GOD REVEALS AND MAN RESPONDS

GOD SHOWS HIMSELF TO US SO THAT WE MAY BELIEVE

MAN RESPONDS BY CHOOSING TO:

OBEY OR DISOBEY
REPENT AND MAKE JESUS LORD OR CONTINUE TO REBEL AGAINST GOD
ACCEPT OR REJECT WHAT CHRIST DID ON THE CROSS
LOVE OR HATE
BE FAITHFUL OR UNFAITHFUL TO WHAT HE HAS BEEN SHOWN

MAN IS NOT A ROBOT, HE DOES HAVE A CHOICE

SALVATION IS NOT A TRAP

IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN, IT IS BECAUSE GOD HAS CHOSEN TO REVEAL HIMSELF TO YOU FIRST

OUR CHOOSING GOD AND REMAINING IN HIM IS EVIDENCE THAT HE HAS CHOSEN US

WE CANNOT BE SAVED UNLESS WE CHOOSE TO MAKE JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD AND SAVIOR

OUR CHOOSING TO FOLLOW CHRIST IS A NECESSARY STEP IN BECOMING A CHRISTIAN

SALVATION IS A GIFT. GOD MUST OFFER IT FIRST SO THAT WE CAN ACCEPT IT

WE CANNOT SEE GOD UNLESS HE REVEALS HIMSELF TO US FIRST

Obedience is a choice. Disobedience is sin.

If God did not create us with free will then we could not sin (disobey) and God would be directly responsible for all the evil in the world.

Maybe the world would be perfect if we did not have the capacity to sin / disobey God and decide for ourselves who to obey but this would not glorify God as much.

God sent his Son to pay the price for our sin so that we can be restored to fellowship with Him by repenting and accepting what Christ has done.

God foreknew those who would love and obey Him and He predestined them to be conformed to the image of His Son Jesus Christ.

GOD'S REVELATION & MAN'S RESPONSE

see illustration

God's revelation

WE COME TO A SAVING KNOWLEDGE OF GOD ONLY BY REVELATION

Mat 11:25 Mat 16:17 Luke 2:26 Luke 10:21 John 1:13 John 1:31 John 2:11 John 12:38 John 17:6 Rom 1:17 Rom 1:18 Rom 2:5 Rom 8:18 Rom 8:19 Rom 10:20 Rom 16:26 1 Cor 1:7

1 Cor 2:10 1 Cor 3:13 2 Cor 4:10 2 Cor 4:11 Gal 3:23 Eph 3:5 2 Th 1:7 2 Th 2:6 2 Tim 1:10 1 Pet 1:5 1 Pet 1:7  1 Pet 1:12 1 Pet 1:13 1 Pet 1:20 1 Pet 4:13 1Pet 5:1 Rev 15:4

GOD CALLS US
Rom 10:14-21

GOD OPENS OUR EYES AND EARS SO WE CAN BELIEVE
Deu 29:4 Job 13:1 Job 42:5 Prov 20:12 Isa 6:10 Isa 11:3 Isa 32:3 Isa 35:5 Isa 43:8 Jer 5:21 Ezek 12:2 Ezek 40:4 Mat 13:15 Mat 13:16 Mark 8:18 Acts 28:27 Rom 11:8 2 Cor 4:4

GOD LOVED US FIRST
1John 4:19

GOD CHOSE US FIRST
Mat 22:14 Mark 13:20 Luke 6:13 John 6:70 John 13:18 John 15:16 John 15:19 Acts 1:2 Acts 1:24 Acts 9:15 Acts 10:41 Acts 13:17 Acts 22:4 Rom 8:33 Rom 11:5 Rom 16:13 1 Cor 1:27

1 Cor 1:28 Eph 1:4 Eph 1:11Col 1:27 Col 3:12 1 Th 1:4 2 Th 2:13 James 1:18 James 2:5 1 Pet 1:2 1 Pet 1:20 1Pet 2:4 1 Pet 2:6 1 Pet 2:9 Rev 17:14

WE ARE A CHOSEN PEOPLE
Isaiah 65:9 Colossians 3:12 1 Peter 2:9

HE CHOSE US ACCORDING TO HIS FOREKNOWLEDGE
Rom 8:29 Rom 11:2 1 Pet 1:2

GOD WANTS ALL MEN TO BE SAVED
Rom 11:32 2Pet 3:9

VESSELS OF HONOUR
Romans 9:8-24 2 Cor 4:7

IT IS BY GRACE THAT WE ARE SAVED
Acts 18:27 Eph 2:8

go to Law and Grace
WE CANNOT SAVE OURSELVES, WE DO NOT DESERVE SALVATION, SO WE SHOULD NOT BOAST IN OURSELVES
Rom 4:2 Rom 11:18 1 Cor 1:29 1 Cor 1:31 1 Cor 4:7 1 Cor 9:16 1 Cor 13:4 2 Cor 1:12 2 Cor 1:14 2 Cor 10:8 2 Cor 10:13

2 Cor 10:17 2 Cor 11:21 2 Cor 11:30 2 Cor 12:5  2 Cor 12:9 Gal 6:14 Eph 2:9 James 4:16 Jude 1:16

GOD CHOSE PEOPLE, CITIES AND NATIONS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
1Samuel 10:20 1Samuel 16:1 2Samuel 16:18 1Kings 8:16 1Kings 11:32 1Kings 14:21 2Kings 21:7 1Chronicles 16:13 1Chronicles 28:5 2Chronicles 6:5 2Chronicles 6:6 2Chronicles 12:13 2Chronicles 33:7 Psalms 135:4 Isaiah 13:4 Isaiah 41:8 Isaiah 44:1 Isaiah 45:4 Isaiah 49:7

SIMILARLY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, GOD CHOOSES MEN AND WOMEN FROM ALL PEOPLES TRIBES AND NATIONS

Acts 9:15 Revelation 5:9 Revelation 7:9

Man's response
WE NEED TO ASK GOD TO COME INTO OUR HEART
Mat 7:7 Luke 11:9 Luke 11:13

WE MUST ACCEPT GOD'S WORD
Mark 4:20 John 3:11 John 12:48 Rev 3:20

WE MUST MAKE A CHOICE
Joshua 24:15-24

Israel was God's chosen people, yet here they have to choose to serve God. God chooses to reveal himself to certain people but unless they in turn choose to serve him, it remains to be confirmed that they are his people; elect, chosen and predestinated. When we choose to follow God and remain in him, we confirm that we have been chosen of God.   We cannot come to God unless God chooses us first and reveals himself to us by opening our eyes, ears and minds. If we never choose to follow God's ways or don't persist in them, it is unlikely he has chosen us.

WE CAN OBEY OR DISOBEY
Deut 26:14-9 Acts 5:32 Rom 1:5 1 Pet 1:14

Go to we must obey his commandments

WE CAN REJECT GOD’S INVITATION
1 Sam 10:19 Deut 32:15 Matt 22:1-14 Mark 8:31 Mark 9:12 Mark 12:10 Luke 7:30 Luke 9:22 Luke 10:16 Luke 17:25 Luke 20:17 John 3:36 Acts 7:39 1 Th 4:8 1 Tim 1:19 2 Tim 3:8

WE CAN TURN AWAY FROM GOD
Exo 32:8 Num 32:15 Deu 11:16 Josh 22:16 Josh 22:23 Josh 22:29 Josh 23:12 1Sam 12:20 1Sam 12:21 1Ki 9:6 2Chr 7:19

Psa 80:18 Jer 3:19 Jer 8:5 Jer 15:6 Jer 17:13 Jer 32:40 Hosea 7:14 Mat 24:10 John 15:4-6 Heb 12:25

WE CAN TURN BACK AGAIN
2Chr 29:10 2Chr 30:8 Ezek 16:42 Ezek 18:30 Gal 6:1 James 5:19-20

THE PRODIGAL SON
Luke 15:11-32

THE DISCIPLES

Mat 26:34 Mat 26:35 Mat 26:75 Mark 14:30 Mark 14:31 Mark 14:72 Luke 22:61 John 13:38

WE CAN BE UNFAITHFUL BUT HE REMAINS FAITHFUL
2 Tim 2:13

We are saved by faith in Jesus Christ
WE CAN DISOWN HIM AND HE WILL DISOWN US
Mat 10:33 Luke 9:26 2Tim 2:12 2Tim 2:13

See we need to confess him

WE MUST STAND FIRM

WE MUST STAND FIRM UNTIL THE END
Exo 14:13 2Chr 20:17 Job 11:15 Psa 20:8 Psa 30:7 Prov 10:25 Isa 7:9 Ezek 13:5 Mat 10:22 Mat 24:13 Mark 13:13 1Cor 15:58

1Cor 16:13 2Cor 1:21 2Cor 1:24 Gal 5:1 Eph 6:14 Phil 1:27 Phil 4:1 Col 4:12 2Th 2:15 James 5:8

WE MUST BE CAREFUL LEST WE FALL
Mat 7:25 Mat 10:29  Mat 11:6 Mat 15:14 Mat 26:31 Mat 26:33 Mat 26:41 Mark 4:17 Mark 14:27 Mark 14:29 Mark 14:38  Luke 6:39  Luke 7:23  Luke 8:13 Luke 10:18

Luke 11:17 Luke 22:40 Luke 22:46  Rom 9:33 Rom 11:11 1Cor 10:12 1Tim 3:6 1Tim 3:7 1Tim 6:9  Heb 4:11 1Pet 2:8 2Pet 1:5-11 2Pet 3:17

WE CAN SIN UNTO DEATH
Rom 6:16 1John 5:16

GOD CAN CROSS US OUT OF THE BOOK OF LIFE
Psa 69:28 Phil 4:3 Rev 3:5 Rev 13:8 Rev 17:8 Rev 20:12 Rev 20:15 Rev 21:27

GOD CAN TAKE HIS HOLY SPIRIT FROM US
Psa 51:11

WE SHOULD USE WHAT WE HAVE OR IT WILL BE TAKEN AWAY
Matt25:14-30

WE MUST KEEP OIL IN OUR LAMPS

Matt 25:1-13

GOD CAN TAKE AWAY HIS KINGDOM FROM US
Mat 21:33-43

IF WE DISOWN GOD AND GO BACK TO OUR OLD WAYS WE ARE WORSE OF AT THE END THAN THE BEGINNING
2Peter 2:20

THE SEED PLANTED ON THE ROCKY GROUND DIED AFTER A PERIOD OF RAPID GROWTH

Luke 8:5-15

IF WE DO NOT BARE FRUIT WE WILL BE CUT OFF
John15:1-20

APOSTASY

APOSTASY MEANS TO GIVE UP, TURN AWAY AND DENOUNCE THE FAITH

IF THERE IS ONGOING SIN IN OUR LIVES THEN IT IS HARD TO ENJOY GOD'S

PRESENCE

IF WE DO NOT REPENT OF THE SINS THAT WE ARE AWARE OF, THEN WE TEND

TO MOVE FURTHER AND FURTHER AWAY FROM GOD

APOSTASY MAY THEN BE THE END RESULT OF A LONG PROCESS OF BACKSLIDING

IT MEANS TO DISOWN CHRIST AND PURSUE EVIL DESIRES

THE ONLY WAY TO SURVIVE THE TRIALS OF LIFE IS TO LOVE GOD MORE THAN

ANYTHING ELSE AND TRUST HIM TO SAVE US

THERE IS NO OTHER GOD THAT CAN SAVE US

IF WE WORSHIP OR IDOLISE ANYTHING OR ANYONE OTHER THAN GOD,

WE WILL BE DISAPPOINTED

IDOLATRY MEANS TO LOVE SOMETHING OR SOME ONE MORE THAN GOD

APOSTASY IS ONLY FINAL IF YOU CANNOT REPENT OF YOUR LOVE OF EVIL
Eph 4:18 Heb 10:29 Rev 22:12-16

AN OMINOUS WARNING TO THOSE WHO ACTUALLY CRUCIFIED CHRIST: THE JEWS
Heb 6:4-6

TRY AND PROVE THIS ONE WRONG, OH YOU WITH THE REBELLIOUS SPIRIT
Compare this to
Mat 16:23 Mark 8:33

Jesus once said to Peter, "I give to you the keys of the Kingdom..... and upon this rock, I will build my Church." Yet here, Jesus calls him Satan!
All the disciples disowned Jesus, including Peter, but Jesus forgave them.
Christ's death on the cross was sufficient to pay for all our sins: past, present and future.
If you have once known Christ and fallen away, you can turn back to him. Jesus will greet you with open arms, just like the Father greeted the Prodigal son. All you need to do is repent.

REPENTANCE
James 5:19-20

TRUE REPENTANCE INVOLVES MORE THAN JUST SAYING SORRY
IT MEANS TO TURN AROUND AND HEAD IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION
IT MEANS TO STOP DOING THE THINGS THAT WE ARE SORRY FOR
SOMETIMES THE SPIRIT IS WILLING BUT THE BODY IS WEAK
GOD KNOWS OUR HEART, OUR MOTIVE
HE KNOWS WHAT WE LOVE
IF YOU HAVE BEEN WEAK OR YOUR MOTIVES HAVE NOT BEEN PURE
IT'S NOT TOO LATE TOO REPENT
Mat 3:2 Mat 4:17 Mark 1:15  Luke 13:3 Luke 13:5  Luke 15:7  Acts 3:19  Acts 8:22  Rev 2:5  Rev 2:16 Rev 2:21 Rev 2:22 Rev 3:3 Rev 3:19 Rev 9:20 Rev 9:21 Rev 16:9 Rev 16:11

ASSURANCE

WE CAN KNOW WHERE WE STAND WITH GOD
Rom 8:16 Phil 2:12 1John 4:21-24 1John 5:1-4 1John 5:11-15

WE CAN KNOW WHETHER WE WILL BE SAVED IF CHRIST WERE TO COME BACK NOW
2Cor 13:5-6  Gal 6:4

ALL WHO 'CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD' SHALL BE SAVED

Joel 2:32 Romans 10:13 Acts 2:21
Do you 'Call Upon the Name of the Lord' (pray)?

NOBODY CAN SAY "JESUS IS LORD" EXCEPT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

1Corinthians 12:3
Can you say Jesus is Lord and mean it?

NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD
Rom 8:39 John 10:28 John 10:29

GOD HELPS US TO STAND FIRM
2 Cor 1:21

ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS TRUST IN HIM
Num 21:7-9 John 3:14-5

We just need to look toward God with the eyes of our heart
This does not require any strength or effort, JUST FAITH

GOD WILL NOT BREAK HIS SIDE OF THE COVENANT
Mat 26:28 Mark 14:24 Luke 1:72 Luke 22:20 Acts 3:25 Acts 7:8 Rom 11:27 1Cor 11:25 2Cor 3:6 2Cor 3:14 Gal 3:15 Gal 3:17 Gal 4:24 Heb 7:22 Heb 8:6 Heb 8:7 Heb 8:8

Heb 8:9 Heb 8:10 Heb 8:13 Heb 9:15 Heb 9:18 Heb 9:20 Heb 10:22 Heb 10:16 Heb 12:24 Heb 13:20 Rev 11:19

GOD PREDESTINED US TO BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON
Rom 8:29-30 Eph 1:5 Eph 1:11

GOD COMPLETES WHAT HE BEGINS
Ph.1:6

GOD WILL GRAFT THE JEWS BACK IN
Rom 11:1-27