Why only one Way?

We live in a society of moral relativism. This is the age of tolerance and subjectivism. To many truth is relative, not absolute.[i] What a lot of people are saying today is, “What you believe is fine for you, but I have my own truth! Your truth is your truth, and my truth is my truth"! To affirm that there is absolute truth, and only one way to God, and eternal bliss seems arrogant.

Truth is never arrogant. For Biblical truth is the only truth that saves.

A lot of people say they believe in Jesus Christ. That’s not enough. What one believes about Him, and who He is is the key. It’s not good enough to say that Jesus was a great moral teacher or a first century Prophet, and miracle worker from Galilee. He did not leave that option open to us.

Hear the words of C.S. Lewis the author of the classic Chronicles of Narnia series:

“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”[1]

Jesus Himself told the religious leaders of His day, If you do not believe that I AM, you shall die in your sins (John 8:24).

Jesus declared to His disciples that, I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes unto the Father by Me (John 14:6).

Peter in Acts 4:12 says this, for there is salvation in no one else. For there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we MUST be saved.

Peter on the day of Pentecost and the birth of the church preached the first gospel sermon said this to the Jews, Repent be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).

After Jesus restored a blind man’s sight Jesus asked Him, Do you believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is He Lord that I might believe on Him? And Jesus said unto him, You have seen Him, and It is He that talks with you. And he said Lord I believe, and he worshipped Him (John 9:36-38).

Isaiah the prophet says this, Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me. I even I, am the Lord and besides Me there is no Savior (Isa 43:10b-11).

Isaiah also says, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God and there is none like Me (Isa 46:9).

In Deuteronomy 6:4 we read this, Hear, O Israel the Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with your soul, and with all your strength.

The recitation of these words are known as the Shema. What the people of Israel were acknowledging is that God is the only God. They were declaring they were monotheistic nation.

Exodus 20:3 reads, you shall no others gods before me. The first of the ten commandments.

The Philippian Jailer asked Paul and Silas, “what I must I do to be saved?” They replied to him, “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:31).

Obviously there are a host of other scriptures that tell us that the only God is the God of Holy Writ. To believe in someone or something else is idolatry which offends our Heavenly Father.

                                                 

                                                     

                                                      Problems with False Religions

1.       With every other religion the adherent has to perform meritorious works in order to earn their salvation, deliverance and or reward from their god. This is a work-righteousness system which can never save. False religious systems are all based on conditions being met in order to merit the favor of their god or their system.

Not so with Christianity. The work has been performed perfectly and finally by the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no actual activity one has to engage in to merit the grace of God. Grace is a gift from God to undeserving wretched sinners. God the Father loved the world so He sent His only begotten Son to redeem the world from its sins. Since Jesus loves His Father, and always pleases Him, He willingly died for those whom the Father gave to Him (John 6:37; 17:9).

Some asked Jesus, “What shall we do that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him (Jesus) who He (The Father) sent (John 6:28-29).

Here is a crystal clear case of the human responsibility of man to believe. Just because God chooses sovereignly in eternity past who He would save, it never negates the human cognitive response of the chosen to willfully believe.

For someone to try to obtain salvation by their own works proves their disdain for God the Father and the atonement of Jesus Christ. What the person is saying is that God’s plan of salvation is insufficient for them. This is an abomination to God (Pro 15:8; 21:27). Jesus referred to that type of individual as a thief and a robber (John 10:1,8).

Man’s religion is backwards. Why? Because it focuses on what He can do for himself; to praise and honor himself, rather than what a loving Father and Son has already done for man. Man’s religion is subjective – he chooses his own path to happiness and peace of mind. Whereas Biblical salvation places all the power, ability, and grace on God Almighty. Man’s religion chooses their god. With true religion God chooses man.

2.       

Second and most major problem with false religion is that it is powerless to save from sin.

Although some false religions mention sin, they do not provide an answer for getting rid of sin. There is no deity that has laid down his life and shed his blood for sin so that all who believe can be saved from its damning consequences. They do not have a perfect holy substitute that is willing to bear the sins of the condemned so that they may be converted from everlasting death to everlasting life. False religion has no sacrificial love in it! Jesus proved His love by dying for the sins of His people (Matt 1:21). A person is on their own to make it right. They never will. Anyone trying to merit the grace of God is deceived and a fool. Working for salvation is definitely an exercise in futility – you still have not dealt with the main problem facing you – your sins. In order to have them removed, one must believe that Jesus died to take away our sins. That is the one thing that separates man from his God.

3.      

False religions does not demand Repentance of sin

This is a monumental issue. Repentance requires a change of mind and heart regarding our sins. We must forsake our sins in Godly sorrow, turn away from them, and turn to God. Notice we can not due both at the same time. If one turns their back on sin and runs to God, they have forsaken their sins. However the inverse is true as well. If a person forsakes God, then he has chosen to embrace his/her sins. 

False religion does not magnify our sin so we can see the wretchedness of it. We need to know how our sins offend a most Holy God. Our sins are a horrible stench, foul odor in His nostrils. When we come to the realization of our offences to Him, we will broken in sorrow, shame, guilt and despair. We will be able to see how poor in spirit we are, and long to find out, “how can I be forgiven of my sins and be saved forever?”

It is most important to realize that when the aforementioned is happening, God the Father is drawing us to the Son (John 6:44). We cannot produce this transformation because we are dead in our sins (Eph 2:1). God is working sovereignly on the inside to bring about a miraculous change in us. Only then will we come due to the irresistible power of God to cause us to be willing to forsake sin, trusting that Jesus bore and shed His blood for sin.

Genuine repentance confesses that 1) I am a sinner. And 2) What must I do Lord to be saved?

In conclusion why one way? The God of the Bible is the only one that has the solution for the sins of the world. Jesus is the only Savior that provided a perfect atonement for sins. Jesus sacrifice propitiated God’s righteous anger and wrath against us. Now that we are no longer enemies of God, He can now grant us His righteousness.

What does one have to do? Believe on the Lord Jesus, and confess with your mouth that God raised Him from the dead. Then you will be saved (Rom 10:9-10).

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[1] C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (Harper Collins Publishers, New York, NY, 1952)

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[i] To say there is no absolute truth is a self defeating phrase. For instance, If I say, “My shirt is gray”, and it is, then that is an absolutely true statement. For someone to say my shirt is blue when it is gray is a lie. In this dialogue subjective truth loses.  What good is someone’s truth if its clearly untrue? Truth can never be relative. Truth has to be what it is or it is its opposite, a lie. Dealing with the Bible scripture says every word of God is true. To oppose the truth proves one to be a liar. There cannot be multiple truths when it comes to God and His word. There is one truth only, and it is sufficient. The problem with wicked men is that God’s truth does not suit them so they make up their own which fits their instincts, mindset, and evil desires. In their mind the lie they have told themselves for years is true as far as they are concerned. Only the power of God can change the willful ignorance of man so that his blinders come off so he can see and experience the loving truth of God’s word.

You can have what you say

So Jesus answered and said to them, have faith in God. For assuredly I say to whoever says to this mountain, be removed, and cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes those things he says. Therefore I say to you whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them.

-          Mark 11:22-24

Unfortunately, these verses have been butchered by those in the Positive Confession/Charismatic/Word of faith movement. They have and continue to grossly mis-apply these passages. There are many that believe Jesus was saying we can whatever we ask for indiscriminately. If these verses stood alone on an island by themselves then yes, I would say we could take these verses at face value.

As a result of this text, no doubt millions have prayed for healing, money, a job, a husband, a wife, a new house, car, casting out of demons, and the list goes on. None of these things are wrong in of themselves. But, do we take a moment to consider is what we are praying for within the sovereign will of God?

There are times when God will not grant our request because it does not fit within His sovereign plan. And God is perfectly within his rights to deny our request(s). This does not necessarily mean someone lacks faith because God did not grant their petition, it just means that since God already determined beforehand what He was going to do, any request contrary to His plan is not granted at that time. He may grant it at another time, or perhaps not at all.

When David desired to build God a house the Lord told him no, but promised David a son who would build His house (2 Sam 7:1-16).

When Paul and his companions wanted to go Asia (Modern Turkey), and Bithynia to preach the gospel, the Holy Spirit did not permit them (Acts 16:6-7). It was God’s will for them to travel to Macedonia for God gave a vision to Paul where he saw a man pleading with him to come to Macedonia to help them.

The desire of Paul was met, but it was according to the will of God, not Paul. God has every right to answer our prayers His way.

Paul had a thorn in the flesh due to the abundance of revelations he was receiving from the Lord to keep him humble. Paul prayed three times to have the thing removed, but the Lord told him,”My  grace is sufficient for you. My strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor 12:7-9a).

Paul petition was not granted, but he boasted in his weaknesses so that the power of God could rest upon him (2 Cor 12:9b).

Even Jesus when agonizing in the Garden of Gethsemane regarding his impending death asked the Father to let this cup pass from me (3x’s), but then said, “not my will but your will be done (Matt 26:39,42,44).

I John 5:14-14 says this, and this is the confidence we have in Him, if we ask for anything according to His will, then He hears us, and we if we know He hears us, then we have the petitions we have desired of Him.

    
      What happens when we pray for loved ones that are sick to get well and they die?

This is a most difficult matter to deal with. When a person is terminally ill, and they recover I believe through the prayers of faith of the saints, God in His sovereign will can heal the sick. It is also within the will of God to allow the person to die. I know this sounds harsh. Why would they die if prayer is being made for them? Does God care? Is He even listening to us? Did we lack faith to move the hand of God to meet our need? Was their sin in the life of the infirmed or those that were praying for them? Was it simply their time to die?

All of these questions can be answered in the affirmative. Sometimes they are true all at the same time.

All of life originated from God. At His discretion, He determines if a child is still born, or that if that child will live to be an old man or woman. It is not for us to know. God is always perfect in His dealings with man even if we do not understand, and the pain of the loss of our loved ones seems too much to bear.

If Mark 11:24 strictly meant we can have whatsoever we desire when we pray, then none of our loves would die when they are ill. They would recover every time.

Everything we would request in prayer we would receive the exact way we requested. This would make God a “cosmic-jeanie”. All we would have to is rub our magic lamp, and God would have to grant our wishes.

Mark 11:24 has a qualifier in prayer, the petition MUST be within the will of God or else that request is granted, but not like the petitioner originally requested it.

Concluding, can we have anything we ask for in prayer? Yes, as long as it within the will of the Father.

How do we know if we are praying according to God’s will? Well we need to search the scriptures for the answers.

a.      Will the prayer bring God glory?

James 4:3 says when a person asks for something, and they do not receive, it is because they ask amiss. God will not answer prayer for selfish gain; so that a person can be greedy.

b.      Prayer for godly wisdom?

James said if any lack wisdom let Him ask of God who gives to all liberally and without reproach and it will given him (1:5).

c.       Praying for Israel

The Psalmist said, pray for the peace of Jerusalem. May they prosper who love you (Psalm 122:6-7).

d.      What about holiness?

For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that you should abstain from sexual immorality (I Thess 4:3).

e.      Thankfulness

In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (I Thess 5:18).

f.        Study the word of God

Study to show yourself approved unto God. A worker who need not be ashamed. Rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15).

All these things and many more are the will of God. Prayers center around these commands will definitely be answered for they all honor and magnify God, and not ourselves.

David the psalmist said it best, Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him, and He shall bring it to pass (Psa 37:4-5).

Those who live a life of obedience and faith will get what they want. How do I  know this? When a person is living righteously, all he/she wants to do is please God. The desires they have God placed there. So when the desire is strong upon them, they will gush it out in prayer and praise to God. Their desire is granted and the Lord is glorified.

That is the purpose of prayer. We get the awesome privilege of communicating with God Almighty. He hears us, and grants whatever we want and need because we have submitted our desires underneath His.

People praying with evil motives will never get their prayers answered. Why? They pray not acknowledging the Heavenly Father as holy (Matt 6:8). They are not thankful in their approach to God (Phil 4:6).

Remember this truth when praying, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).

                     

Grace And Mercy

Grace - the Greek word is charis. This word has several meanings: that which bestows or occasions pleasure, delight, or causes favorable regard.[1]

Mercy – the Greek word is eleos. Is the outward manifestation of pity; it assumes need on the part of him who receives it, and resources adequate to meet the need on the part of him who shows it.[2]

Most common definition for grace is unmerited or undeserved favor. In the case with God, He gives us what we do not deserve.

Common definition for mercy is not getting what we do deserve; which is eternal punishment.

In both scenarios God is showing extraordinary love to mankind.

Both of these benefits are extended to the entire world every day. This is course would be debated by many regarding those in third world countries where people are stricken with disease, hunger and, poverty constantly. While it is terrible these things occur, there are many organizations that are actively involved in helping the destitute of this world such as: World Vision Feed the Hungry, Missionary programs, and many others. The problem of poverty is not God’s problem; it is man’s greediness, and unwillingness to help those in need. God honors the poor and wants them regarded and cared for just like any other citizen (Pro 14:21, 31; 17:5; 22:9).

The fact that these benevolent organizations exist is a manifestation of God’s grace and mercy even to the most needy of this world.

What I have just described is what some have called common grace and mercy. It is that which God gives to all of humanity. As Jesus said, the Lord makes the rain fall on the just and the unjust (Matt 5:45b).

There is another component of God’s grace and mercy that he bestows strictly on those whom He has chosen from all eternity. The writer calls this God’s particular grace and mercy. These benefits exceed His general grace and mercy that is given to all humanity.

God’s particular grace and mercy belong exclusively to the elect, the chosen of God throughout all of history. Starting as early with Enoch, Noah, and Abraham all the way to the last Saint brought into the family of God in the future.

                                                 What is Foreknowledge?

The dictionary definition of foreknowledge is: 

Knowledge or awareness of something before its existence or occurrence; prescience.

Now, the next word we need to define is prescience. This is obviously a compound word. Pre meaning before, and science meaning knowledge. Foreknowledge and prescience are synonyms.

I have mentioned this idea in other articles, but it bears repeating because it is so important that we as Christians understand how God chooses. A prescient view of divine election has God looking down the corridors of time in which He sees those that will respond in faith to the gospel. Based on that foreknowledge or prior knowledge, God chooses those individuals based on the faith that He foresees they will exhibit. So in the prescient view of election, God chooses man because some men have the “sense” to respond to the gospel call of repentance positively. God also sees those in this same corridor that do not respond to the gospel call, and so they are rejected in eternity past which will in time lead to their eternal damnation.  This is how many regard predestination, or sovereign election.

The problem with this view is that this limits God’s ability to choose whomever He wants. In this heretical worldview God is constrained by the “foreknown faith” of man whom He has yet to even create! This “faith” of man demands that God elects him to eventually be saved in time after he is born.[3] Who is controlling things in this relationship, God or man? Certainly not God. God in essence is made lower than his unborn creation because He HAS to choose man after man chooses him first.

In essence this is not biblical predestination whether positively or negatively. What is actually going on here is that the sovereign election to salvation and the sovereign election to reprobation is all of man. In the prescient view of election, man predetermines his own salvation and damnation. God is a helpless impotent bystander. It’s a “lose-lose” for God. What do I mean? 1) God does not get the glory for planning a predestinating salvation for His chosen, 2) nor does He get the glory for destroying His enemies; those He did not choose before the foundation of the world.

The prescient view of divine election is wrong. Reason being is it a pre-incarnate works salvation of man. God cannot respond to a pre-incarnate or an unborn faith nor does He respond to a pre-incarnate unbelief.

                                            

                                       Divine Election is a Trinitarian Work  

Biblical foreknowledge is not prescient.  Foreknowledge in Bible is the Greek word proginosko. Pro means before, and ginosko meaning to know. This is where we get the English word prognosis. When the Bible speak about foreknowledge it means God without any outside influence chose in eternity past those who will receive salvation at the precise time in history He has determined. Apostles Paul and Peter said it clearly, we are chosen before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4; 1 Pet 1:2).

Who God decided to choose is a mystery that I believe we will never know in this life or the next. We do know why God chose some for His electing grace though: to the praise of His glory. God wanted to glorify Himself. He also chose some because it was His good pleasure in doing so (Eph 1:5-6).

God’s divine election is that particular grace and mercy the writer is talking about. God extended unmerited favor and non-justice (mercy) to His own. Far from being a human work, sovereign election is a Trinitarian work. The Father created the plan of salvation, the Son executed the plan, the Spirit applies the plan to those who believe. Here’s the beautiful part about God’s elective grace, everyone that He has chosen will be absolutely saved. Someone may protest at this point and say, “wait a minute! You mean to tell me all those whom God has chosen before the world began will be saved?" “How is that possible?" Simple answer, it’s God who’s doing the saving. Man has nothing to do with it. That is what makes salvation a surety. It is all of God – none of man. Man’s only part is to respond in faith, and even the faith to believe is a gift from God (Eph 2:8-9).

What if those chosen before the foundation of the world do not want salvation? Does God chooses them against their will?    

I’ll mention this again also. God in no time in history has violated man’s will. God is not a violator. That is what we do. No God is a liberator of man’s will. I will explain. When we are born, we are under the wrath of God. We are enemies of God because of our inherent corrupt nature (Rom 5:8,10). We hate God and each other (Titus 3:3). We are rotten to the core and totally depraved. In the space of time prior to our regeneration, we are hopeless deserving of hell. The Bible describes us as being dead in trespasses and sins (Eph 2:1).

Once this revelation is made clear to the chosen sinner, the rescue is on. The first thing God does is bring the dead back to life (Eph 2:1; Col 2:13). That is regeneration. Now that we are spiritually alive, the gospel is preached. We are given faith to believe the message of Jesus Christ. When we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that God has raised Him from the dead we are saved (Rom 10:9-10).

This process is a miracle. When we are made alive, God gives us a heart of flesh. God does spiritual heart transplant surgery (Ezek 36:26-27). The heart of stone is removed, and in its place a new heart that yearns and longs for God is placed in our being. As a result, our will is made free by the power of God to trust the Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation. We cannot do this on our own. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast (Eph 2:8-9).

Paul quotes from Isaiah regarding the chosen of God who prior to this were strangers and nomads of God: I was found by those who did not seek Me; I was made manifest to those did not ask for Me (Rom 10:20-21, quoted from Isa 65:1,2).

So we see once the power of God gets a hold of us, it will be too irresistible for us to deny. The once stubborn soul that hated God will pursue Him with everything they have. Once we get a clear revelation of how hopeless and sin sick we really are, and our need for salvation, we will run to the cross, and will not let go until God blesses us with eternal life.

Every child whom God has chosen in eternity past will in God’s timing be saved. Why? Because God said so!

The part that is most disturbing to those who do not the like the doctrine of sovereign election have the actual nerve to believe that is somehow God is unfair; that God chooses some for salvation, and passes by others. Divine punishment is never unfair. It is always fair to punish the guilty. God would be unjust to His own self if He didn't.

Concluding, God’s particular grace and mercy are definitely undeserved gifts. Those of us who are chosen have to praise God forever, and let others know about this grace and mercy of God.

The only way a person can value the beauty of God’s grace and mercy is to reveal to them the ugliness of their sin, and  the horrific cost Jesus paid for sin to purchase our redemption. If they are of the elect (of course we cannot know on the human side), they will be awakened to this glorious truth, be humbled by it, and come to the saving knowledge of Jesus the Messiah while there is still time.

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[1] W.E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, William White, Jr., Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary

Of Old and New Testament Words (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc, Publishers, 1985), pg. 277

[2] Ibid, pg. 403

[3] Those that hold to a prescient view of election have an Arminian worldview.

Absolute Inability

This article will be another angle on God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility regarding coming to Christ. I recently listened to a message where a theologian attended a college to interview students regarding if they believed they were “good enough” to go to heaven. Most of the responses were typical: yeah, I’m a good person. I’m not as bad as some other people. I’m nice to people and so on.

But, what does the Bible have to say about our own righteousness? Let’s review some passages.

Isaiah 64:6a says, but we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are like filthy rags.

Proverbs 20:6, 9 says, most men will proclaim each his own goodness, but who can find a faithful man? Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

            

           Nobody.

In Daniel Chapter 4 King Nebuchadnezzar tragically attributed his power and might and glory to himself. What happened to him? He lost his mind for seven years, roamed in the grass like an Ox, grew feathers and claws like a bird. After his humiliation, his mind was restored by God, and he gave God glory for everything. He realized all power came from the God of Israel.

Romans 3 declares the following, there is none righteous, no not one. There is none who understands, there is none that seeks after God, they have all turned aside, they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no not one (vs. 10-12).

Romans 3:20 says that by the deeds of the law no flesh (italics mine) shall be justified in His sight.

Romans 3:23 says all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

John 3:18-19 we read, He who believes in Him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light (Christ) has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.

These few verses teach that man is a hopeless sinful creature by nature. Our nature is bent toward evil, not righteousness. For anyone to claim they are “good” is woefully blind, and very much deceived. They have no clue about their inherent evil and the pervasiveness of their sin.

Jesus referred to us as evil (by nature) in Luke 11:13. Any description Jesus gave regarding man was true for He knew all men, and did not need for anyone to tell him about man for He knows what is in man (John 2:24-25).

Now that it has been established that man is evil and bent toward it, how can we find acceptance with God? How can man who is as hopeless as he can be come to a point where he can become righteous, good, holy in God’s sight? Is there some type of activity that we can perform; is there a way for us to remove the barrier of our own stubborn resistance; if we can just dig down real deep, analyze our dilemma and like the Buddhist rid ourselves of all our unhealthy desires with chanting, meditation and good karma?

How many days should we engage in this purging exercise; a few days, few weeks, a few months or years? What about fasting and prayer? Certainly this will cleanse our bodies, souls, and minds to hear clearly what the universe is telling us right? What If we become pantheists? Will that make us closer to God and even gods ourselves because we have become one with the universe?

What about giving to the poor and visiting the sick? Certainly that will help us score points with God right? I heard a person say once because of her “good deeds” she believed she should get “Jesus Points”. Those were her exact words. What did she mean? Translation – her deeds should earn her a place in heaven. All she has to do is cash in her “Jesus Rewards Card points”, and God has to grant her entrance into the pearly gates.

See how confusing this madness sounds? That’s what I love about the word of God. It proscribes only one way to God.

Jesus in John 14:6 said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes unto the Father but by me.

Acts 4:12 reads, nor is there salvation in any other. For there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.

Isaiah 43:11, I, even I am the Lord and besides me there is no savior.

Oh the simplicity of the wisdom and knowledge of God is amazing! Just believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved (Acts 16:31). There is nothing to figure out. No works or strenuous activity that has to be done to earn God’s favor. In actuality, earning the favor of God is an oxymoron.

See everyone knows they are not perfect, and everyone knows they are a sinful to some degree or another. The problem is that most do not know how horrible our sinful ways cost the only begotten Son of God His very life. The Perfect had to die for the imperfect. The Guiltless died for the guilty. The Righteous for the unrighteous. The Holy One for the unholy ones. The Living for the dead.

This is the revelation we must get. Natural man is sinful by birth. Natural man is also a dead man spiritually. For the wages of sin is death. But the gift of God (italics mine) is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom 6:23).

We have a most serious problem. Since natural man is spiritually dead, how can we be made alive from our deadness?

                                                 Can these bones live?

The Lord asked the prophet Ezekiel that very question in chapter 37 of his book. The prophet was caught up in a vision by the Spirit and saw a valley of dry bones which represented the nation of Israel- currently regarded as dead at that time. Once Ezekiel spoke to the bones, they began to connect, bone by bone, along with the sinews, skin and flesh. Once the prophet spoke to the wind the bodies became alive again (or was born again), and stood up on their feet. What was going on here?

The vision Ezekiel saw was the future rebirth and salvation of the nation Israel. Ezekiel lived during the Babylon captivity and was taken captive himself in 597 B.C. by King Nebuchadnezzar. Ezekiel was a contemporary of the prophet Daniel and mentions him in 14:14, 20; 28:3.

The point the writer wants to make regarding this account is that the only way these bones could come to life is that God had to command through the power of His word for them to do so. Obviously the dead can never come to life on their own. Only the power of God can raise the dead and give new life. This is exactly what Ezekiel saw in his vision.

                                                 

                                                  Jesus and Nicodemus

When the Pharisee Nicodemus met Jesus at night in John 3, Jesus explained to him how he must be born again (literally born from above) in order to see the kingdom of God (vs. 3). Nicodemus totally clueless as to what Jesus meant by the phrase born again replied, “how can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” (vs.4).

Jesus answered, “most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water (not water baptism), and the Spirit he can not enter the kingdom of God. Listen to the next verse very carefully, that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, you must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit” (vs. 5-7).

Jesus teaches Nicodemus a masterpiece of instruction on salvation in just a few verses. Let’s review them.

In verse 4 Nicodemus has no idea what Jesus is talking about. He would later for he eventually became a believer, and along with Joseph of Arimathea gave Jesus a proper burial (John 19:39).

Jesus in verse 6 indicates that as everyone has a natural birth (the flesh), in order for one to be born again, one MUST have a spiritual birth (the Spirit). The spiritual birth is being born again or being born from above, or being born from heaven.

           

        How can this rebirth take place?

Jesus gives us an illustration of the wind that blows. The wind blows wherever it wants to blow. We can never see it; it is invisible to us, but we can feel it’s effect and power when it blows upon us. No one can tell the wind where to blow or what to do. Likewise with the Holy Spirit. He brings to life whomever He wants to. No one tells the Spirit what to do. He is autonomous. We do not know when the Spirit initially falls upon a person for the initial transformation of a life He affects is invisible, but we know afterward when we see the many lives transformed by His power.

This is the message Jesus was conveying to Nicodemus to which he said, “how can these things be?” (vs.9).

That same question Nicodemus asked Jesus is the same one most of the world is asking today.

The idea that God has to save us, and the way He does it is foreign to our corrupt finite minds.                                    

                                                Who chooses who?                   

Mankind are control freaks. It is inherent in our nature. The idea that someone, namely God Almighty tells us that in order for us to obtain eternal life we must go through Jesus Christ is repulsive to us. It leaves us totally helpless, powerless to contribute to our own destiny. When it comes to our life and eternity, we control nothing at all. Anything we do is by divine allowance and authority. We are here to serve God. Those that refuse to do so will be eliminated – remember that! God refuses to share his glory with anyone (Isaiah 42:8).

Proverbs 19:21 says, there are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel will stand.

Isaiah 46:10 says, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.

Psalm 115:3, but our God is heaven. He does whatever He pleases.

Jesus said in John 15:16a to the disciples, “you did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit.

Jesus in talking about the inability of man says this, “no one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him (John 6:44a).

What do these verses tell us? Everything that has to do with salvation is God’s doing not man’s. It is God’s plan so it will be successful and is continually being successful. When God decides to save a life, that life will be saved – no matter what. How? Because only God has the power to raise the dead to life. We covered that earlier.

When did God choose us? Ephesians 1:4 says before the world was created. This is also mentioned in I Peter 1:20 and Acts 13:48.

                  

Why did God choose some for salvation before the world was created? Why not choose them after they believed on Jesus?

Had God chose man after man believed on Jesus it would have destroyed God’s predetermined plan of election. As I have mentioned in previous articles, man’s faith cannot dictate God’s election. God’s election is what dictates man’s faith.

Man also can not exercise saving faith before he is born. If that were true, it would be no need for man to be born again. Man would be saved before he exited the womb; meaning he would have been born spiritually before he was born naturally (please bear with me. I’m taking this thought to it’s most illogical conclusion). Remember man is born spiritually dead, and we know a corpse can not do anything but be dead (Eph 2:1; Col 2:13). So, just like Jesus commanded by the power of His word for Lazarus to rise from death (John 11:43-44), the Spirit of God raises the spiritually dead out of their graves to brand new life (Rom 6:4; Eph 2:1; Col 2:13). After man has been regenerated (made alive), then God grants him faith to believe the gospel and be saved.

Once again that powerful text in Ephesians 2:8-9, for by grace (unmerited favor) you have been saved (how) through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift (italics mine) of God, not of works (i.e. human effort) lest anyone should boast.

So these verses answer the question as to why God chose us before the earth was formed. So He would get all the glory and praise. Man does not get the glory, but definitely receives all the benefits. The verses above tell us that both faith and salvation are gifts God grants to man. This proves that God has to choose man first. Man is dead until God prophesies over him with the power of his word like Ezekiel did when he saw the valley of dry bones. We had no control over when we were naturally born, and we have no control over our rebirth. Let’s take a look at the life of Paul (formerly Saul) for a clear illustration.

Saul was one of the ring leaders of the Pharisees who was persecuting Christians. As he was on his way to Damascus to arrest believers the Bible says a light shone from heaven, he fell to the ground and heard the voice of Christ say to him, “Saul Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are you Lord?” Then He said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he (Saul) trembling and astonished said, “Lord what do you want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must (italics mine) do”. (Acts 9:4-6).

In verse 15 of this same chapter Jesus appears to His servant Ananias and tells him that Saul is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear His name among the Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.

How did Paul’s transformation take place?

Jesus literally knocked him off his high horse, and told Paul what he had to do. No choice in the matter. Paul was a chosen vessel of God’s before the world was created despite the fact he was a persecutor of the Church. When Jesus encountered Paul He brought Him back to life (regenerated). When he was healed from blindness by Ananias, he also received the gospel and was baptized into the body of Christ (saved) (Acts 9:18).

Another view I need to point out is this; if God decided to choose man after he believed in Jesus none of the verses in the Bible that deal with predestination and sovereign election would make any sense. Man would be controlling the strings in the whole salvation process which would make God impotent and dependent upon man who is dead in trespasses and sins to activate his own salvation. If man could activate his own salvation; that is give himself life, what does he need God for? Man would become his own deity.

                                                           Conclusion

No man can boast about his salvation. We did not invent it, and naturally we do not want it as it is proscribed in the Bible. The only way we desire biblical salvation is that God resurrects us and gives us a heart a flesh removing the heart of stone (Ezek 36:26-27). When this happens we become sensitive and experience genuine remorse when we hear the gospel and our most desperate need for contrition and forgiveness of our sins. All of this is contingent upon God making us alive. If God does not resurrect the dead spiritually, salvation for man is impossible.

So when Nicodemus asked Jesus, “how can these things be” making reference to being born again, it is indeed impossible with man, but not with God. For with Him all things are possible (Matt 19:26; Luke 1:37).

Can Satan perform miracles?

To answer that question in a word, yes. You may be asking what type of miracles has Satan performed? Well for starters, let’s go to the temptation of Jesus.

In Matthew 4:8-9, Again the devil took Him (Jesus) up on an exceedingly high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him all these things I will give to you if you fall down and worship me.

Now to some this may not seem like a miracle at all, but the writer believe that it was.  The devil was somehow able to display to Jesus all the kingdoms of the world at one time. Obviously this did not astound Jesus, but it proves the devil can perform miraculous signs.

In the book of Exodus we see just as Moses and Aaron rods turned into snakes, Pharaoh’s magicians and sorcerers did the same. Obviously the magicians and sorcerers power came from Satan, not from God (Ex 7:10-12).

In the future Jesus told the disciples that false christs and false prophets will be able to perform great lying signs and wonders. The miracles will be so convincing that the elect of God would be almost compelled they are authentic miracles from God (Matt 24:24).

In 2 Thessalonians 2:9 the Lawless One (i.e. the Antichrist) will be the devil’s chief emissary in the earth. He will have the ability to perform great signs and lying wonders. He will successfully deceived those who are the damned. Because they refuse to receive the gospel truth and instead love evil, God will send a strong delusion that they will believe the lie. God will give them what they want which is deception. The thing that the evil crave is the same thing that will eternally destroy them. This is the ultimate effect in believing in Satanic miracles.

In Revelation 13 the beast’s main companion is the false prophet. He is an evil religious leader. The Bible says he has all the power of the first beast, and will cause the inhabitants of the earth to worship the first beast and his image (vs. 11-15) He commands global worship. He even has the ability to call down fire from heaven counterfeiting the miracle of the two witnesses (Rev 11:5).

                    How are we to distinguish between Godly and Satanic miracles?

The first way to do this is to test the spirit behind the miracle to see if they are of God for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every Spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God, every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. This is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and is now already in the world (I John 4:1-3).

So, if someone performs a miracle but they deny the incarnation of Jesus; that He was human, then that person has proven they are a false prophet. They would fall into the category I believe of those in Matthew 7 where Jesus told these workers of iniquity or those that practice lawlessness, “depart from me I never knew you!” (vs 23).

No one who is a false prophet can perform a miracle, sign or wonder from God.

A second way to know whether a person is real or fake is their lifestyle. Jesus said a good tree can not bear bad fruit, and bad tree can not bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. By their fruits, you will know them (Matt 7:17-20).

A third way to determine the source of a miracle is whether the one performing the miracle is a genuine worshipper of God. As I mentioned earlier in the article, the false prophet demanded the world to worship the Antichrist who was possessed by Satan himself (Rev 13:12). So in essence, the worship of the beast is the worship of the devil which violates the first commandment, “you shall worship no others gods but me” (Exodus 20:3).

A false prophet and false Christ will always lead by deception. Having the power to perform lying signs and wonders to boot debilitates their followers short sightedness even more and increases his power of deception further.

Concluding, Satan throughout history has deceived people into believing they have seen a crying Jesus statue dying on the cross, or apparitions of Mary talking to them. Joseph Smith who started the Mormon Church claimed to have seen God the Father and Jesus appear to him in the woods telling him that he was to receive the correct revelation of God for all the previous revelations and teachers of the past were corrupt.

What is our barometer when we hear about all this phenomena? The word of God. Scripture commands us to test all things. Hold onto what is good (I Thess 5:21).