April 16, 2013
About 1 month ago I received a notice from superior court summoning me to appear yesterday for Juror duty. The security at the courthouse was unusually tight, which I expected given the shooting incident that took place there about 2-3 months ago. After I checked in I was asked to sit in what could be termed an “assembly room” with about 120 other potential jurors. After the orientation, we were asked to wait until they received directive from “upstairs” to say how many cases and how many people they would need. After about 30 minutes the list of names arrived and it so happened that I was in that group. There were about 50 names. We were told to report to the 8th floor and wait for further directives. The clerk of courts read the case that was on trial, the names of the lawyers, defendant and plaintiff. The Clerk then read a list of questions and we were asked to make a mental note of any yes answers. At the end people were asked to raise their hands if they answered yes to any of the questions. All the persons who raised their hands were excused from the room- which was about 25 people. After these people left, the clerk read the names of 14 people and asked them to sit in the jury box. I was not one of them. As I thought about it we started out with many- who were called to report for juror duty, but only a few- 14-were eventually chosen.
Although a different circumstance this scripture came to my mind that can be found in Mathew 22:14– For many are called, but few [are] chosen. This passage is found in the parable Jesus told about a certain king who made a marriage for his son and the invited guests did not attend the wedding and eventually as the story goes on we see the king sending his servants to go out to the highways and edges and compel men to come. After they came in the King examined them all and found that one person was without his wedding attire. He was bound and cast out. This is where this verse came in “Many are called but few are chosen” When God calls us to him He wants to clothe us in his cloak of righteousness; however some of us prefer to wear our cloak of righteousness, we want to come by our efforts and by our own works. This will not work as our righteousness is like filthy rags. As we see the man who rejected the King’s covering met a horrible fate- cast out in total darkness, so will those who reject God’ covering of righteousness.
In His service,
Vilma
April 16, 2013
UNLESS THE FATHER DRAWS HIM
John 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.
What is the meaning of John 6:44?
1. Does it mean only a few, who have been selected by the Father, will be saved? No, it does not.
2. Does it mean that men only respond to the gospel because of irresistible grace? No, it does not.
WHO ARE THOSE THAT THE FATHER DRAWS?
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.
The Father draws all who hear and learn. The Father does not force anyone to hear or learn. Men have free-will. God does not impute faith into a few so they will believe and be saved. Faith does not come by injection.
HOW DO MEN HEAR AND LEARN?
Romans 10:13-14 for "Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved." 14 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?
Men need to hear the gospel before they can learn and believe. The Father draws men by the gospel.
Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
Faith comes from hearing the gospel. Faith does not come because the Father selected a chosen few, before the world began, to be saved. All who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior are the chosen and that includes whoever accepts God's terms for pardon. Faith does not come because of irresistible grace.
God the Father draws men to Jesus with the gospel.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek,
IT IS THE GOSPEL THAT DRAWS MEN TO JESUS!
IRRESISTIBLE GRACE IS NOT THE METHOD THAT THE FATHER USES TO DRAW MEN TO JESUS.
Romans 10:21 But as for Israel He says, "All the day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people."
Israel as a nation reject the gospel. How would that be possible if irresistible grace were in play? Israel turned away from God.
Matthew 23:37 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.
Jerusalem was unwilling to be drawn to Jesus by believing the gospel. They had a choice.
John 5:39-40 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; 40 and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.
The Jews had the opportunity to believe the gospel of Jesus Christ, but they were unwilling. There was no irresistible grace in play. The Father draws all who are willing to believe the gospel.
John 6:40 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."
IF YOU ARE READING THIS BLOG YOU ARE ONE OF THE "EVERYONE" WHO HAS A CHANCE TO BE BELIEVE THE GOSPEL AND BE SAVED.
MEN REJECT GOD.
GOD DOES NOT REJECT MEN DUE TO NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN.
THE FATHER DRAWS MEN TO JESUS THROUGH THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL. MEN ARE NOT DRAWN TO JESUS BECAUSE THEY WERE PRESELECTED FOR SALVATION!
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