James White debunks Newsweek's anti-Christian Christmas article!

There is also a part two available at this link - Alpha and Omega Ministries

More good stuff from Wretched Radio!

 

 

Here is the link for Wretchedradio

When Churchians die!

The Pharisees thought themselves very religious and one might think that if anyone was to enter into God's kingdom, it was these who worked so diligently to make themselves acceptable to God and were quick to point out where others fell short!

Yet, Jesus said of the Pharisees in Matt. 23

V 4 ...they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

V 5 ...all their works they do to be seen by men...

V 6 They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues....

V 13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.

V 15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

V 16 “Woe to you, blind guides...

V 23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.

V 25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence.

V 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.

V 27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.

The Pharisees, who seemed so religious, were not believers in or lovers of God, but rather loved themselves and the religious traditions they had created out of a misrepresentation of God's word!

What is a Churchian and how do they relate to the Pharisees? A Churchian is someone who is dedicated to their church, but not to Jesus and His word!

How will you recognize them? They will be much like the Pharisees! They aren't concerned with learning and doing God's will according to His word, if they were they would be quick to turn to the word for guidance and have a true desire to share Jesus with others through word and deed.

The Churchian will be more concerned with protecting their traditions than loving and serving others in Jesus' name. The Churchian will be more concerned with what someone wears to church than their soul. The Churchain may want new people in the church, so they can feel the church is successful, but they don't want them taking any role that might threaten their power or the status quo.

When asked to compare thier actions and attitude to the scriptures, the Churchain may simply say they know they are right or say they have earned the right to have things their way, because they have been around a long time and/or given much to the church. However, the Churchian will definitely not want to have their attitudes or actions held up to the scrutiny of God's word.

The death of a Churchian is a very sad thing! They may be seen by many as a hero's of the faith, because of their many years of service, and yet still be lost and going to hell!

A pastor who has to do the funeral of a Churchian is in an awkward spot to say the least. If many in the church did not get to see a person's behind the scenes attempts to control the church to promote their own agenda, or see their blatant rejection of biblical teachings when confronted about their actions, they might feel they must be saved based on their outward acts of service in the church. If a Pastor is called upon to do their funeral, and he knows better, he may have to walk a fine line indeed!

You don't want to declare someone lost, when it is possible they were saved, but at the same time you don't want to jump on the bandwagon of heralding the praises of a Churchain, who like the Pharisees, may seem very religious and yet may not enter God's kingdom at all!

I am not sure any Churchians still remain in the church I attend, but some who have left are getting older and may soon face the Lord. I pray they come to know and love Jesus and His word before they die, if they are in fact lost, and I pray for the pastors who will have to do their funerals if they do not!

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

Great link for early evidence of Jesus' life, from outside the scriptures!

This link has a good collection of early historical information about Jesus, and it is from those who were hostile to the faith, so they had no reason to make anything up - Cold Case Christianity

Hands up, don't shoot!

Justice is important and I can't get into anyone else's head and fully understand their perspective on things like the shooting of the young man in Ferguson. However, as our notion of justice comes from God, we all must consider how we will respond to Him when confronted with our sin.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Jesus came to save sinners, He condescended and entered our world to satisfy God's justice on a cross, so all who believe upon Him could be saved and avoid facing God's justice for themselves! But if we deny our sin, blame others, accuse God of being unjust, etc, we won't embrace the one hope God has graciously offered us. His word continues -

¹⁸ “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ¹⁹ And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. ²¹ But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

We must surrender to God and His justice, we must figuratively raise our hands and plead for mercy, not declare our innocence or accuse God of unfairness, but agree with His assessment of us - that we are guilty of sin against Him, and in doing so we can receive the forgiveness He offers us through faith in Jesus Christ! 

If we come to understand our guilt before God and His perfect justice and grace toward us in Jesus, maybe we can make far greater progress in seeking and accepting justice here.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

How can we glorify God?

Psalm 50:15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”

We can do good works to the glory of God, but how much more is He glorified when we call upon Him in times of trouble and He shows His great strength by delivering us - by His good works! 

Can you be good without God?

Can you define good without God?

No!

Vindicated, for His name's sake!

How many people deny God's existence?

How many people deny Jesus is the only Savior from the consequences of our sin?

How many people deny that the Bible is still authoritative in our modern world?

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the way the odds seem stacked against us, if we believe these things?

Do not fear, God will vindicate us, because we are His in Jesus Christ, and He will absolutely vindicate Himself!

Psalm 43:1 Vindicate me, O God,
And plead my cause against an ungodly nation;
Oh, deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man!

Psalm 54:1 Save me, O God, by Your name,
And vindicate me by Your strength.

Psalm 109:21 But You, O GOD the Lord,
Deal with me for Your name’s sake;
Because Your mercy is good, deliver me.
²² For I am poor and needy,
And my heart is wounded within me.
²³ I am gone like a shadow when it lengthens;
I am shaken off like a locust.
²⁴ My knees are weak through fasting,
And my flesh is feeble from lack of fatness.
²⁵ I also have become a reproach to them;
When they look at me, they shake their heads.

²⁶ Help me, O Lord my God!
Oh, save me according to Your mercy,
²⁷ That they may know that this is Your hand—
That You, Lord, have done it!

 

I would love to see all people come to know the gift of salvation in Jesus Christ, and I can't look down on anyone, because what I have in Jesus is 100% by His grace. However, I hate to see His enemies appear to prosper as they defame His name, and it is comforting to know that God's existence, the necessity of Jesus' sacrifice for sin, and the eternal relevance of God's word, will be fully and finally vindicated!

 

Rev. 19:11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. ¹² His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. ¹³ He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. ¹⁴ And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. ¹⁵ Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. ¹⁶ And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

 

KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.

 

Some will still not want Him, but they won't be able to deny Him!

 

He will be vindicated!

 

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

 

Ouch, from Voddie Bauchum and Wretched Radio!

Sticks, stones, and words can hurt me, really?

I want to be clear, I am not OK with bullying or name calling, I think they are quite sinful and don't deny they can cause pain. However, I am shocked at the change of attitude regarding dealing with people's hurtful words since I was a child. I fear far more damage will be done as society shifts the focus from ignoring hurtful words to silencing them!

When I was young, if someone said mean things to me and I told a parent or teacher, they may or may not have said anything to the one who said the hurtful words, but they would likely have told me - "Sticks and stones can break your bones, but words can never hurt you". This was good advice, because it kept the one on the receiving end of teasing or insults from being enslaved to the opinions of others.

The underlying principle involved was that they had the right to say things to us, even stupid or hateful things, but we were to not see their words as in any way defining us. To suggest to a child or even to an adult, that someone else's words have the power to do the same kind of harm as physical injuries, is to set up a scenario were the only way to protect people is by outlawing some types of speech, as we limit certain kinds of physical contact.

This unfortunately is exactly what is happening. People are being told that suicides, depression and countless other problems are simply the natural and unavoidable result of people being damaged by the words of others. The video below suggests that the suicides of LGBT people, especially youth, are actually caused by the hurtful words of others, especially in the church!

Now, I feel terrible for the youth who got to such a place in their lives that they felt the only option was to take their own lives. Further, I would say there needs to be some sensitivity to were people are at, even when were they are at is in sin. Our goal is to communicate truth, so we need to be tactful when dealing with issues that are likely to cause strong reactions. However, do we really want to affirm to young people, or anybody for that matter, that the words of others are so powerful? Or that being liked and accepted by others is so important? Would it not be far more loving to teach them that the words of others are merely opinions, and only true to the point that they line up with....? 

OK, now I have hit a snag, how are we to evaluate the words of others? If nothing is absolutely true, then there is no reason anyone should ever be offended by anything! If God has given us the truth, then the only thing we really need to consider is whether the words of others line up with what God says.

If you still reject the notion of God's word being knowable, or that the Bible is it, then I at least ask that you consider if you really want to live in a world where what you can and can't say is determined by the individual sensitivities of the 7,000,000,000 other people on the planet?

Or, would you rather advocate free speech, and embrace the reality that - "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but names can never hurt me".





Wretched Radio, very well said!

This is a pretty good analogy to expose the error of presenting a man centered gospel message.

 

 

 

Questions about the Pope's comments on evolution?

As Usual, Dr. Mohler does a great job of unpacking many shocking current events, and helps us consider them through a biblical worldview! Follow the link below to listen, and be thankful we have voices of truth like his.

Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr.'s latest cultural commentary

Got worries? Can't sleep?

Psalm 4:8 I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. (NKJV)


"Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

Will society really leave free speech in churches alone?

James White posted a video and some commentary on his blog, (follow link below), it is a call for society to make churches stop teaching things about LGBT activity that are allegedly causing young people to kill themselves. While this is off on so many levels, as James points out in his commentary, I do think it is the path through which our free speech will be attacked. I hope you will take time to watch the video, read the commentary, an then pray and prepare for what is clearly coming soon.

Video and James White Commentary

A verse that I think is very telling of our times:

Job 40:8 Would you indeed annul My judgement? Would you condemn me that you would be justified? (NKJV)

Is that the sound of capitulating to the culture that I hear?

Hillsong Church, well known for Christian music, is evidently becoming well known for capitulating to the culture. Read the attached article and notice how they see the role of culture in interpreting the scriptures! I do know that the Hillsong folks have since made a statement about their stance on Homosexuality and the church, but as I read through the various quotes and other information found in this article, I think it is clear that they have made a point to take as little of a stand as they can, and clearly are open to reinterpreting some things according to current preferences and trends.

Hillsong article

Pastors being forced to turn over sermons that mention homosexuality and gender ID?

I assumed this kind of thing was coming, but I am shocked it has happened so quickly! See the Fox News article linked here - Persecution of Pastors in Houston!

Link to a review of the movie Left Behind

I am almost never pleased with "Christian" movies, and I certainly did not hold out much hope for this one, but here is a link to a review -

Left Behind

Do Mercedes-Benz cars evolve?

I saw a commercial for Mercedes-Benz automobiles that made a great case against evolution. They were showing a dilapidated building and then the announcer says that decay is the opposite of evolution, and then uses their new car as an example.

Here it is in their own words:

"Decay is the opposite of evolution, of improvement, and it's why Mercedes-Benz can never stop moving forward."

I think they have well demonstrated the problem with any evolutionary theory - things decay, unless someone improves upon them and/or actively maintains them. Do Mercedes-Benz cars constantly evolve to higher forms on their own? Do Mercedes vehicles eat other less fit vehicles (Chevys maybe) and then become a more dominant vehicle in the market place? No, whether it be cars or organic life, nothing comes into being, improves, or resists decay without intelligent design and maintenance.

Col. 1:16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. ¹⁷ And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. (NKJV)

Heb. 1:3 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, ² has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; ³ who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power....


Without God, their could be no design or improvement in anything, only decay!


"Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

From Wretched Radio - Jesus is the Light!

 

Check out more good stuff at Wretchedradio.com

How do you hear from the Lord?

 

 

John MacArthur teaches on the value and supremacy of God's written word!

 

 

Great lectures on church history!

Click on the link below and you will be blessed with a four part lecture series Dr. James White did on church history -

Church History Lectures

Expository preacher or just a good communicator?

Could another world war be on the way?

Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr. makes some very important parallels between the actions of Vladimir Putin and those who started the world wars of the 20th century.

Here is the link - The Briefing

Pray for pastors - me included!

Lately, I have noticed a number of high profile pastor have found themselves responding to accusations of sin, resigning for disqualifying sins, or even being fired for such things. In some cases I am not surprised, as the church models the pastors are operating under put too much emphasis on their high profile pastors, and don't seem to provide enough biblical accountability through other Elders.

If a church, or even multiple sites calling themselves one church, are all known predominately through the fame of their pastor, it may be very scary for that organization to consider disciplining or removing that pastor. However, sin must be addressed, and I hope lessons will be learned by the mega churches and smaller churches as well. It gets proven over and over that bilbical accountability is essential for pastors, and you can't let fear of the fallout, keep you from addressing sin when you see it, even when it involves your famous or just very popular pastor.

With that said, but for the grace of God go I!

Gal. 6:1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. ² Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ³ For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. ⁵ For each one shall bear his own load.

I know my load is far less than many of these high profile leaders, so I need to examine my faithfulness in the areas where God has called me. I also need to help others who are overtaken in sin, and be careful, lest I find myself in sin as well!

We know pride comes before the fall, so I need to thank God, as He is the power for any faithfulness I have.

I need to continue to seek His help to be faithful, and to be open to accountability from my Elders, and church as a whole.

Finally, I ask that that you pray for me, and other pastors, if you don't wish to see more pastors disqualified through sin.

Blessings!

 "Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

Is "The Sinners Prayer" Biblical?

If you have never considered the pros and cons of The Sinners Prayer, or if it is biblical, follow the link below for a good discussion of the issue.

Sean E. Harris discusses The Sinners Prayer

R. C. Sproul and a very thought provoking teaching on Pentacost!

Shocking headlines!

U.S. President resigns!

England's Queen abdicates!

Duke's coach K quits!

Each of these headlines would be shocking to most people. The last one would be the most shocking if you happen to live in North Carolina.

Why would these be shocking headlines?

Well the president takes an oath of office and we don't consider it proper for him to break that oath.

For the queen, fulfilling her duties it is a matter of birthright and an obligation to her people. Even though the queen's role in largely symbolic, the world would be shocked and disappointed if she decided to step down prematurely.

And Duke's basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski is so loved and respected in North Carolina, that if he left it might be seen as an act of treason.

However, there is a far more serious type of commitment that is being broken, it's importance goes far beyond the resignation of a president, the abdication of a monarch, or the quiting of a beloved coach.

Yes, a most significant breach of commitment is happening in our world, and it is happening at an an alarming rate, yet it seldom makes the news!

Matt. 19:4 And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ ⁵ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?  ⁶ So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

A president makes a commitment to lead our country for a set time, and a monarch is expected to rule their people for as long as they are physically capable, and a coach might be expected to be loyal to his team, but only the marriage is a bond made before God and by God!

I would hope we would be slow to break any commitment or promise, but we must put the marriage covenant above all these other things when it comes to the seriousness and permanence of it.

Wouldn't it be good if divorces were so uncommon, that they were as big of a headline as a president resigning?

Better that God be in control!

Isaiah 45:5 I am the Lord, and there is no other;
There is no God besides Me.
I will gird you, though you have not known Me,
⁶ That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting
That there is none besides Me.
I am the Lord, and there is no other;
⁷ I form the light and create darkness,
I make peace and create calamity;
I, the Lord, do all these things.’

If God was not in control of those things we call calamities, who or what would be?

Satan?

Chance?

Us?

Them?

I know it is tempting to credit God with all things that seem good to us, and then to place the blame for those things we count as calamitous elsewhere. However, it is far better, biblical, and very comforting to know that the God who created the universe, who is perfectly wise, who is all powerful, and who loves me for Jesus' sake, chooses to send good things or calamity into my life for reasons that make sense to Him, than to think Satan, other people, me, or random chance are responsible!

The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

What can't God do?

I was reviewing an old Chuck Colson book, Answers to Your Kids Questions, for our ongoing library update, and was shocked to read the following question and answer:

"Why doesn't He simply wipe out evil as soon as it appears on the scene"? (pg. 22)

Answer:

"The only possible answer is that God can't wipe it out without violating His own nature." (pg. 23)

It goes on to further explain:

"God's character is the standard of goodness and justice, and once evil exists he must set it right again. God cannot ignore sin, overlook it, simply destroy the world and start over." (pg. 23)

Now I must agree where scripture agrees, God can't ignore sin; He told Adam and Eve that if they sinned, the punishment was death! (Gen. 2:15-17) This same principle applies to all people who sin against God and His law. (Psalm 5:4-6, John 3:18, Rom. 6:23)

Could God have killed Adam and Eve on the spot for their sin? Colson says no, I say absolutely yes, if that was His plan! God did in fact bring spiritual death, and allowed them to begin the process of physical death. But why did He not wipe out the world at that time? According to Colson it was because His nature would not allow Him to do so. According to the scriptures, it seems clear that it was becasue His eternal plan to glorify His Son, did not include destroying the world at that time!

We know God did in fact start over to a large degree when He killed all but a handful of people and animals during the flood of Gen. 6-8. Why was He able to destroy almost everything at that time? First, it is His creation to do with as He pleases, and for mankind specifically, we were sinners then as now, and deserved death for sin as Adam did. Even Noah is said to have found grace from God first (Gen. 6:8), before he was considered righteous by God and allowed to be spared along with his family.

So did God's nature prevent Him from destroying the earth?

No, in fact we read in Gen. 9:13 I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. ¹⁴ It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; ¹⁵ and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. (NKJV)

God destroyed the people on earth as a matter of His justice, and He was free to destroy the animals, because they are His to do with as He pleases, and even though He will not destroy the earth again by flood, He will most certainly bring a final judgment for sin upon all who are not covered by the blood of Jesus (2 Pet. 3:5-7, Rev. 19, 21-22).

So why did God not destroy the earth and start over right after sin entered the world? It was not because He was prevented by His nature. In fact His nature demanded sin be judged and He could have done so at that time if that suited His plans. In fact, we best not forget the Egyptian firstborn children, Sodom, and many judgments on Israel for their sins against God. Clearly God destroyed people for sin on the spot many times in the scriptures, and can assume He is still doing so now, without ever violating His character.

Here is my point to all this -

God's plan from the beginning included something more glorious than a world where sin never happened, or even a world where sin happened and God brought swift and final justice. God's plan was to create a world where He knew sin would happen, He also knew many sinners would experience His justice for their sins, and He knew He would redeem many by the blood of, and for the eternal glory of, Jesus Christ!

I had read several of Chuck Colson's books in the past and have always appreciated his passion to reach the lost and transform the culture. I do see a common underlying error in this one portion of this book and I think that once it is set right, it changes everything about how we view God!

There are really only two primary lenses through which to see the actions of God in creating the universes:

One choice, a man centered one - God created man with free will and since man sinned, God has to make the best of a less than perfect situation, as He tries His best to save as many as will have Him! I see this man centered view of creation leaving us with an interesting question: Why didn't God simply destroy the world after Adam and Eve sinned, since that would have prevented billions from experiencing hell, and those who were never born would not even have known they missed heaven or hell? I have already made a biblical case for the fact that He could have done so, but why didn’t He?

The scriptures will verify God's self glorifying motivation for creation and for all else He does!

Consider these passages that speak of God's sovereignty over all things in creation and how He is glorified as He brings about His will:

Exod. 11:4 Then Moses said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘About midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt; ⁵ and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the female servant who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the animals. ⁶ Then there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as was not like it before, nor shall be like it again. ⁷ But against none of the children of Israel shall a dog move its tongue, against man or beast, that you may know that the Lord does make a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.’ ⁸ And all these your servants shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying, ‘Get out, and all the people who follow you!’ After that I will go out.” Then he went out from Pharaoh in great anger.

⁹ But the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not heed you, so that My wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.” ¹⁰ So Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh; and the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go out of his land.

Deut. 7:6 “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. ⁷ The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; ⁸ but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Psalm 33:6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.
⁷ He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap;
He lays up the deep in storehouses.

⁸ Let all the earth fear the Lord;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
⁹ For He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast.

¹⁰ The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.
¹¹ The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
The plans of His heart to all generations.

Psalm 106;7 Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders;
They did not remember the multitude of Your mercies,
But rebelled by the sea—the Red Sea.
⁸ Nevertheless He saved them for His name’s sake,
That He might make His mighty power known.

Isa. 45:2 ‘I will go before you
And make the crooked places straight;
I will break in pieces the gates of bronze
And cut the bars of iron.
³ I will give you the treasures of darkness
And hidden riches of secret places,
That you may know that I, the Lord,
Who call you by your name,
Am the God of Israel.
⁴ For Jacob My servant’s sake,
And Israel My elect,
I have even called you by your name;
I have named you, though you have not known Me.
⁵ I am the Lord, and there is no other;
There is no God besides Me.
I will gird you, though you have not known Me,
⁶ That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting
That there is none besides Me.
I am the Lord, and there is no other;
⁷ I form the light and create darkness,
I make peace and create calamity;
I, the Lord, do all these things.’

Now consider the question - is the current state of things, since man sinned, God making the best of a bad situation as He tries to save as many as He can, or is it all exactly as He intended when He created, so that His purpose in creating, the eternal glory of Jesus, would be perfectly fulfilled?

John 17:1 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,² as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. ³ And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. ⁴ I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. ⁵ And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

Rom. 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
³⁴ “For who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has become His counselor?”
³⁵ “Or who has first given to Him
And it shall be repaid to him?”
³⁶ For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

1 Cor. 1:27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; ²⁸ and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, ²⁹ that no flesh should glory in His presence. ³⁰ But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— ³¹ that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

Eph. 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, ⁴ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, ⁵ having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, ⁶ to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

Eph. 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), ⁶ and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Col. 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. ¹⁷ And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. ¹⁸ And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Why did God create the world? So that His Son Jesus Christ, the Lamb who was slain, would be forever glorified! This was not an afterthought, it was not plan B, it is not God making the best of a bad situation, it is not God being prevented from bringing an end to the earth at anytime if He chose to do so! No, it is God doing exactly as He planned from before time began!

Rev. 5:8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. ⁹ And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
¹⁰ And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.”
¹¹ Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, ¹² saying with a loud voice:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

¹³ And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:

“Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

¹⁴ Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.

I think we will find much comfort in the actions of God, even if we often can't understand them, if we believe what the scriptures teach, that God created for His glory, He allowed sin for His glory, He redeems all who believe upon Jesus for His glory, and that those who believe will forever enjoy that glory!

The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

 

Does Satan ever win even the slightest victory over God?

I watched a movie called The Encounter recently, as with most Christian films it was a mixed bag theologically. I liked how the person who portrayed Jesus in the film explained to a young abuse victim why she must forgive her abuser, as her sins required His death just as much as his would. I also appreciated the fact that it tried to stress repentance, although it did not really define it very clearly. There were other positive things that could be said about the film, and of course some places where I felt it missed the mark theologically.

The most troubling part of this film to me was the representation of Jesus as desperate to try to save a man, even pleading with Him to change his mind. When it becomes clear the man is not going to believe, the Devil brags on his victory, while Jesus, who is very sad for the one who got away, reminds the Devil that while He has lost one soul, He has gained three.

Is this really an accurate representation of biblical theology? Do we see Jesus begging people to believe in Him in the Bible? Do we see the Devil winning some and Jesus winning some? If more are ultimately lost than saved (Matt. 7:13-14), will the Devil be able in some sense to say he won a greater victory?

So consider -

Did Jesus ever beg anyone to believe in or follow Him?

Jesus told the twelve to follow Him and they did, Mark 1:16-20, 2:13-14.

Jesus does not beg the disciples who want to depart from Him to stay in John 6:60-71.

Jesus does not beg the Pharisees to follow Him, He promises them judgment, Matt. 23:1-36.

Now it is true that Jesus grieves for the spiritual condition of those who don't believe, Matt. 23:37-38.

And Jesus makes offers of salvation and peace that will apply to all who will receive them, Matt. 11:28-30.

However, with that said, Jesus is never portrayed as chasing after someone, begging them, or even trying very hard to change their minds about Him. In fact we read passages that would make the idea of Jesus begging unbelievers to believe completely ridiculous.

For example:

Matt. 13:10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” ¹¹ He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

John 6:37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.

John 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. ⁶⁴ But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. ⁶⁵ And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.” ⁶⁶ From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.

John 8:42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. ⁴³ Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. ⁴⁴ You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. ⁴⁵ But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. ⁴⁶ Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? ⁴⁷ He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”

John 17:6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

Eph. 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, ⁴ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, ⁵ having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, ⁶ to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

Why does Jesus not beg people to believe in and follow Him? Because He knows that none will unless it has been granted by the Father, according to His plans that were in place from before creation, and likewise, all the Father had planned to save from before time began, will actually be saved as they believe in Him.

This also answers the question about whether the Devil will ever be able to be said to have won a victory over God? No, the way things turn out is exactly as God planned! Some will be born again and believe, in keeping with God's plans, while others will be left in rebellion against Him with their leader the Devil. In the end these enemies of God will be punished with their leader, and those who believe will be saved!

Satan, gets zero glory; he is a created thing like us, and he will have not one single victory over God's plans to redeem His people in Jesus -

Psalm 33:6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.
⁷ He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap;
He lays up the deep in storehouses.

⁸ Let all the earth fear the Lord;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
⁹ For He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast.

¹⁰ The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.
¹¹ The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
The plans of His heart to all generations.
¹² Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.

 

Isa. 45:5 I am the Lord, and there is no other;
There is no God besides Me.
I will gird you, though you have not known Me,
⁶ That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting
That there is none besides Me.
I am the Lord, and there is no other;
⁷ I form the light and create darkness,
I make peace and create calamity;
I, the Lord, do all these things.’

1 Cor. 1:26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. ²⁷ But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; ²⁸ and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, ²⁹ that no flesh should glory in His presence. ³⁰ But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— ³¹ that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

Col. 1:16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. ¹⁷ And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. ¹⁸ And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Does this sound like a God who ever looses?

I think not!

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."
 

Not Heresy, but also not helpful!

When I came to the church I pastor six years ago, we had a policy in our church library that put pretty much anything that was donated onto the shelves. The man who oversaw it did a great job carrying out this policy and even he felt the need to keep some things from making it onto the shelves at times. Since the death of that faithful servant, we had pretty much continued that policy, but recently we decided it might be best to have a library where everything was truly useful, relevant and as biblically sound as possible. This process has sought to remove books that are heretical, come from authors who have moved away from a conservative view of the scriptures or that just don't have any spiritual content to make them relevant to a church library.

I know this not an exact science, as some will see certain books as crossing a line that others don't, but in thinking through the process it has become clear that there are many Christian books that while not heretical, are also not helpful.

I have come to see most current Christian books falling into one of two categories, either they seek to help the reader see how wonderful they and their plans are, or they seek to help the reader see how wonderful God and His plans are! I am not suggesting that telling people God loves His children is heresy, it is important we recognize God's love for us in Jesus:

Rom. 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. ¹⁰For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

A message we hear repeated in many Christian books is "God loves you just the way you are"! Well biblically, God has demonstrated His love in the world by sending His Son, and He has shown a benevolent loving kindness to everyone by supplying us with food, water, air, etc. Yet, before we are saved we are God's enemies, and if we stay the way we are, unredeemed, we will eventually find ourselves forever separated from God's relational love and even His benevolence!

When God's word tells us of God's love, as with the passage above, it is not so we will spend more time thinking about how wonderful we are, but so that we spend our time thinking about how wonderful He is in saving such rebellious rascals as us!

The truth is, God's word assumes we all love ourselves plenty:

Matt. 22:36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

³⁷ Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and great commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Some have said this passage is teaching that we need to love ourselves, before we can love God or others, but that is nonsense! This passage assumes that we love ourselves plenty and that is why we already spend lots of time thinking about us and our needs. What we are commanded to do, and is also best for us, is to stop thinking about us so much and rather focus more on worshipping God and meeting the needs of others!

If someone only read popular Christian authors, rather than the Bible, they might get the impression that the Great Commission is to go into all the world and tell people how wonderful they are!

However, the great commission actually says:

Matt. 8:28 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Thinking too often about us, positively or negatively, is a failure to worship and obey God! However, this self-focus may not go away simply by learning this truth, as old habits often die hard, but the cure is being reminded to stop thinking about us and rather to think about God and how to minister to others!

Telling people of God's love for them in Jesus is certainly not heretical, but if we don't help them see their need to focus on God and obey His will, it is ultimately not helpful!

 
"Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

How much do we have right? Do we care?

God's word regularly exhorts us to learn:

Col. 1:9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; ¹⁰ that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

2 Tim. 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Pet. 1:5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,

2 Pet. 3:14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; ¹⁵ and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation — as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, ¹⁶ as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

I am not suggesting we can't know things are true or that we should be afraid to teach things which we have become fully convinced of from God's word. However, it seems obvious that we must remain humble and not go beyond what we have learned from much study in the word. This makes sense, because whatever we believed about something before we learned it rightly from the word was wrong!

Therefore, we can assume we are still wrong about some things for as long as we live on this earth. Yet, we must make it our goal to learn all we can for our good, God’s glory, and because He said so, for as long as He leaves us here!

It is much better to be wrong about some things as we diligently study God's word, than to not study and all!

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

Got faith? Why or why not?

Scripture makes it clear that faith is necessary for anyone to be saved:

Eph. 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast.

I think most would agree that this passage teaches faith is the necessary vehicle by which God's grace and salvation are made manifest to His people. I will return to this passage in a moment, but first let me consider a few questions:

Is this saving faith something that all have and can exercise, or is it a faith that only some have?

If all do have it, why do only some exercise it unto salvation?

If only some have it, why do they have it?

If other don't have it, why don't they have it?

As to the first question, do all have this faith that is necessary for receiving God's grace and salvation? I must first affirm that there is a kind of faith that all can have, that has nothing at all to do with salvation. Everyone can have faith in something, whether it be a false god, themselves or karma. The question we are addressing here is regarding the faith necessary to come to salvation. Is that a faith that all have?

Well, one passage that might seem to suggest everyone does is:

Rom. 12:3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

Now the question we must consider is if this "each one" who has been granted a measure of faith, refers to everyone in the world, or to those in the church? It does say "everyone among you" which might suggest the church is in view, but still might not seem absolutely conclusive. However, if we look a little further at the context, those in view who are "granted a measure of faith" becomes more clear.

In Chapter 12 we have a transition from explaining how we are saved to how those who are saved should live, so the primary audience of everything from chapter 12 on is the church. Further, the topic Paul is addressing in chapter 12:3-8 is spiritual gifts. Surely spiritual gifts are only to be found in born again believers, so it would make sense that everything Paul is saying in this section is about the church, as opposed to referring to all people everywhere. Even more specifically, it appears Paul is talking about not being prideful about spiritual gifts. He goes on to say that we should use our spiritual gifts in proportion to that God given measure of faith (vs. 6). Paul's whole point is that we believers should not be boastful or prideful about our spiritual gifts or the faith with which we exercise them, because it too is a gift from God (vs. 3). So does this passage teach conclusively that all have been granted a measure of faith and can come to salvation? I would say no, and would even go as far as to say that this passage teaches that the faith in view is a gift of God that only those in the church have been granted. We surely don't expect the unsaved to teach or prophesy, because they don't have saving faith or the any other gifts of the Spirit. Even if you came away form this passage not fully convinced, there are other passages that speak very clearly on the question of do all have the faith necessary for salvation? 

One such passage is found in:

2 Thess. 3:2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.

Now here again we need to consider the context. If we begin at:

3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, ² and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. ³ But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. ⁴ And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you. ⁵ Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.

So, who is it that does not have faith? The unreasonable and wicked men! Who is that? It sounds like a description of the unconverted. We are told in scripture that the things of God are foolishness to the unbeliever (1 Cor. 2:14) and we are told often of our commitment to evil prior to salvation (John 3:19, Eph. 2:3, Rom. 8:7). It is very clear that it is unbelievers that are evil, unreasonable and lack whatever faith is in view. Is it saving faith that is in view? Consider the evangelistic nature of the passage. Paul is telling the Thessalonians that that they should pray for he and others who are spreading the word, that it should spread quickly, but also acknowledges that there will be those who oppose it. Why do they oppose the message of salvation? Because they don't have the faith necessary to believe it and be saved. By contrast, Paul has confidence that the church will do what is commanded by God. How can Paul have this confidence, well I would suggest it is because they do have this God given faith that is clearly said to be lacking in these Paul warns them about!

OK, is there any other passages that bear on this question of "do all have the faith necessary for salvation"?

Gal. 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Now it is interesting that the English rendering of this passage says "faithfulness" rather than simply faith. In the Greek the word πίστις (pistis) is a noun that simply means faith! So just like the kind of love, joy and peace in view are unique to believers, who have it as a fruit of the Holy Spirit in them. The faith in view, that enables us to believe in the first place, and then to be faithful after that, is a fruit of God's Spirit in us as well! So, do those without the Holy Spirit have this faith? No!

Let me now go back to the Eph. 2:8 passage I began with:

 Eph. 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Some have debated the Greek here and and I think the best case is that the grammar and sentence structure support seeing the phrase "and that not of yourselves" as applying to the whole sentence, supporting the notion that the faith and grace are both gifts form God. I will likewise make a case from the English rendering that I think is hard to ignore. I don't think anyone would think grace is a work we do. The very nature of grace is that it is something unearned, a gift by definition! So, why would it be necessary for the scriptures to tell us that grace is a gift of God, not of works, when no one in their right mind would think grace is a work in the first place?  However, if all had the faith necessary to believe and be saved, then we could boast that we believed and others did not? It is not a work of the law either way, but surely if all can exercise saving faith, but only some do, then those who do have some place for being proud of making the right choice when others did not! I think the amazing and very humbling point being made in this passage is the fact that even the faith that brought us to salvation is a gift, even though natural man would tend to think it is something he brought to the salvation process. So we have absolutly nothing in which we can boast, and that is the point!

So do all have the faith necessary to respond to the gospel? I would say absolutely not, as we are spiritually dead (Ehp. 2:1), unable to know or receive the things of God (1 Cor. 2:14), unable to please or obey God (Rom. 8:5-8), and unable to come to saving faith in Jesus unless God first makes us able (John 6:35-44, 62-70).

So the second question, if we all have the faith necessary to be saved, why don't we all exercise it becomes a moot point.

The question(s) that now must be considered is why do some have the faith necessary to come to salvation and others do not?

Jesus said to the disciples regarding His teaching in parables:

Matt. 13:10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”
¹¹ He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

Whatever the disciples were given so that they could understand and believe Jesus' message, it was not given to everyone!

Jesus said in:

John 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 

John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

So we know that not all are drawn or chosen by God, but all who are drawn are going to be raised up, and all that have been chosen are appointed to bear fruit. But why are some chosen, why are some called, why are some given the ability to understand, and likewise, why are some given the faith that results in salvation, while others clearly are not?

It is surely for God's glory that He chooses anyone, but  we can't know much beyond that:

1 Cor. 1:26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. ²⁷ But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; ²⁸ and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, ²⁹ that no flesh should glory in His presence. ³⁰ But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— ³¹ that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”^[c]

Eph. 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, ⁴ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, ⁵ having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, ⁶ to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

2 Tim. 1:8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, ⁹ who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, ¹⁰ but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 

Now, if we are to understand any of this rightly we must acknowledge that we are all justly condmened by God for rejecting Him as He revealed Himslef to all people who have ever lived through His creation (Rom. 1:18-32). We are owed no second chance and He surely had no obligation to change anyones heart from being one who hated Him and willfully rejected the truth, to one who now freely loves Him and wants to obey His word.

With that background to understand my salvation, how do I respond to the reality that God chose to give me the faith necessary to bring me to salvation?

I respond not with accusations of unfairness, but with thanks -

Thank you Lord for granting me, who was foolish and unable to understand or obey your word, the faith necessary to believe and be saved for Your glory!

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."