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The Sovereignty of God
?Predestination? ?Election? ?Foreknowledge?
?Free Will of Man?

Contents
Introduction
The Sovereignty of God                 Ch.1
Things God CANNOT Do             Ch.2
Man’s Free Will                            Ch.3
Predestination, Foreknowledge       Ch.4
Predestination, Election                   Ch.5
Divine Sovereignty and Human
          Responsibility                      Ch.6
Calvinism Is Of The Devil              Ch.7
Verses Proving Man’s Free Will     Ch.8
Closing Comments                          Ch.9

Poem: Our Journey #1207
Poem: Life on Earth #1236

The Truth About Salvation

Only Bible Used [KJV] King James Version
Verses with words in yellow bold italics is Jesus speaking.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. [KJV]

THIS BOOK IS NOT COPYRIGHTED,
AND IS NEVER TO BE COPYRIGHTED.
This book is free and not to be sold.

IT MAY BE USED BY “WHOSOEVER”
TO EDIFY THE CHURCH, AND TO
HONOR AND GLORIFY GOD.

Sovereignty of God
Written and compiled by: His Servant, Connie Kramer
I have revised this book from my original one.

Introduction . . . The Sovereignty of God
REASON FOR THIS BOOKLET

There are four reasons for writing this book. Hopefully it will shed some light on some of the terms that really confuse people: Predestination, Foreknowledge, Election and Free Will.

#1. God is justified. IF God elected (chose) some for Heaven and not others, He would NOT be justified as a righteous God since we have "all sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Rom.3:10,23). For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) Since God loved the world, paid for the sins of the world, and gives whosoever the opportunity to be saved, then God is justified . . . whereas the false doctrine of election to salvation is NOT justifiable.
#2. False doctrine illuminated. False doctrine is built on bits of Scripture, taken out of context, with added human beliefs. Scriptures taken in proper context will reveal a sound doctrine and reveal the heresy of predestination and election for salvation. 2 Tim.2:15 tells us to "rightly divide the word of truth." You are not to rip out pieces of Scripture to support your own corrupt man-made doctrine (Mat.15:9).
#3. Man is totally responsible. IF election to salvation were true, man would have no freewill, thus doing as he is programmed to do. We are NOT robots. We are made in the image of God, and God has a free will (Gen.1:27). God gave Adam and Eve a freewill to obey or disobey when He placed them in Eden. That right of choice and free will has been extended to every person since then. SO, just as Adam and Eve were responsible for their choice, so too are we today totally responsible for the decisions we make.
#4. Doctrinal Terms explained. Predestination, Foreknowledge, Election, Free Will. There are so many ideas today about these controversial doctrines. The average Christian is so mixed up that he really doesn't know what to believe. It’s important that we get these doctrines straight, or our Christian life will be confused.

Chapter 1 . . . The Sovereignty of God

To me, the SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD is the absolute authority, rule, and reign of Almighty God in the entire Universe. God possesses and exercises this absolute authority. Scripture supports this fact and is a constant witness from Gen.1:1 to Rev.22:21.

It is not just God’s uniqueness or supremacy or even His incomparability in the realm of Deity. It is simply that He, and He alone is God.
Deut. 4:35-b . . . . the Lord he is God; there is none else beside him. (KJV)
Deut. 4:39 Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else. (KJV)
Deut. 32:39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand. (KJV)
2 Kings 19:15-b . . . . thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth. (KJV)
Our Lord Jesus was asked: "Which is the great commandment?” Mat. 22:37-38 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. [38] This is the first and great commandment. (KJV) (Deut.6:5)
Divine sovereignty also believes the Fact of Creation, that everything is in existence by the order of God. IF we say the existence of anything does not depend on God in its origin . . . we deny the divine sovereignty of God. Perhaps no Scripture expresses it more clearly than the following, which is actually a summary of Genesis chapter1.
Psalm 33:6-9 By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. [7] He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. [8] Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. [9] For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. God, and God alone, made Heaven and Earth. (KJV) . . . By His Spirit the Heavens were adorned; He laid the foundations of the Earth (Jer.31:37); by wisdom He established the heavens and all their host. ALL was made by the Hand of God, thus He commanded and so ALL things came to be. He is the first and the last, the Alpha and Omega; he is the beginning of creation; by His will, Heaven and Earth were created (2 Kings 19:15; Job 26:13; 38:4; Pro. 3:19; Isa. 42:5; 44:6; 45:12; 66:2; Jonah 1:9; Rev. 1:8; 3:14; 4:8).

The sovereignty of God consists in His right of dominion and rule over all and in the fact of universal possession.
Gen.14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: (KJV)
Gen.14:22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, (KJV)
Psalm 24:1 The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. (KJV)
Isaiah 54:5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. (KJV)
Dan.4:17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men. (KJV)
Dan.4:25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. (KJV) . . . This was King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. God is telling him what was going to happen to him. It happened, exactly as God showed the king in his dream!

The sovereignty of God also is His right of dominion and the fact of possession. His sovereignty is used in harmony with a previous decree. Whatever God decrees (orders, desires) is absolutely unfailing and SHALL be accomplished.
2 Kings 19:25 Hast thou not heard long ago how I have done it, and of ancient times that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste fenced cities into ruinous heaps. (KJV)
Isa.14:24 The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand: (KJV)
Isa.46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: (KJV)
Isa.42:8-9 I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. [9] Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. (KJV)
Job 23:13-14 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. [14] For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him. (KJV)
Ps.33:10-11 The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. [11] The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
Isa.14:27 For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back? (KJV)
Ephes. 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: (KJV)

The sovereignty of God is exercised with all-powerful and undefeatable ability. The Almighty Hand of God carries out His perfect will. He is great, mighty, and fearful. He rideth upon the heavens (Ps.68:4,33), and in His excellency, on the skies (Deut.33:26). There is none who can deliver out of His hand(Jer.34:3), for He frustrateth the devices of the crafty (Job 5:12). He breaketh down, and it cannot be built up again. There is NO wisdom, NO understanding, NO counsel against Him. None can stay His Hand, and NO one can say to Him, "What doest thou?" (Dan.4:35). NO human power can possibly stand up against Almighty God (Deut. 10:17; Job 5:12-13; 12:14; Pro. 21:30; Isa. 31:3).

The sovereignty of God is omnipresent.

Psalm 139:7-10 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? [8] If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. [9] If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; [10] Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. (KJV) . . . It is only God who can give rain upon the Earth, and water upon the fields (Job 5:10). He makes his sun to shine upon the evil and the good: and sends rain on the just and the unjust (Mat.5:45). He clothes the grass of the field, causing the grass to grow for cattle and herb for the service of man (Mat.6:30). He feeds the birds of heaven (Mat.6:26). Not one sparrow falls to the ground without His knowledge (Mat.10:29). He gives us our daily bread (Phil.4:19). He makes the wind His messengers (Ex.10:13,19; 14:21; 15:10) and flames of fire His ministers (Gen.19:24; Ex.3:2; 13:21; 1 K.18:38). The whole earth is filled with His glory (Ps.72:19). Godly respect and reverence of His works can only bring praises of adoration.
Psalm 104:24 O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. (KJV) . . . Also: (Job 5:10; Ps.104:14-24; 63:11; Mat. 5:45).

The sovereignty of God clearly reveals He and He alone is King of all the kingdoms of the Earth. He removes kings and sets up kings, for as the Most High, He rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whomsoever He will. He sets up over them even the lowest and basest of men. It is God alone that gives even to ungodly men the kingdom, the power, the strength, and the glory. We have seen this in past history and we are seeing it today! WHY does God do this? To punish sin is one thing at the top of the list. The USA started out “In God we trust.” That NO longer applies! Abortion, homosexuality, idolatry, corruption in government, banks and retirement funds, violence and murder stemming from drugs and alcohol, hate, greed, immorality, living together without being married, gay marriage, living on food stamps and government assistance when people are perfectly able to work (2 Thes.3:10) . . . I could go on and on. You know what I mean! SIN!!! SIN!!! SIN!!! God punishes sin, and that includes placing into government ungodly people to govern. The powers of civil government are ordained by God to be the ministers of equity and good and peace for the praise of them that do well . . . BUT also for the punishment of evildoers (Rom. 13:3; 1 Pet. 2:14) . . . SO, corrupt government that violates the very principles of government itself is within the realm of God and fulfils His sovereign purpose.

A common expression today, especially for reassurance when things are not going well, is: “God is in control.” But, what do they mean? Was God in control when Satan rebelled? Was God in control when Adam and Eve disobeyed? Is God in control today, allowing all the evil, immorality, rape, murder, war, violence, etc.? Did God PLAN all the wickedness that is rampant worldwide? NO way my friend! It all boils down to the free will of man.

In Mat.6:10, Jesus teaches us to pray: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” WHY does He tell us this IF we are already in God’s Kingdom with Satan bound? That is what Calvin taught. Could a world of rampant evil really be God’s will? Is it what God really wants? Surely not! Is our omnipotent God unable to accomplish His will upon Earth? That would be total heresy! Paul clearly states that God “worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.” (Eph.1:11).

That being true . . . WHY does the Bible contain so many Scriptures of men defying God’s will and disobeying Him? God mourns, “I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me” (Isa.1:2). Their evil lives are obviously NOT according to His will. We are told that “the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves” (Luke 7:30). Our precious Lord states clearly that everyone does NOT always do God’s will. Mat.7:21 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. (KJV)

Ephes. 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: (KJV) . . . It does NOT say that everything that happens is according to God’s will, but according to “the counsel” of His will. What does that mean? The counsel of God’s will gives man freedom to obey OR disobey Him. Man has power over his free will to say yes to God OR no to God. Man has the power over his free will to accept Christ Jesus as their Saviour and Lord, and receive eternal life in Heaven (John 11:25-26; 14:6; 17:2-3; 20:31) OR reject Jesus and be condemned to an everlasting Lake of Fire (Mat.25:46; John 3:18; 8:24; Rev.20:15).

There is no other explanation for sin. One writer, in his attempt to protect God’s sovereignty from any challenge, argues: “God fore-ordains everything which comes to pass....God initiates all things, regulates all things....” I CANNOT go along with this HERESY. God does NOT fore-ordain sin! NO way! That is OUR choice! God does NOT control everything to such an extent that He clearly causes man to sin. That is NOT the sovereign God Whom I serve!

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (KJV)
Rom.8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (KJV)
1 John 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. (KJV) . . . If God loves us this much, WHY would He cause us to sin? God hates sin! He wants us to turn from it. God’s sovereignty does NOT make us sin.

Chapter 2 . . . The Sovereignty of God
Things God Cannot Do

It is utter foolishness to think that for God to be in control of His universe He must foreordain and initiate everything. WHY would He cause us to sin, then punish us? To justify this view, Calvinists argue that “God is under no obligation to extend His grace to those whom He predestines to eternal judgment.” The Truth is . . . obligation is NOT related to grace. There is no Biblical reason why a sovereign God could not allow man, made in His image, the freedom of an actual choice. The fact is, there are some powerful reasons why He would do so. Many atheists spout: “You claim your God is all-powerful. Then why doesn’t He do something to stop evil and suffering? If He could and He doesn’t, He’s a monster; and IF He can’t, then He is NOT all-powerful!” The atheist thinks he has us in a trap. The answer really is not at all difficult! There are quite a few things that God CANNOT do. I remember the first time I brought this lesson to a Bible class “Things God Cannot Do.” I had many stares, many groans, thinking I must be wrong. I was NOT wrong. Consider the following:

Things God Cannot Do

Our awesome Triune God CANNOT:

** LIE. Titus 1:2
** SIN. Isa.53:9; John 8:46; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb.1:9; Heb.4:15; 7:26; 1 Pet.1:19; 2:22; 1 John 3:5
** DIE. Deut. 32:40; Ps.102:27; 135:13; 145:13
** TOLERATE EVIL. Mat. 25:46
** REJECT A BELIEVER. John 1:12-13; 10:29
** TAKE SECOND PLACE IN OUR LIFE. Ex.20:5; 34:14; Deut. 4:24; 5:9; 6:15; Josh.24:19
** ACCEPT YOUR WAY TO HEAVEN. John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 John 5:10-12
** REMEMBER FORGIVEN SINS. Jer. 31:34; Heb.8:12; Heb.10:17
** TURN HIS BACK ON HIS SON’S PRECIOUS BLOOD. Rom.5:9; Col. 1:20; Heb.9:14; 10:29 1 Pet.1:18-19; 1 Cor. 6:11; Rev. 1:5-6
** CHANGE THE PAST. Since God is all-knowing and all-wise, He does NOT make mistakes, so He NEVER needs to make changes. Job 26:6-14; Ps. 147:5; Heb.4:13; Isa.42:9; 46:9-10; Deut.32:4; 2 Sam.22:31; Ps.18:30; Mat.5:48; Rom.12:2; Jam.1:17; Ecc.3:14
** Fail. Ps.77:8; 89:33. God cannot fail. ALL the things that God cannot do, bless us every day of our lives!

Sad to say, there are quite a few questions which most Christians cannot answer. Few parents have taken the time to think through the ‘religious’ challenges their children face, and these challenges are finding NO right answers from so many of today’s pulpits and Sunday-school classes.

Is the sovereignty and power of God the cure-all? Many Christians must think so. But, friend, think on this: sovereignty and power are NOT related in matters such as love, grace, mercy, kindness, justice and truth. God’s sovereignty is exercised ONLY in perfect harmony with ALL of His other attributes. There is much that God CANNOT do, because of who He is.

James 1:13-14 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: [14] But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (KJV) . . . Doesn’t Scriptures say that God tempted someone or was tempted? “God did tempt Abraham” (Gen.22:1). Tempt here means to test or prove, it has nothing to do with tempting us to sin. God was testing Abraham’s faith and obedience. BUT, if God CANNOT be tempted, WHY is Israel warned, “Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God” (Deut.6:16)? We are even told that at Massah, in demanding water, “they tempted the LORD” (Ex.17:7). Later they “tempted God in their heart” (Ps.78:18, 56, 41). God was NOT being tempted to do evil, He was being provoked; His patience was being tested. Their “tempting” God was a blasphemous challenge. Force Him to give in to their lust OR punish them for rebellion.

Any time that we deliberately put ourselves in any situation where God must act to protect us, is tempting Him. James says, “but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed.” Temptation to do evil ALWAYS comes from within. The person who could not possibly be “tempted” to be dishonest in business may give in to the temptation to commit adultery. The old saying: “every man has his price” means that each of us has a weak spot somewhere! We must be extremely careful, for the old devil knows exactly what and where it is!

God did NOT tempt Adam and Eve to sin when He told them not to eat of a particular tree. Eve was tempted by her own lust. It was her own FREE WILL that made her decide to disobey God.

God, in spite of His sovereignty and infinite power, is NOT able to forgive whomever He wills. The sovereignty of God, nor His awesome power, CANNOT wipe a sinner’s slate clean in Heaven. He CANNOT because He is ALSO perfectly just and righteous. Does this deny God’s omnipotence and sovereignty if there is something He wants to do but cannot accomplish? The simple answer to this is: omnipotence and sovereignty are on opposite sides of the street with regard to mercy and forgiveness.

When our grief laden Saviour was in the Garden the night before the cross, He cried out in desperation: “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.” (Mat.26:39). Don’t you think if there had been any other way possible to provide salvation, God the Father would have allowed Christ to escape the excruciating physical and mental sufferings in the garden, and before and on the cross? God’s perfect justice had pronounced judgment upon sin. Even for the omnipotent God, there was NO other way. It is SO important that we clearly explain this essential Truth when we present the Gospel. Love CANNOT nullify justice. The only way God could forgive sinners and remain just would be for Christ to pay the penalty for sin (Rom.3:21-28).

There are two things in relation to man’s salvation which God CANNOT do:

#1 He cannot force anyone to love Him; and
#2 He cannot force anyone to accept the marvelous gift He offers.

God’s sovereignty allows that man must have the free will to choose. Accepting God’s love and of the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ can only be accomplished by an act of man’s free will.

Chapter 3 . . . The Sovereignty of God
Man’s Free Will

Many say that if it were God’s will for all men to be saved, the fact that all are NOT saved means that God’s will is limited and His sovereignty overthrown by men. Others say that if man can say yes or no to Christ, man has the final say in his salvation and his will is stronger than God’s will, thus claiming that the free will of man dethrones God.

Giving man the power (free will) to make a choice does NOT in any way diminish God’s control over His Universe. Since God IS absolutely omnipotent and omniscient, He certainly can arrange circumstances as to keep man’s rebellion from disrupting His purposes. God can actually use man’s free will to help fulfill His plans and thus be even more glorified.

God’s perfect design from the foundation of the world (Eph.1:4-6) to bestow upon mankind the Gift of His love prevents any ability of God to force that Gift upon any of His creatures. God’s pure love and God’s gifts of ANY kind MUST be received . . . and ACCEPTED by us . . . we must make the decision on our own. NO one else can make the decision for us, neither will God force us to accept His love. It is OUR choice, by our free will.
The fact that God cannot fail, cannot lie, cannot sin, cannot change nor cannot deny Himself does NOT in any way lessen His sovereignty. And, He is certainly NOT any the less sovereign because He cannot force anyone to love Him or to receive the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

From man’s point of view, the opposite restriction rules: there is NOTHING that anyone can do to merit or earn either God’s love or any of God’s gifts. They are freely given by God without any reason other than His love, His mercy and His grace. In His sovereign grace, God has so made man and has so planned a gift that man may receive it voluntarily by an act of his will and his response to God’s love. Someone once said, “The free-will of man is one of the most marvelous of the Creator’s works.” I whole-heartedly agree! We have power of choice, our FREE WILL opens the door to something wonderful! Something that we cannot understand; a genuine fellowship between God and man for eternity. Some people believe that God is unapproachable, inaccessible and unreachable. That is totally false! Here are just a few Scripture verses to prove this: (Gen.5:22,24; 6:9; 13:14; 17:22; 18:33; 35:13; Ex.25:1; Num.3:1; 7:89; Deut.5:4; 34:10; Neh.9:13; Ps. 89:15; 140:13; Isa.64:5; Am.3:3; Zec.1:13; 10:12; 1 Cor.1:9; Eph.2:6; Phil.2:1; Rev.3:20). God wants us to be close to Him, to fellowship with Him, to walk with Him!

Without a free will, we could NOT receive the gift of eternal life. Without a free will, we would be less than lower animals, which have a very restricted freedom to choose. Our Almighty God did not create a free agent capable of loving Him, without also being capable of rejecting His love. Without our free will, we could NOT freely love God, and my friend, freedom is a part of love.

Free will is the power of making a real choice from our own heart and will. God has sovereignly given mankind this power that enables God to love man and for man to receive that love and to love God in return “because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). It is impossible that our free will can challenge God’s sovereignty, since it is God’s sovereignty that bestowed this gift upon us.

For anyone to suggest that God lacks “power” (denying His sovereignty) IF He offered salvation and some rejected it, is missing the point. Power and love do not belong in the same category. Many things that God cannot do, is NOT a lack of “power” nor is His sovereignty decreased in the least by any of these. Mankind has been given by God the power to CHOOSE to love Him OR not to love Him; to receive OR to reject the free gift of salvation. This is FAR from denying God’s sovereignty! This is to admit what God’s sovereignty has so lovingly, mercifully and wonderfully provided for us. It is our CHOICE to willingly respond to His love. This we should do in humble gratitude! And it should NOT stop there! We should proclaim this Good News to others.

Chapter 4 . . . The Sovereignty of God
Predestination, Foreknowledge.

Many people ask: “If God knows ahead of time that a person is going to do something, how can that person decide for himself? Isn’t foreknowledge the same as predestination?”

God’s foreknowledge means that God knows everything that will happen before it happens, which He, being God, He must know. Prophecy, in which God reveals His foreknowledge, is the larger part of Scripture. I think prophecy is tremendous proof that God exists and that the Bible is His Word (Isa.42:8-9; 43:10; 46:9-10; 48:5). Prophecy is also the foundation of the Gospel (Rom 1:1-3; 1 Cor 15:1-4). Scripture does not say that God knows all beforehand because He has caused it . . . and certainly not that He must cause it in order to know it. The future is as plain to Him as is the past. The future is part of time, which is part of this physical universe. God is NOT part of the Universe, which He created out of nothing (Col.1:16; Heb.11:3). He is separate from it.

Maybe God looks at the Universe from the outside, seeing past, present and future time all at once. I don’t know, and it really is NOT necessary for us to know HOW God knows the future. What is necessary and important is, the Bible says that He knows, so He does! IF you believe any part of Scripture, you must believe it all! God is NOT an inactive observer, for He keeps His eye on all things (Ps.33:18; Eze.7:4,9). He is very interested in events taking their own course in the Universe that He has created. He keeps a watchful eye on everything! He plays an active part because He has an eternal purpose and plan for ALL Creation. He exercises His influence upon men and events in order to create the future which He desires. He makes NO last-minute emergency adjustments like we do, because He has foreknown eternally everything that He would do to accomplish His plans: “Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world” (Acts 15:18).

Predestination and foreknowledge simply CANNOT be the same. God’s foreknowledge does NOT make things happen. For God to know something in advance is NOT the same as His deciding that it will happen. Neither does God need to predestine something in order to know it will happen. IF that were so, God would NOT be infinite (endless, eternal) in His knowledge.

There is a huge difference between saying that God completely foresees everything that will happen and allows things that are not His perfect will . . . and saying that God predetermines or
predestinates everything that occurs, so that everything that happens is just the way He wants it. Man is NOT a puny puppet and God is NOT the cause behind all wickedness and sin.

Luther states that “God foreknows and wills all things.” He says that if this were not true, “how can you believe, trust and rely on His promises?” The answer is simple: We rely on God’s Promises because He is God and He cannot lie.

It is simply NOT Biblical that unless God wills all things He cannot make and keep Promises. My friend, what God promises and determines to do He SHALL do . . . regardless of the will or actions of man or nature, NO matter what! He is well able to protect us and bring us to Heaven (2 Tim.1:12). This does NOT mean that He must control every event that revolves around us. It only means that He knew them before and taken them into account in fulfilling His eternal purpose.

Foreknowledge means to have knowledge of things yet to come. Foreknowledge is a characteristic or attribute of God, while Predestination and Election are acts of God. Only God knows the future, and my friend, He does know the future. He would NOT be God if He didn't. BUT, the fact that He does know who is going to be saved, and who isn't going to be saved, does NOT decide who is going to be saved and who is going to be lost. That would be a no win situation, and that is NOT what the Bible says!

God’s foreknowledge, NEVER determines what is to be. God knows everything, including the future. He knows the results of all possibilities. Accepting Jesus is YOUR decision! You DO have a say!

Chapter 5 . . . The Sovereignty of God
Predestination, Election.

HOW can God’s predestination and man’s free will, BOTH be true. Whatever God foreknows will happen, it MUST happen . . . or His foreknowledge would be wrong. NOTHING can stop what God foreknows from happening. So, how can man be a free moral agent? God does know the future, but this does NOT eliminate man’s choice.

In the New Testament, sinners are commanded over and over to “repent” and “believe” (Mat.3:2; 4:17; Acts 3:19; 1 John 3:23). EVERY call to repent is a call to CHOOSE. The command to believe assumes that the hearer CAN choose to obey the command. Jesus told some unbelievers: “You refuse to come to me to have life” (John 5:40). SO . . . they COULD have come IF they wanted to. Their problem was, they chose not to. “A man reaps what he sows” (Gal.6:7), and those who are outside of salvation are “without excuse” (Rom.1:20-21).

But, can man, limited by a sin nature, ever choose what is good? YES! But it is only through the grace and power of God that free will truly becomes “free” in the sense of being able to choose salvation (John 3:15-16). It is the Holy Spirit Who works in and through a person’s will to regenerate that person (John 1:12-13) and give him/her a new nature “created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph.4:24). Salvation is a Gift from God . . . BUT . . . at the same time, our motives, desires and actions are decided by us! We shall be justly held responsible for them.

THE PREDESTINATION OF GOD

Predestination NEVER refers to the lost man . . . only to the saved. We need only read our Bibles. Salvation is a personal matter based upon the "whosoever wills." God knows who will be saved, so He has predestinated certain blessings for those who will come to Jesus by faith. "For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son" (Rom. 8:29a). This is one of the blessings that God has predestinated for the believer . . . that the believer is going to be transformed into the likeness of the image of Jesus Christ. The things you might be suffering at this moment are (I think) happening to you (Rom. 8:28) to make you more like Jesus. And at the Rapture, whether we be dead or alive at His Coming, we are all going to be changed and have sinless bodies like Christ (1 Cor.15:19-54; 1 Thes.4:13-18).

"Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will" (Eph. 1:5). Again I say that predestination is the predetermined blessings for the saved man and has nothing to do with the Gift of salvation. Here we are told that the Christian is predestined unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ. It does NOT say that the lost sinner was predestinated to become a child of God. It is only the saints who have been predestinated unto the adoption of children. We are born again into the family of God (John 1:12-13; 3:3-8). God ADOPTS us into His family!

Eph.1:11-12 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: [12] That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. (KJV) . . . Another tremendous blessing for the child of God! It is not salvation the Holy Spirit is speaking about, but predetermined blessings which are for those who are saved. Don’t fail to read the 12th verse. THAT is what God has predestinated: “that we should be to the praise of His glory.” NO where in Scripture do we find that predestination is for or against salvation. I believe that predestination is the predetermined blessings for TRUE believers!

ELECTION

Eph.1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (KJV) . . . Many think that God chooses some to be saved and some to be lost. I simply CANNOT go along with that! God is good! It is my humble opinion that God chooses everyone to be saved. Consider the parable of the Marriage of the King’s Son (Mat.22). MANY were called, but only a few (Mat.7:13-14) accepted the invitation!
Again I repeat that predestination and election (choosing) have NOTHING at all to do with the lost, both refer only to the saved. New Testament words "chosen, choose, and election" are the same. In the Old Testament, it is just "chosen."
Rom.9:9-13 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son. [10] And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; [11] (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) [12] It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. [13] As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. (KJV) . . . The choosing or election of God is very mysterious. We cannot possibly comprehend His mind! I do know that in ALL that He does, He has good reason. Of that I am 100% certain.

For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth; It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated (Mal.1:2-3).
Election, or choosing, has to do with service; the elder shall serve the younger. It does NOT say, "The younger shall be saved, and the elder shall be lost." No, just simply, "the elder shall SERVE the younger." Thus choosing, or election, has to do with service. "Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated" was NOT said of these two men BEFORE they were born, but hundreds of years after they died.

God hated the descendants of Esau because of their unbelief, and loved the descendants of Jacob because of their faith. In the 15th chapter of John's Gospel, our Lord Jesus said that He had chosen (elected) them disciples. For salvation? NO! For service. Even Judas was chosen! For damnation? NO . . . but like Pharaoh, he was a vessel unto wrath (Ex.11:9-10). After being given many chances to believe, he refused, and thus was used for God's purpose. The prophet Isaiah says that Israel is God's chosen people (Isa. 41:8). Does this mean that all Jews are saved? NO! It simply means that God has chosen Israel for a service. That service was to give us the Word of God and to give us the Lord Jesus Christ!

Isaiah says that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Chosen Servant of God (Isa.42:1). Does this mean that God chose the Lord Jesus to be saved? Of course not! JESUS is the SAVIOUR! God chose His Son for a service . . . that being the Lamb of God who would die for the sins of the world. And He was the obedient Servant, obedient to death, even the death of the Cross!

Considering what has been said, let’s go back to: Eph.1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (KJV) . . . WHAT has God elected or chosen us for? Is it salvation? NO! He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world . . . because of His foreknowledge, He knew which of us would believe on His Son. We were chosen for SERVICE, not salvation . . . that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.

I will close in saying that God does NOT predestinate or elect ANYONE to be saved OR lost. The Bible clearly reveals that salvation is on the basis of "whosoever will” come to Jesus (Mat.7:24; 10:32-33; 11:6; Mark 8:34,38; Luke 14:27; John 3:15-16; 4:13-14; 11:26; Acts 2:21; 10:43; Rom.10:13; 1 John 4:15; Rev.20:15). God so graciously offers the Gift of salvation (Rom.6:23; 2 Cor.9:15; Eph.2:8), that Gift is there . . . in His merciful Hand . . . but it is NOT ours until we accept it. We have to make a decision. We have the power to do so. We have a free will. We can accept Jesus and eternal life in Heaven (John 14:2; 1 John 5:11; Rev.7:16-17; ch. 21 & 22) OR reject God’s offer and be doomed to eternal damnation in Hell (Mat.23:33; 25:46; John 3:36; 8:24; 2 Thes.1:8-9).

Rev. 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (KJV) . . . Does whosoever mean you! I pray that it does.

Chapter 6 . . . The Sovereignty of God
Divine Sovereignty . . . and Human Responsibility

FREE WILL OF MAN
Robot's Have No Free Will

IF God had chosen (elected) certain people to serve Him with no free will, then all of the saved (elect) would be like robots.
Gen.1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (KJV) . . . Being created in God’s own image does NOT mean that God has an actual body, as some of today’s well known false preachers (heretics) teach! For God is Spirit (John 4:24). Being created in God’s image refers to one's characteristics, mind, will, emotions, intellect and etc. It means God created us with the capacity to think, feel and know God, and with a spirit and soul making us eternal like Him (1 Thes.5:23). If God created people with no free will, that would mean that God has no free will, and that is NOT so. God wants us to love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). God's will is that we love Him out of our free will that He gave us.

God is sovereign, but He made man responsible for his actions. Does that seem like a paradox (contradiction) to you? These two subjects are most often set in opposition to each other instead of being in harmony together. Both are true and both are found in the Word of God. We see that ALL people are held responsible for what they believe.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (KJV)
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (KJV) . . . BUT . . . Jesus also said:
John 10:26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. (KJV) . . . BOTH doctrines are taught in the Bible. The harmony of predestination and man’s free will are hidden somewhere in the eternal mind of God. It is impossible for us to comprehend the perfect purpose of God (Ecc. 11:5).
John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (KJV) . . . I believe that this is the only verse in the Bible that contains BOTH doctrines:

#1. Predestination: All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and
#2. Man’s free will: him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

The theological argument franticly rages today on election (predestination) or free will.
Some people put all their eggs in the election basket, while others go with free will. I do know that God has given us a free will and we have power to exercise it.
Old time preacher, Spurgeon preached a “whosoever will” Gospel. Someone once said to him: “If I believed like you do about election, I wouldn’t preach like you do.” Spurgeon’s answer was something like this: “If the Lord had put a yellow stripe down the backs of the elect, I’d go up and down the street lifting up shirt tails, finding out who had the yellow stripe, and then I’d give them the Gospel. But God didn’t do it that way. He told me to preach the Gospel to every creature that ‘whosoever will may come.’”

Jesus says, “and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” SO, you can argue election all you want to, but you CAN come . . . AND if you come, He will NOT cast you out. Someone may ask, “You mean that if I’m not the elect I can still come?” I look at it this way: IF you come, you ARE the elect. Great, isn’t it? It is God’s will for you to come to Him. Jesus came down from Heaven because “the Son of man must be lifted up.” He came to do the Father’s will . . . and it is the Father’s will that you be born again (John 1:12-13; 3:3-8). But YOU will have to come to Him, friend; that is the only way. You must come to the Lord Jesus by faith.

Predestination applies only to the saved. When a person accepts Christ, he is justified (Rom.5:1); and just as surely as he is justified, he is going to be glorified (Rom.8:30). When Jesus starts out with 100 sheep, He will come through with 100 sheep. He will NOT lose even one. Everyone who believes and receives Christ HAS everlasting life (John 5:24) and will be raised up again at the last day (John 6:39-40,44,54).

Chapter 7 . . . The Sovereignty of God
Calvinism is of the Devil

Oh, how foolish are those men who corrupt the simplicity of the Gospel, and place heavy burdens upon sinners, too grievous to be borne. Calvinism teaches that God chooses who will and will not be saved. As a result, Calvinism also teaches that Jesus only died for the "chosen" few. How utterly absurd!

What is Calvinism and is it Biblical?

The five points of Calvinism can be summarized by the word TULIP. T stands for total depravity, U for unconditional election, L for limited atonement, I for irresistible grace, and P for perseverance of the saints. Below are the definitions and Scripture references Calvinists use to defend their beliefs.

#1. Total Depravity: As a result of Adam’s fall, the entire human race is affected; all humanity is dead in trespasses and sins. Man is unable to save himself (Gen.6:5; Jer.17:9; Rom. 3:10-18).
#2. Unconditional Election: Because man is dead in sin, he is unable to initiate response to God; therefore, in eternity past God elected certain people to salvation. Election and predestination are unconditional; they are not based on man’s response (Rom.8:29-30; 9:11; Eph.1:4-6,11-12) because man is unable to respond, nor does he want to.
#3. Limited Atonement: Because God determined that certain ones should be saved as a result of God’s unconditional election, He determined that Christ should die for the elect alone. All whom God has elected and Christ died for will be saved (Mat.1:21; John 10:11; 17:9; Acts 20:28; Rom. 8:32;Eph.5:25).
#4. Irresistible Grace: Those whom God elected and Christ died for, God draws to Himself through irresistible grace. God makes man willing to come to Him. When God calls, man responds (John 6:37,44; 10:16).
#5. Perseverance of the Saints: The precise ones God has elected and drawn to Himself through the Holy Spirit will persevere in faith. None whom God has elected will be lost; they are eternally secure (John 10:27-29; Rom.8:29-30; Eph. 1:3-14).

Calvinism makes God a respecter of persons . . . which He is NOT. The Bible says:
Romans 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God. (KJV) . . . The Bible clearly teaches that the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to ALL MEN. ALL people have the opportunity to get saved. It is man's responsibility to WANT the Truth; and it is God's responsibility to provide it. God will NOT force salvation upon anyone, we must say yes to Him.

The Calvinist heresy that Jesus died only for certain people is blasphemy against the character of God! It also calls God a liar because His Word says Jesus died for ALL people (the world). John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (KJV)
Rom.5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (KJV) . . . God loves ALL people, and has displayed His unconditional love towards us by dying for our sins (Rom.5:12). To say that God CHOSE who would be saved or lost defeats the entire purpose for which God created mankind. God created us to please Him (Rev.4:11). Heb.11:6 states that only FAITH pleases God. If God FORCES certain people to become Christians . . . WHERE is faith? For faith to exist, there has to be an opportunity for doubt. Calvinists teach that God, through "Irresistible Grace," forces a person to get saved. Utterly ridiculous! God has given us a free will. It is OUR choice whether we receive Jesus Christ, or reject Him. God does NOT force in any way, it is OUR decision.

God is not willing that any should perish (2 Pet.3:9). If God chose some that would not be saved, then God is willing that some should perish, because He did not even give them a chance to get saved. There are so many flaws in the doctrines of Calvinism. One heresy begets another and another and another.

Mat.25:41 states that God created Everlasting Fire for the Devil and his angels. God did NOT intend for even one person being to burn in the fires of Hell. But, according to Calvinists, God only chose certain people to be saved. They say the others were intended to burn in Hell for all eternity. NOT Biblical! The big blunder with Calvinism from their EVERY viewpoint is that it completely eliminates man's free will to make his own choices.

Luther stubbornly stated that it was impossible for God to foreknow the future and for man at the same time to be a free agent to act as he wills. Firmly believing in God’s foreknowledge, Luther wrote The Bondage of the Will to prove that the very idea of man’s free will is a fallacy, a deception and an illusion. But, Biblically, Bondage is full of deceptions.

Calvin states just like Luther, that foreknowledge leaves NO room whatsoever for man’s free will. Calvin repeatedly makes misleading, unbiblical statements, yet many leading evangelicals continue to praise him for being such a great Bible instructor.

If God does NOT know by His foreknowledge what every person will think and do by their free will, then He is not God. God is well able to allow man freedom of choice while still fulfilling His eternal purposes. God is unhindered is ALL His sovereign wisdom, power and foreknowledge. He not only sees our past, but the present and future as already having happened.

Even Augustine, father of modern Catholicism, whom both Calvin and Luther admired, clearly recognized that there is NO incompatibility or conflict between God’s absolute sovereignty and foreknowledge and man’s free will. We should NOT accept something because someone, no matter how great their reputation, says it. The BIBLE alone should be our authority. Check out everything with the Bible, including me (Acts 17:11).

Is Calvinism so special that only a few can understand it? Do its teachings come from the Bible? Absolutely NOT! Yet there are hundreds of books in favor of Calvinism. Calvinists are NOT an elite group who alone correctly understand the mysteries of sovereignty and grace. TRUE Christians have the right, also the responsibility, to check out Calvin and everyone else with the Bible.

Chapter 8 . . . The Sovereignty of God
Verses Proving Man’s Free Will

Is God Unrighteous? Is God just and righteous if He elects some to be saved and not others? NO!
Rom.3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (KJV) . . . God could NOT be just and righteous IF He elected some for salvation, and not others.

God is NOT a respecter of persons.
James 2:9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. (KJV) . . . Since God expects us NOT to have respect of persons, it would endanger the character of God for Him to elect some to be saved and reject others. Since it would be sin for us to show partiality, then God would be guilty of the same IF election were true.

Anyone CAN be saved!
John 3:15-18 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. [16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. [17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. [18] He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (KJV) . . . The word "world" reveals God's will that ALL people could be saved. The word "whosoever" is the chance for every person to be saved. This tells us that a person is guilty and condemned because they choose NOT to believe in the Name of the only begotten Son of God. This shows us the will of God and the responsibility of man. ALL people CAN be saved. It is God's will that ALL be saved, but the CHOICE is entirely up to the individual.

“Whosoever” CAN be saved.
John 4:13-15 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: [14] But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. [15] The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. (KJV) . . . Those people who believe and defend election to salvation simply overlook the word "whosoever.'' The election people emphasize one statement in verse 14: "I shall give him..." They claim this supports God's choosing or electing some to be saved and not others. They claim that only those who are saved is to whom Christ gives this water. This is a great error they make by taking certain phrases out of context. YES! Christ OFFERS the living water, but He does not FORCE a person to drink it. Christ offers the water to anyone (whosoever), BUT only those who CHOOSE to drink it will have everlasting life. Verse 15 makes this perfectly clear. The woman wanted what Christ had to offer. How about you? Do YOU want eternal life?

Hear (or read) God’s Word and believe.
John 5:23-24 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. [24] Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (KJV) . . . Since it is God's will that ALL should honor Christ, God would be going against His own will IF He chose some to be saved and not others. Verse 24 is given to ALL people! IF you hear OR read the Word of God and believe on Jesus Christ, you HAVE eternal life NOW! Still another death-blow to election for salvation.

Jesus invites ALL to come to Him.
John 6:47-51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. [48] I am that bread of life. [49] Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. [50] This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. [51] I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. (KJV) . . . Christ invites any and ALL to believe on Him. He gave His life for the world (ALL people, ALL nations)! This verse is just another that brings to light the heretical doctrine of election. ALL people (whosoever) are welcome to come! The choice is with the individual person.

The choice is YOURS! Believe or don’t believe!
John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. (KJV) . . . NOTICE: "if ye believe not." This clearly tells us that a person DOES have a free will and a choice. "If ye" (your choice) totally eliminates "elected" (someone who has no choice). This enlightens and clearly reveals the free will of man. SO plain!

Whosoever believes shall never die.
John 11:25-26 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: [26] And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? (KJV) . . . "Whosoever" in verse 26 is similar to "he that" in verse 25. These verses disclose to us that man's free will and responsibility stand firmly on the solid foundation of God's Word, while election crumbles on the sands of false doctrine.

Invitation to whosoever!
John 12:46-48 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. [47] And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. [48] He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. (KJV) . . . These verses reveal the will of God, and that is to save the world. The free will of man is clearly seen in God's invitation to "whosoever." God's will was clearly stated when the Bible said that Christ came to "save the world." IF election to salvation were true, HOW does this verse fit in? God wants to save the world. Does God purposely hinder and restrict a person from believing the Word He gave to them? Absolute stupidity! Then, would God judge that person worthy of Hell with the same Word He restricted them from believing. Utterly ridiculous! But that is what it seems to me that the damnable heresy (2 Pet.2:1) of election teaches.

IF you call on the Name of Jesus, you shall be saved!
Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (KJV) . . . "Whosoever" means ANYONE! It means YOU! (Joel 2:32; Rom.10:13). Even though the Jews had crucified Christ, they could still be saved! They could still change their minds and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. There is NO sin too great that the grace of God is not greater! He can and WILL forgive ANY sin if a person truly repents!

The choice is in OUR hands.
James 1:12-14 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. [13] Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: [14] But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (KJV) . . . This Passage shows the free will of man. We have the power to give in to temptation OR say “NO” to it!
D. L. Moody said: “The whosoeverwills are the elect and the whosoeverwon’ts are the nonelect.” God extends an invitation to ALL people. Whosoever will may come. God so loved the world. Whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish. That “whosoever” means you and me. You CAN come, but you must repent and forsake your sin. God knows who the elect are.
I don’t. Someone said: “On the door into Heaven, from our side, it says, “Whosoever will may enter.” When you get on the other side of the door someday in Heaven, you will look back, and on that door you will see written, “Chosen in Him before the foundation of the world.” I haven’t seen that side of the door yet, but one day I shall! What about you?

Chapter 9 . . . The Sovereignty of God
Closing Comments

Maybe you are a skeptic (doubter) trying to blame God out of your own ignorance for something to justify your own unbelief. Those that blame God for the lost sinners going to Hell, clearly know nothing about the awesome and sovereign God and the Christ of the Bible.

If you are in this group, below are some things that you do NOT believe about God and why you have a problem.

God is Love: John 3:16-18; 2 Pet.3:9; Rom.5:8-9
God is Omniscient (all-knowing): 1 John 3:20; Ps.94:11; 1 Kings 8:39; Heb. 4:13
God is all-wise: Rom.11:33; 1 Cor. 2:4
God is Omnipotent (all-powerful): Gen.18:14a; Mat.19:26; Rev.19:6
God is Longsuffering (patient): 2 Pet.3:9; Ex.34:6; 1Pet.3:20
God is Just (fair, always right): Deut.32:4; Isa.45:21
God is Righteous (honest, good): John 3:36; John 5:24
God is eternal (no beginning, no end): Isa.9:6; John 1:1-4; 8:58
God is the Creator (Maker of the Universe): John 1:1-3,10; 1 Cor.8:6; Col.1:16-17; Heb.1:2-3; 3:4
God will be the Judge on Judgment Day: Mat.7:22-23; 25:31-33,41; John 12:48; 1 Cor.3:11-15; 2 Cor.5:10; Rev.20:12-15

God will NEVER allow any unbeliever to enter Heaven; nor will He permit any believer to enter Hell. Skeptics attempt to reduce the Infinite, eternal God to their own finite thinking. Man cannot look into the mind of another and see what he is thinking, or what his mind will accept or reject in the future. Only God can see this.
Skeptics need to believe God when He said He loved the world (John 3:16) and is longsuffering and not willing any should perish (2 Pet.3:9). Believe God. There are millions of people in false religions who will NOT accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour. If you doubt God, you must start believing God and His Holy Word! Only then will you ever have "the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:7).

Please do NOT ever doubt God's love. He loves His Creation more than any human loves another. It fires up God’s wrath when someone accuses Him of being unjust, unfair and being a “liar” (1 John 5:10). God warns such persons in Isa.45:9, "Woe unto him that striveth with his maker..." Maybe you have doubts because you are not saved and cannot see things through the eyes of God, as clearly revealed in His Word. 1 Cor.2:14 tells us: "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." You must be born again: Except a man be born again, he cannot see..." (John 3:3; 1:12-13).

If you are not absolutely sure you are going to Heaven when you die, then you probably won’t. (1 John 5:13,19-20; 1:4; John 20:31; 5:24) You have the power to use your free will right now . . . put your trust in Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord and have the peace of knowing you have eternal life.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (KJV)
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.(KJV)
John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. (KJV)
1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (KJV) . . . You can KNOW!
John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. (KJV)
Rev. 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (KJV) . . . There is NOT one Scripture in the entire Bible which even remotely indicates that God CHOOSES those who will be saved. Such false doctrine goes against everything taught in the Word of God. Repeatedly, throughout the Bible, we see that men and women acted upon their OWN FREE WILL. When God instructed Noah to build an ark, Noah obeyed. But when God told Jonah to go preach in Nineveh, Jonah fled in disobedience. Clearly, both of these men acted by their own free will.

Jesus continually tried to convert the unbelieving Pharisees, but they were hard-hearted. In John 8:45 Jesus sated, "And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not." WHY would Jesus spend the time and effort trying to save these men (the Pharisees) if they were not elected to salvation? Does that make sense to you? If election to salvation were true, then the Bible is confusing when it says in Romans 10:13, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." I am so thankful that the Word of God is NOT confusing. Election to salvation is a counterfeit doctrine, a damnable heresy (2 Pet.2:1). The Word of God shouts out loud and clear that ANYONE can be saved . . . IF they will come as a humbled sinner to the cross of Jesus Christ for forgiveness. It is Jesus' precious Blood that washes our sins away.
1 Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; [19] But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (KJV)

How dare anyone have the audacity to teach that only certain people are chosen to salvation, when the Bible clearly states the complete opposite! HERETICS!
1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (KJV) . . . WHO are you going to believe? God? Or man?
John 5:40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. (KJV) . . . NOTICE: Jesus did NOT say: "ye cannot come"! He said: "ye WILL NOT COME."
It is our own personal decision, by our own free will, to either reject or accept the Saviour. What is your decision?

Our Journey

There is a journey, we all must take,
And many decisions, we must make.
God gives us this time on Earth, to decide,
Where in eternity, we’ll reside.

There are only two, specific roads,
As we consider, our final abode.
A broad road to Hell, a small one to Heav’n,
We have a choice, God graciously has giv’n.

We can travel, that broad road to Hell,
Where Satan and his angels, shall dwell.
We’re Satan’s children, if him we follow,
But if we do, we’ll have much sorrow,

But we can walk, that small road to Heav’n,
If we have half, the sense we were giv’n.
Why would we choose, e’er lasting agony?
When we could have life, eternally?

Utter fools, or wise . . . which shall it be?
As we journey on, to eternity.
Ne’er ending agony, eternal bliss?
My friend, we all must think of this!

Life is a gift, God gives me and you,
To make a decision, what will you do?
Which road will you walk, as you go your way?
Please make the right decision, this day!
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By: His servant, Connie Kramer Dec.23,2008 #1207
Mat.7:13-14; 25:41; Rev.20:15; John 14:2-3; 1 John 3:10

Life on Earth

Your life on Earth, one day shall end,
Do you have Christ Jesus, as your Friend?
Or do you with the devil’s crowd play?
You must choose your path, as you go your way.

Some will tell you, that God chooses you,
And that there is nothing, you can do.
My dear friend, that is the devil’s lie,
You CAN choose Jesus, and on Him rely.

You must choose, to walk in Jesus’ light,
Stay away from Satan’s road, dark as night.
You DO have a choice, you can decide,
Where in eternity, you will reside.

Do you have a sin, you won’t forsake?
I’m here to tell you, that’s a big mistake.
Does old Satan, have his hook in you?
You can be one, of God’s faithful few.

There are just two roads, to eternity,
We must choose the right one, you and me.
The narrow road leads, to Heav’n above,
The broad road goes to Hell, far from God’s love.

You CAN be one, of God’s chosen few,
Open your heart’s door, and Christ shall rescue.
You CAN one day, live with Christ on high,
Choose Him this day, and on Him rely.
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By His servant, Connie Kramer July 29, 2009 # 1236
You have a free will, and power to use it. Choose wisely.

The TRUTH About SALVATION

How does a person get to Heaven? Some teach that if the good things you do outweigh the bad, God will let you in. That is FALSE! If you believe that, you are headed for Hell (John 3:16, 36; 8:24; 14:6).

There is only ONE Way to Heaven according to the Bible. That is faith in the Blood of Jesus Christ. You could NEVER do enough good deeds in 100 life times to permit you access to Heaven. You could NEVER buy your way to Heaven with all the money in the world. You can NEVER perform enough rituals or sacraments no matter what church you belong to. Faith in Christ is the only way.

The Bible tells us we all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Rom.3:23. Since God allows nothing bad or evil to enter Heaven (Rev.21:8, 22:15), no sinner is permitted. We must first believe God, and trust and accept what Jesus did for us on the cross. Only then will the Father credit our account with the righteousness of His Son (1 Cor.1:30; Rom.3:22, 25-26). Only our faith in Jesus can make us right in God’s eyes, just as Abraham’s faith made him right in God’s eyes all those many years ago (Rom. 3:25-26; 4:3,5-6, 9,22; Gal.3:6).

We have no righteousness of our own (Isa.64:6), any righteousness we possess must come through faith in Christ (Philip. 3:9; Rom.5:1-2).

If you think you can EARN your way to Heaven, if you think you can establish your own righteousness, you are SO wrong! IF you could earn your way to Heaven, then our precious Jesus died for nothing!
Galatians 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. (KJV) . . . If we could be saved by keeping the law, or doing good, then there was no need for Christ to die.

God is pure and holy. We are vile sinners, and actually we are His enemies (Rom.5:10). God cannot even look at sin. We must be made “right” in His eyes to have fellowship with Him. Only acceptance of Jesus justifies us, gives us access to the Father and makes us His friends (Rom.5:1-10). There is NO other way! Many say that Way is too narrow (Mat.7:13-14). But friend, that Way is wide enough for the whole world if they choose to walk it!

Many who seek God are confused about what He wants them to do. False teachers give so many answers to this question. But salvation really is simple. Pleasing God does not come from ANY work we do, but from Whom we believe. You must believe Jesus is who He claims to be. We must, like Peter believe He is the Christ, the Son of the living God (Mat.16:16).
John 6:28-29 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? [29] Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. (KJV) . . . The only “work” God desires of us is belief! Believe in FAITH!

Salvation is a Gift (Rom.6:23; Eph.2:8-9)! It is absolutely FREE to “whosoever.”
John 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (KJV) . . . Only Christ Jesus has the one and only KEY to Heaven! IF we believe in Him, we HAVE everlasting life in Heaven (John 5:24). Believe God! Do NOT call Him a “liar” (1 John 5:10-12).

GOD IS SOVEREIGN!

Psalm 135:6 Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas,
and all deep places. (KJV)

Isaiah 42:8-9 I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another,
neither my praise to graven images. [9] Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. (KJV)

Isaiah 46:9-10 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, [10] Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: (KJV)

Consider the sovereign nature of Jesus! Jesus IS God!!!!

CHRIST JESUS IS OUR . . .
· Advocate. 1 John 2:1; · Almighty. Rev. 1:8; · Alpha and Omega. Rev. 1:8;· Amen. Rev. 3:14; Arm of the Lord. Isaiah 51:9-10; · Author and finisher of our faith. Heb.12:2; · Beloved. Eph. 1:6; · Bishop. 1 Peter 2:25; · Blessed and only Potentate. 1 Tim. 6:15; · Branch. Jeremiah 23:5; Zech. 3:8; · Bread of life. John 6:48; · Bridegroom. Matthew 9:15; · Bright and morning star. Rev. 22:1; · Captain of salvation. Hebrews 2:10; · Chief Shepherd. 1 Peter 5:4; · Chief corner stone. 1 Peter 2:6; · Christ. Matthew 1:16; Luke 9:20; · The Christ. Matthew 16:20; Mark 14:61; · Christ, a King. Luke 23:2; · Christ Jesus. Acts 19:4; Romans 3:24; Romans 8:1; 1 Cor. 1:2; 1 Cor. 1:30; Hebrews 3:1; 1 Peter 5:10; 1 Peter 5:14; · Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39; 1 Tim. 1:12; · Christ of God. Luke 9:20; · Christ, the chosen of God. Luke 23:35; · Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11; Christ the power of God. 1 Cor. 1:24; · Christ the wisdom of God. 1 Cor. 1:24; · Christ, the Son of God. Acts 9:20; · Christ, Son of the Blessed. Mark 14:61; · Corner stone. Eph. 2:20; · Counsellor. Isaiah 9:6; Door. John 10:7; · Elect. Isaiah 42:1; · Eternal life. 1 John 5:20; · Everlasting Father. Isaiah 9:6; · Faithful and True. Rev. 19:11; · Faithful witness. Rev. 1:5; · Faithful and true witness. Rev. 3:14; · Finisher of faith. Hebrews 12:2; · First and last. Rev. 1:17; Rev. 2:8; Rev. 22:13; · Friend of sinners. Matthew 11:19; · Gift of God. John 4:10; · God. John 1:1; · God’s dear Son. Col. 1:13; · God with us. Matthew 1:23; · Good Master. Matthew 19:16; · Great shepherd of the sheep. Hebrews 13:20 · Heir of all things. Hebrews 1:2; · Hope (our). 1 Tim. 1:1; · Jesus Christ. Matthew 1:1; John 1:17; John 17:3; Acts 2:38; Acts 4:10; Acts 9:34; Acts 10:36; Acts 16:18; Romans 1:1; Romans 1:3; Romans 1:6; Romans 2:16; Romans 5:15; Romans 5:17; Romans 6:3; 1 Cor. 1:1; 1 Cor. 1:4; 1 Cor. 2:2; 2 Cor. 1:19; 2 Cor. 4:6; 2 Cor. 13:5; Galatians 2:16; Phil. 1:8; Phil. 2:11; 1 Tim. 1:15; Hebrews 13:8; 1 John 1:7; 1 John 2:1 · Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 1:3; Romans 6:11; Romans 6:23; 1 Cor. 1:9; 1 Cor. 7:25; · Jesus Christ our Saviour. Titus 3:6; · Jesus, the King of the Jews. Matthew 27:37· Jesus, the Son of God. Hebrews 4:14 · King. Matthew 21:5 · King of saints. Rev. 15:3· King of kings. 1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 17:14 · King of glory. Psalm 24:7-10 · King over all the earth. Zech. 14:9 · Lamb. Rev. 5:6; Rev. 5:8; Rev. 6:16; Rev. 7:9-10; Rev. 7:17; Rev. 12:11; Rev. 13:8; Rev. 13:11; Rev. 14:1; Rev. 14:4; Rev. 15:3; Rev. 17:14; Rev. 19:7; Rev. 19:9; Rev. 21:9; Rev. 21:14; Rev. 21:22-23; Rev. 21:27· Lamb of God. John 1:29 · Lawgiver. Isaiah 33:22 · Leader. Isaiah 55:4 · Life. John 14:6 · Light. John 8:12 · Light, everlasting. Isaiah 60:20· Light of the world. John 8:12 · Light, true. John 1:9 · Living bread. John 6:51 · Living stone. 1 Peter 2:4 · Lord. Romans 1:3 · Lord of lords. Rev. 17:14; Rev. 19:16· Lord of all. Acts 10:36· Lord our righteousness. Jeremiah 23:6 · Lord God Almighty. Rev. 15:3 · Lord from heaven. 1 Cor. 15:47 · Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:11; 2 Peter 3:18 · Lord Christ. Col. 3:24 · Lord Jesus. Acts 7:59; Col. 3:17; 1 Thes. 4:12 · Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 11:17; Acts 16:31; Acts 20:21; Romans 5:1; Romans 5:11; Romans 13:14 · Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. Titus 1:4 · Lord of glory. James 2:1· Lord of Hosts. Isaiah 44:6 · Lord the dead and living. Romans 14:9 · Master. Matthew 23:8· Mediator. 1 Tim. 2:5 Power of God. 1 Cor. 1:24 · Physician. Matthew 9:12 · Precious corner stone. Isaiah 28:16· Priest. Hebrews 7:17· Prince. Acts 5:31· Prince of life. Acts 3:15· Prince of peace. Isaiah 9:6 · Prince of the kings of the earth. Rev. 1:5 · Prophet. Deut. 18:15; Deut. 18:18; Matthew 21:11; Luke 24:19 · Propitiation. 1 John 2:2 · Redeemer. Isaiah 59:20 · Resurrection and life. John 11:25 · Redemption. 1 Cor. 1:30 · Righteousness. 1 Cor. 1:30 · Rock. 1 Cor. 10:4 · Rock of offence. 1 Peter 2:8 · Salvation. Luke 2:30 · Sanctification. 1 Cor. 1:30 · Saviour. Luke 2:11 · Saviour, Jesus Christ. 2 Tim. 1:10; Titus 2:13; 2 Peter 1:1 Saviour of the body. Eph. 5:23 · Saviour of the world. 1 John 4:14 · Shepherd. Mark 14:27 Shepherd and bishop of souls. 1 Peter 2:25 · Shepherd, chief. 1 Peter 5:4 · Shepherd, good. John 10:11 · Shepherd, great. Hebrews 13:20 · Shepherd of Israel. Psalm 80:1 · Shiloh. Genesis 49:10 · Son of the Father. 2 John 1:3 · Son of the blessed. Mark 14:61 · Son of the highest. Luke 1:32 · Star. Numbers 24:17 · Sun of righteousness. Malachi 4:2 · Stone of stumbling. 1 Peter 2:8 · Sure foundation. Isaiah 28:16 · Teacher. John 3:2 · True God. 1 John 5:20 True vine. John 15:1 · Truth. John 14:6 · Unspeakable gift. 2 Cor. 9:15 · Very Christ. Acts 9:22 Vine. John 15:1 Way. John 14:6 · Which is, which was, which is to come. Rev. 1:4 · Wisdom. Proverbs 8:12 · Wisdom of God. 1 Cor. 1:24 · Witness. Isaiah 55:4; Rev. 1:5 · Wonderful. Isaiah 9:6 · Word. John 1:1
If you use His Name (CHRISTian), you MUST depart from evil. 2 Tim. 2:19

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Christ Jesus is the:
The Righteous One (Isa.53:11; Jer.23:5; Acts 3:14; 7:52; 22:14) Saviour (Luke 2:11; John 4:42; Acts 5:31; 13:23; Eph. 5:23; Phil. 3:20; 2 Tim.1:10; Titus 1:4; 2:13; 3:6; 2 Pet.1:1, 11; 2:20; 3:2, 18; 1 John 4:14; Jude 25) Redeemer (Rom 3:24-26; 1Cor. 1:30; Gal 1:4; 4:5; Eph 1:7; Col 1:14, 20-22; Tit 2:14; Heb, 9:12, 15) The Word (John 1:1, 14; 1 John 1:1; Rev.19:13) Creator (John 1:3; Col.1:16; Heb.1:2) The light (Mat.4:16; Lk.2:32; John 1:9; 8:12; Eph.5:8-14; Col.1:12-13) Lamb of God (Isa.53:7; John 1:29, 36; Acts 8:32; 1 Pet.1:19; Rev.5:6; 6:16; 7:14; 12:11; 13:8; 14:1; 15:3; 17:14; 19:7; 21:9; 22:1, 3) The Alpha and the Omega (Rev.1:8, 11; 17; 21:6; 22:13) Our Advocate, our Mediator (1 John 2:1; 1 Tim.2:5; Heb.8:6; 9:15; 12:24) The image of God (Col.1:15; Heb.1:3) The chief cornerstone (Ps.118:22; Isa.28:16; Mat.21:42; 1 Cor.3:11-15; Eph.2:20; 1 Pet.2:6-7, 16) Priesthood of Christ (Heb.2:7; 3:1; 9:11, 24) Messiah, Christ (Dan.9:25-26; John 1:41; 4:25, 29; 7:26-27, 31, 41-42; 10:24; Acts 3:20; 9:22; 18:28; Rom. 9:5) King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev.17:14; 19:16;) Shepherd (Ps.23:1-6; 80:1; Isa.40:11; Zec,13:7; John 10:1-18; 21:15-17; Heb.13:20; 1 Pet.2:25; 5:4) The bread of life (John 6:35, 48) The water of life (John 4:14; 7:37-39; Rev 21:6; 22:17) The door (John 10:9) The life (John 1:4; 11:25-26; 14:6; 1 John 1:1-2; Col.3:4) The way (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Heb.10:19-20) Lord of all (Acts 10:36) Judge (Mat.16::27; 25:31-46; John 5:22, 27; Acts 10:42; 17:31; 2 Cor. 5:10; 2 Tim. 4:1, 8; Rev.19:11-21; 20:11-15). John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (KJV)