Tag Archives: Religion and Spirituality

February 18, 2024 · 10:00

God Is Particular

(For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth. (Deuteronomy 6:15)

This year I have been following a chronological reading plan for reading the Bible through in the year, and currently, I am trudging through the book of Leviticus. Beginning with Exodus 20 when God speaks the Ten Commandments in the hearing of the children of Israel, Scripture goes into tedious detail for the proper worship of God by the Israelites.

Not only do the Scriptures detail the “thou shalt not” commandments, but every minute detail of the construction of the Tabernacle with all of its implements, and the garments of the priests, especially that of the high priest. The methods and occasions for the offering of sacrifices follows that in great detail. Reading the monotonous minutia might make the reader skip over all of those pages to get to more interesting reading, like Numbers. One is tempted to wonder why God would put all of that boring stuff in the Bible and actually expect readers to take it seriously.

For Christians, who are under grace and not under the Law, the reading may seem non-applicable, and to some degree, that is true. We who are born-again, Spirit-filled, children of God ARE the Temple of God[1] and priests unto God.[2] That being the case, where is the value in reading monotonous tedium? Much indeed.

The sacrificial system prescribed by God to Moses made clear God’s view of sin. To God, ALL sin is repulsive. That was true then and it is true today. When one considers the amount of blood shed for every manner of sin, one wonders how their herds were never depleted. To our animal-loving Western minds, the slaughter of innocent animals and the method (the throat was slit to drain blood while the heart continues to pump) for the holocaust is grotesque – it had to be. The revolting procedure dramatically illustrated how abhorrent sin is to God.

God specifies in great detail exactly how the priests were to handle the sacrifice. God gives precise descriptions on how to make the oil for the lampstand, the bread for the showbread, the incense for the altar of incense, and how to maintain all these things on a perpetual basis. Even if one scans quickly through these pages, it becomes readily apparent that God is very particular about how He is to be worshiped. However, this is not a new revelation.

From the beginning, God shed the blood of innocent animals to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve after the Fall.[3] Apparently, the practice of sacrificing animals for sin in worship to God continued because later we find Cain and Abel sacrificing to God. However, Cain did not offer his sacrifice in the prescribed manner, so his offering was rejected by God.[4] The practice continued until the time of Noah and afterward with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel). However, the practice was not codified until God gave the Law to Moses. Not long after the Tabernacle was dedicated and the form of worship was implemented, the first infraction took place. Two of Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu (priests), took fire for the incense altar from somewhere other than from the altar of sacrifice (outside the tent) as prescribed. For their disobedience, God rained fire from heaven and incinerated them instantly.[5] God made His point clear. He is particular about the way He is worshipped.

The modern-day Christian might ask, “What does this have to do with us?” I asked myself the same question. However, as I browsed the minutia, which is not minutia to God, the broad understanding I gleaned is that God is particular about how His people approach Him in worship. We, Christians, are far removed from the sacrificial system and are not bound by the Levitical laws. Jesus is our once-and-for-all sacrifice. “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us” (Hebrews 9:11-12, emphasis mine).

For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he [the Lord Jesus Christ] cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I [Jesus speaking], Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man [Jesus], after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. (Hebrews 10:1-13, emphasis mine)

So, Jesus, by His sacrifice on the cross, ended the sacrificial system prescribed by the Law. As He breathed out His final breath, He proclaimed, “It is finished”[6] – paid in full. For those who are “born again,” who have placed their faith and trust in Christ, the rigors of the Levitical system of worship have been done away. Does that mean that God no longer cares about how we approach Him in worship? Is He less worthy of awe and reverence now than when He struck down Aaron’s sons for bringing “strange fire” before Him? I think not.

How one comes before God is a matter of one’s personal attitude, so I cannot judge the condition of an individual’s heart. However, as I observe many public gatherings called “worship services,” the focus of the activities seems designed to stir the emotions of the “worshipers,” and even though Christian lingo is randomly repeated, the direction of the “worship” is horizontal (i.e., human to human) rather than vertical.

I follow several well-known pastors who I consider to be very biblically sound and who preach the Gospel without reservation, yet, before they stand to preach, their “band” comes out to warm up the congregation in preparation for the sermon. As the cameras scan the crowd, some stand there unmoved while others raise their hands and sway to the music as if they are at a rock concert.  I wonder how God, Who was so particular in the OT about how He was to be worshipped, feels about the “worship” offered up these days. Indeed, far too often that worship is man-centered, not God-centered; it is not even directed to God. It is all about us and how we feel. Again, I cannot judge the heart of individual worshipers; only God can see into the heart, but what I observe on the surface comes across more as entertainment than worship.

So, regardless of the “atmosphere” of the “worship service” in which we participate, we need to remove all distractions from our minds and focus our thoughts, our minds, and our hearts on the greatness and majesty of our awesome, all-mighty, Creator God. Let Him be the object of our worship, not the performers on the stage.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable [act of worship]. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).

Notes:

[1]  1 Corinthians 3:16

[2]  Revelation 1:6

[3]  Genesis 3:21

[4]  Genesis 4:3-5

[5]  Leviticus 10:1-2

[6]  John 19:30

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February 11, 2024 · 10:00

The Diorama

Dr. Henry M. Morris III checking on the progress of the Life of Christ Diorama. The beautiful bald head belongs to the author.

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

The Institute for Creation Research (ICR) opened the Discovery Center for Science and Earth History (DC) on Labor Day of 2019. As the year kicked off, the final touches were being added, tweaked, and polished before the big opening day.

The previous year, a wealthy donor presented to ICR his extensive collection of biblical figurines depicting the life of Christ. The collection included thousands of figurines, buildings, and miscellaneous accent pieces. The leadership of ICR decided that they wanted to take what was given and create a “Life of Christ” diorama which would be displayed at the end of the DC exhibit hall. The diorama would be across from the Empty Tomb display and occupy the corner leading to the “Return of the King” theater.

Because space would be limited, the entire collection of figurines and buildings could not be used, so the decision was made to limit the display to 16 significant scenes of the life of Christ. Once the scenes were determined, Dr. Henry M. Morris III, CEO of ICR at that time, tasked me with finding artisans who could create the diorama.

I got to work immediately and started contacting all the railroad modeling clubs around the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Because these clubs are experienced in creating scenery for their railroad displays, I naturally assumed that they would jump at the chance to create something significant and make some serious money for their clubs. ICR would naturally pay a fair wage for their work. However, after several months of making contacts, I did not get a single nibble.

In the process, I located a man who was willing to do the work, but he was a “one-man-band.” He said he could certainly do the work, but he could not possibly complete the task in time for the opening of the DC. Another man was recommended to me by one of my co-workers, but this man looked at our collection and determined that the project was beneath his artistic talents. Finally, I stumbled across a company in Dallas that specialized in these kinds of displays. Their representative came and looked at our collection and after a couple of weeks came back with an estimate to do the job. This company employed a large team of artisans. Even with their large crew, they could not promise completion before the middle of August – two weeks before opening day. Their estimate for the job was a shocking $175,000! ICR is an NPO that exists through the generosity of its donors, so the price was completely unacceptable to Dr. Morris.

It was mid-March 2019 by this time, and I was all out of options. Dr. Morris previously mentioned that he wanted each scene in the diorama to stand alone so that each was distinct and easily identifiable. Having no other options, I went to Dr. Henry and made one final suggestion. Since the room where the diorama would reside was painted black and the platform on which it would sit was black, I suggested that we arrange boxes of varying heights and sizes to accommodate the 16 scenes and cover the whole thing with black cloth. The scenes could then be arranged on the boxes and all spotlighted. This way, each scene would be isolated without distracting one from another. It was not a great idea, but it seemed that we had no other choice, so Dr. Henry accepted my lame idea.

The following week, I left for California for a conference. When I returned a week later, Dr. Henry called me into the office and informed me that the box idea was out and that I would be creating the diorama.

“I can’t do that!” I complained. “I’ve never worked with that material. I wouldn’t know where to begin!” I whined.

“You can do it,” Dr. Henry assured me. “You built the Ark!” (Which is on display in the DC.)

“Yes,” I reminded him, “but that took me five years!  And we only have four months to get this done. Even the professionals said they can’t get it done in that time.”

“You will do it,” Dr. Herny reassured me, “but it needs to be completed by the end of June when we will begin giving previews to our donors.”

I was not so sure, but Dr. Henry assured me that I could recruit all the help I needed to get the job done. I learned that one of my co-workers (JK) had dabbled in railroad modeling and had built several railroad dioramas. He knew how to use the materials for building dioramas. I recruited him as my primary helper. His supervisor objected severely to me taking him away from his primary responsibility, but Dr. Herny overruled his objection.  JK not only knew exactly what to do, but he taught me many of the skills needed to get the job done.

One of the challenges we faced was making the figurines appear to be standing on solid ground. The figurines were made to stand on a tabletop, so they were all molded standing on pedestals. That, of course, would be distracting when they were to be placed on “turf.” We built the landscape by stacking Styrofoam insulation of varying thicknesses to sculpt the Judean topography. So, we carved holes into the foam of the size and depth of the figurine pedestals and set the figurines into the carved-out spaces so that their feet were at “ground level” with the topography. Once the turf material was applied, the pedestals disappeared. (See below.)

One other big challenge I faced was that the collection came with a “Temple” that was clearly of Greco-Roman architecture. It was totally incompatible with the Jewish Temple, so I cast that aside and built a Temple replica that, at least visually, looked more like the Jewish Temple. Once the diorama was completed and in place, I discovered that the graphics created for kiosks in front of the diorama contained images of the Temple that looked almost exactly like the replica I built. That was totally a God thing!

I had a lot of help in building the diorama, so I cannot take full credit for it. JK possessed excellent skills and had a good eye for detail. One lady (KM) was very artistic and re-painted many of the figurines to make them look more Middle Eastern (they were all very European-looking figurines). She also painted the Temple and many of the buildings to look like Jerusalem limestone. She painted a lot of exposed rock formations as well. KM did terrific work! Another lady (RB) was very good at following directions and did not mind getting her hands dirty. She was great at staging the figurines in the proper position for the scene. However, the One who did the greatest work was God. We started the work about mid-April,  completed the entire project, and installed it in place by the middle of June. That was a miracle only God could perform. The professionals with a team of professional artists could not promise the completion in time for opening day, and here, a bunch of amateurs got it done with time to spare. That is a God thing!

After the DC opened, I retired from ICR at the end of the year. In my retirement, I had the opportunity to volunteer as a docent from time to time. It always gave me a great sense of satisfaction to observe visitors as they scrutinized the diorama. They took in every detail!

I live far from DC now, so I do not have the opportunity to visit anymore. But as I remember the work we did there to get the DC up and running, I am reminded of what God can do through us when we place our trust in Him for the outcome. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

I received the picture at the beginning of this post this week from Dr. Henry’s son, H-4. It revived a lot of good memories.

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January 14, 2024 · 10:00

Not Too Cold For Squirrels!

Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough … (Isaiah 56:11)

Columbus, Nebraska experienced bitter cold, biting northerly winds, and blowing snow this past week (January 7-13, 2024), and the forecast calls for more of the same in the following week. On days like this, I thank God for a nice, warm, well-insulated home that shelters us from the elements. Columbus won dubious notoriety for the greatest snowfall amount in the area with 13 inches of snow on Monday. More snow followed on Tuesday with strong winds creating deep snow drifts. Some of the drifts around my house were more than three feet deep. Then again on Thursday and into Friday (as I write this article) more snow and wind continued making the snow drifts deeper and covering all the areas I had cleared on Wednesday.

That said, occasional excursions into the blast chiller are necessary even for brief moments. So it was on Friday morning. As routine demands, our dogs, Chico and Lizzie, woke me for their morning potty run. When I opened the back door (which faces north and directly into the wind), I found that all the paths, which I had cleared earlier in the week, were completely covered up with deep snow. However, it was not as deep along the north side of our house, so the dogs could take the easier path in the direction (east) of my shed. The shed is situated behind our garage with about a three-foot concrete walkway between the two buildings. The space provides partial protection against the blowing snow, so the dogs have learned to take advantage of the clearing to get them to their favorite potty place.

The dogs quickly found the easy path and took it. Chico, being older and wiser, quickly took care of business and wasted no time returning to the warmth of the den. Lizzie, on the other hand, went around the shed (out of my sight) to her usual potty spot on the north and east sides of the shed. While there, she spotted a squirrel up in the giant Linden tree that towers over our backyard. The squirrel probably spotted Lizzie first and started chattering at her – squirrel smack talk.

Seeing the squirrel, Lizzie forgot all about her business and went after the insulting tree rat securely perched in its towering fortress. Lizzy, totally oblivious to the three-foot snowdrift between her quarry, charged headlong into the mountain of snow. Lizzie is about 10 inches tall at the shoulders, so the snowdrift is way over her head. However, that did not stop her.

Having successfully navigated the frosty obstacle, she arrived at the base of the tree. Remarkably, the ground around the base of the tree was mostly bare of snow, giving Lizzie a clear path for circling her prey. The squirrel, secure in its lofty perch above continued to hurl insults to the barking dog. Undeterred and oblivious to the bitter elements, Lizzie continued her assault.  I called her several times, but she ignored me; she had a higher calling. At one point, she looked back at the path she blazed earlier and decided it was more effort than the effort she was exerting on the squirrel. I continued to call, and she continued to ignore me.

Seeing I was getting nowhere with her, I decided to go after her. That meant I would have to bundle up, get the show shovel, and dig my way over to her. After about 15 minutes of digging into the stiff north wind, I arrived at the base of the tree and my crazy dog. Thankfully, she did come when I called. I picked her up and took her into the garage where June, my wife, was waiting to do the deicing. Lizzie was covered with tightly packed snow from head to tail, which June had to comb out of her hair. Apparently, the cold finally hit her and she shivered like I had never seen before. June wrapped her up in a warm blanket and held her until she finally warmed up. June said that her belly was pink indicating that it was close to frostbite.

Since that time, we have made several more trips outside, but the excursions have been brief and down-to-business. At least for now, she seems to have learned her lesson.

This experience brought to mind our sinful condition. The squirrel represents the strong temptations that we often face. Like Lizzie, we chase after those distractions to the point that we become blind to the danger that surrounds us. God calls out to us, but we ignore Him. Then, when we find ourselves trapped and running around in circles with no apparent way out, God comes to the rescue to dig us out of our trap.

While God does rescue us from our troubles, sometimes He will leave us in our trap to teach us a lesson. Of course, that is provided that we are one of His children. We need to take care that we do not presume on God’s love for His children thinking that He will surely dig us out of the mess into which we get ourselves. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7). However, if you unwittingly dig yourself into a pit, He will dig you out if you will call out to Him.

P.S.

Saturday morning when I let the dogs out for their morning run, and Lizzie once again plowed through the deep snowdrifts to get to the tree where the squirrels reside. However, the squirrels, who may be a little smarter than Lizzie, were in their nest high up in the tree trying to survive the bitter cold not caring at all about the dog below. Overnight, the wind had blown snow over the path I blazed the day before. It was as if there had never been a path there before. I called her to come, but she ignored me and kept circling the tree and looking up as if offering an invitation to the squirrels to come down and play.  Once again, I had to dig my way over to rescue her before she got frostbite. Some people just never learn!

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January 7, 2024 · 10:00

How Are Humans Affecting Climate?

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, (Romans 1:21-22)

It should not be a shock to anyone that a cabal of super-rich elites seeks to dominate the world by imposing ridiculous and drastic measures to reduce the human population and establish themselves as the dominating class of a utopian world. In an article published on the AMAC ™ website, Ben Shapiro says, “They appoint themselves the representatives of global interests — without elections, without accountability — and then create mechanisms of national and international order to control citizens over whom they claim to preside.”[1]

One of the sharpest arrows in their quiver claims that humans cause climate change. (Several years ago it was “global cooling,” but then the planet started warming. Then the danger came from “global warming,” but the planet started to cool again. In order to maintain a heightened level of panic over the demise of the planet, they changed the verbiage to “climate change.” That covers all variants, and they are all bad.)

Of course, anyone who pays attention knows that the earth’s temperatures fluctuate periodically. It’s called “weather,” and humans have nothing to do with it. Sadly, though, far too many, self-focused people ignorantly accept what the elitists say because it is backed by “science.” If “science” says so, it must be true. There is no need to think about it any further; let’s go have some fun!

However, is it really true that science confirms that humans cause climate change? Actually, more scientists reject the notion that “climate change” (in the scary sense) exists at all, much less that humans are the cause than those scientists (who are bought and paid for by the elites) that champion the idea.

In September 2019, 500 scientists signed a letter to the Secretary General of the UN, António Guterres, stating that there is no climate emergency. In the letter, they offered at least seven points challenging the notion. “(1) Natural as well as anthropogenic factors cause warming. (2) Warming is far slower than predicted. (3) Climate policy relies on inadequate models. (4) CO2 is not a pollutant. It is a plant food that is essential to all life on Earth. Photosynthesis is a blessing. More CO2 is beneficial for nature, greening the Earth: additional CO2 in the air has promoted growth in global plant biomass. It is also good for agriculture, increasing the yields of crops worldwide. (5) Global warming has not increased natural disasters. (6) Climate policy must respect scientific and economic realities. (7) There is no climate emergency. Therefore, there is no cause for panic.”[2] Have you heard about any of this in the media (which is bought and paid for by the elites)?

Of course, this does not deter the elitists. Their minds are made up; there is no need to confuse them with facts. They are charging full-steam-ahead with their mission to panic the peons into submission with their message of certain doom if we do not stop breathing and expelling our noxious gasses into the atmosphere. In order to help things along, we need to stop driving gasoline-powered cars and start driving electric cars. There is no need for concern that the power to charge those electric vehicles comes from power plants using fossil fuels. We also need to stop eating beef because cows pollute the air with their methane exhaust.  Ireland is acting proactively to do its part in combatting the climate emergency by killing off its cattle.[3] The elites would also have us live in “15-minute cities” where all of our needs can be met within 15 minutes of our homes. We would not be allowed to leave our area except for once a year and only if our “social credit scores,” imposed on us by the elites, allow it; and it would be closely monitored. China already does that to its subjects, and the globalists think it is the model for all of the world. In the words of Klaus Schwab, “You will own nothing and be happy.”

What is all this really about? Well, without getting too deep into the weeds, it is about power and it is about the destruction of humanity. It finds its roots in Genesis 3 when Satan caused Adam and Eve to sin. It happened again when the “sons of God” procreated with the “daughters of men” and spoiled the human race (except for Noah and his family).[4] Satan hates humans because they are created in the image of God and to them has God given dominion over the earth.[5] However, that dominion was temporarily lost, and it is now waiting for Jesus to return to reclaim it.[6] In the meantime, Satan wants to do all he can to leave Jesus with nothing left to reclaim. It will not work, but that does not stop him.

The globalist elites likewise, acting under Satan’s direction whether they know it or not, want to rid the world of “useless eaters” and bring the population down to a respectable 500-million (last I heard). “Climate change” is their weapon of choice. They believe they can accomplish their goal because they do not know God nor do they believe in Him. The “sheeple” who fall for their propaganda do so because they do not believe in God either.

Anyone who believes in God and in God’s Word does not live in fear that the planet will get too hot or too cold due to human agency. God made an unconditional promise after the Flood saying that He would not destroy the earth because of man.

And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying, And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you; And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth. And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth. And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: (Genesis 9:8-12, emphasis mine)

The “token” of the covenant – God’s unconditional promise – was the rainbow that He set in the clouds as a reminder to us of His unconditional promise. That “token” has been perverted by Satan as he attempts to pervert everything that God has made. However, that changes nothing. God again restated His promise:

And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth. (Genesis 9:15-17, emphasis mine)

The Flood God sent upon the earth was truly a climate catastrophe. There was nothing like it before and there has not been anything like it since. These elites who “profess themselves to be wise have become fools.”[7] The psalmist says, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good” (Psalm 14:1, emphasis mine). If they believed in God, whether they knew Him personally or not, they would understand that the climate is under God’s control and there is nothing man can do to alter it. God promised, “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease” (Genesis 8:22). Global warming, global cooling, it’s called weather, and it is under God’s control.

So, don’t listen to the climate alarmists. They are fools. Trust God and His Word.

Notes:

[1]  https://amac.us/newsline/society/the-elitists-who-want-to-rule-the-world/

[2]  https://www.aei.org/carpe-diem/there-is-no-climate-emergency-say-500-experts-in-letter-to-the-united-nations/

[3]  https://humanevents.com/2023/06/03/ireland-moves-to-slaughter-200000-cows-over-climate-concerns

[4]  Genesis 6

[5]  Genesis 1:26-28

[6]  Revelation 5:6-8

[7]  Romans 1:22

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December 3, 2023 · 10:00

Chose or Chosen?

For many are called, but few are chosen. (Matthew 22:14)

I have found some Christian brothers that have strong Calvinist leanings. I accept most of the five points of Calvinism to some degree – Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints (T.U.L.I.P.) – but I cannot fully embrace U, L, and I. I completely agree with T and P – the Total Depravity of man, and the Perseverance of the Saints, i.e., “once saved, always saved.”

As already noted, the points that give me the most grief are U and L. Unconditional Election says that God predetermined from the beginning of time who would be saved and who would be damned for eternity. The argument is that God is sovereign, and He can do exactly as He pleases (no argument there). A favorite verse used to make this point is Romans 9:15 “For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” Here Paul referred to the time when Moses wanted to “see” God’s glory and God responded, “And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy” (Exodus 33:19, emphasis mine). Clearly, God was not speaking in soteriological terms. Indeed, neither was Paul in making the reference to Moses. When taken in context, Paul was referring to God’s sovereignty in determining the course of salvation in general, not in particular.

Limited Atonement builds on Unconditional Election. Limited Atonement says that Jesus died only for those who were unconditionally elected for salvation. That eliminates all the “whosoever” verses beginning with 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” (emphasis mine). Since the Bible is always true and does not contradict itself in any way, this verse alone should serve to debunk Limited Atonement.

To a limited degree, I also disagree with Irresistible Grace. It is the Holy Spirit who convicts the individual’s heart of sin (John 16:8) and convinces him of his need for the Savior. The “call” is ubiquitous (Romans 1:20), however, it is felt more strongly in some than it is in others. Thus, it can indeed be resisted, and more resist the call than respond to it (Matthew 7:13-14).

The Bible speaks to both man’s autonomy in choosing and God’s work of “election.” I maintain that the answer is “Somewhere in the Middle,” and neither side of the argument can hold his view dogmatically.

Recently the debate came up again in my church. I made my case and the other side made their case and neither side convinced the other, which is usually the case. However, the fact that this debate keeps raising its ugly head, I determined to “Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39). I looked in the New Testament for all the verses I could find related to salvation for the individual. I divided my findings into three categories: (1) Choice/Free Will, (2) Predestination/Election, and (3) verses that can apply to both sides. Here is what I found: for Category 1, there were 77 verses; for Category 2, there were 15 verses. Of those, 7, when read in context, suggest that the “predestination” is of “purpose” not of salvation; for Category 3 there were 17. Rather than argue one side or the other, I think it best to allow the Bible to speak for itself, and the reader can decide for himself.

Verses for Category 1: Matthew 7:13-14, 24; 10:32-33; 11:28-30; 12:31-32, 50; 16:24-26; 18:3-4, 14; Mark 3:28-29, 35; 8:34-38; 9:37; 10:15; 16:16; Luke 6:47; 7:23; 9:23-25, 48; 12:8-10; 13:3, 5, 23-24; 17:33; 18:17; John 1:12-13; 3:3, 15-18, 36; 4:14; 5:24; 6:28-29, 35, 40, 45, 47, 51; 10:9-10; 11:25-26; 14:6; 20:29; Acts 2:21, 38; 10:43; Romans 1:16; 3:28; 4:5; 5:6, 12; 10:13; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 1:3-4; 2:16; 3:6-7, 11, 22, 24-27; Ephesians 1:7; 2:4-9; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:14; 2:13-14; 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:15; 2:3-4; 4:10; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7; Hebrews 3:7-8, 15; 7:25; 9:28; 11:6; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 John 2:2; 5:1, 10-12; Revelation 22:14.

Verses for Category 2: Luke 10:22; John 6:37, 44, 65; 17:24; Romans 8:33;* Ephesians 1:5, 11; 2:10;* Colossians 3:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 2:10;* Titus 1:1;* 1 Peter 1:2;* 2 John 1:1, 13. The passages marked with an asterisk (*) speak of predestination, but when examined closely, the predestination is a “Predestination of Purpose” not predestination for salvation. In other words, it is the predetermined plan God has for those who are “justified” having placed their faith in the atoning work of Christ on the cross. As I read these passages my conclusion is that those who are “elect” are “elected” by virtue of their faith in Christ for salvation and their “predestination” is to be conformed to the image of Christ.

Verses for Category 3: Matthew 9:13; 10:39; 20:28; 22:14; Luke 5:32; John 7:38-39; 10:27-29; 14:23; Acts 4:12; 15:11; Romans 6:23; 8:1; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Hebrews 4:3; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 4:9-10. These verses can apply equally to either Category 1 or 2.

As we enter this Advent Season, we remember that God took on human flesh and entered time and space by way of a virgin’s womb to live and walk among His creation (John 1:1-3, 14). “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:11-12). He took the penalty of our sins upon Himself and shed His own blood on the cross to pay our sin debt. He was buried in a borrowed tomb and rose again on the third day, conquering death and the grave on our behalf to win our salvation. He did that for “whosoever” will accept His free, “grace” gift of salvation by faith in His finished work. “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). “Whosoever” accepts His offer by “believing in Him” is “elected” for “everlasting life.” This is the whole message of Christmas.

Reader, have you accepted Jesus’ free gift of salvation? If not, or if you are unsure, please read my page on “Securing Eternal Life.”

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