Saturday, July 12, 2014


2072- CHOSEN OF GOD-
The theme this week is Predestination- meaning God picked us- believers- to be his children before the ‘foundation of the world’.
In Ephesians chapter one we read that God pre- planned for us to become his kids- in this plan he chose us to be Holy- without blame- spotless.

This is a progressive work- meaning it takes place thru out our life.

The bible says ‘after we believed we were sealed by the Holy Spirit’.
The old King James Bible says the Spirit is the Earnest of our inheritance- until the final purchase is come to fruition.

You can take this as saying ‘God’s Spirit is the guarantee- the down payment- until we are raised from the dead- and are in the new heaven- at the end’.

But you can also look at it from God’s view- that his Spirit- which he gave us when we first believed- is working in us until we become all that he wants us to be- fully submitted to his will- and becoming like him in every way.
The term ‘Earnest’ is the same word we use in Real estate- earnest money- or down payment.

So- the Spirit is the down payment- that God himself made- to assure that he will someday get the whole purchase- us!

At the bottom I will post the main verses on this- God choosing us.
In the bible we read of this theme mainly in the Apostle Paul’s letters- but we find it in Jesus teaching too- mostly in the gospel of John.
Jesus says things like ‘all that the Father give to me come to me- and those that come I will never cast out’.
‘My sheep hear my voice- they know me- they follow me’.
‘No man is able to pluck them out of my Fathers hand’.
‘You have not chosen me- but I HAVE CHOSEN YOU and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit- and your fruit should remain’.
‘No man can come to me except my father in heaven draw him’.
One of the main chapters in the bible that covers this issue is Romans 9.
While the apostle Paul teaches this doctrine [Predestination] he uses an example from the book of Genesis- chapter 25.

He says Rebecca [the wife of Isaac] had 2 sons- she was pregnant with twins.
In Old Testament times- being the first born- the oldest child- meant a lot.

He would get the lion’s share of the inheritance.

In the case of the twins- Jacob and Esau- God did something special.

He said ‘the youngest shale rule over the oldest’.
Ok- Paul teaches that God simply made this decision by his own predetermined will.

The boys were not yet born- had no track record of being good- or bad.
Yet God chose to pick the youngest son and give him something that he did not give to the oldest son.

In Romans 9 Paul says this is Gods choice- he says ‘does not the potter have the right over the clay to make one pot the way he wants’.

Yes.

So God- in his Divine Purpose- has chosen us- not because of what we did- or will do- no- he chose us by Grace to become his kids.

This doctrine has caused lots of wars in the Christian church.

Some famous church fathers are known for teaching it- Saint Augustine from Hippo- North Africa taught it in the 5-6th century.

He was a famous teacher in the Catholic Church.
The Protestant Reformers of the 16th century believed it.

The bible- in my view- does indeed teach it.

What we get from knowing this teaching is that God’s grace is all from him.
We had nothing to do with our first birth- and we in reality had nothing to do with our New Birth.
We were dead in sins- and God gave us new life because he loved us- and chose us.

In this life he is working progressively in us- that as time goes by we will fulfill his ultimate will in this life.

Paul says ‘it is not of him who wills- or strives- but it is of God- who shows mercy’.

There are indeed a lot of implications to this doctrine.
People say ‘is this fair- that God chooses some- but not all’?

The way the apostle Paul answered this question is God is sovereign- he has the right to do what he wills.

Christ died for us- he gave his life for the sins of the world- all who come to him he receives.

We preach this good news [gospel] to everyone.
We should not discriminate- God’s love is for all.
When people believe- it is a gift of grace- God gives us the faith to believe.
We should be thankful that he chose us- he gave us this new life- by a Divine act of grace.

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Ephesians 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Romans 8:29 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 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Romans 9:10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;
Romans 9:11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
Romans 9:12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
Romans 9:13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
Romans 9:14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
Romans 9:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Romans 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Romans 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Romans 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Romans 9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
Romans 9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Romans 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
John 17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
2Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
1Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
Revelation 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
Genesis 25:21 And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
Genesis 25:22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.
Genesis 25:23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.


Note- Do me a favor, those who read/like the posts- re-post them on other sites as well as the site you read them on. Thanks- John. Don’t forget to scroll down on the timeline [FaceBook#] - I have posted lots.









No comments:

Post a Comment