Predestination and God’s Sovereignty

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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”

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IF you are truly born again, God has called you personally to participate in, to obey His Great Commission command— NOT to salvage any country in this fleeting world.

It’s amazing how many people claiming to be saved spend more time, energy, and money trying to save America than they do building up the body of Christ and evangelizing the lost. Anyone claiming to be saved and yet is not participating in the Great Commission command of Christ, is out of the will of God. Repentance needed.

Save America or See Jesus Save Eternal Souls?

“America is under God’s judgment for sure. And recently there was a golden statue made of Trump. And Pastors are praying over it. A golden calf. Same thing happened in the book of Exodus and God slew 3,000 men. This angers Him greatly! There will be a severe price to pay for this adultery! America is definitely going down at the divine judgment of God.” Karen Cochran

Forget saving America. Win souls. Preach the original Gospel to see eternal souls saved unto the LORD. See Mark 16:15-20; Matthew 28:18-20.

A good thing to ask proud Americans who claim they are Christians:

1. “When’s the last time you led someone to Jesus?”

2. “How much time and how much energy do you spend trying in vain to “save America” or “Make America Great Again” compared to the time and energy you spend learning, studying, and meditating on God’s Word and doing it – as in the Great Commission?”

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21

Anyone claiming to be Christ’s and yet is not doing, is not obeying His Great Commission mandate, is not in the will of God.

Regrettably, America is going down in judgment.

No efforts can undo the present reality of those claiming to know Christ refusing to truly repent, nor the 60 million innocent babies America has murdered in cold blood and called it “choice.”

Honoring something God calls “an abomination” brings “the curse of the LORD” upon any nation to do such. See Leviticus 18:22 and Proverbs 3:33. Sodomy is sin!

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21

Doing the will of the Father is executing the Great Commission Jesus gave us!

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“Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. 35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.” John 4:35-38

Jesus says act now! To put off His work is to put off Christ. Read that again!

“And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62

Many aren’t putting off their own sinful, lust-filled agenda in the world, right?

There is nothing new under the sun. See the book of Haggai.

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Here’s why Jesus came:

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3

There is nothing – NO-THING – more important in your life than your relationship with Christ.

Job 22

“Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. 22 Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart. 23 If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles. 24 Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks. 25 Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver. 26 For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God. 27 Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows. 28 Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways. 29 When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person. 30 He shall deliver the island of the innocent; and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands.” Job 22:21-30

“lay up his words in thine heart” v22 – WITH the learning of each new verse of Holy Scripture, each new Bible truth, your knowledge and understanding of the LORD and His kingdom is expanded.

“Let thine heart retain my words.” Proverbs 4:4

“I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad. 97 MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. 98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.” Psalms 119:96-100

“God’s acquaintance is not made hurriedly.” EM Bounds

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“Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. 13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” Psalms 19:12-14 PRAYER: Holy Father, cleanse us afresh by the precious blood of Jesus, Let there be no part dark in us! In Jesus’ name. “No man, when he hath lighted a candle, […]

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“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalms 91:1

Of the Bible phrase “secret place of the most High”, one source notes:

“‘The secret place of the Most High’: is a spiritual state of intimacy, trust, and absolute protection in God, referenced in Psalm 91:1. It is not a physical location, but rather a hidden sanctuary found in the heart of God, accessed through prayer and a surrendered life.”

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3

Prayer communion is inseparably connected with knowing God (John 17:3).

Knowing the Father and the Son is the whole purpose for which He made you.

“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.” 1 John 1:3-4

Beloved of God, you have a relationship with your Maker, not religion.

To know Him, we must seek Him. He promises us that as we seek Him, He will be found of us!

“if thou seek him, he will be found of thee.” 1 Chronicles 28:9

He promises to manifest Himself exclusively to those who “diligently seek him.” (1 Chronicles 16:11; John 14:21-23, etc.)

God is not hiding and yet He is not available to the casual seeker. Only those who “diligently seek him” will be known as His, will experience in real relationship with the LORD.

“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:33

“A sinning man stops praying. A praying man stops sinning.” – Leonard Ravenhill

“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” Mark 1:35

Anyone not praying is not seeking God and has already fallen away (Luke 12:40).

“A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary.” Jeremiah 17:12

The LORD’s people are known as His “house” and He calls them His “house of prayer.”

“And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” Matthew 21:13

Those who truly love and worship the LORD perpetually seek His holy face and that’s called prayer.

“Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17

“Seek his face continually”

“Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.” 1 Chronicles 16:11

Spending quality moments with God is your best time spent (Matthew 6:6).

“The preaching of the Word of the Lord fails to run and be glorified from many causes. The difficulty may lie with the preacher himself, should his outward conduct be out of harmony with the rule of the Scriptures and his own profession. The word lived must be in accord with the word delivered; the life must be in harmony with the sermon. The preacher’s spirit and behavior out of the pulpit must run parallel with the Word of the LORD spoken in the pulpit. Otherwise a man is an obstacle in the success of his own message.” E.M. Bounds, E.M. Bounds On Prayer, p. 421

“A sinning man stops praying. A praying man stops sinning.” – Leonard Ravenhill

“The men who have done mighty things for God have always been mighty in prayer, have well understood the possibilities of prayer, and made the most of these possibilities. The Son of God, the first of all and the mightiest of all, has shown us the all-potent and far reaching possibilities of prayer. Paul was mighty for because he knew, how to use, and how to get others to use, the mighty spiritual forces of prayer.” EM Bounds, The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer, P. 341

“It has been said that no great work in literature or in science was ever wrought by a man who did not love solitude. We may lay it down as an elemental principle of religion, that no large growth in holiness was ever gained by one who did not take time to be often long alone with God.” Austin Phelps

“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41

Can anyone possibly NOT enter into temptation who is not living a life of prayer? Not possible. If you are not living a life of prayer, praying “without ceasing,” you ARE living in sin. Wonder no more. Fresh repentance before God needed (Hosea 10:12; 14:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Hebrews 4:14-16).

It’s the cross – where you die so Christ can be preferred, can reign in your personal daily life.

“Ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3

Lotta Prayer
Lotta Power
vs
Lil Prayer
Lil power

No such thing as an overcoming, victorious child of God who doesn’t meet daily with God in prayer communion.

Let’s read the words of our LORD Jesus again – aloud:

“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41

PRAYER: Holy Father, I come to You now, in repentance, asking You to please forgive my self-idolatry, rebellion, pride, sinful unbelief, and prayerlessness. Please wash me clean in Thy blood dear LORD Jesus. Unite my heart to fear Thy name. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Life of Prayer | The Place of Our Sanctuary | Having a Heart After the LORD

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