Hello once again,
I would like to say something about predestination and as I do I want you to keep this one verse in mind.
John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
God made ALL things including good and evil,
Isaiah 45:6-7 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.
God is the Father of all spirits,
Hebrews 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live.
A spirit is a mind, it's all our thoughts, feelings and emotions.
Ephesians 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
There is a mindset that is pleasing to God and there is a mindset that is not pleasing to God. These two mindsets were created by God so we could have a free will. You can see a picture of this in the garden with the tree of good and evil. Adam had a choice to obey God and live in the Spirit or not live in the Spirit but rather live in the flesh and disobey God.
These two mindsets are predestined, one to life (Spirit) and one to death (flesh).
Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
Look at it this way, you have two trains on a schedule, one going to Texas and one going to New York, both trains are predestined to go where they are going. Now, where you want to go will depend on what train you get on.
All throughout scripture we see God giving us pictures of these two mindsets.
1 Peter 4:5-6 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
Galatians 6:8 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.
Galatians 5:17-21 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 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.
These things that are done in the flesh are coming from thoughts without God, it is a mindset of self/sin.
The mindset of God is this,
Galattians 5:22-25 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
God gives us another picture of these two mindsets that are predestined and it's found in,
Genesis 25:21-25 And Isaac intreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.
Romans 9:9-13 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (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
It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
Esau is a picture of red and red is a symbol of sin.
Isaiah 1:18 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.
Esau is a picture of the mindset living in the flesh and his life portrayed it well.
Cain and Able is another picture of these two mindsets. Cain would have been accespted if he did what was right.
Genesis 4:6-7 So the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.''
Adam is also called red in the original language because Adam in his natural state is sin.
The flesh and the Spirit are two mindsets that are predestined, one is going to heaven and one is not, where are you going?
There is so much more I can write but for your sake I won't overload you.
Deuteronomy 11:26 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;
Which one will you chose?
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Peace to you in Christ,
John
