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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – JULY 26

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Free-will? What Free-will?

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Part 4:

How To Prove “Free-will” or “Predestination”!

To read Part 1, click here…March 9th (“Free-will? What free-will!?”)

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There has been a 400+ year debate between those who follow John Calvin’s teachings on Election/Predestination, and those who follow Jacobus Arminius’ teaching on Free-Will. This has been perhaps, the most controversial theological question in the history of the Church.

(Actually, no Bible-only Christian should ever be giving himself or herself such unbiblical labels as “Calvinist”, or “Arminian”!)

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LEFT: Jacobus Arminius – by Hieronymus van der Mij – Wikimedia – Public Domain

RIGHT: John Calvin – by Holbein – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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BIBLE IS AMBIGUOUS

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The reason that the controversy continues is because there are many Bible verses which seem to support one or the other viewpoint.

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For instance, the Calvinists point to such verses as this one…“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8, 9

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The Arminians, on the other hand, use such verses as this one… “choose you this day whom ye will serve;” Joshua 24:15

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And so, as you can see, there is enough ammunition for either side to use in this longstanding debate.

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US Navy – Chaplain Lt. Jason Gregory reads Bible on weather deck – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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AN EMOTIONAL ISSUE!

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Now for some reason, the debates over this issue can get very lively, to say the least! And there have actually been fistfights which have resulted from heated debates over this subject! Certainly, many friendships have ended because of this question.

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Clenched human fist – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

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THE PROOF OF THE PUDDING

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But none of this has to be! There is a much simpler way of resolving this issue. There doesn’t even need to be a debate! Not even a word spoken!

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You see, if a person really wants to prove his or her beliefs about Election or Free-will, one should remember the old saying… “The proof of the pudding is in the eating thereof!”

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In other words, just how does your Salvation by Free-will compare to my Salvation by Election as far as yours and my exemplary life in Christ? Does my life show that my theology is a winning formula?

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boy with chocolate on face – cropped image -Wikimedia – GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2

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WITNESS OF A TRANSFORMED LIFE …

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After all, just listen to this admonition by Paul…“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2

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As this above verse exhorts, it is by the transforming of our lives into Christ’s glorious image, that we “prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”: not only to our own self, but also to all those around us!

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Woman with Bible – Braet von Überfeldt – 1866 – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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CHRIST-LIKENESS: PROOF OF THE PUDDING!

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And so, if those who insist that we are saved apart from any good work (Calvinists), truly have the correct position on Salvation, then that theological position would and should manifest itself by a life of Christ-like godliness!

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And conversely, those who hold to the Free-will doctrine (Aminians) should live a victorious life of Christ-like godliness.

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Anger during a protest – by David Shankbone – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike-License

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THE WORD IS LIVING & POWERFUL & SHARP

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Listen to what God’s Word is… “For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

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Here is an awesome and fearful statement! God’s Word is quick, that is, His Word is living! And His Word is powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword! Not just some dry theological treatise by learned professors in an ivy-covered tower! But the very life of Christ, quickened by the Spirit of Holiness in my heart!

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Transfiguration – Bloch – Wikimedia Commons – US Public Domain

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A SANCTIFIED LIFE IS A MUST!

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And let’s face it! Those who get into heated debates over this, or any other issue, only show that their theology isn’t working correctly. Losing one’s temper is a clear sign that something’s really wrong!

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Listen… “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:” Ephesians 4:13

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This above verse condemns those of us who insist that we are correct on this or that issue, so much so, that we aggressively go after anyone who disagrees with our stance!

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Mocking Bird Argument – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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“For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?”

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And let’s face it! Those who insist on referring to their ideological opponents by some derogatory tag, such as “Calvinist”, or “Armeanist”, or “Replacement Theologian”, or “cultist”, etc., are showing that they are more interested in winning a debate than arriving at truth. And there are many radio teachers who resort to such “Strawman” tactics in their ministry!

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But even those who actually refer to their own selves by such non-biblical tags show that they do not properly understand the Bible.

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“For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?…For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

1st Corinthians 3:4, 11

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Here we see that by using such names to describe our beliefs is showing a lack of spiritual maturity.

Paul persecuted by Pharisees & Sadducees – www.thebiblerevival.com – US Public Domain

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A CHRISTLIKE LIFE SPEAKS FOR ITSELF!

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On the other hand, when we encounter a real genuine Christian who walks even as Christ walked, that godly person’s mere presence is the greatest argument in favor of his or her Gospel!

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That genuine Christian doesn’t even need to speak a word! Their quiet and reverent and loving behavior does all the talking for them!

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Their virtues of patience and kindness and humbleness, and temperance, and gravity are their most masterful and eloquent debate-team!

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Chaplain reads Bible – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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“But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth”

James 3:14

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And so, for those of us who are still struggling to show, that of a truth, Christ is in us, let us put away all debate and strife.

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And then, let’s simply plead with God to do a work in our hearts, to purify us from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord!

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TRUE THEOLOGY OVERCOMES 

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And then, once that day arrives, when we have truly overcome the flesh, and someone should ask about our position on Free-will or Election-Predestination, we can give them whatever answer we deem is best, or no answer at all!

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Because it really only matters just what theology has given me victory over the world and over the flesh! 

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Paul Shipwrecked – Acts 27:41-44 – www.lavistachurchofchrist.org – Public Domain

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TO READ PART 5, CLICK HERE…

April 13 (Free-will? What Free-will? Part 5: “Salvation By Good Works?”)

Little Jack Horner – WW Denslow – Project Gutenberg

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Let my life do all the talking for me. Do a work on my heart to cleanse and purify every unchristlike behavior from my life…

Pray for Our Nation sign – Wikimedia – Share-alike-lic.

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read…FEBRUARY 8 (Free-will? What Free-will? Part 2: Little Jack Horner Christianity), or you can also read this article…FEBRUARY 9 (Free-will? What Free-will? Part 3: Little Jack Horner Christianity, Continued)

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

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REVELATION 12 WOMAN ON ALTAR AND FLOWER OF HEAVEN

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This constellation almost appears as a vine, as it projects out from the Altar/Ark Constellation .

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This constellation appears in mid-winter through late spring. As you can see in this sketch, the Altar/Ark

Constellation is also known as Leo Major , and the stem or vine of the flower is made of stars of the Virgo Constellation, and the flower itself is made of the Corvus Constellation.

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ABOVE STAR-CHART – late winter – Woman on the altar & Flower of Heaven Constellation w/leaves 

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “The Flower of Heaven Constellation”

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TOMORROW…

JULY 27 (The False Prophet, Part 9: The Devil Owns The Fence!)

ABOVE PICTURE: The Devil Owns The Fence – www.theheavensdeclare.net – May use for non-profit use only

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH 

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS STUDY #572 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Those who are interested in using photos on this page may click on provided link below each photo, to get to Wikimedia Commons for various licensing names, details, and tags, and all other necessary info on any particular photo. Most tall, narrow photos have been cropped or reduced by this website to make them a better fit on phone screens.