024 - ELECTION - PREDESTINATION x FREE WILL

ELECTION - PREDESTINATION x FREE WILL

1 - INTRODUCTION

Much debate there is about which is the correct theory: predestination or Free Will? If until today this issue is not resolved, it is because the goal of the religious system is to induce individuals to banalize what is against them. Amidst so theological war, the conclusion reached is that it is impossible to find out the truth and, with this, nobody thinks on knowing the subject better. However, this is an issue of vital importance.

Like everything else in the realm of the Eternal is a matter of concept and vision, when the concept of something is distorted, there is no way to arrive at a correct conclusion.

For you to understand the importance of it: The Eternal creates each with virtues, gifts and talents. However, because of Adam's sin, all are born separated from Him (Romans 3.23). The ones He reveals Himself from the womb. The other in childhood (Jr 1.5; Lc 1.13-15), the other in adolescence, youth, in old age and the other He nor reveals Himself in a supernatural way. However, for not having pleasure in the plan of salvation, the majority prefers to follow the path of Cain: play the blame in the Eternal saying He is too rigid (Matt 25.24) and that got tired of trying to please Him (claiming that there is no possibility of being forgiven). The truth, however, is that they decided to stay away from Him (Gen 4.13-16). They want to fight to make this world works without Him to ban Him forever of any contact with His creation.

Although suffering, nor think in return for  the Eternal. Instead, they conform to live a miserable life here, until death takes them. Nor stop to think that, whether they like it or not, in the end they will stop in the presence of Him whom they both despise and by whom they have massive revolt.

However, the salvation revolves around accept willingly the sovereignty of the Eternal (Mt 6: 33; Lk 19.14,27). As, however, accept something that the person not even  know exist, much less how it works? I hope, through this article, stimulate the individuals to dig deeper into the plan that Eternal provided to save His.

2 - FREE WILL DOES NOT EXIST. THE SALVATION CONSISTS IN REJECTING THE  WILL ADQUIRED.

The concept of Free Will

Firstly, it is need to define what is Will. Contrary to what many think, Will is not the ability to make decisions. This, of course, all being alive have, even before sin.

Will is the ability to arbitrate (judge) between what is good and what is bad. In other words, it is the role of the judge, who shall belong exclusively to the Eternal (Tg 4.11,12). In other words, the only living being in all the universe that has Free Will is the Eternal. He alone is worthy (Revelation 4.11; 5.9,12; 7.10,12; 19.1).

This is why the human being was created without the ability to judge (no will).

When did the human being receive the Will?

Only after the disobedience the man pass to have Will:

 

    " But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." (Genesis 2:17).

 

If you analyze well, to taste of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, what Adam and Eve were doing was acquiring for themselves a Will. This means that Adam and Eve begin to have Will (to distinguish good from evil, right from wrong) only after proof of this tree.

The Will, in addition to not being free, takes away the freedom of man to love your neighbor

However, this Will never was, neither will be free:

 

   " How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?" (Job 15.16); 

   " And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God." (Lk 18.19);           

   " What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: their feet are swift to shed blood: destruction and misery are in their ways: and the way of peace have they not known: there is no fear of God before their eyes." (Romans 3.9-18);

   " For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." (Romans 7.15-25).

 

And don't think this is only after adult. From a child the human being already bends to what is bad.

 

   "And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done." (Gen 8.21);

   "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me." (Psalm 51.5);

   "The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies." (Psalm 58.3).

The Will made everyone slaves of sin

Nobody is free to do good. You may say: "nonsense, I do what I want, of my way and in my time". However, the choices you make depends on:

 

·        Concepts and values that were introduced into you through the media and the school;

·        Your desires.

 

That is, even without perceiving, we take the decisions that the global elite (which is behind the media) want. Although we feel free to opt for what pleases us, we ended up choosing exactly what they planned to choose.

The exercise of Will leads the individual to do evil, even when your desire is to do good

Think about it: what is freedom?

Seems like a silly concept. However, if freedom is, as many imagine, being able to do what you want, in any way at any time, then not even the Eternal is free, since there are three things that He can’t do: lie (Numbers 23.19; Titus 1.2), deny Himself (2Tim 2:13) and change (Malachi 3.6; Heb 29).

In addition, proof that freedom is not none of this is that nobody has the power to choose between good and evil. Even because this is impossible, since good and evil are two sides of the same coin. If you think not, just think that there were two trees in the garden: the "knowledge of good" and the "knowledge of evil". The tree was one (only the Eternal is able to be purely good).

The proof of this is the verse below:

 

·         “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things." (Romans 2.1).

 

Note how the individual condemns themselves when condemns the others. For more wicked that is the neighbor, as much as he deserves so great punishment, there is no way someone condemning them without practicing the same crime that they committed.

In addition, see what the Eternal said to Laban (Genesis 31.29). Why was not for him to speak something good to Jacob? 

To explain this, do the following illustration. Imagine you are working in a public hospital and the service is lagging. At a given moment, a patient (already impatient) resolve to seek you and asks: "what these doctors are doing that do not call the sicks?". At this hour, you have three alternatives:

 

·        To lie, with the excuse that is to avoid turmoil. However, for the Eternal there is no excuse for sin. Ha-Satan is the father of lie (John 8.44). Therefore, who thus proceeds is making oneself his son;

·        To tell the truth. This may generate a revolt so great in people that may even end in tragedy.

·        To behave like Pontius Pilate: place the responsibility on the backs of others (Matthew 27.24). In this case, you will be sinning against your neighbor.

 

Note how, no matter what the decision you take, in one way or another you will bring harm to many people, what characterizes the sin. We are not at liberty to choose the good and reject evil . Rather, the freedom that we have is, since we opted for evil,  to decide how we are going to put into practice the one.

The truth is that, without Jesus, there is no way to separate these two things:

 

     For someone to profit, another has to have prejudice;

     For somebody to win, several have to lose;

     To achieve peace, it is necessary to make wars;

 

A police officer, for example, to defend the rights of the fair, has to mistreat, imprison and even kill the wicked.

Perhaps you think: but the bad guy deserves. However, this label was given to him by the system. First of all, this individual is someone created in the image and likeness of the Eternal (Gen 1.25,26), someone so beloved that He made a point of making of Himself flesh to be able to give His life in place of him on Golgotha. In fact, this individual was created with the purpose of being used for the Eternal as a work of art, so that through him, all the earth shall be filled for the glory of the Eternal (Isaiah 11.9; Habakkuk 2.14). 

After all, when someone allow oneself to work for the Eternal, is being His work, a living expression of everything that He does and is (hence Psalms 145.10). In other words, when you kill someone, in the first instance who is being eliminated is not a villain, but someone that the Eternal could use to do many things, including for us (see Matthew 18.18-20).

In fact, Matthew 18.18-20 destine itself precisely to alert us as to the terrible consequences of excluding someone from our lives (or from this world).

Furthermore, think: what if it was your son or relative dear who was the bad guy? Would you like to see a police office beating him or see him being despised by society? Well: this crook has a father and a mother, besides being also someone that the Eternal love as the apple of His eye, His inheritance (Deut 32.9.10), His treasure (Malachi 3.17).

Anyway, as you can see, without Jesus is impossible to do good without doing evil. Indeed, the concept of good or evil ends up being relative. For example: advance the red signal is wrong. Notwithstanding, what will you do if, while driving your car on the road, a motorcycle rider to advance the red signal? Will you make use of your right and run over him? Nevertheless, have you ever thought that he, perhaps, so acted for being helping your relative? 

The laws and their works can never save.

Until today the individuals did not understand that the law, by itself, is nothing. The law only aims works and goods, things of the flesh, serving only to awakening, i.e., so that individuals see as they are with relation to Christ. The law is an indication in order that we realize that something needs to be changed in the individual's life and, thus, we seek, not simply a change in attitudes, but the cure of evil which gave rise to such an attitude in his life. The mere obedience to the law will never be able to reach the heart of someone. It will act in the body and, perhaps, in the soul of the individual. 

So much so that no one will be saved by works of the law (Eph 2.8,9; Gal 2.16). The law, separated from the love of Jesus, only serves to kill, steal and destroy individuals even more (2Cor 3.6,7,9; Col 2:15). 

When we deepened, not in the law, but in the real meaning of it, we began to understand why it was established and, especially: what you can learn about the Eternal in virtue of them.

Love the Eternal (Matt 22.37,38) is more than obeying  His orders. It’s take pleasure in His law (Psalms 1.1,2). Nevertheless, considering that it is not we who love the Lord, but He is the one who loves us (1John 4.19) and imputes to us this love, thus we will only be able to see the beauty of the Eternal in His commandments and be able to save them when we leave Him to express His love for neighbor within us.

In this case:

 

     We don't steal (whether active or passively) because everything that Eternal gave the individual is a pre-requisite for Him to operate over one of the facets of His love;

     We should not kill because the person is an individual to whom Jesus loves and wants to use in order that we be able to be more fruitful in the lives of those who the Eternal does bring us;

     We do not adulterate because we do not want the best expression of the relationship of Jesus with His Bride be spoiled and hamper the individuals of seeing in our family one of the most sublime designs of the Creator (and the greatest blessing for the human being, physically speaking -  Psalms 127.3-5; 128; Ecclesiastes 9.9).

If there was Free Will, then each one would be able to choose the well without Jesus 

In the end, if there was any chance of being good for ourselves, didn't need Jesus to save us. Every attempt of we direct our Will for something good ends up being filthy rags n the eyes of the Eternal (Isaiah 64.6). So, the only solution to the question of Will is the death of the old man. We must deny our thoughts, feelings, desires, plans and action (Matt 16.24; Romans 6.1-4 Col 3.3), so that the life of Christ may manifest in our mortal flesh (Gal 2.20; 2Cor 4.10,11).

If we had freedom to choose our destiny, then we could be what we wanted

Are you all that you wanted to be? Certainly not! We do not ask to be born. We do not choose when to be born, where to be born, which family to belong to, what to like, what sex to belong to, what kind of body, what gifts and talents to possess, etc.

How often do we plan things that do not work out. How many events lead us to where we never imagined.

Not to mention that we have no control over sun, cold, rain, old age, etc.

What about our body? We do not control the functioning of any of our internal organs. We do not control the gestation of our children.

Finally, if you do an analysis, you'll see that more things are out of our control than those we can control.

Conclusion

Free Will does not exist and all Will acquired through Adam has to be delivered to Jesus, because He alone is worthy to be the judge. Adam was born saved from sin (the ability to judge the individuals). We, for were born with the Will, need to believe that there is nobody better than Jesus to separate good from evil and treat our lives and those that He does get closer to us.

Moreover, if there were free will, then salvation would be a merit of man, since he was good and wise enough to receive Jesus into and through his life.

3 - ANNIHILATING WITH THE ANTHROPOCENTRIC GOSPEL AND PUTTING JESUS AT THE CENTER OF THE GOSPEL

Before we understand predestination, it is necessary to put Christ at the center of the gospel. For this, nothing better than the following verse:

 

   "But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, " (1 Peter 1.19,20).

 

Note how the blood of Christ was known before the foundation of the world: it 's not just before the creation, but before the foundation of the world. In other words, even before the Eternal establish what are the foundations on which the world would be founded, the Eternal experienced in Himself the day that He would give Himself in order to provide a family for themselves (a seed of godly - Malachi 2:15).

Everything that the Eternal does is for love of His name, and not to us

Contrary to what is preached in the religious system, the cause of Jesus died was not by our sins; this was a result of what He did. This, which is the central event of all creation, is intended to reveal the greatness of His love by Himself. Since He had not whom to love, therefore nothing more appropriate than He loving Himself. This can be seen at:

 

   "But I wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt." (Ezek 20.9);

   "But I wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out." (Ezek 20.14);

   "Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth." (Ezek 20.22);

   "And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have wrought with you for my name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD." (Ez 20.44);

   " But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went. Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. " (Ezek 36.21-23);

   "For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake." (2Kings 19.34);

   "For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake." (Isaiah 37.35);

   "For my name's sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off." (Isaiah 48.9).

 

Note that all that the Eternal does is out of love for Himself, and not His creation (as if He had created us to satisfy our desires). 

This may seem something very selfish. Think, however, another way: Have you ever thought if He loved us? We would be forced to love (bind ourselves) individuals, regardless of who they are. Although the Creator loves the world (John 3:16) and there is the commandment to love our neighbor, the Eternal love the sinner by placing His love (the love for Him and for what comes from Him) in the heart of them. 

Furthermore, if the Eternal love another human being who was not Christ (note that who was purchased with His blood was the church - see 1Corinthians 6.19; 7.23), which one He would love? After all, since each one only sees your hand, to whom that the Eternal would favor? He inevitably would be making the same mistake as we: would injure some to bless others (i.e., make iniquity).

That is to say, the Eternal offers His love to all, but only the elect get a place for His love within them. Only in this way the elect will be capable of loving the neighbor: when the Eternal uses them to call the neighbor to Him (Matthew 11.28; John 14.6).

Thus, love the neighbor is a consequence of experiencing inside us the love of the Eternal by himself (1 John 4.19). We love our neighbor because we want to know more of the Eternal through our communion with Him (Matthew 18.18-20).

Besides, if the Eternal would love us, consequently something good would have to exist inside us. And what would it be? Even if this were true, it would be better than what The Eternal has or can create? 

Unfortunately, the religious system transforms the Eternal in an idolater of man (twisting John 3.16), as if He were capable of anything for love to the human being. The only reason the Eternal love the human being is because He was His instrument to, through the mutual love, to show who He is. 

Furthermore, if there was something good in the human being (there isn’t -Rom 3.9-18), have you ever thought that agony would be to strive to preserve this lest to lose the favor of the Eternal? So much so that, whoever stands in works, is always in search of wage and just appreciates tasks. 

In contrast, for those who value a life, the important thing is to see it as a source of blessing of the Eternal. The important thing is not the fulfilment of obligations, but see the individual receiving everything that the Eternal placed in our storeroom for him to be useful in the lives of others (Matt 24.45; 1 Corinthians 4.1-4; 1Peter 4.10).

The Eternal loves Himself because there isn’t goodness out of Him. That is why the Eternal determines:

 

   "For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen." (Romans 11.36);

   "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.  " (Rev 22.13).

   "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14.6);

   "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.  " (John 6.44.45).

 

In other words, the Eternal form in Himself a virtuous circle, so that everything is born in Him, through Him and ends in Him. And there is nothing in the human being who can please the Eternal:

 

   "Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering. All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity." (Isaiah 40.15-17).

 

The Eternal One have pleasure in Him and the work He does, because it is only from Him who comes goodness and mercy that work the hearts of the individuals.

 

   " Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? " (Micah 6:6-8).

 

It is only from the Eternal that comes the righteousness that pleases Him. And between Him and the man there is a gulf impassable (analyze Luke 16.26). Hence He is called the "Most High". 

What is in the man for him to be the center of attention of the Eternal?

All the efforts of the religious system is to break the virtuous circle of the Eternal One and try to convince him to be interested by men and their causes. Please review and you will see that the campaigns, prayers, praises and fasts are rituals that aim to convince the Eternal to do what they want (as do the witches and wizards to their entities). 

Even though the Eternal One have interest by what comes from man, this one would flee from Him or be destroyed:

 

   " And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself." (Gen 3.7-10);

   "Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days." (Daniel 10.14).

   "Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way." (Exodus 33.3).

 

What would profit to the man, the Eternal bless him in his works? See the Old Testament. Despite the numerous achievements given to Israel by the Eternal, yet the wickedness of them was such that infected the whole earth (Jer 23.15).

The truth is that without Jesus, we ended up making the blessing of the Eternal in something cursed (Gen 3.17). Without the piety of the Eternal to dwell within us, we will never see or enjoy the peace that the Eternal gives us (Isa 48.21,22; 57.19-21).

The only source of blessing is Jesus: His life and word

This is why, when the Eternal wanted to love the world in such a way, He created Jesus. As  there was no natural way to rapprochement between the Eternal and the man, nothing more appropriate than creating for Himself a human body to dwell among us. As the Eternal only loves Himself, now He could love a human being and be interested in the cause of them. 

And anyone who wanted to be blessed, just stay close to Jesus as it happened to the apostles. After all, in that the Father was blessing the Son, everyone around Him would be blessed. 

The problem with this is that, after the death of Jesus, everyone would return to the miserable and nonsense before life. Hence the reason why, all the times that Jesus mentioned anything about His death, the apostles felt sadness (Luke 22.45; John 16:6), even to the point of being afraid to ask Jesus (Mark 9.31.32).

Fortunately, the Eternal provided a way to never we walk away from Him: making us members of His body. In this case, there was no way to be separated from Him. Consider that none of the bones of Jesus was broken (John 19.36) and no one can snatch His sons from the hands of the Father (John 10.28,29). 

In other words, the Eternal only gives His true blessing (see Luke 16.11; 1 Corinthians 2.9) to Himself. Thus, the only way to be blessed is trusting in Jesus completely, to the point we deny our life (Matt 16.24) to be part of the body of Jesus. When we live His life (blood) in this world (living in favor of His sons, instead of seeking communion with Jesus in a ecstatic way), then we are blessed.

But what does  this mean?

The wages of sin is death (Romans 6.23). As, however, Jesus did not sin, He had the right to continue living. Instead, He chose to pour out His life in death (Isaiah 53.12). Nobody took the life of Jesus. Rather, He was the one who decided to spontaneously give His life (Jonh 10.17,18). To make this clear, when the religious system came to arrest Jesus, the Eternal made their representatives fell to the ground when Jesus said: "I AM" (John 18.4-6). 

And all this so that today, all who agree to do, of the life of Christ, His style of life (i.e., indulge in the hands Father so that everyone who wants to can have their sins are canceled and, with this, can live in constant communion with the eternal - see Jr 23.18.22; Eph 1:11; Heb 6.17), are saved from a life of mediocrity and without direction.

It was for this life that the Eternal wanted to destine all:

 

   "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, " (Eph 1.5).

 

Unfortunately, only a few accepted this fate, namely: to be children of adoption, i.e., to be a manifestation of everything that the Eternal wants to show through Him. It is clear that this adoption is not through the religious system and its leaders, but through the living and direct communion with everything that the Eternal was when He was here as a man (i.e., the communion is through Jesus Christ).

Notwithstanding, He does this to Himself, is not to satisfy our desires. The idea is that we grow tired of trying to live for ourselves and see that there is only beauty in wishes and plans of the Eternal and, in this way, we wish that all the counsel of His will may be fulfilled in us. 

But, what is predestination?

4 - PREDESTINATION

Predestination = pre + destination.

Destination is to assert that each has a destination. Many, however, believe that each one draws His own destiny, while predestination asserts that each one has his destination mapped out even before they are born.

Let's take a closer look at some passages about predestination:

 

    “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." (Romans 8.29,30) - Those who believe are predestined to be as the image of everything that the Eternal One was when He was here as a man;

   "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:" (Eph 1.11) - we was predestined according to the purpose of Him who does everything (and not just something), and always in accordance with His will, which was established in the council that there are inside of the Eternal (Jer 23.18,22), which includes making us His heritage to be enjoyed by His body.

But how does it happen the predestination?

When the Eternal One decided to create the universe, the first thing that He wished create was a family to Himself (Malachi 2.15). But, so that He could have children, it was necessary that they were His image and likeness.

Not only this! So that He could be father of humans, He would have to become human too. It was then that the Eternal designed Jesus Christ:

 

·        "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." (John 17.24)

·        " And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;" (Revelation 3.14)

·        "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:" (Colossians 1:16)

 

Then He created in righteousness all human beings, as His perfect model: Jesus (Genesis 1.25,26).

 

·        "Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions." (Ecclesiastes 7.29)

 

Nevertheless, something terrible happened: all men (vessels) that He projected damaged in His hands.

 

·       “The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, o house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. " (Jeremiah 18.1-6).

 

Note how in this symbolism, the vessel wasn’t ruined in the hands of Ha-Satan, nor in their own hands, but in the hands of the Eternal.

From the moment He designed to make human beings in His image and likeness (among other things, with a own desire and knowing the  good and evil - analyze in Genesis 3.5 how this did of them similar to the Eternal), all His vessels broke themselves.

If the Eternal deprive them to know the difference between good and evil, the human being would not be the image and likeness of Him (Genesis 1.25,26). However, giving them this privilege, they would not be able to keep pure and holy.

The Eternal then, certainly, thought: “what should I do so that these vessels, made in my image and likeness, will not spoil in my hands? How to make to save them?

It was then that the Eternal One designed the first event in the history of the universe: the sacrifice of Christ:

 

·        "Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:" (Acts 2:23)

·        "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you," (1 Peter 1.18-20).

 

Through this sacrifice the Eternal saw that He could regenerate and renew vessels so that they do not lose more. As His desire was that everyone was saved. He, then, designed the events related to the work of Christ and experienced them in all vessels. Hence the Holy Scripture to say:

 

·        “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (II Peter 3.9)

·        “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (1Timothy 2.4,6) 

·        “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (I John 2.2)

·        “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3.16)

·        “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.” (Titus 2.11)

·        “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” (Hebrews 2.9)

·        “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: ” (II Corinthians 5.14)

·        “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6.40).

·        “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 33.11).

·        “Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.” (Matthew 18.14)

 

Unfortunately, billions of these vessels, even being submitted to Christ’s treatment, yet they continued losing themselves (often getting worse than before treatment, such as the clay hardens with the action of the sun).

The Eternal One then, chose for Himself those who responded well to the treatment of Christ in their lives, as well as to His good works. In other words, the Eternal chose those individuals who accepted and loved His salvation in their lives (Psalm 40:16; 70.4) and they expect it (Psalm 9:14, 13.5; 21.1; 119.166).

In other words: we are not saved because we convert ourselves to Christ. It is the opposite: it is because the Eternal saved us even before the foundation of the world that we repent, convert and decide to follow Christ.

 

·        " And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed." (Acts 13.48).

·        "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." (Romans 8.29).

·        "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:" (Ephesians 1.4)

·        "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:" (Ephesians 1.11).

·        "For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God has before prepared that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2.10 - Darby).

·        “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,” (2Timothy 1.9).

·        “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2Thessalonians 2.13,14).

·        “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:” (Matthew 25.34).

 

Hence say that they were elected according to the foreknowledge of the Eternal (1 Peter 1.2): the Eternal already interacted with each vase before the foundation of the world and knew then how each would behave before all He is.

Nevertheless, the Eternal saw that, even with His Spirit acting within them, even so the elect would need extra help. It was then that He designed the angels (remember that they were created to serve in favor of them who shall be heirs of salvation):

 

·        " Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out for service on account of those who shall inherit salvation? " (Hebrews 1:14).

·        " And I fell before his feet to do him homage. And he says to me, See thou do it not. I am thy fellow-bondman, and the fellow-bondman of thy brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Do homage to God. For the spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus. " (Revelation 19.10).

·        "And he says to me, See thou do it not. I am thy fellow-bondman, and the fellow-bondman of thy brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Do homage to God." (Revelation 22.8.9).

 

Notwithstanding, the Eternal, when designing the angels, He saw that many would be damaged and the others would be with doubts about the perfection of Him and of His Word. It was then that the Eternal One designed all events relating to His performance in this world through life of their chosen:

 

·       "To me, less than the least of all saints, has this grace been given, to announce among the nations the glad tidings of the unsearchable riches of the Christ, and to enlighten all with the knowledge of what is the administration of the mystery hidden throughout the ages in God, who has created all things, in order that now to the principalities and authorities in the heavenlies might be made known through the assembly the all-various wisdom of God, according to the purpose of the ages, which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord,  " (Ephesians 3.8-11). 

 

However, so that the Eternal One could manifest His wisdom and grace manifold (Eph 3.10; 1Pet 4.10), it was necessary to create all a background where such attributes could be seen in a way undeniable by all creation.

It was then that the Eternal One designed plants, animals and all the rest of the universe as well as the other events that should happen.

 

·        "And God said, Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens, to divide between the day and the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years;" (Genesis 1.14).

 

For that angels could be good helpers of elected representatives, they were brought into the world first.

In short:

 

·        First the Eternal designed Jesus Christ;

·        Second, He designed the other human beings;

·        Third, He designed the sacrifice of Christ (the first event);

·        Fourth, He designed the events relating to the work of Christ;

·        Fifth, He experienced the work of Christ in each one and choose those who would react well to it;

·        Sixth, He designed the angels;

·        Seventh, He designed His life in this world, i.e. His supernatural activities in the life of each one of which were chosen (in other words, wrote their name in the Lamb's book of life - Rev 3.5; 13.8; 17.8; 20.15; 21.27; 22.19).

·        Eighth, He designed other living creatures and the physical elements and established all the other events, all taking as reference Jesus and His redeeming work.

 

Only after all His works are completely designed is that the Eternal then put into practice the creation of all things:

 

·        "Thine eyes did see my unformed substance, and in thy book all my members were written; during many days were they fashioned, when as yet there was none of them." (Psalm 139.15,16).

·        " For we enter into the rest who have believed; as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, If they shall enter into my rest; although the works had been completed from the foundation of the world." (Hebrews 4.3).

 

Summarizing: the Eternal predestined us on the basis of what we have become to the extent that He has dealt with each of us (after all, we live in Him, move and exist - Acts 17:25-28).

To understand this better, we can thus to summarize:

In Adam all were predestined to death

Let’s think with a little more depth. For that principalities and powers could better understand the Eternal and His manifold grace and wisdom (Eph 3.10; 1 Peter 4.10), it pleased Him to elect the Church to show how His superabundant grace can overcome sin (Romans 5.20).

 For this, it was necessary that sin entered the world. This is why in Genesis 1.31 it is said that all that Eternal created was very good, including the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. After all, this tree was necessary for that sin could enter the world and, together with it, the law and the favor of the Eternal. Without this, never the creation could see how great is the favor of the Eternal, exceeding all the council of evil (Romans 5.17,20).

And knowing beforehand to Adam, the Creator saw that he would play very well this role. He did not attempt to Adam, nor forced him to sin (James 1.13-15). On the contrary, he was born free from sinful tendencies and in a place where there was no reason to sin. He is that chose spontaneously to disobey the Eternal.

This also served to prove that, when we act thinking about ourselves, what suits us (or that we believe is best), we can never please the Eternal, even if we had free from all sinful tendency as Adam (Rom 8.5-9). Much less being born a slave of the sin (Romans 3.9), without any capacity for goodness and righteousness (Romans 3.11,12 - again confirming that there is no Free Will! After all, there isn’t a slave free). 

In Adam, all were predestined to eternal death:

 

·        "but according as it is written, To whom there was nothing told concerning him, they shall see; and they that have not heard shall understand. Wherefore also I have been often hindered from coming to you." (Romans 15.21,22).

·        "For this cause , even as by one man sin entered into the world, and by sin death; and thus death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Rom 5.12).

 

In Adam, all are born dead, spiritually speaking, since, by descend of Adam, they are born with the Will in their hearts. Because of this:

 

    1st -  Each one feels that the only way to resolve conflicts is through laws and punishments;

 2nd -  People think that they can do something without the Creator;

   3rd -  No one cares to receive the love (1John 4.8,16), preferring to remain in darkness ( 1John 2.9-11).

In Christ all were predestined to life

·        " And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2.1-10).

 

Fortunately, the Eternal designed Jesus to give His life in order that we might be free from a style of life miserable, to wit, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, being a living expression of what is the wrath of the Eternal.

Before any human being was aware of being dead (i.e., without the ability to respond to the impulses of the flesh), the Eternal, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, had already designed come as man to save humanity, even when we were dead in our trespasses.

Note that, even before the creation of the world, the Eternal one now  quickened us together with Christ, raised us up together, made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus and prepared good works in order that we should walk on them.

Note how the entire process of salvation was designed and executed by the Eternal, as well as given to those who have agreed to receive this project in their hearts. They were adopted for the Eternal One in order to be a seed of godly.

This was fulfilled in all that the Eternal saw that would leave their will aside, preferring to be guided by the voice of the Eternal (John 3.3; Romans 8.14), which purifies who hears it (John 15.3), trusting that the desire of the Creator (Matthew 7.21) is good, pleasing and perfect (Romans 12.2). Instead of arrest individuals and things to themselves, they allow to be connected to something much larger than the entire universe.

When the Eternal was designing the world, who accepted to be guided by the Eternal  was predestinated to be more than winner (Romans 8.37).

 

·        "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." (Romans 8.29,30).

·         "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:" (Eph 1:11).

 

There is still a question:

How did arise the evil?

As already shown, the Eternal created everything perfect (Genesis 1.31; Ecclesiastes 7.29). However, while the Eternal was projecting in His hands humans, all come to ruin (with exception of Christ). The same happened with many of the angels that the Eternal One designed.

But, as this may be possible, since it was He who created all the vessels?

First let's look at what happened with Ha-Satan:

 

·        "Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee." (Ezekiel 28.15-17).

 

Ha-Satan was created perfect, but when he took his eyes of the Eternal One and began to look for him, he began to feel very beautiful, wise and able, to the point of finding that could be good for himself, without the need of the Eternal and His direction.

In other words, the evil came on the day that Ha-Satan wanted to be like the Most High and do something good for his own account. 

 

·       " How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.  " (Isaiah 14.12-14).

 

And as Jesus said:

 

·        "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad." (Matthew 12.30).

·        "It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? " (Matthew 10.25).

 

The same happened with the human being. Eve wanted to have the same understanding that the Eternal One in order to be better than Him.

Understand: Eve did not wish to do evil. What she wanted is to make a good greater than what the Eternal had already done. Note how, by quoting "because God knows...", the serpent was inducing Eve to think that the Eternal was hiding some well of them (Adam and Eve did not know that the good that they felt lacking was embedded in the order that they have neglected to fulfill).

Likewise, consider the case of King Uzziah:

 

·        "And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong. But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense. " (2Chronicles 26.15,16). 

 

Note how was the blessing of the Eternal which led him to exalt his heart until to be corrupted, thinking that could offer to the Eternal or exert the ministry that well liked. Note how he was not worshipping other gods, but to seek a rapprochement of the Eternal which, in principle, wasn’t obligation of him.

We should never think about doing what the Eternal assigned to others do!!! The election is for this.

5 - ELECTION

·        “I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.” (John 13.18).

·        “And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.” (John 6.39).

·        “And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.” (Mark 13.27).

·        “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;” (Colossians 3.12)

·        “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.” (I Peter 1.2)

·        “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” (Revelation 17.14).

·        “For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22.14).

·        “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Matthew 24.24)

·        “And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Matthew 24.31).

·        “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:” (2Peter 1.10).

What is it?

Election is the choice of the individual best suited to play a particular role in "film" of life. 

When is it gives the election?

·        “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:" (Ephesians 1.4)

 

As you can see, it happened before the foundation of the world:

 

·        "And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad." (John 11:52);

 

Note that Jesus would gather in His body all the scattered children of God". If the individual becomes a child of the Eternal only after believing in Jesus, as Jesus might have called such individuals from children?

In addition, as the angels and the sons of God might be praising God while the world was being created, and they still had not been born?

 

·        "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?" (Job 38:4-7,21).

 

The only explanation is that God calls those things which do not exist as if they were already (Rm 4.17). In other words, He is able to experience something that is still in the future.

To be more accurate: The Eternal had already lived the whole history of the universe (including our life - Psalms 139.13-16) even before all to be

 created. This is why Jesus (John 17.24) and His blood was known before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1.20).

How did the election happen?

When the Eternal made such a choice, the Eternal took into account the character of each individual, as well as the gifts and talents He granted. 

To illustrate: 

·         An individual with a fiery temper, the Eternal gave him the role of vessel of wrath (Rom 9.21,22);

·        Now to him who takes pleasure in the mercy and compassion of the Eternal, He gave the role of vessel of honor (Rom 9.23). 

 

To illustrate this, think in the case of Jude. Were meant that one of the disciples of the Eternal would betray Him for 30 pieces of silver (Psalms 41.9; John 13.18; Zechariah 11.12,13). Nevertheless, Jude was chosen to occupy such a position because he had, in his nature, everything that fit perfectly in this position. Notwithstanding, at no time the Eternal One obliged Jude to be the way he was. Neither gave him no reason for this. He had the same duties and rights of other disciples (they walked together). Although Peter, James and John participated in some bonus  events (Matt 17.1; Mark 5.37), however all twelve (including him) were used to cast out demons and do miracles (Matt 10.1; Luke 10.17-19).

That is to say,  of the twelve, only Judas found reasons for not being faithful. If the conditions were so bad, the more natural it is that none of the twelve had been faithful. Soon, note how, even in conditions of equality, the decision to be unfaithful was something unique to Jude, without any intervention, whether of the Eternal One or of the Ha-Satan. Only at the end, after Jude had already combined the betrayal, is that Ha-Satan entered into Jude (John 13.28).

Also, it is good to remember that, being linear the table of the supper (no chairs and nobody sat opposite anyone) and no verse saying that Jesus stood up to deliver the morsel to Jude (John 13.26), thus Jude was sitting very close to Jesus, being intimate of Him. Especially considering that Jude had placed his hand on the same dish that Jesus (Matthew 26.23; Mark 14.20).

Therefore, Judas chose to betray the good because he loved the reward of iniquity (Acts 1.18 - as Balaam, who loved the award of injustice - 2Peter 2:15). If he hadn't betrayed Jesus, surely He would have betrayed the other. After all, who is capable of betraying until an individual fantastic as Jesus, what can be expected of him?

Still, one could ask: "But why eternal was putting me in this role that i am living?" (exactly as in is 45.9.10; Romans 9.20,21; 1Corinthians 12.14-20).

If the Eternal One put you in another paper, you would not reach good performance. 

Make it clear that the Eternal does not force anyone to play the role. Being the Eternal omniscient and prescient, He already knows in advance what the individual will become and how he will react to each situation (such as a good scientist knows well the atoms, as well as the way they react with each of the atoms that approach it).

This is why those who would give their lives to Jesus, the Eternal has already elected in Christ before the foundation of the world:

 

·        "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:  having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,  " (Eph 1.4,5).

 

Note how the Eternal One designed His Church before the world come into being and chose those who would be happy to give continuity to everything that He did when He was here in the flesh (John 14.12).

Perhaps you ought to be wonder:

If all have already been predestinated, so what the purpose of evangelism?

Although the Eternal knows beforehand which ones are chosen, He lives with each one of them all his emotions (Psalms 86.15; 145.8; 1Corinthians 13.4) and continues to want all to be saved (2Peter 3:9).

I know this sounds crazy. But it's happened to you watching a good movie, and when you went to see it for the second or third time, you experienced all the emotions again and continued to hope for a happy ending in the life of that character you identified with, even though you knew that this wouldn’t happen?

This is why the Eternal sends us to preach the gospel to the whole creation (Mark 16:15). Moreover, if the gospel were not available to all, the vessels of wrath would use this as an excuse for not having converted.

Besides, we do not know which ones are chosen. Therefore, nothing more indicated than to fulfill what was said by the preacher:

 

·        “Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be. He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all. In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.” (Ecclesiastes 11.1,4-6).

 

After all:

 

·        “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? ” (Romans 10.13,14).

 

The human being has responsibility for decisions taken

Finally, although all events in the life of each one have already been predestinated (Ps 139.16), this does not absolve anyone of responsibility, since Eternal placed each one in a given role based on the choices that he, being designed, did. 

It is true the Eternal works the desires and thoughts of man:

 

·        "LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” (Jer 10:23). 

 

However, He does not force anyone to act in a certain way.

What happens is that, as He already knows the reactions of each one, He uses it to lead each one in His favor, for His will to be done, as can be seen in the examples below:

 

·        "And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol." (Judges 13.25).

·        "And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah." (2Samuel 24.1).

 

Understand: what the Eternal does is to awaken the right response in each one. Everyone has the possibility to choose. As the Eternal already know beforehand how each one reacts to the circumstances that He lays down, in the end everything happens as He designed.

And this He does precisely so that everyone (including the individual himself), can see who this person really is.

To illustrate: suppose that the Eternal want to show to one of his children how terrible may be the anger. As the Eternal knows, for example, that every time someone speaks loudly he gets angry, the Eternal allows a circumstance which will take him to a specific place. Concomitantly, the Eternal promotes another circumstance that will make someone who likes to speak up to go to the same place and sit next to him. When the two are close, the individual begins to speak loud, which leads the brother in Christ to harm the individual.

The brother could have gone out, tried to contain himself, prayed, etc., but chose to attack. However, this served to that brother seeing that he should seek, in the Eternal, the release of this fury.

Maybe you say:

If the predestination was based on my choices, then I have to strive me to achieve something

Vessels of wrath, because they are acting in the flesh, will surely have to strive to achieve something in this life, since they are under the Adamic curse, in which each eats of the sweat of their face (Genesis 3:19).

But the vessels of glory can rest and wait in the Eternal (Psalm 37:7) rejoicing in His company (Ps. 37:4), since, as He chose the life of Christ, he is no longer living, but Christ living in Him (Galatians 2:20). The individual himself will be walking in newness of life (Romans 7:6), not knowing where he comes from or where he is going (John 3.8). It is a secret of the Eternal (Psalm 25:14) that no fleshly man can understand (1 Corinthians 2:14-16).

Whoever is in Christ need not gain position, knowledge, etc., for Christ is all in His life (Colossians 2.10) and will watch over the fulfillment of all the will of the Eternal in us (Jeremiah 1:11,12).

6 - ONCE THAT IT IS THE ETERNAL WHO CREATES EACH INDIVIDUAL, HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT SOMEONE CHOOSE TO DISOBEY GOD? WILL IT BE MISTAKE OF DESIGN? OR WAS HE WHO PREDESTINED SOME TO THE HELL? 

·        “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Eph 2.10).

 

If:

 

·        They were all made in the image and likeness of the Eternal (Gen 1.25,26);

·        The dust of the earth from which all are formed is the same (Rom 9.21);

·        The breath blown over all is the same (Ecc 3.19);

·        The Eternal has put eternity in the hearts of all men (Ecc 3.11);

·        Everyone receives of the Eternal One life, breath and all things (Acts 17.25);

·        All live, move and exist in the Eternal One (Acts 17.28);

·        all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God Eternal (Rom 3.23);

·        There is no one who understands and no one who seeks the Eternal One (Rom 3.11);

·        The grace of the Eternal One manifested salvation to all men (Titus 2.11);

·        Everything that exists, including all human beings were created by Jesus, for Jesus and in Jesus, being all of Him (Romans 11.36; Col 1:16);

·        The revelation of the Eternal One in nature is available to everyone (Rom 1.20); everyone has the work of the law written in their hearts and count with the testimony of his conscience and his thoughts (Rom 2.15);

·        All yearn for three things that best qualify the Eternal: peace (Eph 2.14), happiness (Nehemiah 8.10) and love (1 John 4.8,16).

 

Then:

what leads some to accept the Eternal One and others do not?

All are born in the same condition: all are bad. After all, all have sinned, and come short of the glory of the Eternal One (Rom 3.23). It does not matter if the individual is an angel of person or worse than Ha-Satan: unless they renounce their natural life (by nature we are vessels of wrath - Ephesians 2.2; see Deut 30.1-3) and receive the Eternal One and the style of life which He lived as a man, all are equally guilty (Rev 5.9; 7.9; 14.6).

Initially the usefulness of each one is restricted to regulate righteous, be sample of the riches of mercy and patience of the Eternal One (Rom 3.24-26; 9.24), as well as of the fate that the man imposes on himself when they go away from the Eternal. 

From this we can see the reason why the wedding in Matthew 25.10 was full of individuals good and bad (Matt 25.10): because they were all within the plan of the Eternal and played well their role (if you think this strange, see Jeremiah 43.10; Ezekiel 29.18-20).

Notwithstanding, whether the individual has played the role of good or of evil in society, all need to be clothed with the righteousness of the Eternal (Matt 25.12; Rev 19.8). It is not enough to eat bread in the kingdom of heaven (Luke 14.15). It is necessary to receive the Eternal One the way He is, in His will (John 1.12,13).

Fortunately, isn’t the man who chooses the Eternal (John 15.16), much less that decides to pick Him (John 6.44,45; Eph 4.20,21) or know Him (Matt 11.27). Otherwise, he could apologize, saying that they didn’t have the conducive conditions to repent and convert, because they didn’t have the same opportunities or resources that other individuals.

However, being the Eternal One who performs all the salvation, and that to the margin of resources of this world, no one has an excuse to say that failed to live in accordance with the will of Him. Even those who have not been called.

Although not all are called (Matt 20.16; 22.14), everyone has the opportunity to see the riches of His glory through the vessels of mercy (Rom 9.23). Not to mention that all have, at their disposal, three witnesses of everything that the Eternal One is:

 

·        The testimony of nature (Rom 1.20);

·        The testimony of conscience (Rom 2.14,15); 

·        The testimony of the vessels of honor (Rom 9.24). 

 

Unfortunately, in the land of uprightness, the wicked worketh iniquity (Isa 26.10) and moves away from the light by being bad the works in which he delights (John 3.19-21).

However, those who, after having suffered much, recognize their unworthiness, humbly are grateful for the correction that the Eternal gave them (Leviticus 26.41,43) and accept that Jesus lives His life inside them, they will be saved.

The others will continue to be used in the day of evil (Proverbs 16.4) when the wrath of the Eternal One (Romans 9.22,23) want to consume and destroy the sinners (Isaiah 54.16).

To be more accurate: the individual may choose between live attached to the flesh, to this world and the plan of the Eternal for this (the destruction - 2Peter 3.10-12) or try the Eternal taking him from the Babylonian System and passing to serve only to Christ and those who are part of His body (leaving the physical plane and go on a spiritual plane).

Those who are tired of being what they are (sinners) and to live the life style of this world (Matt 11.28-30), they have the option of leaving Christ works in them both to will and to do within themselves (Phil 2.12,13), getting free of this condemnation. And this was made available to all (John 3.16). After all, when designing the universe, the interest of the Eternal was that all should be saved (Ezekiel 11.33). Hence He manifest His savior Favor to all men (Titus 2.11).

The problem, unfortunately, is that many prefer to love the darkness to light. Prefer their evil deeds:

 

·        "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. " (John 3.19-21)

 

See what it says the verse below:

 

·       "But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; and shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet. These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. " (2Peter 2.12-17)

 

It is true that it is the Eternal One who creates the wicked for the day of calamity (Prov 16.7), the waster to destroy (Isaiah 54.16), the disobedient to falling in Word (1Peter 2.8), the false ministers to be arrested and killed (2Peter 2.12), as well as the vessels of wrath for the destruction (Romans 9.22,23). However, the Eternal gives a character to the individual and makes each one inside of the condition more conducive for them to meet Him. In other words, the Eternal associates the personality of each one with the role that they must play in His plan, so that they have the possibility of coming to know Him. 

Unfortunately, many prefer to seek the well separated from the Eternal, One and of those that He gives them. When this happens, the individual is trying to be better than the Eternal (see Matthew 12:30). 

However, think: if the Eternal is not the target that unites us, then one of two things:

 

·        Or do we want individuals to join us;

·        Or we can try to unite around a cause, works, etc.

 

The problem with this latter case is that, without the motivation of the Eternal, each one has a different mood and worse: a different interest. Even though everyone is fighting for the same cause, each fight thinking of what is best for oneself, in what they can profit from what they are doing.

There is another hypothesis: If Jesus and His Word are not our cause, then or are we fighting for vain and malignant causes, or we are trying to occupy the place of Christ in people's lives and be the highlight of the whole world.

Someone may ask: "But if he had been born in another situation, it could have been an individual better". There is no excuse!

In heaven will be found individuals from every tribe, tongue, people and nation (Rev 5.9; 7.9). Thus, there is no excuse for someone to depart from Christ.

The decision to accept Christ comes from the Eternal.

·        “And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)” (Rom 9.10,11).

·        “For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.” (Rom 9.15-18).

 

Salvation occurs as follows: Jesus expresses His grace to all (Titus 2.11). Who can receive this grace oneself are brought (Hosea 11.4) to closer to all that Jesus is every day (are attracted internally in a conscious way closer to Jesus).

The transformation that occurs in sinners is not fruit of their effort, but it’s for the fact that they has been grafted in Christ and, now, it is purified by Christ’s life (blood, which contains the food of the communion and the water of the word that Jesus speaks with us in prayer) circulating in them and by regeneration operated in them recover them internally of all the damage done by sin (such as a destroyed organ is regenerated within the body when the disease is cured).

The sinners is convicted of what they are. Who believes in Jesus is saved by what Jesus is in them.

Many will seek to enter and cannot (Luke 13.23) Therefore, it is not a voluntary decision of the individual in obey and follow Jesus:

 

·        "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God." (Romans 3.10,11). 

·        “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians 2.14).

 

All, in principle, want to believe in Free Will because this gives the ego of them the illusion that can do something to deserve salvation, and thus be able to boast over the other (contradicting Ephesians 2.9). Nevertheless, if the Eternal does not open the heart of the individual (as He did with Lydia (Acts 16.14), they will not be able to understand, believe and, much less, accept the message that the Eternal is transmitting.

 

·        "Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins." (Acts 5.31).

·        "When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life." (Acts 11.18).

·        "For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:" (Acts 2.25,26).

·        "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;" (Philippians 1.29).

 

You may ask:

Why did the Eternal does not call all to His salvation?

Even more considering what Jesus said?

 

·        "Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee." (Matthew 11.21-24). 

 

This being so, then why the Eternal One does not granted them this opportunity of repentance?

 

·        "At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. " (Matthew 11.25,26)

 

The problem is that Tyrus (and probably Sidon) was famous for its worldly wisdom:

 

·        " Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee:" (Ezekiel 28.3).

 

Sodom, on the other hand, was known for his pride and self-sufficiency:

 

·        "Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.” (Ezekiel 16.49).

 

The truth is that knowing Jesus moved from self-sufficiency or taken to separate wisdom it is a tragedy. It’s enough to think that it was thus that Ha-Satan (Ezek 28.17) and Adam (Gen 3.11,17) fell. Hence Paul says:

 

·        "Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain." (1Corinthians 3.18-20).

 

In other words, if Sodom, Gomorrah, Tyrus and Sidon had repented and remained, they would end up doing the same as the staff of the tower of Babel: search in the Eternal One the realization of everything that does not please Him (Genesis 11.4). And there is nothing worse for the Eternal than the defamation of His character.

To be more accurate: many of which He doesn't call it’s because they will become true satan, that is to say, both will believe in Him and all that He says they will want to take the place of Him.

So that you can view this better, think of the following way. 

Imagine that you go give a lecture in a place with a capacity for one thousand individuals. How doesn't fit everyone, you have to establish something to filter the participants. In the world, the filter is money; at the Kingdom of the Eternal One, the character (even because you don't want rioters in the enclosure).

However, to establishing the requirements to be fulfilled by the participants, you makes it clear that no one needs to be able to meet everything, but you own dispose yourself to do what is necessary for the individual to fill the requirements, provided, of course, that he agrees that you stir inside of him. After all, to satisfy the requirement, it is not enough to obey the rules. It is necessary that the concepts and values are aligned with the Kingdom of the Eternal One.

There are three types of individuals:

 

·        Those who do not accept this change, namely:

o   Mundane, because they do not want to receive or practicing these customs (Acts 16.20,21);

o   Religious, because they think the rituals of the religious institution are more convenient and fun (see Amos 4.4,5).

·        Those who try to be part of the Church, affirming that they recognize the Eternal as Lord, Savior and treasure of their lives, but that, in fact, refuse to let Him transform His heart (give more value to what they have and are). It is the case that man who entered the Wedding Feast (Matthew 22.11,12). He wanted to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but with his own righteousness. He was expelled and sentenced to outer darkness (Matt 22.13);

·        Those who accept the whole transformation that Jesus wants to do in their lives.

 

Thus, in the realm of the Eternal there is the exact number of individuals who will be saved. The chosen were those who, when they are designed, they accepted the transformation of Jesus in themselves.

If would Free Will exist, then why do the individual does not choose good?

Each individual has the opportunity to stay as he is or wait for the transformation promised by the Eternal One (Ezek 11.19; 36.26). However, notice how, the principle, all just choose to do good independent of Christ and of His concepts and values (to be more accurate: to do evil). However, if would there really be Free Will, it was expected that many choose to be of Jesus.

However, Jesus was clear to the apostles:

 

·        "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you." (John 15.16).

Unless the Eternal call and Jesus reveal, no one can ever have fellowship with the Creator:

·        "All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him." (Matthew 11.27).

·        "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.  " (John 16.44,45).

7 - COMES THE QUESTION: IS IT POSSIBLE THAT A TRUE BELIEVER LOSE SALVATION?

This depends on the reference:

thinking from the point of view of the Eternal

Certainly not! Job and Jesus himself said:

 

·        "I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee." (Job 42.2).

·        " And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.  " (John 10.28,29); 

·        "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled." (John 17.12);

 

Everything that the Eternal One designed in eternity will be fulfilled. It’s impossible to fail, inasmuch as it is the Eternal One whom works His salvation in the believer’s life.

 

·        “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph 2:8,9).

 

Being the Eternal One who began this good work, it’s impossible the this one fails, since it is He also who will complete it in the life of who believes (Phil 2.12,13), so that he can persevere until the end (Matthew 24.13):

 

·        “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” (Phil 1.6).

 

And this work consists in making the individual a new creature:

 

·        “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2Corinthians 5.17).

 

In fact, so that no one dares interfere in His salvation process in the lives of the elect, the Eternal bought them with His blood, sealed with His Spirit and kept them safe in His hand:

 

·        “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” (Ephesians 1.13).

·        “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4.30).

·        “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom 8.38,39).

·        “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.” (John 10.28,29).

·        “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” (1Peter 1.18,19).

 

After all, since one was justified by the Eternal, who would dare try to condemn them?

 

·        “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” (Romans 5.1).

·        “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Rom 8.1)

·        “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” (Rom 8.33,34).

 

When the Eternal says that He justified someone, He is not a liar or an irresponsible one, and then to turn back and condemn the individual.

What can happen with someone is:

 

1.      to have the Word torn from the heart by listening to it in a bad way (Mt 13.19);

2.      to have the Word burned in the heart by not being willing to suffer sound doctrine (Mt 13: 20,21; 2Timothy 4.3,4):

3.      to have the Word suffocated in the heart because the individual is very attached to this life (Matt 13.22).

4.      have forgiveness canceled because the individual is not willing to have fellowship with the brother that the Lord has placed in their life (Matt 18:23-35).

5.      to have the name taken from the book of life, so that be manifest to all the reason why the Eternal often does not call certain people (to show that not everyone who is called reacts well to the Eternal and His saving work - See Exodus 32:32-33; Revelation 3.5).

 

But none of these are among the chosen ones. They are only individuals whom the Eternal uses, but who, like Jude, have never really been able to receive within themselves the love of the Eternal.

These are religious individuals who have tried to follow Jesus, but by their own efforts, and therefore failed to reach the full potential desired by the Eternal.

However, who really belongs to the Eternal is guarded personally by Jesus himself:

 

·        “ow unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,” (Jude 24).

·        “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. ” (Ephesians 5.25-27).

 

In short: to all who believe in the true Jesus (namely, with the faith that comes from Him - Matthew 18:28,29; Ephesians 4:20,21; Galatians 2:20):

 

·        “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (João 3.16).

 

Therefore, those whom He has chosen to inherit salvation will surely inherit it. Anyone who deviates is because, when it was designed by the Eternal, it was never able to receive His true faith.

from the point of view of the human being

A true believer can lose salvation. After all, their salvation is the result of the work of the Eternal in an individual's life. In other words, the individual is only saved when he gives to Jesus all the conditions to carry out the works of the Eternal (John 6.28,29). If they abandon Christ, abandoning the treatment, be entangled again in sin. Hence the exhortations:

 

·        "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.  " (Matt 6.13);

·        "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matt 26.41);

·        "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." (Matt 24.13);

·        "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." (Philippians 2.12,13);

·        "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" (1Peter 5.8).

 

It is clear: no one can be saved by trying to do the work of the Eternal (Eph 2.8.9)!!! The salvation consists in the Eternal doing His work on the individual, i.e., using it to fulfill His Word.

And as the Eternal does not impose His salvation to the chosen, soon the only way for them to be saved is enduring until the end, watching and praying not to enter into temptation (Matthew 26.41), inasmuch as this would end with all necessary space for the Eternal One work His character in their heart. So, if they do not remain in the love of the Eternal (John 15.9), they’ll be cut out (Romans 11.22).

8 – APPARENT CONTRADICTIONS

Each one, supposedly, has right to choose

1.       “And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” (Matthew 13.58).

 

It was necessary that the prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled so that the salvation could reach the Gentiles:

 

·        “Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: for this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. ” (Matthew 13.13-15).

 

And no one better to encourage other Israelites not to believe in Jesus than those who knew Him better (physically speaking, of course).

So the Eternal chose these hard of heart so that they would not come to believe in Jesus and thus have access to the heavenly wonders.

 

2.      “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” (Matthew 23.37).

 

The Eternal always wants the best for everyone. However, He often had to design unpleasant situations in order that His perfect plan be fulfilled (namely, to generate a family for Himself - Malachi 2:15, Ephesians 5: 25-27).

In this case, as it was necessary for Jesus to be crucified and Jerusalem destroyed in 70 AD for the Sacred Scripture to be fulfilled, He chose to be part of Israel at the time of Jesus those individuals who would not want to be a family in Christ.

 

3.      “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16.24)

4.     “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Revelation 22.17)

5.      “And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” (John 5.40).

 

That every human being has the possibility to choose and arbitrate, there is nothing to discuss. However:

 

·        “And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 30.21).

 

The answer is obvious:

 

·        “What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: their feet are swift to shed blood: destruction and misery are in their ways: and the way of peace have they not known: there is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3.9-18).

·        “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1Corínthians 2.14).

·        “All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.” (Matthew 11.27).

·        “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.  It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.” (John 6.44,45)

 

In short, unless the Spirit of the Eternal interferes with the sinner (with His superabundant grace - Rom. 5:20), the only thing that can come out of him is sin. Let him free to choose between good and evil and certainly he will choose evil (Deut. 30:19).

The call to repent and convert is made:

 

·        “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:” (Acts 17.30)

·        “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2.38).

·        “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” (Isaiah 45.22).

·        “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11.28).

·        “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” (John 7.37,38).

·        “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Revelation 22.17).

 

But unless the Holy Spirit convicts (John 8:16), the individual will never respond to the call. Even in the midst of the greatest sufferings, he will prefer to seek whoever is in heaven and on earth, except Jesus Christ.

You may still be stubborn to ask: but then why does not the Lord pour out His wonderful grace upon all?

 

6.     “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.” (Acts 7.51)

 

When the individual is not a chosen of the Eternal, He will surely resist the Eternal.

See the following case:

 

7.      “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;” (Joshua 24.15,16).

 

Although the people have "chosen" the Eternal, yet it is enough to read the book of Judges to see that this was but words.

Is necessary the man strives to inherit salvation

·        “In your patience possess ye your souls.” (Luke 21.19).

·        “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (Matthew 24.13)

·        “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:” (2Timothy 2.12)

·        “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” (1Timothy 4.16)

 

Of course we all need to persevere in the Eternal and His Word. However, if this perseverance depends on us, we will be doomed to the lake of fire and brimstone, since our strength is small.

 

·        “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64.6).

·        “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.” (Job 14.1,2).

 

That is to say, we have to persevere in depending on the Eternal One completely so that we ever discourage to fulfill His will.

9 – WHY DID THE ETERNAL NOT CREATED ONLY THOSE WHO WOULD ACCEPT HIM?

As shown earlier, the presence of all wrath vessels was needed to establish all background of the scenario in which He needs act in the Church in order to show to all creation  the riches of His manifold grace and wisdom.

As well as in nature there is the north pole and south polo, the positive charge and negative charge, the Eternal  One created the follower of Christ, as well as their opposite.

 

·        “I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.” (Luke 17.34-36).

 

Everyone are formed of the same clay by same potter.

 

·        “Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?” (Rom 9.21).

 

The eternal call the brother and their mirror (such as a hand is equal to another, but a hand not overlaps the other, not replaces – Lev 17.34,35). Who accepts the call of Eternal is chosen for the body of Christ – what rejects stay someone merely carnal.

Some impossible to be converted will be embed  in the Church in order to show natural rejection for this type of implant, i.e., that there isn’t possibility of conversion.

It’s the case, for example, of Judas:

 

·        “Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?” (John 6.70)

 

Do you remember the prophecy of Genesis?

              

·        “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” (Gen 3.15)

 

As Ha-Satan would hurt the Jesus’ heel?

 

·        “Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.” (Psa 41.9)

·        “I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.” (John 13.18).

 

Judas was called devil because it was he who betrayed Jesus. Ha-Satan’s seed is intrigue and accusation (and this comes when someone consider oneself better than the other).

However, this was necessary to the Eternal One show that He loves someone until the end and to teach us that we should never fail to love those who He gives us. He feel compassion for someone in order to stimulate compassion in us.

He didn't created only those who please Him, but also those who don’t pleases Him, granting the both blessings, grace, goodness, mercy, opportunity, etc. in order to show that He loves everyone, even though many never will love Him.

If He only created who would serve Him, He would be tyrant.

Both should be evangelized: what is created in Christ, so that He grow in grace; those who never will convert so that they did not excuse that never had the opportunity. On the contrary: received necessary opportunities such as the others.

 In short: everything and everyone that the Eternal  One created has by purpose show to all who He is.

10 – BUT AFTER ALL, WHAT IMPORTANCE THIS HAS FOR US?

This confirms the words of Job:

 

·        "I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee." (Job 42.2).

 

Understand: the sovereignty of the Eternal does not imply the Eternal doing strength in order that all works. Instead, the Eternal One designed everything before creating, so that His plan already came out. For example, in Christ "we already are" (instead of "we’ll be") more than conquerors (Rom 8.37). Remember that the works of the Eternal One were finished from the foundation of the world (Hebrews 4.3).

The prophecies of revelation, for example, although they reporting the great trials for the people of the Eternal, also depict a certain victory of believers (Rev 12.11; 20.4).

Nothing can be added (Ecc 3.14; Rev 22.18), nor taken (Rev 22.19), nor modified (Ecc 3.14; Luke 12.25; 1Corinthians 2.13). Nor can anyone dying before the time (Rev 1.18).

Therefore, if we trust in Jesus, we would not need to waste time trying to keep under control the uncontrollable (for example, keep the death out).

Because we know that our whole life was predestined, this means that we do not need to walk anxious. Everything that the Eternal has designed for us will be fulfilled, whether we walk anxious, or rest and hope in Him (Psalms 37.7). And considering that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.  (Romans 8.28), then we need not despair. The Eternal One watch by His Word and what has to be, will be (Jer 1.11,12). Anxiety will not add even a second to days of our lives (Luke 12.15).

No matter how wicked are the authorities or how unjust the laws are: there will always be the way of the Eternal in the middle of the storm and tempest (Nahum 1.3; 1Corinthians 10.13) and, in the end, only what belongs to Jesus will remain.

Those who love Him, will grow in grace (John 1.16), faith (Romans 1.17) and glory (2Cor 3:18). 

Finally, understanding that the design of the Eternal does not fail, this means that just knowing what He designed for us and accept it gladly to we to be free of fear, despair, grief, stress, anxiety, depression. 

To illustrate: Suppose that the Eternal has for you a bike. Thus, it is vain to make extra hours to get a car. This only will bring diseases and problems. In the end, the only thing that you'll have is the bike.

So, get to know best the Eternal One and His dreams for your life, and you, in addition to avoiding a series of hassles, you can relax, enjoying the love of the Eternal One through the neighbor that He brings to you and, subsequently, to inherit salvation. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We need to establish at rest, i.e., on top of which we do not need to do strength to have or maintain. Comes the question: how do I get it? If firming in His Word to us. After all, as he watches his Word (Jr 1.11,12) and no one can thwart their plans (Job 42.2; Is 43.13), then surely everything will be fulfilled.

This may seem egotism. However, think: what is being selfish? Many people believe that selfishness is the one who loves himself.

It is not true! If the selfish love to himself, I do not want to bring the whole world into himself. He thus makes because it recognizes that there is nothing good in itself, and how he wants to be everyone's attention, seeking to possess everything that arouses lust in the hearts of individuals. Also, this is the foundation of idolatry (Ps 115.4-8; 135.15-18): keep the eyes of individuals toward themselves. Those don't have eyes to see the heavenly things, ears to hear the voice of Christ, etc.

It is also true that the Babylonian System says that love is giving without expecting to receive in exchange. Lie! Nor is this way (see Is 5.1-5; Ephesians 5.25-27). As soon as the Eternal loves Himself, we are commanded to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 19.9; Mk 12.31).