His Terms – An Invitation

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Note: Due to the continuing recovery from the recent ice storm and some other factors, posting has slowed considerably.


One of the most striking things about how we as individuals are, is our capacity to deny the immediacy or urgency of an issue. We tend to “stick our heads in the sand” when it comes to certain issues. This is almost universally true when it comes to the issue of death and dying — particularly our own death. We all would like to cling to the belief that we will somehow escape the inevitable fact that we will die at some point in time. The sad fact is that we are delusional in this respect — and this even applies to a lot of fundamentalist Christians.

The fact is that we are expressly told in Scripture that we will all die at some point in time — and it will be sooner rather than later. Moreover, we are not guaranteed to draw the next breath. Nowhere in Scripture does it state that you or I or anyone else is guaranteed to live a certain number of years. What we are given is a generally applied average life-span of “three score and ten” (70 years) and possibly “four score” (80) with some folks living shorter lives, and others, longer than that. However, that statement does not apply to any express, certain person. Thus, each of us is subject to leave this earth at any moment, as our longevity here is entirely in the hands of the LORD God.

Worse yet, we (speaking collectively) tend to really shove away any thought of what awaits us when we cease to function here on earth and our soul departs this body. Though we may know it, we really do not fully grasp the import of the following statement:

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: . . . (Hebrews 9:27)

We do not really care to understand that this means the life we have here and now, is the only opportunity we will have to be reconciled unto our Creator, the LORD God. Instead of confronting this head on and dealing with it, we shove it away, and put if off for another time, another day. Sadly, we also fail to realize that we are already condemned, and we are playing “Russian roulette” with our life by putting off dealing with this. When the Lord Jesus Christ dealt with Nicodemus, he expressly told him that the default position of man is condemnation before God:

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18)

Therefore, for one to put off dealing with the issue of the day of their death, and what will happen to them upon their soul leaving the body, is truly taking a risk of the greatest magnitude, especially since we have no guarantee what the next few moments will bring. Nonetheless, there are those who believe that they can deal with this anytime they want, just not today. Moreover, most of those who have heard the gospel have the very same attitude of Agrippa:

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. (Acts 26:28)

And of Felix:

And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. (Acts 24:24-25)

The problem is, a “more convenient season” may never come, and being “almost persuaded” is not good enough. You see, it is not left entirely up to man as to when he can, or cannot, have the invitation to come to Christ for salvation. Nor is it left to the individual to come to Christ for salvation anytime the notion strikes. Even though the LORD God does desire for every individual to be reconciled to Him through Christ and His sacrifice, the invitation is still the LORD’s, and He can withdraw it whensoever He pleases. Moreover, we are warned about coming when we are invited, and not putting it off:

Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. (Hebrews 3:7-15)

And again:

Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. (Hebrews 4:1-3)

As is plainly seen by the above passages, the invitation is strictly of God, and the Scripture indicates plainly that if one has the gospel presented to them, then TODAY is the day to be saved – not tomorrow – that we are not to put it off. The fact is that no one is guaranteed that the LORD will present them the opportunity. The LORD God will and does try to present to each person the gospel. But if an individual rejects the very thought of God, what can the LORD God do? After all, the LORD will not force an individual to believe anything concerning Him. One cannot harden their heart and then expect the LORD to keep working to “cause them to believe” as the Scripture is also plain:

And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. (Genesis 6:3)

Thus, responding to the invitation and believing is the responsibility of the person, but the invitation is the LORD’s. If He does not invite, then no matter what one does, salvation will not be available. One such example of this is Esau:

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. (Hebrews 12:14-17)

No matter how much Esau wanted it, Esau’s rejection of having Christ come through his lineage (He sold his birthright saying “Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?” (Genesis 25:32a)) sealed his destiny as he totally disbelieved the promise of God, and despised it, making it equivalent to a bowl of beans. It is not as if Esau didn’t know. Rather, Esau knew of the promise of God and his grandfather Abraham’s obedience to the LORD in offering up his father Isaac:

And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way. And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. (Genesis 18:16-19)

And, of Abraham’s absolute confidence that if he killed Isaac in sacrifice, the LORD would raise Isaac from the dead:

By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. (Hebrews 11:17-19)

Hence, Esau had NO EXCUSE for his equivalent to spitting in the face of the LORD God by unbelief in the promise of the LORD (Having the Saviour of the world come from your lineage is only worth a bowl of beans?). Because of this, the LORD withdrew any opportunity for Esau to repent, and thus withdrew the invitation to be saved as well.

This is only one such example of rejecting the LORD and refusing His invitation. Though refusing the invitation to come to Christ may not be as egregious as what Esau did in selling his birthright, it is still denying that the LORD can do what He promises to do. Thus, the LORD is under no obligation to extend the invitation again – and may not ever. One cannot demand the LORD extend His invitation for salvation, as the provision of salvation, and the invitation thereof belong solely to the LORD God.

Therefore it behooves us — if the LORD God invites, come. Don’t tarry – come, and come to Christ TODAY. Not tomorrow, not next week, not when it is convenient – NOW! If you tarry, there is no guarantee that the LORD will invite again.

As it is written, “To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.” (Psalm 95:7b-9)

TODAY is the day of salvation.


Unteachable?

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NOTE: I underline for emphasis. All emphasis is mine.

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (I Thessalonians 5:21)

Well, it’s not the first time I have been called “unteachable,” and I am certain it won’t be the last.

What is the problem?

I demand proof — not assertions. I also demand that competency be demonstrated in the English language and in knowledge of the Scripture. Additionally, honesty is paramount, along with a strong sense of respect for the rights of others. What this means is you do not take the materials of others and appropriate them for your use, not acknowledging they are not your own. Moreover, when using the material of others, citation is given as to the author and publisher. Failure to abide by the foregoing will certainly cause me to lose respect for whosoever it is that is attempting to teach me. This is when I become “unteachable.”

What I was told was this:

Paul, your spirit is unteachable, and I”m(sic) no longer going to bang my head against the wall for someone who has no respect for me. ((http://www.reproachofmen.org/blog/?p=788&cpage=1#comment-1370))

And:

You are unbelievable. Paul, I have a feeling you have to be right and argue about everything. That is a sign of an unteachable spirit. ((e-mail from Aaron dated 13 Feb. 2009))

Of course, there is a reason for my “unteachable spirit,” which is duly noted above and in my personal testimony. When I was saved back in 1996, I determined that I would never be deceived again — and I have steadfastly, rigorously tested everything that I encounter. Initially, I had a learning curve which coincided with my learning of the doctrine. However, as time has gone on, I have come to know why certain doctrines, no matter how they are presented, are inherently wrong. Additionally, I have also learned when someone is dodging questions and not being honest with the Scripture.

Of course, my willingness to listen and understand what they are teaching diminishes greatly when I am given “correction” like the following:

No Paul, my analogy is not saying we control God, really bad understanding of my analogy. God controls our decisions to further his will. Our will is the hand and God’s will is the glove, His will and purpose are behind our decisions. We can’t make a decision with out God’s will and purpose being behind it, hense(sic) the glove over the hand. Why did you erase all the evidence that refuted your commentary? When are you going to give scripture reference to your view of foreknowledge? When are you going to explain how one receives Jesus by grace alone without merit according to your foreknowledge view? ((http://www.reproachofmen.org/blog/?p=579&cpage=1#comment-1328))

In looking at Aaron’s analogy of the hand and the glove, I really have to raise the question of which is in actual control: the glove — or the hand. The fact that a glove covers a hand does not and cannot change the reality that it is the hand which is in control. The glove has no actual ability to influence what the hand does, it simply is a slave to the hand — which was my point to Aaron. However, as you can plainly see, he missed it totally. The problem here is the analogy stinks, especially for the point Aaron is attempting to make.

As for the erasing of the commentary, I didn’t. It was held in Moderation until I decided what to do with it. The reason I could not decide what to do was the comments were plagiarized. There was absolutely no citation or acknowledgment that the comments made belonged to someone else, and were being appropriated for use as “Comments.” This is theft of intellectual property. This was not the first instance either. Back when this whole debate started some months ago, Aaron plagiarized R.C. Sproul’s work, and when called on it, blew it off with this remark:

First, I never claimed the questions to be originally to be my own, Second, Who cares if the commentary did not come from me originally, where the truth comes from is irrelevant if I believe the content. ((private e-mail dated 24 Nov. 2008))

To which I replied:

You have a very real problem that you don’t even see. Using or sending material that you do not cite the source, and allowing someone to think it is your own is called “plagiarism” and it is fundamentally dishonest. Everyone who has ever gone through school and written any paper that used other sources has been instructed as to what constitutes plagiarism, and that it is fundamentally wrong. It constitutes intellectual theft of property.

What is even more distressing is that you don’t see a problem with appropriating other people’s material as your own. This is very disturbing and indicates plainly that you have no problem with dishonesty. None of this is “irrelevant” and is not mitigated in any way by whether you agree with the authors of the material or not. You took of their labor, and appropriated it for your own, passing it off as your own after citing J.I. Packer, which means that you knew you should cite your sources. ((e-mail to Aaron dated 24 Nov. 2008))

To which I received the following reply:

I’m not in school writing a paper for you to grade, therefore, in the future I will recite the source if that makes you happy. I did not realize this was important to you. Again, I was not in any form trying to take credit for anyone’s work, just giving you information that I agree with and asking you to respond. If I gave that impression I apologize. If I believe in the content, what does it matter where it comes from? If I can copy and paste someone elses commentary that I believe in and save typing time, whats wrong with that. ((e-mail from Aaron dated 24 Nov. 2008))

When I pushed for an acknowledgment of wrongdoing in the midst of addressing a closely related issue, I received the following:

Still waiting for you to respond to my foreknowledge/predestination and Romans Chapter 9 emails, quit dodging PAUL and answer the emails. Who is plagiarizing? Not me, I have sited(sic) all my sources professor Davis. Quit shifting the attention on false non-issues and answer the emails that are fatal to your theology. ((e-mail from Aaron dated 26 Nov. 2008))

The supposed “false non-issue” is a reference to the thread of discussion in which I pressed for an answer to the following contradiction in Calvinist/Reformed doctrine:

Even though you cannot seem to see the inherent contradiction in this (Just like you cannot seem to see how plagiarism is theft and wicked sin.):

“People make decisions for themselves. OK Paul, Good. People are responsible for the decisions they make,”

and

“WHO DECIDES? GOD DOES, AND HE DOESN’T CARE HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT IT.”

We will go on, specifically since you stated the following:

“Ok, Good. Every decision a person makes good or evil fulfills God’s will.”

So, this was all God’s will:

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea , hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons . And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. (Genesis 3:1-8)

By your words, it was the will of God that Adam fell, and sin entered into the world. Correct? ((e-mail to Aaron dated 26 Nov. 2008))

Now, for those who are familiar with Mormonism and the Book of Mormon, my question should ring a bell. Additionally, if we understand the point of the question, we will understand that this is one of the core issues of Calvinist/Reformed doctrine concerning salvation. It is not, as Aaron claimed, a non-issue. Nonetheless, my bringing up again the unresolved issue of Aaron’s plagiarism touched a nerve, and I was called “professor Davis” in reply.

After cutting communication with him and rebuking him sharply, he finally sent this “apology” of sorts:

I did not realize I was not being honest and decent ,and discussing docrine(sic), I am willing to do that. We got on the wrong foot some how, I apologize for my part. I would like for you to respond to this email and the others. Thank you ((e-mail from Aaron dated 1 Dec. 2008))

To which I replied:

Do you understand how wrong plagiarism is? And that one should never do it, no matter how much you agree with the source?

The only exception to this rule is to protect the identity of an individual that may not, or does not wish to have their name published. Obviously, this does not apply to published materials. When I quoted you in the blog post, I did not name you expressly, only stated that “a Calvinist” sent me an e-mail. That way, you were cited without focusing on your name, only on what you said. ((e-mail to Aaron dated 1 Dec. 2008))

And I also sent another letter to him detailing the problem with Westboro Baptist Church and Fred Phelps, where they outright lied about a meaning to an underlying Greek word:

My larger point here was that Westboro lied – outright lied. Westboro claimed that a meaning didn’t exist, when it plainly does exist. Once you lie, it really doesn’t matter about your argument. Bald-faced lying will kill any credibility one has. I could have ended the whole series about Westboro with the point below, and been fully justified.

My second point was this:

“Since we now know that outright distortion of the meaning of passages and verses is not beyond them . . .”

If someone will lie about one thing, especially something so obvious, what else will they lie about and distort? Why should I believe anything Westboro Baptist Church says?

If we want to discuss whether the context of the passage is “all men everywhere” or only “the elect,” that is a separate discussion altogether. ((e-mail to Aaron dated 1 Dec. 2008))

Aaron then agreed that he knew plagiarism is wrong:

1) Yes, I know plagiarism is wrong. 2) My intentions were not to plagiarize, but to simply challenge your views with other people’s commentary that I believe refute your thinking. My mistake was not telling you in advance my sources, which I have since aplologized(sic) for. ((e-mail from Aaron dated 1 Dec. 2008))

However, I should have known that he was not sincere, and that plagiarism is the normal mode of operation for him as is shown by the comments referenced above that are plagiarized. They were posted in late December well after he stated he knew what plagiarism was and that it is wrong. The comments can be found here and here.

The long and short of this is that I am “unteachable” when someone has proven beyond the shadow of a doubt they are a thief and a liar. I simply refuse to take anything they state with anything other than a grain of salt. Why should I accept what they say? If I allow myself to receive “teaching” from a thief and liar, then I too will become like the thief and liar. The Scripture tells me that. Before I will believe any man, I will look to Scripture for my instruction. I expect everyone else to do the same.

I do not expect anyone to believe what I say simply because I say it or write it. Rather, I expect it to be tested and rigorously examined by the standard of Scripture. I firmly believe that, if I am correct, the LORD will confirm it without question in His word. In this sense, I expect everyone else to be “unteachable” as well. After all, the Scripture, the word of God instructs us with the following:

It 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. (John 6:45)

And again:

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (II Peter 1:19-21)

And yet again:

But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (II Timothy 3:13-17)

The reason for this is summed up in the following statement by the Lord Jesus Christ:

And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. (John 12:47-48)

Hence, whether anyone listens to me or not, a failure to adhere to the Scriptures will cause one to be judged and condemned by the very Scriptures they failed to pay heed to and handle properly.

As for Aaron, well . . . . he obviously thinks he has something in him folks want as this statement was in one of the final comments he left:

There are people that are starving to have what is inside of me. ((http://www.reproachofmen.org/blog/?p=788&cpage=1#comment-1370))

Oooo-kay. It’s breathtakingly arrogant, but if you believe it . . . . . . . . . . Hell awaits.

Adam and the Fall — Addendum – Part 1

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NOTE: This is a continuation of the series “Adam and the Fall.” If you have not read those posts, please do so as it will yield a far better understanding of what this series deals with. The posts can be found here: Part 1, Part 2, Part3, Part 4, Part5, Part 6.

“Ok. This is what I believe and think you meant in the commentary’s above. Correct me if I’m wrong. In a nut shell, Pre-Fall man(Adam) had the ability to sin and the ability not to sin. I believe Adam’s righteousness was the equivalent to a “born again” Christian’s righteousness, a reborn believer has the ability to sin and the ability not to sin. Pre-Fall man and the Reborn man had the same abilities and desires. As far as what Adam knew, what he didn’t know, what he understood, what he didn’t understand is debatable, and one that I wish not to participate in.” ((http://reproachofmen.org/blog/?p=382#comments))

There is a misconception that exists concerning Adam and the righteousness he possessed with respect to the born-again child of God and the righteousness that child has imputed unto them. As was made plain earlier, Adam was righteous, but only within the confines of his existence. By and large, it is not understood that Adam was righteous only in the context of his creation. Instead, what is assigned to Adam is precisely what the comment quoted above states:

“I believe Adam’s righteousness was the equivalent to a “born again” Christian’s righteousness, a reborn believer has the ability to sin and the ability not to sin.” ((Ibid))

This simplistic view does not take into account, nor does it incorporate an understanding, of what happens to someone when they are born-again. This failure to understand or incorporate the extent of, and change in the nature of a person when they are born again, brings about many false teachings that could be easily resolved if the totality of the change in the nature of the individual were correctly understood. This change in nature is so radical a departure from what the believer once was, it is described in this way:

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (II Corinthians 5:17)

And again:

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. (Galatians 6:14-15)

This becoming a “new creature” is reinforced in the Old Testament, in the book of Jeremiah:

Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil. (Jeremiah 13:23)

Just as it is impossible for the leopard to change its spots, or a man to change the color of his skin, it is equally impossible for someone who has the nature of Adam to do good or become righteous in the sight of God. The reason for this is the corruption of the natural man — the man that is in Adam. As we are expressly told in Scripture, this natural man cannot please God as it is the nature of the flesh only that exists in the natural man, the one who is in Adam:

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:5-8)

Moreover, no matter how hard any man tries of his own ability, the attempted effecting of righteousness, and righteous acts only brings greater condemnation as we cannot possibly see the real end of our works and will invariably select a course of action that falls far short of matching the righteousness of God. There are numerous reasons for this, which will be dealt with later, but suffice to state at this point, that once a transgression has been committed, it must be paid for, and no subsequent finite act, however righteous, is going to be sufficient to pay for the transgression that has occurred. Hence, whatsoever is done must be of God as man is incapable of effecting any sort of infinite payment that is required of God for transgression of His law.

Here then we arrive at the event called the “new birth.” It is an event that man cannot effect and cannot duplicate. It is solely and expressly a work of God. This event is of such magnitude of change that, were we to physically see it, we would never believe it possible, except that we could not deny that it obviously occurred. In Romans, Chapter 6, it is described thus:

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. (Romans 6:3-7)

What is described above is nothing less than what would be if we saw someone die, and then immediately come to life, but they were entirely different when they came back to life than what they were before they died. When it states “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed . . .” it is stating nothing less than the fact that when someone believes the gospel, who and what they are — their very nature that caused them to behave and think in a certain way, ceased to exist. This is further described in Galatians:

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

Here, quite plainly, the apostle Paul states “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:” which is to say that who the apostle Paul was, died when he came to personally know the Lord Jesus Christ through faith, when he believed in the Lord Jesus Christ for his salvation. Now, the Holy Ghost, by the apostle Paul insures this is very clear, so that we understand fully — who he was before, has departed — ceased to exist, died. This is the “old man” spoken of in the passage from Romans 6 above:

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, . . . (Romans 6:6a)

Here then is a change that is beyond reformation, or “turning over a new leaf.” This change is better described as transformation or translation, both if which are terms the Scripture uses to describe the change that occurs at salvation:

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: . . . (Colossians 1:12-14)

Which translation was pictured in the taking of Enoch:

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. (Hebrews 11:5)

Above, when it declares that “Enoch was translated that he should not see death;” it is the perfect picture of what the Lord Jesus Christ described in John, Chapter 8:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? (John 8:51-53)

And again:

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. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. (John 5:24-25)

And yet again:

Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? (John 11:23-26)

All of which are confirmation of that which is stated in Revelation, Chapter 20:

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4-6)

Thus we see in Enoch’s translation a picture of the fact that a born-again child of God cannot die — ever. In addition, we should note that Enoch ceased to interact with this world, and ceased to partake of troubles of this flesh. This also is a picture of what occurs at salvation. It, like the picture of death Enoch portrayed (Enoch escaped it) also applies to the soul. ((There are quite a number of things that could be discussed at this point. However, to remain with the subject at hand, we shall have to forgo them for the moment.)) The problem that arises here is that problem highlighted by Aaron’s comment quoted above:

“I believe Adam’s righteousness was the equivalent to a “born again” Christian’s righteousness, a reborn believer has the ability to sin and the ability not to sin. Pre-Fall man and the Reborn man had the same abilities and desires.” ((Ibid))

The problem here is that Adam could, and did die. However, the Lord Jesus Christ is express that the born-again believer cannot die. This is not “will not” die, which would leave open the possibility of death based upon some as yet unforseen change or event. Rather, this is “can not” die, which eliminates all possibility of death and dying. Thus, to understand this, we need to establish a perspective, and view everything from that perspective, not allowing any other perspective to cloud our vision. Once we have established that perspective and understand it, then we can examine all other perspectives in light of that one perspective, which would eliminate considerable confusion.

Quite obviously the perspective we are going to view all this from is the perspective of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is God manifest in the flesh. There are several reasons for this, but the plainest and simplest is that His perspective is correct, He being the Creator of the “box” we live in and the Author of salvation. Hence, it is His perspective that is automatically correct, with all other perspectives taking a “back seat” to be considered only in light of the perspective of the LORD God.

In establishing this perspective, let us turn to a passage from the Old Testament in which the prophet Samuel was rebuked for having a wrong perspective and reminded of the perspective of the LORD:

And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’S anointed is before him. But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. (I Samuel 16:6-7)

When the LORD tells Samuel that He “seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” He does not speak here of the physical heart of a man. Rather, the LORD speaks of the soul, which is the part of man that He judges and holds accountable:

Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. (Ezekiel 18:4)

Therefore, our perspective, if it is to be correct, must focus upon the soul and all things that pertain to the soul. Additionally, we must understand that when the LORD God makes the soul the single element of the individual to be judged, He is quite plainly stating that the flesh, and what happens in the flesh are secondary. ((This is not to say the things that happen in the flesh are not important, but only to say they are secondary.)) We can confirm this by the following:

When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (John 6:61-63)

And again:

Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. (Matthew 15:17-20)

And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. (Mark 7:17-23)

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. (Proverbs 4:23)

The reason Proverbs tells us that the “issues of life” all stem from the heart, (which is the soul), is because the condition of our heart is what we are judged on. Moreover, in telling us that, the LORD God is also stating that a certain perspective we have is never correct — that is, we look at the flesh of a person first, and then say that person ‘has a soul,’ when in reality, it is entirely the other way around. What we should automatically say is ‘there is a soul’ understanding that people are souls, not ‘they have a soul.’ However, the reason we have that wrong perspective is because we are overwhelmed by the flesh, even to the point of not perceiving our soul at all.

Thus, we must change our perspective if we are to understand what the LORD God means when He speaks of life and death in relation to salvation, so that we also are not totally confused and mistaken about the condition of a person, even as the disciples were before the Lord Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead:

These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. (John 11:11-14)

To be continued . . .

Invalid Questions – Part 2

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In addressing the questions raised by Aaron, we can examine them in whatever order we desire. However, since there is an order to things, a failure to examine them in proper order will yield some very interesting results for our doctrine. In the Scripture, there is an order to building doctrine, which is expressed in the following passage:

Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. (Isaiah 28:9-13)

Hence, to begin to understand what the Scripture states as far as doctrine is concerned, one must be a born-again child of God, and have some amount of maturity. Moreover, there must be a willingness to learn in the manner the LORD has prescribed, which is “precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little” and that process cannot be hurried, rushed, or shortcut, as the LORD God will not bless such “workarounds” as he made quite clear to the apostles:

I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. (John 16:12)

And again, that any learning is totally dependent upon what the LORD allows:

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit. (Hebrews 6:1-3)

Thus, we have to do everything, including the way we approach and address doctrine, the way the LORD God is pleased with, else we aren’t going to get very far and be right in our determination of what proper and correct doctrine is. In seeking to accomplish this, one of the first things we must understand is that Scripture is to be trusted implicitly. This is not to say we blindly trust Scripture, but that we trust it implicitly, the LORD God having proven its accuracy.

Therefore, when we come to understand that Scripture is silent on a matter, we implicitly understand that we also should be silent on the matter and not “pry” into what we can infer about the matter. Additionally, when Scripture demonstrates that we “started in the middle” of a subject, we should accept that correction and seek the actual beginning of how the subject is addressed. A prime example of this concerns what the whole focus of the Scripture is, or “What the Bible is All About.” Interestingly enough, finding out what the Scripture is all about doesn’t require an entire book, but only a few of passages from the Scripture itself:

And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. (Luke 1:67-75)

Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:25-27)

And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:44-47)

And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Revelation 19:9-10)

Hence, by the above passages, the whole focus of the Scripture is the Lord Jesus Christ and His work to effect the redemption of man. ((Yes, the statement is true. Everything the Scripture gives us significant detail about does fit within the framework of bringing about the salvation of man and how the LORD God accomplished that work. It is at once and the same time, both utterly simple and terribly complex and complicated.)) Thus, by beginning where the LORD wants us to begin in Scripture, the answer to this question, which often yields books, is given by just a few passages of Scripture that are easily understood. So it is with the following questions:

1. Why is it that one unregenerate person believes the gospel and not another?

5. What principle in him made him choose what he did?

Now, when I was originally given these questions I was told that I could not say “I don’t know.” and leave it at that. I supposed the assumption was that because the Scripture does not tell us why one person chooses to believe and another doesn’t, it means that unregenerate individuals cannot of themselves choose to believe the truth, and thus be saved. In fact, this is the Calvinist/Reformed Theology position. However, it carries the implicit assumption that in gaining the knowledge of good and evil, we somehow are not ever able to recognize or elect anything right, good and true. This implicit assertion of Calvinism is directly contradicted by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself:

Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? (Matthew 7:9-11)

Clearly, the Lord Jesus Christ who is God Himself, plainly acknowledges and points out, using it to teach the goodness and mercy of God, that we do know, and are able to recognize what is good and right and true, even though we are evil. Our problem is not that we cannot see and acknowledge the truth. Rather, it is a quite severe unwillingness to submit to that truth we recognize and acknowledge. There is a fundamental difference and distinction between acknowledgment of a particular truth, and submission to that truth.

Since the Scripture does plainly teach that all individuals can and are able to recognize the truth, and are able to choose between the truth and a lie, and yet does not explain why one chooses and another does not, I replied back to the challenge with the following:

Well, first off, your “”I don’t know” is not an answer.” is rank hypocrisy due to the fact that you Calvinists cannot explain what the criteria is that your “god” uses to determine who he will save and who he will send to hell. If you can show me that criteria in the Scripture, then I will accept this condition of not using “I don’t know” for an answer. Otherwise, I am going to invalidate at least two (2) of your questions, possibly others. ((private e-mail to Aaron))

Of course, what I received back was some very circular logic about God performing His pleasure, in choosing to save some whensoever, and howsoever He wills. What I was never sent was an actual set of criterion for how God decided who would be saved and who would be condemned. So it was that I choose to proceed to answer the two specific questions that have no answer with an explanation from Scripture as to why there is no answer. The long and short of it can be given quickly:

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)

Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men:) (II Chronicles 6:30) see also I Kings 8:39

Here we plainly see two things:

First, it is clearly understood that the question posed by the LORD in Jeremiah, is a rhetorical question in which the obvious answer is “No one.” Which is to say that each and every individual’s heart lies to them and deceives them about their true intentions. We do know from the rest of Scripture that this applies to those who are not born-again in Christ, and thus are unregenerate. ((Here I can just see the Calvinist trying to claim victory by saying this proves their contention that one must be regenerated to believe. However, it does not as their strange contention that one must be regenerated to believe, directly contradicts a number of passages in Scripture.)) Since every person was at one time (and most still are) unregenerate, Jeremiah, Chapter 17, verse 9 applies equally across the board to everyone, so long as they remain dead in trespasses and sins. If at some point they come to Christ for salvation and are born-again in Christ Jesus, that changes. In our unregenerate state this is how we are — every single one of us.

Second, as Solomon made very plain (and the LORD caused it to be recorded twice in Scripture), it is only the LORD God who knows the heart of an individual as it really is. No one else is either capable of, or privy to the inner workings of the heart of man. This stands to reason as we are expressly told we cannot know our own hearts. How then could we actually evaluate the heart of someone else? After all, if our own vision and understanding are impaired, how could we knowingly, honestly pass judgement as to what is in the heart of another? The best we are given to judge by is what the Lord Jesus instructed during the sermon on the mount:

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (Matthew 7:15-20)

As one brother in Christ put it some years back, we are at best “fruit inspectors.” The long and short of it is our hearts lie to us, and we cannot discern what is actually in the heart of another. Moreover, to repeat, only the LORD God knows what is in each and every individual’s heart. Hence, why one particular person chooses to believe and another doesn’t, is a complete mystery to us, but not to the LORD God. However, He has plainly chosen to not waste time explaining the intricate “whys” and “wherefores” of one person versus another. After all, what real purpose would it serve anyway? First off, most folks would deny that is what is happening in their hearts, and second, they would view it a mere entertainment. Thus, no real good would come of it. Nonetheless, there is a day coming in which all those inner workings and thoughts will be revealed.

To be continued . . .

A Missionary’s Journey

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This is a guest article from Bro. Roger Jewell, missionary to the Dominican Republic. Roger Jewell’s sending church is Tabernacle Baptist Church of Lebanon, Missouri. Faith Baptist Church of Spokane is one of his supporting churches.

A Missionary’s Journey

I had a dream last night, that I was on a journey. I didn’t have the ability to make the trip on my own since I didn’t have a vehicle or the money to do so. I did, however, have some supporting pastors and friends that were going my way and helped me get started on the trip. Along the way, the person I was riding with, although the fellowship was wonderful, wanted to stop and enjoy some of the local sites.

I, however, could not stop, since I was headed back to the mission field. It was then that I saw a pastor-friend of mine and his wife who were going my way. I could ride with them the rest of the way while, while the man I was travelling with spent some time in the city we were in. I saw God’s hand each step of the journey, providing for my needs so that I could get back to Barahona, Dominican Republic.

While making this part of the journey, my Pastor friend’s wife asked me where Barahona was. I explained it to her, and she told me that she didn’t think very many people knew where it was, or knew the people we were ministering to. She told me that I should ask my supporting churches and pastors if they could find Barahona, or even the Dominican Republic on a map. She thought that if they were burdened enough to pray for the people of the Dominican Republic specifically, and support and send a missionary to these people, that they should be able to find the place on a map.

At that point, my first ride began to leave the parking lot I was in. I was sad to see him leaving. At that moment I found out that my pastor-friend wasn’t prepared to leave the city right away either, but needed to spend a few days where we were before moving on. I couldn’t wait, however. I needed to continue my journey to get back home to my family and the work I had to do. My heart sank as I saw one vehicle pulling away, and know that the friend I thought would take me the rest of the way wasn’t going to do so.

I had to get to my destination as soon as possible, but I still had a long journey ahead of me. I decided to take a Grey Hound bus the rest of the way. It wasn’t very comfortable and the people I spoke with didn’t know the Lord or understand why I was taking this journey. Many times it was cramped, and it seemed to go much slower than I was travelling before. I then realized how much I depend on our Pastors and our friends to help us along the way. At this point I awoke and decided to write down my dream before I forgot it.

We cannot do anything well without the help of our supporting churches. As a missionary, we live completely by faith. Our support comes in each month only by the grace of God. If a church decides not to help us one month with their support check, or by praying for us, we will feel the pinch. We have begun a journey together, and I hope that we will finish it together. There is a great work that needs to be done here in the Dominican Republic, and around the world. The people here are ignorant, for the most part, of the Word of God and of salvation. They are wondering around as blind men. I know that God has placed me here to help them see the truth, but it seems, at times, like they prefer their blindness to perfect sight.

It is hard work, and I get discouraged at times, but I know that our supporting pastors and churches are praying for us. We aren’t travelling alone, but have you to take the journey with us. Please keep us in your prayers. I hope you will be able to find where we live and minister on a map as easily as you could find the state you are living in. There is no such thing as a missionary that is all alone in the work. We are all dependent upon the prayers, financial support and vision of those who help us in our ministry. We are men and women of faith who have stepped out on the end of a limb to do the work of God in foreign fields because we know that you are holding onto us, and will not allow us to fall to our hurt.

I walked into the living room of my house the other day to find my 9 year old sitting on the couch with my wife. He had tears in his eyes, and was telling my wife that he wants to have friends that he can talk with (in his own language) and play with. My heart broke for him, and for the rest of my children, because I know they all want the same thing. I told him that God has brought us here to help these people get saved, and that he will learn Spanish well, and will have friends here. I could see that my wife wanted to tell him the same thing, but she knows that our 9 year old also has to sacrifice what he “could have had” to be a missionary’s kid on a foreign field.

We will be fine, but we cannot make the journey alone. We need you to help us in the journey, in fellowship, in financial support and most importantly, in prayer. The apostle Paul wrote in Philippians chapter 4 verses 10-13, “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

We missionaries can do the work, but we can’t do it alone. We need the power of God upon our lives and our ministry, and we need good churches that will help us in the journey. May God bless you for your faithfulness. Thank you for all of your help in this great work that God has called us to. I hope we will be travelling companions until we reach our Father’s house, and can rest from our journey together.

Roger Jewell

Recovery

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Well, last week was quite the week, with the worst ice storm I have ever experienced. And, according to several lifelong residents of this area, the absolute worst they have ever seen in this area. Generally speaking, Northwest Arkansas does not get bad ice storms, and when one does occur, it happens so infrequently that a 60 year old resident has only experienced three bad ice storms during his lifetime.

Thus, everything ground to a virtual halt last week, and is in recovery mode this week, and will be for some time to come. I was without power for almost 3 full days, which is not bad considering some folks are still without power, and may be for another week or two.

Over 90% of the trees were damaged, and at least 50% of them will require downing as they are totally ruined and will not recover. Quite a number of them were uprooted from the weight of the ice. There were many telephone lines, cable lines and electric lines down last Wednesday morning, and the scene was ghastly to look at in the early morning light. The blessing of the LORD was that our temperatures on Tuesday (27 Jan.) hovered right around 32 deg. F. while all the heavy rain was falling. Had it been 2 to 3 degrees colder, it would have far, far worse than it was.

With that, I leave you with some pictures, and a thanks to the LORD that we were spared what could have been.

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And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered. So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured them: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses; and I have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name. (Amos 4:6-13)

Consider . . .

I see the hand of the LORD of hosts. . . Do you?

 

A Golden Chain? – Part 3

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Since the ‘chain of events’ here described concerns all the LORD God foreknew, we need to return to the statement made earlier where it was briefly mentioned:

Here we start with “whom he did foreknow” which is to say those known before. Now, there is much to state about this, but for now we shall leave it with simply “knowing beforehand” which is a portion of what is stated in “whom he did foreknow” and is certainly applicable here.

Though the “foreknow” that was addressed earlier could be applied to any and all individuals on the earth as the LORD God does know everyone that would ever be conceived, in the context of the passage and by the specific statement “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son. . .” it applies only to those who are born again. However, there is that “portion” of foreknow which I did not address which resides outside of any context and applies only to a certain class, or set of individuals which the Scripture describes as being “in Christ” and not “in Adam.” The reason it is expressly applied is due to the particular meaning of the words “know” and “knew” as they are used by the LORD to address those who have obeyed the gospel. As we are told in Matthew, Chapter 7, when the Lord Jesus Christ delivered the Sermon on the Mount, there is a ‘knowing’ that is not simply ‘knowing about,’ but a personal, intimate knowledge of, and fellowship with, another person:

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21-23)

Here, the Lord Jesus Christ instructs those hearing Him that it is not a matter of “good” or powerful works that gain one entrance into heaven. Rather, it is that one is personally known of or by the Lord Jesus Christ. This concept of “knowing” which is having a personal relationship with, is further reinforced in several other places in Scripture:

Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? (Galatians 4:8-9)

Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man love God, the same is known of him. (I Corinthians 8:1-3)

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? (John 14:6-9)

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 8:10-12)

. . . But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. (Jeremiah 9:24)

Thus, knowing the LORD, and being known by the LORD is the hallmark and defining feature of a born-again child of God. No matter how much one may claim to serve the LORD, no matter what works they do, without being known of God personally, the claims of having fellowship with Him are not true, and thus those persons are dead in trespasses and sins. There is no way to come to knowing God, and being known of Him, except in faith and in repentance, believing in the Lord Jesus Christ for your salvation. This belief must be from the heart, voluntarily of one’s own free will. Nothing less is acceptable to the LORD God.

Therefore, we now go back and examine verse 29 and what it states again to look at the other part of “foreknow,” which is that personal relationship with Him, and see what the LORD means by that:

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:29)

Before continuing, we must understand that the LORD God sees all time, all at once. And differentiates every point in time, from every other point in time. Thus, from eternity past to eternity future, the LORD God is present there, even as He is present here and now. The perspective of the LORD God is that all time is present, and yet there is a past, present and future. The LORD God is the author and master of time as He initiated time, and will, as the Scripture states, end time at a certain point:

And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. (Revelation 10:5-7)

And we are shown that from before time, the LORD was there:

Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me. (Isaiah 48:16)

And this is confirmed by other Scripture as well, as Proverbs speaks of wisdom personified:

The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. (Proverbs 8:22-23)

So it is when foreknowledge is spoken of, it is done so for two reasons:

1. We cannot mentally digest the concept and idea of all time being “present” time.

We simply cannot conceive of something being at once: past, present and future. We were created to exist within a frame of time, and cannot operate outside of that. We are simply mentally not able to comprehend it. We would mentally go “off the deep end” trying to grasp what we perceived.

2. Physical creation demands time.

It is impossible for physical events to occur, except in a framework wherein time delineates and defines those events. Since the LORD God brought into existence the physical law that no two objects can occupy the same space at the same time, time is essential for the physical creation to operate, else everything would remain exactly as it was when created.

Hence, though in eternity past, the LORD God saw everything that is happening right now — in relation to physical creation, it was yet to happen. Moreover, since no soul that descended from Adam had come into existence as yet, and even Adam himself was yet to be created, all that is spoken of here is classed as “foreknowledge” and from the perspective of creation and events in creation, it is indeed foreknowledge. However, in the heart and mind of the LORD God, He sees (saw) it as immediately present.

Thus, when it states “whom he did foreknow,” not only is it speaking of simply knowing beforehand, but it is relating to us that the LORD God knew those who would be saved in eternity past as if they were in existence at that time. In sum, He had personal intimate knowledge of their souls. This then, reinforces the understanding that verses 29 and 30 of Chapter 8 do not address anyone who would not receive the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour, but confirms that the sequence of events which follows, applies to believers only.

Now, being assured the context is specifically and only believers, we must further examine whether this is a sequence of salvation, or simply relating to the believer what is happening in their life as they “work out their own salvation” while living on this earth. Thus, to begin this examination we must set forth the sequence as it is, and see if the rest of Scripture bears out that this is actually the sequence of salvation, or it is indeed the process that occurs as the born-again child of God is increasingly conformed to the image of the Saviour. That sequence is as follows:

Foreknowledge
Predestination
Called
Justified
Glorified

However, again we must understand yet another crucial issue before continuing forward as it bears heavily upon the very existence of not only Chapter 8, and the specific passage in question, but upon the existence of Chapters 5, 6, and 7 as well:

Being born-again in Christ is a brand new experience wherein the believer has no previous experience and has no understanding of what to expect. This is why the newly born-again believer is referred to as a “babe” meaning baby, as we are told in Hebrews, Chapter 5:

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:12-14)

Knowing all this, it is entirely proper to consider the following question which is now posed:

If the events of the new believer’s condition are not clarified and explained, do you think it could and would cause considerable disconcert and unease at certain events that inevitably occur in the life of that individual?

I should say the answer is a resounding “YES!”

The reason for that is confirmed in the following passage from Hebrews, which is only necessary to relate, if, and only if, one must be both comforted about events that occur, and taught the “why” of their occurrence:

Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. (Hebrews 12:4-13)

And again this view of born-again believers as children is reinforced:

For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. (Hebrews 2:10-13)

Which also is confirmed in the passage from Isaiah:

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

And again by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself after His resurrection:

Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. (John 21:3-6)

Hence, we should understand that we are little children in need of much instruction so we do not wander away or become discouraged, but are led in the right way and encouraged to “make straight paths for your feet.” These things should then give us a far better understanding of why Romans, Chapters 5 through 8 exist, and why they are structured in the particular manner they are.

To be continued . . .

Off Break

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It wasn’t really intentional that I took a break. Rather, due to a friend’s court hearing and preparatory work for that hearing, and then playing catch-up from it, meant that I had no time to write a post worth reading.

That should be largely resolved at this point.

Caving to Evil

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NOTE: This is one of my few digressions to something not specifically and expressly addressing Scriptural doctrine. However, it is quite needful to call attention to this particular item as it affects everyone, not just Israel and the Jews.

Today (1/11/2009) Arutz Sheva, Israel National News reported on an incident in Duisburg, Germany. The report was partially pulled from The Muqata blog, an Israeli blog that is tracking minute by minute (as circumstances warrant) events of the War in Gaza. One of the readers of that blog sent the following description of events in Duisburg:

Today, 10.000 people demonstrated against Israel here in my hometown Duisburg (Germany) and to express their solidarity with Hamas.

So, my girlfriend and me put two Israel flags out of the windows of our flat in the 3rd floor. During the demonstration which went through our street the police broke into our flat and removed the flag of Israel. The statement of the police was to de-escalate the situation, because many youth demonstrators were on the brink of breaking into our apartment house.

Before this they threw snowballs, knifes and stones against our windows and the complete building. We both were standing on the other side of the street and were shocked by seeing a police officer standing in our bedroom and opening the window to get the flag. The picture illustrate this situation. The police acquiesced in the demands of the mob.

The video below is of the incident in Duisburg:

The problem here is that the German police focused on the wrong thing to get rid of the problem. Instead of controlling the demonstrators and correcting their behavior, the police chose to allow them to become more violent and did not disperse them when they refused to calm down. The police also did not choose to forbid any form of demonstration that was not peaceful. Instead, they chose to violate the property rights of a private citizen, all the while empowering evil and proving that violence does effect change.

Smart move — real smart. I suppose when the Muslims demand the towns and cities in Germany observe Sharia law as applicable to all Germans, that they will cave the first time Muslims are violent. It seems to me that someone else used that tactic in Germany some years ago, and got what he wanted.

I also seem to remember that when all was said and done after using those tactics to gain power, all Germany lay in ruins.

See what you can achieve when you accommodate evil.

However, since I am not so accommodating, here is my message to Muslim demonstrators worldwide:

 

Israeli Flag

THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO EXIST

THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO DEFEND THEMSELVES AGAINST HAMAS

Its not coming down or being removed. They are the seed of Jacob, the son of Isaac (which is the son of promise), the son of Abraham.

GET OVER IT

Now, if only the Jews would know and understand that the Saviour was crucified 2000 years ago in Jerusalem and believe the Gospel (a few do, but most not — just like the rest of mankind), it would be a good day indeed. It wouldn’t hurt for all the Muslims to forsake the wickedness of Islam and believe too. It sure would make for a far more peaceful world.

Invalid Questions – Part 1

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Whether we choose to believe it or not, there is such a thing as an invalid question. It has been said that “There are no stupid questions.” however, since there are invalid questions, we could well say that knowingly asking an invalid question to elicit a particular response, is indeed ends up being a stupid question that is only designed to benefit the questioner, and not actually used to determine the truth of a matter. Such questions are like the following:

Please answer YES or NO:

Have you stopped beating your wife? (Presumes one beats his wife, regardless of the answer given.)
The last time you drank, were you violent? (Presumes one drinks, and one has been violent when drunk.)
Would you favor abortion over infanticide? (Presumes one supports the killing of innocent children.)

And the list could go on. Without getting into every example of an invalid question, it can be accurately stated that there are a number of questions that are designed to lead a person into unwittingly admitting something they know is not true, and do not even agree with. Hence, there are invalid questions.

The following questions are also invalid, as they presume things that are not in evidence Scripturally. They are asked knowing there is no answer to them (at least from the Calvinist perspective), and thus are given under the express condition:

I will admit defeat and repent, if you can answer these questions biblically. “I don’t know” is not an answer. ((Private e-mail from Aaron referencing the following questions.))

And here are some of the questions:

Why is it that one unregenerate person believes the gospel and not another?

Was he able to generate a right thought, produce a right affection, create right belief, while at the same time man #2 did not have the natural wherewithal to come up with the faith to be saved?

If they both made use of the same grace, did one make better use of it than the other?

If God’s grace places us in a neutral state, then what motivates one man to believe and not another?

What principle in him made him choose what he did?

If all men are neutral in God’s grace was it by chance that one believed and not another?

Is it the grace of God that makes you differ from unbelievers or is it your faith? ((http://reproachofmen.org/blog/?p=593&cpage=1#comment-1333))

Now, we should understand that there are reasons why the LORD states some things plainly in His word, and other things he is totally silent on. Those things that are plain, those things that can be derived from principles and statements, and those things there is ample evidence for in Scripture, do belong to us, as the LORD stated through Moses:

The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. (Deuteronomy 29:29)

Now, there are limitations to what each of us learn, as we are often not ready for the teaching:

I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (John 16:12-15)

And again:

But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (Ephesians 4:20-24)

So it is that the LORD is actually the Teacher of His children, and He uses those He has gifted to teach and preach to accomplish that task, as the Scripture also instructs:

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; . . . (Ephesians 4:11-14)

So it is that the education of the born-again child of God is accomplished by the LORD Himself, at a rate he determines we can handle. Since He truly does know how fast we learn the lessons He desires to impart to us, He is able to “tailor make” the lessons to fit each and every one of His children, and use both the Scripture, and the events of our individual lives to “drive the point home” as it were. ((There is a context in which this teaching occurs at its optimum, but the discussion of that is best left to another article.))

However, there are things the LORD reserves to a set period of time, or even a stage in a person’s life. Nowhere is the LORD compelled to reveal any or all of His mind, except by what His own righteousness, love, mercy, and judgement bring forth from Him. We see this also in Scripture:

But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. (Daniel 12:4)

And, we see that the LORD has spoken things men have heard, but are not allowed to repeat at any time, in any context:

And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth, And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. (Revelation 10:1-4)

It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. (II Corinthians 1-4)

And, there are times the LORD has commanded men to record and disseminate everything He told them:

And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. (Exodus 17:14)

Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us. (Isaiah 30:8-11)

The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book. (Jeremiah 30:1-2)

And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. (Revelation 21:5)

And so it is that the LORD God retains full control over His word, and reveals it as He will, even to the point of sealing it up when people do not appreciate it and lay it to heart:

Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned. Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. (Isaiah 29:9-14)

Thus, we can conclude by the foregoing, that if the LORD has not spoken of something in His word, He has plainly chosen to retain that unto Himself, and we are never to be privy to it. This reservation of His word, and how the LORD God chooses to deal with individuals was aptly illustrated in the incident of the woman caught in adultery in John, Chapter 8:

They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? (John 8:4-10)

What I will state here is extracted from the article “The Impossible Command” and addresses directly this issue:

The writing upon the ground
Regarding what the Lord wrote on the ground, I note that many have made comment as to what the Lord wrote and have speculated much upon it. Personally, my thought is that the Lord did not see fit to tell us. Thus it is none of our business and we ought to leave it alone. We should remember that God is under no obligation to tell us anything, let alone what He writes during a particular instance.

We could, however, take some lessons from the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ wrote upon the ground, in full view of the accusers and the woman, but spoke not a word to the crowd and the disciples at large. It is also notable that it is not recorded that the apostles asked what He wrote. What can be drawn from this is that the Lord was dealing with those accusers and the woman, but what He desired to convey to them was no one else’s business.

It is clear, whatever He wrote had its particular effect upon those who saw it. We should note, whatsoever the Lord addressed to an individual or group of individuals frequently was for them alone. If we remember, the Lord rebuked Peter after the resurrection when he asked about John and what John was supposed to do, to wit: “Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?” (John 21:21) to which the Lord answered “If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.” (John 21:22) Thus, the Lord reminded Peter (and us as well), what He has for one is not necessarily anyone else’s business. Those things pertaining to all, He has insured they are contained, in full, in the Scripture. Incidentally, anything that the Lord would lay upon any individual or group would not be contrary to the already completed Scripture.

Finally, what we do know about the Lord’s dealing with individuals is this: The Lord deals with everyone individually as they are able to understand what he must tell them. We also know the Lord does not deal haphazardly or randomly with anyone. Nothing the Lord does is ‘in isolation’ or unconnected with anything else, but all drives toward the purpose of reconciling that person to the Lord through recognition of their sin, understanding of who God really is, repentance of sin, and trust in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. To that end, we can understand that whatever the Lord Jesus wrote upon the ground was for those individuals and them alone. What He wrote did not and does not apply to us as He did not make us privy to it. In short, we need to learn to mind our place and not delve into situations the Lord has not seen fit to reveal to us lest we sin in the manner of Job and speak words without knowledge. ((emphasis mine, not in the original article))

Here now, we arrive at the point of the questions, having somewhat examined the LORD’s view on the handling of His word, which is the Scripture, and whether the questions can be answered, should be answered, and if the LORD God would honor such inquiry. Here again are the questions, which I have numbered to track the answering of them:

1. Why is it that one unregenerate person believes the gospel and not another?

2. Was he able to generate a right thought, produce a right affection, create right belief, while at the same time man #2 did not have the natural wherewithal to come up with the faith to be saved?

3. If they both made use of the same grace, did one make better use of it than the other?

4. If God’s grace places us in a neutral state, then what motivates one man to believe and not another?

5. What principle in him made him choose what he did?

6. If all men are neutral in God’s grace was it by chance that one believed and not another?

7. Is it the grace of God that makes you differ from unbelievers or is it your faith?

Bear in mind now that questions 3, 4, 6, and 7 all address grace and its operation in some way, and thus will be addressed together in a discussion of grace and its operation upon a person. This leaves questions 1, 2, and 5 to be discussed separately. However, questions 1 and 5 speak of the heart, and the secrets of a man’s heart, and thus will be discussed together. This leaves question 2 to be discussed by itself, and it will touch upon several areas, including faith.

To be continued . . .

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