by Mike Vinson

Introduction

Most Christians will readily admit that the God they serve is a sovereign God. The dictionary defines sovereignty as "supreme authority." Few indeed deny that God is the supreme power in the universe. The scriptures certainly affirm this:

"Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, He taketh up the isles as a very little thing" (Isa. 40:15).

"The Lord hath prepared His throne in the heavens; and His kingdom ruleth over all" (Psa. 103:19).

In the fourth chapter of Daniel, God gives King Nebuchadnezzar a 'troubling' dream. Four times in this one chapter we are told "...that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomever He will, and setteth up over it the basest of men" (Dan. 4:17, 25, 26 & 32).

According to Daniel chapter four, God rules in the kingdoms of men and 'wills' to 'set up' the "basest of men" over those kingdoms.

Even evil men are under the sovereign rule of the supreme authority according to the scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. Though troubling to the carnal mind, even this assertion is acknowledged by most Christians.

The question naturally arises as to how far this sovereignty extends. Does God rule in the kingdoms of men, but not in the wills of men? How could that possibly work? If God wills to place base men over the kingdoms of men, it would seem He must first know which particular leader will not break down and repent of his low ways right in the middle of his rulership. We are told emphatically and repeatedly that God had to "harden Pharaoh's heart" to keep him from letting Israel go before God planned on their release from Egypt (Ex. 4:21, 7:13 & 22).

Does God therefore harden the hearts only of world leaders, but not the hearts of the average individual?

Our only concern in this paper is 'what saith the scriptures'. That brings us to the scripture from which we have taken our title: "In whom we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated ACCORDING TO THE PURPOSE OF HIM WHO WORKETH ALL THINGS AFTER THE COUNSEL OF HIS OWN WILL" (Eph. 1:11).

This paper was inspired by a friend who doesn't believe that Eph. 1:11 includes his 'freedom of choice'. If we have no freedom of choice, he asked, how could those who were invited to the "wedding dinner" of Matt. 22 and the 'great supper' of Luke 14 have refused their invitations? Didn't they clearly choose not to attend?

It is the purpose of this article to show from the scriptures why these invited guests refused their invitations and also WHY we all make the decisions we enact. Truly the scriptures teach the law of cause and effect. Though this is demonstrated throughout the scriptures, we will use but twelve examples to shed light on how God works ALL THINGS after the counsel of HIS OWN WILL. First, let's notice to whom the parables of Matt. 22 and Luke 14 are addressed.

Part 1 - Who Are They Who Refuse Christ?

Matt. 21:45 and Luke 14:1 tell us Jesus was talking to the "chief priests and Pharisees" in Matt. 22.

In Luke 14, the excuses given for not coming to the supper were "I have bought a piece of ground", "I have bought five yoke of oxen" and "I have married a wife". In response to these excuses, the "Lord" the "master of the house" had these men of industry replaced with "the poor, the maimed, the halt and the blind".

Christ concludes this parable "none of those men...bidden shall taste of my supper". "Taste of my supper" is to receive and understand Christ. (John 6:32-35). This declaration "I am the true bread: is placed right after Christ fed the five thousand (John 6:10).

Clearly Christ is saying that those who refuse to come to the "great supper" are those who refuse Him. The parable of the marriage supper is preceded by this statement: "And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them" (Matt. 21:45). So there is no question who those who were too industrious to attend the "marriage ...dinner" of Matthew 22 or the "great supper" of Luke 14 are. They are the religious leaders of the people of God of every generation. These are the very same people mentioned in Rev. 3:17 who say "I am rich and increased with goods (industrious people both physically and spiritually) and have need of nothing; and know not that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked" (Rev. 3:17).

The question more precisely is why did they refuse to accept the invitation to come to the "great supper" of Luke 14:16 or the wedding 'dinner' of Matt. 22:4? The question at the heart of these parables is: WHY WOULD ANYONE REFUSE AND REJECT THEIR SAVIOR? Why are "the multitudes" led by their leaders away from Christ?

Why is one blessed if he accepts the invitation to this marriage supper? "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years" (Rev. 20:6).

Once again the question is still why would anyone refuse and excuse himself from what is simply the single greatest honor that can be bestowed upon anyone in all of the history of mankind? No one doubts that these two parables represent the first resurrection: "...Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb..." (Rev. 19:9).

The excuses given in both parables are the same: "But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise" (Matt. 22:5)

Part 2 - The Real Reason Christ is Rejected

When we ask 'why', what we are really asking is "does man have a 'free will'". "Does man make 'free choices'?" No one denies that we make choices every day; "Will I take this job or that job?"; "What time will I get up?"; "Will I take time for breakfast?"; "Which food will I choose?"; "Which route will I take to work?", etc. We make hundreds of decisions every day. No one denies that we make decisions. Those who declined their invitation to the great supper and the wedding chose not to attend. We are told what they chose. It's not debatable.

But we are also told why they failed to accept their invitation to be in the marriage supper of the Lamb. All know that Israel has rejected her Messiah. "When the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them" (Matt. 21:45). These are the leaders of God's people.

It wasn't just the leaders though: "...The chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should...destroy Jesus" (Matt. 27:20). The multitude...? What multitude? It was the same multitude which the day before had said "blessed be the king that cometh in the name of the Lord" (Luke 19:38). Verse 37 says: "The whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen." This is called the triumphal entry into Jerusalem the day before Christ's betrayal.

One day the multitudes are calling him "the king that comes in the name of the Lord", and the next day the same multitude is "persuaded [by the chief priests and elders]...that they should...destroy Jesus."

How is it possible to be so fickle? Outwardly it was "...because he was nigh Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. But overnight Christ had been taken prisoner and was standing before them in shackles before Pilate. "All the mighty works they had seen "that had inspired the multitudes to say "blessed is the king that cometh in the name of the Lord" all of a sudden didn't seem so mighty. No matter how many times we may think scripture says otherwise "he that taketh a city" will always be considered "mightier than he that ruleth his spirit" (Pro. 16:32).

This is only the apparent reason for the multitudes and their leaders rejecting Christ. The scriptures give us the true reason. Here is the true reason: "And when He was come near He beheld the city and wept over it, Saying IF THOU HADST KNOWN, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! BUT NOW THEY ARE HID FROM THINE EYES" (Luke 19:"41-42).

This of course is in complete accord with Matt. 13:11: "...To them it is not given...to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God." This 'blindness of Israel' referred to by Christ here in Matt. 13 is quoted from Isa. 6:9-10 and is repeated again and again in the other gospels (Matt. 4:11 and Luke 8:10 and John 12:40) and throughout Paul's epistles (Rom. 11:8, etc.).

Why does Israel reject their Messiah? "Because...to them it is not given...to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven." Who blinds them to this vital knowledge? What are we told? Are we told anywhere in the pages of scripture that because of the free will of the chief priests and elders and because of the free will of the multitudes, Israel ends up refusing their invitation to the marriage supper of the Lamb? No, we are not told such a thing.

Here is what we are told. "...Of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel were gathered together FOR TO DO WHATSOEVER THY HAND AND THY COUNSEL DETERMINED BEFORE TO BE DONE' (Act 4:27-28). That is the "of a TRUTH" of the whole matter.

Just how far does this "thy counsel determined before to be done" go? Does it go no further than man's free will permits? Could Judas, the chief priests and elders, Pilate or the multitude possibly have of their own free will chosen not to destroy Christ?

Will we believe what a minister tells us or will the word of God have pre-eminence for us? Here is what the scriptures teach from Genesis to Revelation: "Having made known to us the mystery of HIS WILL according to HIS GOOD PLEASURE which HE hath PURPOSED IN HIMSELF... ACCORDING TO THE PURPOSE OF HIM WHO WORKETH ALL THINGS AFTER THE COUNSEL OF HIS OWN WILL" (Eph. 1:9 and 11).

Is it unfair at this point to ask, did the nation of Israel reject Christ after the counsel of their own 'free will'? Is there anything that is not after the counsel of His will? Is anything too evil to be included in all things? Only if you believe that the lives of 'X' number of men are more valuable than the life of Christ whom God according to Acts 4:28 "determined before" to be slain. All the lives and suffering of all the men and women, boys and girls from Adam to the consummation are not to be compared to that which was sacrificed for their sins. That sacrifice was by the counsel of God and Him alone. Men's choices were simply used to accomplish that end.

Yes, we 'choose' in all the decisions we make every day, but is this really the result of our free will? What happens when our free will conflicts with "the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of HIS OWN WILL"?

The answer is obvious. There can only be one truly free will to which all others are subordinate. Only One will can work "all things after the counsel of His own will." All other decisions are 'worked', caused by that One will and may appear to be free, but we will demonstrate they are always in "all things" caused decisions.

Too often we read these parables of Christ and apply them to the religious leaders of Christ's day instead of applying them to Christianity today and to ourselves as well. What do the scriptures say of this "pass the buck" attitude? "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (I Cor. 10:12), and "...continue in His goodness, otherwise you also shall be cut off" (Rom. 11:22).

The point made repeatedly in Christ's parables was two-fold: 1) the first shall be last and the last, first, and 2) many are called but few are chosen (Matt. 20:16).

Nowhere in scripture are we told "many decide to come to God, but few decide to endure to the end". There are many admonitions given to us in scripture; 'don't eat of the tree', 'choose therefore life' (Deut. 30:19), 'come to the marriage...dinner' and 'come to the great supper', etc., etc.

This God, who gives us so many admonitions, wants us to "know...that...I form the light AND...darkness...good AND evil" (Isa. 45:7). He informs us that the trials of Job were HIS idea (Job. 1:8); that "all the evil that the Lord had brought upon" Job was indeed from the Lord himself (Job 42:11).

Yes, Adam was told 'don't eat'. Did an all-knowing God choose not to know what Adam's choice would be? Has He chosen not to know what our choices will be? After all, we are all "in Adam". What do the scriptures teach ultimately happen to "all" who are in Adam? "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive" (I Cor. 15:22).

We are told that we were called in Christ "before the world began" (II Tim. 1:9). So God must have known in advance what Adam and each of us and those who refused to come to the wedding would choose.

Israel has been broken off for rejecting her Messiah, and yet Peter and John and the entire church in Jerusalem prayed "with one accord" (Acts 4:24): "...of a truth against thy holy child Jesus whom you hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together, for to do WHATSOEVER THY HAND AND THY COUNSEL DETERMINED BEFORE TO BE DONE" (Acts 4:27-28).

Why did the Jews refuse to come to the wedding feast? Was it because they chose to put other things ahead of their Messiah? Of course that is the obvious, outward, carnal, fleshly explanation. Yet we are plainly told that while we appear to make choices, good or bad, of our own "free will", the spiritual, scriptural fact is: "We wrestle [in our apparent 'free will'] not against flesh and blood, but against [spiritual] principalities, against [spiritual] powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places [the celestials - Strong's' #2032 - epouranious]" (Eph. 6:12).

Yet it appears from our perspective that the chief priests and Pharisees and "the people of Israel" chose "of their own free will" to refuse their Messiah.

The "first Adam" in the temple of God, "the beast" is loath to leave that temple. He of his own 'free will' will never admit that while yes, he makes choices every day, those choices have nothing to do with 'free will'. Every choice we make, from casually scratching our head to choosing Christ as our savior is a caused choice.

Why did "the people of Israel...gather together...against thy holy Child Jesus"?: "...to do whatsoever [God's] counsel determined before to be done" (Acts 4:28).

Was this a unique situation that was of such importance that God had to personally step in to see for sure that Satan would enter Judas, and Judas would betray Christ to the chief priests and they would send him to Pilate to be crucified? Is this what "thy counsel determined before to be done" means?; that God steps into the affairs of men only occasionally for Esau, Pharoah, maybe even Jeremiah, certainly in the case of Christ's crucifixion, yet only occasionally? Is that what scripture teaches us about the counsel of God?

"Having PREDESTINATED US...according to the good pleasure of HIS will...In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being PREDESTINATED according to the purpose of Him who worketh ALL THINGS after the COUNSEL OF HIS OWN WILL:" (Eph. 1:5 and 11).

If "the very hairs of our heads are numbered", why would we believe that the all-knowing God who hardens hearts, blinds eyes and stops ears is not also, through the "principalities and powers" at His disposal, causing every trial and test, every chastening and scourging, and yes, causing ALL things especially our very hearts and thoughts and choices "according to the counsel of HIS WILL?"

These are the scriptural truths concerning the extent of the counsel of His will. Nowhere do the scriptures teach otherwise. The fact that God holds us accountable for our sins has nothing whatsoever to do with our being responsible for our wretched actions and condition.

It was God's free will that created us of dust instead of spirit. It is from His hand that every person born comes into this world naked, testifying of our sinful, dying, of the dust composition.

God Himself takes the responsibility for every evil act ever committed (Isa. 45:7), even the most evil act of all time, the death of our sinless, perfect, spotless Savior. (Acts 4:28).

This all being made so clear in scripture, one would expect a just God who hardens hearts, blinds eyes and stops ears to make provision for the salvation of all of his creatures. Is that indeed the case? Here is what the Savior Himself has to say: "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw (Strong's #1670 - helkuo - drag) ALL MEN unto me" (John 12:32).

Part 3 - Did Peter agree with Christ?

"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that ANY should perish but that ALL should come to repentance" (II Pet. 3:9).

Indeed we must all choose day by day to pick the good and reject the evil. But it seems that the God of the universe, the God who not only created light to bring us out of darkness, is also the creator of the very darkness out of which we are to come.

The God who creates the good we are to choose is also the God who creates the evil we are to refuse (Isa. 45:7).

These are profound scriptures rigorously avoided by the bulk of Christendom. I need to reword that because the scriptural truth is that they do not avoid this scripture; the truth, according to Christ, is that God has blinded them to this scripture, and they don't even know that it is in the Bible. Being blinded by God Himself, when it is pointed out to them they still cannot see it: "To them it is not given...to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 13:11).

To whom is it not given to know the mysteries of the kingdom? "All these things spake Jesus to the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake He not unto them" (Matt. 13:34). For what purpose did Christ speak in parables? "...lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and should understand with their heart and should be converted and I should heal them" (Matt. 13:15).

Here's the way Mark puts it: "But without a parable spake He not unto them: and when they were alone, He expounded all things to His disciples" (Mark 4:34).

I've already quoted Matt. 21:45, but let's be clear that the "chief priest and Pharisees" and "lawyers and Pharisees" were indeed included in those to whom Christ spoke in parables "to whom" it is not given...to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven". Here again is Matt. 21:45: "And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard His parables, they perceived that he spake of them".

As I understand the question you asked, "Who are these people who refuse to come to the wedding supper?" The answer is: it is those to whom Christ spoke these very parables. It is those to whom it is not given to "know" or to "see" or to "hear" or "be converted" or "be healed".

Why are these things not given to them while on the other hand we are told "because it is given unto you to know...but to them it is not given"...blessed are your eyes for they see and your ears for they hear" (Matt. 13:11 and 16).

The answer is: God had decided, not "before the world began", but "before eonian times (the Greek word is aionios - Strong's #166) that certain predestinated according to the purpose of Him who works ALL THINGS after the counsel of HIS OWN WILL" (Eph. 1:11) would be "called... with an holy calling, not according to our works but ACCORDING TO HIS OWN PURPOSE and grace which was given us in Christ before the world began (before chronos aionios - before times eonian)" (II Tim. 1:9).

Now John the Baptist had admonished the same scribes, lawyers and Pharisees to "repent for the remission of sins" (Luke 3:3). Had the multitudes, including the scribes and lawyers and Pharisees repented, Christ would never have been crucified, and we would have no savior. But things are not left to chance with God.

Those who crucified Christ certainly did not consider themselves robots any more than you or me. Indeed robots are nowhere to be found in scripture. The scriptural word for us all is far more basic and simple than robot. In God's eyes, we are nothing more than slightly moist dust. We are clay, and God is the Potter. Here are God's words to every one of us: "And the vessel made of clay [the first Adam made by the Potter] was marred in the hand of the Potter [that's God]: so He made it again [the second Adam] another vessel as seemed good to the Potter to make. Then came the word of the Lord unto me saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in my hand, O house of Israel" (Jer. 18:4). This too, is couched in admonitions to repent, yet in the same breath we are told that it is God who makes the "marred vessel first and then destroys the marred vessel and replaces it with "another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make".

This is in accord with how the first Adam [that's us] comes right from the hand of the creator, the Potter. He [we] was naked, meaning according to Rev. 3:17, he was a sinning machine, and of the dust, corruptible. Serpents do not literally eat dust, but the Adversary certainly does feed on our flesh. "Dust shalt thou eat" has been the nourishment of the Adversary since Adam. We have all come from the hand of the creator naked, sinful and of the dust, corruptible. Anyone who believes that Adam would never have died if he hadn't eaten of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil believes that flesh is after all incorruptible and can live forever.

One must eat of the tree of life to live forever. The first Adam never did that. Adam did not die and become corruptible because he ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam sinned, was spiritually naked, because he was corruptible and of the flesh, of the dust, and was dying: "In the day that you eat thereof DYING you shall die" (Gen. 2:17). Few people notice that the tree of the knowledge of good has the same root as the tree of the knowledge of evil. Consequently they are confused as to why Cain's offering to God was rejected. After all Cain "brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord" (Gen. 4:3).

They are very few indeed who are given eyes to see that it was God Himself who planted the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Fewer still see that both good and evil HAVE THE SAME ROOT.

But there is much more revealed here in chapter two of Genesis: "And OUT OF THE GROUND [dust] made the Lord to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil" (Gen. 2:9).

The truth which seems to be the least understood of all is that even the tree of life is 'made to grow out of the ground'. The truth of this simple statement gives the lie to Satan's "you shall not surely die" untruth (Gen. 3:4). Satan convinced the first Adam of a lie which has been ensconced in Adam's children from the beginning. In effect what Satan told our parents and is still telling us today is 'you will never surely die.' But Christ tells us: "I am the resurrection and the life..." (John 11:25). That is why Christ had to come in the flesh and partake of our earthy, dusty composition. "OUT OF THE GROUND made the Lord to grow...the tree of life" (Gen. 2:9).

Both trees grow 'out of the ground'. What this tells us about ourselves is: "that they [mankind] might see that they themselves are beasts" (Ecc. 3:18). Paul puts it like this: "...that was NOT first which is spiritual but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is OF THE EARTH [even Christ, the tree of life] earthy: the second is the Lord from heaven" (I Cor. 15:46-47).

The scriptures teach us that ONCE Christ died to put away the sins of the world, and "it is appointed unto man ONCE to die, but after this the judgment" (Heb. 9:26-27). We are NOT immortal, and we are NOT 'spirits having a physical experience.' "Dust thou art", destined to have a spiritual experience, but only after Christ enters into our lives. When He does enter our lives, we receive His spirit as an earnest of the paid-for possession: "Now are we the sons of God", but we still have to die to the flesh here and now, and even if we live till "He shall appear [and] we shall be like Him" (I John 3:2), we still must be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye because flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Salvation is not in us coming out, it is rather outside of us through Christ coming into us and changing us.

The essence of this whole subject is that "the Lord made to grow..." ALL is of God, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life BOTH "the LORD MADE TO GROW." And they both have their beginnings "OUT OF THE GROUND", not out of the spirit.

The elect are saved "by means of death" (Heb. 9:15 & 27), not from death. That is how 'life' comes 'out of the ground'.

This is all a perfect picture in types of Eph. 2:8-10. "By grace we are saved through faith...for we are HIS workmanship." Christ, our sacrifice, shed his blood for us "while we were yet in our sins" (I Cor. 15:17). It is not shed for those who 'decide to repent'. It was shed for us "while we were yet in our sins". Those who fill the master's house at the wedding feast are not those who willingly chose to come to the wedding: "the Lord said...go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled" (Luke 14:23).

Who fills the master's house for the wedding? Those people who are compelled and dragged to the wedding. That is what scripture teaches everywhere.

We don't even contribute the faith to our calling. "It is the gift of God." We are dragged and compelled to accept Christ. The Greek for compel here in Luke 14:23 is anagkazo - Strong's #315. It appears nine times in the New Testament and never has anything in common with the concept of "free will" or "free moral agency".

Anagkazo is the same word in Acts 28:19: "I was constrained to appeal to Caesar...". Paul did not want to appeal to Caesar. He felt "constrained" to do so. In all nine instances it has this concept. Those affected by being "compelled" are never the initiators of the actions taken upon them. "And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme..." (Acts 26:11).

Another scripture tells us who it is who will fill the master's house at the wedding supper: "No man can [choose to] come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him" (John 6:44). Very few Christians indeed are aware that the Greek word translated 'draw' here in John 6:44 should be translated "dragged". The Greek word is helkuo - Strong's #1670. It appears eight times in the New Testament. Every time this word is used, it is instructive to us to understand exactly how God "the Father draws" us to His wedding supper. Counted down they are:

8) James 2:6 - "...do not rich men draw (drag) you before judgment seats."

7) Acts 21:30 - "And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul and drew (dragged) him out of the temple..."

6) Acts 16:19) - "And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas and drew (dragged) them into the market place unto the rulers."

5) John 21:11 - "Simon Peter went up and drew (dragged) the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three...yet was not the net broken."

4) John 21:6 - "And he said unto them, cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw (drag) it for the multitude of fishes."

3) John 18:10 - Before I quote this scripture, let me say that it is my strongest desire to avoid what Peter does here. It is typical of overzealous Christians to use the sword (the word of God) as Peter does, and it is hard for anyone to hear if his "ear' has been cut off by the sword. The high Priest's servant was obviously not being "dragged" by the spirit of Christ. Nevertheless, there is a spiritual message in this and in every incident recorded in the scripture. The lesson here is that God's word (the sword) when used rashly on a uninquisitive and unreceptive soul has the effect of cutting off their 'ears'. Those who are not being dragged by the Spirit, but are still forced by overly zealous converts to look at scriptures they've never seen and don't want to see, end up without "ears to hear" (Matt. 13:13). But Christ gave the high priest's servant back his ear. I personally like to think that this is telling us that this entire experience gave this one servant the ability to see and hear the words of salvation from the One who is capable of "dragging all men" to himself (John 12:32) each in his own order (I Cor. 15:22 and 23). But now back to John 18:10: "Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus." Depending on the weight, it is most likely that 'dragged it' would not be the best translation here, but one thing is certain; swords do not decide to jump out of scabbards any more that fish decide to come to land or jump into boats. It is God who tells us that we are "given eyes to see and ears to hear". If we don't see and understand, the only reason we don't is because "to them it is not given...to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 13:11-16).

2) John 12:32 & 33 - "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw [drag] ALL MEN UNTO ME. This He said signifying what death He should die."

Has Christ been lifted up on the cross of crucifixion? Of course, He has. Now through the fiery chastening and scourging of grace, He will drag every man who has ever been born to Himself: "For God so loved THE WORLD [while we were yet in our sins - I Cor. 15:17] that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life...that THE WORLD through Him might be saved" (John 3:16 & 17). Is this just a weak wish on God's part or is this what will happen? "Every knee should bow... and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father" (Phil. 2:10 & 11).

1) John 6:44 - "No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me DRAW [drag] him..."

No doubt many would have followed Christ before His crucifixion just as they did, 3000 in one day, after His resurrection. But they were not dragged to Him by the Father. Instead, He gave them eyes not to see, ears not to hear and hardened hearts lest they should be converted and He should heal them.

These are the eight times the word 'draw' appears in the entire New Testament. Once again, we are shown that it is "the Lord God made to grow every tree...the tree of life...and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil" (Gen. 2:9).

This is the real reason the Jews rejected Christ. This is the real reason most people are (temporarily) 'lost' during this age. This is also why Christendom in general will refuse to come to the wedding.

Here are a few plain, straightforward scriptures regarding God's methods of operation. Eph. 1:11 - "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of him WHO WORKETH ALL THINGS AFTER THE COUNSEL OF HIS OWN WILL. Eph. 2:8 - "By grace are ye saved through faith: and that (faith) not of yourselves: it is the gift ["to you it is given" - Matt. 13:11] of God."

Paul equates this gift of faith with God showing mercy on us: "So then IT IS NOT OF HIM THAT WIILLETH [no free moral agency] nor of him that runneth, BUT OF GOD THAT SHEWETH MERCY." (Rom. 9:16).

This plain straightforward statement, which annihilates the false doctrine of man's "free will", is preceded by this declaration from Him who "worketh all things after the counsel of HIS own will": "...I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy..." God is insistent that we understand that we have virtually NOTHING to do with our being called and being dragged to Him. It is all by "predestination" and "the counsel of HIS OWN WILL" (Eph. 1:11).

The life that we "now live in the flesh [is not of our choosing but] by the faith of [not in] the son of God" (Gal. 2:20) "that [faith] not of yourselves IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD" (Eph. 2:8). It is the faith of the Son of God, not of you or me or any other man, but the faith of Christ.

"Moreover whom he did predestinate, them He also called..." (Rom. 8:30). "So then it is NOT of him that willeth...but of God that sheweth mercy" (Rom. 9:16) is in this context: "For the children [Jacob and Esau] BEING NOT YET BORN, neither having done any good nor evil [before ever being given a chance to choose the good and refuse the evil], THAT THE PURPOSE OF GOD ACCORDING TO ELECTION [predestination - Rom. 8:30 and Eph. 1:11] MIGHT STAND...as it is written 'Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated" (Rom. 9:11 and 13). This is before they were born, and it is written for our admonition. This is not telling us of an exceptional case. This tells us how God operates "all after the counsel of His own will."

This, Paul knows, sounds so unfair, unjust and unrighteous to us. "What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God...?" (Rom. 9:14). He then goes directly into the total sovereignty of God: "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy...It is not of him that willeth, but of God who showeth mercy" (Rom. 9: 15-16). To reinforce the truth of which Paul was well aware: "I [God] create evil (Isa. 45:7), he adds this to the fact that God hated Esau before he was even born: "...the scripture saith unto Pharoah, even for this same purpose have I raised you up, that I might show my power in thee, And that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore HE hath mercy (Drags) on whom HE will have mercy and whom HE will HE hardeneth [blinds] "(Rom. 11:17). But doesn't the scripture teach that blindness comes from "the God of this world"?

Of course, "the God of this world (age - aion ) hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them" (II Cor. 4:4). That's the same reason Christ spoke in parables "lest they should be converted and I should heal them" (Matt. 13:15). Who sends the god of this age to blind the minds of unbelievers? "He [God] hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their hearts, that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted and I should heal them" (John 12:40).

And again: "God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear unto this day: (Rom. 11:8). This is what Paul means two chapters earlier where he says: "So then it is not of him that willeth...but of God who sheweth mercy...Therefore hath He mercy on whom He will have mercy and whom He will He hardeneth(blinds, gives them the spirit of slumber, does not open their eyes or ears) (Rom. 9:16 & 18).

Since He hardened Pharaoh's heart before Moses ever arrived back in Egypt (Ex. 4:21), since it is He who blinds people's eyes and stops their ears, and since it was He who gave the murderers of our Lord the power to do their evil deed, since "none is able to withstand..." Him (II Chron. 20:6); why DOES He yet find fault?

In other words, if the people who chose not to attend the wedding supper were actually fulfilling God's purpose, and if those who do attend are dragged against their own fleshly will, through chastening and scourging to the wedding supper, WHY DOES HE YET FIND FAULT?

Does Paul now contradict himself and the entirety of scripture and say God finds fault with sinners because they choose to close their eyes, theythey want the spirit of slumber, they have chosen to harden their hearts and they chose not to attend the wedding feast? choose to stop their ears,

No, that's not his answer. He first rebukes us for our ignorance: "Nay, but, O man, who are you that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed [Esau, Pharaoh, those who refuse to attend the wedding feast, you or me] say to Him that formed it, why hast thou made me thus?" (Rom. 9:20).

Paul realized that those who repent and come to Christ only do so because they have experienced something from God which opened their blinded eyes and their deaf ears; raised them from their spiritually deaf condition, and brought, or dragged them to realize that they were in desperate need of a savior. Here are those who will fill the seats at the wedding supper: "The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them" (Matt. 11:5).

Why were these people blind, lame, leprous, deaf, dead and poor? The answer is because they are being dragged to Christ. These are all absolutely incurable conditions that require a "road to Damascus" experience to be cured of them. We sometimes think "if I were struck to the ground, saw a bright light, heard a voice and became blind for three days, I too, would be a dedicated disciple."

God tells us of our walk with Him:

• "Whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth, and scourgeth EVERY son who He receiveth" (Heb. 12:6).
• "...We must through MUCH tribulation enter into the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22).
• "If...we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together" (Rom. 8:17).
• "If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him..." (II Tim. 2:12).

Paul's experience on the road to Damascus is not given to tell us how unique Paul was, rather it is for our admonition. Anyone, who truly knows Christ, knows Him not because he has been a zealous disciple of some organized church, as Paul was. Those who truly know Christ read His word for themselves. Jesus Christ Himself strikes them down and "chastens...and scourges EVERY SON He receiveth." He brings them to see how blind they have been while in their service to the organized church. While being made aware of our blindness, we are assured that we will be given sight.

We must be brought to understand that we are, of ourselves as good as dead; we must see ourselves as incurably lame and leprous and deaf. Now we have been 'dragged' to Christ. Now we have a personal experience and relationship with the only head of the church. We eventually see ourselves as the temple of God for He now dwells in us. The beast of Ecclesiastes 3:18 has been cast out of the temple. We no longer serve the beast. We have overcome his mark for "here is wisdom, let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man..." (Rev. 13:18).

There may or may not ever be a physical temple built in earthly Jerusalem. Neither the temple, nor the beast with which God concerns Himself, are built with hands. "He that hath understanding" will see that our warfare is spiritual (Eph. 6:12). Knowing the time of the appearing of some man, his date of birth and his name and street address will do one no spiritual good if the spiritual beast is still demanding one's wholehearted worship in the only true temple of God.

"To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace" (Rom. 8:6). The true temple is a spiritual temple, not made with hands. It is occupied by the beast from the moment of birth. That's why John, two thousand years ago could say "the time is at hand" (Rev. 1:3). "He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond to receive a mark in their right hand or in their foreheads" (Rev. 13:16). Two thousand years ago Christ said "the time is at hand".

We all belong in at least one of those groups: either small, great, rich, poor, bond or free.

Who are those who stand on the sea of glass mingled with fire before the throne of God?: "...and them that had gotten the victory over the beast [in themselves - Ecc. 3:18] and over his image [churches claiming to be Christian that are truly in the image of the first beastly Adam] and over his mark [in their right hand and their foreheads] and over the number of his name ["it is the number of a man..."] And they sing the song of Moses" (Rev. 15:2&3).

Why do they "sing the song of Moses"? It is because like Israel of old, they have been dragged toward God. Israel did not ask to be delivered from Egypt. "When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. As they [Moses and Aaron] called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images" (Hosea 11:1-2). Israel was constantly wishing they had never left Egypt. At the first opportunity, when Moses was in the mount forty days, they returned to the idol worship to which they were so accustomed.

The point is that Israel did not choose God; God chose "Israel according to the flesh." And "as [He] called them so they went from [Him]."

Is it the same under the new covenant? "Now ALL THESE THINGS happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world [Greek word aion or age Strong's #165 -] are come" (I Cor. 10:11).

So why did all these things happen to "Israel according to the flesh"? "Now these things were [for] our example...now all these things happened unto them for ensamples [#5179 - Greek word is tupos or types] and are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends [Greek - telos #5056 - the predetermined end or outcome] of the world [aion #165 - age; a long or short lifetime or a long or short period of time]. Never in scripture used to mean eternity or endless time. More on this later...] are come" (I Cor. 10:5 and 11). Where in the writings of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Peter, James or Jude is there even a hint at "free moral agency"?

Part 4 - Does James Teach 'Free Will'?

You might answer 'right here in this passage Paul says this is for our admonition.' Then you would probably ask, why are we given admonitions if we don't have freedom of choice? Does not James teach us "Let no man say...I am tempted of God...but every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed" (James 1:13-14). Is not this scriptural proof of "free moral agency"? Doesn't this statement of James prove that we have freedom of choice?

The scriptural answer is absolutely not! Doesn't it prove we choose? It surely does! Does it prove our choices and choosing is 'free' and uncaused and of ourselves without a cause? Not according to James. James teaches us we ought never to say "we will...for that [because] ye ought to say IF THE LORD WILLS, we shall live and do this or that" (James 4:13-15). Does that sound like James believed in man's 'free will'? Notice what James says leading up to this statement that "every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed. " Does he teach us that this proves we have freedom of choice apart from the will of God? Is James teaching us that our salvation hinges upon our free choice? Here is the whole of what James taught concerning being tempted: "My brethren count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations. Knowing this that THE TRIAL OF YOUR FAITH WORKETH PATIENCE. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing" (James 1:2-3). He then ties this need for patience to a need for wisdom. An impatient person is certainly not a wise person since "in you patience possess ye your souls" (Luke 21:19). Now we come to verse 12 of James 1: "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him."

Now for the oft quoted verse 13: "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God." This word 'tempted' in the Greek is peirazo - Strong's #3985. This is the singular form of the same word used in verse two: "My brethren count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations (peirosmos - Strong's #3986). Why is James in verse two telling us to "count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations", and then in verse fourteen telling us that "every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed?" Is James saying we should be aware of our own lust and rejoice in it?

Of course that is not what James is saying. If you believe in

· 'freedom of choice' however, or if you believe that

· your choices are free from the influences of a God who "creates evil", who "blinds and stops ears lest they should be converted", who "hated Esau before he was born while he was in his mother's womb having done neither good nor evil", who "hardens whom He will and shows mercy to whom He will", who declares "so then it is not of him that wills, but of God that shows mercy... therefore hath He mercy on whom he will have mercy and whom He will He hardeneth" (Rom. 9:16 & 18);

· if you still believe that "grace through faith and that [faith] not of yourselves" actually means freedom of choice, then you must certainly believe that James too is teaching 'freedom of choice'.

But James is not teaching the sovereignty of man in his own salvation. James knew that "the spirit that dwells in us [given us by God - Rom. 9:20-21] lusteth to envy" (James 4:5). He also understood that the solution was not 'freedom' of choice but "He giveth more grace." James also knew the whole meaning of the word grace (Titus 2:11 & 12). This scripture teaches us that GRACE CHASTENS US. The word "teaching" is really "chastens".

James 4:15 Explains James 1:13 & 14
It is James who reveals to us the exact opposite of what christendom deduces from James 1:14-15. It is not what the flesh will accept. Here again is the true teaching by James regarding 'freedom' of choice: "Go to now ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. [And what's his point?] For what is YOUR LIFE? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time and vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live and do this or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings [freedom of choice]: all such boasting is evil" (James 4:13-16). Our lives are as a vapor and subject to "if the Lord wills."

That is the teaching of James concerning the subject of free moral agency and freedom of choice. Unless, of course, our stubborn flesh wants to ignore Romans 9, "It is not of him that willeth" and here again in James "what is your life." Are we to believe that James is teaching God's sovereignty over our financial affairs, but he stands back and leaves our salvation entirely up to us? No. James taught "if the Lord will, we shall live and do this or that." If our very life in the flesh, which we must all experience before we are given the opportunity to choose Christ, is dependent upon "if the Lord will", then surely that choice itself will be "His workmanship".

This teaching of James concerning the sovereignty of God in all things is in accord with the teachings of Paul that the elect are "predestinated unto the adoption of children according to the good pleasure of His will...being predestinated according to the purpose of Him WHO WORKETH ALL THINGS [Jacob, Esau, Pharaoh, you and I all of the same lump] AFTER THE COUNSEL OF HIS OWN WILL" (Eph. 1:5 & 11). His is the only free will mentioned in scripture. All other wills are contingent upon "If the Lord will...: (James 4:15). "If the firstfruit [those in Christ] be holy, the lump [those who reject Christ in this age] is also holy" (Rom. 11:16).

Let's return to Romans 9. Here Paul tells us that God "hated Esau before he was born" while he was in his mother's womb having done neither good or evil, THAT THE PURPOSE OF GOD ACCORDING TO ELECTION MIGHT STAND...As it is written Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated...so then IT IS NOT OF HIM THAT WILLETH [man's 'free' will] BUT OF GOD THAT SHEWETH MERCY...For the scripture sayeth unto Pharaoh even for this same purpose have I raised thee up. That I might shew my power in thee and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath He mercy [by dragging some to him through chastening and scourging - Heb. 12:6)] on whom He will have mercy, and whom He will He hardeneth [by 'giving them eyes that CANNOT see and ears that CANNOT hear lest they should be converted and healed']" (Rom. 9:18). "Thou [those who believe in 'free' will - this is definitely not James] will say unto me, Why doeth He yet find fault? For who hath resisted His will? [No one! II Chron. 20:6).

"Nay, but O man [who refuses to admit his will is not a 'free' will], who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed [by God] say to him that formed it [for destruction], Why hast thou [God] made me thus? Hath not the potter [God] power over the clay [man] of the same lump [all humanity] to make one vessel [those He drags to the wedding supper] unto honor, and another [those who refuse their invitation to the wedding supper, those He blinds, gives ears that CANNOT hear and hardens "lest they should be converted and I should heal them"] to dishonor" (Rom. 9:11-21).

Paul concludes this chapter: "But Israel which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness... because they sought it not by faith but by works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone..." (vs. 31-32).

Is Paul contradicting himself? Do verses 11-21 place all the responsibility for the wrong choices of Esau and Pharaoh on God's shoulders while verses 31 and 32 place the responsibility for Israel rejecting their Messiah on Israel's shoulders? Does Israel refuse to accept their wedding supper invitation without a cause? Is their choosing to refuse their invitation "free" choice? Was God gambling that the Jews would reject Christ and crucify him when He sent down His son? Did they stumble at that stumbling stone by choice, of their own 'free' will? NO! "God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, unto this day" (Rom. 11:8).

"But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail [placed there by God] untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day when Moses is read the vail is upon their heart" (II Cor. 3:14-15).

"But to them it is not given...to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God" (Matt. 13:11).

All these statements and many, many others are made concerning the very people who were being admonished by John the Baptist and Christ to "repent" and be converted (Matt. 3:2 and 4:17).

Why then does James say "every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed...? James said those words because they are true. God himself does not force us to sin. He doesn't have to force us to sin. He created us of the dust, corruptible. We came this way from the creator's hand. Adam was flesh and blood which "cannot inherit the kingdom of God"; and he was this way from the creator's hand.

The statement is made before they even ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil: "and they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed" (Gen. 2:25). This is not a simple statement of history here is Gen. 2:25. It is the same statement made in Rev. 3:17: "Thou...art wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked...[but you aren't ashamed] because thou sayest, I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing..." (Rev. 3:17).

Do you think Adam was ashamed of his nakedness? We are told that neither he nor his wife were ashamed. Was Adam thinking "Wow, I'm in a terrible spot, I'm flesh and blood; I'm corruptible and subject to death. I need a savior." No, Adam never saw his wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked condition until he ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. "...I had not known sin but by the law..." (Rom. 7:7). Only after Adam saw that he had disobeyed God, did he see that he needed a savior, a covering for his 'nakedness'. Even then there was only the type of the ultimate sin offering at hand for Adam and his sons until the real sin offering was finally offered by God's sovereign decree (Acts 4:27-28).

The tree of the knowledge of good and evil was a type of the "law of Moses" (Acts 13:39). It made Adam aware of the already existing death he was dying: "In the day that you eat thereof, dying you shall die" is the proper translation of Gen. 2:17. Adam was dying by virtue of being made of the dust and being naked from the creator's hand. So there was no doubt in God's mind what Adam would do. Did God Himself tempt Adam? He didn't have to do that. Did God have to force David to be tempted by Bathsheba? No, and like David we are all willing volunteers for the job of sinning. "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). Like Adam, we are not aware of our sin until we are under the law: "I had not known sin, but by the law..." (Rom. 7:7). "The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ" (Gal. 3:24).

The tree of the knowledge of good and evil is not the "tree of sin". The tree of the knowledge of good and evil did not make Adam and Eve naked and of the dust, corruptible. "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid...(Rom. 7:7). The law, like the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, does not cause us to sin; it merely tells us what sin is: "I had not known sin but by the law" (Rom. 7:7). So what was the ultimate cause of Adam's sin? It was his earthy, dust, fleshly composition combined with his naked [in sin] condition (Rev. 3:17). Add to this also a tempter and Adam's fate was sealed. Now, let's ask honestly and scripturally who was responsible for all of this. "I am the Lord and there is none else...that they may know from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none beside me...I form the light [open spiritual eyes I've blinded and ears I made not to hear] and create darkness [harden hearts, blind eyes and stop ears to the truth]. I make peace [with those to whom I show mercy] and create evil [vessels for dishonor, hardened hearts, blind eyes, deaf ears, leprous dying bodies, etc.]" (Isa. 45:7). Whether it is physical or spiritual "who maketh the dumb or deaf, or the seeing or the blind?" have not I the Lord?" (Ex. 4:11). "Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight [make righteous or honorable] which he hath made crooked [hardened and made dishonorable]?" (Ecc. 7:13).

Let's now ask a few questions and answer them with the scriptures James knew so well.

• •Who makes evil men? "The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea even the wicked for the day of evil (Pro. 16:4). "Behold I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy " (Isa. 54:16)

• •Who causes some to refuse their invitation to the wedding supper? "O Lord why hast thou made us to err from thy ways and hardened our heart from thy fear..." (Isa. 63:17).
• •When our hearts are hardened and we sin against God, who is responsible for our chastening afflictions? "Wilt thou refrain thyself for these things, O Lord? Wilt thou hold thy peace and afflict us very sore?" (Isa. 64:12).

Who is responsible for those who repent and end up filling the seats at the wedding supper? "No weapon formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, AND THEIR RIGHTEOUSNESS IS OF ME, saith the Lord" (Isa. 54:17).

• •Who is responsible for our repentance and turning from our own ways? "...Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke; TURN THOU ME, [by chastening grace - Titus 2:11-12; Heb. 12:6] and I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God" (Jer. 31:18).

• •Who is responsible for the fate of Israel? "And the vessel that He made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter..." (Jer. 18:4) [God the potter does not make mistakes; He deliberately created a 'marred vessel' first: Adam, Cain, Ishmael, Pharoah, Esau, King Saul and physical Israel] vessels of dishonor, created for "the destruction of the flesh that the spirit might be saved in the day of the Lord" (I Cor. 5:5).

Since the vessel was made marred, God made it again [the new vessel is not the same as the old one; it is the new covenant of II Cor. 3:6 and Gal. 6:16 as opposed to "my kinsmen according to the flesh" of Rom. 9:3 - another vessel] as seemed good to the potter to make it...O house of Israel [the physical descendants of Abraham, the marred vessel; the many seeds of Gal. 3:16], cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel" (Jer. 18:4-6).

When the world turns on God's people, who will ultimately be responsible? "Israel came into Egypt and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham...He [God] turned their heart [Egypt, the world] to hate His people..." (Psa. 105:23-25).

When Paul says that we are "predestinated according to the purpose of HIM WHO WORKETH ALL THINGS AFTER THE COUNSEL OF HIS OWN WILL" (Eph. 1:11) does He really mean ALL THINGS? "The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord (Pro. 16:33). "The preparations of the heart in man and the answer of the tongue is from the Lord" (Pro. 16:1).

Scripturally, the sovereignty of God is total. The flesh will not accept this for it leaves the flesh with nothing in which to boast .

Have we made a choice to reject the admonitions of scripture? Woe be unto us. Every statement concerning the sovereignty of God in the lives of individuals or nations is always followed by admonitions to choose the good and refuse the evil. This is true because God has always reserved a remnant to Himself. (Rom. 9:27, Rom. 1:5)

Do we choose to die to self, take up our cross and follow Christ? Very well. We will all be judged according to our deeds [Greek - ergon, Strong's #2041 meaning works]

But either way the scriptural truth is: "But now O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay and thou our potter; and we are all the work of THY HAND" (Isa. 64:8). In other words, "By grace [chastening and scourging - Heb. 12:6] are ye saved through faith and THAT [even just the faith] NOT OF YOURSELVES, it is the gift of God. Not of works [that we do ourselves - Isa. 54:17] lest any man should boast. For we are HIS workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto GOOD WORKS, which GOD HATH BEFORE ORDAINED [predestinated] that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:8-10). "This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and THEIR RIGHTEOUSNESS IS OF ME saith the Lord" (Isa. 54:17).

Clearly there is no room for the flesh to take credit for any righteousness which "Christ in us' may perform through us. "We are HIS workmanship."

God's sovereignty is not limited to "every good and perfect gift" (James 1:17). The fact that every good and perfect gift is from above does not say that ONLY the good and perfect gifts are from above.

Both James and Paul agreed that "all things" (Eph. 1:11) depend upon "If the Lord will..." (James 5:15).

The Lord has been gracious to reveal to us that not only does every good and perfect gift come from above, but that for the sake of "the good pleasure of HIS will" (Eph. 1:5), [He] worketh ALL THINGS after the counsel of His own will" (Eph. 1:11). 'All things' includes both the good and perfect and the evil: "O Lord, why hast THOU MADE US TO ERR FROM THY WAYS, AND HARDENED OUR HEART from thy fear?" (Isa. 63:17). "It is not of him that willeth, but of God that showeth mercy...therefore hath he mercy on whom HE will have mercy and whom He will He hardeneth" (Rom. 9:16, 18).

James was well aware that the "trying of our faith worketh patience" (James 1:3) and that all things depend on "If the Lord will" (James 4:15). So when he tells us "...God cannot be tempted with evil neither tempteth He any man" (James 1:13), it becomes obvious that James was aware of the details of God's methods. "It is God which worketh in you both to will [the desire to please God] and to do His good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13).

So what does scripture reveal to be the method God uses whereby it can be said that God is sovereign over the good and the evil and yet God himself tempts no man?

Part 5 - Twelve Examples of God's Modus Operandi

Example #1 - The Tempting of Mankind (Adam and Eve)

The first example is the pattern for all of God's sovereign actions concerning the tempting of man. God's sovereignty had Christ slain for Adam's transgression before Adam was ever created: "Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to HIS OWN PURPOSE and grace, which was GIVEN US IN CHRIST JESUS BEFORE THE WORLD BEGAN" (II Tim. 1:9). And again: "Paul...in hope of eternal life which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began" (Titus 1:1 & 2).

Obviously God had decided in advance that Adam would be tempted and would transgress his direct command not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It is most instructive to note that the made-of-the dust, weak, corruptible and "naked" [which scripturally means sinful (Rev. 3:17)] Adam, as well as the forbidden tree of the knowledge of good and evil, were both the product of the Creator. The only question now is how will Adam be tempted so that God can truthfully say that He Himself tempts no man? This was no problem for the creator. Adam and Eve were "drawn away of their own lust and enticed" (James 1:14). What was the instrument used to effectuate the temptation for which Adam was "made to err from your ways" (Isa. 63:17)? It was and always is the Adversary himself or one of his minions called in scripture "evil spirits". Did God Himself tempt Adam? No, He did not. Did God force Adam to transgress His command not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? Absolutely not.

God never needs to force anyone to sin or transgress. He made us weak and corruptible "of the dust" to begin with. God never needs to tempt us because the serpent is nourished by the 'dust of the ground'. Serpents never literally eat the dust of the ground. Serpents are carnivorous. They eat rats, mice, small reptiles, etc. The dust spoken of in Genesis is "the spirit that dwelleth in us which lusteth to envy" (James 4:5). This statement is made by James, the same New Testament writer who tells us in chapter one: "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man. But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed."

Will anyone who claims to be familiar with these scriptures: "It is the spirit that giveth life (John 6:63); "Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created..." (Psa. 104: 30); "There is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding" (Job 32:8); etc, etc. deny that "the spirit in us lusteth to envy" is the very spirit the Creator breathed into Adam which gave Adam his "breath of life"? Yes, it was God who gave us "the spirit in us [which] lusteth to envy."

No, James was not teaching 'freedom' of choice. James was simply teaching choice; choices caused to be made within the influence of the Creator. The Creator is the ultimate cause of all things, including every choice we make. Understanding God's sovereignty does not relieve us of accountability to God for our actions, nor does it relieve us of our daily decisions and choices. Understanding God's sovereignty simply means that we now understand that all of our choices and decisions are CAUSED choices and decisions.

In our pride and vanity, we do not want to admit it, but the truth of the scriptures is that every choice we make is a caused choice. "Freedom of choice" and "free moral agency" are false doctrines that defy the declarations of God in His word that "Man's goings [good and evil] are of the Lord; how can a man understand his own way?" (Prov. 20:24); '...It is not of him that willeth...but of God" (Rom. 9:16); "It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13); "...who worketh ALL THINGS after the counsel of His own will" (Eph. 1:11); and "for of Him and through Him and to Him are ALL THINGS..." (Rom. 11: 36).

Part 6 - Twelve Examples of God's Modus Operandi

Example #2 - The Trials [Temptations] of Job

Most of us are aware that Job was a man of great patience. In one day Job lost all his oxen, asses, camels, sheep and all but one of the servants that cared for each group, and finally all his sons and daughters died in the home of the eldest with only one servant escaping to bring the bad news to Job.

This first chapter of Job is a perfect parallel to what happened to our original parents in the garden of Eden. Note the parallels:

• Whose idea was it to try Job in this way? "And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job?" (Job 1:8). It was the Lord who drew Satan's attention to Job. What was Satan doing up to that time? "...going to and fro in the earth...walking up and down in it" (Job 1:7). Why does Satan do this? "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he MAY devour" (I Pet. 5:8). That's why Satan is "...going to and fro in the earth and walking up and down in it." He is "seeking whom he may devour."
• Whose idea was it for Adam to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? Was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil Satan's creation? No, God "creates evil" (Isa. 45:7). Did Satan place this tree in the middle of the garden and make it so pleasant and appealing to the eyes that it would tempt our parents? No, this too, was by God's "predestinated" design and counsel (Eph. 1:11). Why, on the other hand, were they not attracted to the tree of life? God NEVER told them they could not eat of the tree of life. Why did they not desire the tree of life? Because it: "hath no form or comeliness and when [they saw it] there [was] no beauty that [they] should desire it" (Isa. 53:2). Who was it that created the crooked serpent to entice our parents to transgress God's command? "By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens: His hand hath formed the crooked serpent" (Job 26:13). It was God who formed the serpent and placed him in the garden to tempt Adam and Eve. The entire event was "for to do whatsoever thy hand [God's] and thy counsel [God's] DETERMINED BEFORE to be done" (Acts 4:28).

We know this is so because, besides this scripture here in Acts, we are also told twice "Who [God] hath saved us and called us with an holy calling notallall things [including our caused choices] AFTER THE COUNSEL OF HIS OWN WILL" (Eph. 1:11)? according to our works [freedom of choice] but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began" (II Tim. 1:9). And again, "In hope of eternal life which God, which cannot lie, promised BEFORE THE WORLD BEGAN" (Titus 1:2). And once again Rev. 13:8 refers to "the lamb slain FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD." Ask yourself, did God know from the foundation of the world and before the world began that the Lamb [Christ] would be slain for our sins and that we would be called with a holy calling "in Christ", but he didn't know for sure what our parents would do when He commanded them not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? Was God trying to thwart His own plan when He gave Adam and Eve that command not to eat of the tree? In other words, did God's plan and purpose hinge upon Adam's 'free will', or was it of God "...being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh

No, the scriptures reveal from Genesis to Revelation that "all things [are] of God" (I Cor. 11:12); "and ALL THINGS [including our good or bad choices] are of God..." (II Cor. 5:18); and "...the Father of whom are all things" (I Cor. 8:6) and finally, "For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen" (Rom. 11:36).

Now if the most heinous crime of all time, the unjust murder of the perfect lamb of God was "whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done" (Acts 4:28), why would lesser crimes be any less so? The truth is they are no less "whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done."

See how revealing this first chapter of Job is? This is not an unusual event. "There was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them" (Job 1:6). Note it does not say 'there was finally a day' or that '"Satan sneaked in also among them.' That's not what the scriptures teach. This is where Satan operates. This is his predestinated function to serve as the crooked serpent, the Adversary, the tempter, the