Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Ecclesiastes 6:10 ¶ Whatever exists has already been named, and it is known what man is; for he cannot dispute with him who is stronger than he is. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ecclesiastes 6:10 ¶ Whatever exists has already been named [long ago], and it is known what [a frail being] man is; for he cannot dispute with Him who is mightier than he. |
Subject: Predestination |
Bible Note: Greetings, You said: “The Lord knows who are His because He is all-knowing; not selective.” My reply: You’re mistaken. One doesn’t have to read far in the Bible to discover that GOD is discriminatory and selective. And since He created the universe, He is perfectly entitled to act as He alone decides without any reference to His creatures. Obviously, the LORD God always acts righteously, but because He is the sovereign Owner and Ruler over all things, He decides and acts as He alone decides. Our part is to unconditionally submit ourselves to GOD’s royal will. Read Deuteronomy chapter 7 and Ephesians 1:3-11 to see examples of GOD’s sovereign and discriminatory choices. You said: “Yes, I realize unbelievers and such will be punished; Why? Because they chose to not believe and God knew they would not believe.” My reply: The Bible teaches that no one can come to Christ or have saving Faith in Christ or savingly repent of their sins unless GOD first grants them His grace to do so. Refer to Acts 13:48; Acts 18:27; Ephesians 2:8-10; John 15:5. Take particular note of Christ’s statements in Gospel of John 6:44 and 6:65 in which He declares “NO ONE can come to Me UNLESS the Father Who sent Me draw Him, and I will raise Him up at the last day.” Thus Christ declares that salvation is entirely by GOD’s sovereign grace. Human “free-will” has nothing to do with it. Salvation is by GOD’s grace throughout. As the prophet Jonah declared [Jonah 2:9] “Salvation is of the LORD!” You said: “I realize God is Just and Righteous, also merciful and full of Grace. How does the bible teach that God's Love is not universal or that it is exclusive? John 3:16 says clearly that God so loved the world, is that exclusive? My reply: Yes. Many people refer to John 3:16 who seem to have never realised what that verse actually says. John 3:16 in effect divides the entire human race into two groups: (a) those who believe on the Only-begotten Son; i.e. Christ, and who are thus granted eternal life; i.e. salvation, and (b) all the remainder who perish in their unbelief and sin. Since each individual verse of Scripture is not in isolation but is part of the particular book of the canon of Scripture in which it occurs, and is therefore also is an integral part of the entire Scriptures, we must therefore also consider John 3:16 in the context of the Gospel of John and then in the context of the entire Scriptures. When we do so, we discover the great truths of Election and Pre-destination unto salvation [Ephesians 1:3-11; 2 Timothy 1:9; John 10:26; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Romans 8:28-30, etc., which state that GOD has from before Creation determined the practical extent to which salvation will apply, and that in every aspect and phase of salvation by grace, it is GOD [not Man] “Who works all things according to the counsel of His own will” [Ephesians 1:11b]. You said: “I am not saying that everyone will go to heaven regardless, what I am saying is that He has stretched out His Love and Mercy to any that will receive it. “ My reply: You’re mistaken. Christ Himself says in Gospel of John 6:37 that all who the Father gives to Christ WILL come; i.e. (a) GOD’s grace in salvation is irresistible, and (b) the operative choice of who comes to Christ is not of Man but of GOD. (c) So-called human “free-will” is not in view because (d) salvation is always only by GOD’s sovereign grace. Thus, GOD’s reserves His love and mercy in salvation to all whom He has chosen; i.e. elected and predestinated to be saved in Christ, and to no more than these. Christ is t5he Saviour of GOD’s elect people and of no others. To be continued in Part 2 … |