Predestination and God’s Sovereignty

Paula White Exposed [video]

THAT’s My King! Pastor Lockridge [video]

Powerful Prayers from Children-This Will Shake You [video]

The Fear of the LORD is to Hate Evil: Pride, and Arrogancy #shorts [video]

Predestination and God’s Sovereignty

Jesus says that hell was created “for the devil and his angels” and not for mankind (Matthew 25:41) …. which further confirms that God sent His only begotten Son to pay the price for sin “for the sins of the WHOLE world.” (1 John 2:2). The LORD is “NOT willing that ANY should perish” but would have “ALL men to be saved.” (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9)

Beginning in the early days of the Methodist Revival, John Wesley’s position on predestination became a controversial issue. His friend and partner in ministry George Whitefield was a staunch Calvinist, which meant that he believed that salvation was only available to those who had been elected by God, and that the elect would certainly be saved. Wesley was an Arminian, meaning he believed God’s gracious gift of salvation was available to all, though it could be rejected.

While Wesley and Whitefield began their conversations about predestination in private, it wasn’t long before “pamphlet warfare” flared up as each side began to publish sermons and open letters advocating for their positions. Wesley and Whitefield were able to reconcile to a certain extent, but the passionate and fiery debates left a mark on their relationship, and the Methodist movement as a whole. To this day, many see the predestination debate as an important dividing line in evangelicalism.

Why was John Wesley so resolute in his rejection of the Calvinist approach to predestination? There were two key concerns motivating his thinking on this question.

Two Key Concerns

The first key concern had to do with the character of God. Sometimes people mistakenly think that Wesley’s rejection of unconditional predestination was based on an overly optimistic view of human nature, as opposed to a more robust Calvinist understanding of depravity. In fact, Wesley agreed with the historic Calvinist position on total depravity. The real issue at stake was God’s character, rather than innate human abilities. Wesley felt that the idea of absolute unconditional predestination by divine decree was inconsistent with God’s justice, as well as his love and goodness.

This fundamental difference can be seen in the respective ways in which the Calvinist and Wesleyan traditions have approached the question of divine sovereignty. Generally speaking, the Calvinist tradition has seen sovereignty through the model of a ruling monarch, whereas Wesley conceived of sovereignty primarily through the model of a loving parent. The monarch’s power over his subjects is conceived primarily as an exercise of “will,” and hence, for Calvinists, the fact that some are saved while others are not is explained as a decision of the divine will. On the other hand, a parent’s power over their children is conceived primarily as an exercise of love. From this Wesleyan perspective, it is inconceivable that God, as a loving parent, would eternally decree some of his children to life and others to death.

Wesley’s second key concern related to the character of the Christian life. He worried that preaching a Calvinist approach to predestination would lead to antinomianism – living without any concern for the law of God. If salvation is unconditionally established by an eternal decree, why would any of us concern ourselves with obedience and discipleship?

Wesley felt the Calvinist approach therefore undercut the pursuit of holiness, because the connection between God’s gift and our response is marginalized. In his 1739 sermon, “Free Grace,” which ignited the first round of public controversy with Whitefield, Wesley wrote, “So directly does this doctrine tend to shut the very gate of holiness in general, to hinder unholy men from ever approaching thereto, or striving to enter thereat.”

The Biblical Position

It was on the basis of these two areas of concern that Wesley advocated for his evangelical Arminian position on predestination, which can be outlined in the following six points:

Total depravity is true in that the fallen human being is completely helpless and in bondage to sin. Yet Calvinists erroneously teach that man has no ability in his depravity to make the choice to obey the divine command to repent and trust Christ.
The atonement is universal in scope. Christ’s death was sufficient to atone for the sins of the whole world, not only an elect few, as proposed by five-point Calvinism.
Prevenient (or preceding) grace is universally available. God’s grace is present in our lives before we turn to Christ in faith, and this grace restores a measure of freedom so that we can respond to his gracious gift. This is how Wesley could affirm that all human persons were free to respond to the gospel in spite of total depravity—but note that the freedom which humans possess is a measure of freedom (not absolute freedom in all respects), and it is freedom-by-grace, not an inherent endowment of fallen humanity.
Grace is resistible and can be rejected, to our own destruction. God is actively drawing all people to himself, but his grace is not coercive.
Predestination is therefore based on God’s foreknowledge, not his will. That is, God corporately predestines all those who respond in faith to salvation, and by foreknowledge he knows who will respond. Yet the response of each person is truly theirs, because God’s foreknowledge does not cause their response.
Assurance of salvation is given by the Holy Spirit, who witnesses directly to our adoption as children of God through Christ, and whose fruit in our lives also provides confirmation that we are God’s children.

Jason Frost writes:

“What is predestination?

“Let’s look at it in a scholarly fashion. Some seem to love to add very subjective presuppositions into scripture and change definitives of words and contextual values. I pray this helps in your search for truth contextually.

προορίζω (proorizo): predetermine, to decide upon beforehand

ὁρίζω (horizo): (1) set limits to, define, explain; (2) determine, appoint, fix, set

William Arndt, Frederick W. Danker, and Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000)

When the Scriptures speak of predestination, it is NEVER in regard to WHOM God will save, especially in a causal sense.

Predetermine/predestine (proorizo) is used six times, in five places in the NT (Acts 4:27-28; Romans 8:28-30 [2x]; 1Corinthians 2:7; Ephesians 1:4-5, 11):

When the apostles were first threatened (Acts 4:18) by the rulers, elders, and scribes (Acts 4:5), they praised God in prayer for predetermining the conspiracy of Jews and Gentiles to crucify Christ (Acts 4:27-28).

The OT saints who love God (Romans 8:28), whom God knew beforehand (see Foreknow Word Study), were predetermined to be conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). All who were predetermined were also called, justified, and glorified (Romans 8:30). Note that it does NOT say that they were predestined to believe, but those who LOVE God (i.e. already born again) are predestined for glory. So, what God predetermined was to conform all who love Him to the image of His Son.

Paul spoke of the hidden/concealed/secret mystery of the Messiah being crucified (1Corinthians 2:1-7) which God predetermined before the ages to our glory (1Corinthians 2:7).

God chose us IN Christ before the foundation of the world “in LOVE,” and He predetermined us to adoption “THROUGH Jesus Christ according to the favor/good-pleasure/desire of His will” (Ephesians 1:4-5). All who are IN HIM are chosen, as HE is the chosen One, and we are in Him by faith (Ephesians 1:13). The adoption is referring to the future redemption of our body (Romans 8:23). So, God predetermined to resurrect all who are or would be in His Son by faith.

In Christ, the early NT saints were appointed, predetermined according to the purpose of all-things, the One working according to the decision/intention of His will/desire towards the end that would be to the praise of God’s glory (Ephesians 1:11-12), speaking of those who BELIEVED the Gospel (Ephesians 1:13). Again, this is God predetermining that all who believe would bring Him glory.

Given the usage of the word in Scripture, the only things that God predetermined are the conspiracy of Jews and Gentiles to kill the Messiah (Acts 4:27-28), that Christ would be crucified (1Corinthians 2:1-7), that the first to hope in Christ would glorify Him (Ephesians 1:11-13), that those who BELIEVE in Christ would be adopted (Ephesians 1:4-5), and that those who LOVE Him would be conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:28-30). -Matt Hennessey”

Calvinism Crushed

The Sovereignty of God as Defined by Calvinism vs Scripture [podcast]

Calvinism Demolished [podcast]

PEDDLERS OF THE LIE OF THE AGES

Abiding

Are You Bless-able? English and Spanish [podcast]

Who is Going to be “Blessed”?

“A FAITHFUL MAN shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.” Proverbs 28:20

Like it or not, God has conditions to appropriate His blessings. Rebels hate this reality because they despise personal accountability, personal responsibility. Their rebellion changes nothing. Either repent, be saved, and walk humbly with Christ, or lose your soul for eternity in hell (Mark 8:34-38).

True followers of Jesus are doing the work of the Gospel, are diligent, are “not slothful,” and “inherit” “the promises” of God “through faith and patience.”

“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Hebrews 6:10-12

In the New Testament, we don’t ever see disciples of Christ spending all kinds of time singing praise songs, numbing themselves out, etc. No, when the Holy Spirit truly fills a believer, it’s to be a witness of Christ and that person is sent out.

Jesus dwells large only in those who practically obey Him and not those just trying to get an emotional fix by soaking in a building in a “revival.”

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; 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.” Joshua 24:15

Are We Bless-able?

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35

Have you given God your life?

“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33

Getting Gospel Grounded [podcast]

Refusing to sit under the false gospel, false doctrines, false teachers, and wolves is not forsaking the assembling of the saints. It’s obedience to the LORD! See 2 Corinthians 6:17-18) There is a “difference” between the true and the false leaders today. True disciples will always warn and help God’s people distinguish the false teachers and “discern between the unclean and the clean”: “And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.” Ezekiel 44:23 False leaders are to be marked, to be scoped out and […]

The Golden Rule Life: What's that Really Mean? [podcast]

Thinking, Knowing, Applying, and Doing the Golden Rule of Jesus Golden Rule living is the only way to live in glorification of our Maker. Spread this word. God calls you, yes you – to love Him supremely and to love your neighbor as you wish to be loved, treated (Matthew 7:12; 22:37-40; Philippians 2:3-5). We must teach ourselves, our children and those around us the Golden Rule. “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12). Jesus is coming. “Golden Rule, […]

Articles

Mexico Mission Momentum Part 41

The first shipment of Spanish Bibles has arrived!!!

A staggering miracle has befallen Maria’s precious life and she still can’t believe it!

ALL because YOU have said “YES JESUS, I am going to lift this beloved sister in Christ, this laborer for our LORD in prayer…. and you are giving to help her!

You my friend are guilty of delivering glory to God and a death blow to the enemy of all souls!

We are now finding out that Maria works and 3 different locations each day. This is how she is able to distribute hundreds of JESUS tracts daily.

When Jesus says “I will build my church” He was not speaking about collecting money to build physical buildings. That came in with the pagan catholic church hundreds of years later. No, Jesus was speaking of building His kingdom in the hearts of men, beginning with the revelation that He is the Messiah (Matthew 16:18).

If the money you give isn’t going directly into the Great Commission Jesus gave us, you are wasting your giving (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20).

Building up Gospel laboring fruit-filled diligent disciples such as Juan and Maria, is building Christ’s church! Oil the wheels that roll!

“The blessed word says that freely we receive, freely we give. For from His fullness we all receive grace upon grace, blessing upon blessing, brother. So Paul said, ‘Woe to me if I do not do it!’ Then we must do the Great Commission that God gave us for His honor and glory.” Juan

Juan and Maria are being continually tended to, supported with prayer etc.

Brother Mark went to spend some time with sister Maria for the first time and found out she needs a new cell phone. So, we bought her one……..

Maria is a widow and works 3 different “jobs” that are tips only. Her rental is $100 per month. She only told us this information because we asked her. Maybe someone would be prompted to begin paying sister Maria’s rent? God is able amen.

“That we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.”

We’ve been meeting with brother Juan and sister Maria regularly, sometimes daily.

“We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.” 3 John 8

Spiritually and supply wise, refreshing and re-stocking these disciples (and others) is our part, our opportunity and privilege. And you have been a big part of this saints. Your prayer and support have been and are vital.

Recently restocked brother Juan and brought Maria about 2k tracts last night

She was elated.

Your prayers and support are making this possible.

“I will never cease to be amazed by how hungry these people are for God! From all the pictures it looks like they begin to read the Jesus tract as soon as they receive it! In America, it’s very hard to find people who truly want Jesus because they are rich and in need of nothing and have no idea how wretched, miserable, poor, and blind they are. Rev 3:17. Including those so-called Christians! Who just try to put Jesus over their filthy rags! Nothing but dead religion. Yet they believe they are good and will be in heaven, when inside they are white-washed tombs. It’s refreshing to see the hunger of the beloved Mexico people! Thank you for sharing all these stories of how the Lord is touching hearts! Blessed to be a small part of this ministry.” Karen Cochran | Mission Mexico

Your prayers and support are going a long way to help Mission Mexico!!

The Bibles God’s people sent just arrived and will be distributed to incarcerated Mexicans soon.

The JESUS tract is being distributed daily by the hundreds with the Word of God spoken in those exchanges.

“WE are labourers TOGETHER with God.” 1 Corinthians 3:9

“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” Hebrews 6:10

Please allow me to remind you … that your prayers and financial fuel are essential to what is going on here and each of Christ’s disciples shall be rewarded equally, fully—no matter what part they play! 1 Samuel 30:24

Recently I became desperate as the need for financial supply dropped like a bless-ed bomb within a short window of time. Instead of trusting I panicked instead of taking it to the LORD and trusting Him. The reception of Juan and Maria has been earth shaking, a type of sign from God that He loves and desires to save the bless-ed and beautiful people of Mexico. America has rejected the LORD saints.

“And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.” Matthew 10:14

Can you even believe that our LORD is using us, you and I and others, to give His glorious Gospel to the nation, the people of Mexico?!

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” Romans 10:13-14

The Gospel momentum continues to grow:

From brother Juan: “Brother Cresenciano asked me if I had any Jesus pamphlets he could take with him and hand out, and said he wanted to serve his neighbor with love. Glory to God!”

Over 20,000 JESUS tracts in print here in Mexico. More than 12,000 have been distributed to date. We are now beginning to take in love offerings to print the next 10,000 JESUS tracts.
Okay, from now on, if you see a pic of someone holding a stash or stack of JESUS tracts, it’s because they agreed to do so, they asked for more tracts in order to reach their world here in Mexico with the Gospel of Jesus. Gospel momentum!

Brother Juan and sister Maria and several others in Christ are blazing a Gospel trail (Mark 1:45). Jesus is coming.

Thank you for lifting Mission Mexico, the people of Mexico, in prayer.

Mission Mexico

Thank you for praying for Mission Mexico.

Your prayers and support are fueling the reaching of scores of precious Mexican people, daily!

You have the same reward as the foot soldiers….

1 Samuel 30:24

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10

Mission Mexico – See more here. | Give support here. Many options

Download. Read. Print out your supply of the JESUS tract – English and Spanish.

Abiding

“Cursed be the Man that Trusteth in Man” [podcast]

A Nuclear Revelation

“Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” Jeremiah 17:5

“Cursed be the man that trusteth in man” is a powerful verse from the Bible, commonly associated with a specific warning against relying on human strength rather than God.”

So many act like Spurgeon or some other mere man’s writings are on the same level as Holy Scripture. NOT! They prove their idolatry. They are in sin. They glory in mere men and not the LORD! Hell awaits. Jeremiah 17:5; Isaiah 2:22; 1 Corinthians 1:29-31, etc.

God calls us to worship, love, seek, trust, and obey Him as the ultimate authority of our lives in this world.

Another example of this is the idolatry of the demonic fraud CS Lewis!

CS LEWIS EXPOSED

THIS JUST IN:

“Amen! Amen for Prov 10:22. All glory be to Him!

By the grace of God I discovered last night your website, praise Him, in search for exposure on CS Lewis.

By the grace of God I learnt as a baby believer, 20 years ago, that his teachings are dangerous including that witchcraft book and movie, Narnia. Sadly, so called mature Christians in the UK are considering him a saint, a born again believer.

I sent prayerfully ( as I expected backlashes) to my friend last night, a few links exposing CS Lewis including the photo from your website which is brilliant exposure, praise Him but she is still claiming that he ” was truly a born again” ….. sending me his videos! It’s a principle: I don’t watch, read listen to CS Lewis and many others! The Bible is so rich in teachings, why do I need CS Lewis!? !?

My friend is a mature believer, born again believer for over 60-70 years and she cannot see it!

I had to use the VPN and duckduck search engine to get the website exposing CS Lewis, as in the UK, nothing will come up! Mostly of the Christians are bewitched by Narnia and Lord of the Rings! No wonder the country is in such a state of delusion! May the Lord have mercy!

Many blessings in His Name, V.”

CS LEWIS WAS A FRAUD – READ GOD’S WORD! REPENT AND GET IMPRESSED WITH THE LORD, BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE. IDOLATRY DAMNS!

“Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?” Isaiah 2:22

Those who look to men, who receive un-biblical counsel instead of testing it against the Word of God, are trusting in mere man and have brought a curse upon themselves (Jeremiah 17:5-6; Acts 17:10-11; 2 Timothy 3:16-17, etc.). Those who look anywhere except to the LORD Himself are idolaters, are committing spiritual adultery, and will without exception depart from Him and be lost (v. 5). Their names “shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters” (v. 13). The phrase “written in the earth” is in contrast to their names being “written in heaven” (Luke 10:20; Hebrews 12:23). Hell is in the bowels of the earth and that’s where every single person who is not looking wholly to the LORD will spend eternity (Revelation 20:11-15).

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” Proverbs 3:5-7

Trusting Man is seen in the lives of many who claim to be saved and yet trust man’s medicine and counsel wholesale.

Let me get this straight, you pretend to be saved and yet run to some foolish sinner to get drugged for lack of peace or ability to sleep or depression. You are completely deceived and God is calling you to repent now. If you knew Him, would you not be trusting Him and not sinful mere men? “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD (Jeremiah 17:5).

Modern Sorcery Exposed

You’ve tried the CURSE and it never worked…. Are you ready to let CHRIST make you whole?

Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. 6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert (spiritually dry, desolate), and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. 7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 8 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. 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10 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. 11 As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool. 12 A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary. 13 O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters. 14 Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.” Jeremiah 17:5-14

Psychology/psychobabble, therapy from mere men, sinners…. is a scam, and leaves the victim without hope. Jesus Christ is the only hope for man’s core dilemma—which is sin! ANY person pointing you to a “THE-RAPIST” is demon inspired. They speak against the Word of God and are the child of the devil! See Colossians 2:6-10. SINNERS need the Savior—not some sinner with an indoctrination in the fine of art of applying bandages, never getting to the root. Repent now (Jeremiah 17:9). Jesus alone can make a man whole! (Luke 4:18)

Man’s therapy and psychobabble are laughably insufficient and have never once gotten to the root issue of man’s dilemma which is sin. Jesus says that He “came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15).

Drugs and psychobabble are laughable mere band aids to rob unbelievers, gullible dupes of their money.

“Jesus Christ maketh thee whole”

Only One can make you whole—the One who made you and died and rose again for you.

“And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.” Acts 9:34

“Yep that’s me, the woman with the Alabaster box. And that is all I need—my alabaster box and Jesus! No need for meds or to be psycho-analyzed by some quack. One touch from Jesus is all I need! Just as the woman who touched the hem of His garment and was immediately healed! Luke 8: 43-48. One touch is all she needed.” Karen Cochran

Upholding Jesus, the Only Head of His Body [podcast]

YOUR first thought when you hear “God” or “Christianity” should be JESUS! Not some church, pastor, or church program! The ministry continually receives emails from people who have latched on to some mere man, his personality – instead of worshipping Christ supremely (Colossians 2:18-19). And in doing so, they defend those mere men angrily, doggedly, having never stopped to put them to the biblical test. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try (test) the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1 “Not everything is at it seems. Their […]

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“Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 26:1 Idolatry will damn the eternal soul to hell (Exodus 20:3-7; Galatians 5:19-21, etc.). Just one idol. ANYthing that is more important to you than Jesus Christ is an idol. You must repent and receive Christ or you will perish in the flames of eternal damnation (Luke 13:3; John 1:12). If you aren’t willing to give up your religion […]