Category: ESOTERICISM

Arthur Pink excerpt on Free Will

(some paraphrasing & modifications by Camille Russo for the hearer to more easily understand)

It is God who works in you, both to Will and to work for His good pleasure.
† Philippians 2:13

It depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.
† Romans 9:16

The Word plainly declares: “There is none that seeks after God” † Romans 3:11
Did not Christ say to the men of His day: “You will NOT come to Me, that you might have life” † John 5:40 ?

Yes, but some actually did “come” to Him. Who were they?
John 1:12, 13 tells us: “But as many as received Him, to them He GAVE POWER TO BECOME the sons of God, to them that believe on His name: WHICH WERE BORN, not of blood, NOR OF THE WILL OF THE FLESH, nor of THE WILL OF MAN, BUT OF GOD”

In and of himself the natural man has the power to reject Christ, but in and of himself man does not have the power to receive Christ. And why?
Because man has a mind that is “enmity against” God… “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.” † Romans 8:7 & Because man has a heart that hates God… “If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you.” † John 15:18

A man simply chooses what is according to man’s nature; therefore… before he will ever choose that which is Divine and Spiritual, a new nature must be GIVEN to him; in other words, man must be born again.

The Holy Spirit does something in each of God’s elect: He works in His elect; “For it is God who works in you TO WILL and TO ACT on behalf of His good purpose.” † Philippians 2:13

People will say: “NO! the Spirit’s work of conviction is the same both in the converted and the unconverted, the only difference is that the converted yielded to God’s effort whereas the unconverted resist them.” (Allowing God to transform them because of their own choices and ability to choose)

But, if this were the case then the Christian would have reason for boasting and self-glorying over their co-operation with the Spirit; BUT this would clearly contradict Ephesians 2:8, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that NOT OF YOURSELVES: it is the gift of God, so that NO MAN MAY BOAST.”

Let us appeal to the actual experience of the Christian reader:

Was there not a time (may the remembrance of it bow each of us into the dust) when you were unwilling to come to Christ?
There was. But since then you have come to Him, Yes?

Are you now prepared to give Him ALL the glory for that?

“Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name be the glory, because of Your loving devotion, because of Your faithfulness.” † Psalms 115:1

Do you not acknowledge you came to Christ BECAUSE the Holy Spirit BROUGHT YOU FROM UNWILLINGNESS TO WILLINGNESS?

What is the human Will?

Is the human will a self-determining agent?
Or is it determined by something else?
Is the human will sovereign or a servant?
Is the human will superior to every other faculty of a human’s being so that the will governs them?
Or is it moved by their impulses and subject to their pleasure?

DOES THE WILL RULE THE MIND, OR DOES THE MIND RULE THE WILL?

Is the will free to do as it pleases, or is it under the necessity of rendering obedience to something outside of itself?

Does the will stand apart from the other great faculties or powers of the soul? Is the will a ‘man within a man’, who can reverse the man and fly against the man and split man into segments, as a glass snake breaks in pieces?

Or, is the will connected with the other faculties, as the tail of the serpent is with his body, and that again with his head, so that where the head goes, the whole creature goes, and, as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he? First thought, then heart (desire or aversion), and then act.

Is it this way; the dog wags the tail?
Or, is it the will (the tail) that wags the dog? (Silly)

Is the will the first and chief thing in man, or is it the last thing- to be kept subordinate, and in its place beneath the other faculties?

Is the true philosophy of moral action and its process that of Genesis 3:6: ‘And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food’ (sense-perception, intelligence), ‘and a tree to be desired’ (affections), ‘she took and ate thereof’ (the will).” (George S. Bishop).

These are questions of more than academic interest. They are of practical importance. We believe that we do not go too far when we affirm that the answer returned to these questions is a fundamental test of doctrinal soundness.

THE NATURE OF THE HUMAN WILL.

What is the Will?

We answer: The will is the faculty of choice, the immediate cause of all action. Choice necessarily implies the refusal of one thing and the acceptance of another.

The positive and the negative must both be present in the mind before there can be any choice.

In every act of the will, there is a preference: the desiring one thing rather than another. Where there is no preference, but complete indifference, there is no volition (choice, discretion).

To will is to choose (determine), and to choose is to decide between two or more alternatives (choices).

But there is (always) something that influences the choice; something that determines the decision.

Hence the human will cannot be Sovereign because it is the servant of that something that influences the choice.

The human will cannot be both Sovereign and servant. It cannot be both cause and effect.

The will is not causative, because, as we have said, something causes it to choose, therefore that something must be the causative agent.

Choice itself is affected by certain considerations, and is determined by various influences brought to bear upon the individual himself, hence, volition is the effect of these considerations and influences, and if the effect, it must be their servant; and if the will is their servant then it is not Sovereign, and if the will is not Sovereign, we certainly cannot predicate absolute “freedom” of it.

Acts of the will cannot come to pass of themselves – to say they can, is to postulate an uncaused effect.

Ex nihilo nihil fit-nothing cannot produce something.

In all ages, however, there have been those who contended for the absolute freedom or Sovereignty of the human will.

Men will argue that the will possesses a self-determining power. They say, for example, I can turn my eyes up or down, the mind is quite indifferent to which I do, and the will must decide. But this is a contradiction in terms. This case supposes that I choose one thing in preference for another while I am in a state of complete indifference. Manifestly, both cannot be true. But it may be replied, The mind was quite indifferent until it came to have a preference. Exactly; and at that time the will was quiescent too! But the moment indifference vanished, the choice was made, and the fact that indifference gave place to preference, overthrows the argument that the will is capable of choosing between two equal things.

As we have said, choice implies the acceptance of one alternative and the rejection of the other or others.

That which determines the will is that which causes the will to choose.

If the will is determined then there must be a determiner.

WHAT IS IT THAT DETERMINES THE WILL? We reply, The strongest motive power which is brought to bear upon it. What this motive power is varies in different cases. With one it may be the logic of reason, with another the voice of conscience, with another the impulse of the emotions, with another the whisper of the Tempter, with another the power of the Holy Spirit; whichever of these presents the strongest motive power and exerts the greatest influence upon the individual himself is that which impels the will to act. In other words, the action of the will is determined by that condition of mind (which in turn is influenced by the world, the flesh, and the Devil, as well as by God) which has the greatest degree of tendency to excite volition …

Among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:6‭-‬13‭, ‬15‭-‬16

12.06.2022
The Bounds Of The Will

If you have faith in Christ, you were predestined by God before He even created creation itself. If not, God’s word isn’t true.

God’s will is Sovereign, our will is bound to sin, & isn’t free.

Got ordains ALL things, free will is the philosophy of Lucifer, although God ordains everything, it’s spirit can’t be God’s. God is a God of Order, not chaos. Lucifer hated being under YHWH’s sovereignty & desired to break away from God’s will & establish a will of his own, & establish a people of his own & many Christians follow in his steps, unknowingly, hence why Scripture says we are either a slave of sin or a slave of righteousness.
A spiritual slave has no sovereign will of their own.

WHO HE FOREKNEW, HE ALSO PREDESTINED to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover WHOM HE PREDESTINED, THESE HE ALSO CALLED; WHOM HE CALLED, THESE HE ALSO JUSTIFIED; AND WHOM HE JUSTIFIED, THESE HE ALSO GLORIFIED.
Romans 8:29‭

HE CHOSE US IN HIM BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, HAVING PREDESTINED US TO ADOPTION as sons BY JESUS CHRIST to Himself, ACCORDING TO THE GOOD PLEASURE OF HIS WILL, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which HE MADE US ACCEPTED in the Beloved.
Ephesians 1:4‭-‬6

IN HIM ALSO WE HAVE OBTAINED AN INHERITANCE, BEING ourselves *PREDESTINED ACCORDING TO THE PURPOSE OF HIM who works all things according to the counsel of HIS WILL…
Ephesians 1:11‭-‬12

The words translated “PREDESTINED” in the Scriptures above are from the Greek word PROORIZO, which means; DETERMINING BEFOREHAND, ordaining, & deciding ahead of time.

….when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac (FOR THE CHILDREN NOT YET BEING BORN, NOR HAVING DONE ANY GOOD OR EVIL, THAT THE PURPOSE OF GOD ACCORDING TO *ELECTION MIGHT STAND, NOT OF WORKS BUT OF HIM WHO *CALLS), it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I HAVE HATED.”
Romans 9:10‭-‬13

…..Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the *ELECT, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory…..
2 Timothy 2:10

Even so then, at this present time THERE IS A REMNANT ACCORDING TO THE *ELECTION OF GRACE. And if by grace, then IT IS NO LONGER OF WORKS; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
Romans 11:5‭-‬6

For we know, brothers loved by God, that HE HAS *CHOSEN YOU……
1 Thessalonians 1:4

But YOU ARE A CHOSEN RACE, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may PROCLAIM THE EXCELLENCIES OF HIM WHO *CALLED YOU out of darkness into his marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:9

“What shall we say then? IS THERE UNRIGHTEOUSNESS WITH GOD? CERTAINLY NOT!
For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOMEVER I WILL HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOMEVER I WILL HAVE COMPASSION.”
***So then IT IS NOT of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.
For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.”
Therefore HE HAS MERCY ON WHOM HE WILLS, AND WHOM HE WILLS HE HARDENS.
You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault?
FOR WHO HAS RESISTED HIS WILL?”
But indeed, O man,
WHO ARE YOU TO REPLY AGAINST GOD?
Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”
DOES NOT THE POTTER HAVE POWER OVER THE CLAY, FROM THE SAME LUMP TO MAKE ONE VESSEL FOR HONOR AND ANOTHER FOR DISHONOR?
WHAT IF GOD, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, ENDURED WITH MUCH LONGSUFFERING the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that HE MIGHT MAKE KNOWN THE RICHES OF HIS GLORY ON THE VESSELS OF MERCY, which
*HE HAD PREPARED BEFOREHAND FOR GLORY, EVEN US WHOM *HE CALLED,
not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? What shall we say then?
That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness….”
Romans 9:14‭-‬24‭, ‬30‭-‬31 :

14.05.2022
The Bounds Of The Will

If you have faith in Christ, you were predestined by God before He even created creation itself. If not, God’s word isn’t true.

God’s will is Sovereign, our will is bound to sin, & isn’t free.

Got ordains ALL things, free will is the philosophy of Lucifer, although God ordains everything, it’s spirit can’t be God’s. God is a God of Order, not chaos. Lucifer hated being under YHWH’s sovereignty & desired to break away from God’s will & establish a will of his own, & establish a people of his own & many Christians follow in his steps, unknowingly, hence why Scripture says we are either a slave of sin or a slave of righteousness.
A spiritual slave has no sovereign will of their own.

WHO HE FOREKNEW, HE ALSO PREDESTINED to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover WHOM HE PREDESTINED, THESE HE ALSO CALLED; WHOM HE CALLED, THESE HE ALSO JUSTIFIED; AND WHOM HE JUSTIFIED, THESE HE ALSO GLORIFIED.
Romans 8:29‭

HE CHOSE US IN HIM BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, HAVING PREDESTINED US TO ADOPTION as sons BY JESUS CHRIST to Himself, ACCORDING TO THE GOOD PLEASURE OF HIS WILL, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which HE MADE US ACCEPTED in the Beloved.
Ephesians 1:4‭-‬6

IN HIM ALSO WE HAVE OBTAINED AN INHERITANCE, BEING ourselves *PREDESTINED ACCORDING TO THE PURPOSE OF HIM who works all things according to the counsel of HIS WILL…
Ephesians 1:11‭-‬12

The words translated “PREDESTINED” in the Scriptures above are from the Greek word PROORIZO, which means:

DETERMINING BEFOREHAND, ordaining, & deciding ahead of time.

….when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac (FOR THE CHILDREN NOT YET BEING BORN, NOR HAVING DONE ANY GOOD OR EVIL, THAT THE PURPOSE OF GOD ACCORDING TO *ELECTION MIGHT STAND, NOT OF WORKS BUT OF HIM WHO *CALLS), it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I HAVE HATED.”
Romans 9:10‭-‬13

…..Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the *ELECT, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory…..
2 Timothy 2:10

Even so then, at this present time THERE IS A REMNANT ACCORDING TO THE *ELECTION OF GRACE. And if by grace, then IT IS NO LONGER OF WORKS; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
Romans 11:5‭-‬6

For we know, brothers loved by God, that HE HAS *CHOSEN YOU……
1 Thessalonians 1:4

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:9

What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not!
For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whoever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whoever I will have compassion.”
So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.
For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.”
Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.
You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault?
For who has resisted His will?”
But indeed, O man,
Who are you to reply against God?
Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”
Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?
What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom He called,
not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? What shall we say then?
That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness….
Romans 9:14‭-‬24‭, ‬30‭-‬31 :

14.05.2022
What is Love

By Camille Russo

God’s love is Agape.

Agape is not a feeling or emotion, but an action. Agape is a sacrificial love that will willingly suffer for the benefit of the one that’s loved, without expectation, it does not come naturally to us humans. Because of our fallen nature, we are incapable of producing such love of our own accord. The flesh can only profit the flesh.

If we are to Love others as God Loves (Agape), we can only attain the ability from its Source: God’s Holy Spirit. This is the Love that has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, which God alone is able to give us, by His Will. We become His children by His Grace.

Paul says,

“God poured His Love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who He has GIVEN us.”
Romans 5:5

“The fruit of the SPIRIT is LOVE, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness”
Galatians 5:22

How do we know what Love is? The Book of 1st John clearly tells us how we know:

“By this we know Love, that He (Jesus) laid down His life for us, & we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.”
John 3:16

Therefore, it’s obvious that it is only because of God’s Love towards us that we are able to Love one another. Our works don’t win God’s favor, God works in us to bring us to Himself through His Son, because of His Love. God is the definition of Love.

John says:

“Anyone who does not Love, does not know God, because God is love.”
1 John 4:8

Have you ever felt the pain of incomplete sanctification, the depth of sadness & guilt that comes from having the desire to honor Jesus with your actions, but the failure to attain that perfection?

We live on this side of Heaven still. It deeply hurts sometimes; feeling & knowing the Truth; I am unworthy of God’s Love & Grace because God is Perfect, Holy & Righteous, Yet Jesus says:

“I will never let you go. I will not turn you over to what you deserve, but I will lavish My GRACE on you. I will walk with you. I will NOT leave you.”

He didn’t die for the good nor the perfect. He died for the rejected & broken. A healthy person has no need of a physician, as Jesus said.

Paul says,

“God demonstrates His own Love for us in this: while we were STILL sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8

Christ died for the sinful us, the struggling us, the broken & ugly us. He will be there for His sheep, ALWAYS leading our footsteps back on the narrow path into Eternity.

Why? Because His Love for His sheep was never given based on our own good works, deeds or merits. God The Father, Loved us, wanted us & sent His Son to die for us while we were in rebellion. He will NEVER leave His Sheep, Jesus is the Good Shepherd as reiterated, repetitively, in John 10.

“So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep…” “…I am the good shepherd. I know My own and My own KNOW Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep…” “…And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they WILL listen to My voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it up again…”
John 10:7‭, ‬11‭, ‬14‭-‬17‭

The only Hope we have is in the Power of what God did on the Cross. As Paul says:

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me & the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me & gave Himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20

Jesus says that He does not deal with us according to our sin, but abounds in steadfast (long suffering) Love & Mercy. We need Mercy! The Lord forgives our iniquity, He says He forgives ALL of them…

“If we confess our sins He is just & faithful to forgive us of ALL our sins.”
1st John 1:9

God delights in forgiving His sheep. Jesus said:

My sheep hear My voice, & I know them, they follow Me. I GIVE them eternal life, they will NEVER perish, no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father has given them to Me, He is greater than all, no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”
John 10:30

God can & does forgive, it’s who He is. If we confess our sins to Him, He lifts the burdens we carry deep within our souls. Why? Because as Paul said… (for our sake):

“He (God the Father) made Him (Jesus Christ) to become sin, even though Jesus knew no sin, so that in Jesus we might become the righteousness of God.”
2 Corinthians 5:21

Not only are we forgiven, but the pit we’ve put ourselves in, He will redeem us from… Paul says:

“He (God) rescued us from the dominion of darkness & brought us into the Kingdom of His beloved Son (Jesus), IN WHOM we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Colossians 1:13‭-‬14

And not only are we forgiven & redeemed from our own sinful wickedness, but then we are going to be crowned with His steadfast Love & Mercy, undeservingly. His Love will be our crown… Timothy says:

“…in the future there is laid up for us The Crown of Righteousness from our Righteous Judge…”
2 Timothy 4 8

James says,

“…the man who perseveres under trial will receive the Crown of Life which the Lord promised to those who Love Him.”
James 1:12

Though I have sinned against God & belittled His Name through my corrupt words & hypocritical actions & I have not trusted Him as I ought to… & even though I have spat in His face with my rebellion & ungratefulness… even still, because of His Love, His Agape, He is tender towards me, He is tender to us who are His.  We are sinners, yet He doesn’t place His wrath & judgment on those of us who trust in Him (because we are in Him), though we absolutely do deserve His hate & Wrath, I know I do… Paul says:

“There is no one righteous, NOT ONE.”
Romans 3:10

John says,

“If we say we have not sinned, we call God a liar & His Word is not in us”
1 John 1:10

Imagine: Jesus received a crown of thorns, although He deserved a crown of glory. In contrast, I receive a crown of righteousness & mercy, though I deserved the crown of thorns. The Love of God surpasses all human understanding, if we truly explore the depths of God’s Love.

The contrast is profound between recognizing the weight of my sinful nature & also accepting how loved I really am, despite my sinful nature & my depraved thoughts. When we are able to be honest & stand boldly in His Light & actually see our sins, as bad as they are, we can begin to feel like we can’t accept His forgiveness, why would I be forgiven? Because I wouldn’t forgive myself if I were treated as badly as I treat God. With our thoughts, it can feel as if we somehow lessen the gravity of our own sin, or it can feel like we’re abusing His Grace. Does God hate us for a period of time until we get our attitude together, & then we are forgiven? No! He loves us if we are truly His… Scripture says:

“The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”
Psalm 103:8

We see that we’ve rebelled against God:

“All have sinned & fall short of the glory of God. “
Romans 3:23.

“The wages of ALL sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life IN Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:23

We spit in His face. In moments of weakness we walk our own way saying through our actions, “I don’t care what you say God.” & we run to selfishness, greed, laziness, gossip, crude language, idols, self-righteousness, lies & every other desire of the flesh, to avoid the Truth. As we run towards these things that seem so normal in our society, we are actually running away from God. Running away from the ONLY One who has ever TRULY Loved us & done what is best for us… A very important Doctrine that Paul teaches:

“The death Jesus died He died to sin once for all, loving Life to God. You also must consider yourselves dead to sin & alive to God IN Christ Jesus. When slaves of sin, were free from righteousness. Those things are death. You are set free from sin & are slaves of God, we get Fruit leading to sanctification, then eternal life. The wages of sin is death, but the FREE GIFT of God is Eternal Life IN Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:10‭-‬11‭, ‬20‭-‬23

Jesus went to the cross because of THIS, to buy our eternal Life back to His Father. My sin put Jesus on the cross. Our sin put Jesus on the cross. Simultaneously, His Love for us put Himself on the cross. My sin drove the nails into His hands. It’s too easy to blame the ‘OTHER’, be it Pharisee, roman, ‘them’, etc… But it was human nature, the flesh, it was you and me. Sin is not small. It’s an active proclamation that I don’t care about God or His authority over my life.

But notice, who is receiving the punishment for our sins on the cross? It’s not us. It’s Jesus. As we see the evilness of our sin, so the beauty of God’s grace and forgiveness becomes clearer and clearer. The Lord is merciful, gracious, slow to anger & abounding in steadfast Love. At the Cross we see the evilness of our sins & the beauty of God’s Grace showing us what lengths God is willing to forgive & be merciful to His sinful people. The seeming contradiction was met with a beautiful exchange. Our sinful unrighteousness is exchanged for the righteousness of Jesus.

“He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor does He repay us according to our iniquities.”
Psalm 103:10

God will not deal with us according to our sins. When I am choked by my own guilt and shame over what I’ve done or said, feeling beyond unworthy of God’s Love and grace, I remember Jesus said He will not let us go. He will not let you go. He will not turn us over to what we deserve, but lavish His grace on us. He will walk with us. He will not leave you nor forsake you.

I know the pain of guilt & shame after sinful behaviors & actions. I know the temptation to dwell in that pit of despair, because it feels like you deserve it, & you do. But the Gospel doesn’t ask you to dwell in those feelings, but gives us hope for a brighter tomorrow. Jesus has taken your punishment on the cross. He’s exonerated you from the consequence of those sins and Graced you with His own righteousness, which is required to be with our Holy God.

“God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
2nd Corinthians 5:21

After sinning and becoming the devil that we hate becoming; The only comfort is looking up at Jesus. Remembering His body broken for me. Blood shed for me. His Life was sacrificed for our sinfulness.

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8

Christ died for the sinful you, the struggling you, the broken & dirty you. Go to Him as you are, perhaps for the hundredth time. He will be there with open arms. Why? Because His love for you was never given based on your own goodness… He loved us, wanted us, and sent His Son to die for us while we were rebellious. He’s not going to leave us now.

God’s love is agape love, the love of self-sacrifice. He demonstrates this sacrificial love by sending His Son to the cross to pay the penalty for our sin. God doesn’t just love; He is love. His nature and essence is love. Love permeates His very being and infuses all His other attributes, even His wrath and anger. Because God’s very nature is love, He must demonstrate love, just as He must demonstrate all His attributes because doing so glorifies Him. Glorifying God is the highest, the best, and the most noble of all acts, so, naturally, glorifying Himself is what He must do, because He is the highest, and alone He deserves all glory. God’s love is powerful & active, nothing can separate His People from His love, nothing!!! No powers, no actions, no authorities, no Spirit’s, nothing…. God loves His people & knows who we are. Through the good and the ugly.

“Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as He is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because He first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.”
Paul says:
1 John 4:15‭-‬21

“Who is to condemn? (Not I) Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised? Him who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loves us. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:34‭-‬35‭, ‬37‭-‬39

God does not love us because we are lovable or because we deserve His love, the opposite is true. The state of humankind since the rebellion, the fall is one of rebellion and disobedience.

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
Jeremiah 17:9‭-‬10

“None is righteous, not one; All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
Romans 3:10‭, ‬12‭-‬18‭, ‬22‭-‬26

God justifies us by His love, to show his righteousness, the flesh fails & is wicked, anything good within me is by His Spirit Alone.

“… the righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are JUSTIFIED by his GRACE as a GIFT, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
1 John 4:15

GOD DISCIPLINES ALL THOSE HE LOVES. If we are His we will endure discipline because we are His… When we fall, He will show us our error in love and He will never stray from our thoughts and hearts. Shame can’t keep His sheep from Him. God knows when we will be tempted and knows when we will fail… but as His children, we will never be given anything that He can’t guide us out of, He teaches us and shows us our weaknesses so we will trust him. ⬇️

“Consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 1:26 —>

“Consider Christ, who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself in LOVE. So that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by Him. Remember the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives. ”For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it…”
Hebrews 12:3‭-‬8‭, ‬11‭-‬15

The following Psalm is so comforting to us sinners who have a heart desperate to trust in the Lord and desire to please Him, but know our flesh will never please Him, the only One strong enough to get us through the valley of the shadow of death is God, Jesus, through the Spirit, His love is made perfect in our weakness.

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who CROWNS YOU WITH STEADFAST LOVE and mercy, The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear Him. ” For He knows our frame our weakness; He remembers that we are only dust.
The steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children, The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His kingdom rules over all, ALL…”
Psalm 103

Trusting in ourselves is where our flesh nature comes out, we are untrustworthy, but He is trustworthy. He knows our weakness… But He is our strength He is our Salvation. He loves us unconditionally. Who the father calls, the Son WILL keep.

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, He is good, His steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in; hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way till they reached a City to dwell in. Let them thank the Lord for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man! For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things. Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons, for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High. So He bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart. Let them thank the Lord for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man! For He shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron. Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction; they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. Let them thank the Lord for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man!”
Psalm 107:1‭-‬19‭, ‬21

29.04.2022
Is God’s Sovereignty Limited?

God’s indisputable Sovereignty is incompatible with limitation of any manner

He foreknows AND He Predestines ALL THINGS for His Purpose & His Glory. NOTHING is outside of His perfect control. His Sovereignty is something we can’t experientially realize because we are not God, but we can perceive it for how God’s word relays if we are drawn by His Spirit, through His Word.

God exists outside of time. He created everything that exists, before time even began.

God sees every moment in time as the present. We humans can only experience time in a linear manner.

Time, in our perception, is as a straight line & we move slowly through life from one point to another, only remembering the past, which we have already traveled through, yet unable to see the future that we are approaching.

God exists outside of time.

He created everything that exists before time even began. God sees every moment in time as the present.

God is the ETERNAL Creator, He constructed this world & EVERYTHING in it, including space/time dimensions (length, width, depth & time). God dwells in a different realm, the Spirit realm. He exists beyond the perception of our physical senses. He’s not limited by these physical laws & dimensions, as we are. He is LIMITLESS.

‡ Scripture ‡

† “IN THE BEGINNING, God CREATED the heavens & the earth…”… “&… God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. & let them be for signs & for seasons, & for days & years…”
Genesis 1:1, 17

Because of God’s own purpose He calls us, He even called us before the Ages (time) began.

† … “God, who saved us & called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of His own purpose & grace, which He gave us in Christ Jesus BEFORE THE AGES BEGAN…”
2 Timothy 1:9

He created ALL THINGS whether they be visible or invisible… This includes not only all matter & time but this includes thoughts, ideas, feelings, & ALL THINGS!!!!

† “… For BY Him ALL THINGS were created, in heaven & on earth, visible & invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him & FOR HIM.”
Colossians 1:16

† “… He chose us in Him BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, that we should be holy & blameless before Him.”
Ephesians 1:4

† “… By faith we understand that the universe was created by the Word of God, so that what is seen WAS NOT made out of things that are visible.”
Hebrews 11:3

† “… For thus says the One who is high & lifted up, who INHABITS ETERNITY, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high & holy place, & also with him who is of a contrite & lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, & to revive the heart of the contrite.”
Isaiah 57:15

† “… God is Spirit, & those who worship Him must worship in Spirit & Truth.”
John 4:24

†”… with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, & a thousand years as one day.”
2 Peter 3:8

† “… Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth & the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.”
Psalm 90:2

† “… For a thousand years in Your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.”
Psalm 90:4

† “I AM the Alpha & the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who IS & who WAS & who IS TO COME, the Almighty.”
Revelation

29.04.2022
Do we GIVE The Holy Spirit permission to Act?
I saw a post today that said:

“PRAYER gives the Holy Spirit permission to do God’s will — He cannot act without getting permission from a human with Authority.”

Permission is defined as: The act of permitting, especially in giving formal consent

That quote is appealing, sounds right to the average Joe, right?
- Is it biblical?
- Is it true?
- Is the limitless power of the universe at our disposal?
- Does God require our permission to do anything?
- Do we live in a universe where control over the invisible and visible is in the hands of the human will?
No, no, no, and no.

The Serpent’s lie in the Garden of Eden was bad enough:

“you will be ‘like’ God.”

The assertion that God requires one’s permission to act on behalf of any matter is a flawed belief that suggests the individual possesses godlike qualities.
This belief is not in line with the reality that God is the ultimate authority and we are subject to His command.

It is important to understand that God is the creator and sustainer of the universe, and we are mere mortals who are dependent on His mercy and grace.
To suggest that God requires our permission to act on any matter is to place ourselves in a position of authority over God.
This is a dangerous belief that can lead to arrogance and a false sense of power. It is important to recognize that we are not in control of the universe, and that God is the one who is ultimately in charge.

Furthermore, the idea that we have the power to grant permission to God is not supported by any religious text or tradition.

We recognize that God’s wisdom and knowledge far surpasses our own, and that His plans are always for our ultimate good.
- Are we the ones holding the reigns?
- His power is restrained by us?
God is in control and holds ultimate authority over all things. We are called to submit to His will and trust in His guidance. The idea that we hold the reins in our relationship with God is dangerous and heretical. We are completely dependent on God for our existence, salvation, and destiny. Our role is to respond in faith and obedience to His call, surrendering our desires and trusting in His plan. Humble submission to God’s will is the foundation of our faith and the key to a fulfilling relationship with Him.

The Bible teaches that God is the One who loves and pursues us, not the other way around. We are the ones who arerequired’s love and forgiveness. To suggest that God needs something from us is to turn the whole relationship upside down.

Our flesh always tries to control and manipulate things, including our relationship with God. We want to be in control, and we don’t like the idea of God having any power over us.
- Is God a divine genie, ‘an all-powerful wish grantor, He lets us pretend to be His keeper’?
Every believer I’ve ever met makes the claim ‘God can do anything”… yet, He may only do ‘anything’ when we “permit” Him?

God limits Himself to our passions.
Where is God’s Power in that?

2 Tim 3:5 says that some will have a form (aspect, presentation, material) of Godliness but reject IT’S POWER. God’s Spirit is Power.

Serious Question:

When did you allow God to form you in your mother’s womb?

What about someone who has cancer?

Is it not going into remission because they haven’t permitted God to heal their cancer?

As if God’s hands are tied until we bags of flesh give Him the “GO”?

To add: There isn’t a single story of Christ ever asking anyone for permission to ACT; quite the opposite.

Scripturally:

God doesn’t need our permission.
We are invited by Him to willingly consent to His plans, but He’s not limited by our desires.
When the Creator of everything – visible and invisible – invites a person to consent to His plans, that person WILL consent to His plans, willingly.

Just like when God commands you to breathe His breath into your lungs, He doesn’t ask you for permission, and you aren’t feeling dictated to or controlled by Him doing so either, right?

The clay has no right over the Potter. But the Potter has ALL RIGHTS over the clay.

Scripture:

BY Him, ALL THINGS were created, in heaven & on earth, visible & invisible, thrones, dominions, rulers, authorities—ALL THINGS were created through Him & FOR HIM.”
Colossians 1:16

WHATEVER THE LORD PLEASES, HE DOES,
In heaven, earth, in the seas & in all deeps.”
Psalm 135:6

Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases.
Psalm 115:3

It is *God* who works in you to will & to act on behalf of His good purpose.”
Philippians 2:13

Even if you go and fight bravely in battle, God will make you stumble before the enemy, for God has power to help and power to overthrow.”
2 Chronicles 25:8

God says: Even from Eternity I am He,
And there is NONE who can deliver out of MY hand; I ACT & WHO CAN REVERSE IT?
Isaiah 43:13

The life of every living thing is in God’s hand, as well as the breath of all mankind.
Job 12:10

It does not depend on man’s desire or effort but on God’s mercy.
Romans 9:16

“Not death or life, or angels or rulers, or things present or things to come, or powers, heights, depth, nor anything else in all creation, can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:37‭-‬39

This includes our own will, does it not?

All who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— children born not of blood, nor of the DESIRE OR WILL of man, but born of God.
John 1:12‭-‬13

“And you were DEAD in the trespasses and sins”
Eph 2:3, Col 2:13

DEAD means spiritually dead.

How can the spiritually dead make the spiritual decision to live? In the same way, a physically dead person can make the physical decision to live. He can’t. He’s dead…

ONLY an outside force can bring the dead to life, & ONLY One WILL have that power… The dead don’t choose life. How can they?

“There’s no one who understands, no one who seeks God……”
Romans 3:11

If we could understand and seek by our will, we would not desperately need the Holy Spirit to intercede as we do, nor would Jesus’ death be of any purpose.

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will remain—so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.
John 15:16

Did Jesus’ Apostles have a choice? NO. Jesus says, NO!

For God has put it into their hearts to carry out His purpose by uniting to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.
Revelation 17:17

The Holy Spirit, how does HE work?

As it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear heard, no heart imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit…
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him?
So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
We have NOT received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may UNDERSTAND what God has FREELY GIVEN US. &
this is what we speak, NOT in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing SPIRITUAL TRUTHS in spiritual words…
The NATURAL MAN does NOT accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he CANNOT UNDERSTAND THEM, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment. “For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:9‭-‬16

Paul’s warning is very clear about false doctrines, they appeal to the human will and recoil at the idea of having to relinquish control:

Paul :

“Let him who boasts boast only in the Lord.”It’s not the one who commends himself who’s approved, but the one whom the Lord commends….I am afraid, just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your SIMPLE and pure devotion to Christ. ( The Simplicity of Christ is enough) For if someone comes & proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it way too easily….
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions….
If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is forever worthy of praise, knows that I am not lying. I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses.
2 Corinthians 11:3‭-‬4,13‭-‬15,30‭-‬3. 10:17‭-‬18 12:5
23.04.2022
Understanding Salvation
Salvation is the act of being saved or delivered from sin and its consequences through God’s grace and acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior. It is a gift that guarantees both eternal existence, and it is not dependent on our works or wavering faith, but on the sure foundation of Christ.

John 10:28: “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”

This verse emphasizes that those who believe in Christ will receive eternal life and will be secure in God’s hand.

Ephesians 4:30: “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by Whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

The Holy Spirit plays a vital role in salvation by convicting individuals of their need for Jesus Christ and sealing them as God’s children.

Romans 8:38–39: “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

This verse reassures believers that nothing can separate them from God’s love.

Salvation is a profound and transformative concept that encompasses the deliverance of sinners from the clutches of sin and its consequences. It is solely through God’s boundless grace and the acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Savior that we can attain salvation. Our ultimate salvation does not rest on our own works or wavering faith, but on the sure foundation of Christ and His sacrificial love.

A Journey of Redemption and Grace

Salvation is the act of being saved or delivered from the bondage of sin and its dire consequences. This profound transformation is made possible through the unfathomable grace of God. Through His divine decree, we receive the invaluable gift of eternal life, ensuring our existence not only in this temporal world but also in the eternal realm.

The Holy Spirit plays a pivotal role in the journey of salvation.

He convicts individuals of their need for Jesus Christ, regenerates and transforms their hearts, and seals them as beloved children of God. Ephesians 4:30 reminds us not to grieve the Holy Spirit, as it is through this divine seal that we are protected until the day of redemption.

Our salvation rests firmly on the foundation of Christ, rather than our transient works or inconsistent faith.

Through His selfless sacrifice, Jesus redeemed us from the chains of sin, offering us forgiveness and reconciliation with God. Therefore, we can be assured that not a single soul, redeemed by His grace, will be lost. This assurance provides a solid anchor for our faith, comforting us with the knowledge that our eternal life is secure in Christ.

Salvation is not a one-time event or a simple transaction, but rather, it encompasses a comprehensive journey. It is a process in which we are justified, called, and ultimately glorified, as stated in Romans 8:30. This progression, orchestrated by God Himself, reveals His divine plan and purpose for each individual.

One important aspect of salvation is the irrevocability of the gifts bestowed upon us by God. Once God selects and assigns spiritual gifts such as grace, faith, salvation, and redemption, they become immutable and inseparable from His love.

Romans 11:29 affirms this truth, stating, “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”

This understanding brings a sense of assurance, knowing that God’s gifts are not subject to revocation.

However, it is crucial to emphasize that genuine saving faith is not a superficial profession, but a sincere and heartfelt surrender to the lordship of Christ.

If someone were to abandon their professed belief, it becomes evident that they never truly held it.

As 1 John 2:19 elucidates, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us.”

This truth highlights the authenticity and permanence of true saving faith.

In the realm of theology and biblical teachings, a resounding truth emerges: God’s elect, those chosen by Him, will persevere until the end and cannot lose their salvation.

The scripture in John 10:28 reaffirms this, assuring us that no one can snatch us out of God’s hand.

This assurance stems from the understanding that our salvation is not dependent on our own efforts or strength, but is upheld by the unwavering love and faithfulness of God.

The profound comfort lies in the knowledge that our salvation is entirely dependent on God’s boundless grace and not on our own works. It is His unwavering commitment to His chosen ones that ensures their safe passage to heaven. As we journey through life, let us find solace in the understanding that the gift of eternal life, bestowed upon us by God, is a testament to His immeasurable love and grace.

Resources:
1. “Systematic Theology” by Wayne Grudem – This book provides an in-depth exploration of various theological topics, including salvation.
2. “The Gospel According to John” – This Gospel provides insights into the teachings of Jesus regarding salvation and eternal life.
3. “The Epistle to the Romans” – This letter by the Apostle Paul delves into the theological aspects of salvation and God’s grace.
4. “The Holy Bible” – The ultimate source of wisdom and guidance, the Bible contains numerous passages that explore the concept of salvation and its implications.
23.03.2022