And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost. ~ Acts 13:42 

The words highlighted in the section of scripture above have been used by some to defend the Calvinist belief that some, and not all, are chosen to be saved. Yet this scripture doesn’t come to us in any such context. Context, and flow of thought within the context is always the key to correctly understanding any scripture passage. Unfortunately, people often take Bible passages out of the flow of thought of the writer, and place them into another context which is contrary to what the writer is saying both there and elsewhere.

The very documentation by Luke (the author of Acts) regarding Peter and Paul’s ministry is the complete opposite of the Calvinist view of these words. 

These words, as many as were ordained to eternal life believed, are said within the Jewish – Gentile context. First, there were multiple groups of Jews. There were the Jews who were local residents who were Jewish by birth. There were the religious proselytes. There were Jews who held positions of power and religious authority over the rest, and there were those who were of Israeli descent but lived all their life outside the land of Israel.

Conversely, there were many diverse groups of Gentiles who were of every other nation and ethnic group. The number of nationalities outside of the nation of Israel were many. In Acts 10, the conversion of one man (Cornelius) along with his household took divine intervention, and got Peter temporarily into trouble with the Jews in Jerusalem. The idea that God would save people from all nations, families, and ethnic groups had not yet fully set in, even with the apostles.

If you will remember this, it will really help drive home the impact of Paul’s ministry and give you a greater appreciation of what Paul was up against as he was called to be an apostle to the Gentiles.

Imagine, being a devout Jew all of your life and getting word that God had invited swine eating, pagan gentiles into the same grace as you. That was difficult for many of the devout Jews, to say the least. The words, as many as were ordained to eternal life believed, are given to us within this setting and this is what is being communicated in Acts 13:48. It is a reference to all people of every nationality and not simply those who conform to Jewish culture and religious practices.

The Book of Acts is a continual unfolding of how God’s salvation through grace reached all people groups, which are the as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. Again, this is not a reference to some individual people being chosen by God to be saved and others not being chosen. Paul says to the Jews opposing his gospel, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

According to Paul, the Jews who rejected the gospel had the right to hear it first, but had themselves put it away and judged themselves unworthy of eternal life. This is contrary to the notion that God didn’t choose them. God chose all of Abraham’s descendants to follow him, and through the gospel Paul preached all families of the earth become the children of Abraham through faith in Jesus Christ.

This advancement of the gospel to all people continuously unfolds throughout the book of Acts. The book of Acts begins with the call to salvation through repentance and faith to the house of Israel. It ends with that same gospel saving all groups of people who will believe.

And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves. And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. Acts 28:23-31

The Corinthians, who were carnal according to Paul (1 Co 3:1-4), were abusing the gift of tongues much like many within Charismatic and Pentecostal churches today. Yet, Paul does not discredit the gift because of their misuse, nor does he discredit the Corinthians as if they did not have the gift.

Paul gently corrects them by teaching them the proper use of tongues in public assemblies, and explains to them the ramifications if they continue to misuse this gift in a disorderly manner. People need to be taught, not disqualified.

Oftentimes, opponents of speaking in tongues refer to it as gibberish, and one of the main reasons for this accusation is the public chaos that is often on display within charismatic and Pentecostal churches. Yet this is exactly what Paul tells the Corinthians would happen if they did not use the gift of tongues in an orderly manner in their public assemblies.

If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? ~ 1 Corinthians 14:23

How ironic is it that many who feel they are engaging in biblical apologetics in their rebuttal of tongues, are actually reacting exactly as Paul said they would. A careful reading of 1 Corinthians 14 reveals that speaking in tongues can be a blessing when exercised privately in one’s prayer life and devotion to God, but it also can be a hinderance to the work of God if it is exercised in a disorderly manner publicly.

Many modern day Charismatics and Pentecostals treat tongues as a badge of spirituality, but it isn’t. We know this because, as referenced above, the Corinthians were carnal believers (1 Corinthians 3:1-4), and they were out of order in how they used the gift. Thankfully, Paul not only addresses the misuse of tongues publicly in 1 Corinthians 14, but he also teaches about the benefit of tongues privately, and we should learn from this as much as we do from the correction.

Paul says that when a believer speaks in an unknown tongue, he is speaking not to man, but to God (v.2) and edifies himself (v.4). Some apologists use this (edifying one’s self) to argue against tongues as if it’s a selfish thing to do. Well, that would correct if we are talking about speaking in tongues public assemblies only, but Paul interweaves speaking in tongues in private devotion within his correction of how tongues ought to be used publicly.

Edifying yourself privately is a good thing. The Bible says, David encouraged himself in the Lord (1 Samuel 30:6), and anytime we minister to the Lord in private devotion by worshiping, praising, and thanking him, we are spiritually edified. In fact Paul refers to speaking in tongues as giving thanks well. However in a public assembly where the aim is to edify others, the other is not edified if they don’t know what you are saying.

For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. ~ 1 Corinthians 14:14-17

Notice that tongues are described as praying from our spirit, blessing with our spirit, and giving thanks well. Yet if there is no interpreter we should keep silent publicly because there would be no edification for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul follows the words above by saying, I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. ~ 1 Corinthians 14:18-19

In contrast to his much speaking in tongues, I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all, Paul’s desire was the edification of others in public assemblies. 1 Corinthians is not rebuke of speaking in tongues, it is gentle correction regarding its proper usage.

Notice that Paul mentions singing with the spirit (singing in tongues), which has been lost by many of today’s churches.

Years ago, me and some friends were praying together and one of them and myself suddenly began singing the same song in other tongues. This would have been impossible for us to fabricate. There is tremendous blessing when singing in other tongues (both in private and public with interpretation), and that needs to be rediscovered by many.

As I close I want to leave you with one other personal experience. Many years ago, I found myself praying in a certain dialect/language that I wasn’t familiar with. Then I visited a church service at an Indian reservation out in the western part of the united States, and guess what I heard when they prayed in their native language.

Speaking in tongues has been a great blessing in my life, and it can be in yours as well, but we need to be mindful to grow spiritually and not display it in a disorderly fashion.

If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. ~ 1 Corinthians 14:27-28

I hope this helps some who have questions.

For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. ~ 1 Corinthians 14:14-19 

Paul speaks of praying in an unknown tongue and refers to this as praying with his spirit. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth. Paul goes on to speak of praying with his understanding as well. He explains that this is for the benefit of others because they wouldn’t be edified if they don’t understand what is being said. Even though the one speaking in tongues give thanks well, the others present wouldn’t be edified. Paul then says to the Corinthians I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all.

This statement is a reference to Paul’s private prayer life. We can be certain of this because he follows this statement saying, Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

In contrast to his much speaking in tongues, I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all, Paul’s desire was the edification of others in public assemblies. Speaking in tongues serves two purposes in the life of the believer. First, it serves the purpose for personal edification in the believer’s private prayer life and devotion to God. Evidently, Paul prayed much in other tongues because he claims he spoke with tongues more than all the Corinthians put together.

Secondly, tongues serves the purpose of edifying the body of Christ when it is coupled with interpretation in a public assembly. Thus, tongues with the interpretation equals prophesy. If there is no interpreter present, the believer should exercise restraint and keep his speaking in tongues between him and God. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. ~ 1 Corinthians 14:28

The Corinthians did not need correction because they spoke with tongues, they needed correction because of their misuse of tongues in public assemblies where others who were unlearned or unbelievers might be present. 1 Corinthians 14 is not a chapter discouraging speaking in tongues, it is a chapter encouraging the proper use of tongues.

Are there some people today who claim to have the gift of tongues but do not? Without a doubt, but the false does not disqualify the real. In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul speaks of another gospel, another Jesus, and another spirit. These do not disqualify the true. Likewise, counterfeit tongues do not discredit the genuine.

it’s important to understand that the Corinthians were not displaying counterfeit tongues, but misusing the genuine.

That which is real and authentic can be misused. This was the case with the Corinthians. They had a lot of things wrong and the misuse of tongues in public assemblies was just one of them. In his letters to the Corinthians Paul also addresses their tolerance for fornication, their mishandling of the Lord’s Supper, their lack of discretion regarding food offered to idols, their propensity to be deceived by false apostles, etc. In fact, Paul’s mention of another gospel, another Jesus, and another spirit is in context to his rebuke of their giving in to false apostles.

The Corinthians were carnal believers, who had not matured in the faith. Consider Paul’s words regarding their carnality.

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? ~ 1 Corinthians 3:1-3

Paul was a spiritually mature man who prayed much in tongues in his own personal prayer life. The Corinthians were carnal and in their carnality they were not considerate of others in their use of the gift of tongues when they gathered in public assemblies. Yet Paul does not tell them to shut it down. He gently instructs them and corrects them regarding the proper use of tongues, as well as prophecy, and then tells them, Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order. ~ 1 Corinthians 14:39-40

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? ~ Jeremiah 17:9

Is Jeremiah making a universal statement about the condition of the heart of all people in the text above? This is a good question to address because this text is often cited in this manner, even though there are many other texts all throughout the Bible that would contradict such an interpretation of Jeremiah’s words.

Consider for example, the the words of the Psalmist: My defense is of God, which saveth the upright in heart ~ Psalm 7:10. How could the Psalmist speak of the upright in heart if the heart of every person is deceitful and desperately wicked?

Consider the words of Jesus from his sermon on the mount, Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. ~ Matthew 5:8. Jesus’s words echo the words of Psalm 24:3 – 4, Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

Consider also Psalm 73:1, Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

Many other texts could be cited such as Abraham, who had integrity of heart (Genesis 20:5-6) and a faithful heart towards God (Nehemiah 9:7, 8), and David, who was a man after God’s own heart ~ 1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:32.

Indeed, there are many texts throughout the Old Testament alone, which prove that not all people have hearts that are deceitful and desperately wicked. We need to learn to allow the whole of scripture to help us interpret scriptures correctly and often times we can find the right interpretation to a text simply by looking at the surround verses, i.e., reading it in context.

So what is Jeremiah talking about in context? Jeremiah is referring to those who had abandoned the God of Israel and who were about to be thrust into captivity for their sins. Here are Jeremiah’s words in a broader context:

Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. ~ Jeremiah 17:5-10

Notice the heart that is deceitful, and desperately wicked is the heart that departs from the Lord. Notice also that Jeremiah makes a contrast between the one whose heart has departed from the Lord and the one whose heart trusts in the Lord. Right there in the context, Jeremiah speaks of the heart that trusts in the Lord and is blessed by the Lord.

A heart that is not set on the Lord (that doesn’t trust in the Lord) is a heart that can not be trusted, and that specifically is the heart that is deceitful and desperately wicked. Thus Jeremiah is not speaking of the heart of all people, but rather the heart of those who abandon the Lord and do not put their hope in him. This is why God says that he searches the heart and tries the reins to give to every man according to his ways. He is warning the people not to trust in their own devises, or to trust in men, but in the Lord alone.

The heart of man can be upright and pure if it trusts in the Lord, or it can be deceitful and desperately wicked if it abandons the Lord. The real lesson that we are to take away from Jeremiah 17:9, in its context, is that we are to trust in the Lord with all our heart because a heart that doesn’t trust in the Lord, cannot be trusted!

As he saith also in Osee (Hosea), I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God. ~  Romans 9:25-26

Though often thought to be a reference to the Gentiles, Hosea is actually referring to the house of Israel in the text referenced above. Hosea was a prophet in Israel before the northern tribes of Israel were taken captive by the Assyrians and before Judah was taken captive by the Babylonians.

In chapter one of Hosea, God instructed Hosea to take a wife from among the prostitutes, so Hosea married a prostitute named Gomer. Gomer then conceived, and gave birth to a son, and the Lord told Hosea to call his name Jesreel; for God was going to cause the Kingdom of the house of Israel to cease.

Gomer then gave birth again, but this time to a daughter. God told Hosea to call her name Loruhamah, because God said, I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away.

After Gomer had weaned Loruhamah, she conceived, and bare another son. God told Hosea to call his name Loammi, meaning, For ye are not my people, and I will not be your God. This was a message to the kingdom of the house of Israel as well. It is after this, in verse 10, that we find the words quoted by Paul in Romans 9:25-26. Here is how it reads in Hosea:

Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.

When the northern tribes of Israel (the Kingdom of the house of Israel) were overtaken by the Assyrians, they were scattered among the nations, never again to recover and become a unified nation. They had become as the Gentiles in the sight of God, for God said of them, For ye are not my people and I will not be your God (Hosea 1:9). They lost their inheritance, being scattered under the curse of the law.

However, God’s mercy remained with Judah because of his promises to David, and he caused Judah to return to the land after 70 years in captivity; but the Kingdom of Israel (the 10 tribes of the north) never recovered.

If it had not been for God’s oath to David, Judah’s punishment would have been more severe. However, God made an oath to David, and God kept his promise. In His mercy, he brought Judah back to the land in preparation for the Messiah, in whom his oath to David would be fulfilled.  Christ is the Messiah, the descendant of David who reigns forever. He is now seated as the King of Israel, enthroned at the right hand of God.

When God disinherited Israel, He said to them, Ye are not my people. Yet, he gave them the promise that it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God. In Romans 9-11 Paul tells us how God fulfilled this promise to Israel.

It was not through the Law, for under the Law they fell under the curse and were disinherited as the people of God. How then, did God fulfill his promise to those he disinherited? How would they receive life from the dead as Paul says in the book of Romans?

For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? ~ Romans 11:15

How did God accomplish this?

It would come through the salvation of the Gentiles! Paul tells us in Romans, through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. ~  Romans 11:11

In Romans 10 we read the following:

But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. ~ v. 19 

Notice the language here: I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people. This terminology (no people) is the same sort of terminology used to describe Israel by Hosea in Chapter 1, and Paul in Romans 9, And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.

In Romans 11, concerning those who were not a people (whom God would use to provoke Israel to jealousy) Paul says, For as ye (Gentiles) in times past, have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their (Israel’s) unbelief: Even so have these (Israelites) also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 

Paul does not mean to say, since God showed you Gentiles mercy, he will be fair and also show them mercy as well. It is much more than that. Paul is saying the mercy you have received as, not a people (people of God), is the same mercy they have too will receive as not a people.

For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. ~ Romans 10:12

In essence, God has reckoned Israel along with the Gentiles as being under sin and in need of his mercy, so that he might make salvation available to all on the grounds of his mercy and grace.

In Romans 3 Paul says, the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ is unto all and upon all them that believe: For there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God…

The mention of no difference, is a reference to Israel and Gentiles. Paul is echoing his sentiments from earlier in the chapter when he says, What then? Are we (Jews) better than they (Gentiles) ? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin… ~ Romans 3:9 

In correlation with his statements in Romans 3, that all are under sin, both Jews and Gentiles, Paul says the following in Romans 11:

For as ye (Gentiles) in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: Even so have these (the Jews in unbelief) also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! ~ Romans 11:30-33God foreordained that salvation would be by grace to all who believe therefore whosoever believes in him shall not be ashamed! ~ Romans 9:33

One of the doctrines taught within Calvinism (I am not a calvinist), is that man does not have a free will. Calvinists conclude that free will somehow invalidates God’s sovereignty. Recently I watched a Calvinist minister refer to non Calvinist thinking Christians as practical atheists for evidently, not aligning with the Calvinists interpretation of God’s sovereignty.

Does believing that God has given man a free will make me a practical atheist? What if I get my view from the Bible? What if I actually see free will all over God’s covenant with the nation of Israel? What if the Covenant God made with Israel was established on the premise that they were to submit their will to the will of God if they wanted to be blessed by him, and be cursed if they did not.

And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.~ Deuteronomy 28:1-2

But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee… ~ Deuteronomy 28: 15

In John 5 Jesus says, I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me (v. 30). And in John 6 Jesus says,  I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me (v. 38).

In the garden of gethsemane Jesus prayed, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. ~ Luke 22:42

The apostle Paul, speaking about his calling to preach the gospel says, For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. ~ 1 Corinthians 9:17

Man’s free will is no threat to God’s sovereignty, and I would contend that if God can’t grant such freedom and remain sovereign, we have a much bigger problem. If man doesn’t have the freedom to choose, he cannot rebel against God or disobey his commands, which makes God the orchestrater of our rebellion against him. Yet God says the following to Israel through the prophet Isaiah:

Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. ~ Isaiah 1:17-20

Now consider the following texts from Leviticus 26 to which Isaiah is echoing. Each of these texts speak of man’s freedom to choose.

If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land. ~ Leviticus 26:3-6

But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments; And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant: I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you. And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. ~ Leviticus 26:14-18 

And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins. ~ Leviticus 26:21 

And if ye will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary unto me; Then will I also walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins. ~ Leviticus 26:23-24 

And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me; Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins. ~ Leviticus 26:27-28 

Every text in the Bible which speaks of obeying God, submitting to God, rebelling against God, and being tempted by sin, is a text that supports man’s free will. God created mankind after his image and likeness, placed him in the garden of Eden, and gave Adam both a free will and a command to obey.

And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. ~ Genesis 2:15-17

If Adam was created with a free will, then all humanity has a free will. If Adam did not have a free will, then God would be the author of all the chaos, sin, and darkness in the world. If God created man to be a rebel against him, without the freedom to obey and love him, then we have  a much bigger problem than free will, because such a belief about God is contrary to everything the scriptures teach of God’s character and nature.

When God brought the Children of Israel out of Egypt, he gave them a sacrificial system which included offerings from their free will.

Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering. ~ Exodus 25:2

Take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the Lord; gold, and silver, and brass… ~  Exodus 35:5

The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the Lord, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the Lord had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses. ~ Exodus 35:29 
If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord. ~ Leviticus 1:3

And if ye offer a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the Lord, ye shall offer it at your own will. ~  Leviticus 19:5

Speak unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them, Whatsoever he be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers in Israel, that will offer his oblation for all his vows, and for all his freewill offerings, which they will offer unto the Lord for a burnt offering; Ye shall offer at your own will a male without blemish, of the beeves, of the sheep, or of the goats. ~ Leviticus 22:18 – 19

And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the Lord, offer it at your own will. ~ Leviticus 22:29

And will make an offering by fire unto the Lord, a burnt offering, or a sacrifice in performing a vow, or in a freewill offering, or in your solemn feasts, to make a sweet savour unto the Lord, of the herd or of the flock… ~ Numbers 15:3

If man does not have a free will, he could not offer himself to God as God’s people in Israel did.

Praise ye the Lord for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves. ~ Judges 5:2

My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless ye the Lord. ~ Judges 5:9

And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. ~ 1 Chronicles 8:29

Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the Lord God. Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance. Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house. Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal: The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord? Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers of the king’s work, offered willingly… ~ 1 Chronicles 29:1-6

Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy. ~ 1 Chronicles 29:9

But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. ~ 1 Chronicles 29:14

I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee. ~ 1 Chronicles 29:17

And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto the Lord; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour. ~ 2 Chronicles 17:16

And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered. ~ Ezra 1:6

And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the Lord that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the Lord. ~ Ezra 3:5

And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem… ~ Ezra 7:16

And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem. ~ Nehemiah 11:12

I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O Lord; for it is good. ~ Psalm 54:6

Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. ~ Psalm 110:3

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. ~ Revelation 22:17

The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water. Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment. Therefore will I be unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness. ~ Hosea 5:10-12

There is so much more I could say on this topic, but if these texts aren’t sufficient to convince you, you are unwilling to hear, and we can be willingly ignorant as the scripture says (2 Peter 3:5)..

In closing, Calvinist men who teach we do not have a free will could learn something from the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31, because she seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. ~ Proverbs 31:10

Many Calvinists believe that regeneration precedes faith because of their belief that the unregenerate are incapable of having faith since they are spiritually dead. Does the Bible support this view? The answer to that question is easily understood when we examine the real people in the Bible.

Before we look at examples of real people in the Bible,  let’s take a moment and review a couple of points from the first article on this topic. There are only two scriptures in the entire Bible that use the word regeneration. They are Matthew 19:28 and Titus 3:5.  In Matthew 19:28 Jesus speaks of regeneration as something which at the time, was still yet to come.

And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ~ Matthew 19:28

When we consider the ministry of Jesus we have many references in which real people came to him and received blessings because of their faith. Since no one was regenerated (born again, raised from spiritual death) until after the resurrection of Jesus, for Jesus is the first fruits of the resurrection, why then did Jesus commend the faith of some and reprimand the lack of faith in others, if faith is not possible in the unregenerate? In fact, Jesus often emphasized faith in his teachings. Faith is a major theme in the gospels.

Now, let’s take some time and look at some of the passages in which Jesus commended the faith of those who trusted him, while keeping in mind that none of those who were commended for their faith were yet regenerated, because no one was made spiritually alive in Christ until after Jesus was raised from the dead.

In Matthew 8 Jesus commended the faith of a centurion.

And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. ~ Matthew 8:5- 10

According to Jesus, this centurion had great faith! We have many other examples as well throughout the gospels of people who were not yet regenerated, who had faith in Jesus. Why is it that so many Calvinists fail to consider these things, even their theologians? Maybe they need to put their focus on Jesus rather than TULIP.

In Luke 5,  a man who was a paralytic was brought to Jesus on a bed by his friends. Notice what happened.

And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. ~ Luke 5:17-25

Because of the faith of his friends, this man was not only healed, but also forgiven. This happened before Jesus died on the cross, so the time of regeneration had not yet come, yet they had faith.

In Luke 7 we read of a woman whom the Bible refers to as a sinner, who came to Jesus and was forgiven because of her faith.

And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. ~ Luke 7:37-50

Over and over again, we see real people coming to Jesus and having faith before the time of regeneration.

In Mark 5 we read of the woman with the issue of blood who came and touched the hem of Jesus’s garment and was healed. Jesus commended her faith saying, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. Mark 5:34

In Matthew 15 we read of a woman of Canaan who demonstrated great faith.

And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. ~ Matthew 15:22-28

Again, I ask why is it that Calvinsist can’t see there things? Take note that not only did this woman have great faith according to Jesus, but she had a free will, for Jesus says, be it unto thee even as thou wilt!  She desired deliverance for her daughter and her faith was not denied, and again this happened before anyone was regenerated because Jesus had not yet died and risen again.

Dear Calvinists who may be reading this, get your eyes off of Calvin and Luther and get them on Jesus! Stop defending Tulip and get into the New Testament and learn of Jesus.

I have more to say along these lines, but it’s late where at the time of this writing and I need some sleep. I do plan to write more on this topic and I hope that what I have written here will provoke some, and stir others to get into God’s Word and find the truth, and stop fighting for the doctrines of men that make the Word of God ineffective. 

Go study everything you can find about faith in the gospels and keep in mind that no one was regenerated before Jesus’s death and resurrection. You will find that many real people who encountered Jesus had faith, had free wills, and were not all they totally depraved.

Jesus said of Nathanael, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! Jesus would not have said such a thing to Nathanael if Nathanael had been totally depraved. In response to Jesus’s word, Nathanael declared, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. In response, Jesus acknowledges Nathanael’s faith! Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.

Nathanael was not yet regenerated, but he had no guile in him, was a true Israelite according to Jesus, and had faith! Nathanael is yet another Biblical witness that much of Calvinistic doctrine is false.

I need sleep, good night…

Recently I came across a quote by a Calvinist theologian (whom I will not name) who is credited with making the following statement:

A man is not saved because he believes in Christ, he believes in Christ because he because he is saved.

It did not take long to find out that this sentiment is held by many Calvinists leaders and ministers, who evidently need it to be true to support their theology, but it’s not true, and they ought to know better.

When a Calvinist preacher stands and condemns others of false teachings and heresies while they teach this doctrine, that is indeed hypocrisy. According to this view, people are actually born again before they believe the gospel. In other words, they are arbitrarily chosen by God and given eternal life without having faith in Jesus. This flies in the face of everything the New Testament teaches about salvation, and how salvation is received.

In this article, I invite you to consider with me what the New Testament has to say about regeneration and faith in Christ.  To begin, let’s take a look at the two places where the word, regeneration appears in the New Testament.

And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ~ Matthew 19:28

But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour… ~ Titus 3:4-6 

Notice that neither of these texts implies anything about being given eternal life apart from belief in Jesus. To come to any such conclusion would be to read into the texts something that isn’t there. Now the Greek word from which regeneration is translated in the texts above, is παλιγγενεσία, ας, ἡ, and it’s meaning is that of regeneration, and renewal. In usage it has to do with a new birth, regeneration, renewal.

The renewing of the Holy Spirit in the Titus text is a different Greek word (ἀνακαίνωσις, εως, ἡ,) which simply means renewal. It is used one other time in the NT (Romans 12:2) where we are instructed to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Its use in Titus is in the context of the new birth by the Spirit of God.

Now before we look at what the Bible teaches doctrinally, about how the new birth, conversion, regeneration, eternal life, and salvation are received, I want to look at a real person’s conversion experience in the book of Acts that disproves that regeneration precedes faith, and that is the conversion of Cornelius.

Cornelius was a Gentile centurion from Caesarea. The Bible says he was a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always (Acts 10:1-2). Not only did Cornelius fear God, but those of his household did as well. When the apostle Peter was sent to testify of Jesus to Cornelius and his house, Peter said, “of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. ~ Acts 10:34-35

Now if the belief that regeneration precedes faith were true, then Cornelius would be the strongest biblical example to support this position, for he was a devout man who feared God, who gave much alms to the poor, and constantly prayed to God. In fact Cornelius’s prayers and alms giving to the poor came up as a memorial to God.

Cornelius is indeed the strongest NT example if one wishes to make  the case that regeneration precedes faith. This would then mean that Cornelius was already saved with eternal life by the Spirit of God before Peter shared the gospel with him and his house.

Does the narrative of Cornelius’s salvation experience as given in the book of Acts support the view that regeneration precedes faith? No it does not, and when we examine the story of Cornelius closely it leaves us with no doubt that regeneration does not precede faith.

When the angel of the Lord appeared to Cornelius, he said the following to him:

And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. ~ Acts 10:5-6

After Peter’s arrival Cornelius told him what the angel of the Lord had said to him.

And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee. ~ Acts 10:30-31

Later, when Peter was questioned by the Jews at Jerusalem because he had eaten with Gentiles (at the house of Cornelius), Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them (Acts 11:4). Notice what Peter tells them regarding what the angel of the Lord had said to Cornelius.

And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. ~ Acts 11:13-15 

From Peter’s own testimony we can conclude that Cornelius and his house were not yet saved, because Peter was sent to tell them words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. Though Cornelius was a devout man, who feared God, prayed continually, and gave much alms to the poor, he wasn’t regenerated (born again) until after Peter began to speak speak to him and his house the words of the gospel.

While Peter spoke these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. ~ Acts 10:44

There is no mention of the Holy Spirit in Cornelius’s life until he heard the gospel. Cornelius’s experience matches perfectly, Paul’s description of how salvation comes through hearing the gospel.

Yet the scriptures declare, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. ~ Romans 10:13-17

Cornelius’s experience raises the question, if regeneration precedes faith, why wasn’t Cornelius, or even those of his house regenerated before Peter preached the gospel to them? According to the apostle Paul, faith comes by hearing the Word of God, and according to the narrative, Cornelius and his house were already of a disposition to believe whatever Peter said to them.

Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God. ~ Acts 10:33

The moment Peter declared the gospel to them, they believed and the Holy Spirit fell on them. If Cornelius and his house were regenerated at the time of hearing the gospel (by which faith comes), and this is exactly what happened according to the scriptures, then the theological view that regeneration precedes faith is discredited and proven false. If this theology is proven false, it strikes at the heart of multiple doctrines within Calvinism.

You cannot fit Cornelius into the Calvinist view of total depravity, for Cornelius was a devout man, who feared God, prayed to God, and gave much alms to the poor before his salvation.

You can not fit Cornelius into the Calvinist doctrine of unconditional election because the scripture reveals that it was Cornelius who was seeking God, and God responded. According to the scripture, God sent his angel and his servant Peter to him because Cornelius’s prayers and alms had come up as a memorial to God.

You cannot fit Cornelius into the Calvinist doctrine of limited atonement because after hearing Cornelius’s testimony, Peter reached the conclusion, God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. ~ Acts 10: 34-35

Cornelius is a standing witness against much of the false doctrines taught within Calvinisms!

I have more to say in refuting the false doctrine that regeneration precedes faith. I hope to write about it sooner rather than later. There is much ground I want to cover about what the Bible teaches doctrinally, about how the new birth, conversion, regeneration, eternal life, and salvation are received as I made mentioned at the outset of this article. However, I do want to write at least one more article showing how the theology that regeneration precedes faith is wrong when examining the real life experiences of people in the Bible, such as Cornelius.

I will end this article here and I would appreciate any feedback if you have found it helpful. 

NOTE: This is not an extensively detailed rebuttal of limited atonement, but it should give the reader some things to consider.

One of the 5 points of Calvinism is limited atonement. In a nutshell limited atonement is the belief that Jesus died for some people but not for all. Allow me to share with you three comments I recently received in an exchange on Twitter from those defending this view.

Right, and that excludes another group—namely, those for whom Christ did not die, who will never have his atoning blood applied to them.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”—John 10:11 “You do not believe because you are not among my sheep.”—John 10:26 Jesus clearly did not lay down his life for all.

Do all go to heaven? Are all saved? If not, then you’re implying God has failed to save all He wants to save.

The first two comments were made by the same person. Notice that he claims that some people are excluded from the atoning sacrifice of Jesus because he claims that Christ did not die for them. He then follows up his argument by citing from John 10 where Jesus says he lays down his life for the sheep. 

I want to address these first two comments, then address the third one. 

Did God exclude any group of people from the atoning sacrifice of Jesus? According to the New Testament, God is not a respecter of persons. If any group of people were excluded from the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, God would be a respecter of persons.

Now, consider with me the words of Peter when God sent him to preach the gospel to Cornelius and his house.

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. ~ Acts 10:34-35

Peter’s statement leaves no room for the notion that God excludes anyone for his grace and mercy. Peter says in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

Peter says this in response to the manner of man Cornelius was, for Cornelius had just rehearsed to Peter why he had sent his servants to find Peter. Cornelius was a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always. ~ Acts 10:1-2

Contrary to the Calvinist doctrine of total depravity which claims that even the good things we do are tainted by sin, Cornelius’s alms giving to the poor had come up as a memorial before God. God did not view Cornelius’s giving to the poor as selfish and tainted by sin, but as righteous works instead, which is why Peter says, he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. Yet Cornelius still needed Salvation, and because his heart was towards God, God sent Peter to him with the words of Salvation.

In Romans 2 Paul declares that there would be glory, honor, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile. This is exactly what happened to Cornelius. Because of his prayers, alms, and fear of the Lord, God sent Peter to tell him and his house the words of salvation. Paul then follows his statement saying, For there is no respect for persons with God. ~ Romans 2:10-11

Notice that Paul says, every man, within the Jew and Gentile context. The Jews were the people of God (his elect, his covenant people) but through the atonement of Jesus, God made grace available to all people, removing the distinction between the two and uniting Jews and Gentiles into one family in Christ.

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul tells the Gentiles that before God’s mercy and grace saved them, they had been the children of disobedience and children of God’s wrath. Paul also tells them that at that time they were without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope & without God in the world, but in Christ Jesus they had been made night by the blood of Christ.

The Bible clearly establishes the fact that the New Covenant was given to the house of Israel and the house of Judah (the descendants of Abraham) and that no Israelite is excluded from the call to salvation, though some rejected it. It is within this context that the same salvation offered to the Jews is now available to the Gentiles that believe. Any Calvinist who would claim that salvation was not intended to save all within Israel who believe, are just deceiving themselves.

Now, keep this in mind when reading that the same mercy that came to the Jews through Jesus was now offered to the Gentiles. If no one in Israel is excluded, it would be foolish of us to think that anyone among the Gentiles would be excluded.

For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. ~ Romans 10:11-13

Notice Paul says there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek (the Gentile). These are all inclusive statements. Paul never claims that God’s grace is only for some Jews, or some Gentiles. Paul never claims that God only wanted to save some Gentiles to whom he was sent. The Jew/Gentile texts which speak of God’s salvation include all people and not some.

Now, why did Jesus say that he lays down his life for the sheep? Jesus did not say I lay down my life for my sheep only. When he says he lays down his life for the sheep it is in contrast to the hirling who doesn’t care for the sheep. 

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. ~ John 10:11-15 

Jesus is not giving a detailed theological statement about his atoning work. He is contrasting his character and motives to those who were acting as shepherds over the people, who did not care for the people. It is a reprimand to the religious Jewish leaders who were not his sheep but were serving their father, the devil. It was a rebuke to the thieves (the unjust leaders) who only came to still, kill, and destroy.

According to the scriptures Jesus died for sinners: This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. ~ 1 Timothy 1:15

According to the scriptures Jesus died for the ungodly: For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. ~ Romans 5:6

According to the scriptures Jesus died for his enemies: For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. ~ Romans 5:10

According to the scriptures, Jesus died for the whole world: My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. ~ 1 John 2:1-2 

Jesus died for sinners, the ungodly, his enemies, and the whole world. This includes all who were dead in Adam.

But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. ~ Galatians 3:22

For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. ~ Romans 5:17-19 

Notice that this text is all inclusive. The ones to whom the abundance of grace and the gift of righteous is freely given is the all who were under the reign of death because of Adam’s transgression. Notice that Paul says they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness. The salvation that is in Christ must be received.

He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name… ~ John 1:11:12

Those who are called his own in the text above refers to the people of Israel, for Jesus was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, yet not all received him, but those who did were given the power to become the sons of God. Again, God wanted to save all his people, but he forces salvation on no one. Jesus must be received. In other words whosoever believes in him has eternal life.

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ~ John 3:14-16

Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. ~ John 4:13-14

I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. ~ John 12:46

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. ~ Acts 2:4

To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. ~ Acts 10:43

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

For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.~ Romans 10:11

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. ~ Romans 10:13

Does the fact that many people reject the gospel and die in their sins, mean that God has failed? Consider the third comment mentioned at the beginning. The commenter said, Do all go to heaven? Are all saved? If not, then you’re implying God has failed to save all He wants to save.

No God did not fail, just as he did not fail when many within Israel disobeyed, rebelled against him, and served false Gods. Yet they were God’s covenant people to whom God sent the prophets to rebuke for their sins. In John’s gospel Jesus said to some of the Jews who opposed him,  if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

Limited atonement, as well as the 4 other points of Calvinism fails the test when considered in view of God’s history and covenant with Israel. God’s desire was to save every member of the house Israel. When God said, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee ~ Jeremiah 31:1-3, he was talking to Israel  Yet Jesus says to them, if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

God’s everlasting love for Israel was expressed by Jesus when he said,

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! ~ Matthew 23:37

Notice that Jesus expresses God’s desire to draw the people to himself like a mother hen gathers her chicks, but they would not. They resisted the grace of God, which according to Calvinism is not possible.

God’s love for all of Israel is why he sent Jesus the Messiah. God entered into Covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and raised up a covenant nation (Israel) from Jacob’s descendants. Through this nation God raised up the Messiah to save all who would believe (receive) him.

Calvinism does not work with the story of Israel. Israel’s history gives us sound Biblical theology about God’s character, goodness and love for humanity. It give us understanding of how to understand God’s election, and choosing. God chooses for no one to die in their sins, but give then the freedom to choose as we repeatedly see throughout Israel’s history.

I am reworking my study/teaching on the cross. It is unfinished, but I hope that it blesses those who take the time to read any portion of it.

THE CROSS