abraham: "He believed God,
and it was credited to him as righteousness."
7 Understand, then, that those who believe are children
of Abraham. NIV
2 Cor 5:21 – We have the righteousness of God
21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us,
so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
NIV
The believing Gentiles (us) are no longer under the law
and have been PREDESTINED by God’s Grace
to be included with the BELIEVERS of the
Nation of Israel
The doctrine
of Predestination; you can take it or leave it
-
If
you confess with your mouth, that "Jesus is Lord," and believe in
your heart
that
God raised him from the dead; you will be saved - PERIOD
Jesus plus nothing else
Rom 10:8-9
In the multitude of counselors,
there is wisdom.
Prov 11:14
I am grateful for those that went before me providing concepts, ideas, historical information, and scripture verses. Because of them I can stand on their shoulders and see further than I otherwise ever could have.
Annotated Reference Bible – Dake
God without Religion – Andrew Farley
Handel’s Messiah – The Music
King James Version Bible - KJV
Mere
Christianity
– C.S. Lewis
Naked Gospel; The – Andrew Farley
Neighboring Faiths – Winfred Corduan
New Evidence
that demands a verdict; The – Josh McDowell
New International Version Bible - NIV
Why I am a
Christian
– Michael A. Gorman
Wikipedia
Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible; The - Tenney
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