A Helicopter Trip Over the Old Testament - Part 8
- Word Of Life
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
Click above to download the Sermon Handout referenced in the video.
A Helicopter Trip Over the Old Testament
Part 8
“Predestination/Election & Confidence”
My Goal = That your faith grows more than your knowledge.
“Predestination/Election”
A “Non-essential” Christian doctrine.
End-times timelines/Church governance/Worship styles
All Christians do not have to agree on the precise meaning.
Examples of “Essential” doctrines
*Trinity
*Deity of Jesus (Virgin Birth/Son of God)
*Death & Resurrection.
*Salvation by grace through faith.
“Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
-Malachi 1:2 -Romans 9:13
God is talking about the nations descending from Jacob (Israel) and Esau (Edom), not them as individuals.
“Love” and “Hate” here
are to Compare and Contrast.
It means that God chose Jacob and his descendants for a specific covenantal purpose over Esau’s line.
It emphasizes God’s sovereign choice.
“Sovereign”
Having supreme authority or ultimate power.
Only God is Sovereign.
(ROMANS 9)
God’s Sovereign Choice
6 Not all who are descended from Israel [Genetic Israel] are Israel. [Spiritual Israel] 7 Nor because they are his descendants [Physical] are they all Abraham’s children. [Spiritually] On the contrary, “It is through Isaac [Not his older brother from Hagar “Ishmael”] that your offspring will be reckoned.” 8 In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, [Chosen People] but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring. 9 For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.” [Isaac] 10 Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. [Jacob & Esau] 11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” 14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17 For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. 19 One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who is able to resist his will?” 20 But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’” 21 Does not the potter [God] have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?... 25 As he says in Hosea: “I will call them ‘my people’ who are not my people; [Gentiles] and I will call her ‘my loved one’ who is not my loved one.” [Not the Chosen people of Israel/Jewish]
-Rom 9:6-25
Our Free Will and God’s Sovereignty fit together.
God uses our choices and then
makes His plans happen.
God Gives Us Choices
“I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life…”
-Deuteronomy 30:19
“A man reaps what he sows.”
-Galatians 6:7
[Both for the good or the bad]
Hardened Hearts
*Pharaoh [Exodus 7+]
8x Pharaoh Hardened his own heart
6x God Hardened his heart.
[Pharaoh resists God and God confirms that choice]
*Judas
Judas 3 ½ years yet betrayed Jesus
Stealing… -John 12:6
Satan entered Judas… -Luke 22:3
Jesus said:
“It would have been better for him if he had not been born.” -Matthew 26:24
God Uses Our Choices and Makes them Accomplish What He Wants From Them
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him…”
-Romans 8:28
“…He works all things according to the counsel of His will.”
-Ephesians 1:11
When the Bible uses the words Predestination/Election it is
only making reference to Christians.
“Single” Predestination
Predestination/Election is meant to be a Teaching of “Comfort” not Confusion.
To “Not fully understand” is not the same as being Confused.
Ie. I do not fully understand gravity, but I don’t have to be confused it.
Ie. I do not fully understand “why” I have been predestined, but I don’t have to be confused since God said that it was out of his love and grace.
That gives ME “Comfort” without being confused as to why others have not been.
For those people going to hell, it is 100% their own fault/doing.
For those people going to heaven, it is 100% God’s doing.
Predestination (Election)
1. Double Predestination
2. Single Predestination
3. Predestination based on faith that a person has later in life based on their decision.
“It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works…”
-Ephesians 2:8-10
Biblical Facts
Jesus died on the cross for everyone.
“For God so loved the world [Everyone] that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
-John 3:16
God wants everyone to go to heaven.
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
-2 Peter 3:9
[See Handout Linked Above and See Video for Explanation]
Do you see the importance of
“Being Jesus to Others”
“You are the salt of the earth… 14 “You are the light of the world… 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
-Matthew 5:13+
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