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