"The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." (Jer 31:3, KJV)
We are familiar with "til death do us part" and how long that love often lasts. But, this is "everlasting love" from God who does not change his mind or change his love! Once loved always loved! Now, Baptists, what do we understand when we read "out of"? Check this verse:
"And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water..." (Matt 3:16a, KJV)
Jesus was down in the water and then came up "out of", so we believe he must have been down in the water, right? So, consider these "out of" statements in God's word.
"I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word." (John 17:6, KJV)
Jesus has a people who God the Father gave him OUT OF the world. No explanation, it is in plain English.
"If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." (John 15:19, KJV)
Interesting, those Jesus chose OUT OF the world, are strongly distinguished from the world! What did Jesus do for these he chose "out of" the world?
"And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation" (Rev 5:9, KJV)
We see Jesus Christ redeemed his own OUT OF the world, meaning men OUT OF every "kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation". So, we have a particular redemption, a definite atonement for his own people chosen OUT OF the world.
Remember, Jesus is God and he shed his blood for his church:
"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." (Acts 20:28, KJV)
Are you concerned if you are one of God's own and have an anxious desire about it? If this is a sincere concern that is a very good sign. Take heart:
"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:37-40, KJV)
This wonderful salvation was prophesied in Ezekiel centuries before:
"Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." (Ezek 36:25-27, KJV)
Whose "will" do you see there? It surely is NOT man's weak "free will", but the determinative will of God Almighty!
Chuck
We are familiar with "til death do us part" and how long that love often lasts. But, this is "everlasting love" from God who does not change his mind or change his love! Once loved always loved! Now, Baptists, what do we understand when we read "out of"? Check this verse:
"And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water..." (Matt 3:16a, KJV)
Jesus was down in the water and then came up "out of", so we believe he must have been down in the water, right? So, consider these "out of" statements in God's word.
"I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word." (John 17:6, KJV)
Jesus has a people who God the Father gave him OUT OF the world. No explanation, it is in plain English.
"If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." (John 15:19, KJV)
Interesting, those Jesus chose OUT OF the world, are strongly distinguished from the world! What did Jesus do for these he chose "out of" the world?
"And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation" (Rev 5:9, KJV)
We see Jesus Christ redeemed his own OUT OF the world, meaning men OUT OF every "kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation". So, we have a particular redemption, a definite atonement for his own people chosen OUT OF the world.
Remember, Jesus is God and he shed his blood for his church:
"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." (Acts 20:28, KJV)
Are you concerned if you are one of God's own and have an anxious desire about it? If this is a sincere concern that is a very good sign. Take heart:
"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:37-40, KJV)
This wonderful salvation was prophesied in Ezekiel centuries before:
"Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." (Ezek 36:25-27, KJV)
Whose "will" do you see there? It surely is NOT man's weak "free will", but the determinative will of God Almighty!
Chuck