The Captivity of the Israelites by Babylon

As good parents to our own children, we tell them about Jesus and teach them from stories in the Bible.

What child does not love hearing about Jesus and want to learn more about Him?

But it seems as they grow and mature into teens and then young adults, most have lost that enthusiasm for God's truth; they've been captured by the persuasions of the world.

Since the time of Adam, man has rejected God's rule over him and has continued to desire forbidden fruit.

This is just what happened when the Israelites told Samuel they wanted a king as the nations around them had. They weren't content with a heavenly King and gave Samuel the excuse that it was because of his wicked sons.

Let us turn to 1 Samuel, Chapter 8

After praying to God for guidance the Lord said unto Samuel, "Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them."

God knew their hearts and told Samuel to warn the people what a heavy price they would have to pay in their desire of earthly man to rule over them.

"Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; that we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles." 1 Samuel 8:19-20

Thinking that their own works were not wicked, notice one of the things these people wanted, "that our king may judge us."

God gave these people who did not want to serve Him their own earthly king(s).

What happened throughout the Babylonian captivity will be our main focus, keeping in mind that much of what is revealed to us from Old Testament scriptures concerning this subject will point us ultimately to the Babylon and the remnant of our day. By seeking to understand this captivity through God's Word we ourselves should benefit from it and come to a better understanding of Who God is, His ways, and how He works in the lives of His children.

Proverbs 23:26 "My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways."

God allowed Babylon to capture Israel and carry them away to a strong country.

There Nebuchadnezzar became their new king. He put a yoke of iron upon the necks of all nations he ruled over.

Let us consider some things about this king who would rule over them.

Nebuchadnezzar (more accurately Nebuchadrezzar)

We will read some very interesting scripture verses concerning him, yet at first they can be difficult to understand and even confusing.

Who was this mysterious person Nebuchadnezzar that God would give him power over the whole earth? In Jer. 25:9 The Lord calls him 'My Servant', and yet he is King of Babylon! One thing is important to understand: God rules over the whole earth and gives to whomever He wills to govern it, but as followers of the One true God we must always obey Him rather than man.

Nebuchadnezzar was a heathen king, meaning Gentile, not an Israelite; and although Nebuchadnezzar and his kingdom seem to have been shown favor, it is important to remember he is an enemy to the Israelites.

By the time of Zedekiah (Israel's last king) the Israelites had sinned worse than their fathers who forsook the Lord and walked after and worshipped other gods. Their children walked after the counsels and in the imaginations of their own heart.

Jeremiah 7:24 "But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward."

When God brought Babylon against Israel Jeremiah counseled the Jews to come under Nebuchadnezzar's yoke. His counsel from God was in essence: don't fight against Nebuchadnezzar but rather bear this oppression. If you don't come under the yoke to Nebuchadnezzar you'll be destroyed. Yet Israel continued to rebel against God, they fought against Nebuchadnezzar and were taken into captivity by Babylon.

The message to the Jews was that they ought to accept this chastisement from God.

God's desire was that they acknowledge their iniquity and return back to Him in repentance and contrition.

We find throughout the earlier history of the Israelite people that God constantly brought heathen nations against His elect to trouble them and chasten them so they would hearken more diligently to Him. When God's people are slack in seeking His face and obeying Him, God chastises.

Understanding this captivity can be confusing, not because the Israelites are punished for their disobedience but because of how God accomplishes His will in them. His commandment to them is, 'to come under the yoke' of Nebuchadnezzar and the heathen nation of Babylon.

Isaiah 55:8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD."

When God brought Babylon to chastise Israel, Jeremiah's counsel was not to bow to the wickedness and tyranny of Babylonian Laws, but to accept God's chastisement through the captivity of Babylon. We find in Jeremiah's letter to Israel (Chapter 29) a message from God carefully instructing them on how to live while in their captivity.

We also see the principle that when sin is discovered in the camp all are punished until it is removed.

In a raid by Nebuchadnezzar a few years earlier, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were brought to Babylon along with others but purposed in their hearts they would not offend God.

Hence they did not eat of the portion of the King's meat. This 'meat' is a figure of the Abomination (false gospel).

God raised them up as prophets in the land of Babylon.

Daniel and his three friends represent how all true believers should live in the world.

Babylon, a figure of the unregenerate church is also pictured as the world. Many see the world ruling in the churches today, replacing God's Word with the teachings of Man.

Let us turn to Jeremiah 43:10

"And say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne upon these stones that I have hid; and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them."

Incredibly, we see a type of Christ in Nebuchadnezzar!

'My Servant' can only be a revelation of Jesus Christ. (God's elect are 'these stones that I have hid').

Nebuchadnezzar can be seen as God's Perfect Law. He comes against a rebellious Israel with his Holy Law, the yoke of iron (hard bondage).

(The New Testament saints, who are also Israel circumcised of heart, are chastised by the Spirit as he uses this rod of correction upon them).

Proverbs 3:11-12

"My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:

For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth."

Traditionally we think of Satan as the Adversary, the accuser of the brethren. Nebuchadnezzar is also a picture of the adversary (though not of the fallen, angelic being), as God's Holy Law it accuses and convicts the sinner.

The Law of God because of sin is the enemy of man. The Holy Law is an adversary (an accuser) because of sin.

God uses His Law for humbling purposes. It is the power of God's Word which destroys the workings of the flesh (indwelling sin).

"For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished." Jer. 30:11

Let's find out what this chastisement from God accomplished in the Israelites, once again, keeping in mind Mystery Babylon and the small remnant remaining in our day.

Turning to 2 Chron. 36:13-21 we find some lengthy but detailed verses important to study and understand,

¹³ And he (Zedekiah) also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the LORD God of Israel. ¹⁴ Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem.

The reason God sent them to Babylon. Listen carefully!

¹⁵ And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:

¹⁶ But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.

¹⁷ Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand.

We have just read the compassion the Lord had upon the Israelites. How could this be compassion?

To slay with the (S)word through God's Law, His Word, accuses the sinner and convicts all who are in rebellion. It is this which 'slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary'. In other words, when God's people come together, in the house of their sanctuary (Church or wherever two or more are gathered) to hear His Word, it brings conviction to the sinner.

"For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword." -Hebrews 4:12

The Elect, the vessels of God's mercy:

¹⁸ And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes; all these he brought to Babylon.

¹⁹ And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof.

The only thing that destroys the workings of the flesh is the Law of God. It is the power of God's Word which aids in the destruction of the flesh. It is "the flesh and the pride of life" which the Lord brings destruction upon and is a correcting discipline.

²⁰ "And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia:"

Those who are not of His seed He gives up to their own depravity and the power of sin. Within the great assembly called the Church are both the unregenerate and the true saints. His chastisement is brought about for the true saints only, that they may profit from it. This remnant will persevere and return to God in contrition and repentance.

Reading on, 70 years later; Cyrus, the King of Prussia, sounds very much like Nebuchadnezzar as he proclaims, "all the kingdoms of the earth hath the Lord given me". God stirred up Cyrus to free the Israelites with a remnant returning to Jerusalem. In Cyrus also is a picture of Christ…the Savior of His people. I believe many times God both teaches us and continually reminds us of His spiritual truths through the physical pictures He gives us throughout the Bible.

"Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up". 2 Chron. 36:23

The Elect are the 'stones' God uses to build His spiritual house in Jerusalem.

In Ezra, Chapter 2 you can see how this captivity brought a remnant of many thousands back to the Lord; the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.

Ezra 3:11 "And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid."

What did God accomplish by this captivity and why did it change some hearts and not others back to God? For one thing, it brought humbleness back to God's people, His Elect. That they would seek after Him with all their hearts. It also separated His Own from the unregenerate of the world, bringing the remnant back into the land. (spiritually, into His kingdom).

God will not have His heritage associated with the abominations of the world, nor His Land (kingdom) defiled,

Jeremiah 2:7 "And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination."

Listen to Ezra's beautiful prayer of repentance found in Ezra 9:5-15

⁵ And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God,

⁶ And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.

⁷ Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.

⁸ And now for a little grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.

⁹ For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.

¹⁰ And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments,

¹¹ Which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness.

¹² Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.

¹³ And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this

¹⁴ Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?

¹⁵ O LORD God of Israel, thou art righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before thee in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before thee because of this.

What happened next was a great multitude came and wept before the Lord.

"Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore." Ezra 10:1

Nebuchadnezzar's praise of God,

Daniel 4:37 "Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase."

Christ's life, death, and resurrection was sufficient to secure the salvation of man.

He succeeded in saving all those for whom He died and not one was lost or in vain.

There is no flesh that will glory in God's presence, the Law of works cannot save. The salvation of man is by God alone and for the glory of God.

We have just seen throughout these scriptures how Babylon was used by God for chastisement through the Law, but there is coming a time when God will bring Judgment upon Babylon. Let us take a closer look at that subject next time.

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Jer. 29:11

“What was it Satan Really Said to the Woman in the Garden?”

We cannot read too far along in our Bibles before God reveals to us the condition of the human heart.

Sinful man thinks that he has no need of God to direct and guide him in his life and so he rebels against the Lord. Readily leading man into believing the lie is his own pride and vanity.

Satan approached the woman in the garden and said to her, 'Ye shall not surely die'.

What did he mean by that?

Let us turn to Genesis, Chapter 3 to examine what happened at the very beginning of time:

1"Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?"

²  And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
³  But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

⁴  And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

⁵  For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."

What was he really telling the woman?

Just this…. if she did not listen to the voice of God, she needn't worry. She would not die. Things would continue to go well with her. She did not need God to guide her, nor keep her in the way she should walk! She too was intelligent. Why she herself could 'be as a god', knowing good and evil. After all, she was not walking in darkness! Didn't she also have knowledge of how things should be?

Yes, he appealed to her pride and vanity.

The woman listened and believed Satan's lie. (the man was not deceived. See 1Tim 2:14).

She and the man 'ate' from that forbidden tree.

Afterwards, realizing they were naked (in sin),

Eve told the Lord, "The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat".

(Let us clearly understand, the Bible is not talking about a physical tree, it is not talking about eating a physical piece of fruit!)

The forbidden tree brings death and is representative of the original lie started by Satan but continued by man who believes and teaches this very same lie, "You surely will not die". Its fruit is sin and death.

God tells us:

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23

We must eat from the 'Tree of Life' which is Christ.

He died on the 'Tree' (the Cross) which gave us life.

John 6:53
  "Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you."

What happened next?

This sin continued on in their son Cain, who remained in rebellion, and refused to bring the proper sin offering before the Lord.

Though all men are in darkness without God, they believe their eyes are open and listen only to the counsels of their own heart.

Yes ... "ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."

Sin is, simply put… not obeying the voice of the Lord. Man listened to another voice; a voice that would lead him astray.

Jeremiah 23:16-17

"Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD."                        

"They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, no evil shall come upon you."

Turning to Genesis 10:8 we will find the story of Nimrod.

Nimrod was descended from Cush who was a son of Ham, one of Noah's three sons.

⁸ And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.
⁹ He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD.
¹⁰ And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.

The English language is lacking in translation of the original Hebrew word 'Nimrod'. It is a description of a rebel and in all likelihood this was not his name but a derisive term. He led rebellion against the Lord.

The original Hebrew says he began to be a tyrannical hunter before the Lord (meaning in opposition to the Lord). He hunted men by strategy and force.

The beginning of his kingdom was in the land of Shinar, Babel being one of those cities. Those who gathered together to follow him built the tower at Babel, "whose top may reach unto Heaven." They rebelled against the true God and desired to make a name for themselves.

^{Gen. 11:4}  "And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth."

Let us stop for a moment and examine the phrase "let us make a name". The people of Babel were in rebellion against the Lord and wanted to make a name for themselves, rather than giving to God all the Glory due Him.

Is that not like the world of today?

Man is moved by pride and ambition, looking for their own self elevation and glory.

But what does Christ tell us? We must humble ourselves, and yes, even deny ourselves:

 "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Luke 9:23

By obeying the Lord, we gain life, not lose it.

"He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it."
Matthew 10:39

We become more Christ-like.

"He must increase, but I must decrease."
John 3:30

Two other examples who taught rebellion are Hananiah and Shemaiah. Let us read what Jeremiah says about them.

Jeremiah 28:15-17

 Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie. 

Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD. 

So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.

Jeremiah 29:32
  "Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed: he shall not have a man to dwell among this people; neither shall he behold the good that I will do for my people, saith the LORD; because he hath taught rebellion against the LORD."

Another interesting story is found in
John 10:33-37

Man as Gods:

³³  The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for
blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
³⁴  Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
³⁵  If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;

³⁶  Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

What they wrongly accused Jesus of doing is exactly what they were doing. Though they knew the scriptures they did not know God, they were walking in the counsels of their own heart, man as gods.

^{Jeremiah 16:20} "Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods?"

Turning to the book of Jeremiah we find a much more in-depth study concerning the problem of rebellion; God reveals what is in man's sinful heart and how it is so easily deceived by the lie.

Let us also look at just a few verses found in this book.

"wherefore say my people, we are Lords; we will come no more unto thee?" Jer. 2:31

"Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?" Jeremiah 2:5

 Isaiah 47:8

"Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me. "

Yes… men as gods! No longer following after the One true God but walking after the counsels of their own hearts.

God warns us of man's lie:

^"Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD."
Jeremiah 17:5

Today man teaches that God is a God of Love (only), therefore, many are unconcerned about their sins and where they will spend eternity. They have been given confidence their sins will not keep them from entering Heaven. Many do not even consider that they are sinners and will think of themselves as good persons.

In other words: "surely you will not die".

Another version of this same lie: surely you will not die….. If.

The unregenerate man believes a false Gospel of Salvation, this always through some sort of works. He wants to claim a part in his own salvation… even saying, "it was I who chose to follow Christ!"

The Gospel of God's Grace is through Jesus Christ alone, apart from the Law and the works of man.

Anything other than this is a false gospel.

Matthew 23:4
  "For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers."

Let us always remember what the Lord tells us concerning the hearts of man….

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9

“Tares Among the Wheat”

Dear Friends,

In the coming weeks ahead we will be looking at the subject of "Mystery Babylon".

To fully understand some of the scripture verses pertaining to that study it may benefit us to first look at how Mystery Babylon came to be.

One subject in connection to this, and which will be appearing on this site soon, I have titled "What Was it Satan Really Said to the Woman in the Garden."

The other is seen below.

Throughout the New Testament (also hidden in the O.T.) God tells us that His true children and the children of the enemy would grow together until the Harvest.

He also shows us how this will occur.

Let us briefly review some earlier history of this region.

The Ancient Near East was composed of many powerful kingdoms that preyed upon smaller less fortunate ones. These smaller kingdoms that were unable to defend themselves would have no choice but to look to other kingdoms more powerful than themselves to protect them against these invaders. They would make a treaty with the kingdom defending them in which everything was outlined in great detail. In exchange, they would also promise how they would serve them. The greater king was known as the Suzerain and the lesser was called the vassal, or lesser lord. The lesser lord represented all the people under the protection of this great king.

This treaty would also contain the blessings and curses of the Suzerain if the vassal failed to meet the stipulations.

The most common ceremony used to ratify this was the cutting in half of certain animals and positioning them in two rows where both parties of this treaty would walk side by side, vowing as they walked between these pieces, "May what has happened to these animals, happen to me if I break this covenant with you".

What must surely come to our minds as we read the above is God's Covenant promise with Israel. Yes, it was just like that. See below!

Genesis 15:17 "And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces."

Yes, God Himself passed between those pieces. He could swear by none other greater than Himself.

God (the Suzerain King) promised to protect Israel (the vassal people) as long as they listened to His voice. God told them exactly what he expected from them (Exodus 20-23). In return He told them of all the blessings He would provide them. This was a covenant promise never to be broken!

Of course, all of us have broken our side of this covenant, both regenerate and unregenerate man.

Every human being in the world, through Adam, was given all the commandments.

Yet, it is only the eternal and elect church who are restored by Grace.

It was Christ's Work (His Perfect Life) which fulfilled the Law for us.

The Law is Perfect but it must be kept to the letter. It knows no forgiveness. There is no Grace found in it.

It was meant to show us our sins and how we are incapable of keeping the whole Law. Sinful man can never enter Heaven and stand before a Holy God! God is unapproachable to a sinner.

God tells us we are NOT saved by the keeping of the Law. The Only Sacrifice He accepts is through Christ, His Sacrifice alone. It is His Righteousness (His sinless, perfect life) which is imputed to us through the Atoning Blood of the Cross.

The earlier above history review of the ancient near east may help explain this next story which is found in Joshua. It should be read in its entirety for a better understanding on our subject. (Joshua 9:1-27)

At the time of Joshua the atmosphere was yet the same, w/ kingdoms and peoples continuing to band together seeking mutual protection and safety against their enemies.

God had previously told the Israelites that when they came up against certain peoples in battle they were to save nothing alive.

See Deut. 20: ¹⁷ "But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee:"

Let us turn to Joshua:

See Joshua vs.1 The Hivites were people who also mixed among other various groups in the region, (these being the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, and the Jebusites).

Yes, the same peoples God said to utterly destroy in Deuteronomy 20:17.

They came to Joshua and told him they were from a far country, presenting themselves as 'strangers' thereby likening themselves to the children of God who are 'strangers and pilgrims in the world. They lied and were actually neighbors who had gathered to fight against Joshua.

^4"They did work wilily,"

This people had disguised themselves in humbleness:

5^"old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them,"

They appeared as people who had come searching for knowledge of the Lord. They feared for their lives after hearing of all God did for Israel to protect them.

Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them.

But after finding out that they were actually their enemies, Joshua could not go back on what they had sworn to them by God's name.

19 "We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them. ²⁰ This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them."

²² And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, we are very far from you; when ye dwell among us?

Joshua told them they are cursed and made them "hewers of wood and drawers of water."

"but let them be hewers" (meaning to strike with cutting blows, to cut down)

"of wood" (wood and tree are terms representative of man)

"and drawers of water" (living fountains of water are found only in Christ but God tells us there are also broken cisterns which hold no water.)

What is interesting is that we will later find these words in Jeremiah 6:6.

God uses this phrase, "Hew ye down trees and cast a mount against Jerusalem" as the enemy comes into Jerusalem to carry them away to Babylon!

Important points to consider:

Joshua made a league with them and swore by the Lord's name! He did not consult with God, nonetheless it is a treaty honored between God and them. Once again, what were the promises made from this league:

Joshua's side –they let them live and dwell in peace.

Hivites side – as servants, they would be hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation of God, but yet they are a cursed people never to be freed from being bondsmen.

Verse 27 tells us that these 'hewers of wood and drawers of water' are with us "even unto this day, in the place which he should choose"…Joshua is sometimes seen as a shadow of Christ.

These deceivers, the enemy, are disguised as true children of God; and yet at this time they will live and dwell in peace according to the oath Joshua made in the Lord's name.

Turning to the book of Ezra we will find the Israelites did not separate themselves from these bondsmen.

Ezra 9:1-2

Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

Some verses to also remember here are found in Matthew 13:24-30

²⁴ Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: ²⁵ But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. ²⁶ But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. ²⁷ So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? ²⁸ He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? ²⁹ But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

God's true children, though they are in the world, will never be fooled by the imitation….the lie!

^{Let us turn to II Kings 4: 38-44 38} And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets. ³⁹ And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they knew them not. ⁴⁰ So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O thou man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof. ⁴¹ But he said, then bring meal. And he cast it into the pot; and he said, Pour out for the people, that they may eat. And there was no harm in the pot. ⁴² And there came a man from Baalshalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat. ⁴³ And his servitor said, What, should I set this before an hundred men? He said again, Give the people, that they may eat: for thus saith the LORD, They shall eat, and shall leave thereof. ⁴⁴ So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left thereof, according to the word of the LORD.

The wild vine is the imitation, those (imitators) who would almost pass for the true children of God. The 'wild gourds', a false gospel.

But the true children recognize the poison and death 'in the pot' and will not eat.

It is only the true Gospel of the flesh and blood of Christ we eat:

John 6:56 "He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him."

Matthew 24:24 "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."

Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

 

The difficult passages found below are some those knowledgeable in God's Word have gone to great lengths to explain. In brief, here is how they explain this sin, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit: it is a sin which can be committed only by those who have had the true witness of God's Word. They had been enlightened by the Holy Spirit, being among the fellowship of true believers; but after having had the knowledge of God's truth they walked away, returning back to the world (the world of lusts and desires they had seemingly been set free from). It is much stressed... this sin is not committed by the unchurched, it is not using God's name in vain, nor is it a temporary backsliding! They have rejected God's truth wholly, counting it as unworthy, or an unholy thing. They have betrayed Christ and have now become His enemy.

The first scripture of study is found below:

 Mark 3:22-30

 "And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.

 And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?

And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.

No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.

Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:

But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:

Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit."

The second is found at:

Luke 12:9-10

• "But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
  
• And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven."
  

The two scriptures, along with the prior brief explanation, certainly offer a sound interpretation regarding this particular sin, and yet it cannot be misunderstood . . . . Jesus is telling us this sin is not greater against Him (the Son of God) but is an unforgiveable blasphemy against the Person of the Holy Ghost.

Experts on the Bible also point to Judas, the betrayer of Christ, in regard to this sin of blasphemy.

Even as he dwelt among the body of believers the heart of Judas was not changed. The Bible called him a 'thief'.

John 12:6
  "This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein."

This identifies him with the evil one, Satan.

John 10:10
  "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

Let us also look at another story found in Acts 5:1-11

It is the story of Ananias and Sapphira. Satan filled their hearts to lie to the Holy Ghost, to keep back part of the price of the land.

Peter said, "Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God". "Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost"

Later, when Sapphira came in, this same judgment awaited her.

The Bible describes their sin: they 'tested the Spirit of the Lord'.

Let us not be found guilty in any way of sinning against the Holy Spirit. We must study and know God's Word.

One last story we cannot forget here: Sodom and Gomorrah and Lot's wife, who God turned into a pillar of salt.

God gives us a perfect picture in this story of what we have been describing. While fleeing the coming wrath and destruction of God upon sinful man, Lot's wife revealed all her heart by looking back at her true desire. . .the world and it's pleasures. We all know what happened next!

Some excellent scripture verses often used in connection to this unforgiveable sin are:

Hebrews 6:4-6

"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,
And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
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."

2 Peter 2:20-22

"For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire."

We are told in 1 John, that they were not of us. Even though they were among us they were not the truly saved who are sealed by the Holy Spirit unto the day of Redemption.

1John 2:19
  "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us."

Let us go back and take a closer look at verse 30 in Mark Chap. 3:

"Because they (the scribes) said, He (Christ) hath an UNCLEAN SPIRIT."

The 'unclean spirit' was the blasphemy directed at the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is also known as the Spirit of Truth so to call Him an unclean spirit is the greatest of blasphemies.

The previous verses reveal that the Scribes accused Christ of casting out devils through the power of
Satan. This blasphemy was towards the Holy Spirit (Ghost) who performed all miracles through Christ.

See Acts 10:38
"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the HOLY GHOST and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him."

*Another name given the Holy Spirit is the'Comforter.'

John 14:16-17

"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."

We should understand the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Ghost can be committed today…but not by a true believer.

Ephesians 1:13
  "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

The Holy Spirit indwells all true believers. Any and all of God's children may be and will be ridiculed by the world; as Christ was, and not only by the
Scribes but by the world then and now. We are told to expect this. . . it will be.

Yet, even as God's truth is preached today with power from the Holy Spirit producing conviction, repentance and the leading of souls to Christ, it is ridiculed, mocked and sometimes called a 'lie' (again, comparing the truth to an unclean spirit). Could it be that mocker or blasphemer is committing this same sin against the Holy Ghost?

Christ gives us the Holy Spirit. He indwells and empowers the children of God.

Acts 1:8
  "But ye shall receive power, after that the HOLY GHOST is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

God's true Gospel has the power to save! It is the Word which God uses to bring us to Christ. The greatest
miracle ever performed is Salvation. And YES, part of this miracle includes the 'casting out of devils'. This miracle of casting out demons happens even today, every time someone is truly saved!

And not how one of the world's leading influences might want you to believe it happens... no, not by calling in the priests to perform an exorcism.

How does God's Word reveal to us by which means demons are cast out?

God's truth!

"The truth shall set you free"!     John 8:32

Contrary to what some churches may be teaching . . . Demons cannot, NO CANNOT, NOT EVER…. reside in the same individual as the Holy Spirit.

"Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."
 "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?"

"And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Matthew 7: 21-23

Christ tells us to go into all the world to proclaim this powerful message of Salvation.

 

 

JESUS SAVEZZZZ!!!!!!

God’s Way of Salvation

    Dear Friend,

Recently I contacted a cousin I don't normally get the chance to see. Looking back, I do not remember spending much time at all with this dear cousin, running into her only occasionally at a few family reunions. Sadly, I had never seized upon any available opportunities through the years to reconnect. It seems this may be the case with many in today's fast paced lifestyles where families everywhere seem to have lost touch with one another. But as time marches on I've come to regret not having kept in closer communion with many more of my extended family members.

    I've since discovered my cousin Nancy is a bright, sincere, outgoing individual with a radiant personality that draws many to her. She has a natural ability of making all those around her feel accepted and comfortable in her presence. With our own move to this area some months ago Nancy and I are now living in closer proximity to each other and giving her a call had been increasingly on my mind. I definitely enjoyed catching up with her. As we reminisced about several family members, who have now passed on, Nancy expressed hope, as many of us do, that we will once again see all our loved ones in Heaven. To my surprise, she quickly added, "No. . .God chooses who are saved".

     Now to many, of course, the idea that all our cherished family members are in a good place would be very comforting to contemplate. But does this popular idea, which many hold on to, have any truth to it according to God's Word?

    This will be the focus of this study. As we dig deeper into God's Word we will better understand God's plan of salvation. We may have heard many conflicting voices in the world on how we are saved or if God has a chosen or elect people. (It may not be as some would like to think!) Was it for the elect alone that Christ died? Was this choice based upon, as some say, God looking through time and knowing those who would one day make a decision to follow after Him? And was it your decision to freely make, perhaps as you answered an altar call, accepting Christ as your Lord & Savior? Or, possibly you believe as some are taught, that you must lead a good life, go to a good church, receive Communion regularly and follow God's Commandments and then, only in the end will you know if you are counted worthy to be saved?

    Sadly, most in the world today believe in a Salvation of works. They believe they will be saved through the good works they have accomplished in this life, and therefore believe they will earn salvation through their own merits.

    But what does the Bible say regarding all this?

    Let us discover God's truth as He Himself reveals it in His Word. God does not leave us to speculate. He gives us these answers and more by revealing all through His Holy Scripture.

Let us begin at 2Timothy 1:9:

"Who hath saved us, and 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."

As we study the above verse we will receive some answers to a few of those earlier questions:

1. God reveals that He has saved and called us not because of anything we have, or have not done (not according to our works!) but according to His own purpose for us, a holy calling.
    
   
2. We are saved by Grace. Grace is. . . . God's undeserved kindness (or favor), given to us freely, this is only through His Son, Jesus Christ.
   

   Before we go on, we should understand God is Holy; there is no darkness in Him. He cannot look upon sin or the sinner. His perfect justice demands payment for sin and this payment was satisfied through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. We are now reconciled to God and are able to freely have Fellowship. When God looks upon the saved, He sees the righteousness of His Son and not our sins. We have also received the gift of eternal life. Without God's grace, given through His Son, this would be impossible. We would be eternally lost.
   

3. Finally, we see that this was given us in Jesus Christ before the world began. Some have suggested that God's plan of salvation was thwarted by what happened in the Garden of Eden and a new plan was necessary! But God tells us "before the world began" His plan of salvation was by grace through Jesus Christ.
   

It should be clear from the verse we just studied that God did not look through time to see who would choose to follow Him. Neither is one saved by going to a good church and doing good works. As we read above, He calls us and we are saved by Grace, not Grace plus works.

Let us turn again to God's Word to get a clearer understanding of just what God says concerning man and his efforts at righteousness (or goodness).

Romans 3:10-12

"As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one."

"There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God."

"They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one."

One more verse:

Isaiah 64:6
"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."

God tells us that whatever righteousness we think we have, 'are like filthy rags!'    

Now let us turn to the O.T. where we find an interesting story:

Numbers 15:32-36:

^"And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the Sabbath day. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses."

This little story above, not mentioned too often, illustrates how the anger of the Lord came upon this man's work (gathering sticks). He was put to death. It is the Sabbath, the Day of God's rest, which we also must enter into spiritually, (not the physical day of the week) and this man was working rather than trusting in (resting in) the promised Savior who would come. This is also the same picture for many today that trust in their own works to save them. They will perish as this man did. (Old Testament saints looked forward to the promised Messiah who would come to take away their sin. New Testament saints look back and trust in the finished work of Christ.)

We must not be mistaken into thinking that by our own efforts at good works we will be saved from God's wrath.

Man without God is blind and in darkness. The Old Testament Law was a schoolmaster to teach man what sin is. It also showed sinful man he was incapable of keeping all of God's Law. But God promised He would send a Savior who would come to do just that and heal us (from sin) and save us from our sins (and its consequences). Sin brought death into the world (not only physical death), a Spiritual death. With sin came a separation from God.

This faith in the promised coming Savior was the hope of all O.T. Saints.

Romans 3:20
"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin."

Galatians 3:24-25
  "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster
to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster."

God's justice against sin was totally satisfied when Christ died at the Cross. The sins of all whom Christ represented (all those chosen for salvation from before the world began) were imputed to Him and He suffered the just penalty that these sins deserved. It is the only sacrifice accepted by God, payment has already been made! Our faith must be in His finished work.

Romans 3:23
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."

    Christ alone led the perfect sinless life that God demanded. His righteousness is imputed on those who are His, so that they are perfectly righteous in the eyes of God's Law and justice.

    The Atoning Blood of Christ:

It was the blood that God demanded for sin because Christ became a physical man (flesh & blood) for us. The life of all flesh is in the blood. His sinless, perfect life (blood)
was the perfect sin offering that was required for our imperfect lives. God accepted the blood of Christ as full payment for sin.

Leviticus 17:11
"For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul."

There are many "shadows' or pictures in the O.T. These 'shadows' were meant to teach us some kind of a Spiritual truth. The Old Testament animal sacrifices were a 'shadow', a picture, they could not take away sin but pointed us to Christ, the One Who would one day come and take sin away completely.

Ephesians 2:8-9
⁸For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
⁹Not of works, lest any man should boast.

If trust rests upon one's own good works his belief is in vain. This is trust by his own faith in his own works, not the faith of Christ given us.

The burden on this sinner has not been lifted. He may be so blinded and totally unaware that this is so with him. He will continue to believe his own works will be rewarded, and sin overlooked by a 'God of love', not the God of love and of justice.

So then who can be saved? This is also the question Christ's disciples asked Him.

Let us read what Jesus Himself told them:

Mark 10:27
  "And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible."

God does a work in the lives of those elected for salvation:

Ephesians 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."    

It is only through God's work in our lives that we are changed. We become new Creatures in Christ.

2Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

Without God's transforming power in our lives we would yet be blind and continue on in sin. Left alone, there are none who would turn from sin and seek after God. Man is powerless, in himself, to break this bondage to sin without God's powerful intervention in his life.

    Jesus tells us that we must be born again. We have been born physically but we must be born of God's Spirit.

John 3:3
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God"                    

1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
²  The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
³  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
⁴  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
⁵  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
⁶  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
⁷  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
⁸  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

John 3:16

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."             

Some will say that the above verse proves Christ died for all . . . each and every single human being, the 'whole world'! But God's grace falls upon all nations, it is no longer confined to the nation of Israel. This is the meaning of 'world'. Salvation is now no longer confined to just national Israel but the gospel of Christ has gone out into all the world and the saved are taken out from among all nations (the world).

Micah 5:8

"And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver."

Christ did not pray for all mankind (the whole world), but only for those which the Father gave Him. Those alone are whom He died for at the Cross. They are those found in Him.

John 17:9-12
9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

¹⁰  And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
¹¹  And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom
thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
¹²  While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that
thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.         

The word Election is used by Paul in the book of Romans. He cites the rejection of Esau before either twin was born, or good or evil done, as an example of God's election.

Romans 9:11-16

¹¹  For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;
¹²  It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
¹³  As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
¹⁴  What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

¹⁵  For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
¹⁶  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

In these revealing verses found above, God makes things very clear. His mercy was on the elect before they were born, not because of any good or evil they have done. It is His election and calling that will stand! God has predestinated us to be conformed to the image of His Son. Let us turn to:

Romans 8:29
  "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."

Here we find the word predestinate. It is used along with 'whom he did foreknow.' So those He, 'saved and called according to His purpose' were predestinated to be 'conformed to the image of His Son'. We know this was, 'given us in Christ Jesus before the world began'. (2 Tim. 1:9) These are the "chosen" (or elect) kept in Christ.    

    What is God's purpose in saving a certain people?

We are only told God 'works all things after the counsel and good pleasure of His own will.' It was God's good pleasure to save a chosen or elect people from among mankind for His own purpose. They are a people chosen for His name, a Holy priesthood.

Ephesians 1:4-5

"According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of His will."

Ephesians 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."

The redeemed of the Lord are a chosen generation and a royal priesthood.

1Peter 2:9
  "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

Isaiah 62:12
  "And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken."

 Since it was not our decision to follow Christ, how does it happen?

It is God Himself, who draws us (causes to come near to Him) with bands of love.

Hosea 11:4
"I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them."

John 6:44
"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day."

The original Hebrew meaning of the word 'draw' is 'to drag' or to 'forcefully compel'. It is not possible for the blind to choose to follow after God. It is not up to man. The unregenerate heart is in need of a healing, we cannot and could not choose to follow after God. We may think that it was our decision to follow after Him but it is entirely God's work in our lives.

Numbers 16:5
"Even tomorrow the LORD will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him."

John 15:16
  "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you."

All men are in darkness and in bondage to sin (and Satan) since that first sin in the garden. It is only through the power of the Cross we are set free. Christ came to set the captives free . . to heal us from sin and its bondage. This was the work which the Father sent Him to do. He willingly laid down His life for the sins of His people.

Matthew 8:16

"When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick."

Yes, It is God's living Word in us (His truth), which sets us free.
 

Matthew 15:30
"And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them."

Let us briefly review a little Bible history and God's Grace:

Genesis 6

Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. 'Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.' Only Noah and his family were saved in the flood, all others perished.

Genesis 25: 29-34

    Jacob sold a bowl of lentils to Esau in exchange for his birthright. Later, Jacob deceived his father into giving him the blessing of the firstborn. God loved Jacob but hated Esau.

Exodus 2:12                                    

Moses slew an Egyptian man and hid him in the sand. God later used him to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land.

Book of Jonah

Jonah ran from God's command to go to Nineveh and warn the people to turn from their wicked ways. After being in the belly of a fish for 3 days & nights Jonah prayed to the Lord whereupon the fish spew him up onto dry land. Throughout this story we see how much love and patience God had with Jonah even to comforting him by shading his head with a gourd.

Jonah 4:6

"And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd."

2 Samuel Chapters 11 & 12

David committed adultery with Bathsheba and sent her husband Uriah to a position on the battlefield where he would surely die. Despite this, David was mightily used by God.

N.T.

Paul, a zealous Pharisee, persecuted Christians but was used by God to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles. Before his conversion, outside of Damascus, he was blinded, healed and then filled with the Holy Spirit. Paul considered himself the greatest of sinners.        

We begin to see God's great mercy on some but on others judgment was swift, as in the story of Uzzah.

As Uzzah helped carry the Ark of God, fearful it would fall, he put forth his hand to steady it, whereupon God immediately struck him down and he died there for touching the Ark. (the entire story is found in: 2 Samuel 6)

The great people of God we find in the Bible were not perfect. . . they had committed sin as everyone ever born has done. Why was it some had such great faith? What is the reason some were shown mercy and others were not?

One reason alone . . . God's grace!

David's inspired words are found in:

Psalms 65:4

"Blessed is the man whom Thou chooseth and causeth to approach unto Thee, that he may dwell in Thy courts."

The 'chosen' of God are seen throughout the Bible. In the Gospels, we see Jesus, the Good Shepherd searching out His sheep. He calls all those that are the chosen to Himself. In the Gospels of Mark and Luke we read of a special trip Jesus made into the country of the Gadarenes.

"There met Jesus out of the tombs a certain man with an unclean spirit: 'My name is Legion, for we are many.'" He had often been bound with fetters and chains. No man could tame him. (This is a picture of Man in bondage to sin). But when he saw Jesus from afar off, he ran and worshipped Him. This certain man, knew immediately his only hope lay in the Savior.

In Mark 5:25-34 We read of the woman with the issue of blood for 12 yrs. and her great faith. In the midst of the throng around Jesus she said, "If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole." Jesus immediately knew that virtue had gone out of Him and asked, "Who touched my clothes"? When the woman came and fell down before Him and told Him all the truth, He told her, 'daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.'

Ezekiel 34:12
  "As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day."

    Whether greatly used of God or those whose names we know not, their stories reveal that they are among the chosen. These were not of the seed that fell by the wayside, but planted in God's good soil.            

Let us turn to:

^{Romans 9:18-24}

18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
¹⁹  Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
²⁰  Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
²¹  Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
²²  What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
²³  And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
²⁴  Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?        

According to the purpose and good pleasure of His will, God has chosen a certain people (an elect) to obtain salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ, who would die for the sins of this people. His shed blood, at the Cross (the atoning blood), was accepted by God as full payment for their sins. Christ's blood delivered all those ordained for eternal life and with His blood He bought them as His very own!

Hebrews 9:12
"Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us."

As for the rest of mankind, God has simply left His hand off from them. They will go on to live their lives but will remain unsaved. We may hear some say, this cannot be, as it is unfair and God is a God of justice! But what is fair for All is death. It is the judgment that all are deserving of for sin.

Ezekiel 18:4
"Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die."        

It is for all believers in Christ to know they have eternal life.

1John 5:13
  "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."

Acts 13:48
  "And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed."

There it is friend, God's true plan of Salvation. It has been denied. It has been twisted. It has been ignored. And it is not accepted by the world … just as Christ was not, and is not. The world has found hundreds of variations (of false Gospels) with which to replace the one true Gospel of God. No, the world will not hear God's truth and even seeks to destroy it.

But God's truth will prevail throughout eternity.

Zechariah 4:6

"Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the LORD of hosts."