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Is John Calvin’s
View of Predestination Scriptural?
By: David M. Curtis
Audio Sermon: Is Calvinism Scriptural? - Part 1 (November 20, 2004)
Audio Sermon: Is Calvinism Scriptural? - Part 2 (November 21, 2004)
Q. What did Jesus say was a requirement to enter the Kingdom of God?
“ Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3 AV)
“ Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5 AV)
Q. What did Peter call this experience?
“ Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;” (Ac 3:19 AV)
Q. Was Peter himself converted the night he denied Jesus?
“ But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.” (Luke 22:32-34 AV)
Answer: Peter was not yet converted the night he denied knowing Jesus three times. Thus Peter was not yet fit to see the Kingdom of God.“ But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” (Mt 10:33 AV).
Q. Where was Peter’s name written though he was not yet converted (born again)?
“ Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:20 AV)
Q. When was Peter’s name written in Heaven?
“ The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.” (Re 17:8 AV)
Peter’s name was not written in the Book of Life at the moment of his conversion. Rather it was written in the Book of Life at the foundation or beginning of the world.
Q. Because Peter had denied Jesus what did he himself need to do in order to receive the Holy Spirit and eternal life? What did Peter himself prescribe?
“ Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” (Ac 2:38,39 AV)
Q. Did the disciples including Peter repent and become converted?
"As the disciples waited for the fulfillment of the promise, they humbled their hearts in true repentance and confessed their unbelief.” E. G. White - Acts of the Apostles, in the chapter called “Pentecost” p. 36.
Q. What would have happened if Peter had refused to repent and persisted in disobedience to God’s words thus continuing in sin?
“ And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” (Re 22:19 AV)
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.” (Ex 32:33 AV)
“Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.” (Ps 69:28 AV)
Peter’s name was written in the Book of Life from the beginning of the world.
“ Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5 AV).
If Peter had persisted in disobedience He would of left God no other choice but to blot out his name from the Book of Life and thus also remove his right to become a citizen in the Kingdom of God. Judas Iscariot had an opportunity to have his name as one of the twelve foundations of the New Jerusalem and forfeited that honor and privilege (see Revelation 21:14). Peter too might have lost his name from among those twelve foundations had he not confessed and repented of his sins.
Q. What must all men do to prevent their names from being blotted out of the Book of Life?
“ He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” (Re 3:5 AV)
Q. What promised sacrifice made it possible for Peter’s name to be written in the book of Life from the foundation of the world?
“ And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Re 13:8 AV)
“ Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,” (1Pe 1:18-20 AV)
Jesus Christ promised to be our sacrifice and substitute for our sins at the beginning of the world. At this time the Book of Life was written placing with in its pages the names of all men for whom the Lamb of God would shed His blood.
Q. Does the Bible anywhere mention any names ever being written in the Book of Life after the beginning of time or at “the foundation of the world?”
Answer: No. According to the Bible all names that will ever be found in the book of life were placed there at the foundation of the world. There is no record of any names being added to the book after the time it was written. There is no scriptural evidence that names have been added since the “foundation of the world.” However there is clear evidence that shows that there are names placed in the Book of Life that have been blotted out.
Christ was “foreordained before the foundation of the world” to be the “Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world.” 1 Peter 1:20, John 1:29. “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself,” 2 Corinthians 5:19. God knows all things even things not yet done the things still in our future. The Creator of all life is “the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity.” Isaiah 57:15. In the Book of Life God is “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done” Isaiah 46:10. He is declaring the names of all those whom would ever be born among the children of men long before they would ever breath there first breath. ““ Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5.
God knows each child of His creation intimately. “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” Matthew 10:30. “But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me. Isaiah 43:1; 45:4. The Bible depicts Christ as the “Good Shepherd” calling after His sheep. “The sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.” John 10:3.
“ What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?” (Luke 15:4 AV)
Christ the Good Shepherd is seeking all that are lost and sick seeking to bring healing and everlasting life to “whosoever will”. “ When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Mark 2:17 AV) All those that are lost and sick because of sin He came to save. He knows each one and calls them all by name. He is right now calling you by name too. “ Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20 AV)
Q. How many souls did the “Lamb of God shed His blood for?”
“ The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (Joh 1:29 AV)
“ And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1Jo 2:2 AV)
“ And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.” (Joh 4:42 AV)
“ To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” (2Co 5:19 AV)
“The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” died “for the sins of the whole world.” To every soul He shed His precious blood he did foreknow by name. “ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Ro 8:29 AV). This was God’s orignal purpose in making Adam “the firstborn among his brethren.” “ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (Ge 1:26 AV)
After the fall of Adam all men had received a sinful nature, fallen from the glorious image of Christ, of which they were originally created. “ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Ro 3:23 AV). Christ did not come to save the Righteous but sinners. All have sinned; hence Christ came to save all mankind. “Whosoever will.” “ 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 AV).
Q. To how many was the Gospel to be preached?
“ And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15 AV)
“9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Luke 11:9-10 AV)
The Gospel is freely offered to all that “dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,” Revelation 14:6. “ For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13. “ And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst . . . him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:35,37.
Notice how many the Father loves. ““ 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 3:16. Jesus taught us to “love your enemies,” “for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matthew 5:44,45. “34 ¶ Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” Acts 10:34-35.
During the time of the Protestant Reformation arose a man of exceptional caliber and talent named John Calvin. John Calvin the greatest intellectual genius of the reformation era. His followers were among the most zealous. Notice the following quotation.
“At the time of the Protestant Reformation, for example, the Calvinists were the people who took predestination most seriously. But there were no more active and responsible individuals in that entire period than the Calvinists. Why? Because they were convinced that God had chosen them to do his work, and that therefore nothing, absolutely nothing, could defeat them. Who could stand against the Lord’s elect? Consequently they had a vigor that was marvelous (and sometimes terrifying) to behold. A seventeenth century writer put it clearly: “I had rather meet coming against me a whole regiment with drawn swords than one lone Calvinists convinced that he is doing the will of God.” Source: Robert MaAfee Brown, The Bible Speaks to You (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1955), p. 83. Copyright 1955 by W. L. Jenkins. Used by permission.
Christians today would do well to imitate the confidence and courage of these early Calvinist brethren. Among the reformers John Calvin was most certainly among one of God’s chosen men, one of the Sovereign of the Universe’s “elect.” He had studied the scriptures in the Bible referring to “predestination” of which scriptures we will be examining here shortly. John Calvin viewed that there was a dual predestination, of which in part he was correct. John Calvin originated the first thoughts recorded in history, being the father of the teaching that God predestinated some to wrath and hell fire and others to eternal life and joy ever lasting. Under this teaching man had no choice in the matter. Either God had exercised in the words of our Calvinist brethren His sovereign will predetermined all mankind into two groups i.e. the lost and the saved. Thus man had no free will and was subordinate to God’s will by force rather than from a “willing heart” (Exodus 35:5), motivated from love springing in His heart to Christ (John 14:15). Lets notice this teaching in the words of John Calvin himself.
“[p. 140] The covenant of life not being equally preached to all, and among those to whom it is preached not always finding the same reception, this diversity discovers the wonderful depth of the Divine judgment. Nor is it to be doubted that this variety also follows, subject to the decision of God’s eternal election. If it be evidently the result of the Divine will, that salvation is freely offered to some, and others are prevented from attaining it,—this immediately gives rise to important and difficult questions, which are incapable of any other explication, than by the establishment of pious minds in what ought to be received concerning election and predestination—a question, in the opinion of many, full of perplexity; for they consider nothing more unreasonable, than that, of the common mass of mankind, some should be predestinated to salvation, and others to destruction. But how unreasonably they perplex themselves will afterwards appear from the sequel of our discourse. Besides, the very obscurity which excites such dread, not only displays the utility of this doctrine, but shows it to be productive of the most delightful benefit. We shall never be clearly convinced as we ought to be, that our salvation flows from the fountain of God’s free mercy, till we are acquainted with his eternal election, which illustrates the grace of God by this comparison, that he adopts not all promiscuously to the hope of salvation, but gives to some what he refuses to others. Ignorance of this principle evidently detracts from the Divine glory, and dimi- [p. 141] nishes real humility. But according to Paul, what is so necessary to be known, never can be known, unless God, without any regard to works, chooses those whom he has decreed.” Source: John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, bk. 3, chap. 21, trans. by John Allen (4th American ed., rev.; Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Christian Education, 1843), Vol. 2, pp. 140, 141.
“God is no respecter of persons” Acts 10:34. To place such a character upon the Almighty is to accuse Him of sin “ But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.” James 2:9. The Teaching of Calvin believed by Calvinist to this day is that “salvation is freely offered to some, and others are prevented from attaining it. . . he adopts not all promiscuously to the hope of salvation, but gives to some what he refuses to others.” This is in fact accusing the Benevolent Father with that of preferring one person above another, thus charging God with sin. “12 ¶ 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. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:12-13. “For God so loved the World.” His Son died “for the sins of the whole world.” Jesus said, “him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” It is not in the heart of our loving Creator that any should die.
Q. John Calvin taught that it was God’s “sovereign will” that some should perish. That God predestined some to this future. Is this The Lord’s Will for some?
“ The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2Peter 3:9 AV)
Were God to exercise His “Sovereign will” which is that NONE should perish then all mankind would be saved. Listen to the pleading of our tender loving Father in Heaven.
“Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” (Ezekiel 18:31-32 AV).
“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,” (Ephesians 1:4-5 AV)
. “Adam, which was the son of God” (Luke 3:38) Placed all mankind under the bitter adversary of all good, the Father of all lies, the Devil (John 8:44). “All have sinned.” Romans 3:23. “ They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” (Ps 14:3 AV). Jesus came to save the sick not those that are whole. There are none that are whole! We are all since Adam and Eve sick with the sickness of sin, stubbornness and rebellion against the “holy just and good” will of God (Romans 7:12). Despite all this God is “is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish,” therefore, “he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world” and “predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.”
“ 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 1:12 AV)
“ 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,” (2Ti 1:9 AV)
“ In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;” (Titus 1:2 AV)
“ But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:” (1Co 2:7 AV)
Audio Sermon: Is Calvinism Scriptural? - Part 2 (November 21, 2004)
Your Thought Questions Explained
Q. “That is all well and good David, but what do you do with Romans chapter 9 when Paul talks about Jacob and Esau and then the statement about God hardening the heart of Pharaoh?” a Calvinist minded person would no doubt ask me. Well lets look at these texts of Holy inspired Scripture. For man is to live by every word of God.
“10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;
11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” (Romans 9:10-13 AV)
Jacob had not yet wrestled with the Angel of the Lord, and Esau had not yet sold out his birthright nor had he yet married his Canaanite wife. “Neither having done any good or evil” were “according to election” declared to be of two classes of character by the Lord. One loved, and the other hated. Let us remember that “God is no respecter of persons” He makes His goodness known to both the good and the evil. And that God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” And lets also remember the warning of Peter, that Paul wrote “some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” 2 Peter 3:16.
Q. Now lets ask the question then, what does this teaching about “election” have to do with the example of Jacob and Esau? Did God choose one to be evil and choose one to be good, or is it that God knew in advance who would humble them selves and also knew in advance who would rebel against Him by their own choice?
“ Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.” (1Peter 1:2 AV)
“ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Ro 8:29 AV)
God knew in advance that Jacob would serve Him and knew in advance that Esau would rebel against Him. God loved Jacob’s service towards Himself and hated Esau’s rebellion, for God hates sin. Jacob had not earned God’s love through His service. Oh no! On the contrary “8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph 2:8-9 AV) “ We love him, because he first loved us.” (1John 4:19 AV) “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” (Ro 2:4 AV). As for Esau God loves the sinner and hates the sin.
Lets look at the next couple “hard to understand texts in Romans 9
14 Ҧ What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
This phrase is from Exodus. We will need to read it to understand this declaration of God.
“ And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.” (Ex 33:19 AV)
Immediately after stating this to Moses He passed by before Him while Moses was in the cleft of the rock and said, In Exodus 34
6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
8 And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped. (Ex 34:6-8 AV)
“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” James 4:6
“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” 1Peter 5:5
Confession is the act of humbling our selves. The promise is “ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1John 1:9 AV) Moses knew this holy principal in God’s dealings with men. Moses had recognized that Israel had been proud and stiff-necked. He began to make intercession for Israel confessing their rebellious attitudes against the One whom had shown them such great mercy.
“And he said, If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us; for it is a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance.” Exodus 34:9
God will have mercy upon all who call on the name of the Lord for salvation confessing their sins humbling them selves seeking His mercy. God will also in the end be forced to execute justice upon all who refused to submit to His commandments rebelling against His wisdom thus leaving God with no other choice but to blot out there names from the Book of Life.
Q. What about the scriptures dealing with God “creating evil,” and “hardening Pharaohs heart”? Well lets look at them.
16 For the scripture saith 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.
17 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
18 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
19 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
20 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
21 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
22 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,” (Ro 9:14-23 AV)
This is not such a hard thing to understand. Come reason with me. Jesus taught us to “love your enemies,” “for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matthew 5:44,45. The same sun that shines on wax and melts it shines on clay and hardens it. It is not the fault of the sun rather it is the substance that the material is made from that causes it to react one way or another. There fore Jesus who loved His enemies showed Pharaoh love and mercy as he gave him one chance after another to obey His commandment to let Israel go. Pharaoh’s heart was proud and would not let Israel go each time God had one plague after another cease. God who is all powerful could of in a single manifestation destroyed pharaoh, yet He gave him ten chance to obey God. Finally when Pharaoh had shown that there was no way he would ever obey God no matter how much mercy was shown him it was thena dn only then that God sent the tenth plague and killed all the first born of Egypt so that the Egyptians would be compelled to let Israel go. Even after this Pharaoh went after God’s people with a great army with intentions to force the Hebrews back into slavery. Pharaoh knew this was against God’s will for God had said, “let my people go, that they may serve me.” Pharaoh was not in ignorance of God’s will. Rather He deliberately chose to disobey God. God had extended to Pharaoh as much mercy as He possibly could and ultimately God was left with no other choice but to destroy pharaoh and his army to preserve the Hebrews.
God had manifested through Pharaoh that it is God that “bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust.” (Isaiah 26:5 AV) It was God that made Egypt great through Joseph over 400 years before. During the 7 years of famine God had used Joseph to bring all cattle, lands, and men under the ownership and control of Egypt. As long as Egypt obeyed the leading of God Egypt was blessed and made great. When Egypt began to disobey God, the Lord manifested through the ten plagues that He has power to strip the mightiest nation from all its cattle, lands and men.
“It is a fascinating fact that the Hebrew word “chazaq” is translated “hardened” in almost every account of God’s dealing with Pharaoh. But when Pharaoh “hardened” his own heart, the Hebrew word “kabed” is used. Why this difference? Actually the word “chazaq” has a literal meaning of “strengthen, courage.” For example, we read in 1 Samuel 30:6 that “David encouraged himself in the Lord,” but the word translated “encouraged” is “chazaq”—the same word which is translated as “hardened” in this passage. “Chazaq” is also translated as “encouraged” in the following verses: 1 Samuel 30:6; Deuteronomy 1:38; 2 Samuel 11:25; 2 Chronicles 35:2; Psalms 64:5; Isaiah 41:7; Deuteronomy 3:28; Judges 20:22; 2 Chronicles 31:4. When we take the true meaning of the word, we find that God actually encouraged Pharaohs heart to let Israel go. But when Pharaoh hardened his own heart the Bible uses a different word—“kabed”—which means “to make heavy, hardened.””
“But why did the “encouragement” of the Lord have the effect of hardening Pharaoh’s heart? We might just as well ask why the same encouraging, inspiring ministry of Jesus could produce a loving John and a traitorous Judas. One was softened and the other hardened. The same sun that softens the wax will harden the clay. Every man is exposed in some degree to the grace of Christ (John 1:9) The Lord is spoken of as a sun (Psalm 84:11) who lightens every man. Some reject light and grow hard (Zechariah 7:12). Some accept and are softened. The end result depends on the response of each individual.”—Joe Cruz Answers to Difficult Bible Texts p.2
Only those who have their names in the Book of Life during the final time of trouble overcome the mark of the beast.
“ And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Re 13:8 AV)
Only those today who by grace through faith in Jesus are overcoming sin will not have their names blotted out of the Book of Life.
“ He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” (Re 3:5 AV)
We are now in the day of Investigative Judgement and it starts with professed Christians.
“The judgment was set, and the books were opened.” Daniel 7:10
“ For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” (1Pe 4:17 AV)
“Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come:” Revelation 14:7
“ In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” (Ro 2:16 AV)
“2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. 3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.” (Lu 12:2-3 AV)
“ Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” (Heb 4:13 AV)
“ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” (2Co 5:10 AV)
“ Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.” (Mal 3:18 AV)
“13 ¶ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” (Ec 12:13-14 AV)
“ Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.” (1Co 4:5 AV)
“ But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” (1Sa 16:7 AV)
During the 1000 years these same books revealing every secret though and deed and motive will be opened to all those who enter into the New Jerusalem.
“ Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?” (1Co 6:3 AV)
“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them.” Rev 20:4
“ And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” (Re 20:12 AV)
“ And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Re 20:15 AV)
“ And there shall in no wise enter into it (The New Jerusalem) any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Re 21:27 AV)
“ From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Mt 4:17 AV)
Brothers and sisters we must repent and be converted, be born again. If we do not die to our sins we will die in them. God does not wish any to perish but that all would come to repentance and eternal life.
“9 ¶ Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God..” (1Co 6:9,10 AV)
“19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Ga 5:19-21 AV)
“ And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.” (Ex 32:33 AV)
We “should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.” Acts 26:20.
“ Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:” (Mt 3:8 AV)
In conclusion I want to share that in my mind I always thought I had to be good enough to get my name in the Book of Life. What a relief it was that this idea was false. God put your name and my name in the Book of Life at the foundation of the world. We cannot EARN the right to have our names there. They are already there by the grace of God through Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit pleads with us and is grieved any time some one’s name is blotted out of the Book of Life.
“30 ¶ Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” (Eze 18:30-32 AV)
“ And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” (Eph 4:30 AV)
To many lost souls Christ weeps in bitter anguish, “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! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” Matthew 23:37,38.
“ The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.” Proverbs 16:17. Jesus is the only way to eternal life (John 41:6). His life of purity and teachings are to “ Abstain from all appearance of evil.” 1Thessalonians 5:22.
“16 ¶ Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; 17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. 18 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. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:” (Isa 1:16-19 AV)
“7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” (Ga 6:7-8 AV)
“ He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” (Re 3:5 AV).
