BOOK- Gods Love

8/18/2019 BOOK- Gods Love

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Maybe it's time to distinguish biblical Christianity from the counterfeit spirituality and valuesof today's world. These days Jesus is depicted as a sorta peace and love guru wondering theMiddle East kissing babies and passing out balloons to all the children. But suggest Jesuswas much di!erent than much of current thinking and church teaching. Teaching thatcontradicts sound doctrine" according to #aul is to be refuted$ Titus %$& says that the odlyelder must (encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.( #aul also

wrote instructing Titus$ () man whose opinions are not those of the church" after a *rst andsecond protest" is to be kept out of your society+ Clearly he is in error and a sinner" beingself,-udged Titus /$%01%%+ BBE2. )nd he wants those within the church to avoid those whocling to errant views$ (note those who cause divisions and o!enses" contrary to the doctrinewhich you learned" and avoid them( 3om %4$%5+ 67J82.

“If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed” ~1 Corinthians 16:22

9oes od really love everyone without e:ception; hoever believes in the s declaration “/od is love” in today>s "orld means that /od is al"ays friendly and

for%ivin%. ut 9cri$ture $lainly denies this? there are literally hundreds of references to /od>s an%er and

"rath in the @ (estaments.

(he ld (estament mentions /od>s "rath over ;AA times: “9urely your "rath a%ainst men brin%s

you $raise” B8s 6:1AD

“/od is a ri%hteous #ud%e, a /od "ho eE$resses his "rath every day.” B8s :11? I-D.

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3eferrin% to certain )e"s 8aul states, “(hey are dis$leasin% to /od” B1(h 2:1;? et ibleD.

“Gthe L34 "ill never be "illin% to for%ive him? his "rath and Heal "ill burn a%ainst that man.

(he L34 "ill sin%le him out from all the tribes of Israel for disasterG” B4t 2:2AJ21aD.

/od>s "rath "ill rest eternally on some human bein%s B)n *:*6? 3e 1:J11D.

9cri$ture teaches /od>s $eo$le to loo! for"ard to a future day of "rath "hen /od>s ri%hteous #ud%ment

"ill be fully revealed and their faith "ill be vindicated B8s 6:1AJ1*, 11A:;J? 3om 2:1J11D.

“/od>s "rath is as %reat as the fear that is due” him BI-D.

“the L34 "as very an%ry "ith Israel and removed them from his $resence. nly the tribe of

)udah "as left, and even )udah did not !ee$ the commands of the L34 their /od. (hey follo"ed the

$ractices Israel had introduced. (herefore the L34 rejected all the $eo$le of Israel? he afflicted them and

%ave them into the hands of $lunderers, until he thrust them from his $resence” B2Ki 1:1FJ2A? I-D.

“hen they came to the threshin% floor of acon, HHah reached out and too! hold of the ar! of /od,

because the oEen stumbled. (he L34s an%er burned a%ainst HHah because of his irreverent act?

therefore /od struc! him do"n and he died there beside the ar! of /od.” B29a 6:6JD.

“the L34 has re#ected and abandoned this %eneration that is under his "rath” B)e :2? I-D.

=Curse 7eroH,> said the an%el of the L34. =Curse its $eo$le bitterly> B)d% ;:2*D

/od re$aid the "ic!edness that bimelech had done to his father by murderin% his seventy

brothers. /od also made the men of 9hechem $ay for all their "ic!edness. (he curse of )otham son of

)erubJaal came on them. B)d% :;D

rminianism ma!es /ods love second. /od loves all men, accordin% to the rminian, but 0e

cannot save unless man loves 0im. (herefore, accordin% to rminianism, mans love is trum$ and must

be first and then /od can save him. /ods love accordin% to this does not soverei%nly $roduce mans love,

but is de$endent, bound and limited by man? i.e., a res$onse to mans love.

Consider /od>s ancient $eo$le. /ods love did not de$end u$on anythin% in Israel. e find

7oses addressin% Israel: “(he Lord did not set his love u$on you, nor choose you, because ye "ere more

in number than any $eo$le? for ye "ere the fe"est of all $eo$le: ut because the Lord loved you.” Israel

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"as re$eatedly manifest as a rebellious and a stiffJ nec!ed $eo$le. (here "as nothin% in them "hich made

them "orthy of /ods love.

“(his is love: not that "e loved /od, but that he loved us and sent his 9on as an atonin% sacrifice

for our sins.” B1)n :1AD /ods love is al"ays first. $art from that there could be no love. “he $redestinedus to be ado$ted as his sons throu%h )esus Christ, in accordance "ith his $leasure and "illJJ to the $raise

of his %lorious %race” B+$h 1:;J6aD

2KI 2:2* 5rom there +lisha "ent u$ to ethel. s he "as "al!in% alon% the road, some youths

came out of the to"n and #eered at him.


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“In those days, at that time,< declares the L34,


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Hos :15- “ll their "ic!edness be%an at /il%al? there I be%an to hate them. I "ill drive them from my

land because of their idolatry. I "ill love them no more” BLivin% ibleD

9$ea!in% of %od 4avid "rote, “Nou have rejected us and brou%ht us to dishonor, and do not %o

out "ith our armies. Nou cause us to turn bac! from the adversary” B8s :J1A? 9u$dateD

“(hus says the L34: ehold, I "ill fill "ith drun!enness all the inhabitants of this land: the

!in%s "ho sit on 4avid>s throne, the $riests, the $ro$hets, and all the inhabitants of )erusalem. nd I "ill

dash them one a%ainst another, fathers and sons to%ether, declares the L34. I "ill not $ity or s$are or

have com$assion, that I should not destroy them.>” B)e 1*:1*J1? +9-D. “I "ill not $ity nor s$are nor have

mercy, but "ill destroy them.” BK)-D

“Gthis is "hat the Lord /4 says to the land of IsraelG I "ill send 7y an%er a%ainst you and

#ud%e you accordin% to your "ays. I "ill $unish you for all your abominations. I "ill not loo! on you "ith

$ity or s$are you, but I "ill $unish you for your "ays and for your abominations "ithin you. (hen you

"ill !no" that I am the L34.”” B+He :1JD

“5or this is "hat the Lord says: “4o not enter a house "here there is a funeral meal? do not %o to

mourn or sho" sym$athy, because I 0-+ I(043 7N L+99I/, 7N L-+ 4 7N 8I(N

from this $eo$le,” declares the Lord” B)e 16:;? I-D

)ohn F:2J*. )esus said unto them, IF /od "ere your 5ather. e !no" here that /od is not the


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'a$ac!" 1:1-5- “n oracle: (he "ord of the L34 to Israel throu%h 7alachi. “I have loved you,” says the

L34. “ut you as!, =0o" have you loved us'> “as not +sau )acob>s brother'” the L34 says. “Net I

have loved )acob, but +sau I have hated, and I have turned his mountains into a "asteland and left his

inheritance to the desert #ac!als.” +dom may say, “(hou%h "e have been crushed, "e "ill rebuild the

ruins.” ut this is "hat the L34 lmi%hty says: “(hey may build, but I "ill demolish. (hey "ill be

called the ic!ed Land, a people always under the wrath of the LORD. Nou "ill see it "ith your o"n eyes

and say, =/reat is the L34 Oeven beyond the borders of IsraelM>” BI-D

“nd if his descendants should say, =e "ill rebuild the ruins,> then the Lord lmi%hty

"ill say, =(ry to if you li!e, but I "ill destroy it a%ain,> for their country is named =(he Land of

ic!edness,> and their $eo$le are called =(hose hom /od 4oes ot 5or%ive” B(he Livin% ibleD.

“(hey "ill be called a "ic!ed country and the $eo$le the Lord has cursed forever” B0olmanD

Let>s not for%et 7alachi o$ens "ith “)acob I have loved? but +sau I have hated.” /od as!s Israel

to find assurance in 0is election. 0e "ants them to understand that they are chosen and remain 0is

chosen and favored $eo$le. hen the $eo$le of Israel com$ared themselves to their nei%hbors the

+domites Bthe descendants of +sauD, they sa" that /od chose to $reserve Israel and $unished the

+domites. badiah BD $romised #ud%ment a%ainst the land and $eo$le of +dom. $$arently by 7alachi>s

time it had ha$$ened, and /od>s choice of Israel assured 0is love for them.

'a$ac!" 1:1-5- “n oracle: (he "ord of the L34 to Israel throu%h 7alachi. “I have loved you,”

says the L34. “ut you as!, =0o" have you loved us'> “as not +sau )acob>s brother'” the L34 says.

“Net I have loved )acob, but +sau I have hated, and I have turned his mountains into a "asteland and left

his inheritance to the desert #ac!als.” +dom may say, “(hou%h "e have been crushed, "e "ill rebuild the

ruins.” ut this is "hat the L34 lmi%hty says: “(hey may build, but I "ill demolish. (hey "ill be

called the ic!ed Land, a people always under the wrath of the LORD . Nou "ill see it "ith your o"n eyes

and say, =/reat is the L34 Oeven beyond the borders of IsraelM>” BI-D

“nd if his descendants should say, =e "ill rebuild the ruins,> then the Lord lmi%hty

"ill say, =(ry to if you li!e, but I "ill destroy it a%ain,> for their country is named =(he Land of

ic!edness,> and their $eo$le are called =(hose hom /od 4oes ot 5or%ive” B(he Livin% ibleD.

“(hey "ill be called a "ic!ed country and the $eo$le the Lord has cursed forever” B0olmanD

Na!(& 1:2- “(he L34 is a #ealous /od, filled "ith ven%eance and "rath.” BL(D

“e !no" that "e are children of /od, and that the "hole "orld is under the control of the evil

one” B1)n ;:1D

“(his is ho" "e !no" "ho the children of /od are and "ho the children of the devil are” B1)n

*:1AD

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s "ron%s and all "ill be set free.

“In those days, at that time,” declares the Lord, “search "ill be made for Israel>s %uilt, but there

"ill be none, and for the sins of )udah, but none "ill be found, for I "ill for%ive the remnant I s$are.” B)e

;A:2AD.

o"here does the ible describe /od as “5ather” to every human ever born Bcf +$h *:1J1;D.

Creator, 9ustainer, Kin% over, 8otter, )ud%e, yes. 5ather, noM )esus calls a fe" )e"ish listeners children of

the devil B)n F:D and 8aul teaches there are children of the devil "ho are the enemy of everythin% that is

ri%ht Bcts 1*:1AD

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“/od is "ithout $assions, neither is he affected by any emotion of $leasure or $ain . . . 9trictly s$ea!in%,

/od does not love anyone.” P-.1Q “0e "ho loves /od cannot endeavor that /od should love him in

return.” P-.1Q 9$inoHa B(he +thicsD

9$inoHas /od is not the /od of braham and Isaac, not a $ersonal /od at all but neither is /od

the feelJ%ood /od of today>s "orld.

)DD TO' *E++S ST,FF

(he ible em$hatically teaches that those "ho are outside the family of /od do not !no" /od

B1(h :;D and are "ithout /od and "ithout ho$e in this "orld B+$h 2:12D.

)esus dre" a distinction Bcf +E F:2*, 11:D bet"een those "ho are “sons of the !in%dom” and

those "ho are “sons of the evil one” B7t 1*:*J*? sons of the devil in )n F:D. Consider our Lord>s

teachin% in the li%ht of this $assa%e in /enesis *: “9o the L34 /od said to the ser$entGI "ill $ut enmity

bet"een you and the "oman, nd bet"een your seed and her 9eed”BK)-? I "ill ma!e you and the

"oman enemies to each other. Nour descendants and her descendants "ill be enemies” (+-? cf )ohn F:?

cts 1*:1Af? 1 )ohn *:FD. ote, in declarin% the $unishment that "as to befall the ser$ent, /od said, “ I

"ill $ut enmity bet"een you and the "oman”. (here is here a remar!able revelation of the course of

human events determined u$on by /od.

(his ible verse su$$orted by )esus> $arable in 7atthe" clearly teaches that there is a difference

bet"een the $eo$le of /od and all the rest B+E F:2*, 11:D? there are two !inds of seeds in the "orld.

ccordin% to this $assa%e both the "oman and the ser$ent have a s$iritual $osterity. y the “seed of the

"oman” is meant )esus Christ and his elect, and “seed of the ser$ent” is meant the unbelievers of the

"orld.

0ere is the $romise of a royal $riesthood, a holy nation, a $articular $eo$le from every tribe and

lan%ua%e and $eo$le and nation "ho shall call out the $raises of him "ho called them out of dar!ness into

his marvelous li%ht. nd the seed of the ser$ent shall assert itself as the enemy of the seed of the "oman.

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9ince /od $romised only hatred bet"een the seed of the ser$ent and the seed of the "oman, there "ill be

$er$etual strife bet"een the t"o, and daily observation confirms the conflict bet"een the t"o seeds. hat

is truly amaHin% is that no one other than the ne "ho called the seed into bein% and sustains its every

breath is res$onsible for this state of affairs: “ I will put enmity”.

nd it doesn>t ta!e lon% before that enmity ta!es hold. Cain, +ve>s first male child "ho is the

seed of the ser$ent, “murdered his brother” B1)n *:12? cf /e :FD bel "ho "as the seed of the "oman.

(he ser$ent>s seed then is a %rou$ of %odless $eo$le, "hile the "oman>s seed is a se$arate %rou$ of /odly

$eo$le.

(here "as no essential difference bet"een the brothers. 5rom birth both Cain and bel "ere

inclined to"ards evil B8s ;1, ;FD. 9o bel started life as de$raved as Cain, inclined to"ards the lifeJ

$ur$ose the ser$ent had ur%ed u$on their $arents, but at some $oint /od chose to re%enerate bel and not

Cain? to $ut enmity bet"een them by %ivin% bel a ne" heart but not Cain. “/od sho"s mercy to some

#ust because he "ants to, and he chooses to ma!e some $eo$le refuse to listen” B3o :1F? L(D.

In /enesis *:1; /od declared that he "ould $ut enmity bet"een +ve and her seed, and the

ser$ent>s seed. bel, "hose heart "as no lon%er stony but flesh “offered /od a better sacrifice” B0e 11:D

that $leased /od, but Cain, “belon%ed to the evil oneGPandQ murdered his brother” B1)n *:12? (+-D.

Cain>s #oy came not from $leasin% /od but from $leasin% himself. 9eein% "hat his o"n efforts could

brin% him. lthou%h /od counseled Cain to be reasonable and ado$t a ne" a$$roach to life B:6JD, Cain

refused to submit to /od, because /od had not chan%ed his heart B3o F:6JFD.

“In his $ride the "ic!ed does not see! him?

in all his thou%hts there is no room for /od” B8s 1A:D

Consider the intensity and unreasonableness of Cain>s an%er a%ainst bel. “Cain rose u$ a%ainst

bel his brother and !illed him”, not because of a %reat in#ustice done him by bel, but because he

burned "ith hatred for his brother? there "as enmity bet"een them Bfor another eEam$le of “uneE$lained”

ra%e see )eremiah 1:J1A "here FA reli%ious $il%rims are brutally slau%htered for no a$$arent reasonD.

“In his arro%ance the "ic!ed man hunts do"n the "ea!” B8s 1A:2D.

It is seen in the life of Cain and his $ro%eny the same love of sin that the ser$ent had ur%ed u$on

+ve and dam.

fter they %re" u$ outside the /arden of +den, Cain became a "or!er of the soil, "hile bel

became a 9he$herd. t that time there "ere only t"o choices for an occu$ation J one either "or!ed "ith

$lants B%ro"in% and harvestin%D or animals Braisin% or huntin%D. 7illions of $eo$le today continue in

these t"o essential $rofessions J "e could not continue to eEist "ithout them. hen the time came to

ma!e an offerin% to /od, Cain and bel brou%ht their tribute. bel brou%ht the hand$ic!ed finest from his

floc!s, "hile Cain brou%ht a %ift of cro$s. /od acce$ted bels offerin% "ith favor, but 0e re#ected Cain,

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B/e :? cf 8s ;*:;D and Cains offerin%. otice that the /odJbreathed 9cri$ture declares that “/od

re#ected Ca" and his offerin%” B(+-D? not #ust the offerin% as is so often misstated. 9o, it "as not #ust

Cain>s offerin% that /od found unacce$table, but Cain as "ellM /od 0imself does not “hate the sin but

love the sinner” Bcf 8s ;:;DM

s )ohn 7acrthur $oints out “/od hates the sin but not the sinner” is a false dichotomy.

“3emember that it is the sinner himself "ho is #ud%ed and condemned and $unished. If /od hated only

the sin and not the sinner, he "ould stri$ the sin a"ay and redeem the sinner, rather than castin% the "hole

$erson into hell” B(he Love of /odD.

(he 8salmist "rote concernin% the final destiny of evil men: “/od "ill send them slidin% over the

ed%e of the cliff and do"n to their destruction: an instant end to all their ha$$iness, an eternity of terror.

(heir $resent life is only a dreamM (hey "ill a"a!en to the truth as one a"a!ens from a dream of thin%s

that never really "ere” BLivin% ibleDM “ (he Lord “des$ises their ima%e” B8s *:1J2AD.

.sa$& 5:5-6-

(he conce$t of /od>s unconditional love for 0is creatures is $rofoundly unbiblical and should be

re$udiated. “...the love of /od is set "ith increasin% fre&uency in some matriE other than iblical

theolo%y” B(he 4ifficult 4octrine of the Love of /od? 4..Carson? Cross"ay oo!sD. o"here on the

$a%es of 0oly rit does the "ord unconditional a$$ear "hen referrin% to /od>s love. s! yourself, “did

/od love 8haraoh or the Canaanites' 4id /od love 0itler or 9talin or the abortionist' 4id /od love Cain

B1)n *:12D or )udas' 4oes /od love the unbeliever "ho the ible says "ill s$end eternity in hell'” If your

ans"er is yes, ho" do you ta!e comfort in a /od "ho loves a human bein% yet $unishes him "ith eternal

damnation' 4oesn>t the ible describe /od as settin% a$art only the Godly for 0imself B8s :*D' If /od>s

love is unconditional "hy does the ible say, /od has enemies: “0is an%er burns a%ainst 0is enemies”

B+E *2:1A? cf 3o ;:1A “we were PhisQ enemies”D and 0e "a%es "ar a%ainst them' (he ible also teaches

that the L34 hates those "ho do "ron% B8r *:*2D “Nou hate all those "ho do evil” B8s ;:;D. “Nou destroy

liars? the L34 hates bloodthirsty and deceitful men. (he L34 hates everyone "ho loves violence” B8s

11:;D.

$$arently the ible teaches that those "ho love the Lord hate and des$ite 0is enemies:

“ L34, shouldn>t I hate those "ho hate you'

9houldn>t I des$ise those "ho resist you'

Nes, I hate them "ith com$lete hatred,

for your enemies are my enemies“ B8s 1*:21J22D.

3i%hteous $eo$le, that is, those "ho are allo"ed to dra" near to /od, are those "ho des$ise

$ersistent sinners” B8s1;:D.

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“ho may "orshi$ in your sanctuary, L34' ho may enter your $resence on your holy hill'

(hose "ho lead blameless lives and do "hat is ri%ht, s$ea!in% the truth from sincere hearts. (hose "ho

refuse to slander others or harm their nei%hbors or s$ea! evil of their friends. (hose "ho des$ise

$ersistent sinners, and honor the faithful follo"ers of the L34 and !ee$ their $romises even "hen it

hurts. (hose "ho do not char%e interest on the money they lend, and "ho refuse to acce$t bribes to testify

a%ainst the innocent. 9uch $eo$le "ill stand firm forever“. ccordin% to this 8salm only a fe", select

$eo$le "ill be allo"ed in the $resence of /od. B1;:1J? L(D.

“5ourteen times in the first fifty $salms alone, "e are told that /od hates the sinner, 0is "rath is

on the liar and so forth. In the ible, the "rath of /od rests both on the sin B3o 1:1FffD and on the sinner

B)n *:*6D” B4.. Carson? he Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God ? $.6D.

.r 16:/- (he Lord has made everythin% for his o"n $ur$oses, even the "ic!ed for a day of disaster. B8r

16:D.

/od does not love all men e&ually: “the L34 "ill not re#ect his $eo$le” B8s :1D.

“the Lord disci$lines those he loves, and he $unishes everyone he acce$ts as a son” B0e 12:6D

“>nly if the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth belo" be searched out "ill

I re#ect all the descendants of Israel because of all they have done,> declares the L34.” B)e *1:*D.

“/od did not re#ect his $eo$le, "hom he fore!ne"” B3o 11:2D.

3emember that /od “re#ected” 9aul B19a 16:1D and "ithdre" his love from him B29a :1;? 1Ch

1:1*D. /enesis says God rejected Ca" and his offerin% B:;D. /od is also said to have re#ected 0is

$eo$le B8s 6A:1D and ho" about 4euteronomy 2F:6* "hich declares that the L34 "ill re#oice over

destroyin% and brin%in% harm to disobedient Israel' nd "hat do "e ma!e of the t"o times the ible

declares that /od loved )acob but hated +sau B7al 1:2J*? 3o :1*? read also the story about 9hebna in

Isaiah 22:1;J2;D' 9uch $assa%es could be multi$lied a hundredfold B+He ;:11J1, etc.D.

E0od(s 17:1/-16-

“(he Lord said to 7oses... (ell )oshua that I "ill com$letely destroy the male!ites... (he Lord

"ill continue to fi%ht a%ainst the male!ites forever ”. “(he L34 "ill be at "ar a%ainst the male!ites

from %eneration to %eneration” BI-D

“(his is "hat the L34 lmi%hty says: =I "ill $unish the male!ites for "hat they did to Israel

"hen they "aylaid them as they came u$ from +%y$t. o" %o, attac! the male!ites and totally destroy

everythin% that belon%s to them. 4o not s$are them? $ut to death men and "omen, children and infants,

cattle and shee$, camels and don!eys.>” BIs 1;:2J*D

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De(teroo& 2:17-2-

(he Lord said to 7oses, “(oday you "ill cross the border of 7oab at r and enter the land of

mmon. ut do not bother the mmonites, the descendants of Lot, or start a "ar "ith them. I have %iven

the land of mmon to them as their $ro$erty, and I "ill not %ive you any of their land.>” (his land "as

once considered the land of the 3e$haitesG but the L34 destroyed them so the mmonites could

occu$y their land. 0e had similarly hel$ed the descendants of +sau at 7ount 9eir, for he destroyed the

0orites so they could settle there in their $lace” and similar thin% ha$$ened "hen the Ca$htorites from

Crete invaded and destroyed the vvites, "ho had lived in villa%es in the area of /aHa” BL(D. /od has a

$ec!in% order. (he mmonites "ere of more value than the 3e$haites? the Ca$htorites more valued than

the vvites? the descendants of +sau are of %reater value than "ere 0orites.

ut later on /od $lans disaster on the descendants of +sau B)e :2A cf b 6:1FD. “I am %oin% to

destroy +sau>s descendants” BvF? (+-D. “I "ill stri$ +sau bare? I "ill uncover his hidin% $laces, so that he

cannot conceal himself. 0is children, relatives and nei%hbors "ill $erish, and he "ill be no more” Bv1A?

I-D. 0undreds of years after /od claims )acob for himself he declares disaster for +sau. “+dom "ill be

an ob#ect of horror. ll "ho $ass by "ill be a$$alled and "ill %as$ at the destruction they see there”

BL(D. %ain, this disaster is hundreds of years in the future.

/od said to the descendants of )acob throu%h the $ro$het 7alachi, “I have loved you,” says the

L34. “ut you as!, =0o" have you loved us'> “as not +sau )acob>s brother'” the L34 says. “Net I

have loved !aco", "ut #sau I have hated , and I have turned his mountains into a "asteland and left his

inheritance to the desert #ac!als.” +dom may say, “(hou%h "e have been crushed, "e "ill rebuild the

ruins.” ut this is "hat the L34 lmi%hty says: “hey may "uild, "ut I will demolish” B1:2JD.

(he Lord>s a$ostle "ho understands the ( better than "e inter$reted for us this entire storyJ “ot

only that, but 3ebe!ah>s children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. Net, before the t"ins "ere

born or had done anythin% %ood or badOin order that /od>s $ur$ose in election mi%ht stand: not by

"or!s but by him "ho callsOshe "as told, “(he older "ill serve the youn%er.” )ust as it is "ritten:

“)acob I loved, but +sau I hated.” hat then shall "e say' Is /od un#ust' ot at allM 5or he says to

7oses, “I "ill have mercy on "hom I have mercy, and I "ill have com$assion on "hom I have

com$assion.” It does not, therefore, de$end on man>s desire or effort, but on /od>s mercy. 5or the

9cri$ture says to 8haraoh: “I raised you u$ for this very $ur$ose, that I mi%ht dis$lay my $o"er in you

and that my name mi%ht be $roclaimed in all the earth.” (herefore /od has mercy on "hom he "ants to

have mercy, and he hardens "hom he "ants to harden. ne of you "ill say to me: “(hen "hy does /od

still blame us' 5or "ho resists his "ill'” ut "ho are you, man, to tal! bac! to /od' “9hall "hat is

formed say to him "ho formed it, =hy did you ma!e me li!e this'>” 4oes not the $otter have the ri%ht to

ma!e out of the same lum$ of clay some $ottery for noble $ur$oses and some for common use' hat if

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/od, choosin% to sho" his "rath and ma!e his $o"er !no"n, bore "ith %reat $atience the ob#ects of his

"rathO$re$ared for destruction' hat if he did this to ma!e the riches of his %lory !no"n to the ob#ects

of his mercy, "hom he $re$ared in advance for %loryO even us, "hom he also called, not only from the

)e"s but also from the /entiles B3o :1AJ2D'

9o there it is in blac! and "hite. /od $redestined the descendants of )acob to succeed even at the

eE$ense of the descendants of +sauM nd this for no other reason than /od loved )acob and des$ised

+sau. he has mercy on "hom he "ill have mercy, and "hom he "ill he hardens. 5rom the very same clay

/od created t"o vessels, one for honor the other for dishonor. (his means /od %enerously %rants %race to

one, "hile not the other. 0ere /od is com$letely free to do, as he "ants. 5or "ho, says 8aul, has resisted

his "ill B3o :1D'

(hat /od chooses to create and $redestine some of his creatures for the service of other of his

creatures, 8aul says, is not cruel or un#ust. Creation, or, the clay, is /od>s to do "ith as he $leases.

“all thin%s serve you” B8s 11:1D

De(teroo& :-

(he L34 your /od "ill cross over ahead of you li!e a devourin% fire to destroy the na!ites. 0e

"ill subdue them so that you "ill &uic!ly con&uer them and drive them out, #ust as the L34 has

$romised Bsee 1:*A aboveD.

De(teroo& 23:6-

/od deli%hts in the $unishment of the "ic!ed. “)ust as the L34 re#oiced over you to do you

%ood and multi$ly you, so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you and "rin$ you to nothin$ ”. hat

7oses says is stri!in%ly different from +He!iel 1F:2*,*2, and **:11 "here /od asserts that he does not

desire the death of the "ic!ed. In 19amuel 2:22J2; it is said that /od desired to $ut the sons of +li to

death and he "illed that they not listen to their father>s counsel: “o" +li, "ho "as very old, heard about

everythin% his sons "ere doin% to all Israel and ho" they sle$t "ith the "omen "ho served at the

entrance to the (ent of 7eetin%. 9o he said to them, “hy do you do such thin%s' I hear from all the

$eo$le about these "ic!ed deeds of yours. o, my sons? it is not a %ood re$ort that I hear s$readin%

amon% the Lord>s $eo$le. If a man sins a%ainst another man, /od may mediate for him? but if a man sins

a%ainst the L34, "ho "ill intercede for him'” 0is sons, ho"ever, did not listen to their father>s rebu!e,

for it was the LORD%s will to put them to death“.

E4e"e$ :5-6-

+He!iel "as told, “Nou are not bein% sent to $eo$le "hose s$eech you can>t understand, "hose

lan%ua%e is difficult. Nou are bein% sent to Israel. Nou are not bein% sent to many nations "hose s$eech

you can>t understand, "hose lan%ua%e is difficult, "hose "ords you cannot understand”. /od added this

si%nificant statement: “ If I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you” BC-D.

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)esus denounced KoraHin and ethsaida because they didR"ould not believe in the si%ns and

“many %reat miracles from the 5ather” B)n 1A:*1D that Christ had done amon% them B7t 11? L! 1AD and

re$ent. “oe to you, KoraHinM oe to you, ethsaidaM If the miracles that "ere $erformed in you had

been $erformed in (yre and 9idon, they "ould have re$ented lon% a%o in sac!cloth and ashes” B7t

11:21D. )esus also said if the miracles that "ere $erformed in Ca$ernaum had been $erformed in 9odom,

they too "ould have res$onded "ith re$entance and been saved B7t 11:22J2*D. “8eo$le of Ca$ernaum, do

you thin! you "ill be honored in heaven' Nou "ill %o do"n to hellM If the miracles that too! $lace in your

to"n had ha$$ened in 9odom, that to"n "ould still be standin%” BC+-D. Couldn>t /od have $erformed a

fe" miracles in 9odom if it meant that the $eo$le there "ould be saved' nd "hat about (yre and 9idon'

(hey "ere only a fe" miles u$ the road from KoraHin and ethsaida, yet )esus did not "or! a sin%le

miracle there? even thou%h it "ould have meant the eternal salvation of a %reat number of $eo$leM

E4e"e$ 2:25-26-

“I %ave them statutes that "ere not %ood and ordinances by "hich they could not have life and I

defiled them throu%h their very %ifts in ma!in% them offer by fire all their firstJborn” B39-D.

E4e"e$ 25:1/- T STR)IGHTEN THIS O,T "rst #ara8ra#!s

“9ay to the mmonitesG I am handin% you over to the $eo$le of the +ast for a $ossession” B+He

2;:*JD. (he mmonites "ould $erish, destroyed by the outstretched hand of the soverei%n /od. lon%

"ith the mmonites /od "ould act a%ainst the 7oabites Bv1AD. e sa" in )eremiah that /od $lanned

disaster u$on a future %eneration of +domites. /od>s continuin% dis%ust "ith these $eo$le continues in

the $ro$hecies of +He!iel? /od "ould act a%ainst the +domites Bv1*D. Its not as if /od himself "ere %oin%

to raise u$ off his throne and fi%ht the +domites on the field of battle? /od "ould use means to "a%e his

"ar. “I shall ta!e ven%eance on +dom by means of my $eo$le Israel. hey will treat #dom as my an$er

and fury dictate” B2;:1? )D. (he divine $ur$ose for the +domites "as bein% "or!ed out throu%h the

Israeli armed forces.

It "as the soverei%n /od that declared (yre>s fate. “I am your enemy, (yre, and I "ill brin%

many nations a%ainst you, li!e the "aves of the sea crashin% a%ainst your shorelineG. 5rom the north, I

shall brin% ebuchadneHHar, !in% of abylon, !in% of !in%s, do"n on (yre "ith horses, chariots, cavalry

and an enormous armyG. I "ill brin% you to a terrible end, and you "ill be no more. Nou "ill be loo!ed

for, but you "ill never be found. I, the 9overei%n L34, have s$o!enM” B+He 26:*,,21D.

(his is "hat the 9overei%n L34 says: I am your enemy, (yre, and I "ill brin% many nations

a%ainst you. (yre "ill become the $rey of many nations, and the s"ord "ill destroy its mainland villa%es.

(hen they "ill !no" that I am the L34.

Loo! at ho" s$ecific +He!iel %ets:

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“I am a%ainst you, (yre, and "ill cause many nations to come u$ a%ainst you” Bv*, K)-D. “5or

the 9overei%n L34 says: I will "rin$ Kin% ebuchadneHHar of abylonOthe !in% of !in%s from the

northOa%ainst (yre "ith his cavalry, chariots, and %reat army. 5irst he "ill destroy your mainland

villa%es. (hen he "ill attac! you by buildin% a sie%e "all, constructin% a ram$, and raisin% a roof of

shields a%ainst you. 0e "ill $ound your "alls "ith batterin% rams and demolish your to"ers "ith

sled%ehammers. 0is horses "ill be so many that they "ill cho!e the city "ith dust, and your "alls "ill

sha!e as the horses %allo$ throu%h your bro!en %ates, $ullin% chariots behind them. 0is horsemen "ill

tram$le every street in the city. (hey "ill butcher your $eo$le, and your famous $illars "ill to$$le” BL(?

+He 26:*J11D.

5ollo"in% the lon% sie%e of (yre BeEtendin% over some 1* yearsD, +%y$t "ould serve as

com$ensatory "a%es for ebuchadneHHar and the abylonian soldiers. (he abylonian em$eror "ould

$lunder +%y$t and its treasures as $ay for his military: “this is "hat the 9overei%n L34 says: I am %oin%

to %ive +%y$t to ebuchadneHHar !in% of abylon, and he "ill carry off its "ealth. 0e "ill loot and

$lunder the land as $ay for his army. I have %iven him +%y$t as a re"ard for his efforts because he and his

army did it for me, declares the 9overei%n L34” B+He 2:1? cf )e :*AD. “I "ill hand them over to

those "ho see! their lives, to ebuchadneHHar !in% of abylon and his officers” B)e 6:26D. In his earlier

$roclamation of #ud%ment a%ainst +%y$t /od declared, “t the end of forty years I "ill %ather the

+%y$tians from the nations "here they "ere scattered. I "ill brin% them bac! from ca$tivity and return

them to $$er +%y$t, the land of their ancestry. (here they "ill be a lo"ly !in%dom. It "ill be the

lo"liest of !in%doms and "ill never a%ain eEalt itself above the other nations. I "ill ma!e it so "ea! that

it "ill never a%ain rule over the nations” B+He 1*J1;D. 4urin% the time of +He!iel +%y$t "as a ma#or

$o"er in the re%ion and had been an eEtraordinary em$ire for t"o and a half millennia, an achievement

"ithout $arallel in human history. /od "ould lay the reno"ned +%y$t desolate for a $eriod of forty years

and after that reJestablish it as a !in%dom, but it "ould never return to its once dominant $osition amon%

the "orld>s %reat nations. 5or all of us "ho are the citiHens of modern nations and civiliHations, +%y$t>s

momentary %reatness comes as a solemn reminder. (he durability of a country or society is sub#ect to the

soverei%n $ur$oses of /od.

(he $ro$het continues to antici$ate the comin% #ud%ment and defeat of the mi%hty nation? /od

intends to brin% +%y$t to ruin. ut +%y$t "ill not suffer alone. “(he land of +thio$ia "ill be ravished.

+thio$ia, Libya, Lydia, and rabia, "ith all their other allies, "ill be destroyed in that "ar. =5or this is

"hat the L34 says: ll of +%y$t>s allies "ill fall, and the $ride of their $o"er "ill end>” B*A:;J6? L(D.

s"ord of #ud%ment "ould devastate +%y$t and its nei%hbors. “t that time I "ill send s"ift messen%ers

in shi$s to terrify the com$lacent +thio$ians. /reat $anic "ill come u$on them on that day of +%y$t>s

certain destruction” BvD.

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In this oracle +He!iel ma!es it clear that +%y$t>s fate is sealed? no human devices can "ithstand

the mi%ht of /od. “(his is "hat the Lord /4 says: I "ill destroy %reat numbers of $eo$le in +%y$t

throu%h the $o"er of ebuchadneHHar !in% of abylon. ebuchadneHHar and his army, the cruelest army

of any nation, "ill be brou%ht in to destroy the land. (hey "ill $ull out their s"ords a%ainst +%y$t and

"ill fill the land "ith those they !ill”. s the instruments of /od>s comin% #ud%ment, ebuchadneHHar

"ould invade the land and cover its soil "ith the cor$ses of the slain. “I "ill ma!e the streams of the ile

3iver become dry land, and then I "ill sell the land to evil $eo$le. I "ill destroy the land and everythin%

in it throu%h the $o"er of forei%nersG I P"illQ set fire to +%y$t and destroy all her alliesG (he youn%

men "ill die in battle, and the "omen "ill be ta!en a"ay as slavesG I "ill eEecute acts of #ud%ment u$on

+%y$tGhen I $ut my s"ord into the hand of the !in% of abylon, he shall stretch it out a%ainst the land

of +%y$t, and I "ill scatter the +%y$tians amon% the nations and dis$erse them throu%hout the countries”

B1AJ1,F,1,2;J26D.

E4e"e$ 25:16-

(his is "hat the 9overei%n L34 says: =ecause the 8hilistines acted in ven%eance and too!

reven%e "ith malice in their hearts, and "ith ancient hostility sou%ht to destroy )udah, therefore this is

"hat the 9overei%n L34 says: I am about to stretch out my hand a%ainst the 8hilistines, and I "ill cut off

the Kerethites and destroy those remainin% alon% the coast. I "ill carry out %reat ven%eance on them and

$unish them in my "rath. (hen they "ill !no" that I am the L34, "hen I ta!e ven%eance on them.>”

E4e"e$ 26:-

“ehold, I am a%ainst you, (yre, and "ill cause many nations to come u$ a%ainst you, as the

sea causes its "aves to come u$” BK)-D “5or the 9overei%n Lord says: I "ill brin% Kin%

ebuchadneHHar of abylon” Bv? L(D

Jo! 15:-

(o !no" /od "e must first be !no"n by /od B/a :? 2(i 2:1D. 0e !ne" us before "e !ne"

him? he loved us first B1)n :1D.

/od>s love can be traced from one end of eternity to the other. efore the foundation of the "orld

he loved us, and lon% after our "orldly eEistence has ceased, /od "ill continue to love us. 0is love be%an

in his eternal $ur$ose of %race, and it achieves its $ur$oses in our eternal $ossession of %lory B3o F:2FJ*A?

cf /e ;A:2AD. “Nah"eh>s faithful love for those "ho fear him is from eternity and for ever” B8s 1A*:1,

)? cf Is ;:1? )e *1:*D. /od the 5ather>s love for his elect $recedes the creation of the "orld B+$h 1:?

3ev 1:FD and eEtends beyond our earthly eEistence. /od>s love does not rest u$on anythin% "e do B3o

:11J12D but u$on his o"n %ood $leasure B7t 11:26? L! 1A:21? +$h 1:;,D in "hich there can be no

chan%e.

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/od>s love for his elect is com$rehensive? it !no"s no limits. “/od is totally immersed in his

love for his o"n” B7acrther? (he Love of /odD, lovin% them $erfectly, unchan%in%ly, com$letely, fully,

and absolutely. 0e loves his o"n to the com$lete eEtent of his ca$acity to love B)n 1:2*D. 0e loves them

enou%h to ma!e them #oint heirs "ith Christ B3o F:1D and he "ill bless them "ith bountiful riches of his

%race for all of eternity.

9$ea!in% about his love for his shee$ )esus states, “s the 5ather has loved me, so have I loved

you”. )esus also states that /od the 5ather loves the elect and that the 5ather has loved them even as he

has loved )esus B1:2*D. nd ho" has the 9on loved the 5ather and the 5ather loved the 9on' ccordin%

to )esus the 5ather loved the 9on “before the creation of the "orld” B1:26D. nd that is ho" the 5ather

and the 9on love the elect.

“from everlastin% to everlastin%

the L34s love is "ith those "ho fear him” B8s 1A*:1D

Jo! C!a#ter 17-

In )ohn cha$ters siE and ten our Lord tells us that 0e comes and lays do"n 0is life for those

"hom the 5ather loved and %ave to 0im: 0is shee$. 0e tells the unhelievers that they are not of 0is shee$

and, therefore, they do not hear 0im and follo" 0im. In )ohn 1 )esus $rays for and loves those "hom

the 5ather has %iven 0im out of the "orld and 0e does not $ray for the "orld.

Ro&as :11-

(he ible teaches and ordinary observation confirms that all men every"here "ill not be saved

B)n 1:6J? not everyone has faith? 2(h *:2D, and /od K9 this B)n 6:6? /a :? 2(i 2:1DM /od is

not #ust no" learnin% "ho "ill s$end eternity "ith 0im in heaven, he !no"s those he has chosen B)n

1*:1F, 1;:16D by name BIsaac /e 21:12? )eremiah )e 1:;? bram eh :? Serubbabel 0a% 2:2*? )acob 3o

:12J1*, Clement 8h$ :*, 7artha and her sister and LaHarus )n 11:;? )ohn the a$ostle )n 1*:2*? 3ufus 3o

16:1*? and 8aul /al 1:1;, c 22:1D. nd he>s !no"n this since eternity $ast B+$h 1:D.

5urthermore, accordin% to )esus /od loves the elect #ust as he loves him. )esus said, “5or the

5ather loves the 9on” BT UVW XVYZW 9;


18/28

real $oint here is )esus is sayin% that the love bet"een him and the 5ather is identical to the love they

have for the electM

nd ho" does the 5ather love )esus and the elect' ith an eternal love of courseM “Gthe L34

loves Israel "ith an eternal love” B1Ki 1A:? L(? “the L34 has loved Israel forever” K)-D? “Lon% a%o

the L34 said to Israel: “I have loved you, my $eo$le, "ith an everlastin% love. ith unfailin% love I

have dra"n you to myself” B)e *1:*? L(D. 9o )esus and the 5ather !ne" and loved the elect from

eternity. “Nour love is eternal” B8s 1*F:F? 0olmanD.

In 3omans :1* the a$ostle 8aul, &uotin% from 7alachi, describes /od>s dis$osition to"ard the

t"in sons of Isaac? “)acob I loved but +sau I hated”. 8aul says /od made his choice "hen “the t"ins "ere

not yet born, and had not done anythin% %ood or bad”. (his verse $roves that /od chooses accordin% to

his o"n eternal $lan Bcf +$h 1:11D, not accordin% to anythin% "e do. /od chose to love one and hate the

other before either of them could do anythin% to merit /od>s love or hatredM

braham had t"o sons but only one "as called. ot because of anythin% they had done B/od>s

choice anteceded the birth of +sau and )acob? +$h 1:D, but in order that /od>s $ur$ose in election mi%ht

stand.

/od chooses to love those "hom he chooses to love. 0e chooses in s$ite of our sin. (he fact that

he loves us does not mean "e are "orthy. 9olomon "as but a ne"born infant, not yet a believer. 0e had

not done anythin% %ood or evil. Net, “(he L34 loved him” B29a 12:2;D. +ven thou%h he "as the child

of a sinful union that should never have been, 9olomon "ould be the s$ecial ob#ect of /od>s love.

/od chose and called braham, but 0e did not choose and call other citiHens of r. /od chose

Isaac, but not Ishmael. /od loved )acob, but 0e hated +sau. /od delivered the Israelites but he hardened

the +%y$tians. (he choices "ere made before they "ere born.

0e has loved you "ith all the immutable intensity of his heart, never more and never less

In the midst of the suffocatin% selfJlove of our $ostmodern culture

)esus had more to say about #ud%ment than any other fi%ure in the ible

1Cor 16:22J “If anyone does not love the Lord, that $erson is cursed” BL(D “I $ray that /od "ill $ut a

curse on everyone "ho doesn>t love the Lord” BC+-D.

Cain the elder is $assed by, "hile bel the youn%er is acce$ted. 0am and )a$heth are i%nored,

"hile 9hem the youn%est is chosen for the line from "hich the 7essiah "as to come. bram is chosen

over his older brother ahor to receive the inheritance of Canaan. Ishmael the firstborn is cast out, "hile

Isaac the child of his $arents old a%e is blessed. +sau the %enerous hearted and for%ivin% s$irited is

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denied the blessin%, thou%h he sou%ht it carefully "ith tears, "hile )acob the treacherous, underhanded

schemer, is fashioned into a vessel of honor. (hou%h the eleventh son, )ose$h, is the one "ho receives the

double $ortion. hen )acob, %uided by /od, is blessin% )ose$hs sons, +$hraim the youn%er is $referred

before 7anasseh the elder.

/od re#ected seven of )esse>s sons but chose 4avid B19a 16:1J1*D. “0e chose 4avid his servant

and too! him from the shee$ $ens” B8s F:AD. 4avid is chosen over his brothers.

4avid summoned all the officials of Israel to assemble at )erusalem and said to them “the L34,

the /od of Israel, chose me from my "hole family to be !in% over Israel forever. 0e chose )udah as

leader, and from the house of )udah he chose my family, and from my fathers sons he "as $leased to

ma!e me !in% over all Israel. f all my sonsJJand the L34 has %iven me manyJJhe has chosen my son

9olomon to sit on the throne of the !in%dom of the L34 over Israel. 0e said to me: =9olomon your son

is the one "ho "ill build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I "ill be his

father>” B1Ch 2F:J6D.

0am and )a$heth are i%nored, "hile 9hem the youn%est is selected for the line from "hich the

7essiah "as to come. (o bram the #unior, not to ahor the older brother, is %iven the inheritance of

Canaan. Ishmael the firstborn is cast out unblessed, "hile Isaac the child of his $arents old a%e is blessed.

+sau the %enerous hearted and for%ivin% s$irited is denied the blessin%, thou%h he sou%ht it carefully "ith

tears, "hile )acob the treacherous, underhanded schemer, is fashioned into a vessel of honor. (hou%h the

eleventh son, )ose$h, is the one "ho receives the double $ortion. hen )acob, %uided by /od, is blessin%

)ose$hs sons, +$hraim the youn%er is $referred before 7anasseh the elder.

“y faith )acob, "hen he "as dyin%, blessed each of )ose$hs sons, and "orshi$ed as he leaned

on the to$ of his staff” B0e 11:21D. (he full account of this story is found in /en. F. ll throu%h this

cha$ter "e see ho" )acobs thou%hts "ere constantly of /od. “)acob said to )ose$h, =/od lmi%hty

a$$eared to me at LuH in the land of Canaan, and there he blessed me>” Bv*D and $romised to %ive the

land of Canaan to him and his seed for an everlastin% $ossession. 0e s$o!e of /od as, “the /od "ho has

been my she$herd all my life to this day” Bv1;D, and as the one "ho, “has delivered me from all harm”.

9ettin% aside the normal $rocedures of the day, and the dis$leasure of his son )ose$h, )acob bo"s to /ods

"ill and by faith blesses )ose$hs sons, settin%


20/28

2. either /od nor Christ is said to love anyone in 7atthe">s /os$el

*. Christ is said to have loved the rich ruler in 7ar! BChrist>s love for the rich youn% ruler is a

comment from the "riterD.

. either /od nor Christ is said to love anyone in Lu!e.

;. )ohn>s /os$el is rich in references to the love of /od and Christ. hom do they love' ine

times they are said to love one another. ineteen times they are said to love believers. nce

/od is said to love the "orld Bdoes the “"orld” mean all men individually from the be%innin%

of time "ithout eEce$tion includin% 8haraoh, 9talin, etc.D, and once Christ is said to love his

friends.

9hould "e assume that /od and Christ “love” those "ho are of the “syna%o%ue of 9atan”'

o"here does the ible describe /od as “5ather” to every human ever born Bcf +$h *:1J1;D.

Creator, 9ustainer, Kin% over, 8otter, )ud%e, yes. 5ather, noM )esus calls a fe" )e"ish listeners children of

the devil B)n F:D and 8aul teaches there are children of the devil "ho are the enemy of everythin% that is

ri%ht Bcts 1*:1AD.

(he ible em$hatically teaches that those "ho are outside the family of /od do not !no" /od

B1(h :;D and are "ithout /od and "ithout ho$e in this "orld B+$h 2:12D.

/enesis 22:1J2 says:

/od tested braham. 0e said to him, “brahamM”

“0ere I am,” he re$lied. (hen /od said, “(a!e your son, your only son, Isaac, "hom you love, and %o to

the re%ion of 7oriah. BI-D

/enesis 22:11J12:

0e said, “4o not stretch out your hand a%ainst the lad, and do nothin% to him? for no" I !no" that you

fear /od, since you have not "ithheld your son, o(r o$ so, from 7e.” B9u$dateD

0ebre"s 11:1:

y faith braham, "hen he "as tested, offered u$ Isaac, and he "ho had received the $romises "as

offerin% u$ !"s o$ >e8otte so? B9u$dateD

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9urely /od !ne" that Ishmael "as aliveM hat then did he mean by N3 LN 9' 4id

/od mean “your only son, 9(ILL LI-I/ ( 07+”' r, did 8aul s$ot somethin% and teach it to the

/alatians':

“the 9cri$tures say that braham had t"o sons, one from his slaveJ"ife and one from his

freeborn "ife. 2* (he son of the slaveJ"ife "as born in a human attem$t to brin% about the fulfillment of

/od>s $romise. ut the son of the freeborn "ife "as born as /od>s o"n fulfillment of his $romise. 2

o" these t"o "omen serve as an illustration of /od>s t"o covenants. 0a%ar, the slaveJ"ife, re$resents

7ount 9inai "here $eo$le first became enslaved to the la". 2; nd no" )erusalem is #ust li!e 7ount

9inai in rabia, because she and her children live in slavery. 26 ut 9arah, the free "oman, re$resents the

heavenly )erusalem. nd she is our mother. 2 (hat is "hat Isaiah meant "hen he $ro$hesied, “3e#oice,

childless "omanM rea! forth into loud and #oyful son%, even thou%h you never %ave birth to a child.

5or the "oman "ho could bear no children no" has more than all the other "omenM” 2F nd you, dear

brothers and sisters, are children of the $romise, #ust li!e Isaac. 2 nd "e "ho are born of the 0oly

9$irit are $ersecuted by those "ho "ant us to !ee$ the la", #ust as Isaac, the child of $romise, "as

$ersecuted by Ishmael, the son of the slaveJ"ife. *A ut "hat do the 9cri$tures say about that' “/et rid of

the slave and her son, for the son of the slave "oman "ill not share the family inheritance "ith the free

"oman>s son.” *1 9o, dear brothers and sisters, "e are not children of the slave "oman, obli%ated to the

la". e are children of the free "oman, acce$table to /od because of our faith.” B:22J*1? L(D.

Is it $ossible that /od only reco%niHed Isaac as a son' nd that in the same manner in "hich 0e

reco%niHed )acob and not +sau'

3omans :11J1*:

“thou%h the t"ins "ere not yet born and had not done anythin% %ood or bad, so that /od>s

$ur$ose accordin% to 0is choice "ould stand, not because of "or!s but because of 0im "ho calls,

12 it "as said to her, “(he older "ill serve the youn%er.” 1* )ust as it is "ritten, “)acob I loved, but +sau

I hated.” B9u$dateD

Isaac and )acob are sons born of the 9$irit. +sau and Ishmael are not. (his is not to Isaac and

)acobs credit, they did nothin% to deserve it and they did nothin% to !ee$ it. or is it the fault of +sau or

Ishmael. (hey are %ettin% no more than they deserve. Is this fair some "ould as!' 8aul antici$ates the

&uestion and res$onds:

“"ho are you, man, to tal! bac! to /od' “9hall "hat is formed say to him "ho formed it,

=hy did you ma!e me li!e this'>” 21 4oes not the $otter have the ri%ht to ma!e out of the same lum$ of

clay some $ottery for noble $ur$oses and some for common use' 22 hat if /od, choosin% to sho" his

"rath and ma!e his $o"er !no"n, bore "ith %reat $atience the ob#ects of his "rathO$re$ared for

destruction' 2* hat if he did this to ma!e the riches of his %lory !no"n to the ob#ects of his mercy,

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"hom he $re$ared in advance for %loryO 2 even us, "hom he also called, not only from the )e"s but

also from the /entiles' 2; s he says in 0osea:

“I "ill call them =my $eo$le> "ho are not my $eo$le? and I "ill call her =my loved one> "ho is not

my loved one,” 26 and, “It "ill ha$$en that in the very $lace "here it "as said to them, =Nou are not my

$eo$le,> they "ill be called =sons of the livin% /od.>” 2 Isaiah cries out concernin% Israel: “(hou%h the

number of the Israelites be li!e the sand by the sea, only the remnant "ill be saved. 2F 5or the Lord "ill

carry out his sentence on earth "ith s$eed and finality.” 2 It is #ust as Isaiah said $reviously: “nless the

Lord lmi%hty had left us descendants, "e "ould have become li!e 9odom, "e "ould have been li!e

/omorrah.” BI-D

0ebre"s 11:1J

“y faith braham, "hen /od tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice.

0e "ho had received the $romises "as about to sacrifice his one and only son” BI-D

Isaac, "e !no", "as not brahams only son. ccordin% to /enesis 16 and 2;:1, braham fathered

several other sons. Isaac is the “one and only son” Bonly be%otten? K)-D in that he "as uni&ue, one of a

!ind, the only son of a $articular !ind? he "as the only son %iven to braham by /ods $romise. (he

/ree! "ord the I- translators used to translate “one and only son” is “mono%enes? ADFG”. (his

/ree! ord a$$ears in the (eEtus 3ece$tus as "ell, and is used nine times in the e" (estament? five

times it is used referrin$ to Christ B)n 1:1,1F, *:16,1F, 1)n :D and four times BL! :12, F:, :*F and

here in 0ebre"sD to normal families. In every instance the "ord means “only be%otten” or “only child”.

(he 9e$tua%int also translates the 0ebre" "ord "ith mono%enes, /n. 22:2,? )u 11:2? )er.

6:26 ? m. F:1A ? Sech. 12:1A.

(he follo"in% +n%lish ibles translate “mono%enes” in 0ebre"s 11:1 as “only be%otten” or

“only child”: 4arby, 9-, m$lified, ible in asic +n%lish, C+-, +9-, /eneva, K)-, , 9;,

I-, ), K)-, L(, 39-, 39-, 3evised ebster>s, (+-, /, eymouth e" (estament and

Noun%>s Literal (ranslation.

(he "riter of 0ebre"s is s$ea!in% theolo$ically not historically "hen he refers to Isaac as

braham>s only son. 0e "as follo"in% the "riter of /enesis> eEam$le "ho "rote:

“/od tested braham. 0e said to him, =brahamM> =0ere I am,> he re$lied. (hen /od said, =(a!e your

son, your only son, Isaac, "hom you love, and %o to the re%ion of 7oriah>” B22:1J2? I-D

and

“o" I !no" that you fear /od, because you have not "ithheld from me your son, your only son” B22:12?

I-D.

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8aul also %ave eE$osition to the brothers> relationshi$ in /alatians :22J*1, "here he

demonstrates Isaac is the child of $romise and Ishmael is the child of flesh B)acob re$resents the 9$irit

and +sau the flesh? the old man and the ne" manJetcD. 3omans :F states it clearly: “It is not the children

of the flesh "ho are the children of /od, but the children of the $romise are counted as offs$rin%.”

“s "e have already said, so no" I say a%ain: If anybody is $reachin% to you a %os$el other than

"hat you acce$ted, let him be eternally condemnedM” B/a 1:D.

3omans :F, “It is not the children of the flesh "ho are the children of /od, but the children of the

$romise are counted as offs$rin%.”

+lisha "ent u$ to ethel. s he "as "al!in% alon% the road, some youths came out of the to"n

and #eered at him. “/o on u$, you baldheadM” they said. “/o on u$, you baldheadM” 0e turned around,

loo!ed at them and called do"n a curse on them in the name of the L34. (hen t"o bears came out of the

"oods and mauled fortyJt"o of the youths. nd he "ent on to 7ount Carmel and from there returned to

9amaria. B2Ki 2:2*J2;? I-D

“Let none of those "ho hear the "arnin%s of this curse consider themselves immune, thin!in%, =I

am safe, even thou%h I am "al!in% in my o"n stubborn "ay.> (his "ould lead to utter ruinM (he L34

"ill not $ardon such $eo$le. 0is an%er and #ealousy "ill burn a%ainst them. ll the curses "ritten in this

boo! "ill come do"n on them, and the L34 "ill erase their names from under heaven. (he L34 "ill

se$arate them from all the tribes of Israel, to $our out on them all the covenant curses recorded in this

oo! of the La".” BL(D “(he L34 "ill not be "illin% to for%ive him, but rather the an%er of the L34

and his #ealousy "ill smo!e a%ainst that man, and the curses "ritten in this boo! "ill settle u$on him, and

the L34 "ill blot out his name from under heaven.” Bv2A? +9-D

(he list belo" includes every instance of evan%elistic $reachin% in the boo! of cts, a summary

of content, and an analysis of em$hasis.

1. 8entecost, cts 2:1J*

8eter notes the manifestations of the 0oly 9$irit that all had been "itnessin%, then ties

them to the fulfillment of $ro$hecy of )oel about the last days. 0e then $reaches )esus as the

7essiahJJattested to by miracles and by the resurrection that "as $ro$hesied by 4avidJJand the

%uilt of the cro"d for the crucifiEion.

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(he em$hasis is on for%iveness of sin by )esus the 7essiah. (here is no mention of /ods love or

a relationshi$ "ith 0im.

2. 8eter at the /ate eautiful, cts *:12J26

fter 8eter and )ohn healed a man lame from birth, 8eter $laced the blame for )esus

death on the shoulders of the listeners. 0e then a$$ealed to fulfilled $ro$hecy and told them

either to believe and return and thus receive for%iveness and times of refreshin%, or be destroyed.


a relationshi$ "ith 0im.

*. 8eter before the 0i%h 8riest, cts :FJ12

8eter attributes the healin% of the man lame from birth to )esus the 7essiah, "hom the

)e"s had crucified, but "hom /od had raised from the dead. 0e &uotes $ro$hecy and says there

is no other means of salvation but throu%h )esus. 8eter then refuses to be silent about the /os$el.


a relationshi$ "ith him.

. 8eters 4efense a 9econd (ime before the Council, cts ;:2J*2

8eter $roclaims the resurrected Christ as 8rince and 9avior "ho brin%s for%iveness of sin

and %ives the %ift of the 0oly 9$irit. 0e accuses the Council of $uttin% )esus to death. (hey are so

infuriated they "ant to !ill the $ostles. Instead, on the advice of /amaliel, the believers are

flo%%ed and released.

(here is no mention of /ods love or any !ind of tender relationshi$ "ith 0im.

;. 9te$hens 4efense before the Council, cts :1J6A

9te$hen recounts the history of the )e"s in "hich they constantly rebel, re#ectin% /ods

deliverer. 0e accuses the )e"s of bein% stiffJnec!ed, resistin% the 0oly 9$irit #ust as their

forefathers had. 0e accuses them also of betrayin% and murderin% the 3i%hteous ne, the

7essiah. (hey are so filled "ith ra%e they murder him.

+m$hasis is on the %uilt of the )e"s. (here is no mention of /ods love.

Pote: hen /od s$ea!s to 9aul about his future durin% the events surroundin% 9auls conversion

Bcts D, there is no mention of an intimate relationshi$, only that 8aul "ould suffer much for the sa!e of

Christ.Q

6. 8eters 7essa%e to the 0ousehold of Cornelius, cts 1A:*J*

8eter tal!s of the ministry of )esus, 0is miracles, death on the cross, and resurrection.

8eter tells the /entiles it is his #ob to solemnly testify that )esus is the ne a$$ointed by /od to

#ud%e the "orld, that )esus comin% "as $ro$hesied, and that belief in 0im brin%s for%iveness of

sin.

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(he em$hasis is on )esus, the $ro$hesied 7essiah "ho either brin%s #ud%ment or for%ives of sin.

(here is no mention of /ods love.

. 8auls 7essa%e to the )e"s in the 9yna%o%ue at 8isidian ntioch, cts 1*:16J1

8aul $reaches )esus as the antici$ated 9avior, affirmed by )ohn the a$tist, crucified by

the )e"s, "ho rose from the dead in fulfillment of $ro$hesy. 8aul then $roclaims for%iveness of

sin and freedom from the La" for all "ho believe.

8aul $roclaims )esus the $ro$hesied 7essiah crucified and resurrected. 0is em$hasis is on

for%iveness amidst "arnin%.

F. 8aul at the reo$a%us in thens, cts 1:22J*1

8aul discloses the nature of the


26/28

8aul %ives his testimony, notin% the im$ortance of the resurrection. 0e tells of the

commission )esus had %iven him, $roclaimin% the /os$el "ith a %oal of deliverance from 9atanic

dar!ness to receivin% for%iveness and an inheritance from /od. 8aul claims his messa%e is the

same as the $ro$hets re%ardin% the 7essiahs sufferin% and resurrection.

+m$hasis is on the resurrection of Christ, $ro$hetic fulfillment and for%iveness, and 8auls

res$onsibility to $reach the /os$el. (here is no mention of love or a relationshi$ "ith /od.

(he love of /od is not mentioned a sin%le time in the entire boo! of cts.

Isaiah: ;:1JJ hether a nation is at $eace "ith the "orld or sufferin% throu%h the rava%es of

"ar, is determined by the Lord. 9olomon declared, “no" the L34 my /od has %iven me rest on every

side, and there is no adversary or disaster” B1Ki ;:D.

“I "ill crush +%y$t "ith a series of disasters” B+E :1J;D

“the L34 had ordained to th"art the %ood counsel of hitho$hel, so that the L34 mi%ht brin%

calamity on bsalom” B29a 1:1? 9 u$dateD

“the L34 has brou%ht all these disasters u$on them” B1Ki :? L(D

“Nou said these thin%s "ould ha$$en to us and our leaders, and you made them ha$$en? you

brou%ht on us a %reat disaster. othin% has ever been done on earth li!e "hat "as done to )erusalem” B4a

:12? C-D

“(hose "ho live in 7aroth "rithe in $ain, "aitin% for relief, because disaster has come from the

L34” B7i 1:12? I-D.

“the L34 says: “I am $lannin% disaster a%ainst this $eo$le, from "hich you cannot save

yourselves>” B7i 2:*? I-D.

(he ible has scores of similar $assa%es many of "hich are in )eremiah. “(he Lord is brin%in%

disaster and %reat destruction” B:6D, “the Lord is brin%in% a nation from far a"ay to attac! you... they

"ill !ill your sons and dau%hters” ;:1;J1D, “the Lord lmi%hty said, =I "ill $unish Pthe $eo$le of

nathothQ... (heir youn% men "ill be !illed in "ar? their children "ill die of starvation. I have set a time

for brin%in% disaster on the $eo$le of nathoth, and "hen that time comes, none of them "ill survive>”

B11J21J2*D, “I have sent "ar” B12:12D, “>I "ill set my throne in +lam and destroy her !in% and officials,>

declares the L34” B:*D, “the L34 has stirred u$ the s$irit of the !in%s of the 7edes to march

a%ainst abylon and destroy her” B;1:11 L(D. “ecause of my fierce an%er their cro$s have failed”

B12:1*D, “9o this is "hat the L34 says: =I "ill soon brin% a disaster on the $eo$le of )udah "hich they

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"ill not be able to esca$e. (hey "ill cry to me for hel$, but I "ill not listen to them” B)e 11:11? C-D “I

"ill $unish )ehoia!im and his children and his servants, because they have done evil thin%s. I "ill brin%

disasters u$on them and u$on all the $eo$le in )erusalem and )udah” B)e *6:*1? C-D, Nah"eh declares,

“I "ill ta!e the $eo$le of abylon to be !illed. (hey "ill be li!e lambs, li!e shee$ and %oats "aitin% to be

!illed” B)e ;1:A? C-D and on and on I could %o. (he ible is aboundin% "ith stories, not about /od

merely allo"in% sufferin%, but about /od 0imself bein% the a%ent of that sufferin%M

Consider /od>s ord from the oo! of Lamentations:

1:1;J 9$ea!in% for the city of )erusalem )eremiah "rote, “(he Lord has re#ected all the "arriors in my

midst. t his command a %reat army has come to crush my youn% "arriors. (he Lord has tram$led his

beloved city as %ra$es are tram$led in a "ine$ress“.

2:;J (he Lord is li!e an enemy? the Lord has van&uished Israel li!e an enemy. 0e has destroyed

her forts and $alaces. 0e has brou%ht unendin% sorro" and tears to )erusalem.

*:*2J**J (he Lord causes %rief. 0e torments and %rieves the human race.

“ho has only to s$ea! and it is so done' ho commands, if not the Lord' 5rom "here, if not

from the mouth of the 7ost 0i%h, do evil and %ood come' hy then should anyone com$lain” BLa *:J

*? )D' “Can anythin% ha$$en "ithout the Lord>s $ermission' ho can s$ea! and have it ha$$en if the

Lord has not decreed it' oth bad and %ood thin%s come by the command of the 7ost 0i%h /od” BL(D.

“(he "ill of the Lord alone is al"ays carried out. /ood and evil ali!e ta!e $lace at his command” B(+-D.

;:21J (he L34 himself has scattered the )e"s, and he no lon%er hel$s them B:16D. )eremiah

$leads "ith the Lord? 3estore us to Nou, L34, that "e may be restored. (he )e"s could not of their

o"n efforts restore the bro!en relationshi$ they had "ith /od. /od 0imself must restore it.

“(he L34 said Pto 7osesQ, “ho %ave man his mouth' ho ma!es him deaf or mute' ho

%ives him si%ht or ma!es him blind' Is it not I, the L34” B+E :11? I-D'

“(here is no %od other than meM I am the one "ho !ills and %ives life? I am the one "ho "ounds

and heals? no one delivers from my $o"er” B4t *2:*? L(DM

“4on>t fi%ht the "ays of /od, for "ho can strai%hten out "hat he has made croo!ed' +n#oy

$ros$erity "hile you can. ut "hen hard times stri!e, realiHe that both come from /od” BL(D “/od

%ives %ood times and hard times” B+ccl :1*J1? C-D.

“I am the L34, and there is no other? a$art from me there is no /odG. I form the li%ht and

create dar!ness, I brin% $ros$erity and create disaster? I, the L34, do all these thin%s” BIs ;:;J? I-D.

“hen disaster comes to a city, has not the L34 caused it'” Bm *:6? I-D

4ar!ness as "ell as li%ht, calamity as "ell as $ros$erity, death as "ell as life, sic!ness and "ellJ

bein% are all under the soverei%n and $rovidential re%ulative control of /od. Li!e it or not B3o :1,1D,

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this is the /od of the ible, "ho "ill have mercy on "hom he desires and "ill harden "hom he desires

B3o :1FD.

t the be%innin% of the $arable of the ten minas Bor ten $oundsD in Lu!e 1:1, )esus describes

the citiHens> relationshi$ to the nobleman li!e this: “0is citiHens hated him and sent a dele%ation after

him, sayin%, =e do not "ant this man to rei%n over us.>” (hen at the end of the $arable )esus says in

Lu!e 1:2, “s for these enemies of mine, "ho did not "ant me to rei%n over them, brin% them here and

slau%hter them before me.< )esus says that $eo$le "ho do not "ant his absolute authority over them "ill

be slau%htered before his eyes. (hey "ill be slau%htered. )esus "ill not have it done in a $rivate $lace but

before his eyes.

“the Lord has re#ected and abandoned this %eneration that is under his "rath.” B)e :2D

“(he Lord is a #ealous and aven%in% /od? the Lord ta!es ven%eance and is filled "ith "rath. (he

Lord ta!es ven%eance on his foes and maintains his "rath a%ainst his enemies.” Bah 1:2D

“I "ill ta!e ven%eance on +dom by the hand of my $eo$le Israel, and they "ill deal "ith +dom in

accordance "ith my an%er and my "rath? they "ill !no" my ven%eance, declares the 9overei%n Lord.”

B+He 2;:1D

“this is "hat the 9overei%n Lord says: I am about to stretch out my hand a%ainst the 8hilistines,

and I "ill cut off the Kerethites and destroy those remainin% alon% the coast. I "ill carry out %reat

ven%eance on them and $unish them in my "rath. (hen they "ill !no" that I am the Lord, "hen I ta!e

ven%eance on them.” B+He 2;:16J1D.

“our /od brou%ht all this calamity u$on us and u$on this city” Be 1*:1FD.

8salm 1*;J (he L34 does "hatever $leases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas

and all their de$ths includin%, stri!in% do"n the firstborn of +%y$t BvFD, stri!in% do"n many nations and

!illin% mi%hty !in%s Bv1AD.

If you are not born a%ain from /od, the bible $lainly states that you are an ++7N of /od....

Psee 8aul enemyQ )ohn *:*6 K)-

0e "ho believes in the 9on has everlastin% life? and he "ho does not believe the 9on shall notsee life, but the "rath of /od abides on him.”

2F of 2F

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