WHAT IS PREDESTINATION?
WHAT IS PREDESTINATION?
Brother Ozell Adams says that I sound like one of these typical sunday false prophets!
Dear brother Adams, may God forgive you!
“For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit”.
2 Peter 1:21
I’m not here on the Black preaching network to preach CALVINISM.
Jesus Christ has a single Church which is built on revelation.
“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
Matthew 16:18
It is of this church that I am a member.
I didn’t join the black preaching network to argue with the Word of God.
But I’m here to speak the truth in Christ. I’m a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
1 Timothy 2:7
I am attached to the true Word such as it was taught by the Apostles and the Prophets of Jesus Christ. And it is that which enables to refute the contradictors (Titus 2: 9).
“So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God” (1 Corinthians 4:1).
As The Apostle Paul said, I also want to tell you that the appeal I make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor am I trying to trick you. On the contrary, I speak as man approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. I’m not trying to please men but God, who tests my heart. (1 Thessalonians 2:3-4)
Brother Ozell Adams, you said:
“…Calvinism teaches that since man is so totally depraved when he is born, it is impossible for him to choose to serve God. Therefore, God must arbitrarily choose who will be saved. This teaching is sometimes referred to as predestination. The bible teaches predestination, but not as taught by Augustine and Calvin. God is no respecter of persons and all who choose to be saved, and do the necessary things required will experience God’s forgiveness and blessings (Acts 10:34-35, John 3:16)…”
If you believe that the Bible teaches PREDESTINATION, then would you be so kind as to explain me that concept of PREDESTINATION according to the Holy Scriptures?
Brother Ozell Adams commented the teaching of the CALVINISM in order to refute my teaching.
So, let us study his comments and gradually compare them to the Holy Scriptures:
1- Total Inherited Depravity:
Ozell Adams said:
“…Not only have all inherited Adam’s sin, but also man enters the world totally depraved (“Adam’s sinful nature”). The bible, conversely teaches "(Eze. 18:20) the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father…” Furthermore, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die”. All have sinned, but it is because we ourselves have chosen to go astray. “Babies” are not presented in the bible as depraved, but as pure and models of the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 18:3-6)…”
Brother Ozell, if you do not believe that “…all inherited Adam’s sin…”, then explain me the following biblical verses:
-“FOR ALL HAVE SINNED and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus”.
Romans 3:23-24
- “Therefore, just as SIN ENTRERED THE WORLD THROUGH ONE MAN, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because ALL SINNED-for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come”.
Romans 5:12-14
“Consequently, JUST AS THE RESULT OF ONE TRESPASS WAS CONDEMNATION FOR ALL MEN, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. FOR JUST AS THROUGH THE DESOBEDIENCE OF THE ONE MAN THE MANY WERE MADE SINNERS, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous”.
Romans 5:18-19
“For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time”.
Romans 8:20-22
2- Unconditional Election:
Ozell Adams said:
“…God is no respecter of persons and all who choose to be saved, and do the necessary things required will experience God’s forgiveness and blessings (Acts 10:34-35, John 3:16)”.
Brother Ozell, you said: “all who choose to be saved”. I do agree with you, but can you explain me the following biblical verses?
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 FOR HE CHOSE US IN HIM BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 HE PREDESTINED US be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, IN ACCORDANCE WITH HIS PLEASURE AND WILL - 6to the praise of his glorious GRACE, which he has FREELY GIVEN US in the One he loves. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's GRACE 8that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9And he[d] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfilment-to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. 11IN HIM WE WERE ALSO CHOSEN, HAVING BEEN PREDESTINED ACCORDING TO THE PLAN OF HIM WHO WORKS OUT EVERYTHING IN CONFORMITY WITH THE PURPOSE OF HIS, 12in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-to the praise of his glory”.
Ephesians 1:3-14
Brother, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation and you believe it (John3:16), it is simply because YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN IN JESUS BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD.
Yes, it is simply because, you HAVE BEEN PREDESTINED ACCORDING TO THE PLAN OF HIM WHO WORKS OUT EVERYTHING IN CONFORMITY WITH THE PURPOSE OF HIS.
Brother, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation and you believe it, you fear God and do what is right (Acts 10: 34-35), it is because YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN IN JESUS BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD.
Yes, it is simply because, you HAVE BEEN PREDESTINED ACCORDING TO THE PLAN OF HIM WHO WORKS OUT EVERYTHING IN CONFORMITY WITH THE PURPOSE OF HIS.
Do you believe that truth?
Indeed, the Bible declares:
“28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[a] who[b] have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”
Romans 8:28-30
Brother, can one choose to be saved if she/she has not been called before the creation of the world according to God’s purpose?
Indeed, the Bible declares:
“All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast-all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world”.
Revelation 13:8
Besides, do you know that Jesus is the Author and Perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2)?
Do you know that it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose (Philippians 2:13)?
Indeed, the Bible declares:
“Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. 5Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God”.
2 Corinthians 3:4-5
Brother, let us see some examples in the Bible:
“Then Jesus replied, "Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!"
John 6:70
Brother, could Judas choose to be saved? NO!
He has sinned, but He didn’t repent because he has not been called before the creation of the world according to God’s purpose (Luke 22:3)?
He was is a devil, and Jesus knew it before He betrayed Him.
“He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man”.
John 2:25
As for Peter, he has also sinned, but he did repent because he has been called before the creation of the world according to God’s purpose.
Indeed, Jesus told Peter:
"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
Luke 22:31-32
Now, tell me, why did Jesus pray for Peter so that his faith may not fail?
Why?
Because he has been called before the creation of the world according to God’s purpose.
But why didn’t He pray for Judas?
Why did Satan enter Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve (Luke 22:3)?
Because he was is a devil, and Jesus knew it before He betrayed Him.
Let us see an other example:
“9For this was how the promise was stated: "At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son."[a] 10Not only that, but Rebekah's children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. 11Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God's purpose in election might stand: 12not by works but by him who calls—she was told, "The older will serve the younger."[b] 13Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."[c] 14What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."[d] 16It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. 17For the 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."[e] 18Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. 19One of you will say to me: "Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?" 20But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?' "[f] 21Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?
22What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? 23What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— 24even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? 25As he says in Hosea: "I will call them 'my people' who are not my people; and I will call her 'my loved one' who is not my loved one,"[g] 26and, "It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' they will be called 'sons of the living God.' "[h] 27Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: "Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved. 28For the Lord will carry out his sentence on earth with speed and finality."
Romans 9:9-28
Brother, why did Esau for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son?
Simply because “Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad-in order that God's purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls - she was told, "The older will serve the younger."Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.
Before the twins were born God loved Jacob and hated Esau.
THIS IS PREDESTINATION! Amen!
Now, is this an arbitrary? No!
“ Is God unjust? Not at all! 15For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."[d] 16It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. 17For the 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."[e] 18Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.”
This is the truth according to the Holy Scriptures!
Do you understand why Afterward, when Esau wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected? He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears (Hebrews 12:17)?
Brother Ozell Adams, one can not choose to be saved if she/she has not been called before the creation of the world according to God’s purpose.
Because, it does not, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy!
“And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it”.
Isaiah 35:8
If the Bible is your absolute, then say AMEN to that!
Brother, the Bible says that: "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven”.
John 3:27
Indeed, Jesus said this:
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all ; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand”.
John 10:27-29
He said again:
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”
Matthew 25:34
Brother Adams, I do believe Acts 10:34-35
Indeed, in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. But do not forget that those ones are God's workmanships, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for them to do(Ephesians 2:10).
The kingdom is prepared for them since the creation of the world (Matthew 25:34). Amen!
3- Limited Atonement
Ozell Adams said:
“…that since God arbitrarily chose those who would be saved, Jesus only died for those individuals.” However, the bible teaches that (Heb. 2:9) Jesus tasted death for “every man”. (1Tim. 2:3-6, Matt. 7:13-14) God would have all men saved, but only a few desire and have the knowledge to be saved. (1 John 2:2) And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world”.
Brother, I do believe Heb. 2:9. Yes, Jesus tasted death for “every man”.
Yes, God our Savior wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (1Timothy 2:3-4, 1 John 2:2).
However, only a few desire and have the knowledge to be saved.
Why do a few desire and have the knowledge to be saved?
Why don’t many people desire and have knowledge to be saved?
Because, at the beginning were two posterities, two distinct seeds, that of Adam by Seth and that of Satan the ancient serpent by Cain. Thereafter it occurred the corruption or the mixture of the two seeds (Genesis 6:1-3) which remained and coexisted till in the New Testament.
We see that in the explanation of the parable of the weeds given by our Lord Jesus-Christ in Matthew 13: 24-30.
“The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels”.
Matthew 13:38-39
There was mixture of the two seeds, but that cannot prevent our Lord from distinguishing the children of the devil and the children of God (John 8: 44, Matthew 23:32-33, Matthew 25:34, John 10:14-15, John 6:64-65).
“This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
1Timothy 2:3-4
But the descendants of Cain cannot penetrate the depths of the Word of God, while the descendants of Adam by Seth receive wisdom in top to know God (Matthew 13: 13-16).
Indeed, Brother Paul said:
« And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness, made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ”.
2 Corinthians 4:3-6
The children of the devil are recognized by their fruits (Matthew 7: 20)
« No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother”.
1 John 3:9-10
Satan indeed had a seed resulting from the human race and this one will never escape the punishment from the hell.
We do not need to index people arbitrarily because while we are pulling the weeds, we may root up the wheat with them (Matthew 13: 29).
Each one should examine oneself and consider to which group she or he belongs because the the Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children (Romans 8: 16)
Amen!!!
It’s puerile (funny) to affirm that the posterity of the serpent mentioned in Genesis 3:15, are the small crawling snakes (according to certain beliefs), since the serpent was walking as the man (like a human) before being cursed by God.
It was in its primitive nature that it generated its seed.
How could God put enmity between two noncomparable things, in one hand, the small crawling snakes and in the other hand, the posterity of the woman?
The posterity of the serpent is not spiritual. Any reader of the Bible knows that the seed of the woman was Christ who came by the intervention of God, without a human sexual act (Luke 1: 26-35).
It is also well-known that the breaking of the head of the serpent was a prophecy relating to what Christ achieved at the cross against Satan. It was at the cross that Christ crushed the head of Satan, while Satan wounded the heel of the Lord.
If the posterity of the woman were a physical being, male child (revelation 12: 5), that of the serpent was to be the same kind, and another male was to be born apart from the intervention from a human sexual act.
Just as the seed of the woman was literally God, coming in the human flesh (1 Timothy 3: 16; John 1: 14), thus the seed of the serpent is the literal manner which Satan found that he could cut through a path in the human race. He introduced his seed into humanity. It was impossible for Satan to appear or to reproduce himself in the human flesh as God did, because Satan is a spiritual creature and he cannot create. He doesn’t have the capacity of creation.
Before Adam had never known his wife according to the flesh, the serpent had preceded him in this knowledge. And the son, who was born from the serpent, was Cain. A seed implies a design, a production (Genesis 12: 7; 15: 5; 22: 17-18). When God spoke about the descent of the serpent (Genesis 3: 15) He did not refer to a spiritual posterity (Galatians 3: 29), but a physical prosterity. The contexts of Genesis 3:15 and Galatians 3: 29 are not the same.
Indeed, the filiation of Cain is revealed to us: “Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous.”
1 John 3: 12.
One understands then why Cain and Abel had a fundamentally different nature. Adam was sons of God by creation (Luke 3: 38). It was not a spiritual act but a physical act. He was created perfect and it is not certainly in the nature of Adam that we must seek all the features characteristic of Cain.
Cain was malicious as his father the devil which is the evil one, the malicious one (1John 5: 19; 1John 2: 13; Matthew 13: 19). Cain was jealous, aggressive, disrespectful towards God and murderer like his father (John 10: 10). Can you tell me why didn’t God look with favour Cain and his offering? (Genesis 4: 5)?
The good works of Cain didn’t save him. As he was not the son of Adam (1 John 3:12), son of God, He didn’t have revelation which could enable him to test and approve what God's will is.
Moreover the Bible says:
“And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, and after his image; and called his name Seth:
And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters:
And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.”
Genesis 5:3-5
Abel was no more alive, but why had Cain the elder who was alive been omitted?
Why wasn’t he a son in Adam’s own likeness, and after his image?
Let us see the historical Records From Adam to Abraham To Noah's Sons:
“Adam, Sheth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalaleel, Jered, Henoch, Methuselah, Lamech,Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.”
1 Chronicles 1:1-4
Abel was no more alive, but why had Cain who was alive been omitted?
The Orginal sin is a Topic which deeply deals with a problem of seed (Matthew 13:24-30)
The serpent managed in a practical way to successfully get a posterity among the human ones.
Brother, that posterity of the serpent will never desire and have knowledge to be saved.
“Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, " 'they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!"
Mark 4:9-12
“The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?" He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. This is why I speak to them in parables:
"Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: " 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.' But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.
Matthew 13:10-16
« By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them ».
Matthew 7:16-20
« No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother”.
1 John 3:9-10
4- Irresistible Grace
Brother Adam says:
“…The teaching of irresistible grace is based on the belief of the direct operation of the Holy Spirit. The chosen have no choice or participation in their salvation, the Spirit overwhelms them, even against their own will, according to Augustinism. Calvinism teaches that man, any man, who has not experienced this irresistible working and transformation effected by the Spirit, can not understand the gospel, hence, without this special working man cannot be saved. But the bible says; (Rom. 1:16) "for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. (Acts 10:44) While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. So whosoever hear and believe and do the words of the Lord the Holy Ghost shall also visit them...”
Brother Ozell Adams, I do respect your faith, but let us examine it in the light of the Holy Bible.
Indeed, the Bible says:
“When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment”
John 16:8
Brother Ozell Adams, please, tell me, without the Holy Spirit, can the world be aware that it is in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment?
Moreover, our Lord Jesus said:
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day”.
John 6:44
Brother Ozell Adams, please, tell me, can one come to Jesus - Christ unless the Father who sent Him draws them?
“for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose”.
Philippians 2:13
Don’t you know that it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose?
No one can obey the Word of God fully without the Holy Spirit in him.
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you”.
John 14:26
“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come”.
John 16:13
No one can obey the Word of God fully if she or he has not been born of God.
It is true but the Bible says that God has given the Holy Spirit to those who obey him, but it is also true that “because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."
Galatians 4:6
If you are not born of God, a son or a daughter of God CHOSEN IN JESUS BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD, neither will you be able to obey Him, nor will God send the Spirit of his Son into your heart.
And if God has given you His Spirit, can you lose salvation? Never! I say never!
5- Perseverance of the saints
Brother Ozell Adams said:
“…Since man initially has no say or participation in the procuring of his salvation, so it is during the remainder of his life. If it is all of God, man cannot lose his salvation, says Calvinism. As a result, the doctrine of “once saved always saved” had to be introduced. Notwithstanding, the bible plainly teaches the Christian can fall (1Cor. 10:12). In fact if one does not grow in Christ, one will fall. Man’s continued salvation is contingent on man’s remaining with God (Joshua 24:20)…”
However, the Bible declares:
“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-to the praise of his glory”.
Ephesians 1: 13-14
"...Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession..."
If you truly believe in Jesus Christ and you are marked with a seal, namely the Holy Spirit, you are saved forever, you can never lose salvation.
Why?
Simply because the Holy Spirit is a deposit guarantee of your inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession.
UNTIL THE REDEMPTION!
Amen! Amen! Amen
This is the truth!
Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you have believed?
If yes, then the Bible says that you are saved forever!
“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption”.
Ephesians 4:30
I do believe that a Christian can fall, but let us notice that this one will always rise again, stand up, thanks to God, simply because he is born of God.
Let us think over the example of Peter and Judas.
Peter has ever fallen, but He was a son of God CHOSEN IN JESUS BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD. This is the reason why he did repent after his fall.
“for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity”.
Proverbs 24:16
Judas also has fallen but he died in his sin without repentance because He was not a son of God CHOSEN IN JESUS BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD (John 17:12).
A Son of God can never die unrepented.
The faithful God will never let His Sons and daughters be tempted beyond what they can bear. But when they are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that they can endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13).
This is the truth!!
Besides, no one can deceive the elect, the true sons and daughters of God (Matthew 24:24). No one!
Moreover, the Bible declares:
“Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined-and everyone undergoes discipline-then you are not legitimate children at all”.
Hebrews 12:7- 8
Brother Ozell Adams, if someone is not a legitimate child, a son or a daughter of God CHOSEN IN JESUS BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD, this one can do whatever she/he wants, but God will never discipline him/her.
Indeed, Jesus said this:
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all ; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand”.
John 10:27-29
When our Lord Jesus said that He was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel (Matthew 15:24), it means he knew in advance the sheep of Israel.
These sheep were in His thought before He was sent. They were CHOSEN IN JESUS BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD. They have been lost for a while and Jesus has been sent only to these lost sheep. Amen!
When He has come, He said this: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand”.
Brother Ozell Adams, can Jesus search and save the sheep which don’t belong His shepherd? No! No!
« These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel”.
Matthew 10:5-6
But, afterward, the time has arrived for Jesus to turn to the Gentiles, CHOSEN IN JESUS BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD (a new dispensation).
Indeed, the Bible says:
“He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God”.
John 1:11-13
We know that later, Israel will be saved (Romans 11: 1-36).
Now, under the example of Israel, can a gentile believer receive Jesus Christ and believe in Him if he/she is not CHOSEN IN JESUS BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD?
Can people listen to Jesus’ voice if they are not sheep CHOSEN IN JESUS BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD?
No!
Our competence comes from God!
First, we are saved by grace through faith, then God Himself gives us the spiritual armor in order to stand firm, to resist the devil till the end of our life.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints”.
Ephesians 6: 10-18
Yes, Our competence comes from God!
” for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous”.
“I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread”.
Psalm 37: 17; 25
“ A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all”
Psalm 34:19
Amen! Amen! Amen!
Where is our merit? Nowhere!
Jesus Christ is all for us.
“I can do everything through him who gives me strength”
Philippians 4:13
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me”.
Galatians 2:20
Yes, Our competence comes from God!
“To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven”.
“Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant-not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life”.
2 Corinthians 3:4-6
Brother Ozell Adams said again:
“…So the bible tells you to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus. And by doing so you come up under his precious blood and then you are saved from your sins that are past, not present or future sins but for sins that are past. We were all locked under death by Adam’s sin, even the second death. But when Jesus became (he was God in the beginning) man and died for the sins of the world, he gave us access back to the tree of life (himself) which Adam had caused us to lose. That’s what grace is, our free gift our access back to the tree of life but that’s another lesson for another time. So by coming under the blood of Jesus you are saved from your past sins. And if you are saved now, it is on a day to day basis. Because all have sinned, and if you continue to live you will sin again. It is the willful sinning that you need to put in check…”
Brother, I do agree with your saying above since it is scriptural. But this is what I’m telling you:
No one can accept to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus unless it is given him from heaven to do so.
No one can accept to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus unless he/she is born of God.
Moreover, No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are.
This is the truth!
This is not a “doctrine of the ministers of Satan”. It is so said the Bible!
Brother Ozell Adams says that I sound like one of these typical sunday false prophets!
Dear brother Adams, may God forgive you!
“For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit”.
2 Peter 1:21
I’m not here on the Black preaching network to preach CALVINISM.
Jesus Christ has a single Church which is built on revelation.
“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
Matthew 16:18
It is of this church that I am a member.
I didn’t join the black preaching network to argue with the Word of God.
But I’m here to speak the truth in Christ. I’m a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
1 Timothy 2:7
I am attached to the true Word such as it was taught by the Apostles and the Prophets of Jesus Christ. And it is that which enables to refute the contradictors (Titus 2: 9).
“So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God” (1 Corinthians 4:1).
As The Apostle Paul said, I also want to tell you that the appeal I make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor am I trying to trick you. On the contrary, I speak as man approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. I’m not trying to please men but God, who tests my heart. (1 Thessalonians 2:3-4)
Brother Ozell Adams, you said:
“…Calvinism teaches that since man is so totally depraved when he is born, it is impossible for him to choose to serve God. Therefore, God must arbitrarily choose who will be saved. This teaching is sometimes referred to as predestination. The bible teaches predestination, but not as taught by Augustine and Calvin. God is no respecter of persons and all who choose to be saved, and do the necessary things required will experience God’s forgiveness and blessings (Acts 10:34-35, John 3:16)…”
If you believe that the Bible teaches PREDESTINATION, then would you be so kind as to explain me that concept of PREDESTINATION according to the Holy Scriptures?
Brother Ozell Adams commented the teaching of the CALVINISM in order to refute my teaching.
So, let us study his comments and gradually compare them to the Holy Scriptures:
1- Total Inherited Depravity:
Ozell Adams said:
“…Not only have all inherited Adam’s sin, but also man enters the world totally depraved (“Adam’s sinful nature”). The bible, conversely teaches "(Eze. 18:20) the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father…” Furthermore, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die”. All have sinned, but it is because we ourselves have chosen to go astray. “Babies” are not presented in the bible as depraved, but as pure and models of the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 18:3-6)…”
Brother Ozell, if you do not believe that “…all inherited Adam’s sin…”, then explain me the following biblical verses:
-“FOR ALL HAVE SINNED and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus”.
Romans 3:23-24
- “Therefore, just as SIN ENTRERED THE WORLD THROUGH ONE MAN, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because ALL SINNED-for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come”.
Romans 5:12-14
“Consequently, JUST AS THE RESULT OF ONE TRESPASS WAS CONDEMNATION FOR ALL MEN, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. FOR JUST AS THROUGH THE DESOBEDIENCE OF THE ONE MAN THE MANY WERE MADE SINNERS, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous”.
Romans 5:18-19
“For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time”.
Romans 8:20-22
2- Unconditional Election:
Ozell Adams said:
“…God is no respecter of persons and all who choose to be saved, and do the necessary things required will experience God’s forgiveness and blessings (Acts 10:34-35, John 3:16)”.
Brother Ozell, you said: “all who choose to be saved”. I do agree with you, but can you explain me the following biblical verses?
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 FOR HE CHOSE US IN HIM BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 HE PREDESTINED US be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, IN ACCORDANCE WITH HIS PLEASURE AND WILL - 6to the praise of his glorious GRACE, which he has FREELY GIVEN US in the One he loves. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's GRACE 8that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9And he[d] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfilment-to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. 11IN HIM WE WERE ALSO CHOSEN, HAVING BEEN PREDESTINED ACCORDING TO THE PLAN OF HIM WHO WORKS OUT EVERYTHING IN CONFORMITY WITH THE PURPOSE OF HIS, 12in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-to the praise of his glory”.
Ephesians 1:3-14
Brother, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation and you believe it (John3:16), it is simply because YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN IN JESUS BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD.
Yes, it is simply because, you HAVE BEEN PREDESTINED ACCORDING TO THE PLAN OF HIM WHO WORKS OUT EVERYTHING IN CONFORMITY WITH THE PURPOSE OF HIS.
Brother, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation and you believe it, you fear God and do what is right (Acts 10: 34-35), it is because YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN IN JESUS BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD.
Yes, it is simply because, you HAVE BEEN PREDESTINED ACCORDING TO THE PLAN OF HIM WHO WORKS OUT EVERYTHING IN CONFORMITY WITH THE PURPOSE OF HIS.
Do you believe that truth?
Indeed, the Bible declares:
“28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[a] who[b] have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”
Romans 8:28-30
Brother, can one choose to be saved if she/she has not been called before the creation of the world according to God’s purpose?
Indeed, the Bible declares:
“All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast-all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world”.
Revelation 13:8
Besides, do you know that Jesus is the Author and Perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2)?
Do you know that it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose (Philippians 2:13)?
Indeed, the Bible declares:
“Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. 5Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God”.
2 Corinthians 3:4-5
Brother, let us see some examples in the Bible:
“Then Jesus replied, "Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!"
John 6:70
Brother, could Judas choose to be saved? NO!
He has sinned, but He didn’t repent because he has not been called before the creation of the world according to God’s purpose (Luke 22:3)?
He was is a devil, and Jesus knew it before He betrayed Him.
“He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man”.
John 2:25
As for Peter, he has also sinned, but he did repent because he has been called before the creation of the world according to God’s purpose.
Indeed, Jesus told Peter:
"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
Luke 22:31-32
Now, tell me, why did Jesus pray for Peter so that his faith may not fail?
Why?
Because he has been called before the creation of the world according to God’s purpose.
But why didn’t He pray for Judas?
Why did Satan enter Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve (Luke 22:3)?
Because he was is a devil, and Jesus knew it before He betrayed Him.
Let us see an other example:
“9For this was how the promise was stated: "At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son."[a] 10Not only that, but Rebekah's children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. 11Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God's purpose in election might stand: 12not by works but by him who calls—she was told, "The older will serve the younger."[b] 13Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."[c] 14What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."[d] 16It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. 17For the 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."[e] 18Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. 19One of you will say to me: "Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?" 20But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?' "[f] 21Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?
22What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? 23What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— 24even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? 25As he says in Hosea: "I will call them 'my people' who are not my people; and I will call her 'my loved one' who is not my loved one,"[g] 26and, "It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' they will be called 'sons of the living God.' "[h] 27Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: "Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved. 28For the Lord will carry out his sentence on earth with speed and finality."
Romans 9:9-28
Brother, why did Esau for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son?
Simply because “Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad-in order that God's purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls - she was told, "The older will serve the younger."Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.
Before the twins were born God loved Jacob and hated Esau.
THIS IS PREDESTINATION! Amen!
Now, is this an arbitrary? No!
“ Is God unjust? Not at all! 15For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."[d] 16It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. 17For the 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."[e] 18Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.”
This is the truth according to the Holy Scriptures!
Do you understand why Afterward, when Esau wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected? He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears (Hebrews 12:17)?
Brother Ozell Adams, one can not choose to be saved if she/she has not been called before the creation of the world according to God’s purpose.
Because, it does not, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy!
“And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it”.
Isaiah 35:8
If the Bible is your absolute, then say AMEN to that!
Brother, the Bible says that: "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven”.
John 3:27
Indeed, Jesus said this:
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all ; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand”.
John 10:27-29
He said again:
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”
Matthew 25:34
Brother Adams, I do believe Acts 10:34-35
Indeed, in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. But do not forget that those ones are God's workmanships, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for them to do(Ephesians 2:10).
The kingdom is prepared for them since the creation of the world (Matthew 25:34). Amen!
3- Limited Atonement
Ozell Adams said:
“…that since God arbitrarily chose those who would be saved, Jesus only died for those individuals.” However, the bible teaches that (Heb. 2:9) Jesus tasted death for “every man”. (1Tim. 2:3-6, Matt. 7:13-14) God would have all men saved, but only a few desire and have the knowledge to be saved. (1 John 2:2) And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world”.
Brother, I do believe Heb. 2:9. Yes, Jesus tasted death for “every man”.
Yes, God our Savior wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (1Timothy 2:3-4, 1 John 2:2).
However, only a few desire and have the knowledge to be saved.
Why do a few desire and have the knowledge to be saved?
Why don’t many people desire and have knowledge to be saved?
Because, at the beginning were two posterities, two distinct seeds, that of Adam by Seth and that of Satan the ancient serpent by Cain. Thereafter it occurred the corruption or the mixture of the two seeds (Genesis 6:1-3) which remained and coexisted till in the New Testament.
We see that in the explanation of the parable of the weeds given by our Lord Jesus-Christ in Matthew 13: 24-30.
“The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels”.
Matthew 13:38-39
There was mixture of the two seeds, but that cannot prevent our Lord from distinguishing the children of the devil and the children of God (John 8: 44, Matthew 23:32-33, Matthew 25:34, John 10:14-15, John 6:64-65).
“This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
1Timothy 2:3-4
But the descendants of Cain cannot penetrate the depths of the Word of God, while the descendants of Adam by Seth receive wisdom in top to know God (Matthew 13: 13-16).
Indeed, Brother Paul said:
« And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness, made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ”.
2 Corinthians 4:3-6
The children of the devil are recognized by their fruits (Matthew 7: 20)
« No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother”.
1 John 3:9-10
Satan indeed had a seed resulting from the human race and this one will never escape the punishment from the hell.
We do not need to index people arbitrarily because while we are pulling the weeds, we may root up the wheat with them (Matthew 13: 29).
Each one should examine oneself and consider to which group she or he belongs because the the Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children (Romans 8: 16)
Amen!!!
It’s puerile (funny) to affirm that the posterity of the serpent mentioned in Genesis 3:15, are the small crawling snakes (according to certain beliefs), since the serpent was walking as the man (like a human) before being cursed by God.
It was in its primitive nature that it generated its seed.
How could God put enmity between two noncomparable things, in one hand, the small crawling snakes and in the other hand, the posterity of the woman?
The posterity of the serpent is not spiritual. Any reader of the Bible knows that the seed of the woman was Christ who came by the intervention of God, without a human sexual act (Luke 1: 26-35).
It is also well-known that the breaking of the head of the serpent was a prophecy relating to what Christ achieved at the cross against Satan. It was at the cross that Christ crushed the head of Satan, while Satan wounded the heel of the Lord.
If the posterity of the woman were a physical being, male child (revelation 12: 5), that of the serpent was to be the same kind, and another male was to be born apart from the intervention from a human sexual act.
Just as the seed of the woman was literally God, coming in the human flesh (1 Timothy 3: 16; John 1: 14), thus the seed of the serpent is the literal manner which Satan found that he could cut through a path in the human race. He introduced his seed into humanity. It was impossible for Satan to appear or to reproduce himself in the human flesh as God did, because Satan is a spiritual creature and he cannot create. He doesn’t have the capacity of creation.
Before Adam had never known his wife according to the flesh, the serpent had preceded him in this knowledge. And the son, who was born from the serpent, was Cain. A seed implies a design, a production (Genesis 12: 7; 15: 5; 22: 17-18). When God spoke about the descent of the serpent (Genesis 3: 15) He did not refer to a spiritual posterity (Galatians 3: 29), but a physical prosterity. The contexts of Genesis 3:15 and Galatians 3: 29 are not the same.
Indeed, the filiation of Cain is revealed to us: “Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous.”
1 John 3: 12.
One understands then why Cain and Abel had a fundamentally different nature. Adam was sons of God by creation (Luke 3: 38). It was not a spiritual act but a physical act. He was created perfect and it is not certainly in the nature of Adam that we must seek all the features characteristic of Cain.
Cain was malicious as his father the devil which is the evil one, the malicious one (1John 5: 19; 1John 2: 13; Matthew 13: 19). Cain was jealous, aggressive, disrespectful towards God and murderer like his father (John 10: 10). Can you tell me why didn’t God look with favour Cain and his offering? (Genesis 4: 5)?
The good works of Cain didn’t save him. As he was not the son of Adam (1 John 3:12), son of God, He didn’t have revelation which could enable him to test and approve what God's will is.
Moreover the Bible says:
“And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, and after his image; and called his name Seth:
And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters:
And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.”
Genesis 5:3-5
Abel was no more alive, but why had Cain the elder who was alive been omitted?
Why wasn’t he a son in Adam’s own likeness, and after his image?
Let us see the historical Records From Adam to Abraham To Noah's Sons:
“Adam, Sheth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalaleel, Jered, Henoch, Methuselah, Lamech,Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.”
1 Chronicles 1:1-4
Abel was no more alive, but why had Cain who was alive been omitted?
The Orginal sin is a Topic which deeply deals with a problem of seed (Matthew 13:24-30)
The serpent managed in a practical way to successfully get a posterity among the human ones.
Brother, that posterity of the serpent will never desire and have knowledge to be saved.
“Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, " 'they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!"
Mark 4:9-12
“The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?" He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. This is why I speak to them in parables:
"Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: " 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.' But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.
Matthew 13:10-16
« By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them ».
Matthew 7:16-20
« No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother”.
1 John 3:9-10
4- Irresistible Grace
Brother Adam says:
“…The teaching of irresistible grace is based on the belief of the direct operation of the Holy Spirit. The chosen have no choice or participation in their salvation, the Spirit overwhelms them, even against their own will, according to Augustinism. Calvinism teaches that man, any man, who has not experienced this irresistible working and transformation effected by the Spirit, can not understand the gospel, hence, without this special working man cannot be saved. But the bible says; (Rom. 1:16) "for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. (Acts 10:44) While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. So whosoever hear and believe and do the words of the Lord the Holy Ghost shall also visit them...”
Brother Ozell Adams, I do respect your faith, but let us examine it in the light of the Holy Bible.
Indeed, the Bible says:
“When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment”
John 16:8
Brother Ozell Adams, please, tell me, without the Holy Spirit, can the world be aware that it is in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment?
Moreover, our Lord Jesus said:
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day”.
John 6:44
Brother Ozell Adams, please, tell me, can one come to Jesus - Christ unless the Father who sent Him draws them?
“for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose”.
Philippians 2:13
Don’t you know that it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose?
No one can obey the Word of God fully without the Holy Spirit in him.
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you”.
John 14:26
“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come”.
John 16:13
No one can obey the Word of God fully if she or he has not been born of God.
It is true but the Bible says that God has given the Holy Spirit to those who obey him, but it is also true that “because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."
Galatians 4:6
If you are not born of God, a son or a daughter of God CHOSEN IN JESUS BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD, neither will you be able to obey Him, nor will God send the Spirit of his Son into your heart.
And if God has given you His Spirit, can you lose salvation? Never! I say never!
5- Perseverance of the saints
Brother Ozell Adams said:
“…Since man initially has no say or participation in the procuring of his salvation, so it is during the remainder of his life. If it is all of God, man cannot lose his salvation, says Calvinism. As a result, the doctrine of “once saved always saved” had to be introduced. Notwithstanding, the bible plainly teaches the Christian can fall (1Cor. 10:12). In fact if one does not grow in Christ, one will fall. Man’s continued salvation is contingent on man’s remaining with God (Joshua 24:20)…”
However, the Bible declares:
“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-to the praise of his glory”.
Ephesians 1: 13-14
"...Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession..."
If you truly believe in Jesus Christ and you are marked with a seal, namely the Holy Spirit, you are saved forever, you can never lose salvation.
Why?
Simply because the Holy Spirit is a deposit guarantee of your inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession.
UNTIL THE REDEMPTION!
Amen! Amen! Amen
This is the truth!
Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you have believed?
If yes, then the Bible says that you are saved forever!
“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption”.
Ephesians 4:30
I do believe that a Christian can fall, but let us notice that this one will always rise again, stand up, thanks to God, simply because he is born of God.
Let us think over the example of Peter and Judas.
Peter has ever fallen, but He was a son of God CHOSEN IN JESUS BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD. This is the reason why he did repent after his fall.
“for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity”.
Proverbs 24:16
Judas also has fallen but he died in his sin without repentance because He was not a son of God CHOSEN IN JESUS BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD (John 17:12).
A Son of God can never die unrepented.
The faithful God will never let His Sons and daughters be tempted beyond what they can bear. But when they are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that they can endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13).
This is the truth!!
Besides, no one can deceive the elect, the true sons and daughters of God (Matthew 24:24). No one!
Moreover, the Bible declares:
“Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined-and everyone undergoes discipline-then you are not legitimate children at all”.
Hebrews 12:7- 8
Brother Ozell Adams, if someone is not a legitimate child, a son or a daughter of God CHOSEN IN JESUS BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD, this one can do whatever she/he wants, but God will never discipline him/her.
Indeed, Jesus said this:
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all ; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand”.
John 10:27-29
When our Lord Jesus said that He was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel (Matthew 15:24), it means he knew in advance the sheep of Israel.
These sheep were in His thought before He was sent. They were CHOSEN IN JESUS BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD. They have been lost for a while and Jesus has been sent only to these lost sheep. Amen!
When He has come, He said this: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand”.
Brother Ozell Adams, can Jesus search and save the sheep which don’t belong His shepherd? No! No!
« These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel”.
Matthew 10:5-6
But, afterward, the time has arrived for Jesus to turn to the Gentiles, CHOSEN IN JESUS BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD (a new dispensation).
Indeed, the Bible says:
“He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God”.
John 1:11-13
We know that later, Israel will be saved (Romans 11: 1-36).
Now, under the example of Israel, can a gentile believer receive Jesus Christ and believe in Him if he/she is not CHOSEN IN JESUS BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD?
Can people listen to Jesus’ voice if they are not sheep CHOSEN IN JESUS BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD?
No!
Our competence comes from God!
First, we are saved by grace through faith, then God Himself gives us the spiritual armor in order to stand firm, to resist the devil till the end of our life.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints”.
Ephesians 6: 10-18
Yes, Our competence comes from God!
” for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous”.
“I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread”.
Psalm 37: 17; 25
“ A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all”
Psalm 34:19
Amen! Amen! Amen!
Where is our merit? Nowhere!
Jesus Christ is all for us.
“I can do everything through him who gives me strength”
Philippians 4:13
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me”.
Galatians 2:20
Yes, Our competence comes from God!
“To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven”.
“Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant-not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life”.
2 Corinthians 3:4-6
Brother Ozell Adams said again:
“…So the bible tells you to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus. And by doing so you come up under his precious blood and then you are saved from your sins that are past, not present or future sins but for sins that are past. We were all locked under death by Adam’s sin, even the second death. But when Jesus became (he was God in the beginning) man and died for the sins of the world, he gave us access back to the tree of life (himself) which Adam had caused us to lose. That’s what grace is, our free gift our access back to the tree of life but that’s another lesson for another time. So by coming under the blood of Jesus you are saved from your past sins. And if you are saved now, it is on a day to day basis. Because all have sinned, and if you continue to live you will sin again. It is the willful sinning that you need to put in check…”
Brother, I do agree with your saying above since it is scriptural. But this is what I’m telling you:
No one can accept to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus unless it is given him from heaven to do so.
No one can accept to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus unless he/she is born of God.
Moreover, No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are.
This is the truth!
This is not a “doctrine of the ministers of Satan”. It is so said the Bible!
Comment
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Comment by N'ZI Amani Germain on August 17, 2009 at 1:05pm
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Brother Ozell Adams said again:
“…Sisters and brother read your bible for yourself and pray to God for understanding, and ask him to help you find a church that is teaching his true uncut word.
But if you still believe the false doctrine of “once saved always saved” and that you can never fall away then what does this next verse mean?
(Heb. 6:4-6) (v.4) For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, (v.5) And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, (v.6) If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
You mean that you can be enlightened, be partakers of the Holy Ghost, taste the good word of God and still it’s possible for you to fall away.
You had better pay attention to what the Lord inspired Paul to write here. Just as you choose to serve God of you own free will you can by that same free will decide to stop serving God. You are what is called a free agent, the choice is yours…”
Brother Ozell Adams, it is true that one can be enlightened, be partaker of the Holy Ghost, taste the good word of God and still it’s possible for him/him to fall away!
Why?
Simply because, the Bible says:
“Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, IF THE SPIRIT OF GOD LIVES IN YOU. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ”.
Romans 8:8-9
IF THE SPIRIT OF GOD LIVES IN YOU! Amen!
If the Spirit of God doesn’t live in you, then you can be enlightened, be partaker of the Holy Ghost, taste the good word of God and still it’s possible for you to fall away and you will never rise again.
The simple unction is not sufficient, the Spirit of God must live in you (Matthew 7:21-23).
If the Spirit of God lives in you, still it’s possible for you to fall away, but you will always rise again(See the example of Peter: Galatians 2: 11-14).
“for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity”.
Proverbs 24:16
If you truly believe in Jesus Christ and you are marked with a seal, namely the Holy Spirit, you are saved forever, you can never lose salvation (Ephesians 1: 13-14).
I do not refer to the simple unction someone may have. That unction can help him perform miracles, teach the Gospel and so on, but the Bible says that if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. All that matters is that the Holy Spirit should live in you (1 Corinthians 6:19).
Indeed, Brother Paul said:
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but CHRIST LIVES IN ME. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me”.
Galatians 2:20
Indeed, the Bible declares:
“for false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect - if that were possible.”
Mark 13:22
A Christ is the one who is anointed.
Our Lord “JESUS” is called “CHRIST” because He has been anointed:
“how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.”
Acts 10:38
A false Christ is the one who is anointed; he received the true unction from God but he teaches false (God can operate miracles by him, but this one teaches false).
A false Prophet is the one who is anointed; he received the true unction from God but he doesn’t follow the Word of God fully.
For example, Moses was a true Prophet of God, while Balaam was a false Prophet (Numbers 22:1-41).
Maybe, someone may ask:
Why doesn’t God take back His unction and His gifts from the false Christs and the false Prophets?
Simply because God's gifts and his call are irrevocable. Amen!
“for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.”
Romans 11:28-29
The true Christs, the true Ministers of God or the true sons/daughters of God are the ones who have been born again not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever. AMEN!
AMEN! AMEN!
“having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,”
1 Peter 1:23
For more details, I do recommend you to visit the Web site below and to order the following booklets: “The anointed ones of the end time” and "Three kinds of believers"
www.inthedaysofthevoice.com
The true sons/daughters of God, the ones who have been born again not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, can never lose salvation.
This is not a doctrine of men, but the truth according to the Holy Scriptures.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
Revelation 3:22
Blessings,
Bro. Germain
www.tagworld.com/srobouay
www.myspace.com/wawesan
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