FREE WILL ?

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FREE WILL?
J. A. FREEMAN

BABY MOSES, tucked away in his cradle, floating on the water, {cried}. Was it God's will, or the baby's will?

It was a cry that originated in heaven. The king's daughter was attracted. The child's life was spared. He entered a palace and eventually became the greatest leader of men this world has ever known. He was entrusted with the commandments; he talked with God on the mountain top.

Is any adopted son of God restless or over-anxious? Then let him think of this minute event and its consequences, and let him watch for the Divine Hand in even life's smallest events.

Here lies peace. John the Baptist arrived exactly on time to behold the Lamb of God, and be labeled the greatest of all men born among women. Saul was at the right spot when our Lord Jesus visited him.

All is of God. Life's minutest circumstances are under His control. Therefore, be anxious for nothing. He knows. He loves. He cares. One Captain is competent enough for any ship. We are all only passengers.

"He worketh all things"—absolutely all things, without any exceptions—"after the counsel of his own will." Eph. 1:11

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A WORD TO THE ELECT

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. You may rejoice to think yourselves secure;
You may be grateful for the gift divine -
That grace unsought, which made your black hearts pure,
And fits your earth-born souls in Heaven to shine.
But, is it sweet to look around, and view
Thousands excluded from that happiness
Which they deserve at least as much as you -
Their faults not greater, nor their virtues less?
And, wherefore should you love your God the more,
Because to you alone His smiles are given;
Because He chose to pass the many o'er,
And only bring the favoured few to Heaven?
And, wherefore should your hearts more grateful prove,
Because for ALL the Saviour did not die?
Is yours the God of justice and of love?
And are your bosoms warm with charity?
Say, does your heart expand to all mankind?
And, would you ever to your neighbour do -
The weak, the strong, the enlightened, and the blind -
As you would have your neighbour do to you?
And, when you, looking on your fellow-men,
Behold them doomed to endless misery,
How can you talk of joy and rapture then?-
May God withhold such cruel joy from me!
That none deserve eternal bliss I know;
Unmerited the grace in mercy given;
But none shall sink to everlasting woe,
That have not well deserved the wrath of Heaven.
~~~
And oh! there lives within my heart
A hope, long nursed by me;
(And should its cheering ray depart,
How dark my soul would be!)
That as in Adam all have died,
In Christ shall all men live;
And ever round His throne abide,
Eternal praise to give.
That even the wicked shall at last
Be fitted for the skies;
And when their dreadful doom is past,
To life and light arise.
I ask not how remote the day,
Nor what the sinners' woe,
Before their dross is purged away;
Enough for me, to know
That when the cup of wrath is drained,
The metal purified,
They'll cling to what they once disdained,
And live by Him that died.

"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."

1Cor15:22

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JESUS NEVER SAID THAT

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Jesus Never Said That

When did you let
Your religion consume your humanity
I heard you call it
"Christianity"
Jesus never did that.
He never sold out to the rules of men
That's why they crucified Him.
His crown of thorns awarded Him
By the Keepers of the "Same"
There's nothing in a name
When the person named cannot be seen
In it.

So
When did your rules
Become his words in your mind
Vanity
Insanity
Devoid of true humanity
I heard you call it
"Christianity"
Jesus never did that
He never let them hem Him in
That's why they couldn't handle Him
Sinner
Glutton
Drunkard
Hangin out with "them"

You
Pay for the pews
With the bad news
That everyone else is going to burn
Jesus never said that
You did not listen well
He only threatened
The Pharisees with hell
He put the fire of His truth
Upon the ruthless religious leaders
He punished them
Before all men
With parables

His words were jewels
Good News
For the poor, the oppressed, the afflicted
How beautiful the feet of them
that set the captives
FREE
Love is the law of God you see
Service is the call of God so be
A friend of God
Who so loved the world
He sent His only Son
To share His life with everyone

Yea,
That's what Jesus did
Sinner
Glutton
Drunkard
Died for "them"
And when His suffering was through
Cried out, "Father forgive "them"
They don't know what they do
Yea,
He even died for you
When did you let your religion
Consume your humanity
I heard you call it
"Christianity"
Jesus never did that

"let the one with ears to hear ……….
Hear"

anonymous

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UNIVERSAL SOVEREIGNTY

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"He worketh all things"—absolutely all things, without any exceptions—"after the counsel of his own will." Eph. 1:11

What do the Institutional Church, the New Agers and even a number of wayward ministries espousing Universal Reconciliation have in comon They all are built on a foundational belief in "man's free will." The belief in "free will" finds it origin in the carnal and rebellious soul of man. Simply said, the vain soul ever cries "I will." The doctrine of "free will" attempts to justify that wayward cry.

Think about it sweet sons of God as you read this simple treatise by A P Adams. Also keep in mind how God always deals in simplicity ....... even a child should understand and be able to take comfort in God's word.

Universal Sovereignty
Take still another illustration from the New Testament. The crucifixion of Christ is always looked upon as the most awful crime that ever was committed, and the perpetrators of it are considered as deserving the most severe retribution; and yet they simply did what God's hand and counsel determined before to be done. Acts 4:28. And Peter tells us that Christ "was delivered up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God." Acts 2:23. Thus we see how even this stupendous crime was of God, and since we know that He worketh all things after the counsel of His own will (Eph. 1:11), we can readily understand from the illustrations cited how true it is that "all things are of God." Thus is God's universal sovereignty fully established by the plain teachings of the word. "He doeth according to His will, in the army of Heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest Thou?" Dan. 4:35. See also Isa. 40, the whole chapter, and Rev. 17:17.

To the child of God this truth is most precious and reassuring. It teaches us how absolutely safe we are while we "abide under the shadow of the Almighty." His power extends not simply to the smallest affairs like the hairs of our heads and the birds of the air, but also to greater things--individuals, communities, states, nations, and world--and no creature moves but by His appointment or permission. "All things are of God"; therefore I can understand how all things work together for good to them that love God, and how also all things shall yet turn for good to man, since God loves him. God uses the forces of the world, whether human or otherwise, just as one would move the pieces on a chess-board. They are so many instruments--tools--in His hands. "Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? As if a rod should shake itself against them that lift up, or as if the staff should lift up itself as if it were no wood." Isa. 10:15

"He worketh all things"—absolutely all things, without any exceptions—"after the counsel of his own will." (Eph. 1:11).

Sweet reader does not this scripture speak to there being only "ONE WILL"

Jack

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I BELIEVE JESUS IS THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD

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I Believe

I believe in "the restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouths of the prophets since the world began." -Acts 3:21-

I believe that the "good tidings of great joy will be to all people." -Luke 2:10

I believe that believers in Christ Jesus are "born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor the will of man, but of God." -John 1:13-

I believe

I believe that God appointed Jesus Christ "heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe." -Hebr. 1:2-

I believe that "no man can come to Christ unless the Father who sent Him draws him." -John 6:44

I believe "God gave Jesus authority over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as God gave him." -John 17:2-

I believe

I believe the Father "has given all things into Jesus' hands." -John 13:3-

I believe that Jesus Christ "was the true light which gives light to every man who come into the world." -John 1:9

I believe that "just as the result of one trespass was condemnation to all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification for all men." -Romans 5:18

I believe one mans sin "brought condemnation for all mankind." -Romans 5: 19-

I believe one mans righteousness brings "right relationship with God, and new life for everyone." -Romans 5:19-

I believe one mans sin made the whole of mankind sinners. I also believe the righteousness of one Man makes the whole of mankind righteous.

I Believe

I believe that Jesus is "able to subdue all things to himself." -Phil. 3:21-

I believe that Jesus came "that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are in earth in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His own will." -Eph. 1:10,11-

I believe "the Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering towards us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.' -2 Peter 3:9-

I Believe

I believe "God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors as though God was making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: be reconciled to God." -2 Cor. 5:19, 20-

I believe that "all nations shall be blessed." -Gal. 3:8-

I believe that "the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." -John 6:33-

I believe that Jesus commanded us to be like himself: "Love your enemies, bless those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven." -Matt. 5:44,45

I believe Jesus when he said: "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw [Greek=draw, drag, impel] all mankind unto myself."

I believe that "creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but by reason of Him who subjected it in hope, because creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God." -Romans 8:20,21-

I Believe

I believe "the Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hands." -John 3:35-

I believe "since by man came death, by man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all died, even so in Christ all shall be made alive." -1 Cor. 15:22-

I believe Jesus Christ "is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created that all in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him." -Col. 1:15,16

I believe that "all shall know the Lord, from the least to the greatest of them." -Hebr. 8:11-

I believe "the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men." -Titus 2:11-

I believe I am not to "repay evil for evil."-Rom. 12:17-

Will God ask me to do what He will Himself not do?

I Believe

I believe "If anyone's work which he has built endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved yet so as through fire." -1 Cor. 3:14,15-

I believe "of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen." -Romans 11:36

I believe "all Israel shall be saved." -Romans 11:26-

I Believe

I believe "Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died." -2 Cor. 5:14-

I believe that "the head of every man is Christ, the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God." -1 Cor. 11:3-

I believe that "all nations shall come and worship You, for your judgements have been made manifested." -Rev. 15:4

I believe that "when God's judgements are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness." -Isa. 26:9-

I believe that "mercy shall triumph over judgement." -James 2:13-

I believe that "where sin abounded, grace abounded much more." -Romans 5:20-

I Believe

I believe that "God is love." -1 John 4:8-

I believe that "love never fails." -1 Cor. 13:8-

I believe that God never fails.

I believe "herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loves us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." -1 John 4:10-

I believe Jesus Christ "is the propitiation for our sins and not for our sins only but the sins of the whole world. -1 John 2:2-

I believe "God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them." -1 John 4:16-

I Believe

I believe "every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: blessing and honour and glory and power to him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever." -Rev. 5:13-

I believe that "in the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on the earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." -Phil. 2: 10,11

I believe "all nations whom God has made will come and worship before him." -Psl. 86:9-

I believe "God's mercy endures forever." -1 Chron. 16:34-

I believe God's Spirit "will be poured out on all flesh." -Joel 2:28-

I believe that "the leaves of the Tree of Life are for the healing of the nations." -Rev. 22:2

I believe "that there shall no longer be a curse upon anything." -Rev. 22:3-

I Believe

I believe that if we really knew the Lord, we "would not have condemned the guiltless." -Matt. 12:7-

I believe "God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the gentiles, which is Christ in you the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." -Col. 1: 27, 28-

I believe that God beckons us to "Come and let us return to the Lord, for He was torn, but He will heal us, He was stricken, but He will bind us. After 2 days, He will revive us. On the third day He will raise us up that we may live in His sight." -Joel 2:28-

I believe "the Lord makes bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of God." -Isa. 52:10-

I Believe

I believe "the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken." -Isa. 40:5-

I believe "all creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but by reason of Him who so subjected it in hope." -Rom. 8: 20-

I believe "the whole creation shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption." -Romans 8: 20

I believe that "they" and "we who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves, wait for the redemption of our body." -Romans 8:23

I Believe

I believe that "having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, does he not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost till he find it." -Luke 15:14-

I believe the Lord gathers up remnants of fish and bread, He "gathers up remnants that nothing be lost." -John 6:12

I believe God "will open His hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing." -Psl. 145:6

I believe that God is "gracious in all His works." -Psl. 145:17-

I believe "the earth is the Lord's and all its fulness, the world and all those who dwell therein." -Psl. 24:1-

I believe "all the kings of the earth shall praise You, oh Lord, when they hear the words of Your mouth." -Psl. 138:4-

I believe God "reveals Himself by those who did not ask for Him; He was found by those who did not seek Him." -Isa. 65:1

I Believe

I believe "the Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all the works of His hands. All Your works shall praise You, oh Lord." -Psl. 145:8-10-

I believe "all the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You. All those who go down to the dust shall bow before You." -Psl. 22:27, 29

I believe "O You who hear prayer, to You shall all flesh come. Iniquities prevail against me; as for transgressions, You will provide atonement for them." -Psl. 66:3, 4-

I believe "through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You. All the earth shall worship You and sing praises to You." -Psl. 66: 3, 4

I believe

I believe that "through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness." -Lam. 3:21-24-

I believe that "the Lord will not cast off forever. Though He causes grief, yet He will show compassion according to the multitude of His mercies. -Lam. 3:31,32

I believe "there is no God besides Me, a just God and Saviour; There is none besides Me. Look to Me and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is none other. I have sworn by Myself; the word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that to Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath. He shall say, surely in the Lord I have righteousness and strength. To Him men shall come, and all shall be ashamed who are incensed against Him. In the Lord all the descendants of Israel shall be justified and shall glory." -Isa. 45:21-25

I Believe

I believe "in this mountain the Lord of Hosts will make for all people a feast of choice pieces, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of well-refined wines on the lees. And He will destroy on this mountain the covering cast over all nations and all poeples. He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord will wipe away all tears from all faces." -Isa.25-26

I Believe

I believe Jesus Christ "ascended higher than all the heavens so that He might fill the entire universe with Himself." -Eph. 4:10

I believe that Jesus Christ is destined to reign until God "has put all enemies under His feet." -1 Cor. 15:25

I believe the end consummates in "abolishing every kind of domination, authority, and power." - 1 Cor. 15:24

I believe the "last enemy to be abolished is death." -1 Cor. 15:27

I believe that "when all things are subject to Him, then the Son himself will also be made subordinate to God, who made all things subject to Him." -1 Cor. 15:28

I believe the subjection of all to Christ Jesus culminates in "God all in all." -1 Cor. 15:28

I Believe

I believe "all nations of the earth shall be blessed." -Gen. 18:18

I believe "all families of the earth shall be blessed." -Gen. 12:3 & Gen. 28:14

I believe "it shall come to pass the saying that is written: 'death is swallowed up in victory, Oh death, where is your sting. Oh, hell, where is your victory.' The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." -1 Cor. 15: 54-58

I believe "it is finished." -John 19:30

"In order that in adoration of the Name of Jesus every knee of worshippers will bow themselves and openly acknowledge with joy, celebration and praise, that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. This profession and confession of His Lordship shall be open and freely proclaimed, acknowledged joyfully by all beings in the heavens, of those on the earth, and those in the underworld. -Phil. 2:10, 11"


arranged by FineLinen
last paragraph paraphrased
by FineLinen

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HELL ....... Where's the Respect !!

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USE ANYTHING, BUT LEAVE MY HELLFIRE DOCTRINE ALONE !!

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/playback/playback-54/1327300



and we wonder why the world scoffs



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PHOBOS and TROMOS

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" ........ work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." Phl 2:12

As long as you have a hellfire fear based religion the translation above would seem to support the fear and angst that drives most Christians. How wonderful it is to discover the alternative where GRACE abounds.

A good brother named Jul, after some research wrote this concerning the familiar scripture quoted above.

"I read an alternate view of this verse which I thought seemed to be supportable. That view stated that the word “fear” can also mean “strong emotion relating to reverence”. Combined with the word “trembling” which was said to mean “trembling with JOY”.

That is to say, that we are to work out our salvation with strong feelings of JOY and REVERENCE so much so as to cause us to TREMBLE with HAPPINESS.

The reason for such a strong reaction is because our salvation is not dependant on our self motivated efforts, rather “for it is God who is working in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure” As such, we are told, “because of this do ye also rejoice and joy with me.”

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Phl 2:13
For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me. Phl 2:18


With this view of the verse there is the feeling of REJOICING AND JOY in respect to our salvation. As opposed to the feeling of ANXIETY and QUAKING IN APPREHENSION in respect to our salvation.

To give credence to Jul's discovery this is another writing on the same subject.

Those two words "fear and trembling" are from the Greek "PHOBOS and TROMOS."

A funny thing with those words, it all depends on the intention or motive of the writer or reader as to what thought is being conveyed. The Greek philosophy was their psychology, this philosophy dealing with mind and emotion was rather simple. The emotion would be a single word, but that single word was the median of two-meanings.

PHOBOS has a positive and negative meaning to the same emotion, the two-sides of the same emotion either mean "dread" or "reverence. The same for TROMOS, it either means "shake nervously in fear", or "shake excitedly in anticipation."

PHOBOS, once again means either "reverence" or "dread", two sides of the same emotion depending on the perspective at the time. The Apostle Paul was genius, because out of the many other words Paul could have used to represent fear, terror, dread, caution, weary, and the like, he used PHOBOS.

In light of this discovery how apropos is this proverb.
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. Pro 25:2

Brother Jul with some of my thoughts intertwined again writes, "as you read this word think of how those, with ETERNAL HELL AS PART OF THEIR DOCTRINE DOCTRINE, ARE ENGULFED IN DEAD WORKS THAT ONLY BRING FORTH SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS. CONVERSELY THE MAN WHO KNOWS GOD AS LOVE REALIZES IT IS ONLY BY GRACE THERE IS SALVATION". Composing my thoughts, I am thinking in terms of giving an answer to my non Universal Salvation friends. Many of them are stuck in gross legalism. When they read “fear and trembling”, they have feelings of anxiety.

So what does it mean to you, to work out your Salvation with Fear and Trembling?

The way I understand, to put it in technical terms, my salvation is a process of impartation of sanctification. The active ingredient being the Blood of the Lamb. As such the “working out my Salvation” is by Grace alone, not of myself.

I will not be appearing before our Judge with the boast, “Lord I did this....and Lord, I did that.... Far be it from me to bring anything before His Majesty except the cry of, “Grace!, Grace!”. I would feel so ashamed to direct His attention to anything I have done. I totally, without reservation or addition, identify with my Messiah and his righteousness alone.

This I do with great joy and trembling of happiness.

Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea, Joy to you and me.

My dear friend how will you stand before Our Righteous Judge, when your life is over. Will you stand in fear and trembling trying to convince God your dead works are righteous. Or might you be found before His Majesty, trembling with happiness and full of great joy. As you point to Jesus will you cry Grace! Grace! O My Father, the Lamb is worthy for He has borne all my sins and performed all my good works. Glory be to the Lamb "who taketh away the sin of the world!"

Oh sweet reader, give up your works of self effort as you try to appease the Hellfire God. Instead, join us as we embrace Jesus who paid the price and gave us GRACE. Discover this Jesus "Who is the Savior of all men, especially those who are believers." 1 Tim 4:10

Jack

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