The Sovereignty Of God

But indeed, O man, who are you

to reply against God?

Will the thing formed say to him

who formed it, “Why have you

made me like this?

Romans 9:20

            How often have we heard this cry: “Why have you made me like this”? Man has from the beginning of time have asked this question; and this is apparent by the various gods that they have formed, and the various theologies that teach, and follow. Men just do not seem to like the God of the Bible. Men do not like the fact that God would choose one nation over another in which His name and Himself revealed. Why; if they were god they would do things differently, they would not do it the way that the Bible says that God is and does. Well, they think that they would do differently, but, to do so they would need to be omniscient, all–powerful, eternal, outside the creation, as is God. They would need to know every contingency, every possibility, how one thing would act upon another and have the ability to direct and control the present and the future. Is this not the God of the Bible? Yes! So, why do people reply against God, the God of the Bible? Is this not God, who is sovereign, all–powerful, and providential? Yes! Why are we complaining against God: “Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor” (Romans 9:21)? Ah! Here is the crux of the matter: men want to have antinomy; they want to be sovereign over their lives, and they want to do things their way, so God is out, other than what god they form to meet whatever religious need they desire to have met. It is this very doctrine, the sovereignty of God, the elect being predestinated before the foundation of the world that many Christians object too, and then form another theology to fill their presupposition as to who God is, and not then, to follow what Scriptures so plainly teach. Ok! Here is some meat to chew on (That is if you are not to full from Thanksgiving dinner: HA!): “What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory” (Romans 9:22–23)? What about that? What are you to say about that! Do you believe that God is GOOD? Do you believe that God is sovereign? Do you believe that God has every right to do with His creation as He so wills? Did not God enable, and draw people for Himself? (John 6:44;65). Yes! Therefore; then, do we not see that not all of those who are of Hebrews are the only ones who will be saved, and that God foreknew those who He would save from all nations of the earth? Paul adds: “even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles” (Romans 9:24). Do you feel that tug on your heart to follow God? It is the drawing of God, and this drawing comes by means of His word, the word of truth. Therefore, we are to not follow that which is not of the Bible and allow God to be sovereign in our lives. In the book of Hosea a prophecy was told about this very thing that God would do: “As He says also in Hosea; ‘I will call them My people, who were not My people, and her beloved, who was not beloved. And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ “There they shall be called sons of the living God” (Romans 9:25,26; Hosea 2:23; 1:10). We, Christians, are the ones chosen by God, to glorify Him as sons of the living God, just as Jesus glorified the Father: “He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you” (John 16:14).

            Today, there are many pietistic movements that have undermined the word of God; those who have sought after things that are tickling of the ears, but lack the ruggedness of this reality: that God is sovereign, that God has chosen according to His will, and that we are not to reply against God in any way. Yet, they do attempt to reply by forming religious practices that are not of the Bible, those schools that teach some form of Supernaturalism (Although Peter did speak harshly against Simon the magician for wanting to but that which he had, some miraculous ability that Peter used in his preaching and traveling). What is provided to those attending such Churches is some pious atmosphere, but lacking the Gospel, that is the death of Jesus Christ, and have developed another gospel: “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the name of grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to prevent the gospel of Christ” (Galatians 1:6–7). Yes, this gospel taught by those seeking signs and wonders, and some form of piety are doing so in Christianity and use the Bible to prove their actions. Yet, to use the Bible out of context, to misuse that which God teaches is wrong: “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8). This gospel is not as the movie portrayed: “Jesus Christ, superstar.” No, there is not anything supernatural nor is it miraculous that preached in many so–called Christian churches that teach miracles, and supernaturalism. This teaching eliminates the cost of the passion of God, for the passion of God, stained with the blood of the Lamb is the true gospel, and false form of gospel does not have the mark of the Holy Spirit. This false form of the gospel is detached from the Person of Jesus Christ and puts piety upon people and this by doing practices that are not of God no matter how much the cry that it is. There is no speaking of regeneration, no being born again, only the idea that Jesus Christ is a pattern, and makes Him no better than a figurehead or a religion, an example. Jesus Christ is more, for He is the Savior, God Himself, incarnate in the Person of the Son of God, the Only Begotten Son of God who came to die for sin, and this He did, and this propitiation taken back and presented to the Father, and there Jesus Christ makes eternal intercession for those who He saved, those who God called, and chose before the foundation of the world.

            This is truth! This is what the Spirit of Truth Who indwells believers leads us, and directs us to glorify the Father, God. This is what Jesus Christ does, for He implants subjectively into us that which He did objectively: therefore, give thanks to God for choosing you and now go out into your world and glorify Him.

Now I know that the LORD

            Saves His anointed;

He will answer him from His

            Holy heaven with the

Strength of His right hand.

                        Psalm 20:6

Give Thanks To God

Richard L. Crumb

Giving Thanks

Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous!

For praise from the upright is beautiful.

praise the LORD with the harp;

make melody to Him with an instrument

of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song;

play skillfully with a shout of joy.

Psalm 33:1–3

            Each year this holiday presents itself as a day that we set aside to be thankful; this is so appropriate due to one special fact: we live in a country where freedom reigns. We may, and do have problems, but problems have solutions and we who live in this country have the right to solve problems and ensure our freedom. This freedom was born out of hard times, out of times when others would not allow us the freedom that our Constitution gives to the citizens of this country. Men who love God, even those who were of the Atheist persuasion saw the need for a country wherein people could live free. Men fought and died, women lost husbands and even children to defend our rights, and we, those who are the recipients of such dedication, this day, we celebrate what was given to us and to our posterity. Yes, I speak of the Revolution, but more than that, I speak of the time when before that day people celebrated freedom. This freedom gave to us the right to follow our faith(s) and to live in harmony with each other without fear of our government telling us what and whom we should believe. I am not promoting ecumenism, rather I am celebrating freedom. As a Christian, I celebrate not only this freedom won and given to us so that we live in a country where we can set aside a special day to be thankful. There is more: As a Christian and a follower of our God and Savior I am free, free indeed, my home is settled in heaven, a new world, a new body, an immutable life, and this freedom was won by Jesus Christ on the cross, and given to all those who believe in Him. As a Christian, we have liberty: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1). On this special day; Thanksgiving take the time to turn your attention to this wonderful freedom and liberty, and be thankful that God in His Providence has guided history. He has aided men and women to form a country in which we can celebrate and be thankful for all that He has done, especially that He sent His Son to die for our sins, and that He has given to us the Holy Spirit to indwell in us. We are thankful, and more, we are, as Christian reminded on this day that we are to turn from the fleshly and carnal things of this world. At this time we take special time to serve one another; especially those who through various circumstances cannot enjoy this day as many do: “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13). On this special day, a day in which we can take special interest in others, especially those of the faith, our brothers, and sisters. Invite the ones who may be alone, or have little income and have a need, a need for the love and kindness that we as children of God are to give to our family, our family of God: “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up is heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him” (1John 3:16–19).

            Take time to be thankful, sing praises to God, and do this with others, celebrating not only the freedom we have in the United States, but more, the freedom we have in God. In all God has done for you and for me, by providing for our needs, and for allowing us to celebrate Him. Thanksgiving is more than eating turkey, although this is good, (I like it), it is a time that we have together, and to celebrate the love between family, friends, and our Savior who loved us to death: “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.  In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He love us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so love us, we also ought to love one another” (1John 4:9–11). Now this is something to be thankful for, and to celebrate, singing praises, and enjoying what God has done: it is more, and more, and more, all that we have, all that we will have in Him.

            As we prepare for this special day, is there anyone that you could invite that may be alone, or in poor financial state? Will you show the love, the love of God, to others, to those less fortunate? It is not too late to do so. Take the time. It will be so worthwhile, so thankful to those who you extend the love of God too: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well” (3John 4–6).

            Enjoy! HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

Behold, how good and pleasant it is

            For brethren to dwell together

In unity!

                        Psalm 133:1

Give thanks to God

Richard L. Crumb

Choosing The Right God

What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness

With God?

Certainly not!

For He says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy

on whomever I will have mercy, and I will

have compassion on whomever I have compassion.’

(Exodus 33:19).

So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who

runs, but of God who shows mercy.

Romans 9:14–16

            According to many men God is unrighteous. Why? Because God does not do what they would do, the way they would do things, those areas in life they feel as though God is wrong (That is if they even believe there is a God), and they see things from their perspective and not God’s. Men in their attempt to define God anthropomorphize Him, making Him to be what He is not, carnal. Mormons do this for they believe that God is a man, and here is a quote: In his famous "King Follett Discourse" Joseph Smith taught, "God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens. That is the great secret... [Y]ou have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before you..." This is included as it speaks to this: What you believe about God will be what God is for you, and this is not necessarily, what is taught in the Bible: in fact to say that God was once a man is not Biblical at all. Furthermore, the doctrine of election under such false teaching as that of the Mormons deludes and dismembers the doctrine of the elect as taught in Scripture. To know God is to read His word that reveals Him to us and there is never any mention of God ever being a man. No, there is much energy put forth to disseminate what mortal man and his presuppositions wants their god to be and not what God has revealed. We must get back to the bedrock of God and that bedrock is Jesus Christ and the cross. Jesus Christ is not, as the Mormons teach; and here is another teaching by Joseph Smith: In a later sermon Joseph Smith boldly preached: "If Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and John discovered that God the Father of Jesus Christ had a Father, you may suppose that He had a Father also. Where was there ever a son without a father? And where was there ever a father without first being a son? Whenever did a tree or anything spring into existence without a progenitor? And everything comes in this way. Paul says that which is earthly is in the likeness of that which is heavenly, Hence if Jesus had a Father, can we not believe that He had a Father also? I despise the idea of being scared to death at such a doctrine, for the Bible is full of it." There is more and this more is so telling: As BYU professor David Paulson once put it, "God does not have absolute power... but rather the power to maximally utilize natural laws to bring about His purposes." If God does not have maximum powers and only uses natural laws to bring about His purposes therein lies a problem. Man is a god as was God a man and God, if He be God, a being outside of all other things would have no necessity to change and His laws, His moral laws. His attributes should be immutable. For the Mormons they are not for their god has made many changes in his decrees, as an examples of this would include the abandonment of polygamy in 1890, the reversal of the ban which withheld the LDS Priesthood from Blacks in 1978, and the changes in the LDS temple ceremony in 1980. Even their reversal on polygamy is an example of god changing his decree as taught by Joseph Smith. It is interesting in the least that changes were made usurping previous doctrinal positions because the government moved against their practices and suddenly their god revealed that they should abide by the government law:

Official Declaration 1: The Bible and the Book of Mormon teach that monogamy is God’s standard for marriage unless He declares otherwise (see 2 Samuel 12:7–8 and Jacob 2:27, 30). Following a revelation to Joseph Smith, the practice of plural marriage was instituted among Church members in the early 1840s (see section 132). From the 1860s to the 1880s, the United States government passed laws to make this religious practice illegal. These laws were eventually upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. After receiving revelation, President Wilford Woodruff issued the following Manifesto, which was accepted by the Church as authoritative and binding on October 6, 1890. This led to the end of the practice of plural marriage in the Church.

            Men have devised for themselves a god(s) outside of what Scripture has taught and God has revealed by those Scriptures as these quotations affirm, as quoted by Mormons:

• "The mind of man is as immortal as God Himself...God never did have the power to create the spirit of man at all" (Times and Seasons 5:615 and History of the Church 6:310-311).
• "We were first begotten as spirit children in heaven and then born naturally on earth" (Journal of Discourses, 4:218).
• "Before coming to this earth, all humans were begotten by our heavenly parents and were born with spirit bodies" (Mormon Doctrine p. 428, 516-17).
• "all had a previous existence, thousands of years ago, in the heavens, in the presence of God" (Journal of Discourses 1:62).

This example of the Mormon position on God is not far different from others; i.e., Jehovah Witnesses, Bethel Church of Redding, and others teach. God is reduced to man’s presuppositions, therefore we cannot believe that God is Supreme, Sovereign, immutable, rather mutable, changeable, therefore how can we put trust in such a God? This is not Scripture, and this is not God, for God is Supreme, Sovereign and immutable and He declares to us in His Word that this is so and no man can say anything different and be true to the God who created all things from nothing, ex nihilo, and that by His Providence rules, guides, governs all things. Scripture is clear, plain, and revealing of this truth: God elects, and for His purpose: “For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, ‘For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I my show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth’ (Exodus 9:16). Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He will He hardens” (Romans 9:17–18).

God is God and we are His creation, therefore, either you believe what He has revealed in the Bible or not. Whether you will follow some man(s) theology or that of what God has revealed to us through the prophets, apostles, men inspired by God to teach us that God has chosen some and that God will save those He has chosen. Praise God!

           

For I am the LORD,

            I do not change;

Therefore you are not

            Consumed, O Sons

Of Jacob.

                        Malachi 3:6

Put Your Faith In The True God

Richard L. Crumb

Who Has The Right To Choose?

But what does the divine response say to him?

“I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men

who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

(1Kings 19:10,14).

Even so then, at this present time there is a

remnant according to the election of grace.

And if by grace, then it is no longer of works;

otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is

of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work

is no longer work. What then? Israel has not

obtained what it seeks; but the elect have

obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

Romans 11:4–7

            The Greek words: “έκλετός,” used 23 times in the New Testament, and, “έκλογή,” used 7 times in the New Testament are translated in context as either election, elected, or chosen, or selected. The word “elect,” is simply to elect, that is to choose, and to select, to determine a person(s) for a favor or purpose. To one, elected, as does the Scriptures reveal to us, there is an elected people, and to be elected; there must be an elector. Scripture is clear and plain that God is the elector and elects. When the Bible speaks of the sovereignty of God th word “sovereign,” means exactly that: God is sovereign, that is, God has the power and the authority, the supreme authority, and this supreme authority is indisputable, and above all other powers. God a supreme in authority and power, sovereign, indisputable, then He has all the right to do whatever He so wills. And as Scripture teaches us, and it is reveals to us in His Son Jesus Christ, that God is Good, not just an attribute, but, GOOD, then all that He will is good. If a person does not believe, that God is GOOD, then God is not just, or merciful or then God is bad, and there cannot be any confidence in Him. This is not what God has revealed about Himself, in His word, His promises, in the fact that He came as the Son of God, His Wisdom to pay this debt of sin we cannot, now, or ever, pay, yet He paid this debt, and met His own Justice. Therefore, God, whom we cannot know intimately, inasmuch as we can know Him in some intimacy due to that which He has revealed to us; He can choose to elect some and not others, and this by His will, His omniscience. You may disagree, and even hold Him accountable to do such a thing for this is not what you would do; or call just. But, you are not God, and you are not all–knowing, supreme, sovereign, and furthermore you are here because He willed that men should exist, and ordained, not caused, but ordained that you should exist. For if He did not will a thing, then that thing would not exist. How can a person, one who says that they believe the Bible to be God’s word, reject this doctrine that is so plainly revealed in His word? Does God choose some and not others? Yes! Did not God choose Able over Cain? Did not God choose Noah over all others, except for the other seven of his family? Yes! Did not God choose Moses? Did not God choose Abraham? Did not God choose Israel, the nation so that there would be a people for His name? God chooses, some, and not others, and this is not due to some work or service a person has done, no, for it is simple a choice of God and this choice is according to His will. Paul, writing about his grief due to the fact that the chosen people of God, the nation of Israel did not believe the One who God promised to come, the Messiah and that Jesus Christ was this promised Messiah: “I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that ihave great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promise; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen” (Romans 9:1–5). Note: For those who say that the Bible does not call Jesus God: they ignore then this one verse (there are more). Israel, an elected people, a nation chosen by the sovereignty of God to be the light revealing to the world Himself, the One who covenanted with Abraham, and with Moses, and by giving to them His law, and all the promises of the One promised to be the Messiah, the Savior, and who they rejected, that under this Old Testament Covenant they were to be faithful and true, and yet, they fell far short of being the nation who kept this covenant. God covenanted a new covenant after the coming of the Messiah, and this covenant did not make the old covenant of no effect, no the new covenant was a fulfillment of the old: “But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are Israel, for are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” (Genesis 21:12:John 8:37–40). That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed” (Romans 9:6–8). God, prior to the nation of Israel had already elected those who would be the “seed,” promised and Paul continues to reveal this truth to us: “For this is the word of promise; “At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son,’ (Genesis 18:10,14). And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), it was said to here, ‘The older shall serve the younger, (Genesis 25:23). As it is written, ‘ Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated” (Roman 9:19–12).

            Tomorrow I will address this sovereignty of God to choose whomever He wills. Up to this point it is clear that there is an election, some to life and some to death. This may be disconcerting, but we are not concerned with our feelings, we are concerned with Scripture and what God has revealed. Right?

But God is the Judge;

            He puts down one,

And exalts another.

                        Psalm 75:7

Put your trust in God

Richard L. Crumb

The Great Love Of God

What then shall we say to these things?

If God is for us, who can be against us?

He who did not spare His own Son,

but delivered him up for us all,

how shall He not with Him also

freely give us all things? Who shall

bring a charge against God’s elect?

It is God who justifies.

Romans 8:31–33

            Once again we point out a verse that is so often quoted and known by heart by many Christians: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Great truth, but taken out of context it loses much of its meaning for in context, while this is true, is speaking of that which Paul in previous verses stated: God predestinates His elect. As the first part of verse 31 states: “What then shall we say to these things?” Those who believe what Paul wrote concerning the children of God; their predestination, and their election will not speak against this doctrine, yet others will and those are those who are against the children of God. I am not here speaking of salvation, for that is only for God to do, and for you to know, rather I am speaking to those taught differently about this doctrine. Paul adds to this for our assurance by pointing to the fact that God did not spare His Son, rather God gave Him up, delivered Him for, who? Who are the “us,” those God freely gave all things too? Is it not those who, freely (that is, if free then it can not be earned), elected, predestinated for salvation? It is not those who work, and this by subscribing to doctrines and ministries that teach that we are in some new period of time, a new revelation by God for this time, and promote miracles, learning God’s language, or in other ways promote a “Woodstock” like atmosphere climate in their congregations to tickle the congregants ears. This dividing doctrine among Churches of Christianity needs to be addressed and this is what I am doing in this blog, for those opposed to this doctrine, or have in some way mitigated the doctrine to fit a presupposition, are doing what Paul stated: “Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect?” Man cannot save himself. Man cannot justify himself. It is only: “It is God who justifies.” This, then, is only of God, it is by the counsel of His Will that He justifies and by His mercy sanctifies, and it is by His will that He saves some and not others. Will you bring a charge against his doctrine? If so, then all that is, is bringing a charge against God. This too is to bring charge against the One He sent to die for the elect for it is clear by what Paul wrote that this is true: “Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us” (Romans 8:34). Looking once again at the word, “us,” and it is to be found in context that the “us,” is the elect, those God predestinated. It is doctrine different from what other Bible writers wrote? No! Peter speaks to this doctrine of election: “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the pilgrims of the Dispersion, in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ” (1Peter 1:1–2). In Peter’s second epistle speaking to the same people, the elect, warns about that which would enter into the Church and draw people away from the truth: “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed” (2Peter 2:1–2). Who are you following? Is it those who would bring a charge against the elect of God, or those who teach falsely, heretically in some cases, and all this is nothing more than blasphemy. If so! GET OUT! Find a Church that teaches the truth and not afraid of the doctrines that are hard to understand. Hard is one thing, soft, pabulum words are only destroying a true walk with the Lord. Peter adds: “You therefore, beloved (who is Peter speaking to? It is the same in 1Peter 1:2), since you know this beforehand, beware lest you fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen” (2Peter 3:17–18).

            Paul gives us such hope as children of God, the elect, those chosen by God for salvation that we should not fear for we have a hope that is secure in Jesus Christ: “Who shall separate us from the love of Jesus Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword” as it is written: ‘Foy Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter’ (Psalm 44:22) Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, not height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35–39).

            I leave you with those words, words of joy, hope, and love. As you prepare now for the Lord’s Day, prepare to worship Him with your brothers and sisters, and do not bring any charge against you by not holding that day holy as God instructed us in His word, the Ten Commandments. Next week I will continue to aid us to understand this doctrine so that we will be able to defend our faith (1Peter 3:15).

Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples!

            Shout to God with the voice

Of triumph! For the LORD Most High

            Is awesome; He is a great King

Over all the earth.

                                    Psalm 47:1–2

God Is Your Refuge

Richard L. Crumb

The Sovereignty Of God: Our Salvation By His Will, And Our Election

And we know that all things work together

for good to those who love God, to those

who are the called according to His purpose.

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined

to be conformed to the image of His Son,

that He might be the firstborn among

many brethren. Moreover whom He

predestined, these He also called;

whom He called He justified,

these He also glorified.

Romans 8:28–30

            Romans 8:28; a verse so well known and quoted by many Christians, especially when things in this life go bad, and it is true all things work together for good, but not to all, only to those who love God. We quote this verse and use it as proof that God saves us because He loves us; this is far from the truth. If this were true then we need not preach, forgiveness and we certainly do not need to examine this doctrine of predestination and election. Why is this not true? Because it is untrue by making the cross unnecessary and the redemption by the death of Jesus Christ unnecessary because God loves us and forgives us because a sinless man died to pay the debt that a once sinless man  became sinful and passed that sinfulness to all his progeny. God sees us and forgives us by looking at the cross; the death of His Son Jesus Christ who became a curse for us and by His death became Savior. The justice of God demanded death, and death came, therefore all men are doomed to die. For God to not keep to His justice would make God an unjust God. Anything that belittles or in some way obliterates this will obliterate and make to nothing the holiness of God, and all false views do just that, the make God and His love untrue and diminishes to nothing the work on the cross by Jesus Christ. God did not save any out of pity, or out of some sympathetic feeling, no, He saves us by Divine Decree and that Decree was set forth before the foundation of the world. It is only by the mercy of God, and the work of dying on the cross by Himself, the Son, the very Wisdom of God, propitiation as He was saves. Whom God saves then is at the core of this study. Is it all? If so then why would Jesus die? Why, not just save everyone? Christians called the elect: why? Why were Christians foreordained before the foundation of the world when they were not even alive, created, or did good or bad? God even states by Paul that He justified those He called and glorified those He called before the foundation of the world. Paul makes clear in verse 29 that those God foreknew, and this before the foundation of the world, are those whom God saves. The choosing by God was before all things: “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:4–6).  Scripture speaks of this doctrine from the Old Testament to the New Testament, it is everywhere, and no theologian, no person can deny this fact: Scriptures speaks of predestination and election. This doctrine speaks to the Sovereignty of God. Therefore, God’s Sovereignty is at the heart of this question on this doctrine. There is much debate, many theories, and much confusion. Pastors, ignore, to address this doctrine with those who attend Church. It has become easy to speak of God in soft words, and in loving terms, and making God so loved, that He would not save some and not others. Yet, this is not what the Bible teaches. As pointed out above, God did not save you out of sympathy, out of some regret, some feeling of pity for His creation. God saved you out of His mercy through His Son and not out of any other reason. The first thing that we must remember: God is not a Being as we are, He is a different sort of Being: we are finite and He is Infinite. How can the finite know anything about the Infinite, if the Infinite did not reveal something about himself? He can not! To say anything different is to find fault with God and this is what this means when we accuse God, or those who teach about predestination and the elect, and the Sovereignty of God; they resist the will of God as plainly taught in His Word. This is what we will examine. We do not want to speak ill of God, or to hold anything against the will of God: we want the truth: don’t you? First premise: But indeed, O man, how are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why have you made me like this?’ “does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump t make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make know the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had prepared before hand for glory” (Romans 9:20-23). We are required to walk according to His requirements and walk according to the Spirit and not sinful flesh: therefore, we must address this much debated and confused doctrine so that we can grow in our spiritual life, not just hearing good sounding words that titillate our ears and excite our emotions, no, we grow in wonder and love that God in His mercy through the sending of Hs Son to die to pay His justice for sin, and this complete known, determined before all time. Praise God! God saves and He saved you, and this not of yourself, rather by the will of God. Therefore, in humbleness we serve Him in all we do and say.

No one calls for justice,

            Nor does any plead

For truth. They trust in empty

            Words and speak lies;

They conceive evil and bring

            Iniquity.

                                    Isaiah 59:4

Humbly bow before our God and Savior

Richard L. Crumb

Predestination: Election: How To Know The Truth

For whom He foreknew, He also

predestined to be conformed

to the image of His Son,

that He might be the firstborn

among many brethren.

Moreover whom He predestined,

these He also justified, and

whom He justified, these

He also glorified.

Romans 8:29

            Now we begin to swim in deep waters. This subject of election and predestination has been in conflict for many years now and there are staunch supporters for each side of the subject. What side are you on? Will you take the time to investigate this doctrine to find what the Bible actually teaches? Or, will you just go off and apathetically accept what you have been taught and this without your investigation, you study on this doctrine. If you are a serious student of the Bible and a child of God it should be your desire to know what the Bible teaches. We are to examine what is taught by those men, and women, who are teaching you what they say the Bible indicates and teaches on any subject: especially this subject for this is a soteriological question; for whom did Jesus Christ die? Was it for the whole world, or for just some who elected by God for salvation? This was a concern of Paul’s when he wrote to the Galatian Churches: “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ” (Galatians 1:6–7). How important is this? Paul continues under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit: “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, If anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8–9). Men throughout the ages have attempted to thwart the gospel of Jesus Christ by their own effort and cunning teaching that which the Bible does not teach, therefore Paul warns: “that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting” (Ephesians 4:14).  When the truth is subverted by changing the doctrines presented to us in the Bible then all sorts of unrighteousness enters into the Church and the Church is you, therefore without a study, and earnest investigation you will also be subject to this false teaching: for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary for sound doctrine” (1Timothy 1:10).  This should be our desire; to know the truth, sound doctrine and avoid those things that God condemns. Paul ensures us that it is Scripture from where we receive our doctrine: “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2Timothy 3:16). So, it is Scripture that we must study and not just some man–made doctrine or opinion, and if need by we are to correct, have reproof, and be instructed in truth, in righteousness. Unfortunately, Paul gives an instruction that has been so avoided, that is, to teach the word of God, diligently, to teach the truth for there will come, and has come, a time when people, Christians, will be misled, and this so often for they fall into error by means of their own desires: “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and thy will turn their ears away from the truth, and by turned aside to fables” (2Timothy 4:2–4). This study is all about the truth, not my truth, not the truth from some great theologians, although I will examined and present as needed what they have taught, not from your pastor, no, to teach us to be watchful, and to know, how to know when false teaching is being preached, or taught: “But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2Timothy 4:5).  Yes, Paul was writing to Timothy and instructing him of these things, but what part of Scripture is not for you, not teaching you, not instruction you? Is not this what we are, ambassadors, ministers of God? Yes, some are in the field of missionary work, others are pastors, and professor, and you also, no matter what is your profession, you are to be a minister of Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is our duty to know and teach the truth, the truth of God’s word. God has not changed. God has in all times taught about this doctrine of election and predestination: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). It others who have subverted doctrines so clearly and plainly taught in God’s word, and we are to stand firm for the truth or we will be carried away by a different doctrine than what is taught in God’s word: “Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, no with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them” (Hebrews 13:9).

            Come with me on this journey to find the truth by our study of God’s word and allowing His word to teach us. This is a beginning and setting the stage for this study. The next blogs will begin digging into Gods’ word, and out of this by the power of the Holy Spirit leading us, we will find the truth.

So we may boldly say:

            “The LORD is my helper;

I will not fear, what can man

            Do to me?

                                    Hebrews 13:6

Pray, Ask God for guidance

Richard L. Crumb

Our Secure Hope

Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits

of the Spirit, even we ourselves,

eagerly waiting for the adoption,

the redemption of our body.

For we were saved n this hope, but hope

that is seen is not hope; for why does

one still hope for what he sees?

but if we hope for what we do not

see, we eagerly wait for it with

perseverance.

Romans 8:23–25

Hope; what is it? How can one understand this word, and how this word actually applies to oneself? Hope is a feeling that what is wanted can be had, a ground for this feeling in a particular instance, to look forward to with desire and having a reasonable confidence that this hope will be fulfilled.[1] This hope has as its foundation, a ground for this feeling is that we are the recipients of the Spirit, it is ours, this requirement for our hope, and that requirement is in the fact that Jesus Christ is the firstfruit: “But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming” (1Corinthians 15:23). We have every confidence in this fact that Jesus Christ is the Firstfruit and that we, those chosen by God to be the children of God, the Bride of Christ are also in kind with Jesus and the fact that He is the Firstfruit is then applied to His Bride: “Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures” (James 1:18). We are not the firstfruits as though there are others who will be a second fruit, no, we are in “kind,” similar, but not the firstfruit before others. We do not see the future other than what God has revealed, therefore to speculate about the future is only speculation and not Scriptural. Many fall prey to this form of speculation, as in the series so accepted, and by many as fact: the “Left Behind Series.” Our hope is in this fact, we will be adopted, that is our adoption will be complete, and we will be redeemed from this sin that so besets us and wars against us, causing us to forget that we are already, before the founding of the world, children of God and our sanctification while secure with God must be worked into us in this life, it is perseverance, perseverance to the truth and not to some man–made doctrine. We are weak in this body and our desire is that this body be renewed as promised by God, through the redemption propitiated by His Son Jesus Christ on the cross. Think deeply upon this fact: “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26). The Spirit is called, “Himself,” this would not be true of the Spirit is only some sort of power from God as taught by the Jehovah Witnesses. Furthermore, we pray but so often our prayers are selfish, as though God was a vending machine doling out what we request. Our requests are so often far from what God will accept, and only that which the Spirit does by making intercession (Is this not what Jesus is doing sitting next to the Father as the Hebrew writer so aptly and clearly present to us by speaking of Jesus Christ: “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). Our hope is secure, grounded, and should be the ground for our perseverance. Paul adds to this fact of intercession and the conjoining of Himself with the Spirit: “Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:27). It is the heart of man that Jesus Christ searches and that this fact of the Holy Spirit indwelling in us. This then allows Jesus Christ to know what the mind of the Spirit. It is whether, or not our mind is so conjoined with the Holy Spirit that we are in no contradiction to the will of God, for this is what the Holy Spirit leads to have, and what Jesus Christ knows. Do we do this perfectly? NO! Here is then some good news to add to your hope: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). Listen carefully at this verse as it speaks to you this truth: Only those who are called according to His purpose, who love God, and this love is shown in our everyday experiences, that thing work together for good. Those who do not meet this rubric have only one thing to experience: retribution, and condemnation. Our hope so grounded in this truth that those called by God have redemption and a sure hope of eternal life that we should be driven to live for him and not for ourselves. It is to put away any thoughts of antinomianism, and to put on the whole armor of God and to flee from unrighteousness. This is the whole work of man. God has done His part, now we are to do our part. Praise God for we have the Holy Spirit making intercession for us, the One who indwells us.

It is good to give thanks to the LORD,

            And to sing praises to Your name,

O Most High, to declare Your lovingkindness

            In the morning, and Your faithfulness

Every night.

                                    Psalm 92:1–2

Believe On The Lord Jesus Christ

Richard L. Crumb

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[1] Random House Webster College Dictionary: Hope: p. 627