David Lawrence Predestination 2 Timothy 2

Both Cornelius and Peter were told that Peter would tell Cornelius WHAT HE MUST DO. Peter BEGAN speaking and Cornelius and band gave the doubting Peters the SIGN that God truly, truly meant the Great Commission which was to ALL NATIONS.

Peter has not yet told Cornelius what he MUST do. The task here is that PETER was told to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles because that was always GOD'S PLAN. However, now, the GIFT convinces Peter that he COULD NOT withstand God's will that Gentiles also could be baptized.

They didn't see Cornelius as PREDESTINATED to repent. Rather, the proof was that God's predestination was that both Jew and Gentile be one body. Cornelius was a God Fearer or worshiped like the Jews. He needed no repented but the GENTILE NATIONS needed to repent.

God's GRANTING repentance means exactly what "He granted to us the FREEDOM OF SPEECH."

Didomi (g1325) did'-o-mee; a prol. form of a prim. verb (which is used as an altern. in most of the tenses); to give (used in a very wide application, prop. or by impl., lit. or fig.; greatly modified by the connection): - adventure, bestow, bring forth, commit, deliver (up), give, grant, hinder, make, minister, number, offer, have power, put, receive, set, shew, smith (/ with the hand), strike (/ with the palm of the hand), suffer, take, utter, yield.

Or: When the others heard this, all their objections were answered and they began praising God! "Yes," they said, "God has given to the Gentiles, too, the privilege of turning to him and receiving eternal life!" Acts 11:18LIV

Peter didn't know that the people on the day of Pentecost HAD NO CHOICE. His response is quite identical to the Great Commission of Jesus:

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Acts 2:37

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38

The Great Commission GRANTED salvation but not unconditionally: those who BELIEVE and are BAPTIZED shall be saved. The First Ammendment GRANTS us the right to speak: it does not FORCE us to speak. Being of age GRANTS us the right to vote: it does not FORCE us to vote.

2 TIMOTHY 2:25

David Lawrence at David Lipscomb: We must never forget that repentance is itself a gift from God ( 2 Tim. 2:25), and God will use this gift of His grace to bring all His children to repentance.

Because God is God and we are not, EVERYTHING is a gift of God. No one thinks that they will be able to raise their dead body. But God has provided a way in which our bodies may be raised to glory:

Jesus and the "Gospel" did not change this Divine plan to give supernatural power to mortals even though they can do nothing on their own:

Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. John 4:10

You see, Jesus didn't pour spiritual water down the throat of the woman. She had to ask for it and she had to drink of it. He wasn't speaking of literal water but His Word. Is this demand of Jesus any less unreasonable than telling us to be baptized?

Notice that the gift of God is His power to allow us to do impossible things:

And also that every man should eat and drink, and
........... enjoy the good of all his labour,
........... it is the gift of God. Ecclesiastes 3:13

Now, we know that labor which comes from us cannot make us spiritual so that we have God's Spirit, the Mind of Christ and think like God. We cannot add to or subtract from God Who causes plants to grow and even us being planted like Jesus and rising to be a new, spiritual person:

I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. Ecclesiastes 3:14

Solomon was wise and said:

Behold that which I have seen:i t is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him:for it is his portion. Ecclesiastes 5:18

Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and
........... to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. Ecclesiastes 5:19

A GIFT by definition is FREE. However, gives often are conditional.

Martin Luther wrote:

"There is no more marked manifestation of God's wrath than the fact that he permits the decline of his spoken and written Word." "Pleased with his own way is everyone, Hence the land with fools is overrun." Martin Luther

Why would Paul have to suffer so much if ELECT means PREDESTINATED?

And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. 2 Tim 2:5
........... The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. 2 Tim 2:6

Before there can be converts who WILL BECOME the elect, the farmer must endure the hardships. Paul was not speaking of a HIRED CLERGY:

Work hard like a farmer who gets paid well if he raises a large crop. 2 Tim 2:6LIV

The language of Paul is that of a PARABLE. Only those who are willing to suffer canunderstand:

Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. 2 Tim 2:7

Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead, according to my gospel: 2 Tim 2:8

Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evildoer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. 2 Tim 2:9

If Paul taught Calvinistic predestination then he would not have to suffer with Christ so that the ELECT might obtain SALVATON. Therefore, being of the ELECT does not mean SALVATION without obeying the Gospel Paul preached.

Therefore I endure all things for the elects sakes,

that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 2Tim 2:10

God's PURPOSES and PLANS and PROMISES cannot be altered by mankind: they are PREDESTINATED. However, mankind always has an option: you cannot believe in predestinaition if you believe in Paul's IFS:

It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 2 Tim 2:11
If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 2 Tim 2:12
If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. 2 Tim 2:13

Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. 2 Tim 2:14

Personal predestination is ONE OF THOSE WORDS because it does not appear in the Holy Scriptures.

Paul used this same idea to MARK those whose are withing God's Grace:

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Tim 2:15

But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 2 Tim 2:16

And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 2 Tim 2:17

Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. 2 Tim 2:18

Paul also knew that those KNOWN by God still have the option of fleeing sin or remaining outside of God's power:

Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal,

The Lord knoweth them that are his.
And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 2 Timothy 2:19

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 2 Timothy 2:20

God did not create these vessels for dishonor; it was their own choice. Even then, it is possible for the vessels to "purge" or pour out dishonorable acts and be made into a vessel of honor:

If a man therefore purge himself from these,

he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the masters use, and prepared unto every good work. 2 Timothy 2:21

The Jews in Rome believed that God predestinated them so that they were PRESERVED whatever they did. This is Calvinism: one predestinated to hell can never do anything to escape; those predestinated to heaven can never be so vile or profane that they can ESCAPE heaven.

Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Heb 9:4

Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. Rom 9:5

But, the promises or predestinations or "INVITATIONS" of God never failed. The WORD which spoke to them did not fail. Rather, the JEWS fell away from God's PURPOSES. Only a remnant based on GRACE was preserved to carry forth the PLANS AND PURPOSES of God.

Not as though the WORD of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Rom 9:6

Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In ISAAC shall thy SEED be called. Rom 9:7

That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are COUNTED for the seed. Rom 9:8

This is because the overwhelming majority of Israelites MARRED in God's hand first at Mount Sinai where they rose up to play in MUSICAL IDOLATRY. God turned them over to worship the STARRY HOST. When they demanded a king LIKE THE NATION God knew that they wanted to WORSHIP LIKE THE NATIONS.

What if God, willing to shew his WRATH, and to make his power known, ENDURED with much longsuffering the VESSELS of WRATH fitted to destruction: Rom 9:22

And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the VESSELS of MERCY, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Rom 9:23
........... Even US, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the GENTILES? Rom 9:24

God's PREDESTINATED PLAN was to make the remnant Jews and Gentiles into ONE body. God never PREDESTINATED a single infant--not an inch long--to burn in hell. Here is what Paul saw. The MARRED VESSELS trusted in their own PREDESTINATION or superiority as well as the Law which had been added BECAUSE OF THEIR TRANSGRESSION.

Wherefore? Because they SOUGHT it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; Rom 9:32

As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Rom 9:33

The BOOK OF THE COVENANT at Mount Sinai was a covenant of faith and grace. However, the Jews repudiated grace and deliberately turned back to MUSICAL IDOLATRY. As a result, God turned them over to worship the STARRY HOSTS. The Monarchy period was God ENDURING the VESSELS OF WRATH

Paul referred them to Jeremiah 18 to explain predestination.

Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Rom 9:20

Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto HONOUR, and another unto DISHONOUR? Rom 9:21

The Potter takes a batch of clay. He never sets out to make a vessel just to "burn it" in hell forever and forever.His predestination is that the clay will be a prize "Ming vase." The clay, without any influence from the potter, mars because of some flaw.The potter changes his Pre- or first goal to another which fits the "clay"

Then I went down to the potters house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. Jer 18:3

And the vessel that he made of clay was MARRED in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Jer 18: 4

The potter DID NOT MAR the clay INTENTIONALLY. The defect was in the clay and it would not be conformed to the potter's hand. However, the Potter did not BURN the vessel but turned it into something more utilitarian.

Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Jer 18: 5

O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potters hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. Jer 18: 6

At what instant I shall speak concerning a NATION, and concerning a KINGDOM, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; Jer 18:7

IF that nation, against whom I have pronounced, TURN from their EVIL, I will REPENT of the evil that I thought to do unto them. Jer 18:8

Therefore, the predestination Paul spoke about was God's PRE PLAN. Those who refused to obey God were devoted to very common purposes. Those who proved to be HARDENED, the Potter broke into pieces and threw out.

Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Tim 2:22

The Jews were thinking of NATIONAL PREDESTINATION and Paul used Jeremiah and the Potter to speak of NATIONAL PREDESTINATION. God never FORMED a human being just to smash him and burn him in hell. Neither did He ever FORM a human being just to save him. God picked certain people to carry out His will but we have no evidence that even Pharaoh was designed for HELL.

But, Paul made their repentance DEPEND on how the Gospel which 'grants' is presented to the unbeliever:

But FOOLISH and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do GENDER STRIFES. 2 Tim 2:23

And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be GENTLE unto all men, apt to TEACH, patient; 2 Tim 2:24

In meekness INSTRUCTING those that OPPOSE themselves;

if God PERADVENTURE will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 2 Tim 2:25

Tacha (g5029) takh'-ah; as if neut. plur. of 5036 (adv.); shortly, i.e. (fig.) POSSIBLY: - peradventure (-haps).

The LIV sees no forced repentance in this passage. Rather than repentance being PREDESTINATED our own teaching methods can hinder people from repenting.

Be humble when you are trying to teach those who are mixed up concerning the truth. For if you talk meekly and courteously to them, they are more likely, with GOD'S HELP help, to turn away from their WRONG IDEAS and believe what is true. 2 Tim 2:25LIV

And that they MAY recover THEMSELVES out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him AT HIS WILL. 2 Tim 2:26

And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3-4

Becoming a little child pointed directly to PROSELYTE BAPTISM where one not of the covenant or one who was defiled was BAPTIZED or immersed in water. The result was that the disciple took on the NAME of God and was considered regenerated, LIKE a little child.

But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. Acts 26:20

The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Acts 5:30

Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. Acts 31

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? Romans 2:4

For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 2 Corinthians 7:10

There is absolutely nothing in Scripture which defines this process better than Acts 2:38.

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Acts 2:37

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38

"We must DO" repentance: God grants repentance by His great gifts but this INVITATION to be GRACE and not COERCION must be ACCEPTED.

If you THINK that God PREDESTINATES you and forces you to repent then you assuredly DESPISE the riches of God which HE gave to lead us to repentance. Despise is;

Kataphroneo (g2706) kat-af-ron-eh'-o; from 2596 and 5426; to think against, i.e. disesteem: - despise.

The common people justified God in being baptized. That is, they treated His as honest and declared that GOD WAS NOT A LIAR.

And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. Luke 7:29

But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. Luke 7:30

You see, we are really baptized by God when we submit our bodies to be washed and REQUEST from Him A holy spirit or A clear conscience. Only He can remit sins or "sprinkle our hearts" from evil or "circumcize" our spirit.

To reject the Baptism of John would be to reject the Baptism of Jesus performed by His disciples prior to His ascension to heaven. The Pentecost baptism also promised the gift of A holy spirit necessary to become a beginning DISCIPLE of God through the Words of Christ.

Atheteo (g114) ath-et-eh'-o; from a compound of 1 (as a neg. particle) and a der. of 5087; to set aside, i.e. (by impl.) to disesteem, neutralize or violate: - cast off, despise, disannul, frustrate, bring to nought, reject.

Why did they reject God's commandments? Sure, it was because they could "hold counsels" and just make up dogmas such as predestination and faith only.

And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. Mk.7:9

To claim that the first century Bible writers were TOO BUSY to fully explain such heresies is to DISEESTEEM, DESPISE AND SET ASIDE THE WORDS OF GOD. Why? Why, because they can then MARGINALIZE those who believe in Scripture, put them into SCHIZOPHRENIA by claiming that they must be PREDESTINTED and that neutralizes God so that Satan's agents can INFILTRATE AND DIVERT YOU into THEIR church--and PAY THEM TOO.

If we are guilty of murder the Judge does not GRANT US REPENTANCE. He cannot. However, the Judge can grant a parole. But granting the parole does not PREDESTINATE the criminal: they still have a free will. However, the GOOD JUDGE offers something the criminal DOES NOT DESERVE.

In the same way, God has concluded both Jew and Gentiles a sinners or CRIMINALS. The only reason for discussing the issue is that the Jews thought of themselves as DESERVING a predestinated RELEASE because they were not guilty and would neither accept parole or pardon. God had the writers spend a lot of time convincing the CRIMINALS that they were not GUILTLESS. The Gentiles, too, could be pardon from deserved condemnation and any LITERATE Jew would have known that even by reading about Abraham.

Predestination in the modern sense demonstrates the same Jewish ARROGANCE that they were somehow CHOSEN by God while others were predestinated to hell. This has produced more sin by those who felt DESTINED TO HEAVEN whatever they did; and untold misery by the MAJORITY always looking for a SIGN and ASSURANCE that God didn't pick them to BURN IN HELL even if their name was Mother Teressa.

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