“So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires. You will say to me then, ‘Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?’ On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, ‘Why did you make me like this,’ will it? Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honor, and another for dishonor? What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? And He did so in order that He might make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among the Gentiles, “ Romans 9:18-24. Paul wrote these verses after making the argument that it depends not on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy, (Romans 9:16).
Paul makes very clear in Romans 9 that predestination is an eternal truth. He goes so far as to say to those who would question this truth, “Who are you, O man, who answers back to God?” The thing molded will not say to the molder, ‘Why did you make me like this,’ will it?” To any who might be inclined to disregard Paul’s authority and his ability to know the truths of God, I would refer you to Acts 13:48 where it says “…as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.” Those who were not appointed to eternal life did not believe, verse 50.
Why am I writing about such a controversial subject? I bring this subject up because this is one of the most magnificent and wonderful and uplifting truths in the holy Scriptures for those whom the Lord truly called. It is a truth that opens the glory and the lovingkindness of God to the children of God, especially the insecure and poor in spirit. This truth brought Paul to the point of saying, “…If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”
Let me say before going any further: I have heard of John Calvin and the Presbyterians believing in predestination. I KNOW NOTHING OF THEIR BELIEF IN PREDESTINATION! I have never studied their doctrines. In this letter I am speaking only of what I have heard from the Lord concerning predestination.
Consider these Scriptures:
Romans 9:9-18, For this is a word of promise: “At this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son.” And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; for though the twins were not yet born, and had not done anything good or bad, in order that God’s purpose according to His choice might stand, not because of works, but because of Him who calls, it was said to her, “The older will serve the younger.” Just as it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.” So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.
1 Peter 2:9, But you are a CHOSEN race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Romans 8:29, For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
1 Corinthians 1:30,31, But by His own doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Do you still doubt that it doesn’t depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but it depends on God who has mercy? If so, then you may think too highly of yourself. I say this because those who think too highly of themselves read the Word with the attitude and intentions of finding Scriptures that closely resemble
their opinions, and ignore those that contradict their opinions; while those who read the Word to find the truth do so with an open mind, disregarding their opinions, and accept the truth as it is revealed to them.
In closing, please know this, predestination is one of the most comforting and glorious truths that gives hope beyond hope to those who follow Jesus, instilling deeply within them the truth that He who has begun a good work in us will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus, Philippians 1:6, and, that we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us. Amen.
Please weigh everything I say on the scales of the Word of God.
Jon David Banks, God’s most unworthy servant
jondavidbanks.com 