So, who's in charge?

The writer posed the question because we need to answer the question of who’s in charge in the Church, Men or Women?

In I Timothy 2:11-13 it reads, “Let a woman learn in silence with all submission, and I do not permit a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was created first, then Eve.”

The scripture continues in I Timothy 3:1-7, “If a man desires the office of bishop (or overseer), he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous. One who rules his house well (if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how can he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the snare and condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”

Also in Titus 1:5-9 Paul instructs Titus to appoint elders in Crete and surrounding cities listing their qualifications: if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober minded, just, holy self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.”

It’s clear from scripture that leadership in the church has been appointed to men by God Almighty. Women in pastoral roles, beings elders, and bishops, apostles, prophetesses is not what the bible proscribes. Although it’s accepted and popular in our contemporary church culture, it’s not biblical. The aforementioned passages regarding bishops, overseers, elders and pastors isn’t antiquated; it didn’t apply to the first century church only, it applies to the church today.

It’s true men and women in Christ are one spiritually. Women aren’t inferior to men essentially (Galatians 3:28), but in church leadership, women are given a less authoritative role. Headship in the church belongs to men. The scripture declares women are to be silent and learn, and be in submission (to their own husbands) (I Timothy 2:11-13). The women’s role in the church is of a supportive nature, not a leadership one.

The role of the older women are to be teachers of good things (Titus 2:3) – that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed, vs 4-5.

Unfortunately, the lines have been blurred from what is biblical verses what is pop culture. The humanistic world view has trumped the biblical world view so now the roles are reversed; the church has become feminized as women usurp the role of men in the church which only breeds chaos and disorder. Paul said in I Corinthians 14:40 regarding public worship, “let everything be done decent and in order (emphasis added).”

This error is so common place in the church that we’ve been “hexed or bewitched” to the degree that many believe it’s okay to have women as Pastors which actually is an oxy-moron. Women who claim God called them to the pastorate have either been deceived or have outright lied. God would not call a woman to a position that he clearly forbids in his word. The word of God is being blasphemed (Titus 2:5). This is indeed a serious matter! We can not allow subjective experience to be the determiner of truth and expect the word of God to bow it’s knee to it. We must qualify our experiences in light of holy scripture and bow our knees to the word of God which is objective truth.

No doubt many women are qualified teachers of scripture. Thank God for them! However, women in the public assembly are to remain quiet and learn. Women are allowed to teach women and children, but not men; that’s where the line must be drawn. Women do not have the authority to tell men what to do in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ; that’s a perversion! It’s not chauvinism as some would say, it’s the word of God. A true woman of God recognizes her role in God’s plan as a blessed, and privileged one. I believe equally as important, but with less authority than the man. Remember the head of the woman is the man (I Corinthians 11:3). 

It’s a glorious thing to submit and fall into the role that God designed for men and women.

Shame on the woman for usurping the role of the man. Shame on the man for not taking his rightful place in leadership. Both are culpable. Once the word of God is taught properly in this most critical issue, the transforming power of scripture will penetrate the hearts of his saints, and we’ll willingly submit to it’s truth. We’ll have more joy, and peace in the church; God’s word is honored instead of blasphemed, and things will be done decent and in order.

The book of Malachi - A commentary

The name Malachi means “my messenger” or “ messenger of God”

Chapter 1 -  The prophet starts off by declaring his love for Israel and his contempt for the nation of Edom (i.e. descendants of Jacob’s brother Esau). Apparently the Hebrews were questioning God’s affection from them hence the opening response by the prophet, vs. 2

God is displeased because of the lack of reverence in their worship toward him. The priests are vowing to God the best of their possessions, but actually offering the worst; showing contempt for God and their office. God said that he will not accept their sacrifices, vs. 6-10.

God said, “when you offer the lame and sick is it not evil?” God said your governor wouldn’t accept such a profane offering. The prophet told the people God would rather shut the doors of the temple than for them to offer unholy, worthless sacrifices on his altar – don’t offer anything at all.

The prophet closes  by saying in the end times, his name will be honored by all nations for he is a great King.

Chapter 2 -  The prophet rehearses to them how the priesthood began through the Levites; the priestly tribe. How in the beginning the priests were faithful to the Lord, and turned away from impurity, vs 4-6.

The second issue was dealing with marriages. Men are rebuked for marrying pagan wives which led to rampant idolatry which rendered the sacrifices to God unacceptable. They corrupted their worship. God in turn had to cut the offender off from his people, vs 11, 12. The prophet commands the men to deal faithfully with your wife, vs 15-16.

Finally, the prophet declares Israel wearied him with their words which were lies. The people were questioning God’s goodness saying God rewards evil and punishes good, and where is the God of justice? vs. 17.

People that are in constant sin, view of God is always wrong due to the deceitfulness of sin, and it’s blinding affects to distort righteous judgment. To them, right and wrong are in a role reversal because they’re looking at life through their own eyes which can’t see clearly.

*Key verses – Verse 7; For the lips of the Priest keep knowledge and the people should seek the law from his mouth.

Verse 16 – God hates divorce. It covers one’s garment with violence (Like Bloodshed)

Chapter 3 – Malachi predicts the coming of John The Baptist over 400 years before it’s actual fulfillment; he is the coming one to prepare the way for the Messiah, vs. 1 (Matt 3:3;11;10, 14; 17:12; Mark 1:2; Luke 1:17;7, 26, 27; John1:23; Isaiah 40:3).

The prophet declares that Israel has robbed God by not paying their taxes (i.e. tithes), vs 8-10. As a result, they’re cursed, vs 9.  The priests had to neglect the house of God and began farming like the rest of the tribes to earn their living and support their families. This was a violation of the nation’s religious life, and proper worship of God (II Chronicles 3:11; Nehemiah 10:38, 39; 12:44; 13:10-11).

God also grew tired of the people’s antagonizing words against him. Once again as in the previous chapter, they were saying serving God was useless, because the wicked are blessed when they test God. This evil view of God is character assassination of the most Holy. The things that God hates some were saying he blessed and pardoned wickedness, vs. 13-15.

The faithful of God were remembered in a book for their obedience. These are the true servants of God, vs 16 -18.

Chapter 4 – The prophet declares the day of the Lord. The wicked will be judged and destroyed. The righteous will also trample the wicked, vs 1-3.

Malachi also predicts the coming of Elijah (i.e. a type), who will apparently preach, and turn the hearts of the people back to God before the Lord returns to subdue the earth. This did not occur at Christ first coming although Christ did refer to John the Baptist as Elijah (Luke 1:17; Matthew 11:14). There are some that believe that one of the two witnesses in the book of Revelation 11 will be Elijah; this view is mere conjecture and can’t be proven although the two witnesses will have the power to destroy people with fire as Elijah did (II Kings 1:10, 12; Revelation 11:5).

                                  ** The oracles of the prophet Malachi are finished **

The Book of Zechariah A Commentary - Part II

Chapter 8 – God promises complete restoration of the nation. He will once again be their God and they his people. All nations will seek the Lord in the last days. Israel will be so godly that ten pagan men will cling to a one Hebrew, because they’ll know that God is with them and will follow them resulting in mass salvation, vs 23.

Chapter 9 – The first eight verses deal with the defeat of Israel’s by God’s servant Alexander The Great. Verse 9 deals with Messiah’s first advent fulfilled in Matthew 21:1-5 and John 12:12-16 – the triumphal entry on a donkey. The remainder of the chapter deals with the future salvation of his people, and future prosperity that is everlasting, vs 16-17.

Chapter 10 – The prophet predicts the restoration of the entire nation of Israel – the northern and southern kingdoms. God made a covenant with Abraham which is an everlasting covenant. The Lord will mightily prosper his people by giving them rain in abundance, vs. 1.

God will punish those who worship idols and prophesy lies to the people; leading them astray. The people have been victims of false leadership, vs 2-3.

God will return and restore his people back to Israel as if he never scattered them. They will dwell together with their children. All these blessings are yet future.

Chapter 11 – This chapter unlike the previous two deals with the destruction of Israel. This event was yet future during Zechariah’s time. Most likely this was the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 A.D.

Zechariah is portraying a good shepherd who cares for and feeds the flock – especially the poor (symbolically portraying how the poor heard Jesus gladly Matthew 10:5;Mark 12:37) ; unlike the owners who only fatten them for slaughter so that they can sell their flesh and pretentiously bless God, and say, “I’m rich”! In the same way, God like those shepherds who slaughtered the sheep, will break his covenant with Israel because of their sin of the rejection of the Messiah, vs 4-7.

The prophet continues his prophetic dramatic role by portraying the traitor, namely Judas Iscariot who was paid thirty pieces of silver to betray Jesus. The valuation of Jesus was the amount paid to an owner who’s slave was killed by an ox (Exodus 21:32). The haters of Jesus regarded the savior of the world to that of mere slave proving their disdain and hatred for him.

The Lord commanded Zechariah to throw the silver on the temple floor so that a potter’s field could be purchased. This was fulfilled in Matthew 26:14-16; 27:3-10.

Lastly, the prophet plays the role of a foolish or worthless shepherd who destroys all; not caring for anyone. It is believed that this is reference to the infamous Antichrist, vs 15-17.

Chapter 12 – The prophet declares that the Lord will confound the nations that will attack Jerusalem in the end times; he will destroy the surrounding nations vs, 4,9. God will restore and protect his people.

The Spirit of grace and supplication will be poured on the house of David and descendants. They’ll recognize their Messiah and for him and one mourns for him as one would mourn for a firstborn son.

Verse ten says that, “they’ll look upon me whom they’ve pierced”, making reference to a crucified and risen savior.

Chapter 13 – The Lord is commanding all to repent of sin and come clean, vs. 1. The Lord will remove all idols and false prophets from the land. Anyone who continues to prophesy falsely, his parents will kill him, vs 2-4. Never lie in the name of  the Lord.

Verse 7 deals with Jesus as he refers to himself as the Shepherd being “struck” when he was arrested. 

Zechariah by the Holy Spirit prophesied this event over 500 years in advance (New testament fulfillment, Matthew 26:31).

Chapter 14  - This chapter deals with specifically the Great Tribulation, the coming of Jesus Christ to subdue his enemies (Revelation 19:11-16), and finally the 1,000 millennial reign of peace. At this point, the Messiah will sit on the throne of his father David forever (Daniel 2:44).

                       **This concludes the oracles and visions of Zechariah the prophet**

The Book of Zechariah - A commentary Part I

                                     

Zechariah began prophesying in Oct/Nov 520 B.C., two months after the prophet Haggai (Haggai 1:1). Zechariah along with Haggai were part of the refugees who returned to Jerusalem from captivity in Persia to rebuild the Lord’s house and help to re-establish the nation that was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon in 586 B.C.

Chapter 1 -  First and Second Visions - The prophet is calling the people to national repentance, vs 2. He commands them, “don’t be like your fathers who didn’t listen to the prophets in their day”, vs 4-6.

Zechariah on the 24^th day of the eleventh month, which would have been around February 14^th 519 B.C. in his day, receives the first of eight visions:

 First vision - He sees a man on a red horse, another on red horse, one on a brown horse, another on a white who were patrolling the earth and found it at rest. The horseman are an angelic police of some sort, vs 7-9

Another part of the chapter deals with God’s promise to restore Israel and build his house and dwell in it. God will again choose Jerusalem vs 16-17.

Second Vision - The prophet vision ends with fours horns (symbolic of power and authority in scripture), and four craftsmen. The four horns most likely represent four nations that subdued Israel: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome, vs 18-20.

Chapter 2 -  Third Vision – Zechariah has a vision of a man with a measuring rod to measure Jerusalem; perhaps also measuring where the future millennial temple will lay, vs 1-2.

Jerusalem will again be inhabited and God himself will be their protection. The Lord will dwell in their midst, vs 5, 10, 11.

God will be with his people forever, and choose them as his own possession, vs 12.

In the end times, many nations (the Gentiles) will belong to the Lord, and they will be his people. This proves God has always been a savior to not only Israel, but to all peoples vs. 11.

Chapter 3 – Fourth Vision – Zechariah has a vision of Joshua the High Priest before the Angel of the Lord (which scholars believe is the pre-incarnate Christ), and satan accusing Joshua. The Angel of the Lord says, “The Lord rebuke you Satan”.

God has chosen Jerusalem so Joshua who’s a symbol of national Israel is made clean as the filthy garments are removed, and rich robes are put on him. A clean turban is placed on his head also.

This vision that the prophet sees is God re-establishing the royal priesthood to Israel, vs 1-5.

The Lord in the future will bring his servant THE BRANCH (an old testament reference to Jesus Christ), to dwell with his people in the millennial kingdom, vs 10.

Chapter 4 – Fifth Vision – The prophet sees a vision of a seven golden lamp stand, and two olives trees; the two olive branches are distinct in this vision. The Imagery here is strange and apparently very “Jewish” in scope.

Zechariah is given this vision to the civil leader of the nation, Zerubbabel to finish building the temple which will not be by his might. Any opposition will be removed so that when Zerubbabel brings the final (cap) stone, the people will rejoice shouting, “grace grace to it”, vs 6-7. The temple was completed in the year 516 B.C. The finished work will be precious in the sight of the Lord, vs 10.

The two olive branches is believed to represent Joshua the High Priest and Zerubbabel the Governor who was of royal lineage, vs 14. Chapters 3 and 4 are a tandem.

Chapter 5 – Visions Six and Seven – The first vision in the chapter is of a flying scroll. It’s dimensions are 30x15 feet. The scroll is apparently the Law that judges evil doers. Mainly thieves and perjurers. The word will be so severe, that it will consume the sinner’s houses. The word will accomplish it purposes, vs 14. With the re-establishing of the nation, evil must be judged and rooted out immediately.

The second vision is of a woman in a basket. Two women with the wings of a stork lift up the basket and take it to Shinar (an ancient name for Babylon) to set up what appears to be a false religious system. The woman in the basket is perhaps the great whore described in the book of Revelation. MYSTERY BABYLON is discussed in detail in Revelation chapters 17 & 18; commercial and religious Babylon.

Chapter 6 – Eighth Vision – The prophet sees four chariots of horses:

Red horses, black, white, strong/dappled horses. These represent the four spirits of heaven. Their job is to patrol the earth, vs 1-8.

Zechariah in the vision creates a crown and places it on Joshua the High Priest who pre-figures Messiah (the Branch) who will combine both offices of High Priest and King, vs 11-14.

Joshua once again a type of Christ will assist in building the post exilic temple. THE BRANCH will build the future Millennial temple, vs 15.

Chapter 7 -  In the fourth year of King Darius / 518 B.C., certain refugees from Babylon thought their fasting and weeping in the fifth and seventh months (burning of the temple – around July/August 586 B.C. and Day of Atonement respectively)  would appease God. Their names: Sherezer with Regem-Melech and his men. The prophet told them obedience is what the Lord demands along with Justice, kindness and compassion, vs 1-10.

Verses 8-14 declare they refused to do that and that is why Israel was scattered amongst the nations.

Why do I have to continually confess my sins if they have been forgiven?

It’s important to remember that we’re dealing with two separate issues; our sins judicially and our sins in real time.

Jesus Christ is our advocate, our defense attorney, our mediator. His blood sacrifice on the cross satisfied the Father’s holy wrath regarding our sins past, present, and future. Jesus’ suffering and death was a plea to the Father for our vindication and forgiveness. Jesus went to trial on our behalf before the Father and declared us “not guilty”. The Lord accepted the Son’s sacrifice on our behalf. The devil who’s our accuser and prosecutor head was bruised (Genesis 3:15). This the bible says was done before the foundation of the world, (Ephesians 1:7). This is how our sins were dealt with judicially. This was pre-salvation. Once we believed in what Jesus did, we were saved. We’ll never be punished eternally for those sins and go to hell since the Father already punished Christ for them (Isaiah 53:1-5).

But, because of the wickedness that still remains in our flesh, we still commit sin in real time. Fortunately, we still have our advocate Jesus Christ who continually intercedes for us so that we can be continuously forgiven our sins when we repent and confess them (Hebrews 7:25; I John1:8-10; I John 2:2). When we ask for forgiveness post-salvation, it’s to restore fellowship, not relationship. Our relationship with the Father through Christ is forever when we believed. We’ll never lose our salvation.

Concluding, we must confess our sins because the word of God commands us to. To say we have no sin is to call God a liar which is blasphemous and proves the truth is not in us. Also, confessing sin is humbling; it reminds us that we still need the Savior and our sufficiency is in him although we’re born again. There is an ongoing tug-o-war between the flesh and the Spirit (Galatians 5:17). We must never forget the power that saved us, is the ongoing power that sustains us in salvation.

Once our physical bodies are made perfect and we’re in the eternal state, we’ll sin no more (I Corinthians 15:51; Philippians 3:21; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I John 3:1-3). This is yet future.

This is a promise that what the Lord started, he’ll complete. (Ephesians 1:14; Philippians 1:6).

What is the "the Crawl Out" theory

My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall any pluck them out of My hand. My Father who has given them to me is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one  - John 10:27-30

There are many in Christendom that believe that eternal salvation can be lost due to a pattern of unbroken, habitual sin in one’s life. It should raise the question if that person is actually saved in the first place; My answer is no.

This type of thinking smashes against one’s liberty and confidence in God and his word. It also causes anxiety and promotes a joyless experience in Christ.  This type of theology also promotes a spirit of fear which does not come from God (II Timothy 1:7). One can never be sure if at some point God will pull the plug on their salvation and revoke it – nonsense!!

It’s an entirely different matter and heresy to believe that one can “give up” their salvation or “crawl out” (that exact phrase was uttered to the writer last year by someone who holds this view) of the hands of the Father and Son. This type of thinking has huge reverberating effects I believe on the hearts and minds of even the elect of God.

What the writer calls the “crawl out” theory is a view that true believers can somehow “pry” themselves out of the eternal grip of the  Father God and the Lord Jesus Christ and thus rendering their salvation null and void. It’s another way of saying  salvation can be lost or what they believe ”given up”. The mentality behind this view is that since man has free will and God will not violate that will, he can choose to walk away from the salvation he once had. Question, if you can walk away from true salvation, did you ever have it in the first place? The answer is an emphatic NO! The following verse describes that type of person:

“They(the false convert) went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us  (I John 2:19).

The bible also describes this type of person as a tare among wheat, a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a false prophet (Matthew 7:15; Matthew 13:24-30).

The problem that persists with this belief system is that man believes he is somehow in control of the salvation process; he can pick up his salvation, and lay it down at will. Now these aren’t the exact words the proponents of this false doctrine will utter out of their mouths, but as we say in today’s society, “actions speak louder than words." Their doctrine will dictate their behavior. The idea that you can give up your salvation is asinine for several reasons. I’ll cite a few:

Salvation is God’s design – God didn’t create salvation for it to be wrangled and twisted by man’s sinfulness. Had He left it in the hands of men, he (man) would have definitely destroyed it resulting in no one ever being saved. Salvation is of the Lord (Psalm 3:8; Isaiah 12:2; Jonah 2:9;Zechariah 9:9).      

Salvation was in the pre-determined mind of God before time began – In eternity past, the Father identified to the Son who He would save. He wrote their names down in the Lamb’s book of life  and gave them to the Son as a love gift to go and redeem. Since the Son loves the Father, any gift the Father gives him takes on infinite value; that is the elect. The rejection of this love gift that originated in heaven proves that salvation is only for those who truly believe. The chosen of God will ultimately remain faithful and true. The true believer who knows his God will never walk away because they’re preserved by God through the power of the Holy Spirit. This plan was authorized by God, executed by Jesus Christ on the cross, and is being carried out right now by us, being superintended by the Spirit. Man can’t  thwart it. God has already stamped his approval on it. (Ephesians 1:4; II Timothy 1:12;Titus 1:2).

Walking away from God proves one was never saved – Jesus said, “no one putting his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). This proves that the one who claims he was genuinely saved and “crawled out” of the Father and Son’s grip because he decided he no longer wanted to walk with the Lord was never a true disciple. He only pretended to be. He was never in the Father and Son’s grip. It’s tragic for so many people to subscribe to this view because of a poor understanding of salvation and the nature of the atonement. The Lord never provided an “Opt out” clause in his salvation plan. Those whom he truly saves, he saves them from within, and they’re saved forever. That eternal security is never a license to sin because through Christ we’ve been delivered from it’s curse, but a license to serve God and have it truly count (Romans 6:1-2). We prove our love to Jesus by obedience to his commands (John 14:15). Those that belong to the Lord are to depart from iniquity (II Timothy 2:19). Those chosen by God for salvation will come to him because the Lord has decreed it. When the Father draws them to the Son, the desire to repent will be the overwhelming passion of the chosen sinner’s heart. Scholars have called this Irresistible Grace. He’ll acknowledge his sin and unworthiness upon hearing the true gospel. He’ll be like the tax collector who humbled himself before God who beat his breast and declared, “God be merciful to me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13, italics added).  All those appointed to eternal life will believe once they hear the gospel (Acts 13:48).

A lot of Christians have been victims of a poor theology – Because a lot of ministers in pulpits do not understand the nature of predestination, the atonement and salvation, they teach falsehood to the sheep. Since the average Christian is lazy when it comes to studying to show themselves approved and searching the scriptures daily whether these things are so (II Timothy 2:15; Acts 17:11), they become victims of heretical teaching and so what they believe to be true is how they live their lives. Their belief system unwittingly becomes what they believe about  the bible says and so they propagate that falsehood to other people. To them it seems natural and acceptable to say that God actually saves man, but through an unbroken pattern of sinful behavior, God abandons those whom he placed his particular love upon and he changes his mind and damns them to hell after all; i.e. lose their salvation. Did anyone ever take the time to think how that makes God look? It  makes God look double minded! What someone is saying is that He’s able to save, but he isn’t powerful enough to keep them saved because the person decided the Christian life wasn’t for them so they walk away, or they “crawled out!" This shows a gross lack of faith in the word of God. I must reiterate, those that walk away from the Lord were never saved if they stay away (i.e. Judas; John 6:71,  the fake disciples of John 6:66, Possibly Demas; II Timothy 4:10).  They need to get saved – for real! Examine yourself to see if you’re truly saved (II Corinthians 13:5)! Those whom God saves have the Holy Ghost residing in them and can not  practice sin (I John 3:9) . They remain true because He keeps them and knows who are his (II Timothy 2:19). This speaks of relationship.

Unrealistic expectations about the Christian life – Due to the popularity of the “Health and Wealth” Gospel and it’s user friendly appeal, the masses have followed this in droves. This false doctrine teaches that God wants all of his children healthy, healed and rich; assuming that a person’s life is in what he has which Jesus vehemently denied (Luke 12:15).  Who wouldn’t flock to a friendly offer like that, especially if it’s supposedly cloaked with Jesus  right? Their gospel offends no one because it doesn’t confront sin and the need for man to repent. It’s weak on sound doctrine and holy living. It’s non confrontational. The Word of Faith movement promotes a “name and claim it” theology which declares that if you positive confess something enough times, it’ll come to pass. You in essence get to create your own reality. Their scriptural premise for this Mark 11:23-24. This is nothing more than New Age mysticism, and what is commonly today “The Secret” or the “Law of Attraction” Go to this link for an article on The Secret:

https://www.gotquestions.org/secret-law-attraction.html                                                          

Once one discovers the Health and Wealth gospel is false and it doesn’t work as they hoped, they’ll stop following the false Jesus in that movement they’ll do two things:

1. They’ll blame God because they were lied to and want to have nothing to do with the true Jesus and the Church when the real gospel is presented. They’ll blaspheme God and the Church. They will find something more suitable to them 
2. They’ll investigate the word of God and discover that the actual Christian life involves self-denial and a life of service to the Lord with persecution which is unpopular. This truth will offend the majority so they’ll deny the truth. The few that are serious about becoming right with God will be drawn by the Father to the Son and will be saved through the preaching of the gospel.

                                                   

                                                           

                                                               In conclusion

The Lord never abandons us when we sin. We break fellowship with God due to sin, but not relationship. The joy of our salvation is temporarily removed when we sin; at least it should be. We should be broken hearted over it (Psalm 51:12). We must go to God and confess our sin so that we can be forgiven and cleansed (I John 1:9). God chastises us when we’re out of line because he loves us and commands us to be holy (Hebrews 12:5-11). God chastens us just as a natural father would chasten his child when they disobey. The father is displeased, but a good father would never disown his own child; nor will God forsake us. He loves us and sent his only begotten Son to die in our place for our sins.

In addition, to be able to “crawl out” of the hand of the Father and the Son means that everything that the Father decreed before time again would be reversed. We would no longer be chosen before the foundation of the world, we could become un-sealed by the Holy Spirit, Jesus came to die for us in vain because we’re now going to pay for the penalty for own sins in hell. We’re no longer the predestined, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified (Romans 8:30).  Do you now see the tragedy of this position? What this means is that God’s plan failed – sins “power” was greater than God’s gracious power to keep us saved. Jesus in essence loses all those the Father gave to him (John 6:37-41; John 10:27-30) if we have the power to walk away from such particular, and aggressive  love that God pre-determine the chosen would receive. This is ridiculous! Those who understand who they are in Christ and what he has done for them will never walk away anyhow. It defies all logic. If God has decreed the elect remain with him, they will remain and never perish. Those that walk away never belonged to him to begin with, will not see life, for the wrath of God abides on him (John 3:36).

         

The Divine Choice Of God

“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”                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                           – John 15:16.

There is a very clear line between how God and man make choices.  Man makes common choices everyday of his life; such as what to eat, what to wear, where to live, where to attend school, who to marry, what career path to choose, his belief system, what car to drive, how to raise their children, etc. These are normal choices that God obviously knows about, but he does not pre-determine them; these choices aren’t critical to his eternal plan, and were not made for man before the foundation of the world. These human choices are always made in real time. God allows us to make these choices whether they’re good or evil, unabated. Sure other people can influence us in one way or another, but ultimately, the decision to choose what we do is ours. And if we’re honest, the majority of mankind makes these choices without consulting the Lord first would you not agree? Man wants to be his own sovereign and does not want to be told what to do, not even by God Almighty. In short, man does not care what God thinks. That’s why he commits evil wicked choices everyday.

When it comes to God  choosing whom he wants for whatever reason, it never requires man’s cooperation or approval to actualize His plan. When God makes a decree, it’s done outside of time, because He is outside of time, and at the precise moment in time He wants to effectively make His plan come to pass in the life or lives of those He chooses, it will come to pass, it will not tarry. This truth encompasses the whole of scripture. Let’s look at several texts to amplify this point:

God chose Noah – Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord (Genesis 6:8). By faith Noah being divinely warned of things not seen, moved with godly fear prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith (Hebrews 11:7).

God chose Abraham – And he (Abraham) believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness (Genesis 15:6). Righteousness was deposited in Abraham’s account by God because he believed in the promises of God. God didn’t need Abraham’s approval to choose him. God pre-determined Abraham’s fate.

God commissioned Moses to deliver the Hebrews from Egypt – Moses like us made excuses as to why he could not do what God commanded, but since it was in the pre-determined plan of God to choose Moses, it was going to come to pass as God prescribed it would (Exodus 3:14; Exodus 4).

God chose David to be King of Israel – Samuel the judge was sent to Bethlehem to anoint David with oil to be the next king of Israel (I Samuel 16:13). This was a choice God made alone to set his particular love upon David. Neither David’s good looks or pedigree influenced the Lord’s decision.

God chose Jeremiah as a prophet to the nations before he was born – Before I formed you in the womb I knew you. Before you were born I sanctified you, and ordained you a prophet to the nations (Jeremiah 1:5). Although Jeremiah was a chosen vessel, he wanted to resign his office as prophet because to him the word of the Lord was too hard to declare; it brought extreme pain and ridicule. Our humanness and sin will always be an obstacle when we’re endeavoring to do God’s will (Jeremiah 20:7-9; Romans 7:15-25).

God chose the nation Israel out of all the nations of the earth – For you are a holy people (not because of them, but because of God) to the Lord your God. God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the people of the earth. 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; but because the Lord loves you (I John 4:19), and because He would keep the oath which he swore to your fathers (a covenant promise with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob), the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of Pharaoh king of Egypt (Deuteronomy 7:6-8).

The Lord sovereignly chose Cyrus king of Persia to authorize the Hebrews to return to Israel – Thus says the Lord to his anointed, To Cyrus whose right hand I have held – to subdue nations before him, and loose the armor of kings; to open before him the double doors, so that the gates will not be shut. I will go before you, and make the crooked places straight. I will break in pieces the gates of bronze, and the cut the bars of iron. 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 name Am the God of Israel for Jacob, My servant’s sake, and Israel My elect (emphasis added). I have even called you by your name; I have named you, though you have not known Me (Isaiah 45:1-4).

Here God chose king Cyrus, a gentile king. At the time of this prophecy, it was nearly 150 years before king Cyrus was even born. Cyrus in 538 B.C. was stirred by the Spirit of the Lord to proclaim through out his kingdom that God commanded him to build the Lord’s house in Jerusalem (Ezra 1:1-4).

This was all by the foreknowledge and pre-determined plan of God. Cyrus for this purpose was God’s instrument and his elect. God chose Cyrus before he was born. God didn’t wait for Cyrus to say yes to authorize his plan; God authorized it in eternity past himself, and actualized it in real time through his servant.

Jesus commissions Peter, Andrew, James and John – And Jesus walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fisherman. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him. Jesus also called James and John to follow Him. They left their nets and their father, and followed Jesus (Matthew 4:18-22).

Jesus commanded these men to follow and they obeyed. God didn’t provide an ultimatum. Their names were written in the Lamb’s book of life so therefore they were from eternity past chosen by God the Father as a gift to the son (Luke 10:20).

Saul (name changed later to Paul) was chosen by God to preach the gospel to the Gentiles – The Lord speaking to Ananias said, “Go for he (Saul) is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before the Gentiles, kings and children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake” (Acts 9:15).

Although Paul was persecuting and imprisoning Christians, God called him to be a preacher to the Gentiles. This proves that even the chosen can resist God’s will until such time God effectually calls the chosen sinner to repentance. This of course was unbeknownst to Paul at the time. He was a chosen vessel by God in eternity past, and God effectually called him at the precise time He desired Paul to repent and be baptized. God chose Paul, not the other way around.

II Corinthians 1:1 says that Paul is an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God (italics added).

I Timothy 1:1 says Paul and apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Savior (italics added).

The apostle Peter declares us a chosen generation – In 1 Peter 2:4 says we’re chosen by God. In verse 9 it says we’re a chosen generation and a royal priesthood, and a holy nation, His own chosen people (italics added).

The point I’m hoping to drive home is that when God chooses man, it benefits him, but it’s not because of him; it’s because of God who does everything according to His own good pleasure and intention (Ephesians 1:5,9).

God’s choice is an elective divine prerogative that glorifies himself. God will not share his glory with another (Isaiah 42:8; 48:11). God’s divine choice is something he always does, alone. None of the people God chooses for salvation think for one minute that their freedom of choice is being violated. Why? Because they know they have been saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8,9). God’s choosing is never apart from our will. Our will has to be altered by God at the moment of his effectually calling  us to himself or else we would never believe God’s word. This process never precludes human responsibility either. Somehow, God’s sovereign will and human responsibility are the two dynamics that mysteriously operate in God’s effectual call. God is always is the aggressor and provider in this process because it’s God’s plan and his doing. Man is passive in salvation and is the blessed recipient in this plan (i.e. the elect); he can not add to it by his obedience, and he can not subtract from it by his disobedience. This plan is fixed and complete in the mind of God (Romans 8:29,30; Ephesians 1:4;Titus 1:2). God’s sovereign elective choice is totally independent of man’s influence; man however is the object of the Father’s affection in His sovereign choice.

Isaiah 55:11 says, “So shall My word be that goes out of my mouth; It shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it “ (Emphasis added). God’s words always prevails, it never fails.

 “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statues of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether” (Psalm 19:7-9).

 So you see, the pendulum swings both ways; man chooses what he wants to do not fearing reprisal from God. How much more does the sovereign of the universe have the right to choose what He wants to do in the realm of his own creation? God is never accountable to man, nor will he ever be. In predestination, and divine choice, God’s perfect will trumps man’s will every time. In human choice, man can choose what he wants( precluding salvation on his own), but it doesn’t mean he can always accomplish what he wants if God or man prevents him.

God always does what he wants (Psalm 115:3).

Finally, I heard someone say, God doesn’t see a thing as just and does it, God does it and then the thing becomes just because He is just.