Bible Truth #139 - 1 Corinthians 2:7-10

1 Corinthians 2:7-10

7  No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.

8  None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

9  However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” —

10  but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.

God’s secret wisdom has been hidden... From whom was this secret wisdom hidden? Answer - those whom God has not chosen! Among those are the rulers of this age, and they did not, nor do they, nor will they, EVER understand it if they were not chosen by God. Since the lost do NOT have the Holy Spirit, it is hidden from them. This interpretation is supported by 1 Corinthians 2:14:

The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

So when Paul writes in verse 10 that He has revealed it to us by His Spirit, he is not referring to us humans - or all mankind, he is referring to us Christians, the Elect of God chosen before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4).

Next: The phrase “destined for our glory...” is specific. Who did the action of “destined?” Did we destine ourselves? NO! God performed the action - and didn’t ask us before He did it.

...for our glory... To whom is the word “our” referring? Well, go back and read Chapter 1, verse 2 - Paul clearly identifies the group of people to whom he is writing:

To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:

The glory God had destined was for CHRISTIANS, His Elect, NOT every soul who ever lived.

Then the phrase, “before time began” sounds just like Ephesians 1:4 - the verse that speaks of God’s Elect being chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world.

Because we were chosen by God, once He saved us by quickening our dead spirit, He revealed this secret wisdom to us by His Spirit. And we understand it ONLY because we have the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit which guides US (not them) to all Truth (John 16:13).

Bottom Line - God’s secret wisdom has been hidden from the lost and revealed to us by the Holy Spirit. The lost do not have the Holy Spirit, and that’s why it is hidden from them. It’s right in front of their eyes and they hear words with their ears but they don’t understand it (John 8:43-44) because they do NOT have spiritual ears. Hence it’s hidden from them. That is why no lost person will ever “accept” Jesus and that is why the Bible NEVER says one has to “accept” Jesus to be saved.

We become children of God NOT by human decision. (John 1:13)

Bible Truth #138 - 1 Corinthians 1:22-24

1 Corinthians 1:22-24

22  Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,

23  but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,

24  but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

How can God’s purpose in Election be stated more clear than that? To all the lost, whether they be Jew or Gentile, the Gospel of Christ - His suffering and ignominious death on the cross - is anathema to the Jews expecting a triumphant Messiah, and it is literal nonsense to Gentiles.

BUT!!! (v24) But to those whom God has called, clearly a specific group of people from among both Jews and Greeks (i.e. “the world” as John frequently writes), those He chose in Christ before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4), those He gave to His son (John 6:37), those He has drawn to His Son and whom is Son WILL raise up (John 6:44), to those whom God has called, Paul preaches Christ, the power of God and wisdom of God. To us, Christ is NOT foolishness.

You wouldn’t “accept” or believe anything foolish, right? Tell me, then how can a lost person “accept” or believe foolishness? To us, to those God has called, Christ is the power of God - but to a lost man, Christ is foolishness - ergo THEY WILL NOT BELIEVE (unless God works in them to give them belief, John 6:29).

And as a side note let me also say, God does not call every man to salvation. First because God tells us not many are called (1 Corinthians 1:26), and second because God justifies and glorifies each and every man He calls (Romans 8:29-30).

Jesus raises up EVERY man God draws (John 6:44), NOT every man who accepts the drawing.

Bible Truth #137 - Proverbs 3:5-6

Proverbs 3:5-6
5  Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

I understand this passage much differently than a lot of Christians. Most misunderstand this Scripture in the same way they misunderstand the Lord’s prayer as I explained in a previous post (Bible Truth #135). This is NOT a cause and effect, or an “if..., then” that can be applied to our life or belief. God has a plan and He NEVER reacts to something we do, as if He was waiting to see what we would do. He knows what we will do because He has already appointed us to do it. He directs our steps (Proverbs 16:9), He works in us to will and to do according to His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). It appears that the simple understanding of this is that IF you will acknowledge God in all your ways, THEN he will direct your paths.

Nope. There is no IF in the Proverb. It says in all your ways acknowledge God. It does NOT say IF you will acknowledge God in all your ways... This understanding is supported in the following Scriptures, (Proverbs 16:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Philippians 4:4, 4:6; Ephesians 5:20) and this is a clear reference to God’s sovereignty in that we should acknowledge God in every situation and circumstance in our life because He has ordained it and appointed it to occur.

Second of all, the word after the comma is AND, not THEN.

This is my opinion but it is a conclusion derived from what the Bible says everywhere about God’s sovereignty: I believe this Proverb is better translated “In all thy ways acknowledge God because He is directing your path.”

Why is that my understanding? Am I an expert in the Biblical languages? Of course not, but I listen to the Holy Spirit (John 16:13) and I am always aware that I could be wrong and that He may reveal something to me that He hadn’t revealed before (like God’s sovereignty in Election).

Since no Scripture is of private interpretation (2 Peter 1:20, meaning there is no contradiction in Scripture), and since there are many other places in which God tells us that He directs the paths of men (one being Proverbs 16:9), Proverbs 3:6 has simply put two precepts together.

One is that we should give thanks FOR everything (Ephesians 5:20) and IN everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18) because He has ordained or appointed everything that happens to us, He has set and determined the course we are to run (Hebrews 12:1) - therefore by thanking Him we are acknowledging He reigns over us.

Two is God’s sovereignty in directing our paths - His will IS being done on earth the same way it IS being done in Heaven. As Paul writes in Romans 8:28 “in ALL things God works together for good...” not in SOME things but in ALL things.

Other passages include:

Isaiah 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:

Isaiah 55:11 …so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Ephesians 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:

How does this tie in to Election? God is sovereign and nothing occurs without God’s predetermined, fore-ordained will. Those He has chosen (i.e. the Elect, the Bride of Christ, the Church), WILL be saved and it WILL occur at the appointed time of His choosing. Those He did NOT choose, will NOT be saved. The Lamb’s Book of Life is already written and there are no names being added to it. It was written before the foundation of the world (Revelation 17:8) - and Jesus was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8) for those whose names were written in His Book - and ONLY those. (Ephesians 5:25)

Proverbs 16:9 - In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Why? Because God is in control and has determined your steps!

Philippians 4:4 - Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS. I will say it again: Rejoice! Why? Because God is in control and has determined your steps!

Philippians 4:6 - Do not be anxious about anything,… Why? Because God is in control and has determined your steps!

Ephesians 5:20 - always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Why? Because God is in control and has determined your steps!

Romans 8:28 - And we know that ALL things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Why? Because God is in control and has determined your steps!

Bible Truth #136 - Ephesians 5:25

Ephesians 5:25

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Whom did He love? For whom did Christ give Himself? For whom did He suffer and die on the cross? His Church.

Those who believe in decisional salvation may say, “Wait a minute. It says He ALSO loved the church. He loves everyone else too.” I refer you back to Bible Truth #66 in which I cover Psalm 5:5 and 11:5, God does NOT love everyone. There ARE those He hates. The word “also” in this context is a similitude, an example of how a man should love his wife, not a clause within which something else is added.

This is the L in the acronym T.U.L.I.P. Limited Atonement - if He died for every soul who ever lived, and since there ARE people in Hell, then His blood wasn’t enough, was it? It is hard to understand why the Arminian believes there are people in Hell today for whom Christ died. The Arminian claims, “What is needed is the Blood of Christ AND something else, something provided by the human. That being “acceptance” of the gift of salvation.” That is false. Christ’s Blood and His Blood alone is all that is needed. There is no “joint cooperation” between God and man regarding salvation. This is called synergism, which is false. Salvation is monergism, a work of God and God alone. God decided and chose to whom the Blood would apply before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4).

synergism - the doctrine that the human will cooperates with the Holy Spirit in the work of regeneration.

This theory is found NOWHERE in God’s Word.

monergism - the doctrine that the Holy Spirit acts independently of the human will in the work of regeneration.

Why does the Holy Spirit act independently? He must because lost man, if left to his own “free will,” will NEVER come to Christ, he hates Christ (John 3:20) and can't please God (Romans 8:8).

http://www.reformationtheology.com/2006/04/christ_loved_the_church_quote.php
http://www.reformationtheology.com/2006/04/monergism_v_synergism_quote_by.php
http://cicministry.org/commentary/issue93.htm

Bible Truth #135 - Matthew 6:9-13

Matthew 6:9-13

9  “This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

10  your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

11  Give us today our daily bread.

12  Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

You should recognize this as the model prayer. It was our Lord’s response to the apostles when they asked Him to teach them to pray. And the way the Lord taught us to pray was to first acknowledge God, then our worship of Him, then His sovereignty - THEN our requests. I saw in a Bible once the acronym A.C.T.S. as a guide to prayer - Adoration, Confession, Thanks, Supplication.

The point is that Jesus taught us to ask (v11) AFTER worship and acknowledging His sovereignty, i.e. His will being done on earth as it is in Heaven (v10).

But here’s the kicker - please keep in mind that verse 10 is NOT a request as a lot of Christians believe, but an acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty as fact. Please let me repeat that - Verse 10 is not a request. It is an acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty as FACT. This should be easy to understand and accept after recalling verses like:

Isaiah 55:11 (…so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.),

Romans 8:28 (And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.), and

Ephesians 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:).

All three of those verses give proof of God’s sovereignty in human events, ALL human events - and there are many more. This necessarily and absolutely includes salvation. God’s will IS being done on earth - IN EVERYTHING. Jesus did not teach that we are to pray and request that His Will be done on earth. He taught that in prayer we are to acknowledge His will IS done on earth, that we are to acknowledge a sovereign God.  This is why we are to thank God FOR everything (Ephesians 5:20) - because what has occurred and what will occur is His will.

Then in verse 11 our supplication begins.

If God wanted all men to be saved, they would be saved. Since it is God that determined the time and place for EVERY person to exist - when and where they would be born and spend their lives (Acts 17:26), it should be obvious that God has already determined who would even hear the Gospel, much less believe it. What does that tell you about the countless millions who lived before Christ? And the tens of thousands or more who die every day who have never heard the Gospel?

Bottom line - God is working in the lives of not only those He chose in Christ before the foundation of the world (Philippians 2:13), but also in the lives of those He did NOT choose to save (Proverbs 16:9). God does what He wants, when He wants, how He wants, where He wants, and to whom He wants. God’s will IS being done on earth - IN EVERYTHING.

We become children of God NOT by human decision. (John 1:13)

Bible Truth #134 - John 10:1-6

John 10:1-6
1  “I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.

2  The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep.

3  The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

4  When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.

5  But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”

6  Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.

1  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

2  But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

3  To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

4  And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

5  And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

6  This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

Let’s apply this parable exactly as Jesus intended it. The apostles, the disciples, and Jews in general, knew exactly what Jesus was talking about. They understood the illustration but did not understand its application to the Kingdom of Heaven or to Jesus.

It was common practice in those days that shepherds, at the end of the day, would bring their sheep to a community sheep pen. Several flocks would be clustered together. The next morning the shepherd would come and call out HIS sheep. Did all the sheep hear the shepherd? Yes. Which sheep responded? His sheep and ONLY his sheep would respond. Did ALL the sheep belong to one shepherd? NO. He stood at the gate and “called” His own. His sheep responded and followed him because they know his voice. Sheep that are not his do NOT follow him, but will flee from him because to them, this shepherd is a stranger and they will NOT follow his voice. Will a sheep ever of its own volition or “free will” change flocks? NO. Will a sheep ever make a decision on its own to follow a different shepherd? NO. Quite the opposite, a sheep will flee from the voice of a stranger. (v5)

Life Application:

God chose us in Him before the foundation of the world. (Ephesians 1:4) We were His, are His, and will forever BE His. When Jesus called we responded because we knew His voice, because we were His. Those that were NOT chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world are NOT His, they will NOT follow Him, and they will NEVER follow Him. Why? Because to them, Jesus is a stranger, He is not their shepherd. In fact, they will FLEE from Him. This is what Jesus meant when He said that those who do evil will NOT come into the Light (John 3:20).

This is what Jesus meant when He told the Pharisees they do not understand because they are NOT of God but of their father the devil (John 8:43-47). They will NEVER understand unless God gives them ears to hear and a heart to perceive. And will God give a man NOT chosen in Him before the foundation of the world ears to hear or a heart that perceives? Of course not!

Is a lost person capable of making a decision to follow Jesus? NO (John 1:13) We become children of God not by human decision (NIV), or will of the flesh (NASB, KJV, ESV).

BUT, just how DOES a sheep get into the Good Shepherd’s flock? Answer - it is born into the flock, or the Shepherd purchases it. You do the analogy on that one.

BOTTOM LINE - Just as sheep are not able to change flocks on their own, neither is a man ABLE to choose to be saved.

Bible Truth #133 - Hebrews 11:6

Hebrews 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

When you read this verse in light of two others about which I have already written (referenced below*), I once again ask how can anyone believe that a lost man can choose to believe?? A lost man can’t please God because he has no faith. And if a man has no faith, he can’t choose to believe in Jesus Christ. Who has faith? Only those to whom the Lord gives it, it’s a gift according to Ephesians 2:8. The gift from God TO man comes BEFORE any action of the man. The Arminian may try to say that God gives everyone the gift of faith. And some will even tell me that God gives it to those who ask for it, or those who are seeking Him - wellllll, they will have to quote me the Scripture. If they try to spin a verse or two to make it seem like lost have faith it will be in direct contradiction to 2 Thessalonians 3:2 where Paul tells us many have no faith.

BUT! I realize some may grasp at straws and say that God rewards those who earnestly seek Him. The problem is that throughout the Bible God makes it clear that the lost will not seek Him (Psalm 14:1-3; 53:1-3 and Romans 3:11), especially the wicked (Psalm 10:4). No Man Seeks God!

Now if the Arminian says that can’t be true because “I sought God,” then he simply doesn’t understand what he was experiencing when God was drawing him. I’m sorry, but when God says no man seeks Him, that includes everyone, including Arminians. I DO believe that the Arminian may have sought the benefits of God, but he didn’t seek God. I’m sure there are many lost people who want to be “blessed” by God. The problem is, most blessings a lost man gets are from his father the devil.

When God says no man seeks Him, he is referring to man in his natural sinful state. No man seeks God. The regenerated, converted man with the quickened spirit WILL seek God because his spirit compels him to do so. But a lost man has a dead spirit which compels him to do nothing which means the flesh is in control - and they that are in the flesh can NOT please God.

But as far as the certainty of “No man seeks God” - here’s another example: if God said 2 + 2 = 5, then I believe that God is right and all the world’s mathematicians are wrong.

Bottom Line - I say to the Arminian, if God said it, please accept it and believe it. NO MAN SEEKS GOD. It takes FAITH - believe it, even if you don’t understand it.

*Bible Truth #132, Romans 14:23 - But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

*Bible Truth #7, Romans 8:8 - Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.