How do you know if you are among the elect?

 The noun form of the word elect comes the Greek eklogē which means a picking out, a selection. A synonym for the elect are the chosen. We read throughout scripture God choosing individuals for a certain purpose. For instance, the Bible says in Acts 9:15 that Paul (then Saul) is a chosen vessel of mine. In Paul writing to the Ephesians said the Saints were chosen before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:11, 14).

Determining if you are elect or chosen of God may be to many an intimidating task, but it does not have to be. This should be a joyous exercise. Why? Because it causes all of us to take a genuine and hard look at our lives. We are compelled to carefully and soberly examine our lives to see if we are truly in the faith  (2 Cor 13:5).  Let’s run a litmus test.

1.      

Do you believe Jesus is God in the flesh?

In I John 4:2-3 we read, “Hereby you know the Spirit of God, every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God (italics added for emphasis), and this is the spirit of the antichrist whereof you heard that it should come, and even now is already in the world.

To deny that Jesus ever came to the earth is most tragic. Why? 1. It denies the reality of the virgin birth. Jesus had to be born of a woman to take on flesh. 2. If He wasn’t born physically, He could not have preached the gospel, healed the sick, or raise the dead. He would not have been able to perform any miracles. 3. He could not have died on the cross and rose from the dead. So you see, it is absolutely imperative that Jesus took on humanity. To believe Jesus was real is a true mark that one is among the elect.

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.       Have you genuinely repented of sin?

What does genuine repentance look like? I will provide one example from scripture – the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.

Two men went up into the temple to pray: the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus within himself, “God, I thank You that I am not like other men – extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I tithe of all that I possess.”  And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not as much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God be merciful to me a sinner!” I tell you, this man went down to his house justified than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles will be exalted (Luke 18: 9-14).

Jesus in this parable clearly explains it all. When one humbles himself before God, they will be lifted to heights unimaginable. There is nothing greater than salvation. Only humility, and brokenness of your sin will get you there. Like the tax collector, we need to beg desperately for the mercy of God. Arrogant, self-righteous people will never inherit God’s kingdom. The Bible says that God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). James also says to, “Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:10).

3.       Do you love this world and the things in it?

Jesus said, “What profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul (Matt 16:26)? In 1 John 2:15-17 we read, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world is the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever”.

When the apostle John is speaking about not loving the world, he is not talking about hating the planet. We should love the world in the sense that the universe is God’s creation, and it is an expression of God’s majesty, handiwork, and power. What John is referring to is that we cannot love this world’s system-its immoral ways, the material possessions, the wealth for all of it is passing away. Not loving this system is a proof that one is elect of God.

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.       Love for the children of God

In I John 3:10-15 we read, “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message you heard from the beginning, that we should love another, not as Cain who was of that wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.

Do not marvel, my brethren if the world hates you. We know we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

This is straight forward language by John. If one truly is regenerated, their lives are exhibited with 1. True love for God manifested in obedience to Him. 2. Love for our brothers and sisters in Christ. John also says that if one says they love God, and hates their brother, they are a liar, for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen (I John 4:20)?

Extraordinary statement! Our love for God is in direct connection to how we love one another. Want to know if you are really loving God? It’s easy – see how you are treating your brothers and sisters in Christ.

5.       Do you share the gospel of Jesus Christ?

A mark of the elect is their willingness to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ with others – for that is why we are here. Paul said, “Woe is me if I preach not the gospel” ( I Cor 9:16). We MUST share the good news of the Life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We must tell man that he is lost hopeless sinner headed for hell unless he repents and forsakes sin, and runs to Christ for his or her salvation. We must get the word out as often, and as earnestly as we can.

   

6.       Do you love God’s word and study it faithfully?

King David in Psalm 119:97 declared, “O how I love thy law! It is my meditation all the day”.

Paul said in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to show yourself approved to God, worker who does not need to be ashamed. Rightly dividing the word of truth.

Our appetite for the God’s word has to be insatiable. This is a lifelong process I realize, but our desire for God’s truth should grow every day. How can someone claim they are a child of God if they do not read the word of God? The word is our guide and our road map through life’s troubles. As the Psalmist said, “Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).

Of course there are more marks of the elect, but hopefully this list will assure someone of their position in Christ. Please understand none of things mentioned above can occur without the aid of the Holy Spirit.

Remember, prior to God making us alive spiritually (John 3:3; Eph 2:1; Col 2:13), we can never respond positively to the gospel, repent and believe. Our salvation is all of God (Jonah 2:9). We did nothing to earn it for it is a gift (Eph 2:8,9).

In closing, election is absolutely pivotal – it describes how God chooses men and women into His kingdom. It is also essential for us to know we are among the elect. Only the word of God and secondly our conduct will provide our assurance.

Contradiction or Paradox?

Contradiction by definition: a statement or phrase whose parts are incongruent with one another; i.e. “that car is pretty ugly!” Well it cannot be both, it is either pretty or ugly.

Paradox by definition: Two ideas that on the surface oppose each other but with closer examination and some background of the matter being discussed discover the ideas deliver a congruent truth; i.e. “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live yet not I, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the flesh I live by the faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). 

This verse on the surface is full of contradictions but it is not. First, Paul Is saying when Christ died we died; not literally, but spiritually. Paul is saying the old man he used to be prior to his conversion with Christ died. Remember the scripture says if any man is in Christ he is a new creation (italics added for emphasis). Old things are passed away, all things have been made new (2 Cor 5:21). Then Paul seems to contradict himself again when he says, “nevertheless I live yet not I, but Christ lives in me.” Well, which is it Paul? Are you living or is it Christ? Looking at this face value Paul seems to be confused but he is not. This is what he means. Both Paul and Christ are living together in this new life. Since Christ dwells inside of Paul by faith, Paul is declaring that his new life is now hidden in Jesus Christ. Whereas at first he was living for himself and his own desires, he now has surrendered his life over to God. In order for Paul or any believer to live the Christian life successfully, we MUST not do it on our own. We must identify with Christ in death and in life.                

Hopefully this explanation dispels the confusion in this verse. It is not a contradiction, but it is definitely a paradox. When Paul says he lives and yet not I, but Christ lives in him, he’s giving recognition and homage to the God who saved him. The power of God is now working in him so that he pleases God in this new walk.  We have to live our new life in our bodies, but simultaneously we have to sow to the Spirit by faith and depend on the Lord to see us through.

What about divine election and human responsibility, aren’t they mutually opposed?

This matter is always will deliver tension to us, but I am glad the tension is there. Let me explain. The idea that God chose some for salvation in eternity past is a wonderful thing. For if he didn’t, no one would ever get saved. With that being said, those who are chosen still have to respond positively to the call of the gospel, repent, believe and become saved. On the surface this may appear to be a contradiction – that is God choosing us and man choosing God for the same thing – salvation.  Many will say, “if God is choosing some for salvation then what is the point in preaching the gospel to them and them choosing the Lord? They are going to be saved no matter what right?”

That is a valid question. The fact of the matter is that those whom God has chosen in eternity past for salvation will be saved at the precise moment in time God determines, but they cannot receive that salvation without the gospel message being preached to them. The good Lord has supplied the means, and the ends to those means. What are they? The means is the preacher and the gospel  they must preach in order for God’s lost sheep to be found and brought into his fold (John 10:16).

The ends in question is the salvation of all the elect. So in the final analysis, God chooses man so that man can choose God. It is never the other way around. God makes His choice of man before time (Eph 1:4), whereas man chooses God in time. Once again, not a contradiction, but definitely a paradox. Divine election and human responsibility in redemption are parallel truths that work together.

Hopefully I have explained the tension between the two.

The Bible says God desires that all men are saved and that He is not willing that any should perish. Since that is the case, then why does God allow people to perish and not save everyone?

This is a very complex question that many can answer way better than I can. This I can say is that no one can completely answer this question. There will always be some ambiguity and mystery that we cannot resolve due to our limited knowledge of God. In I Timothy 2:4 it says God desires that all men be saved and come into the knowledge of the truth. In Ezekiel 33:11 it says that God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked would turn from their way and live. Turn turn from your evil ways! For why should you die O house of Israel?

Once again, it appears to be dealing with a contradiction in God’s word and character. Since God is all powerful and can do whatever He wants, why doesn’t He just save everyone? That way He fulfills His own desires right? It is obvious that God loves all men, and wants them all to repent. That is why He commands that the gospel is preached to all men that hopefully they will believe and be saved. God desiring that all be saved is His will of desire. This will of God is disappointed by the disobedience of mankind This proves we have a free will. Another component of God’s will is what I heard someone call His will of disposition – that what pleases Him. Although God desires that all men be saved ultimately God will do what gives Him pleasure and what will most glorify Himself. This is where the tension between the will of man and of God I believe reach a fever pitch. Here is why. Man for some reason believes he has the right to tell God what He should do regarding His own creation. In the unregenerate eyes God is “obligated” to treat everyone the same way all the time. For in their mind that is what is fair; in others words, “God if you saved some, you should save all!” When God does not do this, man is angry with God. Why are they mad? Because God refuses to be imprisoned by man’s definition of fairness.

Not to treat everyone the same makes God a respecter of persons many would say. Yes God desires that all come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved, but if the Lord did that, He is unable to display His wrath against those who hate Him. God is also prohibited from executing His justice as well. He would not get a chance to punish His enemies which must be a higher desire than His will of desire to save all men. Yes it is true God does not take pleasure in the death of wicked. It causes God sorrow, but at the same time it is just, right and good that He punishes evil doers for the end result is He is magnified by doing so. Don’t we all rest easier when criminals are either incarcerated or executed for their crimes against humanity?

When it comes to men perishing and God not saving them, the blame can never be placed at God’s door step; it is man’s fault every time. If God is commanding all to repent, then He is wanting all to come, but most are unwilling to come, and thus sealing their own doom.

God is not desiring that any die. Jesus wept over Jerusalem when He desired they come to Him and they refused (Matt 23:38; Luke 19:41-44). Men are not saved and perish because they refuse to repent and believe the gospel. They will not believe that Jesus Christ is the only Way, Truth and Life (John 14:6). Man has been given clear knowledge of the truth of God through creation and beyond, but they have decided to suppress that truth in unrighteousness – they are without excuse (Romans 1:18-32). God must and will judge the wicked for their wickedness. Think about it logically, since Jesus is the only way to eternal life and peace, to refuse that blessing only leaves one alternative, God’s eternal judgment. These are the only choices man has ever had in this life.

God is not preventing anyone from coming to Him, but it is the nature of man to run away and rebel against God. Another way to look at all of this is God does not save all men because most men do not desire Biblical salvation. Why would God save someone who does not desire to be saved? Notice again what the scripture says in I Timothy 2:4, God desires all men to be saved. It does not say that men themselves desire to be saved. Salvation only becomes an issue when some hear someone else talks about how Jesus saved them and the glorious eternal peace of heaven. The wicked superficially desire that same salvation because they feel they are entitled to it; not because they realize they are an undeserving sinner and their need to repent. The wicked believe they deserve to go to heaven. Actually the opposite is true – we all deserve to go to hell.

Concluding, admittedly this last debate is hard to reconcile. Hopefully I treated it with some clarity. The reader must understand that we cannot answer adequately all the mysterious doctrines in the scripture. Lets quickly review: God desires to save all men, but does not save all because of man’s unbelief. Could God overcome man’s stubborn resistance? Yes.  Does He not have all power? Yes. Why doesn’t He? Though it may be God’s desire to save all men and for them not to perish, it apparently is not His ultimate desire. His ultimate desire is to glorify Himself. This mean as much as it gives God glory to save some, it also gives God glory to punish others. God does not rejoice in the destruction of the wicked, but it is good that He reserves the unrighteous for His holy wrath and judgment. 

Addendum 9/16/15 -  Two perspectives

When dealing with the matters of God’s election and His punishment (also called reprobation), we have two schools of thought. There is the Arminian view, and the Reformed (often referred to as the Calvinistic) view. The Arminian says that God desires to save all men, but does not because He values man’s will greater than His own. In other words, man gets to cast the deciding vote regarding his salvation or his reprobation. In the Reformed view, God desires to save all men, but God reserves the right to do what ultimately pleases Him and gives Him glory. The latter view is supported by scripture and the view the writer leans to (Romans 9; Ephesians 1:5,9).

Jesus said in Matthew 11:25-26, “I thank You Father, Lord of heaven and earth that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent (the religious leaders), and have revealed them to babes (the disciples). Even so Father for so it seemed good in Your sight (italics added).

Jesus is thanking God the Father because He has made known to babies the truth of the Messiah because it pleased the Lord to do so. Reiterating the point that God will ultimately will do what pleases Himself; to the praise of His glory.      

The Love of God. How does God love the world?

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever. Because He delights in mercy. He will have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of sea. You give truth to Jacob and mercy to Abraham, which you have sworn to our fathers from days of old -             Micah 7:18-20

In the beginning of this chapter the prophet Micah is bemoaning the nation Israel’s sins (vs 1-7). He also goes on to declare to Israel’s enemies not to rejoice over her demise for she (Israel) will rise again ( vs 8-13). And finally God will forgive Israel for her iniquities because of His compassion and love toward His people, and also He will remember his covenant He made with their forefathers – Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (vs 15-20).

The opening three verses describe the loving kindness of our God. This is God’s disposition toward everyone. God’s overarching attitudes are compassion (pity) and mercy (or non-justice, not giving us what we do deserve). My purpose in this article is to counter balance it with the previous article I wrote before it, “Does God hate anyone?”  We are far more comfortable saying God is love than saying God hates anything or anyone. However, man’s definition of the love of God is usually unbiblical. What I will hope to explain in this article is the love of God from a Biblical perspective.

Let me say that God’s love is clearly defined in scripture, however it contains layers or levels if you would. Let’s go over them.

1.       God’s unlimited love is extended to all men – What this means God extends common grace to all indiscriminately. Jesus said, He (the Father) makes His sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends his rain on the just and the unjust (Matt 5:45b). This passage is clear. All men enjoy the beauty of the sunshine, and the rain. All men have the right to work, marry, raise and provide for their families, establish a career, vacation and leisure time, etc. This love every person experiences every day of their lives. This is what I would call God’s initial love for the world. Just as Jesus said, God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16a).

2.       God’s love is manifested in His warnings to us – The Bible is replete with warnings from the Lord so that we can avoid His judgment. In Ezekiel 18:31-32 says, “Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies”, says the Lord. “Therefore turn and live!”  Any good parent will warn their children if they are about to make a bad decision, or engage in bad behavior. Why? Because of your love for your children; it is for the child’s protection and safety.

The wisdom of Solomon says declares this, “Do not withhold correction from a child. For if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. You shall beat him with a rod and save his soul from hell” (Proverbs 23:13-14). God’s loving discipline initially may hurt us, but ultimately it is for our good and health (Hebrews 12:5-11). This is God’s compassionate love for mankind – He pities His creation so He warns us of impending danger.

3.       God’s love is limited in degree – What this means is God does not love everyone equally. God is sovereign and it is up to Him how He chooses to love each person. The clearest illustration of this love would be described in God’s choosing of Jacob over Esau, His choosing of the nation Israel, and His choosing of the Church. I need to spend significant time in this area.

In Genesis 25 we read that Isaac’s wife Rebekah was pregnant with twins. When Rebekah inquired of the Lord why there was struggling going on in her body, this is what God said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples shall be separated from your body; one shall be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger” (Gen 25:23).

When the Lord says the older shall serve the younger, it is not saying that Esau himself served Jacob, but that the descendants of Esau (the Edomites) would be subservient to the descendants of Jacob or Israel [(the Israelites), (2 Samuel 8:13-14; I Kings 11:15-16)]. Why did God do this, have the Israelites greater than the Edomites? This was the plan of God before either child was born. God made a sovereign choice to love Jacob more than Esau.

In Malachi 1:1-4 we read, “I have loved you”, says the Lord. “Yet you say, ‘In what way have You loved us?” Was not Esau your brother?” Says the Lord. “Yet Jacob I have loved; but Esau I have hated, and have laid waste his mountains and his heritage for the jackals of the wilderness.” Even though Edom has said, “We have been impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places, “ Thus says the Lord of hosts, “They may build, but I will throw down; they shall be called the Territory of Wickedness, and the people against whom the Lord will have indignation forever”.

Understand the love/hate relationship God is describing here is the two nations, not the two men. God made an everlasting covenant with the nation Israel (Jeremiah 31). He never made a covenant with the Edomites. God also did not covenant with Israel because they were better than Edom. They certainly were not (Read Ezekiel 16 regarding Israel’s birth and unfaithfulness to God, along with God’s everlasting love for His chosen). God sovereignly chose to love them and make them His own.

In Deuteronomy 7:6-8a we read, “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God. The Lord has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face 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, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers…

This proves God is not a respecter of persons. He chose Israel as His own because it pleased Him to do so (Psalm 115:3).

In Romans 9:11-13 Paul is quoting Malachi 1:1-4. It reads, “The children not born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls, it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”

Paul in comparing the two nations of Israel and Edom,  provides a perfect illustration of God’s love being limited in degree. God’s love for the nation Israel is unlimited in that they will last for eternity, whereas the Edomites no longer exist. If one follows the Edomites history carefully, you will discover that the Edomites (later called Idumeans) were totally destroyed in the first century A.D.; around the time when Rome sacked Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

As an aside, there are some that believe when Paul is talking about Jacob and Esau (the nations in particular), that Paul has chosen (or elected) Jacob for service only and not Esau. In other words, God is not talking about sovereign election unto salvation. The reason these individuals do not believe Paul is discussing salvation is because they do not like the doctrine of predestination; that is God choosing some for salvation before the foundation of the world while excluding others, reserving them for judgment which God has every right to do.

In the final analysis, God’s love is greater for His own than those who do not belong to Him; that is He loves His own to the max (John 13:1). God’s love for His enemies is quickly running out because of their refusal to repent.

4.       God’s loves the world by sending Jesus to die for mankind’s sins – Once again John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son. That whosoever should believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not (italics mine) send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through might be saved”.

God sent Jesus to earth on a recovery mission – to gather His lost sheep from Israel and the Gentiles (John10:16). As I mentioned in the prior article, the supreme act of love ever demonstrated was the death of Jesus Christ on the cross for the atonement of mankind’s sins forever (John 15:13). Anyone who believes in this vicarious act; that means trust, rely on, and place their complete trust on what Jesus did, they would be saved from their sins – have them removed and no more counted against them. They would be from that point moving forward declared righteous in the sight of God (2 Cor 5:21).

Understand this love is available to anyone who desires it. Jesus said, “All those the Father has given to Me will come to Me, and those who come to Me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37).

Jesus also declared, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28).

This is God’s invitational love is to all of mankind; so that they may hear the gospel, repent and believe and be saved.

In Summary

God’s love is varied and complete. First, God’s love is unlimited in length. It reaches to all people in the form of common grace. Second, His love is manifested to all in the form of warnings throughout scripture. Third, God’s love is limited in degree; He does not love all equally. He has temporary love for His enemies, but an everlasting salvific love for His own.  And fourth, His love is sacrificial in that He sent Jesus who was/is sinless and perfect to die for the sinful and non-perfect. 

What should be our response to God’s love? First, we need to repent and believe the gospel for this is God’s desire (1 Timothy 2:4). Second, Jesus said it perfectly, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love another as I have loved you, that you also love another” (John 13:33).

Third, we must tell others about His love since it has been shed abroad in our hearts (Rom 5:5).

As I mentioned in the previous article, men cannot imprison God’s love to the exclusion of His other attributes. In other words, just because God is love does not mean he will not punish evil doers or chasten His children. These are expressions of God’s love as well but another dimension of it. We must not think of God’s love as just warm and fuzzy with harps playing in our ears; a love that overlooks sin.  God’s love forgives sins and at the same time punishes every sin. This puts God’s love on display and causes it to shine brighter when His love conquers evil.

Does God hate anyone?

There are two words for hate in the Bible. The Hebrew word is sane. The Greek is miseo. The word has a variety of meanings. It can mean hostility, intense unjustifiable malice toward someone or something, or simple disregard. A similar word would be to abhor or despise. A milder meaning would mean to prefer one thing or person over another.[i]

The idea that God would hate anyone will spark intense debates in any conversation since we know that God is love (I John 4:7-8). John 3:16 says that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. The question would have to be asked, “Where in the Bible does it declare God hates anyone?”

Leviticus 20:23 – Moreover, you shall not follow the customs of the nations which I shall drive out before you, for they did all these things, and therefore I have abhorred them.

In Psalm 5:5-6 David says, “The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all the workers of iniquity. You shall destroy those who speak falsehood. The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man."

In Psalm 11:5 reads, “The Lord tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates."

Psalm 139:21-22 David said, “Do I not hate them O Lord that hate You? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You? I hate them with perfect hatred. I count them my enemies.” Remember David was speaking by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit; so these inflammatory words were given to him by God.

Proverbs 6:16-19 – These six things the Lord hates, yes seven are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil. A false witness that speak lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. 

Hosea 9:15 – All their evil is at Gilgal; indeed, I came to hate them there! Because of the wickedness of their deeds I will drive them out of my house! I will love them no more; All their princes are rebels.

Jesus said He hated the deeds of this apostate faction called the Nicolaitans (Rev 2:6, 15).

One thing we do not want to make the mistake of doing is looking at God’s hate through our own human eyes; otherwise we will harbor ill feelings toward Him and our perception of Him is skewed. Another way of saying this is that we by default make God in our own image; a perpetual mistake people make everyday.  God’s hate is pure, holy and good. It is one of His virtues. It is always justifiable. Also, as much as we would like to dismiss God’s hate in our minds, we cannot – it is taught in the Bible evidenced by the aforementioned texts and many others. We cannot make God a prisoner of His love for mankind. We cannot divorce God’s love from His other attributes – His justice, wrath and judgment. In other words. God’s love does not mean He will show kindness and favor at the expense of His wrath. Whatever God does is good and loving even if man hates and blasphemes Him for it. God is never accountable to us. God never does something without a purpose even if He never explains that purpose to us; He is not required to!  We MUST trust Him (Read the entire book of Job).

God hates the sin but loves the sinner right?

We have all used this phrase especially Christians. Let us carefully think about it. Could sin exist without human beings? The answer is no. Sin is not a force, or a spirit looking to possess someone. Sin is the absence of what is good and right. Sin is a negation and deprivation of holiness. It is the residence of wickedness living inside of us. That is why God despises those that commit it. Sin is antithetical to the holy nature of God. Sin itself is never punished alone, the person who committed the sin is punished right? The Bible never uses the phrase, “God hates the sin but loves the sinner!” But, does the Bible even imply the phrase? I would say yes and no. For those whom God has elected for salvation He definitely hates their sin, yet he loved them to send Jesus to die to take away their sins. For the unrepentant sinner, God’s love is not everlasting. God will eventually abhor that person for their persistent, non-relenting evil ways. He will judge that person guilty and cast them into the lake of fire (Rev 20:15). It definitely does not give God pleasure to hate, but it is necessary in order to show a person their wrong. God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked, but it is good that He punishes them so that He can put His wrath, anger and holy justice on full display (Ezekiel 18:30-32). We as humans love and hate at the same time. Is it any great wonder that God does the same? This subject of God loving and hating obviously brings about tremendous tension to our minds.

At the end of this life when judgment comes for those who die in their sins, the sinner is the one cast into the lake of fire not the sin itself (Rev 20:15). Why? Because one cannot argue and say, “Sin made me do it!”.  No, once again sin exists because people willfully actively choose to commit evil from their hearts which manifests itself through their actions. That is what God hates, and why He must ultimately punish evil doers. In order to get rid of evil, God must get rid of those that commit evil.             

So, it would be fair to say that God hates sinners, and His hatred of sinners is good. Why? Because it reveals to us what displeases God, and what clearly pleases Him – righteousness. If God never punished us for our sins, we would not know it was wrong to commit evil. Here is the good news; God’s hatred of sinners does not have to be everlasting. We can repent and turn from our sin and be saved. While God is hating sinners for their sins, He at the same time is loving those same sinners and desires we all repent – that is turn from our sins and run to Jesus and thus be saved.

Here is a wonderful verse of scripture, “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). This passage and numerous others reveal to us the love of God toward sinners and His willingness to save all those who believe in Jesus.

We must not reduce God’s hatred to that of our own

One thing we MUST always remember, God’s ways and thoughts are not like ours (Isa 55:8-9). God is transcendent and ultimately beyond our ability to comprehend. God is omnipotent, perfectly holy and righteous in every way, and in Him there is absolutely no darkness. His judgements are righteous and true. He is incapable of ever making a mistake. As a matter of fact, God’s hate is greater than all human love! But, because we are finite beings, sinful, corrupt and wicked, we often wrestle with the decisions God makes and the emotions He exhibits toward mankind. The idea that God hates anyone is repulsive to us. For most even many in the Church, the hatred of God casts a shadow they believe on His benevolent character. Most would rather not discuss God’s hatred; it’s a negative topic many would say. Do we ever wonder how repulsive we are to God sometimes? I often do of myself when I am stuck on stupid. Despite my foolishness, the Father God set His infinite love on me and sent His perfect sinless Son to die for the thing He hated in me, my sins.

Once again God’s hatred of unrepentant impenitent sinners is pure, holy, just and fair. It is under control and perfect; it is also terrifying, that is why all should be willing to zealously repent (Hebrews 10:31)! We must not define God’s hatred like ours – filled with rage, evil and raw emotion. Whenever we do not get what we deserve (God’s hatred leading to His judgment), we are loved by Him which is His nature. When we are loved by God we experience His marvelous benefits and favor. For the believer when we sin, God no longer despises us. He is displeased and will rightfully chastens us because He is a loving Father who desires our good and holiness (Heb 12:5-11). Also, the true child of God will repent of their sins continually (I John 1:9). God cannot hate us any longer because we are no longer in sin, we are in Christ – clothed in His righteousness (2 Cor 5:17-21). Our sins have been forgiven and taken away from us forever. There is nothing but everlasting love for the child of God. God will never hate us (Eph 1:7).

With the non-believer God’s love is temporary. Only God knows when a sinner is irredeemable. Eventually God’s love toward that sinner will turn to hate because of the unwillingness of the sinner to repent from their sins. They love their darkness and hate good and the light (John 3:19). Therefore God’s wrath will abide on them since they have chosen to despise the love of God offered to them in the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ that they might be saved (John 3:36). God has every right to hate that person; which will ultimately lead to God’s righteous judgment[ii] – they have exhausted God’s love toward them.

If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ let him be accursed. The Greek word for accursed is anathema which means that person will go to everlasting destruction – most tragic (I Cor 16:22).

Never degenerate to the point in your life where God will stop loving you. Repent of your sins and receive the love of Jesus today.         

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[i] Remember the Bible says God love Jacob and hated Esau. In Malachi where this phrase

Originates means God blessed Jacob and his descendants (The Israelites) far greater than Esau and his

Descendants (The Edomites who no longer exist read the book of Obadiah for the judgment and destruction

Of Edom; it’s a one chapter book). So in this sense God loved Jacob and his descendants because of the preferential treatment he received over his brother.

Another scenario would be with Jacob and his two wives Rachel and Leah who were sisters. Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. That is why the Bible says Leah was hated or despised (not literally because Leah bore Jacob seven children proving Jacob loved Leah by laying with her).  That is why Jacob worked a total of 14 years for his uncle – father in law Laban to marry Rachel (Genesis 29).

[ii] The Father sending Jesus Christ to come and die for mankind’s sins is the greatest expression of love ever exhibited on the world. Jesus said to His disciples, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s

Life for His friends (John 15:13)”. For anyone to despise this premiere, ultimate love act has proven that they are

A despicable, evil person deserving God’s judgment; It is most fair; if one despises ultimate love, that is the death of Jesus Christ on the cross for forgiveness of sins, then it makes perfect sense that person should receive God’s ultimate hate, the eternal lake of fire. All mankind must embrace one or the other. There is no middle ground.

What is Postmodernism?

Postmodernism means after Modernism. Modernism is the period of time from approximately 1890-1945. This period covered from before World War I to the end of World War II. Modernism is the ideology that human philosophy is king.  In other words, we can understand humanity and life apart from divine revelation through human reason and the sciences - the rejection of Biblical truth. Postmodernism the spawn of modernism says that truth is relative and subjective. In other words, a common phrase postmodernists use is, “that may be true for you, but not for me!” The reason for this mindest is they say data is ever-changing, so no absolute conclusions can be drawn. As a result, the postmodernist concludes there are no absolute conclusions because absolute truth and knowledge are unknowable. What is the tragic result of this mindset? Everyone decides for themselves what is true. In non-essential areas such as food, fashion, movies, music, etc relativity is fine. Each can have his or her own opinion for there are no absolutes or one truth. But, when it comes to Biblical truth, it is absolute. Any philosophy or ideology that deviates from Holy Scripture is false.                                                                                            

Some philosophers who contributed to this line of thinking were Renee Descartes, Frederick Nietzsche, and Immanuel Kant. Descartes was the one that used that very famous phrase, “I think therefore I am." Nietzsche declared that God was dead and that Christianity was a “religion of pity” [1] Kant said that knowledge of God was impossible. Kant declared that spiritual matters were merely opinions, and only the empirical sciences were truth. Kant separated facts from faith saying, “facts have nothing to do with religion." These elite thinkers and several others influenced western culture and thought in the 19^th century up until the present. These philosophies planted the seeds of the postmodernist worldview. Postmodernism is very dangerous for several reasons:

1.       It promotes pluralism – Pluralism is the idea that every philosophy is acceptable. Since there is no absolute truth in this view, then there can be no one religion that is true and all the others false. Remember in this view truth is subjective, not objective. So in essence truth is determined by man and not God. This, in essence, is Atheism.

2.       It’s a philosophy of deconstruction -  Postmodernism is a modern tradition that attempts to make the word of God of no effect. For many, this false belief has been unfortunately successful. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for undercutting the word of God in favor of their tradition (Matt 15:1-8).

3.       It attempts to deify man and kill God – If man is calling all the shots and can create his own religion(s), then he becomes his own sovereign, and thus will glorify himself – praise that should go to God alone (Isa 42:8; 48:11).

4.       Postmodernism is contradictory – This view actually deconstructs itself because if there is no absolute truth, then we cannot believe their worldviews either. One thing postmodernists must believe – to declare there is no absolute truth is in their mind is an absolutely true statement. So, in the final analysis, they believe in absolute truth.

It makes absolutely no sense to declare absolute truth does not exist. What is the point for postmodernists to write books or to make any declaration whatsoever if truth is relative to the reader or listener? No one wants someone to misrepresent what they have said. When one speaks or writes, your goal is for the reader or listener to comprehend what you are communicating to them – not twist your words and give a meaning other than what you originally intended. Saying it another way, you do not want anyone to put words in your mouth that you did not mean. This is precisely what happens when people twist scripture. 

The Bible tells us in Proverbs 30:6, “Add not to His word lest He reprove you, and you be found a liar”. A lie can never be of the truth. Ancient philosophers and modern day thinkers that deny the existence of God and the exclusivity of His word are all liars which will have their part of in the lake of fire (Rev 21:8).    

It's arrogant to say that Christianity is the only true religion

Christianity claims to be absolutely true so for most that is an unfair and conceited position.  Truth is never arrogant or unfair. What is actually conceited are those that dishonor God and declare there are numerous ways to get to God. This way one does not have to believe in Jesus Christ and His vicarious death on the cross for the sins of the world.  It’s too narrow of a way for all to believe in Jesus for their salvation. The main reason? Most do not want to admit they are an unworthy sinner headed for hell. Most people will declare their own goodness (Proverbs 20:6). The Bible is too harsh and inflexible most would say. Also, how do we know the Bible is the only true word of God anyway? Aren’t there many religious books? There are several: The Book of Mormon, the Hindu Vedas, the Quran, the Pearl of Great Price, Morals and Dogma, the Apocrypha, the New World Translation, the Mishna, the Talmud,  et al.    

The Holy Bible is the only volume(s) that contains accurate Biblical Prophecy. As a matter of fact, twenty seven percent of all scripture is prophetic with hundreds of prophecies already been fulfilled. Over 300 prophecies in scripture are regarding Jesus alone! No other book can make that claim. Also, the Bible has internal consistency because it has one author, the Holy Spirit. At this point, many would disagree and say that is not true, the Bible was written by men. That is true. The Holy Spirit the invisible author moved the human authors on what to write – using their personalities and lives to say through them what needed to be said so they could accurately record the words of the Lord – not their own. Remember the words of the apostle Peter, “knowing this first, that no prophecy of 

Scripture is not of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit (II Peter 1:21).  Those who are textual critics have to be amazed at the preservation of the word of God. There are 66 books, written by at least 40 different authors over a period of over 1500 years on 3 continents and they are saying the same thing – no collusion.  Yes, there is absolute truth when it comes to religion. The Bible, God’s word declares that truth to all men. Everything else is a lie, and that is the absolute truth.

Concluding, just as there are immutable truths such as the law of gravity, the earth orbiting the sun, the moon orbiting the earth, the second law of thermodynamics – the law of entropy, matter is breaking down, 2+2=4, there is absolute truth when it comes to God, and things pertaining to the Spirit. To deny these realities is evil, willfully ignorant, prideful and blasphemous. This type of person is headed for eternal destruction unless they repent.

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[1] Christianity is called the religion of pity. Pity stands opposed to the tonic emotions which heighten our vitality: it has a depressing effect. We are deprived of strength when we feel pity. That loss of strength which suffering as such inflicts on life is still further increased and multiplied by pity. Pity makes suffering contagious – Nietzsche.

Will things in this life ever get better?

I'll ask the question a second time. Will things in this life ever get better? That depends upon your position in Christ. Many are trying their best to improve our environment and our world. Let me explain. For instance, we have environmentalists and others who want us to recycle, drive eco-friendly cars, ride on fuel efficient buses so that we do not pollute more our already contaminated environment; do not cut down any more trees so that we do not lose our supply of oxygen, pay our bills electronically so that we do not have to be sent a paper bill in the mail and the list goes on. All of these things are good gestures and should be applauded. We should do whatever it takes to preserve and use of our natural resources wisely. It is good stewardship however, in the end all these efforts will come to naught.                                                

While I am not trying to sound cynical, we as human beings will never be able to save the planet. No matter how many “smart cars” we purchase or however many solar panels we buy for our homes, or no matter how many trees we save. Saving the planet was never the duty of man. Ecclesiastes 12:13b-14 describes man’s total purpose, “fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether it be good or evil”.                                        

The point I am proving is that man cannot ultimately improve our human condition. The reason why things are so bad is because of man.  Man is the problem so he certainly cannot be the solution Sadly, man is not getting better as time marches on, he is getting worse. 2 Timothy 3:13 says evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse. So no, for most of the world things are not getting better; they are getting worse and will get far worse. As a matter of fact, the future time will be so horrific that Jesus Himself said it would be the worst time in human history (Matt 24:21).  In the future there will be worldwide catastrophes like nothing the world has ever seen before. There will be wonders in heavens, terrible things on the earth and in the seas. The book of Revelation describes these disasters in detail. Let us look at some of them.

Revelation 6:12-14: I (John) looked when He opened the sixth seal and behold there was a great earthquake and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded like a scroll when It is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.

Revelation 8:7: The first angel sound (his trumpet) and hail and fire followed mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and green grass was burned up.

Revelation 9:15 – When the sixth angel blows his trumpet he releases four unholy angels out of the Euphrates River, Also a two hundred million man (or some say demonic) army. It could be both. Their job is to destroy a third of mankind (approximately 2.3 billion dead according to current world population).

Revelation 11:15, 19: Then the seventh angel sounded…then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of the covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

Revelation chapter 13 deals with the rise and activities of the anti-christ.

Revelation 16:8 – Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed God who has power over these plagues, and they did not repent to give Him glory.

                

These verses and so many more tell us that things will get far worse in the end times. This is something that cannot be prayed away. God has decreed it will happen, and it will unfold in exactly the manner scripture describes. The events of the great tribulation will end with the return of our Lord Jesus Christ to earth. It is at this time all the holy angels and all the saints of God will return with Him. Jesus will destroy His enemies at this time (Rev 19:11-21). After this, the Lord will set up His eternal kingdom with the initial segment of His kingdom lasting one thousand years (Rev 20:2,4,6-7). During this time in human history things will be perfect because the devil will be bound and shut up in prison; called the bottomless pit or the Abyss for a one thousand years with a brief release with his ultimate doom in the lake of fire (Rev 20:1-3,10 ). There will be worldwide peace on earth.                                                                                                         

In Isaiah 11 it says the wolf will dwell with lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat. The calf and the young lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. It also says in Isaiah 11 that none shall hurt nor destroy in My holy mountain says the Lord (Isa 11:6, 9; 65:25).                                 

Here is the point I must get across to the reader, no matter how valiant, benevolent, brave, courageous, well intentioned, or any other adjective we can use to describe human effort to make this earth a better place we cannot do it. Saving this planet is ultimately futile. Why? Because it is disposable. We cannot save what God has determined He will destroy. I for one am happy He is going to destroy it. Now that doesn’t mean we should destroy it. The earth is the Lord’s and it is up to Him when he will destroy it. I give you two reasons why the Lord must destroy this earth. 1) This world is under a curse because of the original sin of Adam (Gen 3:17b). This has brought the world untold misery, pain and death.  2) God promised He would destroy it and provide us with a new heavens and new earth (Isa 65:17; 2 Peter 3:13; Rev 21:1). God created this earth in the first place, so what is the big deal if He destroys it and re-creates it to the paradise it was before? Someone has correctly called the new heavens and new earth PARADISE REGAINED!  This is the place all God’s people long for where righteousness dwells and the whole earth is full of the knowledge of the Lord (Isa 11:9).                                                                                                                

So in answering the original question, “Will thing in this life ever get better?” The answer is yes and no. No, because man is only capable of making matters worse because he is hopelessly evil and depraved. And yes because Jesus Christ praise God is returning to destroy all evildoers; at which time He will establish His eternal Universal Kingdom reign which will usher in everlasting peace where all will dwell safely and men will learn war no more (Isa 2:4; Micah 4:3).

Born Into Sin

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men because all sinned.

                                                                                                                                                                                -Romans 5:12

If one understands what Paul the apostle is teaching here, we would conclude God is not being fair. Let me explain. Paul is saying because of the original sin of Adam back in the Garden of Eden, all of his descendants sinned as well. But how someone may ask. Because we were all in the loins of Adam when he committed the sin. God imputed or transferred our original father’s sin nature to all of us. We are guilty by association. David in Psalm 51:5 hit this reality on the head when he said, “I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me”.                                        

`Even a newborn child no matter how beautiful, cuddly and precious they are is a sinner by nature, and very shortly will prove to be a sinner by choice, and action. Sin begets sin. One can barely turn the pages of scripture and not see the word sin on it somewhere. Why? Because sin has not only pervaded the human soul, sin has corrupted the entire universe.                                                                                                                  

Romans 8:19-22 says this, “For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now."                                                                       

These four verses describe the pain God’s creation is in because of our sins. The earth awaits our glorification. For when we are glorified, God will soon re-create the earth to the paradise it once was.  Remember what God told Adam in Genesis 3:17b-18, “Cursed is the ground for your sake. In toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field."                                                                               

Do we get a better picture of how powerful sin is; How it has destroyed everything it touches? Let me be more specific.                                                                                                                                  

Because of sin God destroyed the whole world with a flood during the time of Noah. Only 8 souls were saved and some animals that were in the ark (Genesis 7). Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed because of the sin of homosexuality (Gen 18 & 19). Because of sin, God destroyed the Egyptians in Exodus 14. Because of Israel’s disobedience with the Moabites, a plague went through the land and twenty four thousand people died (Numbers 25:9). Moses and Aaron were not permitted to go into the promised land because they misrepresented God (Numbers 20:12). Saul’s disobedience led to God rejecting him as king ( I Sam 15:23c;26). David’s sin of adultery with Bathsheba and murder of her husband Uriah led to the death of his child with Bathsheba and trouble in his house until his death (2 Sam 11 & 12). David decries his sin in Psalm 51.

Wise King Solomon in his old age was the cause of the kingdom of Israel being divided into two nations after his death because of his many foreign wives along with the worship of their gods. These pagan women turned his heart away from the Lord (I Kings 11 & 12). Because of sin, God sent King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon to destroy Jerusalem for their unfaithfulness (Jeremiah 39; 52:1-34; 2 Chronicles 36:11-21). Because of sin God through the Prophet, Daniel predicted the destruction of Babylon by the Medes and Persians. This happened in 539 B.C. (Daniel 5:26-30).                             

Because of sin, Judas betrayed Jesus (Psalm 41:9; Matt 26:16;25; Mark 14:10; Luke 22:3-6; John 13:27).  Ananias and Sapphira  dropped dead because they lied to the Holy Spirit about their giving (Acts 5). Stephen became the first Christian martyr of the church for preaching the gospel (Acts 7). The Holy wrath of God is unleashed in the book of Revelation because of the sins of the entire world. Over half of the world’s population will perish in a series of 21 judgments. This is yet future.  This will culminate with the return of Jesus Christ to set up His eternal earthly kingdom.                                                                                        

Do you now have a better picture of why Jesus had to come and die for our sins? So that those of us who believe can be delivered from its penalty…death, eternal death and receive eternal life. The Father God sent the Son to die for His people (Matt 1:21). What was the motivation for God to do this? Why would Father God send His sinless Son to die for unworthy, wretched sinners? The Bible tell us. He did it because He so loved us (John 3:16). We read this in Ephesians 1:5, In love He predestined us to adoptions as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself according to the pleasure of His will. Ephesians 1:4 tells us when God chose us, before the foundation of the world. So we learn from these texts that before the universe was formed God determined to save a people for Himself; to become His sons and daughters when they believe in the completed work of Jesus work on the cross. Those that believe are adopted into the family of God. These believers are also justified which is a forensic term. When one believes his or her sins are imputed or transferred to Christ. And in exchange, Christ’s righteousness is imputed to the believer. What is so beautiful about this is God did this because it pleased Him to do so.      

Since we are now justified through belief in Christ, our sins can never condemn us again – meaning we cannot be sent to hell for them. Why? Because Christ took our sins upon Himself and canceled our sin debt.  2 Corinthians 5:21 says, He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us (italics mine) that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Peter 2:24, Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree that we having died to sin might live for righteousness. By whose stripes we are healed.                                           

It is very important the reader understand that Christ’s atonement is sufficient for all but only efficient for those who believe in Him. These are the one whom Jesus saves. The death of Christ delivers no benefit to those who reject the gospel message and go to hell. Why am I stating what seems obvious? Because most Christians believe that Jesus died for the sins of every person that will ever live (I John 2:2); even those that never believe and perish. Let us think about this for a moment. If Jesus died for all sins, wouldn’t the sin of unbelief be included? The answer obviously is yes. So why then are numerous people going to hell for the sin of unbelief? The answer is that none of their sins were atoned for by Christ. Jesus did not die for all sins except unbelief. He died for every sin including unbelief. My point is how can Christ die for every single human being’s sins and any of them go to hell unless none of their sins were atoned for? Jesus either died for all of your sins or none of them. If Jesus truly died for your sins it is because you decided to believe in Him for salvation. This separates believers from non- believers.[i]

                                                                                                                                         

  Christ’s atonement was a complete and satisfying sacrifice to God the Father. It appeased God’s holy wrath against sin. The Father punished His only Begotten Son for our sins (Isaiah 53:6b). Whose sins? Them that believe. Let me ask this question if one says Christ died for their sins and that person dies and goes to eternal damnation, were their sins ever forgiven? There are those that believe and teach that to say Jesus paid for someone’s sins in full, and that person dies in sin and pays eternally for their owns sins is a form of double jeopardy. I agree. It makes no sense to me. It also diminishes the efficacy of Christ’s atoning work on the cross. Christ did not die to make men savable. He died to actually save men from every tribe, tongue, and nation. That is what it means when the scripture says Jesus died for the sins of the whole world. Christ died for all people without distinction regardless of their color, socio-economic status, nationality, geography, language, etc. He did not die for all people without exception. Most Christians will disagree. They insist Christ died for every human being who will walk the face of the earth because that is what is fair.  To imply Christ died for some and not all is heresy most would say. Christ’s atonement on the cross was completely successful; Jesus saved all whom God gave to Him. Let me amplify that point. In John 6:37-40 we read the words of Jesus, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and those who come to Me I will by no means cast out. For I have come down from heaven not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that all He has given Me I should lose nothing but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”                             

These powerful verses tell me that God the Father sent His Son on a recovery mission to gather up His lost sheep and bring them into His fold to dwell forever with Him (Psalm 23:6).                                                       

The aforementioned should be the aim of all men, once one realizes they have been born into sin or in sin; they should endeavor to be born again. Not to be born again is to degenerate from being born in sin to dying in sin (John 8:24). That person’s life has been a waste. From birth to death that person has lived their entire life in sin – rebellion against God. The goal of every human being should be to become regenerate; from being born in sin to be re-born in Christ (John 3:3;2 Cor 5:17; Eph 1:1,4).

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[i] Please read the following articles on my blog: Sovereign Election Parts I & II, Did Jesus die for every sin?

Whose sins did Jesus die for? Limited vs Unlimited Atonement.