The World - Part III

The World Part III

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.

Continued from Part II. Second, if God loves all men: which teaching, the Bible denies; then in that case: the love of God is of little concern to any man, for, multitudes who God has loved, have perished. If God loves all men then every man who is in hell today, is a testimonial, to the weakness, and insufficiency of the love of God, to produce sufficient means for the release of those persons from the curse of the law.  If God has loved all men; and if God has a desire to save all those whom He has loved, then the wisdom of God has failed to appoint appropriate means for the salvation of those He has loved, for the most of them are in hell this hour (Matthew 7:13-14). The untrue doctrine of the universal love of God for all and every man without exception, casts a shadow of doubt over the strength of the love of God to deliver its object, for according to its proponents it may deliver, or it may not deliver. And also a doubt is cast over the wisdom of God to provide appropriate means for that deliverance, since according to that teaching, many whom God has loved have perished, and many more will yet perish, because they will not repent of their sins. 

If Christ Jesus died for all men, that is, if the blood of Christ was shed to secure the release of all men from the curse of the law, which doctrine the Bible does not teach, then the greater portion of that blood did not achieve the end for which it was shed, for it is written “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth unto destruction, and many there be that go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14). Many go in at the gate of destruction, while few find the gate of eternal life; and if Christ died for them all alike, then for the greater part of them for whom His blood was shed: that blood of Christ did not deliver them. This is to accuse God of iniquity by injustice, for His Son died in the room of men, who must pay the price that Christ has paid already; they must perish, in spite of the fact that Christ Jesus has ransomed them from death (Hosea 14:13). This false doctrine (Matthew 24:24) of another Jesus (II Corinthians 11:4) and another gospel (Galatians 1:6-7) is dishonoring to the Christ of the Holy Scriptures, for according to this false gospel His blood is of little importance, for none are made to differ by that blood (I Corinthians 4:7) for some, for whom it is shed are given life, and some for whom it is shed, perish, so that the blood of Christ alone has made no difference at all. This doctrine is full of blasphemy, and in the day of judgment those who have taught this error, will have to give answer to him whose blood they have trodden under foot, and counted an unholy thing (Hebrews 10:26-30).

Thirdly, consider the call of the Holy Ghost. Those who preach the false gospel of universalism: that is, that God loves all men, that Christ died for all men, and that the Holy Ghost calls all men to salvation; must necessarily deny or distort (that is, twist or “wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. II Peter 3:16) the election of grace, God’s predestinating mercies, and the effectual call of the Holy Ghost. The effectual call of the Holy Ghost is the call from spiritual death, to spiritual life, freely and infallibly. The effectual call is extended to the election of grace, and to the election of grace only (Romans 11:5; II Thessalonians 2:13). For the election of grace was chosen in Christ, predestinated to the adoption of children, predestinated to be conformed to the image of Christ, and accepted in Christ before the world was made  (Ephesians 1:4, 5, 6; Romans 8:29). These who are thus chosen, predestinated to adoption, and accepted in Christ, were involved in the fall in sin, being the sons of Adam, and in whom they died spiritually (I Corinthians 15:22). It is the office of the Holy Ghost, to find the children of the covenant of God which are scattered abroad, in time, kindred’s, tongues, nations and peoples (John 11:52; Ephesians 1:10; Revelation 5:9) and gather them in one body in Christ (Ephesians 1:10): by spiritual resurrection from spiritual death in time, and then bodily in glorified flesh at the end of the age. This office work of the Holy Ghost requires His exertion of resurrection power which he wrought in Christ when he raised Him from the dead; as it is written: “And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in heavenly places,” (Ephesians 1:19-20). This resurrection power, is denied by the preachers of the false gospel of universalism; who, having a form of godliness deny the power thereof, as it is written: “Having a form of godliness , but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (II Timothy 3:5). The gospel is the “power of God to salvation” (Romans 1:16), our Lord Jesus said “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63). Those to whom the Lord speaks, “the word of life” (Philippians 2:16) are made to live (Ezekiel 16:6).

The Gospel is always triumphant, as it is written: “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savior of his knowledge by us in every place.” (II Corinthians 2:14). And Isaiah has written: “So shall my word be that goeth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I send it.” (Isaiah 55:11). The Holy Ghost plants the word of life in the hearts of elect sinners (I Peter 1:23; John 6:63); by the preaching of the gospel, (Romans 10:13-17; I Corinthians 1:21) according to the election of the Father, and the purchase of the Son, thereby infallibly giving them eternal life in Jesus Christ. This is the sanctification of the Spirit, by the resurrection power of the gospel of Jesus Christ, who said, I am the resurrection and the life (John 11:25). God the Holy Ghost gives eternal life, “by the effectual working of his power.” (Ephesians 3:7): to as many as God the Father chose to salvation from the beginning (II Thessalonians 2:13); and, as many as Jesus Christ redeemed at Calvary by His precious blood of the everlasting covenant (Galatians 3:13; Hebrews 13:20). The effectual working of his mighty power in the “vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, even us, whom he hath called,” (Romans 9:23-24) is witness that “salvation is of the LORD” (Jonah 2:9). Since salvation is of the LORD: then salvation is not of the free-will, decisions, choices, or works of man. 

See the writers blog at www.hebrews915.blogspot.com hear the truth of the gospel preached at www.13thstbaptist.org webcasting live at listed service times.    

AJ Ison

  

  

     

The World Part III

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.

Continued from Part II. Second, if God loves all men: which teaching, the Bible denies; then in that case: the love of God is of little concern to any man, for, multitudes who God has loved, have perished. If God loves all men then every man who is in hell today, is a testimonial, to the weakness, and insufficiency of the love of God, to produce sufficient means for the release of those persons from the curse of the law.  If God has loved all men; and if God has a desire to save all those whom He has loved, then the wisdom of God has failed to appoint appropriate means for the salvation of those He has loved, for the most of them are in hell this hour (Matthew 7:13-14). The untrue doctrine of the universal love of God for all and every man without exception, casts a shadow of doubt over the strength of the love of God to deliver its object, for according to its proponents it may deliver, or it may not deliver. And also a doubt is cast over the wisdom of God to provide appropriate means for that deliverance, since according to that teaching, many whom God has loved have perished, and many more will yet perish, because they will not repent of their sins. 

If Christ Jesus died for all men, that is, if the blood of Christ was shed to secure the release of all men from the curse of the law, which doctrine the Bible does not teach, then the greater portion of that blood did not achieve the end for which it was shed, for it is written “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth unto destruction, and many there be that go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14). Many go in at the gate of destruction, while few find the gate of eternal life; and if Christ died for them all alike, then for the greater part of them for whom His blood was shed: that blood of Christ did not deliver them. This is to accuse God of iniquity by injustice, for His Son died in the room of men, who must pay the price that Christ has paid already; they must perish, in spite of the fact that Christ Jesus has ransomed them from death (Hosea 14:13). This false doctrine (Matthew 24:24) of another Jesus (II Corinthians 11:4) and another gospel (Galatians 1:6-7) is dishonoring to the Christ of the Holy Scriptures, for according to this false gospel His blood is of little importance, for none are made to differ by that blood (I Corinthians 4:7) for some, for whom it is shed are given life, and some for whom it is shed, perish, so that the blood of Christ alone has made no difference at all. This doctrine is full of blasphemy, and in the day of judgment those who have taught this error, will have to give answer to him whose blood they have trodden under foot, and counted an unholy thing (Hebrews 10:26-30).

Thirdly, consider the call of the Holy Ghost. Those who preach the false gospel of universalism: that is, that God loves all men, that Christ died for all men, and that the Holy Ghost calls all men to salvation; must necessarily deny or distort (that is, twist or “wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. II Peter 3:16) the election of grace, God’s predestinating mercies, and the effectual call of the Holy Ghost. The effectual call of the Holy Ghost is the call from spiritual death, to spiritual life, freely and infallibly. The effectual call is extended to the election of grace, and to the election of grace only (Romans 11:5; II Thessalonians 2:13). For the election of grace was chosen in Christ, predestinated to the adoption of children, predestinated to be conformed to the image of Christ, and accepted in Christ before the world was made  (Ephesians 1:4, 5, 6; Romans 8:29). These who are thus chosen, predestinated to adoption, and accepted in Christ, were involved in the fall in sin, being the sons of Adam, and in whom they died spiritually (I Corinthians 15:22). It is the office of the Holy Ghost, to find the children of the covenant of God which are scattered abroad, in time, kindred’s, tongues, nations and peoples (John 11:52; Ephesians 1:10; Revelation 5:9) and gather them in one body in Christ (Ephesians 1:10): by spiritual resurrection from spiritual death in time, and then bodily in glorified flesh at the end of the age. This office work of the Holy Ghost requires His exertion of resurrection power which he wrought in Christ when he raised Him from the dead; as it is written: “And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in heavenly places,” (Ephesians 1:19-20). This resurrection power, is denied by the preachers of the false gospel of universalism; who, having a form of godliness deny the power thereof, as it is written: “Having a form of godliness , but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (II Timothy 3:5). The gospel is the “power of God to salvation” (Romans 1:16), our Lord Jesus said “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63). Those to whom the Lord speaks, “the word of life” (Philippians 2:16) are made to live (Ezekiel 16:6).

The Gospel is always triumphant, as it is written: “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savior of his knowledge by us in every place.” (II Corinthians 2:14). And Isaiah has written: “So shall my word be that goeth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I send it.” (Isaiah 55:11). The Holy Ghost plants the word of life in the hearts of elect sinners (I Peter 1:23; John 6:63); by the preaching of the gospel, (Romans 10:13-17; I Corinthians 1:21) according to the election of the Father, and the purchase of the Son, thereby infallibly giving them eternal life in Jesus Christ. This is the sanctification of the Spirit, by the resurrection power of the gospel of Jesus Christ, who said, I am the resurrection and the life (John 11:25). God the Holy Ghost gives eternal life, “by the effectual working of his power.” (Ephesians 3:7): to as many as God the Father chose to salvation from the beginning (II Thessalonians 2:13); and, as many as Jesus Christ redeemed at Calvary by His precious blood of the everlasting covenant (Galatians 3:13; Hebrews 13:20). The effectual working of his mighty power in the “vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, even us, whom he hath called,” (Romans 9:23-24) is witness that “salvation is of the LORD” (Jonah 2:9). Since salvation is of the LORD: then salvation is not of the free-will, decisions, choices, or works of man. 

See the writers blog at www.hebrews915.blogspot.com hear the truth of the gospel preached at www.13thstbaptist.org webcasting live at listed service times.    

AJ Ison

  

  

     

The World - Part II

The World - Part II

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.

Continued from Part I. This leads to the question: what world is in view in John 3:16? Without hesitation, gospel preachers answer: the world that God did “so love” is the world of His elect, “as many as” the Fat

The World - Part II

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.

Continued from Part I. This leads to the question: what world is in view in John 3:16? Without hesitation, gospel preachers answer: the world that God did “so love” is the world of His elect, “as many as” the Father gave the Son before the world began (John 6:36-37; 17:2). “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29). There is a world whose sins are gone (Jeremiah 50:20; Micah 7:19; Isaiah 38:17; Psalm 103:12; Hebrews 9:26; Daniel 9:24, 26) their sins are no more, what world is that? It is that world, that God loved, as He loved Jesus Christ (John 17:23). The world that God so loved is that world that Christ Jesus loved and washed from their sins in His own blood (Revelation 1:5). The world That God so loved is that world that Christ redeemed “out of” every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation (Revelation 5:9) Christ Jesus did not redeem every man of all the nations, but some men out of the nations. The world that God did so love is that world that was taken “from among” men (revelation 14:4) selected from among them, picked out of them: certain individuals chosen unto eternal salvation in Jesus Christ and accepted in Him before the world was made. The world that God so loved, is that world that is freely given the faith of God’s elect (Titus 1:1), and therefore it is the world of “whosoever believeth” - “through grace” (Acts 18:27) it is through the grace of God in Christ Jesus that any man is given the ability and will to believe the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Love of God is not unrequited love: for it is written: “We love him, because he first loved us.” (I John 4:19): particular attention should be given to “because” as it connects the first and second clauses of the verse. There is a cause and effect relationship in these two clauses, in the first clause, the cause is stated, which is the love of God to His church and people whom He gave to Christ from everlasting in the covenant of grace (John 17:2); in the second clause we have the effect stated, which is produced in the hearts of those whom God did so love as to give His only begotten Son for them, and that effect is reciprocal love of Him who gave His only Son for those whom He had loved without beginning. But it must be understood that the effect here, which is, the love of the people of God, for God, is not the immediate result of the love of God for His people, no there must be some intervening work on the part of God which prepares the heart of the people for this love (Proverbs 16:1), and that is the birth from above, as it is written, “ye must be born again” (John 3:7). In His violent, bloody, cross death, our Lord Jesus Christ, not only redeemed His people (Galatians 3:13) but He also purchased, by His precious blood, “all spiritual blessings” and “all things that pertain to life and godliness” for those who the Father had given Him before the world began (Ephesians 1:3; II Peter 1:3). The natural sons of Adam are, as King David declared, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Psalm 59:5). By natural birth, our minds are “enmity against God” (Romans 8:7). All the race of men are rebellious children, but, some are God’s rebellious children, by His sanctification in eternal election (Jude verse 1), and in time, by the sanctification of the Spirit, which is, the birth from above (I Peter 1:2; II Thessalonians 2:13). In the new birth, the children of God are given a new heart of love for God and His unadulterated gospel. The “word of truth” (James 1:18) is planted in the hearts of the elect by the Holy Ghost, as it is written: “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But by the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope should be in God. Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but by incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” (I Peter 1:18-23). The force of this verse (I John4:19) is not, in some instances true; and in other cases false: no it is always true. Those whom God has loved, He has loved and does love immutably; not because of any good thing for-seen as in them, as faith, and not for any thing done by them, as good works, but because it pleased Him to make them His own peculiar treasure (Psalm 135:4), as it is written: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, (such as the gift of faith, and the gift of repentance: writer) and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.” (James 1:17-18).   

Consider the ramifications, if, God does love all men. Many who say they are preachers of the word of God in our day, say that God does love all men; and that God wants to save all men. They say that Jesus Christ died for all men, without exception or distinction. And they say that all men receive the same call of the Holy Ghost. This is the common belief of men in those countries that are called Christian. Are these things true? To this question the writer must answer, no, they are not true.  God does not love all men, the concept is foreign and also contrary to the word of God: first because there are many clear statements of scripture that declare that there are those who God does not love, as before, here are just a few: God hatest all workers of iniquity, (Psalm 5:5) God abhorred those nations whom He expelled before Israel (Levitius 20:23), God hated Esau (Romans 9:13), “God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them.” (Psalm 53:5). “But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep,” (John 10:26). “Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.” (Romans 11:7-8) “For the scripture saith unto pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, (through the destruction of Pharaoh, his army, and his nation: writer) and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.” (Romans 9:17-18). To continue in Part III. 

See the writers blog at www.hebrews915.blogspot.com hear the truth of the gospel preached at www.13thstbaptist.org webcasting live at listed service times.   

 AJ Ison

  

  

    

her gave the Son before the world began (John 6:36-37; 17:2). “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29). There is a world whose sins are gone (Jeremiah 50:20; Micah 7:19; Isaiah 38:17; Psalm 103:12; Hebrews 9:26; Daniel 9:24, 26) their sins are no more, what world is that? It is that world, that God loved, as He loved Jesus Christ (John 17:23). The world that God so loved is that world that Christ Jesus loved and washed from their sins in His own blood (Revelation 1:5). The world That God so loved is that world that Christ redeemed “out of” every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation (Revelation 5:9) Christ Jesus did not redeem every man of all the nations, but some men out of the nations. The world that God did so love is that world that was taken “from among” men (revelation 14:4) selected from among them, picked out of them: certain individuals chosen unto eternal salvation in Jesus Christ and accepted in Him before the world was made. The world that God so loved, is that world that is freely given the faith of God’s elect (Titus 1:1), and therefore it is the world of “whosoever believeth” - “through grace” (Acts 18:27) it is through the grace of God in Christ Jesus that any man is given the ability and will to believe the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Love of God is not unrequited love: for it is written: “We love him, because he first loved us.” (I John 4:19): particular attention should be given to “because” as it connects the first and second clauses of the verse. There is a cause and effect relationship in these two clauses, in the first clause, the cause is stated, which is the love of God to His church and people whom He gave to Christ from everlasting in the covenant of grace (John 17:2); in the second clause we have the effect stated, which is produced in the hearts of those whom God did so love as to give His only begotten Son for them, and that effect is reciprocal love of Him who gave His only Son for those whom He had loved without beginning. But it must be understood that the effect here, which is, the love of the people of God, for God, is not the immediate result of the love of God for His people, no there must be some intervening work on the part of God which prepares the heart of the people for this love (Proverbs 16:1), and that is the birth from above, as it is written, “ye must be born again” (John 3:7). In His violent, bloody, cross death, our Lord Jesus Christ, not only redeemed His people (Galatians 3:13) but He also purchased, by His precious blood, “all spiritual blessings” and “all things that pertain to life and godliness” for those who the Father had given Him before the world began (Ephesians 1:3; II Peter 1:3). The natural sons of Adam are, as King David declared, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Psalm 59:5). By natural birth, our minds are “enmity against God” (Romans 8:7). All the race of men are rebellious children, but, some are God’s rebellious children, by His sanctification in eternal election (Jude verse 1), and in time, by the sanctification of the Spirit, which is, the birth from above (I Peter 1:2; II Thessalonians 2:13). In the new birth, the children of God are given a new heart of love for God and His unadulterated gospel. The “word of truth” (James 1:18) is planted in the hearts of the elect by the Holy Ghost, as it is written: “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But by the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope should be in God. Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but by incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” (I Peter 1:18-23). The force of this verse (I John4:19) is not, in some instances true; and in other cases false: no it is always true. Those whom God has loved, He has loved and does love immutably; not because of any good thing for-seen as in them, as faith, and not for any thing done by them, as good works, but because it pleased Him to make them His own peculiar treasure (Psalm 135:4), as it is written: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, (such as the gift of faith, and the gift of repentance: writer) and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.” (James 1:17-18).   

Consider the ramifications, if, God does love all men. Many who say they are preachers of the word of God in our day, say that God does love all men; and that God wants to save all men. They say that Jesus Christ died for all men, without exception or distinction. And they say that all men receive the same call of the Holy Ghost. This is the common belief of men in those countries that are called Christian. Are these things true? To this question the writer must answer, no, they are not true.  God does not love all men, the concept is foreign and also contrary to the word of God: first because there are many clear statements of scripture that declare that there are those who God does not love, as before, here are just a few: God hatest all workers of iniquity, (Psalm 5:5) God abhorred those nations whom He expelled before Israel (Levitius 20:23), God hated Esau (Romans 9:13), “God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them.” (Psalm 53:5). “But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep,” (John 10:26). “Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.” (Romans 11:7-8) “For the scripture saith unto pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, (through the destruction of Pharaoh, his army, and his nation: writer) and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.” (Romans 9:17-18). To continue in Part III. 

See the writers blog at www.hebrews915.blogspot.com hear the truth of the gospel preached at www.13thstbaptist.org webcasting live at listed service times.   

 AJ Ison