Predestination

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=110 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="084f0f21egerdp.jpg"> <div> <B><IMG SRC="042203c0.jpg" border=0 width="32" height="60" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#66334C" FACE="Arial" ><B>Crossbearer.net</B></FONT><B>      | </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#66334C" FACE="Arial" ><B>    </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Crossbearer.net"><U><B>home</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id59.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Pretribulation vs. Posttribulation Raptu"><U>Pre-tribulation vs. Post-tribulation Rapture</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id60.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Once Saved, Always Saved?"><U>Once Saved, Always Saved?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id209.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Saved by Faith"><U>Saved by Faith</U></A>   |   <B>Predestination</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=150 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="083f2f02egerdp.jpg"> <div> Return to <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Studies on Cults and Religions"><U>Studies on Cults and Religions</U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.biblegateway.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.biblegateway.com/"><U>Bible search</U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#66334C" FACE="Arial" > click here to find a Bible verse. (open in New Window to retain this web page)</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Write me:</div> <div>  <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Me"><U>e-mail</U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div>  <IMG SRC="http://members.tripod.com/bin/counter/id210.htm?FF0000" ALT="[Tripod Counter]">  </div> </td> <td valign="top" height=370 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="086f0f03.jpg"> <div> <I>Predestination</I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> www.crossbearer.net</div> <bR> <div> Are YOU predestined to be saved, or cast into hell? I think not! John Calvin taught a very dangerous and damning doctrine that is contrary to the word of God!           God is<I> NOT willing that anyone should perish</I>!</div> <bR> <div> <I>The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, </I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><I>not willing that </I><I><B>any</B></I><I> should perish</I></FONT><I>, but that </I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><I><B><U>all</U></B></I></FONT><I><U> should come to</U></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><I><U> repentance</U></I></FONT><I>.</I> <B>2 Peter 3:9</B></div> <bR> <div> Every human being has the freedom to <I>CHOOSE </I></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>Choose</B></I></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><I> you this day whom ye will serve</I></FONT><I>; ... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.</I> <B>Joshua 24:15</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Deut 30:19</B>   <I>I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#CC0000" FACE="Arial" ><I> I have set before you life and death</I></FONT><I>, blessing and cursing; therefore </I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><I>choose life</I></FONT><I>, that both you and your descendants may live;</I> </div> <bR> <div> In my research of the scriptures, there are ONLY two places the word <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" >predestination</FONT> is used. Romans 8:29-30 and Ephesians 1:5,11. </div> <bR> <div> The first scripture using the term "predestination" is in Romans. Here, it is God's predetermined will that<U> those who believe and are led by the Holy Spirit, would be transformed into the image of Christ</U>. </div> <bR> <div> The second reference, in Ephesians, explains  God's predetermined will that the <U>Gentile believers would be added to and become joint heirs with the Jews</U>! </div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Romans</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <I>For </I><I><U>whom he did </U></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><I><U>foreknow</U></I></FONT><I>, he also did </I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><I>predestinate</I></FONT><I> to be </I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0033" FACE="Arial" ><I>conformed to the image of his Son</I></FONT><I>, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.</I> <B>Romans 8:29</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> And what was "predestined?" That those who come to Jesus, would be <I><U>conformed into His image</U></I>.</div> <div> The article of predestination is our Character......... <U>not</U>    "who will be saved and who will perish!"</div> <bR> <div> <I>"For </I><I>whom he did foreknow...</I><I>"</I>   Since God already knows WHO ..... will surrender their hearts to Jesus (by their own will through repentance), God has predetermined that these should be transformed to the Character and image of His beloved Son, Jesus! <I>We have the mind of Christ</I>, being <I>led by the Holy Spirit</I> who navigates us in this transformation.</div> <bR> <div> God's Foreknowledge.......</div> <bR> <div>                                                <I>Declaring </I><I><U>the end from the beginning</U></I><I>, </I></div> <div> <I>                                               And from ancient times things that are not yet done,</I>    <B>Isaiah 46:10a</B></div> <bR> <div> <I>For thus says the High and Lofty One, </I></div> <div> <I><U>Who inhabits eternity</U></I><I>, whose name is Holy..</I>.  <B>Isa 57:15a</B></div> <bR> <div> God is already at the end of time, right now, and knows what we will do! Those whom He "foreknows", or sees in the future, who will love and adore Him, have been predestined to be conformed into the image of His dear Son. Those whom He has already seen, who will reject Him, turning their lives over to wickedness, He has already targeted them to be used as <I>vessels of dishonor</I>. (  Romans 9:21-23,      2 Tim 2:19-21  )</div> <bR> <div> I wish to make this very clear. We have the freedom to choose or to reject Jesus Christ, however, God already knows what we will choose since He already sees what we will do. </div> <bR> <div> Calvinism charges God as a creator of evil things!</div> <bR> <div> <B>James 1:13-17</B>  <I>Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for </I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><I><U>God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone</U></I></FONT><I>.  But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.  Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.</I></div> <div> <I> Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.  </I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><I><U>Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above</U></I></FONT><I>, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.</I> </div> <bR> <div> Hyper-predestination would imply that God made evil people to be evil. This idea is a perversion of the gospel message in which everything that God has made was <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><I>good and perfect</I></FONT>. </div> <bR> <div> God created Lucifer "perfect" until he sinned through his own pride!   Ezek chapter 28   (v15)</div> <div> God created man "very good" until man chose to eat of the forbidden fruit.  Gen 1:31</div> <bR> <bR> <div> This foreknowledge of God is clearly shown in 2 Kings 8:7-15. In this story, God shows Elisha the future and the wicked deeds that Hazael will do. </div> <div> God did NOT predestine Hazael to be evil nor did God cause this man to do the evil deeds he was going to be guilty of! </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>Ephesians</U></B></div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> <I>Having </I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><I>predestinated</I></FONT><I> us </I><I><U>unto the adoption of children</U></I><I> by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,</I> <B>Ephes. 1:5</B></div> <bR> <div> <I>In whom also </I><I><U>we have obtained an inheritance</U></I><I>, being </I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" ><I>predestinated</I></FONT><I> according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:  </I>v11</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Please note that Paul was writing to the <B><U>Gentiles!</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <I>For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for </I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><I><B><U>you Gentiles</U></B></I></FONT><I>,</I> <B>Ephes. 3:1</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> God had <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" ><U>predestined,</U> </FONT>NOT that certain individuals should be saved and other individuals should perish, but rather,  that the <B><U>Gentiles</U></B> should become<U> joint heirs with the Jews</U>, grafted in, having an inheritance as fellowcitizens with the saints:</div> <bR> <div> <I>Wherefore remember, that </I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><I>ye being in time past </I><I><B>Gentiles</B></I></FONT><I> in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; [12] That at that time ye were </I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><I>without Christ</I></FONT><I>, </I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><I>being aliens</I></FONT><I> from the commonwealth of Israel, and </I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><I>strangers</I></FONT><I> from the covenants of promise, </I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><I>having no hope, and without God</I></FONT><I> in the world: [13] But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. [14] For he is our peace, who hath </I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><I>made both one</I></FONT><I>, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; [15] Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; [16] And that he might </I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><I>reconcile both</I></FONT><I> unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: [17] And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. [18] For through him </I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><I>we both</I></FONT><I> (Jew and Gentile) have access by one Spirit unto the Father. [19] Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but </I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><I>fellowcitizens</I></FONT><I> with the saints, and of the household of God;</I> <B>Ephes. 2:11-19</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I>Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) [5] Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; [6] </I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><I>That the </I><I><B>Gentiles</B></I><I> should be fellowheirs</I></FONT><I>, and of the same body, </I><I><B>and partakers</B></I><I> of his promise in Christ by the gospel:</I> <B>Ephes. 3:4-6</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> God had <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" >predestined</FONT> the <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >Gentiles</FONT> to be joint heirs with the Jews, a fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy by Isaiah ...</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div> <I>And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and </I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><I>to restore the preserved of Israel:</I></FONT><I> I will </I><I><B><U>also</U></B></I><I> give thee for a light to the </I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><I>Gentiles</I></FONT><I>, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.</I> <B>Isaiah 49:6</B> </div> <bR> <div> In Acts 13 we find a referance to this prophecy as the Gentiles began to turn to God. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I>Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the </I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><I>Gentiles</I></FONT><I>. [47] For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, </I><I><B>I have set thee to be a light of the </B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>Gentiles</B></I></FONT><I><B>, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth</B></I><I>. [48] And when the </I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><I>Gentiles</I></FONT><I> heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.</I> <B>Acts 13:46-48</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> We have the choice to choose to be saved, and if we choose to turn away from God, we will perish!</div> <bR> <div> 1 Cor. 10:11-12 </div> <div>     <I>Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. [12] Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. </I></div> <bR> <bR> <div>  In addition, in my study confronting the <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id60.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Once Saved, Always Saved?"><U>Once Saved, Always Saved</U></A></FONT> error, it is clear that there will be some who will actually shipwreck their faith, and forfeit their salvation. A predestination doctrine will put a person in the false security that they can inherit the kingdom of God no matter what they do! Others who feel they are predestined to perish, are trapped by a Satan's lie that there is nothing they can do to reverse this curse!</div> <bR> <div> All men have the FREE will, and choice, to choose to REPENT or not to repent.</div> <bR> <div> The very word “<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" >Repentance</FONT>” is a choice of the free will of man, and not predestination!</div> <bR> <div> Metanoeo  </div> <div> <I>met-an-o-eh'-o</I></div> <div> From G3326 and G3539; to <I><B><U>think</U></B></I><B><U> </U></B><I><B><U>differently</U></B></I> or <I>afterwards</I>, that is, <I><B><U>reconsider</U></B></I> (morally to <I>feel</I> <I>compunction</I>): - repent.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Here are some other scriptures that came to mind showing salvation to be a choice of our own free will:</div> <bR> <div> <I>And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, </I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>choose</B></I></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><I> you this day whom ye will serve</I></FONT><I>; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.</I> Joshua 24:15</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I>And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the Lord. [22] And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that </I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><I>ye have </I></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>chosen</B></I></FONT><I> </I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF3300" FACE="Arial" ><I>you the Lord</I></FONT><I>, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.</I> Joshua 24:21-22</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I>Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, </I></FONT><I>we </I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>persuade</B></I></FONT><I> men</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I>; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. [12] For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart. [13] For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. [14] For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, </I></FONT><I>that if one died for </I><I><B>all</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I>, then were all dead: [15] And that </I></FONT><I>he died for </I><I><B>all</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I>, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. [16] Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. [17] Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. [18] And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; [19] To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. [20] Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. [21] For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. </I></FONT></div> <div> <I>    [6:1] </I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><I>We then, as workers together with him, </I></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>beseech you</B></I></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><I> also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain</I></FONT><I>. [2] (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)</I> 2 Cor. 5:11-6:2</div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Are we to “</FONT><B>persuade</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >” men which means to give a convincing argument? Yes! Did Christ die for </FONT><B>ALL</B> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#111111" FACE="Arial" >men</FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >? Yes! Can one </FONT><B>refuse</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > the grace of God? Yes! Do WE </FONT><B><U>choose</U></B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > to receive or refuse the grace of God? Yes! </FONT></div> <bR> <div> YOU, who are reading this study, have the free choice to reject the gospel and perish, or to receive it, repent and be saved by turning your life over to Jesus Christ the Lord!</div> <bR> <div> YOU, have the free choice to confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, to believe in Him as God, Lord, and savior, or to refuse to believe, refuse to bow your knee and confess Jesus Christ as Lord, and remain a subject of God's wrath in the Lake of Fire!</div> <bR> <div> It is YOUR CHOICE!</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I>The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, </I></FONT><I>not willing that </I><I><B>any</B></I><I> should perish</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I>, but that </I></FONT><I><B>all</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I> should come to repentance.</I> 2 Peter 3:9</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>Adam Clarke Commentary</U></B></div> <bR> <div> My Comments in red</div> <bR> <div>                                1 Peter 1:1   <I>Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 elect according to the</I><I><U> </U></I><I><U>foreknowledge </U></I><I>of God the Father</I><I>, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:</I></div> <bR> <div> <B>1 Peter 1:2</B></div> <div> <B>Elect according to the foreknowledge of God - </B>If the apostle had directed his letter to persons elected to eternal life, no one, as Drs. Lardner and Macknight properly argue, could have received such a letter, because no one could have been sure of his election in this way till he had arrived in heaven. But the persons to whom the apostle wrote were all, with propriety, said to be elect according to the foreknowledge of God; because, agreeably to the original purpose of God, discovered in the prophetical writings, Jews and Gentiles, indiscriminately, were called to be the visible Church, and entitled to all the privileges of the people of God, on their believing the Gospel. In this sense the word elected is used in other places of Scripture; see 1Th 1:4, and the note there.</div> <bR> <div> The Rev. John Wesley has an excellent note on this passage, which I shall transcribe for the benefit of those of my readers who may not have his works at hand.</div> <bR> <div> <I>“Strictly speaking, there is no foreknowledge, no more than afterknowledge, with God; but all things are known to him as present, from eternity to eternity. Election, in the scriptural sense, is God’s doing any thing that our merit or power has no part in. The true predestination or foreappointment of God is,</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>1. He that believeth shall be saved from the guilt and power of sin.</I>   <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Liberation Sans" >(requires a response from us by our freewill)</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I>2. He that endureth to the end shall be saved eternally.   </I> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Liberation Sans" >(requires perseverance, “don’t fall away”)</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I>3. They who receive the precious gift of faith thereby become the sons of God; and, being sons, they shall receive the Spirit of holiness, to walk as Christ also walked.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Throughout every part of this appointment of God, promise and duty go hand in hand. All is free gift; and yet, such is the gift, that it depends in the final issue on our future obedience to the heavenly call. But other predestination than this, either to life or death eternal, the Scripture knows not of: moreover,</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>1. It is cruel respect of persons; an unjust regard of one, and an unjust disregard of another: it is mere creature partiality, and not infinite justice.   </I> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Liberation Sans" >(is it just for God to Judge and eternally condemn someone whom He has created to be evil? If, as predestinationalists say, he made people to be evil?)</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I>2. It is not plain Scripture doctrine, (if true), but rather inconsistent with the express written word that speaks of God’s universal offers of grace; his invitations, promises, threatenings, being all general.    </I> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Liberation Sans" >(John 3:16 and 2 Ptr 3:9, the invitation is to all men, and God desires that no one should perish)</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I>3. We are bid to choose life, and reprehended for not doing it.  </I><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Liberation Sans" >(we must make a choice, freewill)</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I>4. It is inconsistent with a state of probation in those that must be saved, or must be lost.</I></div> <div> (probation defined- <I>the release of an offender from detention, subject to a period of good behavior under supervision.</I> </div> <div> We are ALL sinners from the start, probation begins at repentance, and must be completed with good behavior)</div> <bR> <div> <I>5. It is of fatal consequence; all men being ready on very slight grounds, to fancy themselves of the elect number.  </I>   <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Liberation Sans" >(Those who think themselves to be predestined or OSAS may endanger themselves by being careless. Rom 11:22, Heb 3:12, 1 Cor 10:12)</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I>But the doctrine of predestination is entirely changed from what it formerly was. </I></div> <div> <I>Now it implies neither faith, peace, nor purity; it is something that will do without them all. Faith is no longer, according to the modern predestination scheme, a Divine evidence of things not seen wrought in the soul by the immediate power of the Holy Ghost; not an evidence at all, but a mere notion: neither is faith made any longer a means of holiness, but something that will do without it. </I></div> <div> <I>Christ is no more a Savior from sin, but a defense and a supporter of it. </I></div> <div> <I>He is no more a fountain of spiritual life in the souls of believers, but leaves his elect inwardly dry, and outwardly unfruitful; and is made little more than a refuge from the image of the heavenly, even from righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”</I></div> <bR> <div> Through sanctification of the Spirit - through the renewing and purifying influences of his Spirit on their souls, unto obedience - to engage and enable them to yield themselves up to all holy obedience, the foundation of all which is the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ - the atoning blood of Jesus Christ which was typified by the sprinkling of the blood of sacrifices under the law, in allusion to which it is called the blood of sprinkling.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>The Pulpit Commentary</U></B></div> <bR> <div> The Calvinistic view is that God from all eternity, of the mere good pleasure of his will, selected certain persons out of mankind to be the heirs of glory; </div> <div> The Arminian view is that God foresaw from all eternity who would, in the exercise of their own free-will, respond to his purpose, and, in virtue of such foreknowledge, preordained them to glory.</div> <bR> <div> It is hardly necessary to consider whether there is any support given to the view that predestination ensures salvation, however a man may live;  <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >(there is no Biblical support to the idea that a man can live a sinful lifestyle and be assured salvation)</FONT></div> <div> the obligation of actual holiness in Christians being (as we have seen) so strongly insisted on all along.</div> <bR> <div> If, then, the Calvinistic theory should appear to be supported, it must be with the proviso that predestination of necessity carries with it the grace of perseverance in good works, or at any rate a true conversion before the end, as well as final glory.  <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >(Somewhere along the way, the person should be truly converted from sin and determined to do good works in a predestination theory)</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>