He came to His own,
and His own
did not receive Him....
And the Word became
flesh and dwelt
among us, and we
beheld Hid glory,
the glory of the
only begotten
of the Father,
full of grace
and truth.
John 1:11, 14
Were not the Israelites chosen by God to be His special people? They were chosen by God over all other nations, and by the Israelite nation the Messiah would come to earth incarnated, that is to be in the flesh. By God's omniscience, His Providence He chose this particular nation. So then, why is it so hard to admit that He would choose a particular people? Yet, when He appeared on earth as a man, even though they were familiar with the times, that the Messiah would appear according to prophecy; they refused to recognize Him. The good news is that when Jesus Christ appeared on earth in His human body and was refused by His own He gave the right to others to become a child of God: "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name" (John 1:12). Many people, theologians, Christians, point to this Scripture and use it as proof that man can choose God by just believing. It is true that man must choose to believe on Messiah, that His death on the cross was the payment for their sins, but, how can a man who is corrupt, who has lost the ability to have communication with God, who is totally depraved, choose God? Man cannot choose God by their own will, they must be born again by the will of God: "Who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:13). John makes it very clear, not by blood of man, not be will of the flesh, that is there is nothing a person can do to earn to be a child of God, no works of the flesh, and lastly, man cannot will to be a child of God. All the choosing is to be done by God, according to His Providence, His Sovereignty. If you know, and you will know, that you are chosen by God, then shout praise to God.
The soul of man can behold things that are outside the body. What is meant by "behold?" To observe, to recognize, to look at, and this man can do for we know from the very intuition that God placed in man, by means of his very soul, know that there is a God, and that this God, being God, deserves our worship. We may refuse, but refusal is not to admit that He does not exist. Yes, we can "behold" but we cannot move those things which are outside our body, we cannot energize them in any way, not by thinking about them to cause them to move. Yet, the Word of God, in His Incarnation, in His human nature, can do what natural man cannot do, that is, His body was not in any way a limitation, but an instrument so that He was both in the body, and in all things outside the body. He was resting in the Father alone. Was He not the Wisdom of God. Could not God, who created from nothing all that is, clothed Wisdom? Yes! This is most amazing and supernatural; Jesus Christ was a man, living human being who at the one and same time was sustaining life of the universe. Was it not the Word of God that the Scriptures affirm that it was He who created the world? Yes! But the Father, God, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit were attributed to be the creator. So then, why would it be far-fetched to say that the Word, the Wisdom of God, would continue to hold the creation in place? He was in constant union with the Father. He was not changed just because He was born of a virgin woman. His was not defiled just because He was in a human body. This human body of Jesus Christ was sanctified by Him being in it. How? He was not born as a son of Adam, He was the Only-Begotten Son of God. His being in a human body does not mean that He shares the nature of everything, only that He gives all things their being and sustains them in it. Jesus Christ, in His Incarnation enlightens and purifies all things so that the body He resided in while here upon the earth was not defiled, it was cleansed and quickened.
All of God's children are called by God, drawn to Him, and enabled by Him, so that this free gift of faith enables man to choose Him. Jesus Christ did not come to earth for all men, this is an unScriptural view of the oblation and Incarnation. Peter, the Apostle, the one that walked with Jesus wrote: "For to this (that is to be a child of God) you were called (you did not choose Him, He called you) because Christ also suffered for us (who are the us? 1Peter 1:1-2; points to the fact that he was writing to the elect vs.2) an example, that you (that you and me, those chosen, elected by God) should follow His steps" (1Peter 1:21). The question is whether or not you and I are following in His steps, that is are we as Augustine stated: "Love God, and live life." How peaceful it is to live as God has directed, the Ten Commandments applies to us today, and if followed, we have no worry, not to say there will not be tribulation, Jesus pointed out that this would happen, rather we can go about life without fear. For instance, don't drink to much, if you do, then you are subject to the police, especially if the stop you. They will arrest you, and that fun time of drinking will become a carbuncle of trouble for the rest of your life. Pray to God for the help that is needed, rely on Him, trust Him, it is by faith we live, not hope, a sure faith (Hebrews 11:1). Peter quoting from the Psalms: "He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the LORD are on righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil" (1Peter 3:10-12; cf. Psalm 34:12-16; 37:27).
I write to you,
little children,
because your sins are
forgiven you for
His name sake.
1John 2:12
Stay in His Word, Read It Daily
Richard L. Crumb
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