Category Archives: CALVINISM

BIBLE CONTRADICTIONS / CONFUSING VERSES SIMPLIFIED, CALVINISM, Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated?, Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated?

Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated?

“JACOB HAVE I LOVED, BUT ESAU HAVE I HATED?”

by Shawn Brasseaux

“As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated” (Romans 9:13). Calvinists consider this a useful “proof text” to argue that God loves some people and that He hates others. They say that God chooses for heaven those He loves, and chooses for hell those He hates. He chooses those He loves for blessings, and He chooses those He hates for curses and judgment. Is this really what Romans 9:13 teaches? Or, are Calvinists reading things into the verse that do not belong? Friends, let us say it again and again and again. Context, context, context!

It is not wise to read Romans 9:13 alone. Romans 9:10-13 should be read together: “[10] And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; [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.”

When the Scriptures talk about “election,” it has nothing to do with being chosen by God unto soul salvation and eternal life. One easy verse to prove this is Isaiah 42:1, where Israel’s Messiah (Jesus) is called the “elect” of JEHOVAH God the Father. In fact, the whole verse reads: “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.” What does “election” mean in the Bible? It means to be chosen to serve the God of the Bible! People in history who believe God’s Word to them, God then chooses them (as believers) to serve Him.

Look again at Romans 9:11-12 to see the Bible’s definition of “election”: “[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.” Note how the Apostle Paul, like the Prophet Isaiah earlier, connected “election” with “service.” In the Bible, unlike in theology, both terms have nothing to do with people going to heaven or hell, but rather those who are justified before God, God has given them a role in which to function/serve as members of His family.

THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB

In the case of the Abrahamic Covenant, God promised to use Abraham and his seed to form a nation of people He would use to bless all the other families (nations) of the world. We read in Genesis 12:1-3: “[1] Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: [2] And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: [3] And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

That covenant God made with Abraham was then passed on to his second son Isaac (rather than his firstborn son, Ishmael). Note Genesis chapter 17: “[18] And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee! [19] And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. [20] And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation. [21] But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.”

By his wife Rebekah, Isaac had two sons, twins who were named Esau (firstborn) and Jacob. God’s words to Rebekah are Genesis 25:23: “And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.” Earlier, we read where Paul quoted this in Romans 9:12: “It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.”

We see now that the Abrahamic Covenant has moved from Abraham’s son Isaac to Isaac’s second son Jacob (rather than his firstborn, Esau). This was confirmed in Genesis chapter 28: “[13] And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; [14] And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. [15] And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. [16] And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.”

So, when the Bible uses the expression, “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,” what it is really communicating is the extension of the Abrahamic Covenant to Abraham’s son (Isaac) and grandson (Jacob). Jacob later fathered 12 sons, and they became the 12 tribes of Israel, forming the nation God originally spoke of to Abraham in Genesis chapter 12. “And he [God] gave him [Abraham] the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs” (Acts 7:8).

Going back to Romans chapter 9 to summarize these Old Testament concepts: “[6] Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: [7] Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. [8] That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. [9] For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son. [10] And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; [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.”

“JACOB HAVE I LOVED, BUT ESAU HAVE I HATED”

Okay, now we have gotten to the tricky verse, the difficult verse. When Paul wrote this in Romans 9:13, he was quoting Malachi 1:2-3: “[1] The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi. [2] I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, [3] And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.”

The Prophet Malachi wrote about 400 B.C., over 1,000 years after Esau and Jacob had died. Malachi was not referring to the two men individually, but rather their descendants, the nations that originated in them. The context—in Malachi 1:2-3 or Romans 9:13—is not individuals but rather nations. Malachi is addressing Israel, a nation, God’s special nation. Go back to God’s words to Rebekah in Genesis 25:23: “And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.” This is talking about how Jacob’s nation (Israel) will rule over Esau’s nation (Edomites). God, as per the Abrahamic Covenant, has chosen Israel as His chief nation in the Earth. Israel is to be His channel of salvation and blessing to the nations of the world. If Esau’s descendants are to partake of the salvation and blessings of the God of creation, they must come to Him through His nation, Israel. The Edomites have to bless (serve, submit to) Israel if they are to be blessed of God.

CONCLUSION

The key to understanding Romans chapter 9 is to remember that it does not deal with the salvation of individuals, but rather nations (Israel versus Edomites/Gentiles). What Paul is arguing in the first half of this chapter is that not all of Abraham’s descendants are participants in God’s purpose and program in the Earth. The Old Testament covenants apply only to descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Contrary to Islam and the Qur’an, Ishmael and Esau are not part of God’s special nation and are not heirs of the Abrahamic Covenant. They are not God’s servants in the Earth. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and their children will be God’s earthly servants. But, not only that. Only believing descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will become God’s special people. God does not consider every descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, a member of “Israel.” A true Jew is one who has both Abraham’s physical genes as well as Abraham’s (spiritual) faith. But, we must stop and save that for another study!

Also see:
» Does Acts 2:47 support Calvinism?
» How do God’s foreknowledge and our free will work together?
» Does Acts 13:48 support Calvinism?

CALVINISM, DISPENSATIONAL BIBLE STUDY, Does Acts 13:48 support Calvinism?, Does Acts 13:48 support Calvinism?

Does Acts 13:48 support Calvinism?

DOES ACTS 13:48 SUPPORT CALVINISM?

by Shawn Brasseaux

The more you listen to and read denominational preachers and theologians, the more verses you hear and see “beaten black and blue.” God’s Word is treated with so much disrespect, so abused. They grab a verse here, a phrase there, a word here, and—voilà—a new denomination is born and maintained. Some have even taken one Bible word and made whole systems! Acts 13:48 is one such verse quoted time and time again in theology with regards to Calvinism. In this study, we will take time to actually read the verse—and its context—and see God’s intended meaning. “For what saith the Scriptures?”

Acts 13:48 is one of Calvinism’s favorite verses. Of course, the verse is usually not quoted in full, and certainly the surrounding verses are ignored. Just its final little clause is cited. Acts 13:48 in its entirety reads: “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.” You immediately saw what appeals to Calvinists—“and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.” The Calvinist will now say, “See, just as Acts 13:48 says, God ordained some people to eternal life and the rest He chose for eternal damnation!” Certainly, the Bible says God has ordained some people to eternal life. Just look at the verse! But, exactly who are these people? Are they the people Calvinists say they are? (And, notice, never once does the Bible say that God ordains some people to eternal damnation. If I were a Calvinist, I would quote that verse instead, but since there is no such verse, Acts 13:48 will just have to do!)

So, you can now see why Acts 13:48 strikes terror in the hearts of Bible believers everywhere. How are they (we) going to handle a verse that clearly says that a group of people was “ordained to eternal life?” Does this not validate Calvinism? Again, just look at the context, and you will be amazed at how simple the verse really is. Unless we have a denominational system or theological speculation to promote, we will just look at the context of the verse under consideration, and rejoice in the simplicity of God’s Word.

Let us start at the beginning of Acts chapter 13. Paul and Barnabas have begun their first apostolic journey. Having left Antioch of Syria (verses 1-3), they reach Antioch of Pisidia (verse 14). Now, in the synagogue of Antioch of Pisidia, Paul begins a lengthy sermon for the Jews and the other religious people present. Paul documented Israel’s history from verses 17-41. Verses 42-44: “[42] And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. [43] Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. [44] And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.”

The Gentiles wanted to hear God’s Word, so Paul and Barnabas returned the next Sabbath day (Saturday) to speak to these curious people. We pick it up in verse 45 and following, reading slowly and carefully: “[45] But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. [46] Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. [47] For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. [48] 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.”

As previously noted, there are some Bible believers who are simply scared of Acts 13:48. They do not know how to handle it. It has been so terribly abused and it is dangerous ground for them to expound upon it. They try to avoid it every chance they can. Friends, it is not difficult. If we are just going to go by the Bible, the Bible says the people who were ordained to eternal life were the Gentiles. See, it helps to actually read the Bible, friends, instead of just carelessly pulling things out of it! God purposed to form the Church the Body of Christ, that Gentiles could be saved apart from Israel. Salvation is currently coming to the Gentiles without Israel and through Paul’s ministry (Romans 11:11-13). That is exactly what Paul preached in Acts 13:46-47.

Let us turn to 1 Corinthians chapter 2 to see whom God “ordained to eternal life.” Verses 6-8 of 1 Corinthians chapter 2: “[6] Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: [7] But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: [8] Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”

Again, God planned our mystery program before the world began, but He did not reveal it to mankind until Paul’s ministry (cf. Romans 16:25-26; Titus 1:1-3). That mystery program includes eternal life via membership in the Church the Body of Christ. Gentiles to be saved into the Body of Christ, they are the ones God has ordained to eternal life (return to Acts 13:46-48). It has nothing to do with individuals (as Calvinists claim). Rather, it means corporate salvation in and through the agency called the Church Body of Christ.

Beloved, unless we have an agenda to advance, a theological speculation to promote, we will simply read the verse and believe it in its context rather than just carelessly grabbing it to bolster our theological system. There is nothing here about God ordaining people to go to hell forever. That is something someone is reading into the verse, wresting the Scriptures to their own spiritual destruction (2 Peter 3:15-16). It has nothing to do with God selecting individuals for salvation. It is God ordaining Gentiles (as a whole), that they have an opportunity to receive forgiveness of sins via the Church the Body of Christ and the Gospel of Grace that the Apostle Paul preached. Simple!

Also see:
» “Jacob have I loved, Esau have I hated?” (COMING SOON!)
» How do our free will and God’s foreknowledge work together?
» Does Acts 2:47 support Calvinism?

CALVINISM, Does Acts 2:47 support Calvinism?

Does Acts 2:47 support Calvinism?

DOES ACTS 2:47 SUPPORT CALVINISM?

by Shawn Brasseaux

One of the “five points” of Calvinism is “Limited Atonement.” It is the belief that Jesus Christ “died only for the elect.” The “elect,” in theology, is defined as “those whom God chose for blessings and eternal life in heaven.” Those whom God chose to be saved are then given faith, and subsequently, they receive eternal life. Acts 2:47 is used to defend this kind of teaching. Notice the verse: “Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Has God chosen only a certain number of people who will inherit eternal life? Acts 2:47 appears to be a good “proof text” verse for Calvinists, but is it really? Let us look at that verse in detail… and in context.

Dispensational Bible study frees you from the bondage and confusion in every theological system in existence. You name the heresy, the confusion, the argument, the point of contention, and it is very likely that dilemma can be resolved with dispensational Bible study. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). You must make the distinctions that God has made in His Word. Failure to do so will greatly damage your life and the lives of those around you. If you do not approach Acts 2:47 dispensationally, you are sure to fall into the trap of Calvinism as countless others have done throughout church history. Let me demonstrate how dispensational Bible study makes Acts 2:47 amazingly clear for you.

GOD’S SPECIAL NATION – ISRAEL

In Israel’s prophetic program, there was such a thing as “limited atonement”—that is, that the merits of Christ’s crosswork were available to some, rather than, all people of all nations. Salvation and blessings from God were to go to the nation Israel first.

The Prophet Isaiah wrote of Jesus Christ: “…[F]or the transgression of my people was he stricken” (Isaiah 53:8). Isaiah’s people were the Jews. There are no Gentiles (non-Jews) in the verse unless we say Isaiah was a Gentile! Over seven centuries later, the angel told Joseph about Mary bearing Jesus: “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Jesus Himself said on a few occasions, “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28; cf. Mark 10:45; Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:20). Jesus said to His Jewish disciples, “This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you” (Luke 22:20). Again, it is a reference to Israel. This is not saying, as Calvinists teach, Jesus Christ died only for a limited number of people throughout human history. Rather, it is Jesus Christ dying for the nation Israel at a particular time in human history.

Recall that God wanted to form an earthly nation of people, Israel, going back to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It would be through this nation that God would bless all the nations of the world. See Genesis 12:1-3. However, as time passed, an apostate religion corrupted that nation. There were descendants of Abraham who did not have the faith of Abraham. These cannot be God’s physical people because they were not His spiritual people as well. A “true Jew” has both a physical circumcision (dead to the flesh, cut off from human efforts) and a spiritual circumcision (in the heart, cut off from Adam, fallen human nature removed). You can see Romans 2:28-29, for example. For time’s sake, we withhold any further comments on that passage.

Beginning with John the Baptist’s ministry in Matthew chapter 3, God began to call out a little flock of Jewish believers from that unbelieving nation Israel. Jesus Christ continued to do this in His earthly ministry. We now get to Acts chapter 2, when the Apostle Peter is preaching in order to continue forming that called-out group of Jewish believers. Peter is following the instructions Jesus Christ had given them before He ascended into heaven: “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47). The Prophet Zechariah had predicted centuries earlier, “The LORD also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah” (Zechariah 12:7). According to Matthew 10:23, Luke 24:47, and Acts 1:8, Jesus’ 12 apostles were to preach to people in this order—Jerusalem, Judaea (southern Israel), Samaria (northern Israel), and the uttermost parts of the earth (Gentiles). Hence, Jesus restricted His earthly ministry to Israel (Matthew 15:24) and He commanded His apostles to restrict their ministry to Israel (Matthew 10:5-7). Prophecy said that Israel was to be saved first, and then Israel would be the channel of salvation and blessing to the nations of the world!

Notice Isaiah 60:1-3: “[1] Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. [2] For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. [3] And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” (You may compare this with Genesis 12:1-3, the Abrahamic Covenant, briefly mentioned earlier.)

Moving on to Acts chapter 3: “[24] Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. [25] Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. [26] Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.” The Abrahamic Covenant was given to Israel, that she would then be God’s special nation who would preach to and convert the nations to the one true God (see also Zechariah 8:20-23, and again, Genesis 12:1-3).

Finally, Acts chapter 5 confirms once more: “[30] The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. [31] 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.” Can it be any clearer that Jesus Christ was to save Israel first?

Peter said that he was preaching that “which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:21). That is, Peter’s ministry was focused on repeating and building on what the prophets of Israel had spoken and written centuries earlier in the “Old Testament.” Peter said that Joel’s prophecy was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost (cf. Acts 2:16-21; Joel 2:28-32). Using all of this as background, recognizing all of this as the context of Acts 2:47, we can see why Luke wrote it. It was an event according to prophecy—Isaiah, Zechariah, Joel, et cetera, had written about it. Again, Acts 2:47: “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” This is a reference to God wanting every Jew to be converted so they—as a nation—could become His kingdom of priests (cf. Exodus 19:5-6; 1 Peter 2:9-10). They were to be saved not merely from hell to eternal life, but also they were to be rescued from that apostate religion (spiritual darkness, Satanic oppression) that had gripped them as a nation. Hence, Peter constantly affirmed, led by the Spirit of God who gave him utterance, “Ye men of Judaea… Ye men of Israel… Let all the house of Israel know assuredly…” (Acts 2:14,22,36). The salvation of Acts 2:47 had nothing to do with Gentiles! It had nothing to do with the Church the Body of Christ. It had nothing to do with us or our Dispensation of Grace! You can see our Bible study link below, “Did the Church the Body of Christ begin in Acts chapter 2?,” for more information.

The Calvinists, like so many in Christendom, fail to realize that Acts chapter 2 was not the Church the Body of Christ, the present-day group of believers in Jesus Christ. There was a restriction to join that church of Acts 2:47—one had to be a Jew because God wanted to save Jews first. There is no restriction today, for God is forming the Church the Body of Christ of Jews and Gentiles (1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 2:11-18; Colossians 3:11). In addition, the Church the Body of Christ was a “mystery” (secret hid in God) until Jesus Christ revealed it to the Apostle Paul (Romans 16:25-26; Ephesians 3:1-11; Colossians 1:24-28). There was no Body of Christ at the time of Acts chapter 2, so Acts 2:47 has nothing to do with the Body of Christ or anything God is doing today!

Also see:
» How do our free will and God’s foreknowledge work together?
» Did the Church the Body of Christ begin in Acts chapter 2?
» Is John 10:16 a reference to the Church the Body of Christ?

 

BIBLE CONTRADICTIONS / CONFUSING VERSES SIMPLIFIED, CALVINISM, Does God give us faith?, Does God give us faith?

Does God give us faith?

DOES GOD GIVE US FAITH? IS FAITH THE GIFT OF GOD?

by Shawn Brasseaux

Does God have to give us faith before we can believe His Word? “For what saith the Scriptures?”

There are two or three verses that confuse people when it comes to this issue. We will look at two here. The primary one is Ephesians 2:8: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” Another verse, used less commonly, is Romans 12:3: “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Now that we have provided the verses, we would be delighted to expound them! 🙂

EPHESIANS 2:8-9

It is better if we read Ephesians 2:8 with the next verse as well: “[8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

There are those who teach that “faith” is “the gift of God.” (Primarily you hear this from Calvinists defending their “Total Depravity” theological point.) Just what is the “that” of Ephesians 2:8? It is the “it” of Ephesians 2:8. So, “that” = “it.” What is “that” and “it?” The clause “it is the gift of God” summarizes the first part, “For by grace are ye saved through faith.” Faith is not the context. Remember, context is key! Context! Context! Context! The context is God’s grace that provides salvation to us in Jesus Christ. “It is the gift of God” accurately summarizes “salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.” We look at another salvation verse of Paul’s writings. Let us look at Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” What is the “gift of God?” Is it faith here? No. The gift of God is what He offers to us “freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). Eternal life!

Opponents of the pure Gospel of the Grace of God tell us that we are bragging to say that we are saved by faith. That faith, they claim, is something we did. They argue that the faith in the Bible is something God gives only to “elect” (chosen) people so they can then believe His Word and get saved. True salvation, they say, is being saved by faith God imparted to those He has chosen rather than “salvation you worked for by having faith of yourself” (and in such case, you may or may not be chosen of God). What a bunch of hogwash!

There is no merit in faith per se. Faith is believing in (trusting) something to do its job. The merit is in what faith rests. Merit is determined by whether faith relies on something dependable or relies on something useless. The object of faith alone can have merit, not faith itself! There is no merit in trusting ourselves or our performance in religion. Our performance (physical activity) is useless. Jesus Christ is reliable, and to trust Him is to acknowledge the only thing we can do to be made righteous before God is to rely on Jesus Christ: “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Romans 4:5). Faith is not a work so there is no boasting when it comes to faith. Romans chapter 3: “[26] To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. [27] Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. [28] Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” God does not have to enable us to believe His Word. We either believe God’s Word or we do not. There is nothing boastful about saying you need to believe God’s Gospel because you are on your way to a Devil’s hell in your own performance!

ROMANS 12:3

It is better if we read Romans 12:3 with the next verse as well: “[3] For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. [4] For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:”

The context here is certainly not salvation by grace through faith. How do we know? We can read, friends! Salvation by grace through faith was already settled in chapters 1-5 of Romans. Here, Paul is talking about Christian service. After giving 11 chapters of information/doctrine, Paul began chapter 12 with service. Notice how Paul opened chapter 12, just before he wrote verse 3: “[1] I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. [2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Service! Service! Service!

Reading in Romans 12:4, we see a reference to “offices.” These are roles concerning spiritual gifts. Paul spends the next few verses outlining spiritual gifts: “[6] Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; [7] Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; [8] Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.”

When Romans 12:3 says “God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith,” it is a special type of faith. It is not faith in the sense of believing God’s Word unto salvation, justification, heaven, eternal life, et cetera. Remember, that was already discussed in Romans. This “faith” of Romans 12:3 is explained for us in verse 6, “let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith.” There are degrees (“measures,” verse 3) of this type of “faith.” If this is salvation faith, that would mean some people were closer to heaven than others, that they had different degrees of eternal life—this is complete nonsense. No, the “faith” of Romans 12:3 is in reference to spiritual gifts (Christian service) and “proportion.” What does “proportion” mean? See the word “portion” in it? “Proportion” means, “a part, share, or number considered in comparative relation to a whole.”

In the early decades of the Church the Body of Christ, before the completed Word of God was written down, there was limited spiritual understanding because there was limited spiritual information to know. God had not yet revealed everything that He wanted to reveal to Christians (and to mankind in general). As the chief apostle in the Dispensation of Grace, Paul wrote during the Acts period in 1 Corinthians chapter 13:

“[8] Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. [9] For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. [10] But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. [11] When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. [12] For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”

During that Acts transitional period, Paul understood that the risen, ascended, and glorified Lord Jesus Christ had not revealed everything yet. There was more of the Dispensation of Grace to know about, preach about, and write about. In fact, after writing 1 Corinthians, Paul had nine additional epistles to write in the coming years (Romans, 2 Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1&2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon). These epistles are advancement in doctrine as you move toward the end of Paul’s life and ministry. Once the Holy Spirit moved Paul to write his second epistle to Timothy, the divine revelation ceased. There was nothing left for God to reveal.

Consider Colossians 1:23-26: “[23]…whereof I Paul am made a minister; [24] Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: [25] Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil [complete] the word of God; [26] Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:”

Hence, Paul wrote in his final epistle, 2 Timothy, chapter 3: “[16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: [17] That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

Okay, so, going back to Romans 12:3-4: “[3] For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. [4] For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:”

In Christian service, we are not to become prideful or think ourselves better than other Christians. When the spiritual gifts were in operation in the first century A.D., believers were to understand that each Christian had a different spiritual gift, a special way to communicate God’s Word before it was formally written down. That arrangement was to benefit every Christian, the whole assembly, not the believer who had the particular gift. As 1 Corinthians 12:7 says, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.” Each Christian had been given a different level of understanding and communicating God’s unprinted Word. Note the spiritual gifts in verses 8-10. Then in verse 11, we read: “But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.” As Romans 12:3 says, “God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Each Christian had an office, a special role in the ministry. You can read about them in 1 Corinthians 12:27-31 and Ephesians 4:11. As the years passed, these spiritually-gifted men grew in their understanding of God’s Word and will, before those gifts finally ceased and the completed 66 Bible-book canon came in.

CONCLUSION

Does the Bible say that faith is something given to us by God? Absolutely not. That is theology and not Bible. That is good religion but bad Bible. Never once in the Bible is faith called the “gift” of God. Ephesians 2:8-9 is talking about how salvation (by grace through faith) is the gift of God. Eternal life through Jesus Christ is the “gift of God” (Romans 6:23). Faith is simply acknowledging that Jesus Christ is totally righteous and that we are not, that He paid the price for our sins because we were totally unable to pay for our sins. It is not hard to comprehend unless we want to complicate it by advancing a pet theological system (Calvinism) and one of its points (“Total Depravity”).

Romans 12:3 refers to Christian service with spiritual gifts. “Faith” in that context refers to belief in whatever (limited) divine revelation had been given up to that point. The Bible is a progressive revelation, please recall. It took a total of 30 to 35 years for Paul to receive all of the details about our Dispensation of Grace, from the ascended Lord Jesus Christ. For the first 20 or so years of this period, there were no (written) epistles of Paul. The Church the Body of Christ had supernaturally-gifted men who would communicate those grace doctrines (apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, and evangelists) until the completed written Word of God came into existence (2 Timothy 3:16-17). With the completed Word of God, we no longer have to be concerned with a “proportion of faith” or “the measure of faith.” There is a complete revelation from God, with nothing hidden, and we can trust it all because we have it all revealed in a Book, our King James Bible. Will we read and believe its simple testimony? Or, will we twiddle and twaddle about idle speculations of theologians who are more interested in pursuing total worthlessness?

Also see:
» How do God’s foreknowledge and our free will work together?
» What were Urim and Thummim?
» What is the “that which is perfect” in 1 Corinthians 13:10?

CALVINISM, Did God give angels free will as He gave to mankind?, Did God give angels free will as He gave to mankind?, Did God give angels free will as He gave to mankind?, SATAN AND HIS POLICY OF EVIL, SIN

Did God give angels free will as He gave to mankind?

DID GOD GIVE ANGELS FREE WILL AS HE GAVE TO MANKIND?

by Shawn Brasseaux

Friend, we will answer your question by reasoning together using the Holy Scriptures. According to the Bible, “free will” (sometimes called “volition”) is the capacity to choose between doing good and doing evil—that is, following God’s plan for your life versus following Satan’s policy of evil. To fail to believe and obey God’s Word to you is to automatically follow Satan in his rebellion against the Creator God. Let us first review “free will” as it pertains to us humans, and then it will be easier for us to address the concept as it relates to angels.

FREE WILL AND HUMANS

We will briefly look at two simple events from Scripture—Adam and Eve, and Christ’s earthly ministry—to see how free will operates in people.

First, the well-known verses God spoke to Adam before the Fall. The Bible says in Genesis 2:16-17: “[16] And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: [17] 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.” Please take very special care to note the words “mayest freely” in verse 16. Mankind was instructed to “freely eat.” God could have said, “Of every tree of the garden thou wilt eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou wilt not eat of it.” Why did God not say this? Because that would have made Adam a robot! God did not tell Adam exactly which tree to eat from. He simply told Adam not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God gave Adam the opportunity to enjoy such bountiful provision. He had all those trees from which to eat! “Adam, you may—not must—eat from all of these trees! Just avoid that one—just one, just one!—tree, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” It was a very simple arrangement, simple instructions.

However, by the time we get to chapter 3 of Genesis, great trouble is brewing. We are introduced to the Bible’s first tragic passage: “[1] Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? [2] And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: [3] But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. [4] And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: [5] For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”

Satan is a sneaky, snake-like, deceptive character (verse 1). Notice how he questioned God’s Word and then encouraged Eve to challenge God’s Word (verse 2). In verse 3, when quoting God to Satan, Eve omitted the word “freely,” demonstrating her ignorance of her free will. She denied God’s grace, God’s provisions, and because she forgot all of that bounty, Satan enticed her to sin and gain some additional “benefits.” Satan told her that she could gain some hidden wisdom, something God had withheld from her and Adam. Eve was at a crossroads: (1) she could stay with God’s provisions and be content with the identity that God had given her with Adam, or (2) she could follow the serpent and eat of the forbidden fruit, hopefully gaining what God had not given her. What did poor, confused Eve decide?

Verses 6-7 relay the SAD outcome: “[6] And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. [7] 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.”

It is absolutely critical to realize that God had absolutely nothing to do with this whole scenario in Genesis 3:1-7. He had given Adam clear instructions. Evidently, Adam, the spiritual head, had not adequately and clearly passed this information on to Eve. Still, God did not force Adam and Eve to do anything, one way or the other. God did not make Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit. God did not make Adam and Eve not eat the forbidden fruit. Again, God left the decision in the hands of Adam and Eve. The Bible says that Eve was deceived, genuinely misled, but Adam knew exactly what he was doing when ate the forbidden fruit (1 Timothy 2:14). We need to blame the responsible party. Sin entering into the world was ultimately Adam’s fault (Romans 5:12). He should have known better. Friends, we need to quit blaming God for our stupid mistakes!

Okay, now to another brief example. John 5:40 settles the issue once for all—people choose hell for themselves! They choose sin for themselves! They choose error for themselves! The Lord Jesus Christ declared to the unbelieving Jews of His day: “And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” Certain theological circles (those that embrace Calvinism) argue that no one can truly go to heaven unless God first chose him or her to go to heaven. Does God really “predestinate” or “elect” some people to go to heaven and others to go to hell? No, it is theological mumbo-jumbo. It is not Bible, just theological speculation that amounts to nothing. It is not God’s Word, just man’s word that will profit us nothing.

Reading John 5:40 with its context: “[39] Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. [40] And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” And verse 43, a reference to the Antichrist: “I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.” Will we believe the Lord Jesus Christ’s simple words? Or, will we believe what a fallible theologian says? Jesus affirmed that the reason why His audience did not have eternal life was because they refused to come to Him! It was not because God selected them for hell and eternal damnation. It was not because God selected them for unbelief and sin. They thought their religion made them “good enough” without Jesus, so Jesus did not force Himself on them. Jesus Christ did not force Himself on Adam and Eve, either.

Again, just days before He died, Jesus Christ stated in Matthew 23:37: “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!” Why did Jerusalem not come to Jesus? Was it because God selected them for unbelief? For hell? For judgment? For sin? No! He said He wanted often to gather them to Himself but they refused to come. God did not select them for hell; they chose hellfire for themselves. Beloved, may we never take away someone’s free will: it is their (eternal) loss if they refuse to come to Jesus Christ by faith. We need to respect their choice. God respects their choice, and we do as our Heavenly Father does.

FREE WILL AND ANGELS

Sometime before the Fall of mankind in Genesis chapter 3 (which we discussed in our earlier comments), Satan and the other members of God’s angelic host were all in harmony and unity with their Creator, the Lord Jesus Christ. As Adam and Eve would later be given a special identity and position/function in the Garden of Eden, Lucifer (Satan’s name before his fall) and the angelic host had a special identity and position/function in Heaven.

The little book of Jude 6, verse 6, explains: “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.” The idea here is the angels’ willful abandonment of their home and position in Heaven. It is not that God just randomly tossed them out of Heaven and imprisoned them in Hell. They chose not to “keep [or, guard] their first estate” and they “left their own habitation.” They had unique roles in Heaven, levels of authority over certain heavenly realms, but this was not enough for their satisfaction. These fallen angels—called “the devil’s angels” in Matthew 25:41—were discontented with the identity and job that God had given them. They wanted to do something else and they did it. They left their identity, their authority, and so on, seeking something else. In other words, like Adam and Eve would do later, the angels sinned. The Apostle Peter discussed this in 2 Peter 2:4: “For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.” God gave angels free will; otherwise, this verse teaches that God caused the angels to sin! But exactly what happened to cause these angels to sin and permanently lose their role in God’s plan for creation?

In Isaiah chapter 14, we see a flashback. What was Satan’s origin? How did such a wicked creature come about? If God can create nothing evil and sinful, then what happened to Satan? Just before Satan (working through the Antichrist) is utterly defeated, yet future from our day, we see Israel mocking him in Isaiah chapter 14. Lucifer had such great hopes in outsmarting God, such great endeavors to gain the worship of all creation, and God in His infinite wisdom foiled them all! Satan’s original plan fell apart because of God’s ingenuity! Marvelous!

The Bible says in Isaiah 14:12-15: “[12] 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! [13] 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: [14] I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. [15] Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.”

As we briefly noted earlier, the Prophet Isaiah reflects on Satan’s original five-fold plan of long ago. Satan uttered an “I will” statement five times. What does the term “will” denote? Satan had made a choice—five choices actually. It was not a simple mistake, an accident, but something methodical, a carefully planned scheme that would end up spanning long ages of time. Lucifer made five deliberate decisions, and all were poor choices. In other words, Lucifer exercised free will. As with Adam and Eve, God did not make Lucifer choose evil. Like with Adam and Eve, God did not make Lucifer choose good, either. Lucifer decided to operate independently of God’s will and plan for him. Mark it—the greatest definition for sin is Isaiah 53:6ab: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way.” Just what righteous path did Lucifer swerve from to pursue his malevolent goals?

In Ezekiel’s prophetic masterpiece, we see another flashback to Lucifer/Satan’s original role in God’s creation. Lucifer—Hebrew, “the light bearer”—was basically creation’s “choir director.” Chapter 28, verses 13-19, paint a fascinating portrait of this wise and beautiful creature. Lucifer was one of the five cherubs (angelic-like creatures) that surrounded God’s throne. In fact, Lucifer’s wings functioned as a canopy, a “covering” for God’s throne. Lucifer wore a garment that was decorated with precious stones, similar to Israel’s high priest’s breastplate. Lucifer’s clothing, when paired with God’s radiance, provided a “kaleidoscope” and/or “prismatic” rainbow-effect in Heaven! To fulfill his office in Heaven, Lucifer’s body generated music. “Thou was perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created; till iniquity was found in thee” (Ezekiel 28:15). Something developed in Satan, an evil plan formed in his brilliant mind, and he sought to execute that plan—no matter the cost!

The Bible says of Lucifer, “Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty” (Ezekiel 28:12). In verse 3, “Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee.” Lucifer was a very cunning, creative creature, the most brilliant of all God’s creatures. God had intended Lucifer to use his ingenuity to invent songs, write and perform musical arrangements, et cetera, to praise the Lord Jesus Christ (Creator). Lucifer, however, fell into pride. “Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness” (verse 17). Paul commented, “lifted up with pride… the condemnation of the devil” (1 Timothy 3:6). Basically, Lucifer fell in love with himself and lost focus of His Creator. Finally, Lucifer concluded that he was so beautiful and so wise, he belonged on the throne instead of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that he should be worshipped and served instead of the Lord Jesus Christ (see Matthew 4:8-10 and Luke 4:5-8).

The Prophet Ezekiel, in chapter 28, verse 18, describes how Lucifer “defiled [his sanctuaries] by the multitude of [his] iniquities, by the iniquity of [his] traffick….” Lucifer tainted those holy places in Heaven that he was originally functioning in. In other words, he filled Heaven with wickedness, his plot to overthrow Jesus Christ as rightful King of the Universe (Colossians 1:16-18). That word “traffick” in this context means “trade or dealings.” To wit, Lucifer was enticing other angelic creatures to follow him in his rebellion against the Creator God. With the exception of Michael and Gabriel, it seems as though all of God’s most powerful angels followed Lucifer. At this point, God created hell. “Everlasting fire…prepared for the devil and his angels,” the Lord Jesus called it in Matthew 25:41. The dreadful reality of eternal hellfire evidently halted any more angels from following Lucifer. Lucifer and his fallen cohorts are now restricted to the second heaven (outer space) and the first heaven (Earth and its atmosphere). “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven,” Jesus commented in Luke 10:18. While we could continue into the future, Satan’s doom, we must (unfortunately) stop here for sake of brevity.

CONCLUSION

Yes, angels have free will, just as we humans have free will. The God of the Bible values free will, even to the extent of risking His plan for creation. He did not and does not want robots. He wanted and wants creatures who delighted (and delight) in doing in His will with Him. Sin is doing whatever you want, you refusing to follow God’s plan for you. Lucifer and his angelic cohorts wanted to decide for themselves what was good and what was evil. Satan later used this attitude to entice Eve, and attack Adam (all of mankind), in the Garden of Eden. Satan and his angels abandoned God’s purpose and plan for them. Then, Satan encouraged Adam and Eve to abandon God’s purpose and plan for them. In short, the fallen angels and fallen man did not want the Creator God to reign over them. This parallels what eventually happened when Israel and Rome conspired to kill Jesus Christ. Note Psalm 2:1-3, written about 1,000 years before it happened: “[1] Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? [2] The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, [3] Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.” (Verse 3 says Israel and Rome did not want the LORD [Father God] and His Anointed [Messiah/Christ Jesus His Son] ruling over them! This is, again, free will.)

Also see:
» Why does God let Satan exist?
» How can a loving God send people to hell forever?
» What are Satan’s current operations?

CALVINISM, DENOMINATIONS, CULTS, & FALSE TEACHING, How do God’s foreknowledge and our free will work together?, How do God’s foreknowledge and our free will work together?

How do God’s foreknowledge and our free will work together?

HOW DO GOD’S FOREKNOWLEDGE AND OUR FREE WILL WORK TOGETHER?

by Shawn Brasseaux

“If God knew that the Amorites would not repent after 400 years [Genesis 15:16], and He knew that they would crucify Jesus Christ [Acts 2:23], and He ‘knew’ all the future misery, woes, etc., etc., why do it? If I know that something is going to end in failure, I do not continue in it… how about you? If God always ‘knew,’ then what ‘is’ free will? Why does God (the Angel of the Lord) say to Abraham on Mt. Moriah, ‘…now I KNOW that thou fearest God…?’”

Thank you for those questions. From the human perspective, these issues are difficult to fathom. We have to look at them from God’s perspective. In the end, these events really did not end in “failure” as you assert. Granted, God knew how those events would turn out, and yet, He still used those events to accomplish His will. When considered in light of the overall scheme of things, these events were not so awful, and they were not failures. Despite giving man free will, and letting man do just about anything he wanted, God still accomplished what He wanted—that is the amazing part! That is the wisdom of God outsmarting Satan’s “wisdom!” As 1 Corinthians 3:19 says, “He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.”

1. THE 400 YEARS AND THE AMORITES

Your first question is a reference to Genesis 15:13-16: “[13] And he [that is, the Lord GOD] said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; [14] And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. [15] And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. [16] But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.”

Remember, when God spoke to Abram/Abraham in the above verses, the nation Israel had not even been born yet. It was over a decade before Isaac’s birth, and many decades before the births of Jacob and his 12 sons (the fathers of the 12 tribes of Israel). God gave the nation Israel a 400-year-long opportunity to grow (multiply) down in Egypt, while He let the Amorites reach their “sin limit” up in the land of Canaan. Israel started out with Jacob and about 70 other people (by the time Israel went into Egypt; Exodus 1:5), but Israel was some two million strong when she left Egypt (400 years later).

By allowing that 400-year period: (1) God proved, to the Israelites and the Amorites, and other nations, He was justified in evicting the Amorites (400 additional years of their wickedness); and (2) He gave Israel four centuries to grow so they could be greater in number to take over the land of the Amorites. That is why God put up with the Amorites for so long. They had not reached their sin limit (“the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full;” Genesis 15:16), and Israel had not reached her population explosion yet.

2. JESUS CHRIST AND HIS FOREKNOWLEDGE OF CALVARY

The best example of God’s foreknowledge and man’s free will operating together is how Israel responded to Jesus Christ when He offered Himself as King/Messiah.

“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). No question about it—God foreknew Jesus Christ’s rejection, betrayal, and crucifixion. Before creation, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit had already agreed that God the Son Jesus Christ would die for man’s sins. On the other hand, all three Persons foreknew of man’s rebellion, how Israel would conspire with Rome to kill Jesus Christ (Psalm 2:1ff.; cf. Acts 4:23-28). Note Acts 4:27-28: “[27] For a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, [28] For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.” God revealed to the Old Testament prophets the information that was already determined in eternity past. “But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled” (Acts 3:18). The Old Testament prophets wrote about a suffering Messiah, centuries before Calvary (Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 are two of the clearest examples).

Luke 24:44-47 amplifies this: “[44] And he [Jesus Christ] said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. [45] Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, [46] And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: [47] And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”

So, there is God’s foreknowledge and man’s free will operating together to bring about Calvary’s crosswork. Man wanted to rid himself of Jesus Christ and thus he conspired to murder Jesus Christ. But then, after Calvary, and especially through the writings of the Apostle Paul (Romans through Philemon), God revealed the benefits of Calvary (see 1 Corinthians 2:6-14), how it was the means whereby man’s sin debt could be paid. God did not force Jesus Christ on those who rejected Him (free will), and yet, He used the results of man’s free will—the rejected Messiah’s blood—to pay for our sins. That is the wisdom of God. He took all of that information into account, and actually outsmarted Satan. (Satan thought Christ’s death would hinder God’s program and plan for creation, but God had another design in mind!—see 1 Corinthians 2:6-8).

The Old Testament prophets also talked about the healing and teaching ministry of Jesus Christ (Isaiah 35:4-6; Isaiah 53:4; Isaiah 61:1-2). Jesus Christ had to come to earth to fulfill those verses by performing miracles, and teaching the doctrine that those miracles communicated. Had Jesus Christ not come, He would not have fulfilled the verses that needed to be fulfilled in order to validate God’s Word. Those hundreds of verses needed to be fulfilled, and they were fulfilled at Christ’s First Coming/Advent.

Ultimately, Jesus Christ had to die. There was no other way to pay for Israel’s sins, and there was no other way to pay for our sins. Jesus Christ had to die, and God simply used the wickedness of man to bring it to pass (see Psalm 2). This is evident in New Testament passages such as Hebrews 10:4-14 (quoting Psalm 40:6-8):

“[4] For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. [5] Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: [6] In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. [7] Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. [8] Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; [9] Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. [10] By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

The only way that man’s sin debt could be paid is if God Himself would die (only He was sinless). God’s righteousness had been offended, and only God’s righteousness could be offered to compensate (make up) for that sin debt. That is why God became a man: He needed blood to offer and make atonement for the sins of man. Man wanted to kill righteous Jesus Christ, and so God used man’s ill intentions to bring about His will after all. Now, Jesus’ shed blood is the means whereby God will one day reconcile all of heaven and earth to Himself (Colossians 1:20)–today, Satan has corrupted heaven and earth (Job 15:15; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4; Galatians 1:4; Ephesians 6:12).

The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 3:23-28, how God in His foreknowledge gave up Jesus Christ to go Calvary’s cross to shed His sinless blood to pay for our sins: “[23] For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; [24] Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: [25] Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; [26] To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. [27] Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. [28] Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”

When we come by faith alone in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as sufficient payment for our sins, we can receive the righteousness of God Himself (2 Corinthians 5:21). We can be accepted of God, have a home in heaven, play a role in God’s restoration of creation to Himself, and many other benefits. God saw these, the end results of Calvary, and that is why He let it fall out like that. See, in the overall scheme of things, neither the Amorites extended stay nor Calvary’s crosswork were failures.

3. HOW THE BIBLE DEFINES “FREE WILL”

In the beginning, Adam and Eve were fully blessed of God. Sin, suffering, and death were unknown. God’s only commandment was Genesis 2:16-17: “[16] And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: [17] 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.” God in His grace had given them many provisions—innumerable species of trees and plants from which to eat. They could “freely eat” of every tree, save the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This is free will. God did not force Adam and Eve to do anything. He set boundaries in Eden and let them decide what they wanted to do. They could either stay within those boundaries or cross them.

When Satan attacked mankind, he singled out the woman. After craftily asking Eve if God really said not to eat of every tree, Satan observed Eve depart even further from the truth. Genesis 3:2-5 says: “[2] And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: [3] But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. [4] And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: [5] For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”

Notice above that Eve neglected the abundance God gave her and Adam. She omitted “freely” from “freely eat,” ignoring the free will God gave her. Made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-28), she was misled to believe that she could have a better position (“gods”). Once Adam ate, they lost that perfect identity, and all its provisions. They exercised their free will and chose wrong. God certainly did not cause them to do right (otherwise they would not have failed). He certainly did not cause them to do wrong (God does not cause anyone to sin!). It was their choice, and they chose to ignore God’s will. God did not force them to do anything.

Luke 7:29-30 is another good passage that describes free will: “[29] And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. [30] But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.” According to the Holy Bible, again, God’s will can be rejected and the Pharisees and lawyers did reject it (this is free will). They did not want to be water baptized, they did not want to repent, they did not want to confess their sins like Moses instructed Israel in Leviticus 26:40-41 when under God’s fifth course of chastisement, and they did not want to be a kingdom of priests (Exodus 19:5-6), so God did not force them. If they wanted to die in their sins and go to hell, God valued freedom to the extent that He let them make their choice. They did not want to submit to God’s righteousness—they were content with their self-righteousness in religion (Romans 10:1-3).

What Jesus said to the Jews in John 5:39-40 is very enlightening: “[39] Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. [40] And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” Did God choose these people not to have eternal life? Not at all. Contrary to the Calvinists’ claim that say that God chooses some people for heaven and others for hell, these Jews did not want Jesus Christ. They did not want salvation from their sins. They refused to have Jesus Christ. We see this amplified in His words in Matthew 23:37: “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!” They did not want Him to gather them, so He left them alone in their spiritual ignorance and left them on their hell-bound course that they preferred!

One more clear passage about free will should suffice. We read in 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12, a description of the horrors of Daniel’s 70th week: “[10] And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. [11] And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: [12] That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

Again, the Bible says these people did not want God’s love, they did not want anything to do with Him, they wanted to stay lost and on their way to everlasting hellfire, so He gave them over to the lie of the devil (the context is the Antichrist, future events, the seven-year Tribulation). Again, the God of the Bible loves freedom, and if we do not agree with Him, we can disagree with Him (there will be eternal consequences either way).

4. WHY THE ANGEL OF THE LORD SAID HE “KNEW” ABRAHAM LOVED GOD

Regarding your question about Genesis 22:12, “…now I know that thou fearest God…,” The Oxford American Dictionary gives the following primary definition of the word “know:” “to be aware of through observation, inquiry, or information.” The word “know” in this verse is being used in the sense of understanding something through watching it. The angel of the LORD saw what Abraham did (he was about to offer Isaac), and it was through firsthand watching/observance that God was aware. God foreknew it, but it grabbed His attention when it actually came to pass, and He watched it.

Also see:
» What about those who have not heard?
» Why does God let Satan exist?
» What does “my kingdom is not of this world” mean?