Christian Doctrine and History Blog2010-03-10T08:27:25ZNathaniel KramerCopyright 2010, Nathaniel KramerSPHPBLOG12 Lies that Satan Is Selling the church. (#3. God has a place in our lives, and is a set of rules to follow.)12 Lies that Satan Is Selling the church.
#3. God has a place in our lives, and is a set of rules to follow.
Fact: God is supposed to be our lives, and the person we follow.
"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." (Revelations 4:11)
A common problem with humanity is that we glorify ourselves above God. Our perspective of God is that Hes someone who is there if you want Him. If you dont want Him you can always use circular reasoning to adopt the theory of evolution to reason Him away. People look at God as something that is there for us, but the truth is that we are here for God. God is not an accessory; He is the reason and purpose for our existance. The Bible says in Revelations 4:11 that all things including us were created for God's pleasure.
Satan would have you believe that God should have a place in certain parts of our lives. Satan doesnt mind too much if we do our religious duty as long as it has its place and time. He doesnt mind too much if we say our list of prayers as long as we dont actually seek God or put any heart into it. He doesnt mind too much if we follow our Christian traditions and maybe even read our Bible every day as long as we dont actually search the Scriptures, and live by them. Its ok with Satan if we go to church every Sunday so we can feel religious as long as we leave God out of the other six days of the week.
Many of us have fallen into the same trap as the Pharisees. We have our ties just right, our shoes are shined, and we bow our heads and close our eyes for prayer, but our heart is far from God. We look really good to others. They look at us and think theyre looking at a good Christian, but God sees right through the shell. There was no group of people that Jesus preached at while on earth more than the religious crowd. This is the crowd that followed all the rules, and spent hours making up more to follow. If someone didnt do it like they did it, they would accuse them of things like saying they have a devil. This is the crowd that would attack anyone who didnt use their version of the Bible without taking the time to understand what Scripture teaches. They would love to quote Scripture to condemn others, yet they never searched the Scriptures enough to know that they didnt have eternal life.
(John 5:39) "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."
Jesus had no patience with the Pharasees. He didnt mind offending them to tell them the truth.
(Mat 15:1) "Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying," (Mat 15:2) "Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread." (Mat 15:3) "But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?" (Mat 15:4) "For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death." (Mat 15:5) "But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;" (Mat 15:6) "And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition." (Mat 15:7) "Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying," (Mat 15:8) "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me." (Mat 15:9) "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." (Mat 15:10) "And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:" (Mat 15:11) "Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man." (Mat 15:12) "Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?" (Mat 15:13) "But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up." (Mat 15:14) "Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch."
The Pharisees had all kinds of commandments of men, yet they made exceptions to Scripture. Read the passage above very carefully to make sure that you are not doing the same things that the Pharisees did.
God doesn't want to just be a part of our lives; He is our life. He does not want to be a set of rules we follow; He wants to be the person we follow. If you try to get a life by doing anything other than losing your life for Christs sake, you will find yourself empty, and without a life. Jesus said in Matthew 16:25, "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." We dont put breathing on a list of priorities, but we just breath all of the time because its a part of our existance; as Christians, we shouldnt God on a list of priorities, but we should lose ourselves for God all of the time because its a part of our existance. God is not interested in only having a part of your life; He wants, and deserves all of it.
]]>http://cdhblog.com/index.php?entry=entry090713-0135212009-07-13T00:00:00Z2009-07-13T00:00:00Z12 Lies that Satan Is Selling the church. (#2. Follow your heart.) 12 Lies that Satan Is Selling the church.
#2. Follow your heart.
Fact: This goes against Galations 5. We are to follow God's heart. When you follow your own heart, you obey the lusts of the flesh.
Through the media and other venues, Satan has attacked us with the false doctrine of follow your heart. You don't need to spend much time watching movies, or listening to worldly music before you find a theme. It is taught over, and over again that we're ultimately supposed to do what we want to do. The best example of this is the Frank Sinatra song called I Did It My Way. This is the core of satanism. The greatest commandment of Satan is Do what thou wilt. It has gotten to the the point now to where preachers of the gospel have parroted this false doctrine, so it's time to look to the Scriptures to find the truth about following our hearts.
Numbers 15:39 says, And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: Notice the direct contrast here. There are two paths we can follow. It is either the path of our own heart, or the path of God's commandments. These are conflicting. You cannot have both. Throughout the Scriptures it is taught that a believer can follow the flesh or the Spirit. Those that follow their heart are following the flesh. This is taught directly in Galatians 5. In verses 16 and 17 it says, ''This'' I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. For further study, read through Galatians 5.
Our heart is supposed to be a follower of what we seek, not the object of what we seek. The object of what we should seek as believers is the will of God. Our heart should be line with this. Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (Matthew 22:37) Jesus Christ should be the object that our hearts seek. We are to be in control of our hearts, not in subjection to our hearts. When we put our heart on its throne, we also dethrone the Lord. Jesus Christ is to be on the throne of our heart. That means that we do not do what we want to do; we do what God wants us to do. We should not follow our will; we should follow God's will. Satan would have you believe that you are follow God's will by doing what you want. Don't fall for this convenient lie. Let us be like David and be able to say, With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. (Psalms 119:10)
When we seek God with all our heart, we find that we start to enjoy more godly things. The heart starts wanting that which is spiritual more that which is ungodly. This is not a natural thing. It comes from God. He can give us good desires. It all starts when we seek our joy in Jesus Christ. Psalms 37: 4 says, Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. This doesn't happen when we follow our heart though. It happens when we follow God's heart.
Music, television, and movies all scream at us to walk in the flesh. It is the only thing the world knows to do, so if we fill ourselves with worldly media, we will be taught worldly doctrines. The purpose of this article is to expose the most predominate false doctrine that has sneaked in the back door of our minds. To follow your heart is following Satan. Ask any satanist what the one and only rule to follow is, and they'll tell you that it's doing what you want to do. Yet, we tell ourselves that this is what God wants. When we do this, we confuse God with Satan. How sad it is when we allow ourselves to be deceived like that. This is why we have the Bible. The media has become our source of doctrine. We allow ourselves to be manipulated by spending more time soaking in what the world has to say than what the Scriptures has to say. Be very careful to catch yourself when you find that you're following your heart rather than following the commandments of God.]]>http://cdhblog.com/index.php?entry=entry090707-1924232009-07-07T00:00:00Z2009-07-07T00:00:00Z12 Lies that Satan Is Selling the church. (#1. Souls are converted by letting Jesus in through a sinner's prayer.)12 Lies that Satan Is Selling the church.
#1. Souls are converted by letting Jesus in through a sinner's prayer.
Fact: No one has ever been converted by a prayer. It is unbiblical, and it is against the gospel to say that it's possible.
Romans 10 is commonly misused to prove that you can be saved by asking Jesus into your heart. This is not what Romans 10 teaches. Let's put this chapter under examination.
Romans 10:9-10 says, That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Notice that it says that in order to be saved you must confess, AND believe. The same can be said of getting baptized. Jesus said in Mark 16:16, He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Does this say that if you're not baptized, you'll go to hell, or that you get baptized without believing you go to heaven? The answer to both of those questions is no. Romans 10:9 makes the same kind of statement. It does NOT say that those who confess with their mouth the Lord Jesus will be saved, just as Jesus did not say that those who are baptized will be saved.
Now let's look at the next verse Romans 10:13. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. This does not say, For whosoever shall ask Jesus to come into their hearts shall be saved. There's a big difference between calling, and just saying a sinners prayer. Jesus quoted Isaiah in Mark 6:9 saying, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with ''their'' lips, but their heart is far from me. You can ask Jesus into your heart without actually believing the gospel, but you can not call on someone you do not believe on. Most people read Romans 10:13 without thinking about context, so they completely misquote it because the very next verse reads, How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?
Jesus made it very clear that the evidence that you are saved is not that you confessed Jesus; it is that you do the will of the Father. In Mathew 7:21-23, Jesus says, 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. Jesus made it very clear that you cannot judge whether or not you are a believer by what you say. The way you judge this is by whether or not the Holy Spirit is evident in your life. See I John to learn more about knowing whether or not you are a believer. The entire book is written for us to know whether or not people are believers. (I John 5:13)
Another verse that gets misused often to prove that you can go to heaven by letting Jesus in is Revelations 3:20. It says, Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Many preachers have used this verse to tell lost souls that all they need to do is open the door of their heart, and Jesus will come in. This is not entirely true, and Revelations 3 does not say that. We know this because Jesus is talking to the church in this chapter; He's not talking to unbelievers. All you need to do is read a few verses later to know this. Revelations 3: 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.]]>http://cdhblog.com/index.php?entry=entry090630-0005572009-06-30T00:00:00Z2009-06-30T00:00:00ZIs Salvation Predestined?Is Salvation Predestined?
This is a question that has sparked much controversy. Many have taken the doctrine of predestination as an excuse to not preach the gospel. Then there are some who take the other extreme and say that God does not predestine anyone, denying the sovereign grace of God. These are the two extremes of Arminianism, and Hyper-Calvinism (aka Anti-Calvinism).
God Pardons Whom He Will.
The Bible is very clear about predestination; God pardons whom He will. Salvation is of the LORD. (Jonah 2:9) In Romans 9, Paul tells us how God chose Israel. God didn't make Israel His chosen nation because He thought they were good people. God chose Israel according to His will and according to His pleasure.
Deu 10:15 Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, ''even'' you above all people, as ''it is'' this day.
Deu 10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.
Deu 10:17 For the LORD your God ''is'' God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:
Rom 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;)
Rom 9:12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
Rom 9:13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
Although most people don't seem to have a problem with the fact that God chose the Jews before the Gentiles, many refuse to accept the fact that God chose His elect just as God chose Israel. Does this mean that God is unjust or not righteous? No, it does not. If Barrack Obama were to choose to pardon a prisoner, that would not mean that he is not just because he didn't pardon any other prisoner. If the President of the U.S. has the right to pardon whom he will, who's to say that God can't have that right? We have no right to judge God for His actions. If God were to send everyone to hell, He would be righteous in doing so.
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom 9:14 What shall we say then? ''Is there'' unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
Rom 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.
This means that ultimately it is God who decides if God has mercy. No one can say when they get to heaven that they got there by their own will. All the glory belongs to Him, and everything should be done for His pleasure.
Rom 9:16 So then ''it is'' not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Rom 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.
Rom 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will ''have mercy,'' and whom he will he hardeneth.
Rom 9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
Rom 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?
Rom 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
Rom 9:22 ''What'' if God, willing to shew ''his'' wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
Rom 9:23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
Paul uses Pharaoh as his example to prove his point about predestination. It was God who chose to harden Pharaoh's heart so that he would not let Israel go out of Egypt for His glory. God does everything ultimately for His glory. Man is not at the top of God's list of priorities. God is willing to give justice, so that He might be glorified. God used Pharaoh's hardened heart to show His power. This means that everything, good or evil, will ultimately glorify God. Even Satan is being used for God's glory. Does this mean that it is not Pharaoh's fault for not letting God's people go? No, it does not. It was also Pharaoh's choice to harden his heart, but God was ultimately behind it.
Exo 7:13 And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
Exo 8:15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
I Never Knew Thee.
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to ''his'' purpose.
Rom 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.
Rom 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.
Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God ''be'' for us, who ''can be'' against us?
Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Rom 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? ''It is'' God that justifieth.
1Th 5:24 Faithful ''is'' he that calleth you, who also will do ''it.''
Although this doesn't help us in the assurance of the believer, Romans 8:29 is a key verse in understanding the security of the believer. Salvation is not based on man; it is based on the fact that It is God that justifieth. The idea that God has no control over who goes to heaven is unbiblical, prideful, and blasphemous towards God. It is God who predestines, and that is why we know that once someone becomes a believer, he is always a believer. If God is responsible for the conversion, He is also responsible for keeping us. We cannot take any credit for our salvation. God predestined us, God called us, God justified us, and God glorifies us according to His divine mercy.
John 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we ''are.''
1Jn 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
Every prayer that Jesus asks is answered. In John 17, Jesus asked the Father to keep those that He has given to Christ. Notice the way He said it. Jesus didn't say, God, please help those that decided to ask me into their hearts to keep their decision. He said, Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me.... Jesus recognized that the believers were His, because His Father gave us to Him.
Rom 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.
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Many people will argue that God predestines people based on His foreknowledge of who will believe the gospel, but if you read Romans 8:29 carefully, you will notice that it doesn't say that God predestines people according to His foreknowledge, but He predestines those that He foreknew. In contrast, Jesus says that He will tell others that He never knew them. Was Jesus saying that God is not omniscient, or is foreknowledge or never knowing referring to a more intimate knowledge that God has of His elect. Notice again that Romans 8:29 doesn't say that God foreknew everyone, it said, For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate...
Grace vs. Works
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: ''it is'' the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
2Ti 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,
Rom 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Rom 11:6 And if by grace, then ''is it'' no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if ''it be'' of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Rom 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
Jas 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Every false religion out there is based on works salvation. Works salvation is the idea that somehow we can do something to go to heaven rather than relying completely on God. This is ultimately pride, and the Bible says that God resists the proud. (James 4:6) Works are not the way to salvation. Works are the evidence of our salvation. I was talking about works salvation to a Mormon who insisted that he was relying completely on Christ for his salvation, and I asked him why he said that it was necessary to get baptized to go to heaven. He responded by asking me why we say that making a decision is necessary to go to heaven if we didn't believe in works salvation. I had no response for him, because the fact is that faith in a decision is just as much denying the grace of God as putting faith in anything else other than the work of Christ. To say that I am going to heaven, because I was good enough to make the decision is saying that I am better than those that did not make that choice. That is hypocrisy. Any decision that I made regarding my salvation was made after God drew me to Him. Therefore, I cannot glory in what I did, but only in the work of Christ. God should not only get all the glory for my justification, but also for my conversion.
The atonement of Jesus is sufficient for all, but efficient only for the believer.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
1Jn 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for ''the sins of'' the whole world.
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Rom 5:11 And not only ''so,'' but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Did Jesus die in vain? Who did Jesus specifically die for? God would not be just if Jesus was punished specifically for those who would not believe because that would mean that two people would pay for one man's sins. There are many verses in the Bible that clearly say that Christ died for US. This means that Jesus' death was specifically for the believers, but what about John 3:16? Doesn't it say that Jesus died for whosoever? The answer to that question is no, because the verse doesn't stop with whosoever, it says whosoever believeth in him. So, according to John 3:16, Jesus died for everyone that believes in Him. Also, when the Bible says, For God so loved the world , the world is referring to the earth, or God's creation. We know this because it says in the next verse that God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world.... It would be illogical to say that God sent His Son into people in the context of the passage, but it would be logical to say that God sent His Son into His creation. To get a better understanding of this popular verse, we will look into the Greek. In English, the word 'that' is used twice in John 3:16, but they actually come from two different Greek words. The first that in this verse comes from the Greek word, hoΜste. This word means literally, therefore. So, it can be accurately stated that God so loved the world, therefore He gave His only begotten Son. The second word that in this verse comes from the Greek word, hina. Basically, hina means, in order that. So, it can also be accurately stated that the second half of this verse means He gave His only begotten Son in order that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish. John 3:16 states that God loves everyone as part of His creation, so therefore He gave His only begotten Son in order that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. This means that the atonement of Jesus was made specifically for whosoever [that] believeth in Him. I John 2:2 lays it out very simply. It states that Jesus is the propitiation for our sins specifically, and also for the sins of the whole world, or the world as a whole.
Man Has Free Will.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
The Bible is very clear that anyone who will come to God may do just that if they believe that He exists, and is a rewarder of them that seek Him. Logic tells us that man has free will, and that they are capable of making decisions. The only problem with the free will of an unbeliever, is that they are not capable of coming to God, because they are incapable of wanting to come to God.
Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Rom 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
'''Eph 2:1''' And you ''hath he quickened,'' who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, ''they'' are spirit, and ''they'' are life.
The Bible is very clear that an unbeliever is not just a rebellious person, but an unbeliever is literally dead in sins. A dead man can't do anything. You can go to a graveyard and preach day and night for a hundred years telling them there's a remedy for their disease, but unless they are quickened, or brought to life, they cannot respond. The same applies to an unbeliever. An unbeliever is only capable of doing the works of the flesh, because he does not have the Holy Spirit. Man has free will, but this will is determined by self-determination, which is that they will do what seems best for themselves. This is why psychology is so powerful.
Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and ''of'' the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Joh 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, ''even'' to them that believe on his name:
Joh 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
An unbeliever cannot see the kingdom of God, because the flesh will never view God as a good thing. In order for someone to believe the gospel, he must be born again of the Spirit. You cannot will your way to believing the gospel. It is impossible, because the flesh is sinful. John 1 states that those that believe on the name of Jesus were not born of the will of flesh, but of God. Most people who are converted do not realize everything that takes place, but it is still true that if you are a believer, then God has regenerated you. You do not believe the gospel with your mouth, or with your mind; you believe the gospel with your heart, and that can only take place with a miracle from God.
God gives the increase.
1Co 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
1Co 3:7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Mar 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Eze 37:1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which ''was'' full of bones,
Eze 37:2 And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, ''there were'' very many in the open valley; and, lo, ''they were'' very dry.
Eze 37:3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.
Eze 37:4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
Eze 37:5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:
Eze 37:6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I ''am'' the LORD.
Eze 37:7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.
Eze 37:8 And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but ''there was'' no breath in them.
Eze 37:9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.
Eze 37:10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
Joh 5:21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth ''them;'' even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
Mat 7:21 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.
Prosperity preaching has become a very popular style for many preachers today. Preachers try to use psychology to persuade their listeners to choose Jesus. They preach another gospel and another Christ. This Jesus offers no cross, but only a wealthy lifestyle. He demands no sacrifice, but only cares about your temporary happiness. This is a Jesus that appeals to an unbeliever's fleshly lusts. Many have come forward to say Lord, Lord without actually believing in the Jesus of the Bible. The gospel has been watered down because preachers think they can make someone believe the gospel by enticing their flesh. There is no Scripture that could imply this, and there are dozens of verses that emphatically reject this idea. The Bible commands us to preach the gospel, but it is God that gives the increase. It is our job to preach as Ezekiel preached to dry bones, knowing that they could never hear him unless God did a miracle. We must rely on the Holy Spirit to convert sinners. We cannot convince dry bones to do anything unless God puts flesh on those bones, and breathes life into them.
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
People have been told that they are going to heaven because they decided to pray to Jesus and asked Him to come in their hearts, but if they did not believe the gospel, they only said a prayer. Calling upon the name of the Lord is the evidence that someone has believed the gospel. It does not convert a sinner. If an unbeliever says a prayer to Jesus, he is not calling on anyone according to Romans 10:14.
God wants all men to be saved.
1Ti 2:3 For this ''is'' good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Eze 33:11 Say unto them, ''As'' I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
The Bible is very clear that God wants everyone to be saved and come to the truth. God is not happy to send anyone to hell, but God has priorities. He is willing to sacrifice a lesser will to fulfill a greater will. The best example of this is the gospel. It was not God's preference to have His Son become sin. That in itself did not please God, but what it accomplished pleased God. God is not willing that any should perish. He doesn't take pleasure in killing anyone, but He has a greater desire to be glorified. Everything that is done is done for God's glory. God didn't forgive us for our sakes; He forgave us for Christ's sake. (Eph. 4:32) God does not choose to have mercy on everyone specifically, because if He did, He would not receive as much glory. This does not give us any excuse for being lazy. If you were to tell Lebron James that God predestined who would win the playoffs, he would be a fool to not play hard, because it would show that God did not predestinate him to win. God lays the responsibility of preaching the gospel on us. He commanded us to do this. Many people hide behind Romans 9, and ignore Romans 10 because they are lazy. If they do not hear the gospel, how shall they believe the gospel?
Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Rom 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
Rom 10:17 So then faith ''cometh'' by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. ]]>http://cdhblog.com/index.php?entry=entry090527-0313052009-05-27T00:00:00Z2009-05-27T00:00:00ZIs Salvation Predestined?Is Salvation Predestined?
This is a question that has sparked much controversy. Many have taken the doctrine of predestination as an excuse to not preach the gospel. Then there are some who take the other extreme and say that God does not predestine anyone, denying the sovereign grace of God. These are the two extremes of Arminianism, and Hyper-Calvinism (aka Anti-Calvinism).
God Pardons Whom He Will.
The Bible is very clear about predestination; God pardons whom He will. Salvation is of the LORD. (Jonah 2:9) In Romans 9, Paul tells us how God chose Israel. God didn't make Israel His chosen nation because He thought they were good people. God chose Israel according to His will and according to His pleasure.
Deu 10:15 Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, ''even'' you above all people, as ''it is'' this day.
Deu 10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.
Deu 10:17 For the LORD your God ''is'' God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:
Rom 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;)
Rom 9:12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
Rom 9:13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
Although most people don't seem to have a problem with the fact that God chose the Jews before the Gentiles, many refuse to accept the fact that God chose His elect just as God chose Israel. Does this mean that God is unjust or not righteous? No, it does not. If Barrack Obama were to choose to pardon a prisoner, that would not mean that he is not just because he didn't pardon any other prisoner. If the President of the U.S. has the right to pardon whom he will, who's to say that God can't have that right? We have no right to judge God for His actions. If God were to send everyone to hell, He would be righteous in doing so.
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom 9:14 What shall we say then? ''Is there'' unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
Rom 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.
This means that ultimately it is God who decides if God has mercy. No one can say when they get to heaven that they got there by their own will. All the glory belongs to Him, and everything should be done for His pleasure.
Rom 9:16 So then ''it is'' not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Rom 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.
Rom 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will ''have mercy,'' and whom he will he hardeneth.
Rom 9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
Rom 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?
Rom 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
Rom 9:22 ''What'' if God, willing to shew ''his'' wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
Rom 9:23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
Paul uses Pharaoh as his example to prove his point about predestination. It was God who chose to harden Pharaoh's heart so that he would not let Israel go out of Egypt for His glory. God does everything ultimately for His glory. Man is not at the top of God's list of priorities. God is willing to give justice, so that He might be glorified. God used Pharaoh's hardened heart to show His power. This means that everything, good or evil, will ultimately glorify God. Even Satan is being used for God's glory. Does this mean that it is not Pharaoh's fault for not letting God's people go? No, it does not. It was also Pharaoh's choice to harden his heart, but God was ultimately behind it.
Exo 7:13 And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
Exo 8:15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
I Never Knew Thee.
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to ''his'' purpose.
Rom 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.
Rom 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.
Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God ''be'' for us, who ''can be'' against us?
Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Rom 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? ''It is'' God that justifieth.
1Th 5:24 Faithful ''is'' he that calleth you, who also will do ''it.''
Although this doesn't help us in the assurance of the believer, Romans 8:29 is a key verse in understanding the security of the believer. Salvation is not based on man; it is based on the fact that It is God that justifieth. The idea that God has no control over who goes to heaven is unbiblical, prideful, and blasphemous towards God. It is God who predestines, and that is why we know that once someone becomes a believer, he is always a believer. If God is responsible for the conversion, He is also responsible for keeping us. We cannot take any credit for our salvation. God predestined us, God called us, God justified us, and God glorifies us according to His divine mercy.
John 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we ''are.''
1Jn 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
Every prayer that Jesus asks is answered. In John 17, Jesus asked the Father to keep those that He has given to Christ. Notice the way He said it. Jesus didn't say, God, please help those that decided to ask me into their hearts to keep their decision. He said, Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me.... Jesus recognized that the believers were His, because His Father gave us to Him.
Rom 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.
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Many people will argue that God predestines people based on His foreknowledge of who will believe the gospel, but if you read Romans 8:29 carefully, you will notice that it doesn't say that God predestines people according to His foreknowledge, but He predestines those that He foreknew. In contrast, Jesus says that He will tell others that He never knew them. Was Jesus saying that God is not omniscient, or is foreknowledge or never knowing referring to a more intimate knowledge that God has of His elect. Notice again that Romans 8:29 doesn't say that God foreknew everyone, it said, For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate...
Grace vs. Works
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: ''it is'' the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
2Ti 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,
Rom 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Rom 11:6 And if by grace, then ''is it'' no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if ''it be'' of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Rom 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
Jas 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Every false religion out there is based on works salvation. Works salvation is the idea that somehow we can do something to go to heaven rather than relying completely on God. This is ultimately pride, and the Bible says that God resists the proud. (James 4:6) Works are not the way to salvation. Works are the evidence of our salvation. I was talking about works salvation to a Mormon who insisted that he was relying completely on Christ for his salvation, and I asked him why he said that it was necessary to get baptized to go to heaven. He responded by asking me why we say that making a decision is necessary to go to heaven if we didn't believe in works salvation. I had no response for him, because the fact is that faith in a decision is just as much denying the grace of God as putting faith in anything else other than the work of Christ. To say that I am going to heaven, because I was good enough to make the decision is saying that I am better than those that did not make that choice. That is hypocrisy. Any decision that I made regarding my salvation was made after God drew me to Him. Therefore, I cannot glory in what I did, but only in the work of Christ. God should not only get all the glory for my justification, but also for my conversion.
The atonement of Jesus is sufficient for all, but efficient only for the believer.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
1Jn 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for ''the sins of'' the whole world.
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Rom 5:11 And not only ''so,'' but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Did Jesus die in vain? Who did Jesus specifically die for? God would not be just if Jesus was punished specifically for those who would not believe because that would mean that two people would pay for one man's sins. There are many verses in the Bible that clearly say that Christ died for US. This means that Jesus' death was specifically for the believers, but what about John 3:16? Doesn't it say that Jesus died for whosoever? The answer to that question is no, because the verse doesn't stop with whosoever, it says whosoever believeth in him. So, according to John 3:16, Jesus died for everyone that believes in Him. Also, when the Bible says, For God so loved the world , the world is referring to the earth, or God's creation. We know this because it says in the next verse that God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world.... It would be illogical to say that God sent His Son into people in the context of the passage, but it would be logical to say that God sent His Son into His creation. To get a better understanding of this popular verse, we will look into the Greek. In English, the word 'that' is used twice in John 3:16, but they actually come from two different Greek words. The first that in this verse comes from the Greek word, hoΜste. This word means literally, therefore. So, it can be accurately stated that God so loved the world, therefore He gave His only begotten Son. The second word that in this verse comes from the Greek word, hina. Basically, hina means, in order that. So, it can also be accurately stated that the second half of this verse means He gave His only begotten Son in order that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish. John 3:16 states that God loves everyone as part of His creation, so therefore He gave His only begotten Son in order that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. This means that the atonement of Jesus was made specifically for whosoever [that] believeth in Him. I John 2:2 lays it out very simply. It states that Jesus is the propitiation for our sins specifically, and also for the sins of the whole world, or the world as a whole.
Man Has Free Will.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
The Bible is very clear that anyone who will come to God may do just that if they believe that He exists, and is a rewarder of them that seek Him. Logic tells us that man has free will, and that they are capable of making decisions. The only problem with the free will of an unbeliever, is that they are not capable of coming to God, because they are incapable of wanting to come to God.
Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Rom 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
'''Eph 2:1''' And you ''hath he quickened,'' who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, ''they'' are spirit, and ''they'' are life.
The Bible is very clear that an unbeliever is not just a rebellious person, but an unbeliever is literally dead in sins. A dead man can't do anything. You can go to a graveyard and preach day and night for a hundred years telling them there's a remedy for their disease, but unless they are quickened, or brought to life, they cannot respond. The same applies to an unbeliever. An unbeliever is only capable of doing the works of the flesh, because he does not have the Holy Spirit. Man has free will, but this will is determined by self-determination, which is that they will do what seems best for themselves. This is why psychology is so powerful.
Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and ''of'' the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Joh 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, ''even'' to them that believe on his name:
Joh 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
An unbeliever cannot see the kingdom of God, because the flesh will never view God as a good thing. In order for someone to believe the gospel, he must be born again of the Spirit. You cannot will your way to believing the gospel. It is impossible, because the flesh is sinful. John 1 states that those that believe on the name of Jesus were not born of the will of flesh, but of God. Most people who are converted do not realize everything that takes place, but it is still true that if you are a believer, then God has regenerated you. You do not believe the gospel with your mouth, or with your mind; you believe the gospel with your heart, and that can only take place with a miracle from God.
God gives the increase.
1Co 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
1Co 3:7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Mar 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Eze 37:1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which ''was'' full of bones,
Eze 37:2 And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, ''there were'' very many in the open valley; and, lo, ''they were'' very dry.
Eze 37:3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.
Eze 37:4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
Eze 37:5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:
Eze 37:6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I ''am'' the LORD.
Eze 37:7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.
Eze 37:8 And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but ''there was'' no breath in them.
Eze 37:9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.
Eze 37:10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
Joh 5:21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth ''them;'' even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
Mat 7:21 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.
Prosperity preaching has become a very popular style for many preachers today. Preachers try to use psychology to persuade their listeners to choose Jesus. They preach another gospel and another Christ. This Jesus offers no cross, but only a wealthy lifestyle. He demands no sacrifice, but only cares about your temporary happiness. This is a Jesus that appeals to an unbeliever's fleshly lusts. Many have come forward to say Lord, Lord without actually believing in the Jesus of the Bible. The gospel has been watered down because preachers think they can make someone believe the gospel by enticing their flesh. There is no Scripture that could imply this, and there are dozens of verses that emphatically reject this idea. The Bible commands us to preach the gospel, but it is God that gives the increase. It is our job to preach as Ezekiel preached to dry bones, knowing that they could never hear him unless God did a miracle. We must rely on the Holy Spirit to convert sinners. We cannot convince dry bones to do anything unless God puts flesh on those bones, and breathes life into them.
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
People have been told that they are going to heaven because they decided to pray to Jesus and asked Him to come in their hearts, but if they did not believe the gospel, they only said a prayer. Calling upon the name of the Lord is the evidence that someone has believed the gospel. It does not convert a sinner. If an unbeliever says a prayer to Jesus, he is not calling on anyone according to Romans 10:14.
God wants all men to be saved.
1Ti 2:3 For this ''is'' good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Eze 33:11 Say unto them, ''As'' I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
The Bible is very clear that God wants everyone to be saved and come to the truth. God is not happy to send anyone to hell, but God has priorities. He is willing to sacrifice a lesser will to fulfill a greater will. The best example of this is the gospel. It was not God's preference to have His Son become sin. That in itself did not please God, but what it accomplished pleased God. God is not willing that any should perish. He doesn't take pleasure in killing anyone, but He has a greater desire to be glorified. Everything that is done is done for God's glory. God didn't forgive us for our sakes; He forgave us for Christ's sake. (Eph. 4:32) God does not choose to have mercy on everyone specifically, because if He did, He would not receive as much glory. This does not give us any excuse for being lazy. If you were to tell Lebron James that God predestined who would win the playoffs, he would be a fool to not play hard, because it would show that God did not predestinate him to win. God lays the responsibility of preaching the gospel on us. He commanded us to do this. Many people hide behind Romans 9, and ignore Romans 10 because they are lazy. If they do not hear the gospel, how shall they believe the gospel?
Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Rom 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
Rom 10:17 So then faith ''cometh'' by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. ]]>http://cdhblog.com/index.php?entry=entry090526-1559512009-05-26T00:00:00Z2009-05-26T00:00:00Z