OF THE FALL OF MAN, OF SIN, AND OF THE PUNISHMENT THEREOF

Which God was pleased, according to His wise and holy counsel to permit, having purposed to order it to His own glory. – [Please note that this thesis statement is found at the end of paragraph 1, not originally at the beginning. (The Baptist confession of Faith of 1689 pamphlet, p. 16)]

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Although God created man upright and perfect, and gave him a righteous law, which had been unto life had he kept it, and threatened death upon the breach thereof, 1 yet he did not long abide in this honor;  Satan using the subtlety of the serpent to subdue Eve, then by her seducing Adam, who, without any compulsion, did willfully transgress the law of their creation, and the command given to them, in eating the forbidden fruit, 2 which God was pleased, according to His wise and holy counsel to permit, having purposed to order it to His own glory [see note above].

1         

Gen. 2:16-17 | The Lord commanded the man, saying, From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die. 

 John MacArthur   |   Surely Die – To die has the basic idea of separation. It can mean spiritual separation, physical separation, and /or eternal separation. At the moment of their sin, Adam and Eve died spiritually, but because God was merciful they did not die physically until later ([Gen.] 5:5). There is no reason given for this prohibition, other than it was a test [a test of obedience by which our first parents were tried, whether they would be good or bad – obey God or disobey His command – note on Gen. 2:9]. There was nothing magical about that tree, but eating from it after it had been forbidden by God would indeed give man knowledge of evil – since evil can be defined as obeying God. Man already had the knowledge of good.  

2         

Gen. 3:12-13 | The man said, The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate. Then the Lord God said to the woman, What is this you have done? And the woman said, The serpent deceived me, and I ate.

 2 Cor. 11:3 | But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.

 1 Timothy 2:14 | … it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. [See context - 1 Tim. 2:9-15]

Paragraph 2

Our first parents, by this sin, fell from their original righteousness and communion with God, and we in them whereby death came upon all: 3 all becoming dead in sin, 4 and wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of soul and body. 5

3

Rom. 3:23 | for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

POSB – For all have sinned | The word sinned (Gk. – harmartano) is in the Greek aorist tense; that is, it is a once-for-all happening. It looks back to the historical entrance of sin into the world. This means that all men …

. inherited the nature of their sinful fathers and mothers.

. have sinned and are sinners.

. cannot keep from sinning and will sin. 

Galatians 3:22 | But the Scripture has confined [shut up NASB; imprisoned – ESV] all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. [NKJ] – cf. 1 Jn. 1:8, 5:19; Gen. 6:5; 1 Kg. 8:46; Ps. 53:3 (cp. Ps. 14:3); Pr. 20:9; Eccl. 7:20; Is. 53:6, 64:6; Micah 7:2.

4         

Rom 5:12, etc. | Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned –

NOTE:  Federal Head | Adam is considered as the federal head representing all of mankind within his lions. Thus when he sinned against God in the garden we too through him as our representative became sinners – cf. Romans 5:17-19 (in lieu of the context: 5:12-21 – The federal headship of the 1^st Adam and of the 2^nd Adam, that is, Christ in comparison to one another – cf. 1 Corinthians 15:20-26). 

Romans 5:17-19 | (… For if by the one man’s offense death reign through the one, much more those who received abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.  For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. [NKJ]

1 Corinthians 15:21a and 22a | … by man came death … For as in Adam all die … [NKJ] 

5

Titus 1:15 | To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and conscience are defiled.

Gen. 6:5 | Then the Lord saw the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Jer. 17:9 | The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it. [NKJ]

Matthew 15:10b-11, 15-20 | … [Jesus] said … Hear and understand: not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man. … Then Peter answered and said to Him, Explain this parable to us. So Jesus said, Are you also still without understanding? Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands [cf. 15:1-9] does not defile a man. [NKJ]  

Rom. 3:10-19, [20] | … as it is written,           

. There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understand, there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one.

. Their throat is an open grave, with their tongues they keep deceiving, the poison of asps is under their lips, whose mouth is full of cursing an bitterness;

. Their feet are swift to shed blood, destruction and misery are in their paths, and the path of peace they have not known.

. There is no fear of God before their eyes.

. Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

Ephesians 2:1, 5 | And you were dead in your trespasses and sins … even when we were dead in our transgressions …

John MacArthur – None Who Understand | Man is unable to comprehend the truth of God or grasp His standard of righteousness (see Ps. 14:2; 53:3; cf. 1 Cor. 2:14). Sadly, his spiritual ignorance does not result from a lack of opportunity ([Rom.] 1:19, 20; 2:15), but is an expression of his depravity and rebellion (Eph. 4:18).

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They being the root, and by God’s appointment, standing in the room and stead of all mankind, the guilt of the sin was imputed, and corrupted nature conveyed, to all their posterity descending from them by ordinary generation, 6 being now conceived in sin, 7 and by nature children of wrath, 8 the servants of sin, the subjects of death, 9 and all other miseries, spiritual, temporal, and eternal, unless the Lord Jesus set them free. 10

6

Rom. 5:12-19 | Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned – for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed where there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who received the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so, through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.

1 Cor. 15:21-22, 45, 49 | For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. … So also it is written, The first man, Adam, became a living soul. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. … Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.

7

Ps. 51:5 | Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. [ESV]

Job 14:4 | Who can make the clean out of the unclean? No one!

8

Eph. 2:3 | Among them [the sons of disobedience – v. 2] we too all formerly lived in the lust of our flesh, indulging the desires of the  flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

9         

Rom. 6:20 | For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regards to righteousness.

Rom. 5:12 | Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned –

10       

Heb. 2:14-15 | Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He [Jesus – v. 9] Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

1 Thess. 1:[9b]-10 | … you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.

O Death where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin … but … God …giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ | 1 Cor. 15:55-57. [KJV] 

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From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil, 11 do proceed all actual transgressions. 12

Original Corruption – cf. Romans 5:12-19 | (See Ch. 6, P-graph 3, Pt 6 above.)

. Utterly Indisposed | thoroughly, entirely, absolute not willing.

. Disabled | to render incapable; cripple; to render legally incapable.

. Opposite to All Good | contrary in tendency or character; facing or moving the other way 

. Wholly Inclined | completely, totally, exclusively, only to be bent, preference, be disposed.

11       

Rom. 8:7 | because the mind is set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so 

Col. 1:21 | … you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds

John MacArthur | The unbeliever’s problem is much deeper than acts of disobedience, which are merely outward manifestations of inner fleshly compulsions. His basic inclinations and orientation toward gratifying himself – however outwardly religious or moral he may appear – are directly hostile to God. Even the good deeds unbelievers perform are truly a fulfillment of God’s law, because they are produced by the flesh, for selfish reasons, and from a heart that is in rebellion.            

12       

James 1:14-15 | … each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.

Then when lust had conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.

1 John 2:15-16 | Do not love the world or things in the world, if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world.

Matt. 15:19 | For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.

Galatians 5:19-21 | Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissentions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you  beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. [NKJ] – cf. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Colossians 3:5-9; Revelation 21:8.               

Paragraph 5 

The corruption of nature, during this life, does remain in those that are regenerated; 13 and although it be through Christ pardoned and mortified, yet both itself, and the first motions thereof, are truly and properly sin. 14

13

Rom. 7:18, 23 | For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. … but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.

J. Vernon McGee – Romans 5:17-18 | Here we have the conflict of two natures, the old nature and the new nature. …. When the old nature breaks the commandment (in this instance it was coveting), then the new nature agrees with the law that coveting is wrong. Paul was not fighting the Law because he broke it. He was agreeing as a believer that the Law was good. In other words; It is no longer I (new nature) who am working it out, but sin (the old nature [flesh]) living in me. … Let me make it personal. Anything that Vernon McGee does in the flesh, God hates. God won’t have it … When it is of the flesh, it is no good.

Eccles. 7:20 | Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins.

1 John 1:8 | If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.

14

Rom. 7:23-25 | but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.

Gal. 5:17 | … the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things you wish.

NOTE:  There are those in Christendom who claim that they no longer sin. They believe that God has completely sanctified them [set apart from] to the point of not being able to fall into sin. However, in order to keep such of a belief, they are permitted to make mistakes occasionally – which in reality makes a two tier level concerning what is classified as sin and what is classified as only a mistake. But, as the above 1 John 1:8 shows, there is no two tier level at all concerning sin and mistakes, for John says, If we say we have no sin [mistakes – if you so choose], we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. – cf. Jeremiah 17:9.

.  Folks, we still are living in these sinful, corruptible, and perishable bodies and will be in them until either we die or are raptured by the Lord – cf. 1 Corinthians 15:35-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

CLOSING THOT:

As saved sinners – 1 Timothy 1:15, we are to strive to live our lives in a manner that gives glory to God – Romans 6:1-2, confessing our sins to Him – 1 John 1:9, when we stray from the path – Proverbs 16:9, in which He is guiding us – Psalms 119:105, through His providence. For our duty is to fear God and keep His commandments – Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.

OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE

 PROVIDENCE

James P. Boyce [Founder of the Sothern Baptist Theological Seminary] | Providence is … allied to predestination or purpose … The purpose of God is his predetermined plan as to what shall be done in his creation by himself or by others. … Providence is the actual doing, or permitting the things thus purposed, securing the ends thus designed. The purpose … is formed in eternity; the providential acts are performed in time.

John L. Dagg [Author of the first Southern Baptist Manual (Systematic) Theology] | … God is not far from us. He did not, on making the world, leave it to itself, or commit it into other hands; but it is an object of his constant care, and his hand is concerned in all its movements. Whether we look on the right hand, or on the left, we can see where he doth work; and in the display of his wisdom, power, and goodness, which at every moment meets our eyes, we find continued incitements to adore and love. God’s care of his creation, is termed Providence; and includes Preservation and Government. … We can as little understand the act of Providence, as that of creation; but we know that both are acts of God, implying both his will and power. … The objects of God’s Providence are all created things, animate and inanimate, rational and irrational.

Wayne Grudem [Baptist Theologian and Professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School] | We … define God’s providence as follows: God is continually involved with all created things in such a way that he (1) keeps them existing and maintaining the properties with which he created them; (2) cooperates with created things in every action, directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do; and (3) directs them to fulfill his purpose.

Norman Geisler [Former seminary professor for forty-six years, president of Southern Evangelical Seminary in NC and author or coauthor of more than sixty books and hundreds of articles] | The word providence comes from the Latin pro and video, meaning foresight, and by that a careful arrangement prepared before hand for the accomplishment of predetermined ends (A.A. Hodge, OT, 258).

C. D. Cole [Independent Baptist Theologian] | Providence may be defined as God’s government of His creation.

Thomas Watson [Puritan writer] | … What are God’s work of providence? … God’s work of providence are the acts of his most holy, wise, and powerful government of creatures, and of their actions.

Paragraph 1

God the good Creator of all things, in His infinite power and wisdom does uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures and things, 1 from the greatest even to the least, 2 by His most wise and holy providence, to the end for the which they were created, according unto His infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of His own will; to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, infinite goodness, and mercy. 3

1          Heb. 1:3 | And He [vv. 1-2 - God’s Son] is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds [margin lit. – upholding] all things by the word of His power. …  

John MacArthur | Upholds: The universe and everything in it is constantly sustained by the Son’s powerfully effective word (Col. 1:17). The term also conveys  the concept of movement or progress – the Son of God directs all things toward the consummation of all things according [1 Cor. 15:22-28] to God’s sovereign purpose. … 

Job 38:[4], 11 |  [Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?] and I said, thus far you shall come, but no farther; and here shall your proud waves stop? [cf. vv. 38:1-42:2].

The passage of Job 38:1-42:2, should humble every one of us who would think that he/she is well versed in the knowledge of Scripture and understanding of God. How would you fare if you are called on to give an accounting before God? Probably no better than Job, Ch. 42:3 | Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know [ESV].    

Isa. 46:[9b], 10-11 | [… I am God and there is no one like Me,] declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure; calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of My purpose from a far country. Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.

Ps. 135:6 | Whatever the Lord pleases, He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.

NOTE:  Both of these passages declare that God is sovereign and that He does as He has

planned/purposed and accomplishes whatever He pleases to do. [cf. Rom. 9:17-24]

2          Matt. 10:29-31 | Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. [NKJ]

John MacArthur | Jesus was teaching that God providentially controls the timing and circumstances of such insignificant events as the death of a sparrow. Even the number of hairs on our heads is controlled by His sovereign will (v. 30). In other words, divine providence governs even the smallest details and even the most mundane matters. These are powerful affirmations of the sovereignty of God.

3          Eph. 1:11 | … we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.

ESV Study Bible: notes | God had planned it from all eternity. By definition God is sovereign, directing all things freely according to his royal counsel. … God’s predestination give his people tremendous comfort, for they know all who come to Christ do so through God’s enabling grace and appointment.  … every single event that occurs is … predestined by God (2263).  

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Although in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first cause, all things come to pass immutably and infallibly; 4 so that there is not anything befalls any by chance, or without His providence; 5 yet by the same providence He ordered them to fall out according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently. 6

Immutably – unchangeable        /        infallibly – w/o error

4          Acts 2:23 | this Man [Jesus the Nazarene – v. 22], delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.

2 Timothy 1:8-9 | Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord … but join … in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity …

John MacArthur – From all eternity | The same Gk. phrase appears in Titus 1:2. The destiny of God’s chosen was determined and sealed from eternity past (Jn 17:24; cf. Eph 1:4-5; Php 1:29; 1 Pe 1:2). [1845]

5          Prov. 16:33 | The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord. [cf. Acts 1:20b-26; 2:14 - The selecting of Matthias to replace Judas Iscariot]

6          Gen. 8:22 | While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

God destroyed the old earth through the use of the flood waters, i.e. a second cause – so it is still done today.

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God, in his ordinary providence makes use of means, 7 yet is free to work without, 8 above, 9 and against them 10 at His pleasure.

.. Ordinary Providence – not every act of God is a miracle. All matters of life are in submission to His sovereignty. Often the Lord will bring about His providential purpose by using what looks like just ordinary means to us. However, these means (though to us seem just ordinary) are all found in the purview of God’s sovereignty.   

Genesis 45:4-8 | … Joseph said to his brothers, Please come closer to me. I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. … God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 

7          Acts 27:31, [42-43], 44 | Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, unless these men remain in the ship, you yourselves cannot be saved. … [The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape. But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump over board first and make for the land,] and the rest should follow, some on planks, and others on various things from the ship. And it so happened that they were brought safely to land.

Romans 8:28 | … we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

John MacArthur | In His providence. God orchestrates every event in life – even suffering, temptation, and sin – to accomplish both our temporal and eternal benefit … [NASB notes: 1676].

Isa. 55:10-11 | For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, and giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty [void – NKJ/KJV]; but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. [ESV]

Romans 10:8b-10, 13-15, 17 | … The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart – that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. … for whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.

How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent?

Just as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things! … So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ [God – NKJ/KJV].   

8          Hosea 1:7 | But I will have compassion on the house of Judah and deliver them by the Lord their God, and will not deliver them by bow, sword, battle, horses, or horsemen.

9          Rom. 4:19-21 | Without becoming weak in faith he [v. 16 - Abraham] contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. [cf. Hebrews 11:8-12]. 

10        Dan. 3:27 | The satraps, the prefects, the governors and the kings most high officials gathered around and saw in regard to these men that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men nor was the hair of their heads singed, not were their trousers damaged, nor had the smell of the fire even come upon them.

.. Proof Points: 8, 9, & 10 – All demonstrate that God who often uses ordinary means (Ordinary Providence) through His providential workings is not bound to them.

All matters of life are in submission to His sovereignty. Often the Lord will bring about and demonstrate His providential purpose by using means that are considered out of the realm of ordinary measures.

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The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God, so far manifest themselves in His providence, that His determinate counsel extends itself even to the first fall, and all other sinful actions both of angels and men;11 and that not by a bare permission, which also He most wisely and powerfully boundeth [binds], and otherwise ordereth [orders] and governeth [governs],12 in a manifold dispensation to His most holy ends;13 yet so, as the sinfulness of their acts proceedeth [proceeds] only from the creatures, and not from God, who, being most holy and righteous, neither is nor can be the author or approver of sin.14

11        Rom. 11:32-34 | For God has shut up all [context - Jew and Gentile] in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all. Oh, the depths of the riches both of wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has become His counselor? 

J. Vernon McGee | This section is pure praise and is no argument at all, yet it is the greatest argument of all. If we do not understand the why of God’s dealings with Israel, with the Gentiles, and with ourselves, it is not because there is not a good and sufficient reason. The difficulty is with our inability to comprehend the wisdom and ways of God. … God is doing what is best for us. We may not understand the things that happen to us, but we must believe that it is for our good that God allows them. We are like children, and we cannot understand God’s ways. Our circumstances may not always seem to be good, but they come from the “depth of the riches both of wisdom and knowledge of God.” God says to us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:8-9). Oh, how we need to recognize this fact.

2 Sam. 24:1 | Now again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and it incited David against them to say, Go number Israel and Judah.

1 Chron. 21:1 | Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel.

.. Incited David

John MacArthur | The inciting of David to conduct a census was a punishment on Israel from the Lord for some unspecified sins. Perhaps sins of pride and ambition had led him [David] to increase the size of his army unnecessarily and place heavy burdens of support on the people. Whatever the sin, it is clear God was dissatisfied with David’s motives, goals, and actions and brought judgment.

.. Moved David

John Macarthur | Second Samuel 24:1 reports that “the anger of the Lord burned against Israel,” and this “incited” David to take the census. This apparent discrepancy is resolved understanding that God sovereignly and permissively uses Satan to achieve His purposes. … Neither God nor Satan forced David to sin (cf. James 1:13-15), but God allowed Satan to tempt David and he chose to sin. [cf. Job:1:6-22; 2:1-10]

12        2 Kings 19:28 | Because of your [Sennacherib, king of Assyria – v. 20] raging against Me, and because your arrogance has come up to My ears, Therefore I will put My hook in your nose, and My bridle in your lips, and I will turn you back by the way which you came. | cf. Context: vv. 20-28, 32-36] 

Ps. 76:10 | For the wrath of man shall praise You; with a remnant of wrath You will gird Yourself.

.. Bare (Permission) – 1a. lacking a natural, usual, or appropriate covering, 1b. lacking clothing, 1c. unarmed; 2. Open to view: exposed; 3a. unfinished or scantily supplied, 3b. destitute (e.g. of all safeguards); 4a. having nothing left over or added (e.g. necessities of life), … 4c. devoid of amplification or adornment.            

NOTE:  God in His “almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness … manifested … in His providence” does not need nor is He lacking in for anyone’s or anything’s permission to act. Why, because He is sovereign!  

13        Gen. 50:[19]-20 | As for you [Joseph’s brothers – vv. 18-19] you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.

John MacArthur | Joseph’s  wise, theological answer has gone down in history as the classic statement of God’s sovereignty over the affairs of men.

Isa. 10:[5], 6-7, 12 | [Ah, Assyria, the rod of my anger; the staff in their hands my fury!] Against a godless nation I send him, and against the people of my wrath I command him, to take spoil and seize plunder, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. But he does not so intend, and his heart does not so think, but it is in his heart to destroy and to cut off nations not a few … When the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, he will punish the speech of the arrogant heart of the kings of Assyria and the boastful look in his eyes. [ESV]

ESV Study Notes – “he does not so intend, and his heart does not so think” | God uses human evil for his own just purpose, but He does not need humans to intend their cooperation. Events unfold through human intentions but also, more deeply, through the divine intention (cf. Luke 22:22; Acts 2:22-23; 4:27-28). …  Assyrian evil is used by God – “When the Lord has finished all his work” – but [Assyria] is still held accountable by God, down to the very thoughts of the Assyrian king’s heart and the look in his eyes. God will punish Assyria, which fell in 612 B.C. [cf. Romans 9:14-24].  

1 John 2:16 | For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but from the world.

NOTE:  God does not cause us to sin, He is not the author of sin, and he is not the approver of sin. We sin because we wantonly and freely desire to in our fleshly nature which is in bondage to sin and at enmity with God (Romans 8:7) – cf. Romans 7:14-25. 

James 1:13-17 | Let no one say when he is tempted, I am being tempted by God; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

 Yet despite all of this –

. Shall not the judge of all the earth deal justly? | Genesis 18:25. 

. Our answer will be an emphatic – Yes! 

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The most wise, righteous, and gracious God does often times leave for a season His own children to manifold temptations and the corruptions of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled; and to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support upon Himself; and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for other just and holy ends.15  So that whatsoever befalls any of His elect is by His appointment, for His glory, and their good.16

15        2 Chron. 32:[24], 25-26, 31 | [In those days – {cf. chapter context vv. 20-23} – Hezekiah became mortally ill; and he prayed to the Lord, and the Lord spoke to him and gave him a sign {cf. 2 Kings 20:1-11}.] Hezekiah gave no return for the benefit he received, because his heart was proud; therefore wrath came on him and on Judah and Jerusalem. However, Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come on them in the days of Hezekiah. … Even in the matter of the envoys of the rulers of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that had happened in the land, God left him alone only to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart.

God tested Hezekiah to know all that was in his heart –

Believer’s in Christ need to understand that though God does not tempt us to sin [cf. James 1:12-16], He does in His providence allow various trials for the testing of our faith [cf. James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7].    

1 Peter 1:6-7 | In this [vv. 3-5, salvation in Christ Jesus] you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved [m. notes -  distressed] by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ. [NKJ]

2 Cor. 12:7-9 | Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations [context vv. 12:1-10], for this reason to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me – to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

CHAPTER 4

OF CREATION

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In the beginning it pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 1 for the manifestation of the glory of His eternal power, 2 wisdom, and goodness, to create or make the world, and all things therein, whether visible or invisible, in the space of six days, and all very good. 3

.. Please[d] | 1. To give pleasure to; be agreeable to. 2. To be the wish or will of. … 4. To give satisfaction or pleasure. … Syn. Cheer, gladden, delight, rejoice, exhilarate.

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John 1:[1]-3 | In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was

God.

1 John 1:1-3 | What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life -  and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us – what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.

Heb. 1:2 | In these last days [God – v. 1] has spoken to in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.

Colossians 1:3a, 13b, 15-17 | We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ … His beloved Son … He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Job 26:13 | By His breath the heavens are cleared [lit. made beautiful – margin] …

Genesis 1:1-2 | In the beginning God created the heavens and earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the waters of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

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Rom. 1:20 | For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and

divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they

are without excuse.

Wayne Grudem | It is clear that God created his people for his own glory, for he speaks of his sons and daughters as those “whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made” (Isa. 43:7). But it is not only human beings that God created for this purpose. The entire creation is intended to show God’s glory. Even inanimate creation, the stars and sun and moon and sky, testify to God’s greatness, “The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge” (Ps. 19:1-2). The song of heavenly worship in Revelation 4 connects God’s creation of all things with the fact that he is worthy to receive glory from them: 

Revelation 4:11| [The twenty-four elders … saying – v. 10] Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.                          …

When we affirm that God created the universe to show his glory, it is important that we realize that he did not need to create it.  We should not think that God needed more glory than he had within the Trinity for all eternity, or that he was somehow incomplete without the glory that he would receive from the created universe. … Rather, we must affirm that the creation of the universe was a totally free act of God. It was not a necessary act but something that God chose to do. … God desired to create the universe to demonstrate his excellence. The creation shows his great wisdom and power, and ultimately it shows all of his other attributes as well. It seems that God created the universe, then, to take delight in his creation, for as creation shows forth various aspects of God’s character, to that extent he takes delight in it.

Psalm 19:1-6 | The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat. [ESV]

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Col. 1:16 | For by Him [Christ] all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible

and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things have been created

through Him and for Him.

Gen. 1:31 | God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

NOTE: At this juncture here it seems to be best to take this as literal in its text.

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After God had made all other creatures, He created man, male and female, 4 with reasonable and immortal souls, 5 rendering them fit unto that life to God for which they were created; being made after the image of God, in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness; 6 having the law of God written in their hearts, 7 and power to fulfill it, and yet under a possibility of transgressing, being left to the liberty of their own will, which was subject to change. 8

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Gen. 1:27 | God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and

female He created them.

5

Gen. 2:7 | Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils

the breath of life; and man became a living being [lit. soul – margin].

6

Eccles. 7:29 | Behold, I have found only this, that God made men upright, but they have sought

out many devices.

Gen. 1:26 | Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.

James P. Boyce | In the first account of creation God is represented as saying: Let us make man in our image, after our likeness – Gen. 1:26. A natural question has arisen whether there is any difference between the words image and likeness. … The two are merely synonymous, and are used in accordance with a common Hebrew mode of speech.

A more important question is as to what is meant by that image or likeness

1.      There is certainly no reference to the bodily form of man. God , as pure spirit, has no body in the likeness or image of which man could be created. … It is as the dwelling-place of that spirit, and because of its intimate association with the life existent in that body, that any sacredness can be attached to the bodily form.

2.      The image and likeness consists in the possession of a spiritual nature. It is in this respect that man is like God, who is called the God of the spirits of all flesh (Num. 16:22; 27:16); and the Father of spirits (Heb. 12:9). …

(A) He is a personal being with individual conscious existence and action.

(B)  He has intellectual powers by which he knows all things within the sphere of his being.

(C)  He has the power of contrary choice which constitutes him a free agent … to which his own nature gives prevalence.

(D) He has a moral nature, or a nature with reference to which we can say ought and ought not.

(E)  This moral nature as originally existent must have been …w/ taint of sin, w/o tendencies to sin, inclined towards the right, with a holy taste for the holiness of God … accompanied by readiness to obey the law of God, and perception of man’s duty to serve him. [cf. Eccl. 12:13]

(F)   Perpetuity of existence also belongs to the nature of created spirit … This is commonly called immortality.

Wayne Grudem | Out of all the creatures God made, only one creature, man, is said to be made in the image of God. What does that mean? We may use the following definition: The fact that man is in the image of God means that man is like God and represents God.

When God says, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness (Gen. 1:26), the meaning is that God plans to make a creature similar to himself. Both the Hebrew word for image (tselem) and the Hebrew word for likeness (demut) refer to something that is similar but not identical to the thing it represents or in as image of. The word image can also be used of something that represents something else.

Theologians have spent much time attempting to specify one characteristic of man, or a very few, in which the image of God is primarily seen. Some have thought that the image of God consists in man’s intellectual ability, others in his power to make moral decisions and willing choices. Others have thought that the image of God referred to man’s original moral purity, or his creation as male and female (see Gen. 1:27), or his dominion over the earth.

In this discussion it would be best to focus attention primarily on the meanings of the words image and likeness. As we have seen, these terms had quite clear meanings to the original readers. When we realize that the Hebrew words for image and likeness simply inform the original readers that man was like God, and would in many ways represent God, much of the controversy over the meaning of image of God is seen to be a search for too narrow and too specific a meaning. When Scripture reports that God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness (Gen. 1:26), it simply would have meant to the original readers, Let us make man to be like us and to represent us.

Because image and likeness had these meanings, Scripture does not need to say something like,

The fact that man is in the image of God means that man is like God in the following ways: intellectual ability, moral purity, spiritual nature, dominion over the earth, creativity, ability to make ethical choices, and immortality [or some similar statement].

Such an explanation is unnecessary, not only because the terms had clear meanings, but also because no such list could do justice to the subject: the text only needs to affirm that man is like God, and the rest of Scripture fills in more details to explain this.

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Rom. 2:14-15 | For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the

Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law

written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or

else defending them,

John MacArthur | Without knowing the written law of God, people in pagan society generally value and attempt to practice its most basic tenets. This is normal for cultures instinctively to value justice, honesty, compassion, and goodness toward others, reflecting the divine law written in the heart. … Their practice of some good deeds and their aversion to some evil ones demonstrate an innate knowledge of God’s law – a knowledge that will actually witness against them on the day of judgment. …

Conscience | [is] that instinctive sense of right and wrong that produces guilt when violated. In addition to an innate awareness of God’s law, men have a warning system that activates when they choose to ignore or disobey the law.

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Gen. 3:6 | When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the

eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she

gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.

James 1:13-16 | Let no one say when he is tempted, I am being tempted by God; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. – [cf. Genesis 3:8-13 | … the woman said, The serpent deceived me …; 1 Timothy 2:9-15]

Charles C. Ryrie | To tempt is to test, try, prove, or solicit for evil. … In this verse the word means – a solicitation to evil – and this James says, is not from God but from man’s own inner lust (v. 14). Any attempt at self-excuse is based on ignorance both of God and of the nature of temptation.

1 John 2:15-17a | Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in Him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lust …

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Besides the law written in their hearts, they received a command not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, 9 which while they kept, they were happy in their communion with God, and had dominion over the creatures. 10

9

Gen. 2:17 | … from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day

that you eat from it you will surely die.

Matthew Henry | Though Adam was a very great man, a very good man, and a very happy man, yet the Lord God commanded him; and the command was no disparagement to his greatness, no reproach to his goodness, nor any diminution at all to his happiness. Let us acknowledge God’s right to rule us, and our own obligations to be ruled by him; and never allow any will of our own in contradiction to, or competition with, the holy will of God.

. Surely Die – (John MacArthur) | To die has the basic idea of separation. It can mean spiritual separation, physical separation, and/or eternal separation. At the moment of their sin, Adam and Eve died spiritually, but because God was merciful they did not die physically until later (5:5). There is no reason given for this prohibition, other than it was a test [test of obedience – obey God or disobey His command (note on 2:9)]. There was nothing magical about that tree, but eating from it after it had been forbidden by God would indeed give man the knowledge of evil – since evil can be defined as disobeying God. Man already had the knowledge of good.

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Gen. 1:26,28 | Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and

let them rule over the fish of the sea and over  the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all

the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. … God blessed them; and God

said to them, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of

the sea and over the birds of the sky and over living thing that moves on the earth.

Before the Fall –  Innocence and Fellowship

Genesis 2:8-25; 3:8 | The Lord God planted a garden in eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. Out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food.  … The Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. … And they were both naked, and the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. … And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day …

After the Fall – Fear and Separation (Death)

Genesis 3: 6-11 | When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the three was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, Where are you? He said, I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself. And He said, Who told you that you were naked?  Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?

Romans 5:12 | … through one man sin entered in the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned                 

Romans 8:20 | … creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope

John MacArthur | Because of man’s sin, God cursed the physical universe (Gen. 3:17-19), and now, no part of creation entirely fulfills God’s original purpose.

CHAPTER 3

OF GOD’S DECREE

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God hath decreed in himself, from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely and unchangeably, all things, whatsoever comes to pass;1 yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin nor hath fellowship with any therein;2 nor is violence offered to the will of the creature, nor yet is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established;3 in which appears His wisdom in disposing all things, and power and faithfulness in accomplishing His decree.4

The Decrees of God –

James P. Boyce

[M]ay be defined as that just, wise, and holy purpose or plan by which eternally, and within himself, he determines all things whatsoever that come to pass.

Wayne Grudem

The decrees of God are the eternal plans of God whereby, before the creation of the world, he determined to bring about everything that happens.

NOTE: Here we understand this to be God’s decisions [i.e. his eternal purpose and plans] before creation.

Psalms 148:1-6 |

1 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights!

2 Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts!

3 Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all stars of light!

4 Praise Him, highest heavens, and the waters that are above the heaven!

5 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created.

6 He also established them forever and ever; He has made a decree which will not pass away.

Romans 8:28 | … we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Acts 17:24, 26 | … God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth … He made from one man every nation  of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation[.]

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Isa. 46:[9]-10 | Remember the former things long past, for I am God, and there is no other; I am

God and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times

things which have not been done, saying, My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish

all My good pleasure[.]

Eph. 1:11-[12] | … we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were to first hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.

Heb. 6:17 | In the same way, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed [guaranteed – margin note] with an oath[.]

Hebrew 6:13-20 [Context] For when God made the promise to Abraham [cf. Gal. Ch. 3], since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, I will surely bless you and I will surely multiply you. And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise. For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute. In the same way, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed [guaranteed – margin note] with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have  taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

.. Promise – 1. An assurance given by one person to another that the former will or will not perform a specified act, 2. Reasonable ground for hope or expectation, esp. of future excellence or satisfaction.

. Covenant [Promise] – 1. An agreement entered into by two or more persons or parties; a compact, 2. Theol. The promise of God to bless those who obey him of fulfill some other condition.

. Covenant – An agreement between two people or groups, particularly the agreement between God and His people that promised His blessings in return for their obedience and devotion (Gen. 15). Through His sacrificial death, Jesus became the mediator of a new covenant, bringing salvation and eternal life to all who trust in Him (Heb. 10:12-17).

Rom. 9:15,18 | For He says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. … So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.

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James 1:13 | Let no one say when he is tempted, I am being tempted by God; for God cannot be

tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.

.. Tempted – (Gk. peirazo) / Strong # 3985 – means: 1. to try, temp, assay [testing to prove or examination]; 2. to test, try, prove … Note:  Here James in 1:13-15 | refers to temptation, or trial, arising within, from uncontrolled appetites and from evil compassions. Such temptation does not proceed from God, yet does God regard His people while they endure it, and by it tests and approves them. | – cf. Esther 4:13-14; Job 1:6-22, 2:1-7.

James 1:14-15 | But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.

1 John 1:5 | This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

James 1:17 | Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

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Acts 4:27-28 | For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus,

who You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of

Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.

J. P. Boyce | God’s degrees are properly defined to be God’s purpose or plan. … Any such plan or purpose of God must have been formed eternally, and within Himself. … By this plan or purpose God determined all things which it included. … The knowledge of the futurity of any event, over which any one has absolute control, is the result of His purpose, not its cause. And, as God has such absolute control over all things, his knowledge that they will be, must proceed from His purpose that they shall be. … This plan, or purpose, includes all things whatsoever that come to pass; not some things, but all things; not all things in general, but each thing in particular. … The Scriptures recognize both the sovereignty of God, and the free agency, and accountability of man. Consciousness assures us of the latter. The nature of God … proves the former. The Bible makes no attempt to reconcile the two.

Acts 2:22-23 | Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know – this man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.

John 19:11 | Jesus answered, You [Pilate – v. 10] would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.

Romans 9:14-24 | What shall we say then [in regards to vv. 10-13]? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! For he says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. So then he has mercy on whomever he will.

You will say to me then, Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will? But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, Why have you made me like this? Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?

What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory – even us whom he called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? [ESV]

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Num. 23:19 | God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent; has

He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

.. God hath decreed … from all eternity …  His wisdom in disposing all things –

. disposing | 1. To put into a receptive frame of mind for. 2. To condition toward some; esp. to susceptible. 3. To put or set in a particular arrangement or position. 4. To put into proper, definitive, or final shape; settle. 5. To control the course of events. – to dispose of – 1. To attend to; deal with. … 4. To throw away.

NOTE: Thus here, the article is stating that God in His eternal sovereignty has decreed the disposing (i.e. according to the first portion of the definition) of all things in accordance to His divine wisdom.

Romans 11:33-34, 36 | Oh, the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways. For who has know the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? … For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen [cf. Romans 8:28 | then consider: 1 Samuel 15:29 | … the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind; w/in its context of vv. 1-35.]

Eph. 1:3-5 | Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as he chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention [literally: good pleasure – margin note] of His will, [v. 6] to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

.. God hath … from all eternity … established … His … power and faithfulness in accomplishing His decree –

NOTE: God’s plan is efficacious [producing or capable of producing an intended effect]. What he has purposed from eternity will surely come to pass. The Lord says, “Surely, as I have planned, so will it be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand … For the LORD Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?’ (Isa. 14:24, 27.” He will not change his mind, nor will he discover hitherto unknown considerations that will cause him to alter his intentions. “My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please,” says the Lord in Isaiah 46:10. Because the counsel of the Lord is from all eternity and is perfect, it will never fade nor be replaced; it endures forever: “But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations” (Ps. 33:11).

Eph. 1:9 | He [God the Father] made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him [Jesus] with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and the things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.

Paragraph 2.

Although God knoweth whatsoever may or can come to pass, upon all supposed conditions,5 yet hath He not decreed anything, because He foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions.6

Wayne Grudem [expanded] | The decrees of God are the eternal plan of God whereby, before the creation of the world, he determined to bring about everything that happens. This doctrine is similar to the doctrine of providence, but here we are thinking about God’s decisions before the world was created, rather than his providential actions in time. His providential actions are the outworking of the eternal decrees that he made long ago.

J. P. Boyce | … the more comprehensive, and, at the same time, the more definite is the plan of God, the more worthy is it of infinite wisdom.  Indeed … the conclusion that God cannot be what he is, without forming such a purpose or plan.

5

Acts 15:18 | Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. [KJV]

NOTE: This passage from the council at Jerusalem concerning the requirements for salvation of Gentiles. James here is declaring that the salvation of the Gentiles is according to God’s decree as found in the words of the Prophets. This particular passage is a quote from Isaiah 45:21. The context, Ch. 45:1-25, concerns God’s sovereignty and power in exercising His eternal decrees concerning Cyrus (v. 1), Israel (v. 25, etc.), and the Gentiles (v. 22).

6

Rom. 9:11,13,16,18 | (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or

evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), … As it s written, Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated. … So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. … Therefore He has mercy on who He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. [NKJ] – cf. Ch. 8:29-30.

C.D. Cole | [Quoting C.W. Hodge]: The word foreknowledge has two meanings –

[1] It is a term used in theology to denote the prescience, [knowledge of events before they take place; foreknowledge], or foresight of God, that is His knowledge of the entire course of events which are future from the human point of view; | Acts 15:18 above.

[2] it is also used in AV and RV to translate the Greek word pro-gi-nos-kein and prognosis in the NT, in which instances the word ‘foreknowledge’ approaches closely the idea of foreordination. In the sense of prescience foreknowledge is an aspect of God’s omniscience. God’s knowledge, according to the Scriptures, is perfect, that is, it is omniscience. | Romans 9:11, 13, 16, 18 above.

Paragraph 3.

By the decree of God, for the manifestation of His glory, some men and angels are predestinated, or foreordained to eternal life through Jesus Christ,7 to the praise of His glorious grace;8 others being left to act in their sin to their just condemnation, to the praise of His glorious justice.9

7

I Tim. 5:21| I solemnly charge you [Timothy] in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of

His chosen angels, to maintain these principles [vv. 17-20] without bias, doing nothing in a spirit

of partiality.

Matt. 25:34 | Then the King will say to those [nations - v. 32] on His right, Come, you who are

blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

1 Peter 1:1-2 | Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, Bithynia, who are chosen [elect – KJV, ESV] according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: may grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.

.. Predestinated or Foreordained – Predestination may be defined as the purpose of God from eternity respecting future events. … [or more simply put:] Predestination is the eternal determination or purpose of the Divine will.

Ephesians 1:11 | In Him [v. 9 – Christ] we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will. [ESV]

T.P. Simmons – quoting:

James P. Boyce | “God of His own purpose, has from eternity determined to save a definite number of mankind, as individuals, not for or because of any merit or work of theirs, nor of any value to Him of them; but of His own good pleasure.” (J.P. Boyce, Abstract of Systematic Theology, p. 347)

A.H. Strong | “Election is that eternal act of God, by which in His sovereign pleasure, and  on account of no foreseen merit in them, He chooses certain ones out of he number of sinful men to be the recipients of the special grace of His Spirit and to be made voluntary partakers of Christ’s salvation. (A.H. Strong, Systematic Theology, p. 427)

8

Eph. 1:5-6, [12,14] | He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself,

according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He

freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. … to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ

would be to the praise of His glory. … who [v.13 – Spirit of promise] is given as a pledge of our

inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

John Phillips | Our acceptance by the Father in the Beloved is “to the praise of the glory of his grace.” God’s glory is greatly enhanced by the grace He has shown us. It was His idea, not ours. It was His plan to seek us, save us, sanctify us, and seat us in glory. The endless ages of eternity will prove to be all too short a time to sing His praises for such matchless love and grace.

NOTE: It is all about Him, not us!

9

Rom. 9:22-23 | What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power

known, endured with much patience vessels prepared for destruction? And He did so to make

known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory[.]

Jude v. 4 | For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Acts 2:22-23 | Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know – this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. [ESV]

NOTE: Man left in his fallen condition will seek out the desires of his heart [Jeremiah 17:9 | … deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked …; Isaiah 44:9-20 |… a deluded, heart has led him astray …; John 3:19-20 | loving darkness more than the light [and will not attempt to leave it on his own volition]; and Romans 1:18-32 … [taking] pleasure with those who practice their wicked ways].

Ephesians 2:1-7 | … we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God … even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ by the grace you have been saved … so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. [ESV]

Paragraph 4.

These angels and men thus predestinated and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed, and their number so certain and definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished.10

NOTE: This paragraph refers back to the statement from Paragraph 3 | “some men and angels are predestinated, or foreordained to eternal life through Jesus Christ … others being left to act in their sin to their just condemnation [both groups] to the praise of his [glory]…”

10

2 Tim. 2:19 | Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, the Lord knows

those who are His, and everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.

I Tim. 5:21| I solemnly charge you [Timothy] in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels …

John Gill | Of the confirmation of the elect angels; for as God chose them, he confirmed them in that state of holiness and happiness; as soon as he created them, he confirmed them in the providence of God, … Col. 1:16-17 … their confirmation is owing to the free favor and good will of God, choosing them, to a state of holiness and happiness; and to his putting them under the care and charge of Christ, as the Head of all principality and power, 1 Tim. 5:21; Col. 2:10. … [As to] the sin and fall of non-elect angels … they kept not their first estate, and abode not in the truth | Jude v. 6 … [aligning themselves with Satan/devil, the father of  lies who does not stand in the truth, John 8:44].

John 13:18 | I [Jesus] do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, he who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.

John 6:35-40 | [35] Jesus said … I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. [36] But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. [37] All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. [38] For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. [39] This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. [40] For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.

Matthew 7:21-23 | Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness. [ESV]

Cf. – Matthew 25:41; Romans 9:13-24; and Isaiah 46:9-10.

Paragraph 5.

Those of mankind that are predestinated to life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to His eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of His will, hath chosen in Christ unto everlasting glory, out of His mere free grace and love,11 without any other thing in the creature as a condition or cause moving Him thereunto.12

The Baptist Faith and Message, 2000 | V. God’s Purpose of Grace

Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, justifies,

sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of man, and

comprehends all the means in connection with the end. It is the glorious display of God’s

sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It excludes boasting

and promotes humility.

All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and

sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to

the end. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they grieve

the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, and bring reproach on the cause of Christ and

temporal judgments on themselves; yet they shall be kept by the power of God through

faith unto salvation.

11

Eph. 1:4, 9, 11 | [J]ust as He [God the Father – v. 3] chose us in Him [Christ] before the

foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love … He made

known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him

… we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who

works all things after the counsel of His will.

.. Chose | Gk. exelexato [root: - eklegomai], middle-passive deponent verb / Strong # 1586 – means: to choose, set apart, elect … can… signify the electing activity of God according to his divine purpose and grace. … God’s sovereign purpose is manifest in his choosing of believers before the creation of the world (Eph. 1:4) …

Deponent Verb – is a verb that is [in the lexical form] middle or passive, but its [voice] meaning is always active. It can never have a passive meaning.

. Voice – is the relationship between the subject and the verb.

. Active – the subject does the action of the verb.

. Passive – the subject receives the action of the verb.

Rom. 8:30 | … these whom [God foreknew – v. 29] He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these who He justified, He also glorified.

.. Foreknew | Gk. proegno / Strong # 4267- means: to know before.

.. Predestined | Gk. proorisen / Strong # 4309 – means: to predestine; choose, determine, set apart beforehand.

.. Called | Gk. ekalesen (root: kaleo) / Strong # 2564 – means: to call anyone, invite, summon … is used particularly of the divine call to partake of the blessings of redemption.

.. Justified | Gk. edikaiosen / Strong # 1344 – means: to declare righteous, justify. | To deem to be right, signifies in the NT to show to be right or righteous; in the passive voice, to be justified. | From a religious viewpoint … rightly related to God.

.. Glorified | Gk. edoxasen (root: doxazo) / Strong # 1392 – means: (a) to magnify, to extol, to praise, (b) to do honor to, to make glorious.

2 Tim. 1:9 | [W]ho [God – v. 8] has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity.

NOTE:  v.8 | The context here shows Paul instructing Timothy (us Christians) not to be ashamed of our Lord or of me (His servants), but instead join in suffering for the gospel according to the power [cf. Romans 1:16-17] of God … who has saved us and called us -

.. With a holy calling,

.. Not according to our works

.. but according to His own purpose and grace

.. Which was granted to us in Christ Jesus from all eternity

John Phillips | [Paul] reminded Timothy of his conversion and his call. The God who controls all of the factors of space and time is the God “who hath saved us.”

I Thess. 5:9 | For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

John MacArthur | The word destined expresses the inexorable outworking of God’s sovereign plan for believer’s salvation.

12

Rom. 9:13,16 | Just as it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. … So then it does not depend

on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.

NOTE:  v. 10-11 | … when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad – in order that God’s purpose of election might continue [NAS – stand, margin: remain], not because of works but because of him who calls – she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” [ESV] … cf. proof-text.

.. From the context (v. 10-16), it shows that God’s election stands because of His sovereignty, not the will of man own choosing.

Eph. 2:[4]-5,12 | But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) … remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

NOTE: Why has God been pleased to save some of fallen men? – Simply put because of His agape (ajgavph), i.e. unconditional, love.

Ephesians 1:4b-6 | In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

John 3:16 | For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten on, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

1 John 4:19 | We love Him,* because He first loved us. [NKJ]

* The word “Him” is not found in the traditional Greek text (Alexandrian and Sinaticus) which is used for most modern translations – NAS, ESV, NIV, HCS, etc. But the word “Him” is found in the Greek text of the Majority Text (most similar to the Textus Receptus or Received Text of 1516 by Stephanus (i.e., Robert Estienne) which is used for the KJV and NKJ translations.

Paragraph 6.

As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so He hath, by the eternal and most free purpose of His will, foreordained all the means thereunto;13* wherefore they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ,14 are effectually called unto faith in Christ, by His Spirit working in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified,15 and kept by His power through faith unto salvation;16 neither are any other redeemed by Christ, or effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.17

13

1 Pet. 1:2 | [A]ccording to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the

Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: may grace and peace be yours in the

fullest measure.

2 Thess. 2:13 | … we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

.. Sanctifying / Sanctification |Gk. hagiasmo (root: haiasmos) / Strong # 38 – means: separation [i.e., set-part] to God. … is also used in NT of the separation of the believer from evil things and ways. This sanctification is God’s will for the believer.

Wayne Grudem | Sanctification is a progressive work of God and man that makes us more and more free from sin and like Christ in our actual lives.

*Romans 8:28 | And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose – [cf. Romans 8:31-19].**

*Acts 17:26 | [God] made one from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and boundaries of their habitation.**

**These verses: Acts 17:26 and Romans 8:28, should not be overlooked here as appropriate proof-text for this section due to their explicit statements concerning the sovereignty of God’s interaction with His creatures and creation in all matters.

14

1 Thess. 5:9-10 | For God has not destined [appointed – KJV] us for wrath, but for obtaining

salvation through Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will

live together with Him.

.. Destined [appointed – KJV] | Gr. ethesto | 2^nd aorist verb*** middle indicative 3S of the root: tithemi / Strong # 5087 – translated as: to put, to set, appointed, committed, ordained, purposed, lay, etc.

*** 2^nd Aorist Verb | the aorist [verb] indicates an undefined action normally occurring in the past. … This means that in translation you will normally use the simple form of the English past tense: “I studied”, not, “I was studying.”

15

Rom. 8:30 | … these whom [foreknown of God – v. 29] He predestined, He also called; and

these whom He called, He also justified; and these who He justified, He also glorified.

NOTE: For the definition on the 1^st Aorist Active Verbs* translated as Foreknew, Predestined, Called, Justified, and Glorified see the notes on P5, p. 45.

* 1^st Aorist Active | The aorist active [verb] is translated with the simple English past indicating undefined action. “I studied”. Remember that aspect is primary, and all the aorist tells you is that an event occurred; it tells you nothing more about the aspect of the event.

NOTE: Concerning the grammatical / syntax difference between a 1^st Aorist tense and a 2^nd Aorist tense verb translation see below:

.. The difference between a 1^st aorist and a 2^nd aorist | The Greek has two different ways of forming the aorist tense, somewhat as English has two ways of forming the past tense. The Greek tense parallel to the English “regular” formation is called the first aorist while the “irregular” is called the second aorist.

. English Regular and Irregular Verbs | Verbs take different forms to show time of action and other kinds of information. … Every verb has four basic forms called principal parts: (1) the present [talk or sing], (2) the present participle [is talking or is singing], (3) the past [talked or sang], and (4) the past participle [(has/have) talked or (has/have) sung]. … The past and past participle of a regular verb, like “talk”, are formed by adding –ed or –d (depending on the ending of the word) to the present. … The past and past participle of an irregular verb, like sing, are formed in some way other than by adding –ed or –d to the present.

NOTE: Greek has two ways to form the aorist. There is no difference in meaning between the two, on in the form.

2 Thess. 2:13 | … we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

. God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation | The Father chose you.

. Though sanctification by the Spirit | The Holy Spirit set you apart to God.

. Faith in the truth | Christ is the way, truth, and the life for you.

16

1 Pet. 1:5 | [W]ho [the born again in Jesus Christ – v. 3] by the power of God are being guarded

through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time [NKJ].

. Power | Gk. dynamei (noun dative, feminine, singular) / Strong # 1411 – means: the word literally means power. Able to produce a strong effect, power, might, strength … opposite of weakness.

Galatians 1:13-14 | In Him [Christ v. 12], you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation – having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

Ephesians 4:30 | Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

. Are Being Guarded | Gk. phrouroumenous (present passive participle verb, accusative masculine plural) / Strong # 5432 – means: garrison, guard; figuratively protect, keep; in a transferred sense …

NOTE: Here the present passive verbal participle is telling the reader that God is doing the present guarding action on the one who [the indirect object] is being guarded passively, i.e., those who are born again in Jesus Christ (v. 3).

17

John 10:[25]-26-[30] | Jesus answered them, I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I

do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. … [26] But you do not believe because you are not

of My sheep. … My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give

eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them of my hand. My

Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of

the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.

John 17:9 | I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours[.]

John 6:64 | … there are some of you [many of the five thousand who were miraculously fed] who do not believe. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him.

NOTE: God not only protects His own. He knows His own. He chooses His own. He calls His own. He justifies His own. He glorifies His own. He keeps His own. – cf. Romans 8:28-39.

Paragraph 7.

The doctrine of the high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care, that men attending the will of God revealed in His Word, and yielding obedience thereunto, may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured of their eternal election;18 so shall this doctrine afford matter of praise,19 reverence, and admiration of God, and of humility,20 diligence, and abundant consolation to all that sincerely obey the gospel.21

.. Predestination (Predestine) |

. Dictionary | Theo. – means: To foreordain by divine decree or purpose.

. Lexicon | Gk. proorizo – verb / Strong # 4309 – means: to predestine; choose, determine, set apart beforehand. It is derived from pro, meaning before or ahead of, and orizo, meaning to appoint, decide, determine.

God is always the one doing the action of this verb. [cf. Acts 4:28; Eph. 1:5, 11; Rom. 8:29-30; 1 Cor. 2:7] … These eternal purposes of God are a foregone conclusion because they are grounded in his predetermined will. This is why the eighteenth century theologian Jonathan Edwards referred to God’s predestining of believers along with his other saving acts listed in Rom. 8:29-30 as links in the inviolable [not to be violated or broken] chain of redemption. Some people struggle with the concept of predestination as it seems to conflict with their supposed personal free will, but the doctrine is clearly taught in Scripture.

18

1 Thess. 1:4-5 | [K]nowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you; for our gospel did not

come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just

as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

2 Pet. 1:10 | Therefore, brethren. Be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble[.]

. choice (chose, chosen) | Gk. eklogen – noun [NASF] / Strong # 1589 – means: a picking out, selection, choosing … In 1 Thess. 1:4, your election [KJV] refers not to the church collectively, [this is in contrast to John MacArthur’s Study Notes] but to individuals constituting it; the apostle’s assurance of their election gives reason for his thanksgiving. Believers are to give the more diligence to make their calling and election sure, by the exercise of the qualities and graces which make them fruitful in the knowledge of God, 2 Peter 1:10.

19

Eph. 1:6 | [T]o the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the

Beloved.

. Praise | The ultimate purpose of election is the glory of God (cf. vv. 12, 14; Php 2:13; 2 Th 1:11-12; [Rom 9:10b-24]).

Rom. 11:33 | Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!

. Riches of Wisdom and Knowledge | Unsearchable Judgments | Unfathomable Ways | God’s purposes and decrees … beyond human understanding (cf. Ps 36:[5]-6).

20

Rom. 11:5-6, 20 | In the same way [v. 2] then, there has also come to be at the present time a

remnant according to God’s gracious choice. But if it is by grace, it is no long on the basis of

works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. … Quite right, they [Israel] were broken off for their

unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear[.] – [cf. in context vv. 11-32]

Ephesians 2:8-9 | For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Titus 3:5 | not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. [NKJ]

Hebrews 12:2a | fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith

Romans 12:3 | For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. [NJK]

21

Luke 10:20 | Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice

that your names are recorded in heaven. [cf. context: vv. 17-20]

Philippians 3:1-11 | Finally, my brother, rejoice in the Lord … Whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gains Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith … [ESV]

NOTE: What would someone exchange for his soul? – cf. Matt. 16:24-26.

Chapter 2

OF GOD AND OF THE HOLY TRINITY

Paragraph 1.

The Lord our God is but one only living and true God;1 whose subsistence is in and of Himself,2 infinite in being and perfection; whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but Himself;3 a most pure spirit,4 invisible, without body, parts, or passions, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto;5 who is immutable,6 immense,7 eternal,8 incomprehensible, almighty,9 every way infinite, most holy,10 most wise, most free, most absolute; working all things according to the counsel of His own immutable and most righteous will,11 for His own glory;12 most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him,13 and withal most just and terrible in His judgments,14 hating all sin,15 and who will by no means clear the guilty.16

Genesis 1:1 | In the beginning God …

T. P. Simmons

The Bible begins by assuming and declaring the existence of God, without undertaking to prove it.

John Gill (1697-1771)

I shall begin with the Being of God … which is the foundation of all religion; for if there is no God, religion is a vain thing; and it matters not neither what, we believe, nor what we do; since there is no superior Being to who we are accountable for either faith or practice.

C. D. Cole | “The Being of God”

We have no intention of making labored and elaborate arguments for the existence of God. We start where the Bible starts [cf. – Genesis 1:1]. The Bible assumes the existence of God, and we assume that our readers will do the same.

THEME:  God is an awesome God!

1

1 Cor. 8:4, 6 | Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one. … yet for us  there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.

John MacArthur | The stone, precious metal, or wood is real, but there is no god behind it. The

image is not of anything that really exists. It only reflects the imagination of the one who

designed it, or the impersonation of the demon who deceives through it ([1 Corinthians]

10:20).

Deut. 6:4 | Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!

.. cf. – vv. 5-6 | You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.

2

Jer. 10:10 | But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King at His

wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure His indignation.

Isa. 48:12 | Listen to Me, O Jacob, even Israel whom I called; I am He, I am the first, I am also the last.

Job 5:8-9 | But as for me, I would seek God, and I would place my cause before God; Who does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number. – cf. Romans 11:33-36.

3

Exod. 3:14 | God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons

of Israel, I AM has sent me to you.

.. I AM – (Hb. hayah – haw-yaw) means: to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic …) Strong # 1961.

A.W. Pink | (Quoting a Dr. Pentecost), writes: I am … contains each tense of the verb – to be – and might be translated, I was, I am, and I shall always continue to be.

Douglas K. Stuart | Here the revelation of the name Yahweh is first given in its first-person form, ahyeh … understood by the translators of the LXX as the simple imperfect tense of the verb “to be” … thus … I am … which means “I cause to be.” The name should thus be understood as referring to Yahweh’s being the creator and sustainer of all that exists and thus the Lord of both creation and history, all that is and all that is happening – a God active and present in historical affairs.

4

John 4:24 | God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.

.. Spirit – (Gk. pneuma – Str. #4151) means: spirit, wind, breath, inner life.

John MacArthur | This verse represents the classical statement on the nature of God as Spirit. The phrase means that God is invisible (Col 1:15; 1 Ti 1:17; Heb 11:27) as opposed to the physical or material nature of man ([Jn] 1:18; 3:6). The word order of this phrase puts an emphasis on “spirit,” and the statement is essentially emphatic. Man could never comprehend the invisible God unless He revealed Himself, as He did in Scripture and the Incarnation.

5

1 Tim. 1:17 | Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory

forever and ever. Amen.

.. Eternal – existing with beginning or end; forever existence

.. Immortal – not subject to death; living forever; deathless

.. Invisible – not visible; not capable of being seen

.. The Only – in on manner or for one purpose alone | solely, exclusively | alone in its class; standing alone by reason of superior excellent

Deut. 4:15-16 | So watch yourselves carefully, since you did not see any form on the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb from the midst of the fire, so that you do not act corruptly and make a graven image for yourselves in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female

.. The 3^rd Commandment – cf. Exodus 20:4; Deuteronomy 5:8 | You shall not make for yourself any idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or in the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.

6

Who is immutable –

.. Immutable – not mutable; unchanging; unalterable

..  Mutable – capable of or subject to change

Mal. 3:6 | For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not

consumed.

.. Consumed – to destroy; to use up; to squander – i.e., thoroughly

Richard Taylor and E. Clendenen | The verse [Mal. 3:6] may be translated … “Because, I Yahweh, have not changed, you, the sons of Jacob, have not perished.” The point is that if Yahweh were the kind of unfair and unfaithful God they charge him with being … he would have put an end to them long ago. … Though [they] may show contempt for the covenant [context: between God and Abraham/Isaac/Jacob], the Lord will never violate … his own covenant. What he has promised [cf. Mal. 1:1-3; Ro. 9:10-24] by oath stands.

7

1 Kings 8:27 | But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven

cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built!

Jer. 23:23 | Am I a God who is near, declares the LORD, and not a God far off?

.. Immense – having no limits; infinite.

Psalms 139:7-8 | Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.

8

Ps. 90:2 | Before  the mountains were born or You gave birth to the earth and the world, even

from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

.. Eternal – neither beginning or end (everlasting to everlasting).

Daniel 7:13 | … Ancient of Days …

Psalm 102:25-27 | Of old You founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. Even they will perish, but You endure; and all of them will wear out like a garment; like clothing You will change them and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will not come to an end.

9

Gen. 17:1 | Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said

to him, I am God Almighty; walk before Me, and be blameless.

.. Incomprehensible – Archaic: boundless.

Romans 11:33 | Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways.!

.. God Almighty – (Hb. El Shaddai) i.e., emphasizing the attribute of God’s power, which in this context will enable Sarai to bear Abram a son [Ch. 18:9-15].

10

Isa. 6:3 | And one called out to another and said, Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, the

whole earth is full of His glory.

.. Infinite – (noun) | having no boundaries or limits … all embracing; perfect: infinite wisdom. … (adjective) | Infinite is applied to those things which we believe to have no bounds.

Genesis 18:25 | … Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?

.. Holy – (Gk. hagiazo – Strong # 37, 40, 41) means: to sanctify, consecrate (separate or set apart) to Godly things [Mounce, 33].

1 Peter 1:15-16 | … like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy. – cf. Leviticus 11:44.

11

.. Emphasis – working all things according to  …  his own … will -

Ps. 115:3 | But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.

Psalm 103:19 | The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty [kingdom - NKJ; NAS marginal note] rules over all.

Psalm 47:2 | For the Lord Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth.

Isa. 46:10 | Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure. – cf. Daniel 4:34-35.

Romans 8:28 | And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

12

.. Emphasis – for His own glory -

Prov. 16:4 | The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, even the wicked for the day of evil.

Romans 9:14-16, 18-24 | What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! For He says to Moses, I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion. So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. … Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. You will say to me then, Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will? But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, Why have you made me like this? Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? What if God wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles. [NJK]

Rom. 11:36 | For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things to Him be the glory forever. Amen.

13

.. Emphasis –   MOST | Loving -  Gracious – Merciful – Long-suffering – Abundant in  Goodness

Truth

Exod. 34:6-7 | Then the LORD passed by in front of [Moses] and proclaimed, The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.

God Forgives:

1. Iniquity – i.e., lawlessness – wickedness

2. Transgressions – i.e., to step aside – over stepping

3. Sin – i.e., missing the mark (similar to aim at the bulls-eye and then missing it)

Romans 5:8 | … God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. – cf. Romans 5:6-11.

Heb. 11:6 | And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

.. Rewarder – (Gk. phrase  misthapodotes ginetai tois ekzetousin) – A.T. Robertson: God “becomes a rewarder” to those who “seek after” [i.e., diligently] him.

Matthew 7:7-8 | ask/receive – seek/find – knock/opened

14-16 .. Emphasis – withal God is just and terrible in His judgments

14

..  In addition to His awesomeness God is also Just and Terrible in His Judgments

Neh. 9:32-33 | Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness, do not let all the hardship seem insignificant before You, which has come upon us, our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers and on all Your people, from the days of the kings of Assyria to this day. However, You are just in all that has come upon us; for You have dealt faithfully, but we have acted wickedly.

.. Withal – Archaic means: therewith, Modern English means: together with this; with the rest, in addition [to].

1.  Just – fair or impartial in acting or judging.

2. Terrible – of a nature to excite terror (extreme fear).

3. Judgment – a time when a right is enforced by authority.

Genesis 18:25b | (Abraham speaking to God) … far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

15

.. Hating all sin

Ps. 5:[4]-6 | 4 For you are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; no evil dwells with You.

5 The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes; You hate all who do iniquity. 6 You destroy

those who speak falsehood; the LORD abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.

.. Sin – Sin is any failure to conform to the moral law of God in act, attitude, or nature. – cf. 1 John 3:4b | … sin is lawlessness. / The rejection of the law, or will, of God and the substitution of the will of self.

(Gk. harmatia – Strong # 266), noun, means: literally missing the mark.

Proverbs 6:16-19 | These six things the Lord hates, Yea, seven are abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. [NKJ]

16

.. Will not clear the guilty

Exod. 34:7 | who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.

NOTE: Ever wonder if the generation of our children and their children are being visited with the iniquity of us the Baby Boomers? It is our generation in the 60’s that rebelled greatly against authority and God Himself. Makes one to wonder if perhaps some of our woes today with our children and grandchildren is found within the parameters of Romans 1:18-32; 2 Timothy 3:1-9.

Nahum 1:2-3 | A jealous and avenging God is the LORD; the LORD is avenging and wrathful the LORD takes vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies. The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished in whirlwind and storm is His way, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet.

Hebrews 10:31 | It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

.. We can be assured that when we stand at God’s judgment, whether for good or bad, that the Lord will be truthful and just concerning each individual.

2 Corinthians 5:10 | For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Revelation 20:11-12 | Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged, from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.

NOTE: However God’s forgiveness is available to those who will repent and believe – cf.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 | … do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, not thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Theme: God alone is –

Paragraph 2.

God, having all life,17 glory, 18 goodness, 19 blessedness, in and of Himself, is alone in and unto Himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creature which He hath made, nor deriving any glory from them,20 but only manifesting His own glory in, by, unto, and upon them; He is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things,21 and He hath most sovereign dominion over all creatures, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever Himself pleases;22 in His sight all things are open and manifest,23 His knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature, so as nothing is to Him contingent or uncertain;24 He is most holy in all His counsels, in all His works,25 and in all His commands; to Him is due from angels and men, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience, as creatures they owe unto the Creator, and whatever He is further pleased to require of them 26.

17

John 5:26 | For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have

life in Himself.

Vs. 5 | Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and now is here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. [ESV]

ESV Study Bible Notes:  | Just as the Father was never created and was never given his life by someone else, but has life in himself so that he can impart that life to others, so [too] the Son has life in himself and is able to call the dead to life. … [God did not give life to the Son, for the Son is God, equal with the Father (John 1:1-5)].

John 1:3-4 | All things came into being through Him [the Word, v. 1], and apart from Him nothing come into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.

18

Ps. 148:13 | Let them [v. 7-12] praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted; His glory is above earth and heaven.

NOTE: Psalms 146-150 are referred to as the Praise Psalms because each begin and end with the phrase “Praise the LORD!”

Isaiah 42:8a | I am the LORD, that is my name; and My glory I will not give to another …

John Phillips | God has a name. In the Old Testament He is known as [Yahweh]; in the New Testament He is to be addressed in the name of Jesus. For He alone is God and there is none else | Isaiah 37:16 [Hezekiah’s prayer for deliverance from the Assyrians], – cf. John 6:63-68.

19

Ps. 119:68 | You are good and do good; teach me Your statutes.

.. Good – Hb. tob (an adjective), means: good or well, it describes goodness, beauty, and moral uprightness.

Psalm 86:5 | For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in loving kindness to all who call upon you.

Psalm 100:5 | For the Lord is good; His loving kindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations.

Matthew 19:17 | [the rich young ruler] … There is none good but one, that is, God …

James 1:17 | … every good and perfect thing comes from God.

Romans 8:28 | And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

20

Job 22:2-3 | Can a vigorous man be of use to God, or a wise man be useful to himself? Is there any pleasure to the Almighty if you are righteous, or profit if you make your ways perfect?

.. vigorous – full of physical or mental vigor; robust … forceful and effective. / Brit: vig’our; Latin: vigere – means: to be lively, thrive | [KJV – profitable].

.. Profitable – bringing any advantage, gain, or advantage.

Job 37:22-24 | … God is clothed with awesome majesty. The Almighty – we cannot find him; he is great in power; justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate. Therefore men fear him; he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit. [ESV]

Proverbs 16:18 | Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling.

.. Haughty – exhibiting great disdain for others.

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

21

Rom. 11:34-36 | For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or

who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to Him again? For from Him and through

Him and to Him are all things to Him be the glory forever. Amen.

.. Cf. Colossians 1:15-17 | [Speaking of Jesus Christ (v. 2-3), God’s beloved Son (v. 13)] He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold [endure (margin note)] together.

NOTE: We (mankind) on this earth are the most intelligent, most versatile, and most expressive

of all of God’s creation. However, God needs none of us for counsel, riches, nor strength – cf.

Job 38:1-42:6 | … where were you …

22

Dan. 4:25, 34-35 | that you be driven away from mankind and your dwelling place be with the

beasts of the field, and you be given grass to eat like cattle and be drenched with the dew of

heaven; and seven periods of time will pass over you, until you recognize that the Most High is

ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes. … But at the end of that

period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I

blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever; for His dominion is an

everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the

inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, but He does according to His will in the host of

heaven and among the inhabitants of earth; and no one can ward off His hand or say to Him,

What have You done?

Arthur W. Pink | To say that God is sovereign is to declare that God is God.

Acts 17:24-26 | The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation.

Romans 8:28 | And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

NOTE: The Bible is very plain – Genesis 1:1 | In the beginning God …

23

Heb. 4:13 | And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and

laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

Psalms 33:13-14 | The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men; from His dwelling place He looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, He who fashions the hearts of them all, He who understands all their works.

Psalms 139:7-8 | Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? I ascend to heaven, You are there; I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. – cf. John 4:24 | God is spirit …

.. Omnipresence of God | These passages teach us that God is unlimited with respect to space. [i.e., He is omnipresence] …

.. The fact that God is Lord of space and cannot be limited by space is evident ,,. from the fact that He created it – for the creation of the material world (Gen. 1:1) implies the creation of space as well. – cf. Deuteronomy 10:14 | Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it.  

24

Ezek. 11:5 | Then the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and He said to me, Say, ‘Thus says the

LORD, So you think, house of Israel, for I know your thoughts.

.. For I know your thoughts – This speaks of God’s knowledge (His omniscience) of what go on in the secret or dark places.

.. In the context of this verse God is telling His prophet Ezekiel to prophesize to those who devise iniquity and give evil advice in Jerusalem and that He is going to destroy them because they have not kept His statutes. | God knows men’s thoughts before they even attempt to think –

Psalm 139:1-4 | O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it all.

.. Omniscience of God | made be defined as follows: God fully knows himself and all things actual and possible in one simple and eternal act.

Acts 15:18 | Says the Lord, who makes these things known from long ago.

.. God’s Knowledge (Omniscience) is:

1. Infinite – having no boundaries or limits; all embracing.

2. Infallible – incapable of error [of any and all affairs].

3. Independent – not subject to the authority of another; autonomous.

NOTE: God goes to no one for counsel or wisdom – cf. Isaiah 55:9 | For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.

25

Ps. 145:17 | The LORD is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works. [KJV]
| The LORD is righteous in all His ways, and gracious in all His ways. [NKJ]

| The LORD is righteous in all His ways, and gracious in all His acts. [HCS]

| The LORD is righteous in all His ways, and kind in all His deeds. [NAS]

| The LORD is righteous in all His ways, and kind in all his works. [ESV]

.. Righteous in all His ways –

. Righteous | Hb. tsad-deek’ / Strong # 6662 – means: just: just, lawful, righteous (man).

James Montgomery Boice | “Righteous” here does not mean morally upright, though is that. He is the only true source or morality. It means rather that God is upright, or just, in responding to those who have needs and call on him, those who are in peril and seek salvation.

.. Holy in all His works –

. Holy | Hb. khaw-seed’ / Strong # 2623 – means: prop. kind, i.e. (religiously) pious (a saint): a godly (man), good, holy (one), merciful, saint, [un-] godly.

Charles Spurgeon | His ways and works are worthy to be praised. Jehovah cannot be unjust or impure. Let His doings be what they may, they are in every case righteous and holy. … Whatever God is or does must be right. …

John Phillips | The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in His works. It will be the same with the administration of justice as with the apportionment of resources: God will have no favorites.

NOTE: God is righteous and holy in all of His dealings of man w/o respect of person – He

sends rain on both the just and the unjust – cf. Matthew 5:45.

26

Rev. 5:11-14 | [Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the

living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands

of thousands], saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and

riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing. And every created thing which

is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard

saying, To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and

dominion forever and ever. And the four living creatures kept saying, Amen  and the elders fell

down and worshiped.

In all His commands … as Creator, He is worthy to be praised and it is required –

1. From angels and men .

2. Whatsoever worship, service, or obedience, as creatures they owe unto the Creator

3. And whatever He is further pleased to require of them

Ecclesiastes 12:13 | The conclusion, when all have been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this apples to every person.

Matthew 22:36-40 | Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law? And He said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like I, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.

Philippians 2:5-11 | Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

NOTE: God is our Creator, Sovereign God, and Providential Lord –

Psalm 118:24 | This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

.. Unto Him is all honor and glory due – let us remember that and “Praise the Lord!”

Psalm 150:1-6

Praise the Lord!

Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens!

Praise Him for His mighty deeds;

Praise Him according to his excellent greatness!

Praise Him with trumpet sound;

Praise Him with lute and harp!

Praise Him with Tambourine and dance;

Praise Him with strings and pipes!

Praise Him with sounding cymbals;

Praise Him with loud clashing cymbals!

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord!

Theme: God is a Triune being, yet alone one God –

Paragraph 3.

In this divine and infinite Being there are three subsistence’s, the Father, the Word or Son, and Holy Spirit,27 of one substance, power, and eternity, each having the whole divine essence, yet the essence undivided:28 the Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father;29 the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son;30 all infinite, without beginning, therefore but one God, who is not to be divided in nature and being, but distinguished by several peculiar relative properties and personal relations; which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our communion with God, and comfortable dependence on Him.

Trinity – We define the doctrine of the Trinity as follows: God eternally exists as three persons [subsistence here in the opening statement], Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and each person is fully God, and there is one God. – cf. Deut. 6:4 | hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

27

1 John 5:7 | For there are three that bear record [witness – NKJ] in heaven, the Father, the Word,

and the Holy Ghost [Spirit] – NKJ]: and these three are one. [KJV].*

* The KJV and the NKJ are based on the Erasmus’ Greek NT published in 1516 by Froben’s press (Basle) under the title of: Novum instrumentum, this was Erasmus’ revised translation of the Latin Vulgate from the Greek New Testament. Alongside the Latin was the Greek original. … Erasmus produced four more editions of his New Testament, in 1519, 1522, 1527, and 1535. Originally omitting the ‘Johannine Comma’, that is the passage in 1 John 5:7-8 relating to the ‘Three Witness in Heaven’, he noted that if he should see a good enough manuscript including it, he would include it. … one such proof was given to Erasmus. This was the Montfort Codex, [seemingly written between 1519 and 1522], which is a copy of the Leicester Codex . With this evidence Erasmus included the ‘Johnannine Comma’ in his next publication of 1522.

After [Erasmus’] death in 1536, further editions of Erasmus’ Greek New Testament were printed by others … importantly, by Robert Estienne, or Stephanus, in Paris. Stephanus’ third edition, in 1550, was reprinted for the Elzevir edition in Leiden in 1633, from Erasmus with a little revision, and was there announced on the title-page as the Textus Receptus. That ‘Received Text’ was made the basis of all Greek New Testament translation work, with small exceptions, until the 1880’s.In other words, all the earlier translations, by Luther [1522], Tyndale [1525], and others [French, Dutch, Danish and Swedish] were from a form [Byzantine Text] which had become standard in the Eastern church during the Middle ages.

NOTE: The NAS, ESV, HCB, and other English translations translate verses 7-8 as:  For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.

Such English translations as the  NAS, ESV, and HCS, etc. are based on the Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum Graece, 27^th edition, and the United Bible Societies’ Greek New Testament, 4^th edition, which are based on what are called the Alexandrian Text or the oldest manuscripts |  – Sinaitic manuscript – fourth century codex found at the monastery of St. Catherine on Mount Sinai and Vaticanus manuscript -  which is so named because it is kept at the Vatican Library in Rome | – along with the Majority Text (a consensus of the approx. 5,000+ verifiable pieces and sections of many different manuscripts that have been obtained studied by experts over many years).

THOT: Because of the textual criticism involving this text – it would appear to be advisable not to use 1 John 5:7 here as a proof text.

Matt. 28:19 | Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,

.. This is part of the Great Commission that Christ gave to His apostles just before He ascended into heaven – please note here that the word “name” is singular, not plural – (Gk. o[noma - onoma / singular accusative neuter noun, Strong # 3686). Thus we are to baptize disciples in the NAME of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. – Note: all three are in the Greek with the definite article “the” found before their corresponding Greek syntactical noun.

ESV Study Notes: The name (singular, not plural) of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is an early indication of the Trinitarian Godhead and and an overt proclamation of Jesus’ deity. 

John MacArthur NASB Study Bible Notes: In the name of the Father … Son … Holy Spirit. The formula is a strong affirmation of trinitarianism.

2 Cor. 13:14 | The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

John MacArthur NASB Study Bible Notes: The Trinitarian benediction reminded the Corinthians of the blessings they had received: “grace” from the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. 8:9), “love” from God the Father (cf. v. 11), and “fellowship” with God and one another through the Holy Spirit (cf. 1:22,; 5:5). Jesus was mentioned before the Father because His sacrificial death is the ultimate expression of God’s love.

ESV Study Notes: The only Trinitarian benediction in Paul’s letters, stressing that grace, love, and fellowship with one another comes from God in Christ through the Spirit.

Other NT verses that show a Trinitarian aspect –

Ephesians 1:3-14

1 Thessalonians 1:3-5

1 Peter 1:2

28

Exod. 3:14 | God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM; and He said, Thus you shall say to the sons

of Israel, I AM has sent me to you.

ESV Study Notes: God reveals His name to be “Yahweh” (corresponding to the four Hebrew consonants YHWH). The three occurrences of “I AM” … all represent forms of the Hebrew verb that means “to be” (Hb. hayah), and in each case are related to the divine name Yahweh (i.e., “the LORD”). The divine name Yahweh has suggested to scholars a range of likely nuances of meaning: (1) that God is self-existent … (2) that God is the creator and sustainer of all that exists; (3) that God is immutable in his being and character  … (e.g., “the same yesterday and today and forever,” Heb. 13:8); (4) that God is eternal in his existence.

.. See Notes concerning this verse – pg. 16 of this study.

John 1:1-3 | In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

Hebrews 13:8 | Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Revelation 1:8 | I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

Revelation 3:14 | The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God

John 14:11 | Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.

John 14:7-9 | If you had known Me, you would have known the Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him. Philip said to Him, Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us. Jesus said to him, Have I been so long with you, yet you have not come to know Me Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, Show us the Father?

John 10:30 | I and the Father are one.

Colossians 1:15 | He [Jesus Christ, Son – vv. 3-4, 13-14) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

I Cor. 8:6 | yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.

NOTE: A Trinitarian aspect of the Godhead – three distinct persons / the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, yet there is only One God. – cf. Ephesians 1:3-14; 1 Thessalonians 1:3-5; 1 Peter 1:2

29

John 1:14, 18 | And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory

as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. … No one has seen God at any

time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

John MacArthur NASB Study Bible Notes: The term “only begotten” is a mistranslation of the Gk. word. The word does not come from the term meaning “beget” but instead has the idea of “the only beloved one.” It, therefore, has the idea of singular uniqueness, of being beloved like no other. By this word, John emphasized the exculisive character of the relationship between the Father and the Son in the Godhead cf. 3:16, 18; 1 Jn 4:9).

Begotten – (Gk. monogenous – Strong # 3439) means: of what is the only one of its kind of class – unique.

The Englishman’s Greek Concordance of the NT | This Gk word is found 9 times in the NT, three (3) times by Luke (each time translated as only), once (1) in Hebrews 11:7 (where Abraham offered up his only begotten son Isaac), and used by John used five (5) times – four (4) times in his gospel account (1:14, 18; 3:16, 18 and once (1) in his first general epistle (4:9) – all being referred to the uniqueness of Jesus Christ.

Vine | With reference to Christ, the phrase “the only begotten from the Father,” … indicates that as the Son of God He was the sole representative of the Being and character of the One who sent Him. In the original the definite article is omitted both before “only begotten” and before “Father,” and in absence in each case serves to lay stress upon the characteristics referred to in the terms used. … We can only rightly understand the term “the only begotten” when used of the Son, in the sense of unoriginated relationship. “The begetting is not an event of time, however, remote, but a fact irrespective of time. The Christ did not become, but necessarily and eternally is the Son. He is a Person, possess every attribute of pure Godhood. This necessitates eternity, absolute being; in this respect He is not ‘after’ the Father (Moule).  … In John 1:18 the clause “the only begotten son, which is in the bosom of the Father,” expresses both His eternal union with the Father in the Godhead and the ineffiable intimacy and love between them, the Son sharing all the Father’s counsels and enjoying all His affections.

30

John 15:26 | When the Helper [Comforter – KJV] comes, whom I will send to you from the

Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me

1. John speaks of the Holy Spirit –

John 7:39 – from whom flows rivers of living waters

John 14:16 – called the Helper (Comforter – KJV)

John 14:17 – the Spirit of truth

John 14:26 – the Helper (Comforter – KJV), the Holy Spirit

John 16:7 – the Helper (Comforter – KJV) … I will send to you

John 16:13-14  – he the Spirit of truth … He will glorify Me

1 John 4:2 – the Spirit of God … confesses … Jesus Christ

Revelation 2:7 – … hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Revelation 22:17 – the Spirit and the Bride say come.

2. Peter speaks of the Holy Spirit –

Acts 5:3 – Ananias … why lie to the Holy Spirit …

Acts 5:9 – Why … put the Holy Spirit of the Lord to the test

3. Paul speaks of the Holy Spirit –

Acts 16:6 – forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia

Acts 16:7 – trying to go into Bithynia … the Spirit of Jesus did not permit

1 Timothy 4:1  – the Spirit explicitly says in later times some …

Gal. 4:6 | Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba! Father!

4. David asked – Where can I go from Your Spirit? | His answer, nowhere.

Psalms 139:7-12 |

Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?

If I ascend to heaven, You are there;

If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.

If I take the wings of the dawn,

If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,

Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me,

If I say, Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, and the light around me will be night,

Even the darkness is not dark to You, and the night is as bright as the day.

Darkness and light are alike to You.

Work of the Holy Spirit –

John 16:8-11

And He [the Holy Spirit – Ch. 14:26], when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;

Concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me

Concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me

Concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

NOTE:  Article Conclusion – God is –

.. All infinite, without beginning,

.. Therefore but one God,

.. Who is not to be divided in nature and being,

.. But distinguished by several peculiar relative properties and personal relations;

.. Which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation

.. Of all our communion with God, and

.. Comfortable dependence on Him.

Isaiah 44:6-8 | Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts:

.. I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no God.

. Who is like me?

. Let him proclaim it.

. Let him declare and set it before me,

.. Since I appointed an ancient people

. Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen.

.. Fear not, nor be afraid;

. Have not I told you from of old and declared it?

. And you are my witnesses!

.. Is there a God beside me?

. There is no Rock; I know not any.

CHAPTER 1

OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES

Paragraph 1.

The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience,1 although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet they are not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and His will which is necessary unto salvation.2 Therefore it pleased the Lord at sundry times and in diversified manners to reveal Himself, and to declare (that) His will unto His church;3 and afterward for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan, and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing; which makes the Holy Scriptures to be most necessary, those former ways of God’s revealing His will unto His people being now ceased.4

1

2 Tim. 3:15-17 | … from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

.. The sacred writings – (Gk. ta hiera grammata) i.e., the – divine, holy, scared – literally: what is written.

. Able to make you wise for salvation through faith … in Christ

.. All Scripture is inspired by God (Gk. pasa graphe theopneustos) i.e., all writings breathed out by God

.. Profitable – (Gk. ophelimos) i.e., useful, profitable

. Teaching – (Gk. didaskalian) i.e., that which is taught, doctrine

. Reproof – (Gk. elegmon) i.e., denotes a proof, proving test

. Correction – (Gk. epanorthosin) i.e., lit. restoration to an upright state

. Training in Righteousness – (Gk. paideian en ten dikaiosyne) i.e., education by disciplinary correction, chastening

. That the man of God

. Adequate – (Gk. artios) i.e., fitted, complete, perfect

. Equipped – (Gk. exertismenos) i.e., to finish out (time); fig. to equip fully (a teacher), to accomplish

Isa. 8:20 | To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn – [there is no light in them – NKJ].

.. Law – (Hb. torah) i.e., a precept or statue, espec. The Decalogue or Pentateuch

..  Testimony – (Hb. The-oo-daw) i.e., attestation, i.e. a precept, usage

Luke 16:29,31 | … Abraham said, They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them. … If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.

Eph. 2:20 | having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone

.. Having been built – refers to back to v. 19 | So then you [v. 13 - to those now in Christ] are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household.

2

Sundry – means: many parts; portions | Hebrews 11:1 – in many portions and in many ways.

Rom. 1:19-21 | because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

.. Evident – (Gk. phaneron) i.e., of sensory perception | visible, clearly seen, apparent

.. Became Futile [foolish – NKJ] – (Gk.emataiothesa) i.e., being given over to deceptive and meaningless thinking [1 aorist passive (not the one of action) indicative (a continuous or undefined action) verb].

.. Speculations [thoughts – NKJ] – (Gk. dialogismois) i.e., thought process, reasoning, design

.. Heart – (Gk. kardia) i.e., heart; used in the NT – inner self; (1) seat of physical vitality – (2) the innermost self, the source and seat of functions of soul and spirit in the emotional life, the volitional life, the rational life …

.. Darkened – (Gk. eskstisthe) i.e., literally be or become dark, be unable to give light; figuratively [here] the lack of religious and moral perception, be unable to understand.

Rom. 2:14-15 | For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing  witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them

.. Instinctively [nature NKJ] – (Gk. physei) i.e., as the naturally regulated order of things natural

.. Conscience – (Gk. syneideseos) i.e. as a perceptive awareness within oneself … as the faculty of moral consciousness or awareness by which moral judgments relating to right and wrong are made conscience.

Psalm 19:1-3 | The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, their voice is not heard.

.. Heavens are telling – The heavens declare – ESV | NKJ.

.. Expanse – firmament – NKJ; heavens – ESV.

3

Heb. 1:1 | God, who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, [2] – has in these last days spoken to us by His Son … [NKJ]

4

Prov. 22:19-21 | So that your trust may be in the LORD, I have taught you today, even you. Have I not written to you excellent things of counsels and knowledge, to make you know the certainty of the words of truth that you may correctly answer him who sent you?

Rom. 15:4 | For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

.. Instruction – (Gk. didaskalian) i.e., learning, teaching

.. Perseverance – (Gk. hypomones) i.e., literally an abiding under; often rendered patience [Vine]. Steadfast adherence to a course of action in spite of difficulties and testings – perseverance, endurance, fortitude [Friberg].

.. Encouragement – (Gk. parakleseos) i.e. to call to one’s side … either as an exhortation [here], or consolation, comfort.

.. Exhortation – to urge by earnest appeal or argument …

2 Pet. 1:19-20 | So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation.

Paragraph 2.

Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testaments, which are these:

66 Books – i.e., 39 OT and 27 NT

OF THE OLD TESTAMENT:

OF THE NEW TESTAMENT:

All of which are given by the inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life.5

5

2 Tim. 3:16 | All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness

Paragraph 3.

The books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the canon or rule of the Scripture, and, therefore, are of no authority to the church of God, nor to be any otherwise approved or made use of than other human writings.6

.. Canon – Bible derives from the Greek term books [biblos] and refers to the OT and NT. The 39 OT books and 27 NT books form the canon of Holy Scripture. Canon originally meant reed and came to signify a ruler or measuring stick. In this sense the Bible is the rule or standard of authority for Christians. The concept of canon and process of canonization refers to when the books gained the status of Holy Scripture, authoritative standards for faith and practice.

.. Apocrypha – A group of sacred books written about [200 B.C. and 100 A.D.] and included in the Bibles of some religious groups. These books are generally not considered authoritative in the same sense as the universally recognized [canon] books of the Bible.

. Unfortunately these Apocrypha apocalyptic writings are viewed today as just as authoritative as the Scriptures concerning eschatological teachings.

.. Gnostic Writings – Non-canonical writings promoting Gnostic school of thoughts that emerged within the church in the early second century and soon established itself as a way of understanding Christianity in all of the church’s principal centers. The church was torn by heated debates over the issues, and by the end of the second century many of the Gnostics belonged to separate, alternative churches or belief systems viewed by the church as heretical. The term Gnosticism is derived from the Greek word gnosis (knowledge) because secret knowledge was such a crucial doctrine in Gnosticism.

. Unfortunately these Gnostic writings are often held with being just as authoritative as the Scriptures to prove their doctrine is on an equal footing of the canonical writings. However, most are written by pseudo-authors name long after the alleged writer has died in the first century.

6

Luke 24:27,44 | Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. … Now He said to them, These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must  be fulfilled.

Rom. 3:2 | [v. 1 – What advantage has the Jew?] … First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God.

.. Entrusted – (Gk. episteuthesan) i.e., signifies to commit to, delivering or entrusting something to a person.

.. Oracles – (Gk. logion) i.e., a divine response or utterance

Paragraph 4.

The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, depends not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God (who is truth itself), the author thereof; therefore it is to be received because it is the Word of God.7

7

2 Pet. 1:19-21 | So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

2 Tim. 3:16 | All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness

2 Thess. 2:13 | But we should always give thanks to God for you brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

1 John 5:9 | If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son.

Paragraph 5.

We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the church of God to a high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scriptures; and the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, and the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes of the only way of man’s salvation, and many other incomparable excellencies, and entire perfections thereof, are arguments whereby it does abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God; yet notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth, and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts.8

8

John 16:13-14 | But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.

1 Cor. 2:10-12 | For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God

1 John 2:20, 27 | But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. … As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.

Paragraph 6.

The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man’s salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down or necessarily contained in the Holy Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelation of the Spirit, or traditions of men.9 Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word,10 and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.11

.. Counsel of God – The eternally God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit counseled together concerning all things whether visible or invisible according to His sovereign divine will and pleasure – cf. Romans 8:28-30.

9

2 Tim. 3:15-17 | and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Gal. 1:8-9 | But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be  accursed! As we  have said before, so I say again now,  if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!

10

John 6:45 | It is written  in the prophets, and they shall all be taught of God.  Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.

1 Cor. 2:9-12 |  but just as it is written, things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him. For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God

11

1 Cor. 11:13-14 | Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him,

1 Cor. 14:26,40 | What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. … But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.

Paragraph 7.

All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all;12 yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of ordinary means, may attain to a sufficient understanding of them.13

12

2 Pet. 3:16 | as also in all his letters, speaking in them of  these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

.. Untaught – (Gk. amatheis) i.e., unlearned, ignorant, uneducated … untaught people

.. Unstable – (Gk. asteriktoi) i.e., having a tendency to change one’s view and attitudes … of someone not settled in his thinking | unstable person

13

Ps. 19:7 | The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

.. Perfect – (Hb. taw-meem) i.e., without blemish, complete, full

.. Restoring [converting – KJV] – (Hb. shoob) i.e., to turn back (hence, away) [*seems to imply the same thought as that of repentance in the NT – bea.}

Psalm 119:130 | The unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

.. Unfolding [entrance – KJV] – (Hb. pay’-thaleh) i.e., opening (fig.)  i.e., disclosure

Paragraph 8.

The Old Testament in Hebrew (which was the native language of the people of God of old),14 and the New Testament in Greek (which at the time of the writing of it was most generally known to the nations), being immediately inspired by God, and by His singular care and providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentic; so as in all controversies of religion, the church is finally to appeal to them.15 But because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God, who have a right unto, and interest in the Scriptures, and are commanded in the fear of God to read,16 and search them,17 therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come,18 that the Word of God dwelling plentifully in all, they may worship Him in an acceptable manner, and through patience and comfort of the Scriptures may have hope.19

14

Rom. 3:2 | Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God.

15

Isa. 8:20 | To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.

16

Acts 15:15 | With this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written,

17

John 5:39 |You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me;

18

1 Cor. 14:6, 9, 11-12, 24, 28 | But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of  knowledge or of prophecy or of teaching? … So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. … If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me. So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church. … But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all … but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.

19

Col. 3:16 | Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

.. Admonishing – (Gk. nouthetountes) i.e., to put in mind, to warn.

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The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself; and therefore when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture (which are not many, but one), it must be searched by other places that speak more clearly.20

20

2 Pet. 1:20-21 | But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

Acts 15:15-16 | With this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written, after these things I will return, and I will rebuild the tabernacle of David which has fallen, and I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it

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The supreme judge, by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Scripture delivered by the Spirit, into which Scripture so delivered, our faith is finally resolved.21

21

Matt. 22:29, 31 | But regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God:

Eph. 2:20 | having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,

Acts 28:23 | When they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening.

THE BAPTIST CONFESSION OF FAITH OF 1689
WITH SCRIPTURE PROOFS

Put forth by the Elders and Brethren of many Congregations of Christians
(baptized upon profession of their faith) in London and the Country.

“…for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness,
and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”
Romans 10:10

FOREWORD

‘I have thought it right to reprint in a cheap form this excellent list of doctrines, which were subscribed to by the Baptist Ministers in the year 1689.  We need a banner because of the truth; it may be that this small volume may aid the cause of the glorious gospel by testifying plainly what are its leading doctrines . . . May the Lord soon restore unto His Zion a pure language, and may her watchmen see eye to eye.’  So wrote the young C.H. Spurgeon, then in the second year of his ministry at New Park Street Chapel, Southwark, in a preface addressed to All the Household of Faith, who rejoice in the glorious doctrines of Free Grace with which he prefixed this Confession when he published it in October, 1855.

The Confession itself was first compiled by the Elders and Brethren of many congregations of Christians, baptized upon their profession of faith, in London and the country (as they then described themselves) in the year 1677.  It was based upon, and drew its inspiration from the Confession drawn up by the Westminster Assembly of Divines a generation earlier, and indeed differs only from it in its teaching upon those matters, such as baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and church government, upon which among the Reformed churches the Baptists differ from the Presbyterians.  For fear of persecution, the compilers of the 1677 Confession did not subscribe their names to it, but when, in September, 1689, following the Revolution of the previous year, the Ministers and Messengers of the churches were able to meet in more peaceful times, thirty-seven of them, including all the most eminent Baptist ministers of the day, set their names to the recommendation with which it was circulated among the churches.  Thereafter for between 150 and 200 years it remained the definitive Confession of Faith of the Particular (or Calvinistic) Baptist churches of England and Wales.

Mr. Spurgeon did not, however, when he republished this Confession, merely preface it with certain words of general commendation.  He also addressed to his own church at New Park Street some practical words of advice as to how they should use the Confession.  These are still relevant today.

‘This little volume,’ he wrote, ‘is not issued as an authoritative rule, or code of faith, whereby you are to be fettered, but as an assistance to you in controversy, a confirmation in faith, and a means of edification in righteousness.  Here the younger members of our church will have a body of divinity in small compass, and by means of the scriptural proofs, will be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in them.

Be not ashamed of your faith; remember it is the ancient gospel of the martyrs, confessors, reformers, and saints.  Above all, it is the truth of God, against which all the gates of Hell cannot prevail.  Let your lives adorn your faith, let your example adorn your creed.  Above all live in Christ Jesus, and walk in Him, giving credence to no teaching but that which is manifestly approved of Him, and owned by the Holy Spirit.  Cleave fast to the Word of God which is here mapped out for you.’  This new edition of the Confession is sent out as a private venture by a small group of Baptists who are convinced that it has a message for this generation and believe its publication to be long overdue.  They hope it will achieve a wide circulation among the churches, and receive the close study which they believe it will richly repay.

In England during the 1630’s and the 1640’s Congregationalists and Baptists of Calvinistic persuasion emerged from the Church of England.  Their early existence was marked by repeated cycles of persecution at the hands of the established religion of crown and Parliament.  The infamous Clarendon Code was adopted in the 1660’s to crush all dissent from the official religion of the state.  Periods of rigorous application and intervals of relaxation of these coercive acts haunted Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and Baptists alike.

Presbyterians and Congregationalists suffered less than did Baptists under this harassment.  No little reason for their relative success in resisting government tyranny was their united front of doctrinal agreement.  All Presbyterians stood by their Westminster Confession of 1646.  Congregationalists adopted virtually the same articles of faith in the Savoy Confession of 1658.  Feeling their substantial unity with paedobaptists suffering under the same cruel injustice, Calvinistic Baptists met to publish their substantial harmony with them in doctrine.

A circular letter was sent to particular Baptist churches in England and Wales asking each assembly to send representatives to a meeting in London in 1677.  A confession consciously modeled after the Westminster Confession of Faith was approved and published.  It has ever since born the name of the Second London Confession.  The First London Confession had been issued by seven Baptist congregations of London in 1644.  That first document had been drawn up to distinguish newly organized Calvinistic Baptists from the Arminian Baptists and the Anabaptists.  Because this second London Confession was drawn up in dark hours of oppression, it was issued anonymously.

A preface to the original publication of 1677 says in part: “. . . It is now many years since diverse of us . . . did conceive ourselves under a necessity of publishing a Confession of our Faith, for the information and satisfaction of those that did not thoroughly understand what our principles were, of had entertained prejudices against our profession . . . This was first put forth about the year 1643, in the  name of seven congregations then gathered in London . . .”  (These early Baptists were conscious that the 1644 Calvinistic Baptist Confession predated the 1646 Presbyterian Confession and the 1658 Congregationalist Confession).

“Forasmuch as this confession is not now commonly to be had; and also that many others have since embraced the same truth which is owned therein; it was judged necessary by us to join together in giving a testimony to the world of our firm adhering to those wholesome principles . . .”

“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.” (Galatians 1:6-7)

Some have confessed difficulty with these verses, especially with the words “another gospel: Which is not another.” This problem finds resolution in an understanding of two distinct Greek words which, unfortunately, are both here translated as “another” in this passage.

In verse 6 Paul uses the Greek word heteros, which implies something of a totally different sort altogether–something diametrically opposed to the one to which it is compared. But in verse 7 he uses the word allos, which implies a comparison of two items of the same sort. The thought might be conveyed as follows: “You are removed from the true gospel of the grace of Christ unto a totally different belief system, which is not simply a similar but legitimate expression of the true gospel. Instead, it is quite opposite to the truth.” Paul goes on to teach that this “different” gospel is a perversion of the true gospel, and instead of bringing peace, it brings about a troubling of the mind.

The primary theme of the entire book of Galatians is salvation by grace through faith in Christ, as opposed to salvation by works and law. “No man is justified by the law in the sight of God. . . . The just shall live by faith” (3:11). This marvelous good news had been denied by many in the Galatian church, but Paul had received the message of grace “by the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1:12). Any mixture of works with grace constituted a perversion of God’s plan, and any who would teach such perversion warranted strong condemnation from Paul. “If any man preach any other [from the Greek word para, meaning contrary] gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” (1:9).

JDM

This article was originally published November, 2010.

Institute for Creation Research, http://www.icr.org

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by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” (2 Timothy 2:26)

We are in a great battle for the minds of young people today. The battlefield may be the classroom, or the home, or the church, or the family television, or any place else where teaching–good or bad–takes place.

It is significant that one of the greatest verses on teaching, and one of the greatest on soldiering, occur together. “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:2-3). Thus it seems clear that a faithful teacher is a good soldier in the battle of Jesus Christ against the devil for the minds of those we are trying to teach.

The battle is not to be fought with bullets, however, or even with ballots, but with “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). Furthermore, our battlefield strategy is not to strike down our enemy with a sharpened tongue or to bludgeon him with a superior intellect. “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man” (Colossians 4:6). Our text for the day gives us reason to continue, for it promises that those whose minds have been ensnared by the devil may yet be recovered. The words just preceding this verse describe our tactics: “The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth” (2 Timothy 2:24-25). Not even Satan can stand before the mighty sword of the Spirit, wielded by an apt soldier-teacher. HMM

This article was originally published January, 2011. Institute for Creation Research, http://www.icr.org.

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Well after God redeemed me in Jesus Christ (1975), I began to desire to learn about my Lord, the Bible, and Christianity. Consequently, I now appreciate and love to read. The majority of my reading is of course the Bible, books on Theology, Christian History, and Bio’s of some of the Lord’s precious saints.

My friend  Allen Raynor (SBTS) has for the last couple of years sent me his annual reading list on his web-blog (araynorweblog@comcast.net). His list has encourage me to read some of the books he has listed. Hopefully my list here will encourage others to do the same.

2010 | BOOK READING LIST

1. Abstract of Systematic Theology – by James P. Boyce | As its title indicates this is a book concerning theology. If someone wants to have a deeper understanding concerning the theology of Scripture this book would be a good choice. However, if one is a new Christian instead of reading this particular book I would recommend that you should read Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology first, and then consider Boyce.

2. Before God – by Mike J. Sarkissian | This book is about prayer and praying. I highly recommend this book. Sarkissian looks at all aspects of prayer, praying, and one’s prayer life.

3. How We Got the Bible – by Neil R. Lightfoot | This book is an excellent account of how the Bible has been preserved and handed down to our generation. It begins with the history of the ancient writings, the birth of the Bible, OT and NT manuscripts, the transition from Hebrew/Greek into English, and continues up to today with our English translations.

4. The Bible in English – by David Daniell | This book is a history of the different English translations of the Bible. This book is long (700 reading pages) and laborious to read. I enjoyed reading the history aspect, but I was tired of reading the book by the time I reached the end.

5. The Two Babylons – by Alexander Hislop | This book compares the pagan practices of ancient Babylon to many of the same practices (at least in appearance) as found in the Roman Catholic church up to his time era.

6. The Babylon Connection – by Ralph Woodrow | This book is an examination of Hislop’s Two Babylons. The author’s intent was to refute Hislop, but he approached it is such a malicious way his point was lost or at least diminished. Fortunately it was a short book.

7. The Disappearance of God: Dangerous Beliefs in the New Spiritual Openness – by R. Albert Mohler, Jr. | It is PC to “dumb down” God today. Dr. Mohler looks at this reality and warns of the dangers of such teaching in regards to God, sin, hell, etc., and the shifting sands undergirding Christianity today.

8. Culture Shift: Engaging Current Issues with Timeless Truth – by R. Albert Mohler, Jr. | Our culture today is transforming at a fast exploding pace. This book addresses how to stand up for the truth clearly, biblically, and passionately when facing such an ever changing worldview.

9. Words from the Fire: Hearing the Voice of God in the 10 Commandments – by R. Albert Mohler, Jr. | The Ten Commandments – not the Ten Suggestions. This book examines the Ten Commandments and how they apply to our minds, hearts, and lives today.

10. The Truth War – by John MacArthur | This book is about the war our culture is waging against Divine Truth. Seen ever so prominent in our postmodern society, so too, being waged openly among those within the Lord’s church. Dr. MacArthur reveals such with this book and encourages that the Lord’s people to stand for the truth of God’s decrees despite the heat of the battle being not afraid of the enemy. Though deceivers may think that they have won the battle, ultimately they will lose, for the truth will always prevail.

11. Pilgrim’s Progress: In Today’s English – by John Bunyan, retold by James H. Thomas | This is the 3^rd time that I have read this wonderful classic. The first two times was in the Old English, this time in modern English. I found it much easier to read. But I would not rule out not reading the old style again. If you have never read the book I highly recommend that you do so.          

Bios – Anytime you get the opportunity to read about the saints of old – I highly recommend that – God’s people of the past are an inspiration to His people today.

12. James Petigru Boyce – by Dr. Tom Nettles

13. George Mueller of Bristol – by Arthur T. Pierson

14. John Newton – by Jonathan Aitken

15. Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret – by Dr. and Mrs. Howard Taylor

16. The Shadow of the Broad Brim [About Spurgeon] – by Richard Ellsworth Day

17. Jonathan Edwards – by Iain H. Murray

18. Arthur W. Pink: Born To Write – by Richard P. Belcher

Just Finished

19. The Story of Christianity: The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation, Vol. 1 – by Justo L. Gonzalez | This is a 2 volume set. The book is a decent general history of Christianity. If you want more detail perhaps Schaff’s or Sheldon’s historical works on Christianity may best suit your needs. – Currently, I am now reading vol. 2.

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