Why is the Bible sometimes hard to understand when it comes to certain doctrinal matters? Or to put it another way, why do sincere people sometimes disagree about what the Bible says in certain basic doctrines? Why isn't the Bible so plain and clear in everything it teaches that there is no room for misunderstanding or disagreement about what it says?
Different churches and individuals believe different things, yet each claims to follow the Bible. Some Christians observe Sunday, some observe the seventh day of the week as Sabbath, and some observe no day at all. Some think the Ten Commandments are done away and some think they are still in force. Some think it is ok to use images and pictures of God and Christ as an aid to worship and some believe that is wrong. Beliefs about prophecy and the events described in Revelation vary widely. This is one reason there are so many churches. There are many churches because there are many beliefs. Some things are believed by all Christian churches. I am sure every church claiming to be Christian believes, correctly, that Jesus Christ died for our sins. But there are many points of difference in doctrine between Catholics, Baptists, Church of God members, Seventh Day Adventists, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc. - all claiming to be Christian yet interpreting the Bible differently on many subjects.
The force of tradition can be an influence. It is hard for someone to overcome wrong traditions they were raised in when they read the Bible. Yet even among those who are willing to give up their tradition, there is wide disagreement about what the Bible says.
God inspired the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16). This can be proven by fulfilled prophecy. God cannot lie, so the Bible is true (Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:18). God's word, the Bible, can be trusted (Psalm 119:160, John 17:17). Yet not everything in the Bible is clear and easy to understand. Some things that Paul wrote, for example, are hard to understand (2 Peter 3:14-16).
Yet this is the way that God inspired the Bible to be written. God did not have to do it that way. He could have inspired Paul to write more clearly. God could have made the Bible so clear, plain, and easy to understand that there would be no room for disagreement. Instead, He allowed much of the Bible relating to doctrine to be hard to understand, and as a result, men are able to twist the scriptures (2 Peter 3:14-16).
Why did God allow the Bible, which is His word, to be written that way? Why did God not make the Bible more clear on every subject?
Since the sin of Adam, the world as a whole has been cut off from a right relationship with God (Genesis chapter 3). During the last 6,000 years, Satan has been the invisible ruler of this world (Luke 4:5-7, John 12:31, John 14:30, John 16:11, Ephesians 2:2). Satan deceives the whole world, and God allows Satan to do his work of deception at this time (Revelation 12:9). But when Christ returns, Satan will be put away and Christ will rule the earth for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:1-6). This is part of God's 7,000 year plan. Mankind will be able to compare the result of Satan's way of life for 6,000 years and God's way of life for 1,000 years and will see by the results that God's way is better.
But we are still in the 6,000 year period. Christ has not returned yet, and Satan is still ruling and deceiving this society. Satan is the predominant spiritual influence in this world, this society, this civilization right now, not God. Yet God is calling a few now to come out of this world, to be converted, and to be part of the first resurrection to sit with Christ on His throne when He returns (Matthew 7:13-14, Revelation 20:5-6).
God has the power to prevent Satan from doing his work of deception. God is more powerful than Satan, and Satan can only do what God allows him to do (Job 1:12, 2:6). But it is God's will that Satan be able to deceive mankind at this time. It is God's will that Satan be the ruler of this world, to do his work of deception, so that mankind as a whole follows Satan's way of life for 6,000 years and writes the lesson of suffering and destruction in human history during this age of man. Then mankind will be able to compare the suffering and warfare of this age when men are living Satan's way of life with the happiness and peace that will exist under the rule of Jesus Christ when mankind will live God's way of life.
It has been God's will that the Bible be widely distributed in our time. It is the world's all time best seller and has been translated into just about every language. It is easily available in most large bookstores. This facilitates the calling and instruction of Christians all over the world from every background. Yet, God has not inspired the Bible to be written so that it is so clear and easy to understand that Satan cannot deceive people about it. God does allow Satan to deceive the majority in this world, even in matters of religious doctrine and even in matters of Bible interpretation.
So the Bible is written in such a way that it is easy for people to twist scriptures if they are trying to use the Bible to justify what they want to believe or already believe.
I have heard someone say that you can prove anything with the Bible, and in a sense, there is some truth in that. A person can use the Bible to argue his position, and he can usually find scriptures to support his beliefs, whatever those beliefs are. But not honestly.
I think there is a principle of doctrinal and spiritual perception here. If you are trying to understand truth from the Bible with an open mind, God is likely to help you understand if you have a willingness to accept and obey it. But I think God has structured His word such that if a person is trying to put his own meaning into the text, he will be able to find a way. In other words, if he really wants to believe something, and that is more important than accepting the truth with an open mind, if he is trying to find a way to reconcile what he wants to believe with the Bible, God will allow him to do it. He will find scriptures he can twist to fit what he wants to believe. And he probably won't even realize he is doing this. I think God has structured the Bible that way and has given Satan that kind of deceptive power.
But if God is calling you to His truth, and you earnestly want to understand and believe what God is really saying in the Bible, God can help you to understand what He is saying and will free you from Satan's deceptions, perhaps one point at a time. Then each point of truth becomes a test. If you are willing to believe and strive to obey what God shows you, then God will continue to help you understand more, one point at a time.
God doesn't cram His truth down our throats. We have to want it with a sincere mind and zealously seek it. We have to realize that it is precious, like a rare pearl, and be willing to make sacrifices to obtain it. We have to want to know the truth more than we want to keep our beliefs. We should strive to learn to trust God more than ourselves.
Showing posts with label God's plan for mankind. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God's plan for mankind. Show all posts
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Thursday, December 25, 2008
God's Annual Holy Days and Festivals
Many Sabbath-keeping Christians are not aware that besides the weekly Sabbath day, God instituted seven annual sabbaths in the Old Testament. Just as the weekly Sabbath provides the opportunity to draw closer to God and learn more about His ways and His plan for mankind, so the annual Sabbath days and festivals help to illustrate God's plan for mankind in more detail. Here is a listing of these annual days:
- Passover (not a sabbath, but a feast day): Represents the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
- First Day of Unleavened Bread and Last Day of Unleavened Bread (sabbaths and feast days): Leaven is used as a symbol of sin in the New Testament - 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 - and the festival of unleavened bread represents repentance and putting sin out of our lives, an important step in becoming a Christian (Acts 2:38). Also, this verse in 1 Corinthians shows that the churches raised up by Paul among the gentiles kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because Paul said, "Therefore, let us keep the feast...".
- Pentecost (sabbath and feast day): Represents the gift of the Holy Spirit and the founding of the New Testament Church of God (Acts 2:1-4). It is the Holy Spirit dwelling in a person that makes that person a Christian (Romans 8:9-11). In the Old Testament, it is called the feast of first fruits, and reminds us that Christians today are the early harvest of what will be a far greater spiritual harvest in the future.
- The Day of Trumpets (sabbath and feast day): Represents the second coming of Christ to rule the earth and the resurrection of the saints. This happens at the last trumpet (1 Corinthians 15:50-57, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18, Revelation 8:2, 11:15-19).
- The Day of Atonement (sabbath and a day of fasting): This represents the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, but also the putting away of Satan into a condition of restraint after the return of Christ (Leviticus 16:1-34, Revelation 20:1). In the passage in Leviticus 16, the goat that is killed represents the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins, and the goat that is released in the wilderness represents Satan and his responsibility for deceiving mankind and temping men into sin. Christ pays the penalty for our share of the responsibility for our sins, but Satan must bear his own blame for his share of the responsibility for mankind's sin. Compare Revelation 20:1-4 with Leviticus 16:21-22.
- The Feast of Tabernacles (first day is a sabbath and feast day): Represents the millenial reign of Jesus Christ and the peace, prosperity, and happiness that mankind will experience (Deuteronomy 16:13-15).
- The Last Great Day (a sabbath and a feast day): Represents the general resurrection and the white throne judgment when salvation will be made available to all who have lived and died and never had the opportunity to hear and understand the true gospel before (John 7:37-38, Ezekiel 37:1-14). Compare John 7:37-38 with Ezekiel 37:12-14. The book of life will be open and men's names can be written in it (Revelation 20:11-15).
I have observed these days by resting and attending church services, and their observance has helped to teach me and remind me of God's wonderful plan for salvation of all mankind.
For more information about these days, see my section entitled The Annual Holy Days and the Plan of God in my book Preaching the Gospel. You can page down to find the particular holy day or festival you want more information about. Or you can go to the book Table of Contents for a listing of the holy days in chapter two and click on the link for the one you are interested in.
- Passover (not a sabbath, but a feast day): Represents the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
- First Day of Unleavened Bread and Last Day of Unleavened Bread (sabbaths and feast days): Leaven is used as a symbol of sin in the New Testament - 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 - and the festival of unleavened bread represents repentance and putting sin out of our lives, an important step in becoming a Christian (Acts 2:38). Also, this verse in 1 Corinthians shows that the churches raised up by Paul among the gentiles kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because Paul said, "Therefore, let us keep the feast...".
- Pentecost (sabbath and feast day): Represents the gift of the Holy Spirit and the founding of the New Testament Church of God (Acts 2:1-4). It is the Holy Spirit dwelling in a person that makes that person a Christian (Romans 8:9-11). In the Old Testament, it is called the feast of first fruits, and reminds us that Christians today are the early harvest of what will be a far greater spiritual harvest in the future.
- The Day of Trumpets (sabbath and feast day): Represents the second coming of Christ to rule the earth and the resurrection of the saints. This happens at the last trumpet (1 Corinthians 15:50-57, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18, Revelation 8:2, 11:15-19).
- The Day of Atonement (sabbath and a day of fasting): This represents the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, but also the putting away of Satan into a condition of restraint after the return of Christ (Leviticus 16:1-34, Revelation 20:1). In the passage in Leviticus 16, the goat that is killed represents the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins, and the goat that is released in the wilderness represents Satan and his responsibility for deceiving mankind and temping men into sin. Christ pays the penalty for our share of the responsibility for our sins, but Satan must bear his own blame for his share of the responsibility for mankind's sin. Compare Revelation 20:1-4 with Leviticus 16:21-22.
- The Feast of Tabernacles (first day is a sabbath and feast day): Represents the millenial reign of Jesus Christ and the peace, prosperity, and happiness that mankind will experience (Deuteronomy 16:13-15).
- The Last Great Day (a sabbath and a feast day): Represents the general resurrection and the white throne judgment when salvation will be made available to all who have lived and died and never had the opportunity to hear and understand the true gospel before (John 7:37-38, Ezekiel 37:1-14). Compare John 7:37-38 with Ezekiel 37:12-14. The book of life will be open and men's names can be written in it (Revelation 20:11-15).
I have observed these days by resting and attending church services, and their observance has helped to teach me and remind me of God's wonderful plan for salvation of all mankind.
For more information about these days, see my section entitled The Annual Holy Days and the Plan of God in my book Preaching the Gospel. You can page down to find the particular holy day or festival you want more information about. Or you can go to the book Table of Contents for a listing of the holy days in chapter two and click on the link for the one you are interested in.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
God Is Not Trying to Save Everyone in this Age
Is God trying to save everyone now, in this age? Is this physical life the only chance a man or woman has to be saved? Traditional Christianity may teach this, but the Bible does not.
There is a future general resurrection of the dead. This is described for Israel in Ezekiel 37:1-14 and for the world in Revelation 20:11-15. At this time, all who have lived and died in this age who never had a chance for salvation will be given their first opportunity to hear the true gospel, to believe the gospel, to believe in Christ and accept Him as personal savior, and to repent and be baptized. Those who repent and accept Christ in faith will be forgiven and can receive the Holy Spirt and be converted and saved. This will include all the millions who lived and died before Christ was born who never knew about Christ and all the billions in many nations today who never had the opportunity to learn about Jesus Christ.
If God wanted to save everyone now, He would. All things are possible for God (Luke 18:27, Luke 1:37, Mark 10:27, Matthew 19:26). God is fully capable of making sure that the gospel is heard by every person on earth. But He has not done that.
Is a chance for salvation necessary in a general resurrection for those who never heard of Christ to be saved? Yes.
It is those who believe in Christ who will be saved (John 6:53-58, Acts 16:31, Romans 10:8-13, 1 John 5:9-13, Galatians 2:15-16, Acts 10:36-43, Acts 4:9-12, John 20:30-31, John 6:47), and it is necessary for those being saved to hear the gospel so they can believe it (Romans 10:14-15, Romans 1:16, 1 Corinthians 15:1-5, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, Luke 8:11-15, Acts 11:13-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16, Acts 15:7-9). Yet billions in this life have never heard the gospel because of circumstances of birth and have had no opportunity to believe it and be saved.
In order to be saved, you must have the Holy Spirit of God (Romans 8:9-11). Notice in verse 11 that it is the Spirit of God dwelling in a Christian that gives life. It is those who are Christ's, that is, who have the Spirit of God who are raised to immortality at the second coming of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, 1 Corinthians 15:23, 1 Corinthians 15:50-57). This is the first resurrection, the resurrection of the saints (Revelation 20:4-6).
Therefore, if a man does not have the Holy Spirit dwelling in him at the time of his death or when Christ returns, whichever comes first, he will not be in the first resurrection at the return of Christ, the resurrection to immortality.
But to receive the Holy Spirit, you must believe the gospel, repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38, Ephesians 1:13-14).
There were some who had repented and were living righteously, and were baptized into John's baptism, but had not received the Holy Spirit until they were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and only then did they receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1-6). So the general rule is, without being baptized as a symbol of the acceptance of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is not given. The millions in China and elsewhere who never had the opportunity to hear the name of Jesus Christ could not have been baptized in His name and therefore could not receive the Holy Spirit and therefore could not be in the first resurrection. Therefore, no matter how righteously they may live, they cannot be in the first resurrection. The only chance they will have is in the general resurrection described in Ezekiel 37.
Ezekiel 37:1-14 clearly shows that God will resurrection ancient Israelites who lived before Christ back to a second physical life on this earth and give them the opportunity to be saved. Notice, the dry bones Ezekiel sees are the whole house of Israel (Ezekiel 37:11), so this would include the men of ancient Israel who lived in Ezekiel's time and before, since they are part of the "whole" house of Israel. These people are brought back to physical life because muscle tissue is put upon the bones and breath must enter their bodies in order for them to live, according to Ezekiel 37:4-10. These are people who have died in the past and will come up out of their graves, according to Ezekiel 37:12-13. And God says He will put His Spirit in them, showing they can become converted and receive salvation (Ezekiel 37:14) because it is the Spirit of God that makes one belong to Christ (Romans 8:9, Acts 2:1-4, Acts 2:38).
Is it only Israel that is raised to life and given a chance for salvation? No. God does not show partiality based on nationality (Acts 10:34-35). All nations will be raised from the dead. Revelation describes this same event in Revelation 20:11-15. Notice that the book of life will be open (verse 12). Those who repent can have their names written in it.
God is love (1 John 4:8, 1 John 4:16, John 3:16-17) and God is very merciful (Exodus 34:6-8, Psalm 106:1, Luke 6:35-36, Hebrews 8:12, James 5:11). God does not want anyone to perish but for all to repent and be saved (2 Peter 3:9, 1 Timothy 2:3-4).
This is why there will be a general resurrection as described in Ezekiel 37 and Revelation 20. God in His mercy will give every human being who has ever lived a chance to hear the gospel and understand and a chance to believe the gospel, to repent, and to be saved. Those who do not have that opportunity in this life will be resurrected and given that opportunity in the general resurrection. Those who believe and repent can be saved, and those who reject the gospel after hearing it and understanding it will not be saved. God will not force His salvation upon anyone, and He will not take away our free will, but He will make sure everyone has the opportunity to hear the gospel and be saved.
There is a future general resurrection of the dead. This is described for Israel in Ezekiel 37:1-14 and for the world in Revelation 20:11-15. At this time, all who have lived and died in this age who never had a chance for salvation will be given their first opportunity to hear the true gospel, to believe the gospel, to believe in Christ and accept Him as personal savior, and to repent and be baptized. Those who repent and accept Christ in faith will be forgiven and can receive the Holy Spirt and be converted and saved. This will include all the millions who lived and died before Christ was born who never knew about Christ and all the billions in many nations today who never had the opportunity to learn about Jesus Christ.
If God wanted to save everyone now, He would. All things are possible for God (Luke 18:27, Luke 1:37, Mark 10:27, Matthew 19:26). God is fully capable of making sure that the gospel is heard by every person on earth. But He has not done that.
Is a chance for salvation necessary in a general resurrection for those who never heard of Christ to be saved? Yes.
It is those who believe in Christ who will be saved (John 6:53-58, Acts 16:31, Romans 10:8-13, 1 John 5:9-13, Galatians 2:15-16, Acts 10:36-43, Acts 4:9-12, John 20:30-31, John 6:47), and it is necessary for those being saved to hear the gospel so they can believe it (Romans 10:14-15, Romans 1:16, 1 Corinthians 15:1-5, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, Luke 8:11-15, Acts 11:13-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16, Acts 15:7-9). Yet billions in this life have never heard the gospel because of circumstances of birth and have had no opportunity to believe it and be saved.
In order to be saved, you must have the Holy Spirit of God (Romans 8:9-11). Notice in verse 11 that it is the Spirit of God dwelling in a Christian that gives life. It is those who are Christ's, that is, who have the Spirit of God who are raised to immortality at the second coming of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, 1 Corinthians 15:23, 1 Corinthians 15:50-57). This is the first resurrection, the resurrection of the saints (Revelation 20:4-6).
Therefore, if a man does not have the Holy Spirit dwelling in him at the time of his death or when Christ returns, whichever comes first, he will not be in the first resurrection at the return of Christ, the resurrection to immortality.
But to receive the Holy Spirit, you must believe the gospel, repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38, Ephesians 1:13-14).
There were some who had repented and were living righteously, and were baptized into John's baptism, but had not received the Holy Spirit until they were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and only then did they receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1-6). So the general rule is, without being baptized as a symbol of the acceptance of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is not given. The millions in China and elsewhere who never had the opportunity to hear the name of Jesus Christ could not have been baptized in His name and therefore could not receive the Holy Spirit and therefore could not be in the first resurrection. Therefore, no matter how righteously they may live, they cannot be in the first resurrection. The only chance they will have is in the general resurrection described in Ezekiel 37.
Ezekiel 37:1-14 clearly shows that God will resurrection ancient Israelites who lived before Christ back to a second physical life on this earth and give them the opportunity to be saved. Notice, the dry bones Ezekiel sees are the whole house of Israel (Ezekiel 37:11), so this would include the men of ancient Israel who lived in Ezekiel's time and before, since they are part of the "whole" house of Israel. These people are brought back to physical life because muscle tissue is put upon the bones and breath must enter their bodies in order for them to live, according to Ezekiel 37:4-10. These are people who have died in the past and will come up out of their graves, according to Ezekiel 37:12-13. And God says He will put His Spirit in them, showing they can become converted and receive salvation (Ezekiel 37:14) because it is the Spirit of God that makes one belong to Christ (Romans 8:9, Acts 2:1-4, Acts 2:38).
Is it only Israel that is raised to life and given a chance for salvation? No. God does not show partiality based on nationality (Acts 10:34-35). All nations will be raised from the dead. Revelation describes this same event in Revelation 20:11-15. Notice that the book of life will be open (verse 12). Those who repent can have their names written in it.
God is love (1 John 4:8, 1 John 4:16, John 3:16-17) and God is very merciful (Exodus 34:6-8, Psalm 106:1, Luke 6:35-36, Hebrews 8:12, James 5:11). God does not want anyone to perish but for all to repent and be saved (2 Peter 3:9, 1 Timothy 2:3-4).
This is why there will be a general resurrection as described in Ezekiel 37 and Revelation 20. God in His mercy will give every human being who has ever lived a chance to hear the gospel and understand and a chance to believe the gospel, to repent, and to be saved. Those who do not have that opportunity in this life will be resurrected and given that opportunity in the general resurrection. Those who believe and repent can be saved, and those who reject the gospel after hearing it and understanding it will not be saved. God will not force His salvation upon anyone, and He will not take away our free will, but He will make sure everyone has the opportunity to hear the gospel and be saved.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Why God Is Not Trying to Save Everyone Now
A common belief in traditional Christianity is that God is trying to save everyone now, in this age, and that this is the only day of salvation. But this is not true. Millions in the world have never had the gospel preached to them. God is not weak. He has the power to control this world as much as He wants. Jesus said that with God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). If God were trying to save everyone now, He would make sure everyone has had the gospel preached to them. That has not happened.
But why?
The Bible shows that everyone will have a chance to hear and understand the gospel and be saved, and helps to show why God is not trying to save everyone now, in this life.
This post will give a summary, for those who are interested, of God's plan for offering salvation to every human ever born, from Adam to this very time, not just in this age, but in the age to come. This is just a summary, and does not give every detail. I have numbered the main points for discussion.
1) Satan is the prince of the power of the air. He is king over this earth at this time. He deceives all nations and blinds mens minds. He does this through spiritually influencing mens minds, tempting them, leading them into error and sin. The whole world is deceived that way and cannot know the truth unless God intervenes and reveals it. God is stronger than Satan and Satan can only do what God allows him to do (Job 1:12, Job 2:6). But God allows Satan to do his work of deception at this time.
SEE SCRIPTURES: Ephesians 2:1-3, Isaiah 14:12-15, John 12:30-32, John 14:30-31, John 16:5-11, Revelation 12:9, 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, Matthew 4:8-9, Luke 4:5-7, Matthew 13:18-19, Deuteronomy 29:4, Isaiah 25:7, 2 Corinthians 3:12-16, Matthew 15:13-14, Matthew 23:16-22, John 12:37-41, Romans 11:7-12, Matthew 13:13-15, Isaiah 6:9-13, Romans 11:25-27, Ephesians 4:17-19, Ezekiel 28:11-16, Jeremiah 17:9-10, Romans 8:7-8, 1 Corinthians 2:6-16, Hebrews 4:1-2.
2) The term "call" can be used different ways and can mean different things, depending on the context, just like the word "law". There is a sense in which the "call" goes out to everyone who hears the message, whether they understand it or not. But when I use the word "call", I am referring to the following process, which is necessary for a person to become a true Christian and receive God's Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38-39, Romans 8:9-11), which is required for salvation:
a) The person must hear the gospel preached to him.
SEE SCRIPTURES: Romans 10:8-17, Mark 16:15-16, John 20:30-31, Acts 15:7-9, Romans 1:16-17, 1 Corinthians 4:15, 1 Corinthians 15:1-2, Ephesians 1:13-14, Colossians 1:3-8, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, Hebrews 4:1-2, Matthew 13:23, Luke 8:11-15, John 10:9, Acts 4:9-12, Acts 11:13-14, Acts 16:29-32, 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16, Mark 1:14-15, John 6:47, 1 John 5:9-13.
b) God must supernaturally intervene with His Holy Spirit to open that person's mind to be able to understand and accept the truth and to be able to repent, otherwise, that person will continue to be deceived by Satan and cannot know the truth. God must do this so the person is able to understand and believe the gospel and to repent of sin, the two conditions for salvation. Also, repentance is a gift from God as well as a decision a person must make. God's Spirit works with a person before conversion to open his mind to the truth and grant repentance, then once the person repents in faith and is baptized, God grants the gift of the Holy Spirit to dwell in the person.
FOR SCRIPTURES SHOWING THAT BELIEF AND REPENTANCE ARE CONDITIONS FOR SALVATION, SEE: Mark 1:14-15, John 6:47, Acts 2:38-39, 2 Peter 3:9, Acts 20:18-21, Hebrews 6:1-2
FOR SCRIPTURES SHOWING GOD MUST OPEN A PERSON'S MIND, SEE: John 6:43-44, Matthew 16:13-17, 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, Matthew 13:18-23, Deuteronomy 29:4, Isaiah 25:7, 2 Corinthians 3:12-16, Matthew 15:13-14, Matthew 23:16-22, John 12:37-41, Romans 11:7-12, Matthew 13:10-17, Isaiah 6:9-13, Romans 11:25-36, Ephesians 4:17-24, Jeremiah 17:9, Romans 8:7-8, 1 Corinthians 2:6-16, Hebrews 4:1-2, John 14:16-17, 2 Timothy 2:24-26, Ephesians 2:1-3, Acts 5:31, Acts 11:18.
3) This is how God calls a person. Then the person must of his own free will choose to believe the gospel and repent. If he chooses not to do this, once God's Spirit has opened His mind, he has rejected God's calling. He has had his one chance for salvation and rejected it.
SEE SCRIPTURES: Mark 16:15-16, John 3:18, Matthew 9:13, Acts 2:38-39, Acts 3:19-21, Ezekiel 18:1-32, Ezekiel 33:10-20, Hebrews 6:4-6, Mark 3:28-30.
4) When a person hears the gospel, God opens his mind to understand it, and he believes and repents, God can give the person His Holy Spirit to dwell in his mind and that person becomes a Christian. Then, provided the person continues to obey God and does not turn away from the truth in this life, he will live a life of obedience in faith and overcoming and enduring to the end, and when Christ returns he will be in the first resurrection and be raised to immortality. At that point, his salvation is complete. He will be with Christ forever.
SEE SCRIPTURES: Acts 2:38-39, John 14:16-17, John 16:5-13, Matthew 19:16-19, Mark 10:17-19, Luke 18:18-20, 1 Corinthians 7:19, Revelation 12:17, Revelation 14:12, Hebrews 6:4-6, Matthew 10:22, Matthew 24:13, Revelation 2:11, Revelation 2:26, Revelation 3:5, Revelation 3:12, Revelation 21:7-8, 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, 1 Corinthians 15:50-57, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, Revelation 20:4-6.
5) In this age of man, while Satan is deceiving the world, God only calls a few this way compared to the entire population of the world. Probably fewer than 10% of all humans who have been born on the earth have ever had the true gospel preached to them. Of those, most are still blinded even after they hear it and cannot understand it, believe it, and repent.
SEE SCRIPTURES: Luke 4:5-7, Ephesians 2:1-3, Revelation 12:9, Revelation 20:1-4, Luke 8:11-15, John 12:37-41, John 6:43-44, Matthew 7:13-14, Matthew 13:10-17
Someone once asked me, why has God not called everyone at this time, in this age?
In trying to answer why God does this or that, I have to be careful because I do not necessarily know why God does everything that He does. There are clues for some of His reasons in the Bible, and some may be discerned based on Biblical principles, but I certainly cannot explain why God does everything He has done. Many of His decisions I do not understand, but I trust Him that His decisions are always based on wisdom and love. Also, even if I might correctly understand some of His reasons, that doesn't mean I know all of them. God may have ten reasons for doing a certain thing and I may only correctly discern one or two of them.
That being said, I will share what I think are some of the reasons why God has done things this way. This is based on scripture or on general principles ("God is love" - 1 John 4:8, 16) that are found in scripture.
6) When Adam chose to turn from God's standards and make up his own standards to follow, the world as a whole began to be cut off from God and to be under the influence of Satan. God allowed this for a purpose. God wants the human race to learn lessons, that Satan's ways are wrong and harmful and lead to suffering and death, and that man, apart from God, is incapable of correctly determining right from wrong and doing what is right, and that man's ways apart from God lead to bad results. That is why there is so much suffering in this world, and that suffering and death will increase to a climax at the end of this age, as described in the book of Revelation.
SEE SCRIPTURES: Genesis 2:16-17, Genesis 3:11-12, Genesis 3:22-34, Luke 4:5-7, Ephesians 2:1-3, Revelation 12:9, Deuteronomy 28:1-68, Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Jeremiah 2:19, Matthew 24:21-22, 2 Timothy 3:1-5, 2 Timothy 3:13, Revelation chapters 6 through 19, Romans 11:25-36.
7) God's plan is for Christ to return, put Satan away in a condition of restraint so he can no longer deceive and tempt mankind, and then Christ will rule the earth for 1,000 years. This will occur in the near future, at the end of about 6,000 years since Adam. During the 1,000 years of Christ's rule, mankind will experience peace and prosperity and happiness, as described in many prophecies in the Old Testament.
SEE SCRIPTURES: Revelation 20:1-4, Daniel 12:4, Isaiah 11:1-16, Isaiah 2:1-4, Micah 4:1-8, Isaiah 25:7
8) At the end of the 1,000 years of Christ's rule over the earth, there will be a general resurrection of mankind back to physical life. Satan will no longer be around to deceive man, and Christ will be on earth to rule and teach them. It is at that time that the billions on earth who never heard the gospel, or heard and were not able to understand because Satan blinded their minds, will for the first time hear the gospel preached to them and be able to understand it. Each person can then make his or her own free choice to believe and repent, or not. Those who believe and repent will be saved and those who do not will not be saved. But they will have the advantage of being able to look back at their past lives and compare living in Satan's present world of sin and suffering with a world of happiness living God's way under the rule of Christ. They will be able to look at the history man for 6,000 years, some of it they lived through, and compare it with the history of the 1,000 years of Christ's rule and the new life they are living God's way, and that will provide a lesson for them. They can see that God's way is better.
The whole 7,000 year plan of God is a demonstration that God's way is best. It will help those who are raised in the general resurrection to make the right choice.
SEE SCRIPTURES: Ezekiel 37:1-14, Acts 10:34-35, Revelation 20:10-13, Isaiah 25:7, Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Acts 2:38-39, Ezekiel 37:14, 2 Peter 3:9, 1 Timothy 2:3-5
9) This is why God is not calling the majority now and why God is not trying to save the whole world now. He wants to let this world as a whole, except for a few, remain unconverted and living Satan's way so there can be an object lesson of the suffering that results from it for 6,000 years. Then everyone will have an opportunity to be saved.
SEE SCRIPTURES: Isaiah 6:9-13, Romans 11:25-36, John 6:43-44, Isaiah 25:7, Revelation 20:1-4, Revelation 20:4-6, Isaiah 2:1-4, Isaiah 11:1-16, Micah 4:1-8, Revelation 20:10-13, Deuteronomy 28:1-68, Deuteronomy 30:15-20, 2 Peter 3:9, 1 Timothy 2:3-5
10) The weekly cycle of six days when man does his work and a seventh day of rest when man draws closer to God in prayer, Bible study, instruction, and fellowship, in an atmosphere of peaceful rest from the burdens of working during the week, is a pattern for God's 7,000 year plan for mankind, with 6,000 years of man ruling himself under Satan's influence followed by 1,000 years of Christ's rule over the world
SEE SCRIPTURES: Exodus 20:8-11, Isaiah 58:13-14, 2 Peter 3:8, Revelation 20:2-3, Revelation 20:4-6, Daniel 12:4.
11) It is God's will that Christ will not rule alone after He returns, but will rule with the saints. So for that purpose, a small number are called and converted during the six thousand years so that they can be raised in a resurrection to immortality when Christ returns and fulfill offices of rularship under Christ. David will be king over Israel. The twelve apostles will rule over the twelve tribes. Some of the saints will rule over one city, some over ten cities, etc. Christ will be king of kings over the whole earth.
SEE SCRIPTURES: Revelation 20:4-6, Revelation 1:4-6, Revelation 14:1-5, Revelation 3:21, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, Ezekiel 37:24-28, Jeremiah 30:8-9, Matthew 19:28, Luke 19:15-19, Revelation 17:14.
12) God calls a person by having the gospel preached to them and by opening his mind so that he can understand and believe the gospel. He has not called everyone now during the 6,000 years of man because this is the time for the world as a whole to be unconverted and carnal so that the lesson can be written in human history that Satan's way does not work. But God in His love, wisdom, and fairness (and there is a scripture in the Bible where God does say that He is "fair") will provide the same opportunity for everyone to hear the gospel and be able to understand and believe it and be saved, either in this age or the age to come.
SEE SCRIPTURES: 1 Corinthians 4:15, 1 Corinthians 15:1-2, John 6:43-44, Matthew 7:13-14, 1 John 4:8, 1 John 4:16, 2 Peter 3:9, 1 Timothy 2:3-5, Ezekiel 18:25-29, Ezekiel 33:17-20, Acts 10:34-35.
But why?
The Bible shows that everyone will have a chance to hear and understand the gospel and be saved, and helps to show why God is not trying to save everyone now, in this life.
This post will give a summary, for those who are interested, of God's plan for offering salvation to every human ever born, from Adam to this very time, not just in this age, but in the age to come. This is just a summary, and does not give every detail. I have numbered the main points for discussion.
1) Satan is the prince of the power of the air. He is king over this earth at this time. He deceives all nations and blinds mens minds. He does this through spiritually influencing mens minds, tempting them, leading them into error and sin. The whole world is deceived that way and cannot know the truth unless God intervenes and reveals it. God is stronger than Satan and Satan can only do what God allows him to do (Job 1:12, Job 2:6). But God allows Satan to do his work of deception at this time.
SEE SCRIPTURES: Ephesians 2:1-3, Isaiah 14:12-15, John 12:30-32, John 14:30-31, John 16:5-11, Revelation 12:9, 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, Matthew 4:8-9, Luke 4:5-7, Matthew 13:18-19, Deuteronomy 29:4, Isaiah 25:7, 2 Corinthians 3:12-16, Matthew 15:13-14, Matthew 23:16-22, John 12:37-41, Romans 11:7-12, Matthew 13:13-15, Isaiah 6:9-13, Romans 11:25-27, Ephesians 4:17-19, Ezekiel 28:11-16, Jeremiah 17:9-10, Romans 8:7-8, 1 Corinthians 2:6-16, Hebrews 4:1-2.
2) The term "call" can be used different ways and can mean different things, depending on the context, just like the word "law". There is a sense in which the "call" goes out to everyone who hears the message, whether they understand it or not. But when I use the word "call", I am referring to the following process, which is necessary for a person to become a true Christian and receive God's Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38-39, Romans 8:9-11), which is required for salvation:
a) The person must hear the gospel preached to him.
SEE SCRIPTURES: Romans 10:8-17, Mark 16:15-16, John 20:30-31, Acts 15:7-9, Romans 1:16-17, 1 Corinthians 4:15, 1 Corinthians 15:1-2, Ephesians 1:13-14, Colossians 1:3-8, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, Hebrews 4:1-2, Matthew 13:23, Luke 8:11-15, John 10:9, Acts 4:9-12, Acts 11:13-14, Acts 16:29-32, 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16, Mark 1:14-15, John 6:47, 1 John 5:9-13.
b) God must supernaturally intervene with His Holy Spirit to open that person's mind to be able to understand and accept the truth and to be able to repent, otherwise, that person will continue to be deceived by Satan and cannot know the truth. God must do this so the person is able to understand and believe the gospel and to repent of sin, the two conditions for salvation. Also, repentance is a gift from God as well as a decision a person must make. God's Spirit works with a person before conversion to open his mind to the truth and grant repentance, then once the person repents in faith and is baptized, God grants the gift of the Holy Spirit to dwell in the person.
FOR SCRIPTURES SHOWING THAT BELIEF AND REPENTANCE ARE CONDITIONS FOR SALVATION, SEE: Mark 1:14-15, John 6:47, Acts 2:38-39, 2 Peter 3:9, Acts 20:18-21, Hebrews 6:1-2
FOR SCRIPTURES SHOWING GOD MUST OPEN A PERSON'S MIND, SEE: John 6:43-44, Matthew 16:13-17, 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, Matthew 13:18-23, Deuteronomy 29:4, Isaiah 25:7, 2 Corinthians 3:12-16, Matthew 15:13-14, Matthew 23:16-22, John 12:37-41, Romans 11:7-12, Matthew 13:10-17, Isaiah 6:9-13, Romans 11:25-36, Ephesians 4:17-24, Jeremiah 17:9, Romans 8:7-8, 1 Corinthians 2:6-16, Hebrews 4:1-2, John 14:16-17, 2 Timothy 2:24-26, Ephesians 2:1-3, Acts 5:31, Acts 11:18.
3) This is how God calls a person. Then the person must of his own free will choose to believe the gospel and repent. If he chooses not to do this, once God's Spirit has opened His mind, he has rejected God's calling. He has had his one chance for salvation and rejected it.
SEE SCRIPTURES: Mark 16:15-16, John 3:18, Matthew 9:13, Acts 2:38-39, Acts 3:19-21, Ezekiel 18:1-32, Ezekiel 33:10-20, Hebrews 6:4-6, Mark 3:28-30.
4) When a person hears the gospel, God opens his mind to understand it, and he believes and repents, God can give the person His Holy Spirit to dwell in his mind and that person becomes a Christian. Then, provided the person continues to obey God and does not turn away from the truth in this life, he will live a life of obedience in faith and overcoming and enduring to the end, and when Christ returns he will be in the first resurrection and be raised to immortality. At that point, his salvation is complete. He will be with Christ forever.
SEE SCRIPTURES: Acts 2:38-39, John 14:16-17, John 16:5-13, Matthew 19:16-19, Mark 10:17-19, Luke 18:18-20, 1 Corinthians 7:19, Revelation 12:17, Revelation 14:12, Hebrews 6:4-6, Matthew 10:22, Matthew 24:13, Revelation 2:11, Revelation 2:26, Revelation 3:5, Revelation 3:12, Revelation 21:7-8, 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, 1 Corinthians 15:50-57, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, Revelation 20:4-6.
5) In this age of man, while Satan is deceiving the world, God only calls a few this way compared to the entire population of the world. Probably fewer than 10% of all humans who have been born on the earth have ever had the true gospel preached to them. Of those, most are still blinded even after they hear it and cannot understand it, believe it, and repent.
SEE SCRIPTURES: Luke 4:5-7, Ephesians 2:1-3, Revelation 12:9, Revelation 20:1-4, Luke 8:11-15, John 12:37-41, John 6:43-44, Matthew 7:13-14, Matthew 13:10-17
Someone once asked me, why has God not called everyone at this time, in this age?
In trying to answer why God does this or that, I have to be careful because I do not necessarily know why God does everything that He does. There are clues for some of His reasons in the Bible, and some may be discerned based on Biblical principles, but I certainly cannot explain why God does everything He has done. Many of His decisions I do not understand, but I trust Him that His decisions are always based on wisdom and love. Also, even if I might correctly understand some of His reasons, that doesn't mean I know all of them. God may have ten reasons for doing a certain thing and I may only correctly discern one or two of them.
That being said, I will share what I think are some of the reasons why God has done things this way. This is based on scripture or on general principles ("God is love" - 1 John 4:8, 16) that are found in scripture.
6) When Adam chose to turn from God's standards and make up his own standards to follow, the world as a whole began to be cut off from God and to be under the influence of Satan. God allowed this for a purpose. God wants the human race to learn lessons, that Satan's ways are wrong and harmful and lead to suffering and death, and that man, apart from God, is incapable of correctly determining right from wrong and doing what is right, and that man's ways apart from God lead to bad results. That is why there is so much suffering in this world, and that suffering and death will increase to a climax at the end of this age, as described in the book of Revelation.
SEE SCRIPTURES: Genesis 2:16-17, Genesis 3:11-12, Genesis 3:22-34, Luke 4:5-7, Ephesians 2:1-3, Revelation 12:9, Deuteronomy 28:1-68, Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Jeremiah 2:19, Matthew 24:21-22, 2 Timothy 3:1-5, 2 Timothy 3:13, Revelation chapters 6 through 19, Romans 11:25-36.
7) God's plan is for Christ to return, put Satan away in a condition of restraint so he can no longer deceive and tempt mankind, and then Christ will rule the earth for 1,000 years. This will occur in the near future, at the end of about 6,000 years since Adam. During the 1,000 years of Christ's rule, mankind will experience peace and prosperity and happiness, as described in many prophecies in the Old Testament.
SEE SCRIPTURES: Revelation 20:1-4, Daniel 12:4, Isaiah 11:1-16, Isaiah 2:1-4, Micah 4:1-8, Isaiah 25:7
8) At the end of the 1,000 years of Christ's rule over the earth, there will be a general resurrection of mankind back to physical life. Satan will no longer be around to deceive man, and Christ will be on earth to rule and teach them. It is at that time that the billions on earth who never heard the gospel, or heard and were not able to understand because Satan blinded their minds, will for the first time hear the gospel preached to them and be able to understand it. Each person can then make his or her own free choice to believe and repent, or not. Those who believe and repent will be saved and those who do not will not be saved. But they will have the advantage of being able to look back at their past lives and compare living in Satan's present world of sin and suffering with a world of happiness living God's way under the rule of Christ. They will be able to look at the history man for 6,000 years, some of it they lived through, and compare it with the history of the 1,000 years of Christ's rule and the new life they are living God's way, and that will provide a lesson for them. They can see that God's way is better.
The whole 7,000 year plan of God is a demonstration that God's way is best. It will help those who are raised in the general resurrection to make the right choice.
SEE SCRIPTURES: Ezekiel 37:1-14, Acts 10:34-35, Revelation 20:10-13, Isaiah 25:7, Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Acts 2:38-39, Ezekiel 37:14, 2 Peter 3:9, 1 Timothy 2:3-5
9) This is why God is not calling the majority now and why God is not trying to save the whole world now. He wants to let this world as a whole, except for a few, remain unconverted and living Satan's way so there can be an object lesson of the suffering that results from it for 6,000 years. Then everyone will have an opportunity to be saved.
SEE SCRIPTURES: Isaiah 6:9-13, Romans 11:25-36, John 6:43-44, Isaiah 25:7, Revelation 20:1-4, Revelation 20:4-6, Isaiah 2:1-4, Isaiah 11:1-16, Micah 4:1-8, Revelation 20:10-13, Deuteronomy 28:1-68, Deuteronomy 30:15-20, 2 Peter 3:9, 1 Timothy 2:3-5
10) The weekly cycle of six days when man does his work and a seventh day of rest when man draws closer to God in prayer, Bible study, instruction, and fellowship, in an atmosphere of peaceful rest from the burdens of working during the week, is a pattern for God's 7,000 year plan for mankind, with 6,000 years of man ruling himself under Satan's influence followed by 1,000 years of Christ's rule over the world
SEE SCRIPTURES: Exodus 20:8-11, Isaiah 58:13-14, 2 Peter 3:8, Revelation 20:2-3, Revelation 20:4-6, Daniel 12:4.
11) It is God's will that Christ will not rule alone after He returns, but will rule with the saints. So for that purpose, a small number are called and converted during the six thousand years so that they can be raised in a resurrection to immortality when Christ returns and fulfill offices of rularship under Christ. David will be king over Israel. The twelve apostles will rule over the twelve tribes. Some of the saints will rule over one city, some over ten cities, etc. Christ will be king of kings over the whole earth.
SEE SCRIPTURES: Revelation 20:4-6, Revelation 1:4-6, Revelation 14:1-5, Revelation 3:21, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, Ezekiel 37:24-28, Jeremiah 30:8-9, Matthew 19:28, Luke 19:15-19, Revelation 17:14.
12) God calls a person by having the gospel preached to them and by opening his mind so that he can understand and believe the gospel. He has not called everyone now during the 6,000 years of man because this is the time for the world as a whole to be unconverted and carnal so that the lesson can be written in human history that Satan's way does not work. But God in His love, wisdom, and fairness (and there is a scripture in the Bible where God does say that He is "fair") will provide the same opportunity for everyone to hear the gospel and be able to understand and believe it and be saved, either in this age or the age to come.
SEE SCRIPTURES: 1 Corinthians 4:15, 1 Corinthians 15:1-2, John 6:43-44, Matthew 7:13-14, 1 John 4:8, 1 John 4:16, 2 Peter 3:9, 1 Timothy 2:3-5, Ezekiel 18:25-29, Ezekiel 33:17-20, Acts 10:34-35.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
A Stumbling Block - The Fate of the Billions Who Never Heard of Christ
A stumbling block many people have in their faith towards God has to do with the question of the fate of the billions who have lived without having an opportunity to know God or to learn about Jesus Christ. Many people have been taught that the billions who have lived and died without having the opportunity to become Christians are doomed to condemnation and will never be saved. This idea makes it seem to many that God is either unfair or is powerless to prevent this.
The Bible is clear that salvation is possible only through Jesus Christ (Acts 4:9-12). And it is clear from history that most of the billions of people on the earth have never had the opportunity to learn the truth about Christ, both those who have lived before Christ was born, and those who are alive today in countries where true Christian teaching is not widely available.
Are these people condemned to the permanent loss of salvation?
Many people think this is the case. And if true, this seems to indicate to the minds of many that either God is unfair to allow this, or that God is not powerful enough to prevent it.
But God is not unfair or powerless. Every human being who has ever lived will have the opportunity for salvation. No one will be left out.
Part of the answer is given in Ezekiel chapter 37. This is also the time known as the great white throne judgment described in Revelation 20:11-15. This is a time, yet future, when all who have ever lived without an opportunity for salvation in this life will be resurrected back to physical life. At that time, they will have their first real opportunity for salvation. Everyone will be given time to live and make their choice. Those who repent and have faith in God and Christ will be given immortality in the Kingdom of God. Those who reject God and Christ will not be saved. See The Last Great Day - the White Throne Judgment for more details.
The Bible is clear that salvation is possible only through Jesus Christ (Acts 4:9-12). And it is clear from history that most of the billions of people on the earth have never had the opportunity to learn the truth about Christ, both those who have lived before Christ was born, and those who are alive today in countries where true Christian teaching is not widely available.
Are these people condemned to the permanent loss of salvation?
Many people think this is the case. And if true, this seems to indicate to the minds of many that either God is unfair to allow this, or that God is not powerful enough to prevent it.
But God is not unfair or powerless. Every human being who has ever lived will have the opportunity for salvation. No one will be left out.
Part of the answer is given in Ezekiel chapter 37. This is also the time known as the great white throne judgment described in Revelation 20:11-15. This is a time, yet future, when all who have ever lived without an opportunity for salvation in this life will be resurrected back to physical life. At that time, they will have their first real opportunity for salvation. Everyone will be given time to live and make their choice. Those who repent and have faith in God and Christ will be given immortality in the Kingdom of God. Those who reject God and Christ will not be saved. See The Last Great Day - the White Throne Judgment for more details.
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