I have been extremely busy these last several weeks. Aside from working 50 hours for the GOV I have picked up another gig developing, designing, and implementing new web sites for a company in Greensboro, NC. The last couple of weeks I have been working until midnight or later to help get a new site redesigned and active. The money is much needed as we look to move to Huntsville real soon. I certainly hope things will smooth out once this current work is complete.
I have been squeezing some time in at job #1 to journal and to read things of Theological interest. Like yesterday, I spend the afternoon reading the historical positions of John Calvin and Jacobus Arminius. I am really searching for a balance between the 2 teachings. Not that I want to identify with either (Jesus is the only one I want to identify with), however, there have been some things that have caugh my attention. Especially during last weeks teaching time a Sojourn.
The teaching Sunday was out of John 6. These concepts were not even discussed during the message, the just leaped out at me as the passege was being read.
John 6:64-71
64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.
The concept that no person can come to Jesus unless it is “given” of the Father or unless the Father chooses too. I think this is the next logical “tension” to deal with after resolving the issue of the souvreignty of God. God is is all powerful and in total control of everything. There is no couicidence or “happen-stance”. Everything is flowing by design from God and will return to God.
I bought Wayne Grudem text book “Systematic Theology” to lead me in this study. There is a chapter on “Election and Reprobation” which is where I started. Some of the verse he uses are very powerful and frankly, I have never seen them in this light… Especally 2 Thes.2:13…
13 ¶ 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: This also coupled together with… 1 Thes.1:4
4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
is a powerful combination. However, his launching point is Romans 8:29-30…
29 ¶ 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.
30 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.
and then on to Romans 9:11-24
11 (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;)
12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
14 ¶ What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
15 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.
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
17 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.
18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
One thing here I am trying to determin is the context. Whether it is specifically dealing with the nation of Israel or if there is application to the Church and Believers.
This also leads to Ehphesians and the books of Timothy
More later
