GOD'S INDISPUTABLE SOVEREIGNTY
"For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall dis-annul it? and
His hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?" (Isa 14:27)
"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of Got! how
unsearchable are his judgments, and His ways past finding out!" (Rom 11:33)
GOD'S INDISPUTABLE SOVEREIGNTY
The subject of "God's Sovereignty" is a matter concerning which we
should humble ourselves. It is a profound, deep and humbling truth. No
doctrine exalts or magnified God and the finished work of Christ as that or "God's
Sovereignty". And why, may we ask, should it not be reasonable to believe that God
"work ALL things after the Counsel of HIS OWN WILL" (Eph 1:11) and not after
the will of His creatures?
The only reason anyone believes in the absolute universal sovereignty
of God is because it is revealed in the Bible. No other book in the world
discloses this unqualified truth. Why this should be so is simply. The Book
called the Bible is distinctly and exclusively the Word and Work of God. All other
books are more of less the words and works of men. And further: The cause of
anyone's faith in the unmodified " Sovereignty of God" as revealed in the Bible
is that it is DIVINELY GIVEN unto them to believe it. That is, the gracious
Sovereignty of God makes them able and willing to believe it (John 3:27).
In view of the reality that this truth is most distinctly and most
certainly set forth throughout the Bible: - the fact that men, religious or
irreligious, oppose and seek to distort it to suit their feelings and fancies, is
one of the best testimonies to the truth of this doctrine, though they mean it
not so. This glorious sovereignty of God which they so spleen against has not
as yet condescended to give them that grace which is needed to humble their
pride and make them willing an able to heartily believe "That which is
written" As the Scripture declares, "They people shall be willing in the day of
they power" (Psa 110:3).
And now, dear reader, may you prayerfully and carefully read and study
the following Scriptures, and consider their meanings, for they are the
Word of God.
CHOSEN
Selected from a number, picked out, elect, choice (Webster).
Matt. 20:15. "Is it not lawful for Me to do what I will with Mine own?"
"Many be called but few chosen" (Matt 22:14)
Mark 13:20. "...but for the elect's sake, whom He hath chosen, He has
shortened the days" (vv 22,27).
John 15:16. "Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you" (v 19)
Acts 9:15. "But the LORD said unto him, Go they way: for he is a chosen
vessel unto Me."
Acts 22: 14. "And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee."
Acts 10:41. "not to all people, but unto witnesses chosen before of
God, even to us."
1 Cor. 1:27. "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to
confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world" (vv 26,28; speaking of the elect, (Matt 11:25).
2 Thess. 2:13. "But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you,
brethren beloved of the LORD, because God hath from the beginning
chosen you to salvation." (One of the greatest reasons a true Christian has for
praising God).
Eph. 1:4. "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the
world."
James 2:5. "Hath not God chosen the poor of this world?" ( 1Kings 3:8,
Psa 89:3, 105:6, etc).
1 Peter 2:9. "but ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an
holy nation , a peculiar [or purchased] people."
Rev. 17:14. "and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and
faithful" ( v 8, 19:9).
Psalm 33:12. "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORDl and people
whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance."
John 13:18. "I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen" (Rom
16:13).
Deut. 7:6. "for thou art an holy people unto the LORD they God; the
LORD they God hath chosen thee to be special people unto himself, above all
people that are upon the face of the earth" (Isa 43:20).
ELECT
To determine in favor of, to designate, chose or select as an object of
mercy or favor, predestine in the divine councils, one chosen or set
apart, one chosen or designated by God for salvation, collectively, the saved
(Webster).
"This election is an act of distinguishing love, of divine
sovereignty, eternal, absolute and irrevocable, personal" (Cruden).
Matt. 24:22. "..but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened"
(v 24).
Matt. 24:31. "and he shall send his angels with a great sound of a
trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds."
Luke 18:7. "shall not God avenge His own elect?"
Rom. 8:33. "who shall lay anything to he change of God's elect?" (Col
3:12)
2 Tim. 2:10. "therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that
they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal
glory" (Speaking of the elect that have not yet believed).
Titus 1:1. "Paul, a servant of God, nd an apostle of Jesus Christ,
according to the faith of God's elect."
1 Peter 1:2. "elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father."
Isa. 45:4. "For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have
even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not
known me."
Isa 65:9. "And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah
an inheritor of my mountains: And mine elect shall inherit it, and my
servants shall dwell there" (v 22).
2 John 13. "The elder unto the elect lady and her children."
ELECTION
Divine choice, predetermination of God, by which persons are
distinguished as objects of mercy, become subjects of grace, are sanctified and prepared
for heaven, the elect (Webster).
Rom 9:11. "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: (Cod is speaking of his choice of Jacob
and his rejection of Esau even before they were born, v 13)>
Rom 11:5. "Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant
according to the election of grace" (Rom 9:27).
Rom 11:7. "What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeks
for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded" (V 28).
1 Thes. 1:4. "Knowing, brethren beloved, you election of God."
2 Peter 1:10. "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make
your calling and election sure."
Rom 11:28. '...but as touching the election, they are beloved for the
Father's sakes' (v 29:l Eph 1:9).
CALLING, CALLED
To designate or characterize as, to affirm to be, Divine Summons, state
of being divinely called (Webster).
Rom 1:6. "Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ" (vv 5,7).
Rom 8:28. "And we know that all things work together for good to them
that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose" (v 30).
1 Cor. 1:24. "But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks,
Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God" (vv 9, 26, 27; Col 3:15).
1 Tim 6:12. "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life,
whereunto thou are also called."
Gal. 1:15, 16. "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my
mother's womb, and called me by his grace,to reveal his Son in me," (not until
it pleases God are any awakened and save-Acts 13:@).
1 Peter 5:10. "But the God of all grace who hath called us unto his
eternal glory by Christ Jesus."
Acts 2:39. "For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to
all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."
1 Thes. 2:12. "...walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his
kingdom and glory" (4:7).
Heb 9:15. "...they which are called might receive the promise of
eternal inheritance" (Rev 17:14; Jude1; 2 Pet 1:15; Gal 1:6; 1 Cor 1:26).
2 Tim. 1:9. "who hath saved us, an called us with an holy calling, not
according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace,
which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began."
Eph. 4:4. "there is one body and one Spirit, even as ye are called in
one hope of your calling" (v 1).
2 Thess. 1:11. "wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God
would count you worthy of this calling" (Heb. 3:1l Eph 1:18).
APPOINTED
To fix, to settle, to establish or fix be decree or decision (Webster).
1 Peter 2:8. "And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to
them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were
appointed"
1 Thess. 5:9. "For God hath not appointed us to wrath but to obtain
salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ" (3:3, Acts 22:10, Psa 79:11)
Job 14:5. "seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are
with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass" (23"14).
Acts 17:26. "And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell
on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before
appointed, and the bounds of their habitation."
Prove 31:8. "Open they mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as
are appointed to destruction."
1 Kings 20:42. "Thus saith the LORD, Because thou hast let go out of
thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction.:"
ORDAINED
To decree, to appoint, to arrange, to prepare (Webster).
Jude 4. "For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before
of old ordained to this condemnation."
Acts 13:48. And as many as were ordained to eternal life believed?
Eph 2:10. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good
works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (1:4).
Hab 1:12. "Art thou not from everlasting...we shall not die. O LORD
thous hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou has established
them for correction" (Rom 13:1, 1 Cor 2:7).
PREDESTINATED or PREDESTINATION
The decree of God by which He has, from eternity unchangeably,
appointed or determined whatever come to pass. It is used particularly to denote
the predestination of men to everlasting happiness or misery and is a part
of the unchangeable plan of the Divine government; in other words, the
unchangeable purpose of an unchangeable God (Webster).
Rom 8:29, 30. "for whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate, them
he also called."
Eph, 1:5. "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by
Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will."
Eph. 1:11, " In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being
predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things
after the counsel of his own will" (Isa 46:9, 10).
John 6:37. "all that the Father giveth me shall come to me" (v 39).
John 6:44. "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me
draw him" (cc 64, 65).
John 3:37. "A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from
heaven."
John 10:26. "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: Them
also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice." (Christ came into the world
for a definite people.)
Acts 18:10. "For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt
thee: For I have much people in this city".
John 11:52. "And not for that nation only, but that also he should
gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad."
John 17:6. " I have manifested Thy name unto the men which Thou gavest
me out of the world."
Jer 1:5. "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee" (Matt 7:23,
"never knew you"!).
Gal. 4:28. "now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of
promise" (Rom 9:8).
Rom. 4:16. "Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the
end the promise might be sure to all the seed."
Isaiah 53:10. "When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he
shall see his see" (Who are his see? see Gen. 3:15).
John 17:2. "As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should
give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him: ("as many" certainly
means NO MORE and NO LESS).
SOVEREIGN
Supreme in power, independent of and unlimited by any other (Webster_.
Who can we attribute this to but God? Surely His Word we have been
considering, and what is yet to follow, indisputably shows God as Sovereign, not only in
salvation but in all things and in all His ways.
Rom 9:22. "What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his
power known, endured with much long suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to
destruction."
Rom 9:13. "As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hard"
(v 11).
Rom. 9:21. ""Hath not ht Potter power over the clay, of the same lump
to make one vessel into Honor, and another unto dishonor?" (Isa 45:9).
Isa. 64:8. "But now, O LORD, thou art out father; we are the clay, and
Thou our potter; and we all are the work of Thy hand."
Isa. 45:9. "Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker?... Shall the
clay say to him that fashioned it, What makest thou? Or thy work, He hath no
hands?"
Isa 43.7. "even every one that is called by my name: For I have
created him for my glory, I have formed him: yea, I have made him" (v 21).
Isa. 45.7." I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and
create evil: I the LORD do all these thing" (v 12).
Jer. 27:5. "I have made the earth, the man and the beast, that are upon
the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given
it unto whom it seemed meet unto me."
Psa. 100:3. "Know ye that the LORD he is God: It is he that hath made
us, and not we ourselves."
Psa. 33:11. "The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his
heart to all generations" (v 12; Acts 4:27,28).
Luke 4:25-29. (Note in verses 26,27 "unto none of them," etc. Have we
not a glimpse of God's Sovereignty in these verses, in doing according as He
wills? Not verses 28,29; the same thing happens today when God's Sovereignty
is preached)
John 12:39,40. ""therefore they could not believe...He hath blinded
their eyes, and hardened their heart"
Rom. 11:8. "According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit
of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not
hear; unto this day" (v 7).
Matt. 11:25. "I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because
thou has hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them
unto babes. (Luke 10:21,22).
Matt. 11:27. " ...neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and
he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him."
John 9:39. "And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world,
that they which see not might see, and that they which see might be made blind."
Rom 9:18. "Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom
he will he hardens" (v 15).
Prov. 16:4. "The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the
wicked for the day of evil" (Rom 9:22; Job 21:30).
Rom. 9:23,24. "And that he might make known the riches of his glory on
the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom
he hath call" (v 29).
Matt 19:25,26. "who then can be saved? ...with men this is impossible;
but with God all things are possible" (Mark 10:26, 27; Luke 18:26,27)
Rom. 9:16. "So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that
runneth, but of God that showeth mercy".
Luke 1:17. " ...to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." (What
does this mean? When were they prepared? Look again at Eph 1:4).
Matt: 15:13. "But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly
Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up" (Matt 16:17).
2 Peter 2:12. "But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and
destroyed" Contrast 1:3).
2 Thess. 2:11,12. "And for this cause God shall send them strong
delusion, that they should believe a lit: That they all might be damned." (Is God
changeable? James 1:17 Are not God's decrees all made in eternity, and, like God
Himself, unchangeable?
Malachi 3:6. "I know that, whatsoever God
doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it: and
God doeth it, that men should fear before him" (Eccl 3:14).
Heb. 2:13. "And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given
me." (If God had given all without exception to Christ, then all must or
will be saved. Read again John 6:37; 10:29).
Phil. 1:29. "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only
to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake."
Col 1:12. "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be
partakers of the inheritance of the saint in the light."
Heb. 2:10. "For it became him, for whom area ll things, and by whom are
all things, in bringing many sons unto glory."
Heb. 6:17. "wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs
of promise the immutability of his counsel."
Eph. 3:11. "According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in
Christ Jesus our lord."
Rom. 9:20. "nay, but O man, who art thou that repliest against God ?
Shall the ting formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?"
Eph. 2:8. " "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of
yourselves: it is the gift of God."
Matt: 16:17 "Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my
Father which is in heaven."
Mark 10:26,27. "who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them
saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God For with God all things
are possible.
James 1:17. "every good gift and every perfect gift if from above, and
cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither
shadow of turning."
Isa. 14:24. " "The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying Surely as I have
thought, so shall it come to pass, and I have purposed, so shall it
stand" (v 27).
Isa 43:21. "This people have I formed for myself" (vv 1,13;8:18)
Isa 44:24. "Thus saith the LORD They redeemer, nd he that formed thee
from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all thing" (vv 1,2,18)>
THE WILL
"The will is that faculty of the soul whereby we freely choose or
refuse things. It is the nature of the will to do freely whatsoever it will.
[But] it is unable, till it be changed by grace, to move itself towards God; and to
will what is good, is of grace, our will being free in respect of sinful
acts, but bound in respect of good works, till it be made free by Christ" (Psalm
110:3; John 8:36; John 15:5; Phil 2:13) (Cruden).
"That doctrine therefore which teaches 'that when grace is offered we
may refuse it if we will, and if we will we may receive it' is to be looked
upon as contrary to the Scriptures.
"we all acknowledge dark sayings in Scripture and things 'hard to be
understood', but the difficulty is not so much from the Word as from
the natural unbelief, prejudice and darkness within, which are those crooked,
wrinkled or discolored mediums men commonly look through at spiritual things.
"The doctrine of general love will not stand with that of special
election, yet the doctrine of special election will stand without that, and
against it, for there is nothing more plain than that there is an election of men to
salvation, as also the genuine import of election is, to choose one or
more out of many, which necessarily implies the leaving or not choosing of some:
And consequently the not willing of salvation to all universally. The will
of God cannot be resisted successfully because with His willing the end, He also
wills the means. "My counsel shall stand, I will do all my pleasure.'
"It shows what reason we have to discard forever that groundless and
blind opinion, which lays the stress of salvation on a thing of naught, for
what else is the will of a frail and mutable man? The grace of God is little
beholden to that doctrine which would give the glory of it to a graceless thin-man.
"One God was the maker of all, but all were not made for the same use
and end. As in a great house are many vessels, 'some to honor and some to
dishonor,' so in the Word we have some God raised up to be monuments of His power
and justice, (Exo 9:16; Jude 4; 1 Pet 2:8), called therefore "vessels of
mercy' whom He formed for Himself (Isa 43:7,21), and are therefore said to be
'afore prepared unto glory' (Rom 9:23).
"The principle thing intended and merited by the death of Christ was
the justification of sinners; and 'that God might be just in justifying
them' (Rom 3:23), and finally that they might have eternal life (John 17:2). If
therefore He merited this for all then all must be justified and saved (Rom 5:8-10),
and it cannot be justly denied to any, for it is their due, by virtue of
price. For none can be condemned for whom Christ died (Rom 8:34). Therefore if
Christ died for all then all must be justified and saved and it must be
concluded that all are not justified, so consequently Christ did not give Himself for
all.
"To say that Christ died for all without exception and yet admitting
that only a few are saved would seem to tax God of injustice or else that
the sufferings of Christ were not sufficient to make a discharge due to
them, or it insinuates a deficientcy of power, or want of good will, to prosecute
His design to perfection.
"that election is founded upon grace or the good pleasure of God's
will, is the only original cause and motive of election" (Coles).
Isa. 46:10. "Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient
times the things that are not yet done, saying "My counsel shall stand, and I
will do all my pleasure."
Dan. 4:35. "and all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as
nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the
inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him,
What doest thou?"
John 1:13. "Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the
flesh, nor of the will or man but of God."
John 5:21. "The Son quickeneth whom he will."
James 1:18. "Of his own will begat he us with the word or truth."
Rom 9:17. "For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same
purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my
name might be declared throughout all the earth. " (God in His wisdom made
Pharaoh for destruction that He might shew His power to all the ends of the ear)
(Prov 16:4).
Exodus 9:16. "And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up,
for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all
the earth" (Rom 9:22, Prov 21:1).
Exodus 7:3. "I will harden Pharaoh's heart."
Exodus 10:1. "And the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I
have hardened his heart." (No less than ten times God says He will harden
Pharaoh's heart, and not until God hardens it do we read of Pharaoh hardening his
own heart, (Exo 9:12; 10:20,27; 11:10, 14:8, etc.)
Joshua 11:20. "for it was of the LORD to harden their hearts...that he
might destroy them utterly."
1 Sam 15:3. "Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they
have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling."
John 3:3,7,8. "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily I say
unto thee, Except a man be born again [from above], he cannot see the
kingdom of God." (We are just as helpless when it comes to our spiritual birth as
we were at our natural birth, not only helpless as to its accomplishment, but more
so, we violently oppose it, vv 6,8).
Rom. 11:24. "Thou were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by
nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree." (Is it
possible for a thing to graft itself?).
Rom. 16:13. "Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord," (This election is
personal).
Eph. 2:1. "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and
sins." (God in His Word likens a sinner to one who is dead, and as a dead
person, we are unable to do one thing to accomplish our salvation, not even to
believe, except it be given us to do so. In John 11 we have in Lazarus a good
type of a sinner dead in trespasses and sins, helpless, hopeless, unable to move
toward God, until His quickening power awakens and enables the sinner to "Come
forth.")
Isa 40:13. "Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his
counselor hath taught him?"
Isa 40:8. "The grass withers, the flower fades: but the word of our
God shall stand for ever."
Prov. 19:21. "There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the
counsel o of the LORD, that shall stand" (Let us beware lest many devices
are found in our heart, and we are found fighting against God and His Word as many
are doing today, deceiving themselves and others. "Nevertheless the
counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.")
Luke 11:28. "but he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the
word of God, and keep it."
This booklet is written for four classes of people, for their learning
(Prov. 1:5). May God who is rich in mercy, open the eyes of saint and sinner
as they read and ponder over His Word.
1. For those who are saved, and have not yet seen this great truth.
May they get a glimpse of God, such as they never had before, of His majestic
power, and realize that God is SOVEREIGN in all things and doeth according to
His "own will" and not the will of the creature. When a person grasps this
in its fullest sense they will praise Him as they never have before for His
distinguishing love in making them objects of mercy while others have
been made "vessels of wrath."
2. For those who are not saved, that they might perhaps for the first
time have the fear of God implanted in their hearts and be made to realize
that God is sovereign; and that He is just as righteous in leaving sinners
alone to perish in their sins as He is in saving them; that their salvation rests
with God and except it pleases Him to have mercy on them they will have no hope
in time or eternity, an thus be made to cry "What must I do to be saved?" Yes,
the gospel is still sounding forth and sinners are still being saved, but
time is short, Hasten then His Word to obey (Isa 45:22; Rom 5:6,8; John 6:37; 2
Cor 5:21; 1 Tim 1:15).
3. For those to whom it has pleased God to reveal His sovereignty, that
they might be strengthened in this truth to the fuller realization of God
who is all in all, and that it might be the means of their walking continually
before Him in fear (Mal 3:16; Psa 89:7; Psa 103:17; Neh 7:2; Acts 10:2; Luke
1:50).
4. For those who profess to be children of God, yet deny and hate his
sovereignty, who scoff and gnash their teeth and maliciously utter
slander against those whom God has shown this great truth. Little do they realize they
have formed themselves with a great alliance, those who are at enmity with
God, the unregenerate.
Oh that God would deal graciously with His people, remove from their
hearts the hatred against His Word and His people and put in its place the
"love of Christ which passeth knowledge" that the whole "household of faith"
might be "knit together in love, " with one common desire to walk humbly and
softly before Him and to give Him all the Honor, praise and glory now and
forevermore.
If the Lord of Heaven and earth has hid the majestic truth of "God's
sovereignty" from such "wise and prudent" ones, it is because "it
seemed good in His sight." And if the Lord of Heaven and earth has graciously made others
receptive of this truth, it is again "because it seemed good in His
sight" (Matt 11:25,26). "For a man can receive nothing, except it be given him from
Haven" (John 3:27).
Man is totally depraved in all his faculties. The human doctrine that
God in His gracious sovereignty bring His "elect" upon an intermediate ground
where they are able and willing of themselves to accept as well as to reject
Christ, and leaves them to decide their own fate, is gross error. According to
"sound doctrine" and human experience, the "effectual calling" of God never
brings on of His elect into such a sort of intermediate state where he can and
will reject Christ. For at the effectual call of the Gospel he is
supernaturally made able and willing to come all the way to Christ. All who are willing to
believe the truth of God, and who also realize the thorough depravity
of their own sinful hearts, readily acknowledge that a sinner must be Divinely
brought all the way to and through that experience called "conversion." In fact, so
complete and continuous is human depravity that every believer not
guilty of dishonesty will be compelled to admit by reason of his experience as a
Christina, that even after conversion he can never persevere unless he is kept by the
power of God through faith (Titus 1:1,2 Thess 3:2, Eph 2:8), unto that
salvation "ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:5).
One more reminder: The extremely over-emphasized doctrine of "human
responsibility" is equally revealed in the Bible, with no less
distinction. Dear reader, if you cannot harmonize the truth of "Divine Sovereignty" with
"Human Responsibility" and your heart has been harboring and your mouth
disclosing a bitter and bigoted resentment against God for revealing His "Sovereignty" Or
against any of His people for believing and teaching it, hold thy hand upon
they mouth let thou "be found even to fight against God" (Acts 5;39). "Nay
but, O man, who are thou that repliest against God?" (Rom 9:20). See to it
well that thou be not rash with they mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to
utter anything before God" (Eccl 5:2).
For whom shall he teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to
understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk drawn from th e breasts. "
Are you weaned from the wisdom that comes from the human breast (Isa 28:9)?
Let us consider for a moment. Is there any life unto our God? Is there
any other of whom the seraphims could say "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of
hosts: The whole earth is full of his glory" (Isa 6:3)? Our God is a great God
(2 Chron 2:5) unto whom belongs righteousness (Psa 11:7), glory (John 17:5),
wisdom (Rom 11:13), power (Psa 66:3) and might (Eph 1:19); an everlasting (Isa
40:28), eternal (Duet 33:27) God, righteous in judgment (Rev 16:7), tender in
mercy (James 5:11); a God of love (Rom 8:39) and patience (Rom 15:15),
reserving the wicked for destruction (Job 21:30) yet showing loving kindness unto
thousands (Jer 32:18): not a man that He should lie (Num 23:19), ever the great
"I AM" (Exo 3:14), Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 15:6), "a Friend that
sticketh closer than a brother) (Prov 18:24).
Are there words sufficient o magnify the name of such a God? "What is
man that Thou are mindful of him?" (Psa 8:4). "It is He that sitteth upon
the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that
stretched out the heavens as a curtain, and spread them out as a tent to dwell
in" (Isa 40:22). "Whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be
put to it, nor anything taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear
before Him" (Eccl 3:14).
Let us ask another question. Is there any other doctrine or anything
else, that so exalts God as does His sovereignty, His right to do as he
pleases with His own? "For all the earth is Mine" (Exo 19:5). "Behold all souls are
Mine" (Eze 18:4). There is nothing that magnifies His love int he heart of a
saved sinner as does His sovereignty. The wicked appreciate not God's love
for they know nothing of it. It is only those who have been made the objects of
His Divine choice who can know the real love of God and praise Him for it.
We say again, "God's sovereignty is in keeping with such a God as we have to
do with, and magnifies His love as nothing else can do.
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BROTHER KEITH IS THE WALKING PREACHER 
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