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Whosoever Will May Come Dec 1, 2007 12:38 pm
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Like many of the objections from Arminians, this one entirely misses the point.

Revelation 22:17 which says, "whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely"

Since this is what God says, we readily agree with it, but then what? Who will actually come? It does not tell us. Or, to be more precise, why does anyone decide to come? What is the metaphysical and spiritual cause behind the person's decision and his change in disposition? That is the question. The statement from Revelation, or any other "whosoever" statement for that matter, tells us only about what is available to or what will happen to the person who comes. It does not tell us why anyone would come, or why a person comes when he does.

I can say, "Whoever becomes a fish can breath under water." The statement is true, but it does not mean that a person can become a fish anytime he wishes. In fact, any inference about one's ability is strictly invalid, since the statement contains no information about ability except for the fish's ability to breath under water. Whether or not it is possible for a person to become a fish, one can infer nothing about it from the statement itself, but it only informs us as to what would happen to a person who turns into a fish.

Moreover, even if it is possible for a person to become a fish, the statement says nothing about how this is possible, or whether it is within the person's own power to do so. God is certainly able to turn a man into a fish, but a man "cannot make even one hair white or black" (Matthew 5:36). A statement like the one that I have made tells us nothing about a person's ability, but information about ability must be obtained elsewhere.

Whenever we are talking about something that is impossible with man – such as for a man to turn himself into a fish – it means that it will either never happen, or God must make it happen by his omnipotence.

Arminians have no respect for the actual language of the text, which means that they have no respect for its author. They are determined to infer from it whatever they want, even when a passage does not address the topic at all.

In answer to the relevant question of why anyone comes to Christ at all, the Bible says that it is God who chooses the person, changes his nature, and controls his mind, and that is what causes him to "come." We have established this from Scripture again and again, so we will not repeat the information here. Anyway, this is the biblical teaching that the Arminians must refute.

As it is, their objection amounts to saying, "Calvinism is wrong because the Bible teaches that anyone who believes in Christ will be saved." But this does not even apply to the debate, since Calvinism does not assert that some people who believe in Christ will nevertheless be condemned. No, Calvinism agrees that all believers are saved. The question is and has always been who will believe in Christ, and what causes these people to believe in him.

Whenever you are confronted with an objection against the Christian faith, it is always advisable to question the relevance of what is asserted and make the opponent demonstrate its relevance. In this case, sometimes without being aware of it, it seems that the Arminians assume that God's command, which incurs human responsibility, also presupposes human ability or freedom. But as I often mention, although God's command and man's responsibility are inseparably related, there is no biblical or logical relationship at all between divine command (or sovereignty) and human freedom (or ability), or between human responsibility and human freedom.

To say that we are responsible has nothing to do with whether we are free, but only with whether God has commanded and whether he will judge. The assumption that connects these unrelated things has never been proved and seldom even attempted in all the history of philosophy and theology, and it is directly contradicted by Scripture.

Nevertheless, this unbiblical premise is also shared by many inconsistent Calvinists, leading to an incoherent and embarrassing theological formulation, and the invention of doctrines such as compatibilist freedom.

When speaking of freedom in such a context, I always speak of freedom in relation to God — and that is why the issue immediately becomes clear. I can consistently use the same definition whether I am dealing with the nature of God, the decree of God, the nature of man, the nature of salvation, or determinism from a philosophical perspective.

But many Calvinists do not speak this way; rather, they say that we always choose what we desire the most (although they might also acknowledge that it is God who determines this desire), but when they add that this is in a sense "freedom," and that we are responsible based on this "freedom," then I disagree. Instead, I deny any sense of human freedom and deny any relationship between freedom and responsibility.

Moral responsibility (or accountability) has to do with whether God has decided to judge us; it has no direct relationship with whether we are free. In fact, if we were free from God but not judged by God, then we would still not be morally responsible (or accountable). In other words, moral responsibility does not presuppose human freedom, but it presupposes divine sovereignty. We are responsible not because we are free, but we are responsible precisely because we are not free.

Also, Calvinists often affirm that Adam was free before the Fall. But again, I always speak of freedom relative to God, and from this perspective, I would say that Adam had no freedom whatsoever even before the Fall. To be "free" from sin is irrelevant. The issue is whether Adam was free from God to choose to remain free from sin — he was not.

Compatibilists would hesitate to say that we are free from God, but they would insist that since we always act according to the strongest desire of the moment, that this is a real sense of freedom, and that this "freedom" is the precondition for moral responsibility.

Now consider the following. Let’s say that I have committed a murder. I was indeed free from other creatures when I made my decision, and I acted according to my own internal desire. But this desire was caused and controlled by God, and the fact that I would always act on my strongest desire (which is human nature) was also caused by God. But this amounts to saying that we have no freedom from God to abstain from murder, but that we only have internal freedom from other creatures to abstain from murder.

Then, if we were to soften this and say that our desires are somehow not determined but merely permitted by God, then, even ignoring for now that this is unbiblical, we must still explain how it is possible for God to permit something without causing it, and yet immutably decree it to happen in a sense that is not merely an expression of prescience. If we can’t, then we are Arminians.

Also, if God merely permits us to do something, then I would also demand a metaphysical explanation on how it is possible for a creature to direct and control its own mind. That is, is it possible for a created thing to function at all under God’s bare permission without his constant causative determination? How?

Calvin himself wrote, "Indeed, not even an abundance of bread would benefit us in the slightest unless it were divinely turned into nourishment." This sounds like my occasionalism. There is no inherent "nature" or power in bread that always works with the body to provide nourishment, but it must be "divinely turned into nourishment" each time it is consumed.

This is Calvinism — it is a consistent application of divine sovereignty over everything. It is a denial of any form of dualism or deism. Thus I affirm that God controls everything about everything that is anything, including every aspect of every detail of every human decision and action, in such a way that man has no freedom in any meaningful or relevant sense.

In summary, libertarian freedom is indeed freedom, but it is unbiblical and impossible — there is no such freedom. On the other hand, compatibilist freedom is not "freedom" at all (except from other creatures, which is irrelevant), but it is just a description of what happens when God controls every aspect of our decisions and actions. Both the words "compatibilist" and "freedom" are misleading.
Vincent Cheung

Compatibilism is the thesis that free will is compatible with determinism. Because free will is taken to be a necessary condition of moral responsibility, compatibilism is sometimes expressed in terms of a compatibility between moral responsibility and determinism
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Calvinist Routed... always check the authors credentials.... Dec 1, 2007 3:13 am
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The post was from Dave Hunts book railing on reformed theology. Straining at gnats is the phrase he used throughout his book.

Dave Hunts credentials. He has a degree in mathematics from U.C.L.A. and is a researcher and speaker at conferences. He has no theological training and does not speak Hebrew or Greek.

Looks like Dave Hunt is straining at a gnat to sell his books without much theological training. James White debated him and forwarned he would expose Hunt if he went on and wrote his book and he did.

Dr. James White who exposed Hunts research methods annd debated him on the issue of the doctrines of Grace. (I have posted his open letter on my blogs) White is the director of Alpha and Omega Ministries, a Christian apologetics organization. He received a B.A. from Grand Canyon College, an M.A. from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a Th.M., a Th.D. and a D.Min. Columbia Evangelical Seminary (formerly Faraston Seminary). He is a professor of Greek, Hebrew, systematic theology and various apologetics topics.

White is an avid debater, having participated in over sixty moderated debates since 1990, covering topics such as Calvinism, Roman Catholicism, Islam, Mormonism, and Jehovah's Witnesses. His debate opponents have included scholars such as John Dominic Crossan and Marcus Borg and popularizers such as John Shelby Spong.

He also runs a theological site and a semi-weekly internet radio broadcast. Some of his most noted works have discussed topics such as the King James Only Movement and the debate between Calvinism and Arminianism.
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YOU HAVE NOT CHOSEN ME BUT I HAVE CHOSEN YOU Nov 30, 2007 5:19 pm
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I AM GOING TO SIMPLIFY WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT SALVATION.

Man is born into sin. All sin came upon man because of Adams sin. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God they chose to give their obedience to another. The devil. Thus they became the children of the evil one having his nature. God in his mercy slew an animal making the first sacrifice for sin. This covered them until Christ should come. Cain slew Abel because he had the nature of the evil one and was a murderer. Abel understood the blood covenant. The carnal man hates the blood covenant as it is foolishness to him. He does not understand it and thinks that the works of his hands are acceptable to God. They are not.

Hence, sin then came unto all men in that all have sinned. All having a sinful nature,(the devils nature as Jesus said YE ARE OF YOUR FATHER THE DEVIL AND THE WORKS OF YOUR FATHER YE DO, ) are in enmity to God. Enmity means a deep seated hatred. Carnal man is NOT SUBJECT TO THE WILL OF GOD NEITHER INDEED CAN BE.THOSE IN THE FLESH(CARNAL NATURE) CANNOT PLEASE GOD BUT THOSE WHO HAVE THE SPIRIT OF GOD (ARE BORN OF GOD) ARE NOT IN THE FLESH BUT IN THE SPIRIT, THE SCRIPTURES SAY.

Therefore having the nature of Satan the sinner is BLIND, CANNOT SEE THE TRUTH, HAS NO LIGHT,IS DEAD IN TRESPASSES AND SIN, SPIRITUALLY DEAD!!! DEAD TO GOD,IS IN A STATE OF UNBELIEF...NO FAITH,
CANNOT COME TO GOD BECAUSE HE IS HELD CAPTIVE BY THE POWERS OF DARKNESS. THE SINNER IS IN BONDAGE A SERVANT TO SATAN, A SERVANT OF SIN, A SLAVE TO THE FLESH,HE WILL NOT CHOOSE GOD BECAUSE HE CANNOT CHOOSE GOD!!!

Only Jesus can set the captive free. It is only by the power of God that a soul is translated from the power of darkness into the kingdom of his dear son. That is why Jesus said that you must be born again to enter into the kingdom of God ...that which is born of the flesh (natural birth ) is flesh (sin nature) and that which is born of the
Spirit is Spirit (born of the holy Ghost, born of God, born from above)

You must be given a new nature, become a new creature. Easy believism is not salvation! The born again experience is salvation! That is why we cannot live a life of sin...we are born of God, have his seed,new nature. The holy spirit lives in us. He has chosen us out of the world.

Salvation is a gift bestowed and not a gift that is given based on any preequisits. The faith that comes to us to believe is through Christ. He reveals himself to the ones he has chosen. Salvation is of the Lord. It is not of mans own doing. Man has nothing to boast in. God has chosen a people for himself. All who are not IN CHRIST HAVING HIS SPIRIT do not belong to him. They are taken captive by the devil at the devils will. All unregenerate are slaves to their master. They have no will of their own. They have a will to sin and to sin and to sin. They can sin in anyway they chose. They can sin standing up and they can sin sitting down. The sinner can choose to be a robber, a murderer, a liar, or all three. Whatever sin they choose to be apart of BUT THEY CANNOT CHOOSE THE GOOD. THEY CANNOT CHOOSE TO BE SIN FREE. THEY CANNOT CHOOSE TO BE SAVED. THEY LIKE TO SIN, HAVE NO DESIRE FOR GOD AND ACTUALLY HATE HIS GUTS!!!

Only God can change the sinners heart. Only God can set the captive free. Only God can give man a new nature. Cain was religious. (mans way of salvation,mans effort instead of Gods)
He wanted Gods approval but in his own way. He did not want to be saved by Gods way. The blood covenant. Humanist Christians want salvation but they want it by works. By their power and ability to receive it. Only salvation through faith in Christ by the power of the holy Spirit through the born again experience can save. That is not something that one can choose. Jesus said YOU HAVE NOT CHOSEN ME BUT I HAVE CHOSEN YOU.

Just as Cain hated Abel and wanted to murder him because he hated the true way of salvation so do these humanists today hate the true message of salvation with enmity, a deep seated hatred.
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For Whom Did Christ Die? .........C. H. Spurgeon Nov 30, 2007 11:11 am
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Now, you are aware that there are different theories of Redemption. All Christians hold that Christ died to redeem, but all Christians do not teach the same redemption. We differ as to the nature of atonement, and as to the design of redemption.

For instance, the Arminian holds that Christ, when He died, did not die with an intent to save any particular person; and they teach that Christ's death does not in itself secure, beyond doubt, the salvation of any one man living. They believe that Christ died to make the salvation of all men possible, or that by the doing of something else, any man who pleases may attain unto eternal life; consequently, they are obliged to hold that if man's will would not give way and voluntarily surrender to grace, then Christ's atonement would be unavailing. They hold that there was no particularity and speciality in the death of Christ. Christ died, according to them, as much for Judas in Hell as for Peter who mounted to Heaven. They believe that for those who are consigned to eternal fire, there was as true and real a redemption made as for those who now stand before the throne of the Most High.

Now, we believe no such thing. We hold that Christ, when He died, had an object in view, and that object will most assuredly, and beyond a doubt, be accomplished. We measure the design of Christ's death by the effect of it. If any one asks us, "What did Christ design to do by His death?" we answer that question by asking him another--"What has Christ done, or what will Christ do by His death?" For we declare that the measure of the effect of Christ's love, is the measure of the design of it. We cannot so belie our reason as to think that the intention of Almighty God could be frustrated, or that the design of so great a thing as the atonement, can by any way whatever, be missed of. We hold--we are not afraid to say that we believe--that Christ came into this world with the intention of saving "a multitude which no man can number;" and we believe that as the result of this, every person for whom He died must, beyond the shadow of a doubt, be cleansed from sin, and stand, washed in blood, before the Father's throne.

The greatness of Christ's redemption may be measured by the EXTENT OF THE DESIGN OF IT. He gave His life "a ransom for many." I must now return to that controverted point again. We are often told (I mean those of us who are commonly nicknamed by the title of Calvinists--and we are not very much ashamed of that; we think that Calvin, after all, knew more about the Gospel than almost any man who has ever lived, uninspired), we are often told that we limit the atonement of Christ, because we say that Christ has not made a satisfaction for all men, or all men would be saved. Now, our reply to this is, that, on the other hand, our opponents limit it: we do not. The Arminians say, Christ died for all men. Ask them what they mean by it. Did Christ die so as to secure the salvation of all men? They say, "No, certainly not." We ask them the next question--Did Christ die so as to secure the salvation of any man in particular? They answer "No." They are obliged to admit this, if they are consistent. They say, "No; Christ has died that any man may be saved if"--and then follow certain conditions of salvation. We say, then, we will go back to the old statement--Christ did not die so as beyond a doubt to secure the salvation of anybody, did He? You must say "No;" you are obliged to say so, for you believe that even after a man has been pardoned, he may yet fall from grace, and perish. Now, who is it that limits the death of Christ? Why, you. You say that Christ did not die so as to infallibly secure the salvation of anybody. We beg your pardon, when you say we limit Christ's death; we say, "No, my dear sir, it is you that do it." We say Christ so died that He infallibly secured the salvation of a multitude that no man can number, who through Christ's death not only may be saved, but are saved, must be saved, and cannot by any possibility run the hazard of being anything but saved. You are welcome to your atonement; you may keep it. We will never renounce ours for the sake of it.
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DOES GOD DESIRE ALL MEN TO BE SAVED? Nov 29, 2007 12:41 pm
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1 Tim 2: 3, 4

This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth

If God desires that all men be saved but he does not actually save all men then God who accomplishes anything that He wills, according to His good pleasure either does not get whatever He desires or God is dependant on man and his faith to believe (Arminian view) or the other argument would be that God has a divine purpose that is his secret will which men just do not understand every aspect of.

If God foreknew which sinners would be lost and then claim that it is not within God's will to allow these sinners to be lost then why did did He create them in the first place? He knew what would be their final destiny was even before He created them. With full knowledge that they would not chose Him, it is evidently within God's providence that some sinners be lost, so He obviously has some purpose in it which we do not completely understand.

God allows things to happen for the greater good in eternity and not because he is dependant on man or that the devil is in control. Actually, the devil is a defeated foe and is only allowed to hang around for Gods purposes. (Read Job)For example,God allowed Jesus to suffer at the hands of evil men but is God that author of that evil which occurred? No, however, for the greater good of saving a people for himself God allowed the crucification. of his son. In fact that was the reason he came into this world in the first place.

Acts 2:23

...this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.

God desires man to keep His moral law but man is unable to. However, he saves the persons whom He agreed upon in His eternal counsels by his grace.

The reason God chooses some and not others have not been revealed to us. This is part of His secret counsel. God has his reasons and we need to just let it be at that. (More on this later)

Deuteronomy 29:29

The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever
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DOES MAN HAVE THE ABILTY TO CHOOSE SALVATION? Nov 27, 2007 12:25 pm
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HUMANIST BELIEVERS TEACH THAT MAN, EVEN THOUGH HE IS A SINNER HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO REPENT AND CHOOSE BY THEIR OWN FREE WILL SALVATION. THIS HOWEVER IS ERRONEOUS TEACHING.IF MAN IS CORRUPT (DEPRAVED) IN HIS CARNAL NATURE AND CANNOT CHANGE THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN OR MAKE ONE HAIR BLACK OR WHITE, HOW (AS SCRIPTURE SAYS ) CAN HE WHO IS ACCUSTOMED (Frequently practiced, used, or experienced, Being in the habit of, Having been adapted to the existing environment and conditions)TO DOING EVIL LEARN TO DO GOOD? HE CANNOT DO GOOD. AND WHY IS THAT ? BECAUSE HE HAS NOT THE ABILITY TO DO GOOD. NOR DOES HE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CHOOSE GOOD. MAN DOES NOT HAVE THE POWER TO DESIRE THE GOOD BECAUSE HE IS BORN INTO SIN AND HAS THE NATURE OF THE DEVIL.

TO WHOM YOU YIELD YOURSELVES SERVANTS TO OBEY, HIS SERVANT YOU ARE TO WHOM YOU OBEY.....YOU ARE OF YOUR FATHER THE DEVIL AND THE WORKS OF YOUR FATHER YOU DO. IN OTHER WORDS ALL UNREGENERATE FALLEN BEINGS HAVE THE NATURE OF THE DEVIL. IN REBELLION, FILLED WITH SELF, BORN INTO SIN, CORRUPT,EVIL,GONE ASTRAY, REPROBATE CONCERNINGG THE TRUTH. IN THIS CONDITION HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO CHOOSE FOR YOURSELF SALVATION?

THE CHOICE YOU MADE TO SURRENDER YOUR LIFE TO JESUS CHRIST WAS BASED ON THE DIVINE ABILITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO CHOOSE GOD BECAUSE YOU WERE QUICKENED AND MADE ALIVE TO THE TRUTH. EVEN PETER COULD NOT RECOGNIZE WHO JESUS WAS WITHOUT THE POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST....HOW COULD YOU?

Psalm 25: 8-12

Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.
What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose

Psalm 47:2-4

For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.
He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.
He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.

Nehemiah 9: 7

Thou art the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham

Numbers 16: 7

And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the LORD to morrow: and it shall be that the man whom the LORD doth choose, he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi

2 Samuel 21: 6

Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give them

Deuteronomy 7: 7-10

The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.


1 Samuel 2: 28

And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men
And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house?
And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?

John 15:6-19

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
These things I command you, that ye love one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

The Acts 9: 11-16

And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

Revelation 17: 14,15

These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.



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SAVING FAITH.....CALLED BY GOD...CHOSEN FOR SALVATION Nov 26, 2007 2:32 pm
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GOD CALLS BY ELECTION ALL WHOM HE PURPOSED TO SAVE BY HIS GOOD PLEASURE AND DIVINE FOREKNOWLEGE FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.

HUMANIST BELIEVERS TEACH A CONDITIONAL ELECTION BASED ON MANS ABILITY TO CHOOSE AND EXERSISE HIS OWN FAITH THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO HIM AS A CREATED BEING OF GOD. THIS IS CONTRARY TO THE SCRIPTURES. THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT THE UNREGENERATED (THOSE NOT BORN OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD)ARE IN A STATE OF UNBELIEF (NO FAITH), BLINDED BY THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD, WITHOUT HOPE, REBROBATE CONSERNING GOD, AND ARE DEAD IN TRESSPASSES AND SINS. THEY CANNOT CHOOSE GOD BECAUSE THEY ARE IN ENMITY (HAVE A DEEP SEATED HATRED) TO GOD AND ARE NOT SUBJECT TO HIS WILL NOR EVER CAN BE!

IT IS NOT BY ONES OWN POWER OR FREE WILL THAT ONE IS SAVED BUT BY THE GIFT OF GOD THROUGH THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. FAITH IS NOT THE CAUSE OF ELECTION BUT RATHER IT IS THE GRACE OF GOD THAT SAVES THROUGH THE EFFECT OF FAITH THAT COMES BY THE PREACHING OF GODS WORD TO THE AWAKING OF THE HEART, OPENING OF THE UNDERSTANDING, REVEALED KNOWLEGE AND SAVING POWER OF GOD. THIS EXPERIENCE RESULTS IN A QUICKENING OF THE SPIRIT THROUGH DIVINE ELECTION WHICH RESULTS IN THE BORN AGAIN EXPERIENCE.

AN INTELLECTUAL BELIEF IN THE GOSPEL IS NOT CONVERSION. A CONVERSION TO A FALSE GOSPEL IS NOT TRUE SALVATION. THE DEVIL DECIEVES THOSE UNDER HIS POWER. EVEN TO THE POINT THAT THEY THINK THEY ARE SAVED. ONLY GOD CAN SAVE AND ONLY HE KNOWS WHO ARE TRULY HIS ELECT AND WHO ARE THE ENEMIES OF THE CROSS, IMPOSTERS, WHO TRY TO DECIEVE WITH THE DOCTRINES OF DEMONS THE ELECT OF GOD. REJOICE ALL YE CHILDREN OF THE LORD FOR HE WILL KEEP YOU AND HOLD YOU UP BY THE RIGHT HAND OF HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. YOU ARE SEALED BY HIS SPIRIT UNTO THE END!

Acts 13:48

As many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

Ephesians 2: 8-10

For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them

Ephesians 1: 4,5

According as he hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love; having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will
Romans 8: 28-30

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren. Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called; and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified them He also glorified.
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CHOSEN AND ELECT OF GOD.......APPOINTED TO SALVATION Nov 26, 2007 11:22 am
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THE BIBLE TEACHES SALVATION BY ELECTION...SO WHY IS THIS DOCTRINE SO REJECTED? THE REASON FOR THIS IS BECAUSE MAN MAKES UP HIS OWN DOCTRINES TO COINCIDE WITH THE GOD OF HIS UNDERSTANDING. A SECULAR UNIVERSAL gOD THAT LOVES EVERYONE AND SAVES EVERYONE. A gOD THAT IS LIMITED AND CODEPENDENT ON MANS GREAT FAITH TO MOVE HIS MOUNTAINS. A HUMANIST gOD THAT USES HUMANIST METHODS TO SAVE.

THE GOD OF THE BIBLE IS SOVEREIGN AND DEPENDANT ON NO ONE. HE DOES WHAT HE LIKES AND COMMANDS HIS WILL FOR HIS GOOD PLEASURE AND FOR HIS PLANS AND PURPOSES. THE GOD OF THE BIBLE IS THE ONE TRUE GOD WHO HAS ALL POWER AND MAJESTY. HE IS THE GOD OF ALL THE EARTH WHO HAS CHOSEN BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD HIS ELECT AND DETERMINED HIS PLAN OF SALVATION.

THE GOD OF THE BIBLE SENT JESUS CHRIST HIS SON TO DIE FOR HIS ELECT. TO TAKE THEM OUT OF THE WORLD, TO HAVE A PEOPLE FOR HIMSELF, CHOSEN, ELECT, BELOVED. ALL OTHER gODS ARE IDOLS AND CONCEIVED IN THE HEARTS OF MAN. THEY ARE THE gOD OF MANS UNDERSTANDING CONCEIVED BY THE FALLEN NATURE.

The elect of God are sealed by God Himself, in Jesus Christ. The "elect"means in the Bible, when referring to people, in both Hebrew, and Greek:

ELECT: HEBREW

bachiyr

chosen, choice one, chosen one, elect (of God)


Elect: GREEK

eklektos

picked out, chosen, chosen by God, to obtain salvation through Christ, Christians are called "chosen or elect" of God
The Messiah in called "elect", as appointed by God to the most exalted office conceivable

choice, select, i.e. the best of its kind or class, excellence preeminent, applied to certain individuals, Christians.

Scriptures to support election.

Isaiah 65:9

And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.

Matthew 24:22

And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened

Matthew 24:24

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect

Matthew 24:31

And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Mark 13:20

And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

Mark 13:22

For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
Mark 13:27

And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

Luke 18 : 7

And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

Romans 8:33

Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

Colossians 3:12

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

2 Timothy 2:10

Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Titus 1:1

Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

1 Peter 1:2

Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.






















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BLESS THE LORD O MY SOUL Nov 24, 2007 1:03 pm
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When we bless the Lord it is an expression of praise and thanksgiving. We are expressing our gratitude and magnifying the goodness and exalted Soverignty of God. To bless the Lord means to recognize his Lordship, power,strength, magesty, gracious bounty, through praise, worship and heart felt adoration. To bless the Lord is to honor God.

"I mag­nify the Lord" or "Let us exalt his name." are expressions that recognize and give joyful expression to God's magnificence. We are announcing all these good things about God to each other and to the Lord himself.

Deuteronomy 8 : 7-10

For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills;
A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.
When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee

Psalms 100

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations

Psalms 145

I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.
Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.
One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.
I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.
And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness.
They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness. 8 The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.
The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.
All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee.
They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power;
To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.
Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.
The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.
The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.
Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.
The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.
The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.
My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.

Psalms 103

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;
To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul

Psalms 96

O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.
Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.
For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
6 Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.
Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.
O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.
Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice
Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth

Psalms 34

I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.
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ARE YOU BLESSED? Nov 23, 2007 10:04 am
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BLESSED

HEBREW aw-shar' a primitive root; to be straight (used in the widest sense, especially to be level, right, happy); figuratively, to go forward, be honest, proper:--(call, be) bless(-ed, happy), go, guide, lead, relieve.

GREEK

eneulogeo from, to confer a benefit on, bless.

to bless (thank or invoke a benediction upon, prosper, bless, praise.

BLESSED

highly favored or fortunate by divine grace, enjoying the bliss of heaven,

Psalm 1

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,
nor standeth in the way of sinners,
nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD;
and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,
that bringeth forth his fruit in his season;
his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous:
but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Psa 32:2-6

Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no guile. When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.
For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me:
my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.
I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid.
I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD;
and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found:
surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.

Psa 34:8-9

O taste and see that the LORD is good:
blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
O fear the LORD, ye his saints:
for there is no want to them that fear him.

Psa 65:4-6

Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee,
that he may dwell in thy courts:
we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation;
who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth,
and of them that are afar off upon the sea:
Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded with power:

Psa 84:4-5

Blessed are they that dwell in thy house:
they will be still praising thee. Selah.
Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee;
in whose heart are the ways of them.

Psa 84:9-12

Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.
For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand.
I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory:
no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

Psa 94:12-19

Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD,
and teachest him out of thy law;
That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity,
until the pit be digged for the wicked.
For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.
But judgment shall return unto righteousness:
and all the upright in heart shall follow it.
Who will rise up for me against the evildoers?
or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.
When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.
In the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my soul.

Psa 112:1-4

Praise ye the LORD.
Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD,
that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness:
he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.

Prov 8:10-15 Prov 8:32-36

Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
For wisdom is better than rubies;
and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil:
pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice......

Prov 8:32-36

Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children:
for blessed are they that keep my ways.
Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
Blessed is the man that heareth me,
watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul:
all they that hate me love death.

Isa 56:1-2

Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice:
for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.
Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it;
that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it,
and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.

Jer 17 : 7-10

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters,
and that spreadeth out her roots by the river,
and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green;
and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins
even to give every man according to his ways,
and according to the fruit of his doings.

Rom 4:5-8

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly,
his faith is counted for righteousness.
Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man,
unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

James 1:12-16

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation:
for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life,
which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God:
for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin,
when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Do not err, my beloved brethren.

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