still have said nothing about predestination. Faith is the substance of things hoped for
and the evidence of things not seen. Salvation is by grace through faith and all is the
gift of God and has nothing to do with man's works. Even faith is not a good work that
makes us worthy to be accepted. It is the way that God has chosen for us through
Christ to have "access into this grace wherein we stand." Rom. 5:1,2.
Faith is the gift of election, not the cause of the election. Election precedes faith and is
the cause of faith. The cause of election? God's own pleasure that He has not seen fit to
reveal to us.
John 6:64, 65 "But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the
beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said,
Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto
him of my Father."
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If you reject predestination, you cannot have a Christian view of Time. You will be
forced to accept the materialistic idea that the future flows from the past through the
present, or worse that time goes in circles, constantly repeating itself, or even worse
the existential idea that only the present matters.
The Biblical view is that God ordains all things in terms of His future plan for His
The Biblical view is that God ordains all things in terms of His future plan for His
people, which is to conform them to Jesus Christ. If you are elect the things that
happen to you are driven by the promises that God has stored up for you in Jesus
Christ. You must forget the things in the past, both good and bad, and press toward the
glorious promises of God in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I
do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things
which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in
Christ Jesus.
This means that the just must live by faith; it is their very breath and life. Everything
else is death and without meaning.
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You can refuse to listen to God if you wish, but you will not recognize the madness,
the blindness, and the astonishment of heart that comes as a result of rebellion. If God
darkens the mind of unbelief, how would unbelief know it?
Deut. 28:28 The LORD shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and
astonishment of heart:29 And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in
darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and
spoiled evermore, and no man shall save thee.
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The New Testament in His Blood: When my heart is changed the eyes of my soul see
Christ as most beautiful, my ears hear the most wonderful praises of Christ; my
feelings are thrilled even at His name; my mouth begins to confess His precious truth,
and His offerings for me are the most sweet smelling savor of life.
Before I would not look to Christ, hear His voice, feel the joy of Christ, speak His truth
Before I would not look to Christ, hear His voice, feel the joy of Christ, speak His truth
or rejoice in His worship for my heart was a heart of stone, without life and without
hope.
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God's covenant is not only with each of the elect, but with all the elect of all time.
Many things that He has done in the past is for the benefit of the elect in the church
[1Cor. 10:11], and He is longsuffering to even the ungodly now, for the benefit of the
elect in the future. He preserved Lot because of Ruth and David who would not be
born for many centuries; as He also preserved Judah from whom Christ came. It isn't
all about you [or me].
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