WEBVTT 00:00:04.080 --> 00:00:05.839 The title of my message is today. 00:00:08.720 --> 00:00:13.119 What is the problem with predestination and election? 00:00:14.720 --> 00:00:17.600 What is the problem with predestination and election? 00:00:18.239 --> 00:00:21.280 The short answer to that is absolutely nothing. 00:00:22.160 --> 00:00:28.320 It is one of the most glorious and beautiful doctrines in the entire Bible. 00:00:28.480 --> 00:00:39.359 It is the very foundation of God's mercy toward us, of Christ's redemption, and of the very gospel itself. 00:00:40.880 --> 00:00:50.000 I mentioned a while ago that the Lord had kind of turned me 180 degrees from how I wanted to approach this. 00:00:53.759 --> 00:01:00.719 Sometimes us preachers can be dry as a Sahara desert, and that's not good for anybody. 00:01:01.359 --> 00:01:10.239 And when a preacher gets up and says that, hey, we're going to talk about a historical doctrine, man, doesn't that just excite you? 00:01:10.640 --> 00:01:37.840 Well, it should, but let me put it this way: the thing that the Lord turned me 180 degrees about is this is that instead of me just diving straight off into the doctrine and let's approaching this like that way, I actually want to approach the doctrine from the standpoint of somebody who doesn't agree with it. 00:01:38.400 --> 00:01:50.400 You know, the very reason that we started this uh quote-unquote study of the catechism, which again, that is an older fashion word that just simply means a series of questions and answers. 00:01:50.799 --> 00:01:58.560 And the very reason that we started this is because, brothers and sisters, I I'm jealous for y'all. 00:01:59.120 --> 00:02:02.000 I want you to know the truth for your benefit. 00:02:02.319 --> 00:02:07.680 But not only do I want you to know the truth, I want other people to know the truth as well. 00:02:07.920 --> 00:02:11.840 I want them to see and understand and have the blessing of what we see. 00:02:12.560 --> 00:02:24.879 And so I think it would be of a benefit to approach the teachings, this series of questions and answers, uh, of the doctrine in a little bit different way. 00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:35.039 And so uh I recognize that this is a, and I and I I told y'all I was kind of a little bit uh involved or or head deep in all this. 00:02:35.360 --> 00:02:50.400 Um I had to, we're only gonna hit really two points this morning because I realize this is not a small subject, and I want to be very, very plain and not dry, and not so the Lord be my help to get out of the way. 00:02:50.560 --> 00:02:57.680 So when I ask the question, what is the problem with predestination and election? 00:02:58.159 --> 00:03:15.439 I'm actually asking that question from the standpoint of somebody who does not believe in predestination and election, and what are the things that are going through that person's mind as they consider this doctrine of predestination election? 00:03:15.520 --> 00:03:19.039 What does that mean and and what ramifications does it have? 00:03:19.199 --> 00:03:27.439 And so so again, I I want to do a preacher thing and give you a few definitions, and then we're gonna get out of the way and dive straight into this. 00:03:27.919 --> 00:03:41.520 So the word predestination simply means to determine before, to limit in advance, to foreordain or choose ahead of time. 00:03:42.400 --> 00:03:52.560 The word election in the regard to the Bible means God's divine choice of persons to be an object of mercy. 00:03:53.520 --> 00:03:59.520 God's divine choice of persons to be an object of mercy. 00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:11.840 And one of the things that I believe that many people do not understand predestination election is because they they don't approach it from the standpoint of adoption. 00:04:12.159 --> 00:04:13.919 What do you mean, Brother Josh? 00:04:14.639 --> 00:04:29.360 Well, in the King James Bible, you know, last uh, you know, Sunday before Brother Danny came, we were attempting to preach through the book uh starting in Ephesians chapter one, and we were giving some preliminary information about that. 00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:35.680 And so we're gonna be back in Ephesians chapter one, and so this morning I want to start in Ephesians chapter one. 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:42.959 We're gonna hit some of these objections and questions, and then we're gonna circle back around to Ephesians chapter one. 00:04:43.680 --> 00:05:19.600 But what I want you to see in the language of Ephesians chapter 1 and the King James, I've mentioned before that in the King James Bible that there is almost a built-in dictionary, so that when you read the King James Bible, that the writer, whomever that is, inspired by the Holy Spirit, whether it's Paul or Peter or Moses, whoever it is, oftentimes they will say something, and then in a following verse or multiple following verses, they will say the exact same thing, but use different language. 00:05:19.759 --> 00:05:27.519 It's almost like us uh not so good preachers like me tend to repeat ourselves because we want to hammer the point home. 00:05:27.759 --> 00:05:42.800 Well, the Bible and the Holy Spirit is much better than that than I am, and so he will teach a doctrine or he will teach a point, and then he'll come back around and say the exact same thing that he just said, but using different words. 00:05:42.959 --> 00:05:43.279 Okay? 00:05:43.600 --> 00:05:46.720 And so that occurs in Ephesians chapter 1. 00:05:46.879 --> 00:06:01.279 And I want to show you that and uh before we get started because we're gonna preach through this message, good Lord willing, and then circle back around at the end, and we're gonna hit this exact same verse, uh, hopefully with new glasses on. 00:06:01.600 --> 00:06:11.439 So in Ephesians chapter 1, uh beginning in verse 3, I want y'all to see who is doing the action. 00:06:11.839 --> 00:06:23.680 That uh, and if you go back and you read through Ephesians chapter 1, you will notice that man, men, you and I, the people, are not the ones doing the action. 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:34.319 God is the one who is doing the action, who is getting the praise, who is uh doing this to people, not not a choice that people make, it's God's doing. 00:06:34.399 --> 00:06:35.120 So let's just look at that. 00:06:35.199 --> 00:06:37.759 Ephesians chapter 1, verse 3. 00:06:38.319 --> 00:06:43.439 So Paul rightly says, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:06:43.519 --> 00:06:53.120 So you see right off the bat that the apostle Paul is saying, Look, God is the one who is blessed for what is about to transpire. 00:06:53.519 --> 00:07:03.439 Now, he's also saying, if y'all notice, and again, I'm not trying to re-preach this, but but he introduced this chapter, Paul and Apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God. 00:07:03.680 --> 00:07:10.959 So he introduced this chapter saying, Look, I, Paul, who am writing this, am an apostle by the will of God. 00:07:11.120 --> 00:07:12.560 Well, Paul didn't make that choice. 00:07:12.800 --> 00:07:13.279 Amen. 00:07:13.439 --> 00:07:15.120 In other words, God made that choice. 00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:31.199 God chose Paul, and y'all tell me God's choosing of Paul on the Damascus road was a very clear example of someone who was not seeking after God, but instead God who purposely intervened in their lives. 00:07:31.360 --> 00:07:32.000 Amen. 00:07:32.319 --> 00:07:33.920 So God gets that glory. 00:07:34.079 --> 00:07:35.199 God is the one who chose. 00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:37.120 Paul was not seeking God. 00:07:37.360 --> 00:07:44.720 Instead, God was the one who struck him down and sought him and then borne him again and pulled him out of where he was going. 00:07:45.040 --> 00:07:50.720 So even from the beginning of this book, uh, we see that it was God's choice, not Paul's. 00:07:50.800 --> 00:07:52.240 Now in verse 3. 00:07:52.720 --> 00:07:59.199 So Paul ascribes or gives God the glory, blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:07:59.360 --> 00:08:00.319 Notice this. 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:03.279 Who hath blessed us? 00:08:03.839 --> 00:08:13.439 So he's writing the Ephesian church and all Christians, he's saying, It is God who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. 00:08:13.600 --> 00:08:14.399 Hard stop. 00:08:15.920 --> 00:08:35.120 If you and I were the ones who were responsible for our own salvation, if you and I were responsible for appropriating redemption to ourselves, then you and I would be, uh would get part of the glory that look, you made a wonderful choice, you made a right decision. 00:08:35.279 --> 00:08:40.399 The guy over there, he chose not to accept Christ, he made a terrible choice, he made a terrible decision. 00:08:40.480 --> 00:08:44.000 And so the guy who made the right choice to him be the glory. 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:46.159 That's not the way this language is here. 00:08:46.559 --> 00:08:55.840 It says, Paul says, Blessed be God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. 00:08:55.919 --> 00:09:03.200 In other words, Paul is giving all the glory to God because God is the one who did all the work. 00:09:03.440 --> 00:09:03.759 Okay? 00:09:04.480 --> 00:09:06.559 So man doesn't get the glory for that. 00:09:06.799 --> 00:09:14.480 Now, because wouldn't y'all say that it would be a heavenly blessing for you and I to actually go to heaven? 00:09:14.639 --> 00:09:14.960 Right? 00:09:15.360 --> 00:09:15.840 Correct? 00:09:16.000 --> 00:09:17.679 That's not too much of a stretch. 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:29.679 So here it doesn't say, blessed be the individual person who chose Christ, who have blessed themselves with all spiritual blessings and heavenly places in Christ. 00:09:29.759 --> 00:09:31.120 It does not say that. 00:09:31.519 --> 00:09:41.600 Instead, it says, blessed be God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings and heavenly places in Christ. 00:09:41.679 --> 00:09:46.399 It is God who is doing the work, God who is giving us these blessings. 00:09:46.559 --> 00:09:50.720 Now that he's set that context, what are these blessings about? 00:09:50.960 --> 00:09:54.639 Again, all of this, you understand in the scriptures, all of this is logical. 00:09:54.799 --> 00:09:57.200 All of this is building upon itself. 00:09:57.440 --> 00:09:59.919 So you notice there's a colon in verse 3. 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:04.320 So this heavenly blessing all comes from what is about to follow. 00:10:04.480 --> 00:10:06.480 So what does it follow in verse 4? 00:10:06.720 --> 00:10:10.960 So Paul says, we are blessed in heavenly places in Christ, colon. 00:10:11.519 --> 00:10:21.919 So the thought continues, according as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world. 00:10:22.159 --> 00:10:22.799 Hard stop. 00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:28.720 Is that not clear? 00:10:29.679 --> 00:10:32.000 And I'm not trying to say that rudely, folks. 00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:41.840 I'm trying to say, y'all tell me in the scriptures here, is this not saying that we are blessed in heavenly places in Christ? 00:10:42.159 --> 00:10:42.799 Why? 00:10:43.279 --> 00:10:45.840 Or how or on what basis? 00:10:46.320 --> 00:10:54.080 According as he, Father God, has chosen us in him Christ, and when did he do that choosing? 00:10:54.240 --> 00:10:56.639 Before the foundation of the world. 00:10:56.960 --> 00:10:59.519 Who is the person doing the action? 00:10:59.759 --> 00:11:02.960 Not the individual, not the human, not the man. 00:11:03.440 --> 00:11:05.840 Man is not choosing God here. 00:11:06.480 --> 00:11:12.559 God is choosing us here, just like God chose the apostle Paul to be an apostle. 00:11:12.799 --> 00:11:13.519 Follow that? 00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:17.120 In other words, God is not changing up everything. 00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:23.200 Like, did God send out a survey in the old world and say, hey, Egyptians, do you want to follow me? 00:11:23.360 --> 00:11:25.279 Hey, Babylonians, do you want to follow me? 00:11:25.360 --> 00:11:29.120 Or did he select for himself a people, Israel? 00:11:29.440 --> 00:11:33.360 In other words, God is not changing up his standard mode of operation. 00:11:33.679 --> 00:11:38.480 God is a sovereign God who operates in a certain way. 00:11:38.720 --> 00:11:39.919 He chose Israel. 00:11:40.159 --> 00:11:41.200 He chose Paul. 00:11:41.440 --> 00:11:43.360 He chose Jacob and not Esau. 00:11:43.519 --> 00:11:45.759 And here he chooses his children. 00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:46.320 Okay? 00:11:47.039 --> 00:11:49.519 God is not breaking from the mold. 00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:53.039 God is staying with the way he normally operates. 00:11:54.000 --> 00:12:03.120 And here, Apollo properly ascribes the glory and the blessing to God because God is the one who has done this action. 00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:11.840 So we are blessed according as He, God, has chosen us in Him, in Christ, before the foundation of the world. 00:12:12.080 --> 00:12:13.440 And so when did He choose us? 00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:14.960 Did He choose us in time? 00:12:15.279 --> 00:12:17.360 Did He choose us when we chose Him? 00:12:17.600 --> 00:12:17.919 No. 00:12:18.559 --> 00:12:21.519 He chose us before the foundation of the world. 00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:25.200 That we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. 00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:27.279 In other words, God has declared us to be that. 00:12:27.440 --> 00:12:42.799 Now, so the same thing that the Holy Spirit is telling us in verse 4 is going to be the same thing that the Holy Spirit is telling us in verse 5. 00:12:43.039 --> 00:12:53.200 Here is that built-in King James dictionary that he tells us something, and then he turns around and tells us the exact same information but using different words. 00:12:53.440 --> 00:12:58.879 So he told us in verse 4 that God has chosen us in Christ. 00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:01.279 And as a result of that, you and I are holy. 00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:03.279 Okay, that's what he told us in verse 4. 00:13:03.440 --> 00:13:06.080 Now in verse 5, what does he tell us? 00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:18.559 God having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will. 00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:25.039 He's telling us the exact same thing in verse 5 that he told us in verse 4. 00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:29.600 Verse 4 told us that God chose us in Christ. 00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:42.960 Verse 5 says God, having predestinated, that word means to decide beforehand us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself. 00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:45.360 And why did he do all this? 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:52.960 He did all this according to the good pleasure of his will, God's will, not man's. 00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:53.440 Okay? 00:13:53.840 --> 00:13:58.000 Those two verses are telling us exactly the same thing in two different ways. 00:13:58.159 --> 00:13:58.480 Okay? 00:13:58.879 --> 00:14:06.240 But what I want you to see is that it's plain in the writing that God is the one who is doing the work. 00:14:06.559 --> 00:14:09.919 God is the one who is doing the choosing, not man. 00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:16.159 Now, why so let's wrap this up in verse six, and then we're going to jump into our questions. 00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:21.360 So why did God choose to do it this way? 00:14:21.679 --> 00:14:26.879 Why did he choose this manner of salvation and not some other manner of salvation? 00:14:27.039 --> 00:14:28.159 Verse 6. 00:14:29.360 --> 00:14:38.960 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:48.159 God did salvation of man in this manner, so he gets all the glory and man gets none. 00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:49.039 Amen? 00:14:49.759 --> 00:15:12.159 Because, see, if the person, if you had two people, and man truly had free will, and you could just choose God or deny him, and you could appropriate, or basically, for lack of a word, you could choose salvation unto yourself, eternal salvation, then and one man made the decision, yes, I'm gonna follow Christ, and another man made the decision, no, I'm not gonna follow Christ. 00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:20.559 And if it was the case that that was the deciding factor, that man was the deciding factor, then that man, oh, good on you. 00:15:20.720 --> 00:15:24.639 Look at the wonderful decision that you made, because otherwise you were gonna bust hell wide open. 00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:28.639 Instead, because you made the right decision, you saved yourself from a burning hell. 00:15:28.720 --> 00:15:32.080 And by the way, that's the way that a lot of people understand salvation. 00:15:32.320 --> 00:15:33.039 But you know what? 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:36.000 If that's the case, then man gets some of the glory. 00:15:36.159 --> 00:15:41.120 The individual gets some of the glory, and then the preacher who brought the message, he gets some of the glory. 00:15:41.360 --> 00:15:42.480 You follow what I'm saying? 00:15:42.559 --> 00:15:46.639 And man didn't get any of the glory because man didn't do any of that work. 00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:48.960 God did all of that work. 00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:52.320 So now let's jump into these questions. 00:15:52.799 --> 00:15:53.600 Now let's jump. 00:15:53.919 --> 00:16:03.600 So let me ask you this, and we're gonna we're gonna go through a series of quote-unquote questions and answers about predestination and election and adoption. 00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:06.639 And let me ask y'all this real quick before we dive off into this. 00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:20.799 When you think about adoption, does the three-month-old baby, is he or she the one who chooses the adoptive parents? 00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:26.559 Or is that little baby incapable of choosing the parents? 00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:28.240 No, it's the parents. 00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:34.080 I mean, people in the world who are outside the church understand the concept of adoption. 00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:36.559 That it's the parents who choose, you understand? 00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:39.360 Well, Bill Josh, what about somebody who's later in life? 00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:43.440 Let's say that adoptive child is a 16-year-old. 00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:50.480 And yes, you will see in some of the Hallmark movies that, you know, parents will ask the question, well, well, do you want to come and live in this family? 00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:54.240 You know, again, I'm not denying that, that that's in some of the Hallmark movies. 00:16:54.399 --> 00:17:01.919 But ultimately, but ultimately that 16-year-old is not the woman who just says, all right, well, I've been in this office long enough. 00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:10.799 Well, you know, lady, I want you, the the lady who's over the doctor's house, I want you to get me some folks on the phone, some potential candidates, and I want you to drive me around to all their houses. 00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:24.160 And once I go and see their house, see how clean their home is, see how big their backyard is, what kind of cars they got, you know, what kind of money they got in the bank, I want to look at their finances, and then after I've vetted all of these candidates, then I'm gonna choose me the best candidate for me, a mom and dad. 00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:27.519 Even the 16-year-old doesn't get to do that, you understand. 00:17:27.839 --> 00:17:35.039 People in the world understand the concept of a job adoption, and it is not the recipient child who makes the choice. 00:17:35.279 --> 00:17:35.920 Amen. 00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:40.480 It is the parent, it is the father who makes the choice. 00:17:40.799 --> 00:17:43.119 That is no different in the Bible. 00:17:43.519 --> 00:17:45.519 So let's start from that framework. 00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:54.160 So the idea of predestination, the idea of election, can be somewhat summarized in the idea of adoption. 00:17:54.319 --> 00:17:57.839 That God has adopted us to be in his family. 00:17:58.000 --> 00:18:02.079 We were not worthy and we were not capable, but he chose us. 00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:03.200 We didn't choose him. 00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:19.359 Now, so my first question about the idea from the idea of someone who does not understand predestination election is that what so what is the problem with predestination election? 00:18:19.440 --> 00:18:20.799 That is my question. 00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:22.960 My first answer is this. 00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:34.960 Most Christians don't understand the doctrine because it hasn't been properly taught and widely taught from the pulpit. 00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:35.839 Okay? 00:18:37.200 --> 00:18:40.160 What is the problem with predestination election? 00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:42.720 And I'm specifically talking about in our modern world. 00:18:42.880 --> 00:18:45.519 Are there churches out there preaching predestination election? 00:18:45.680 --> 00:18:46.400 Absolutely. 00:18:46.559 --> 00:18:48.319 And praise the Lord that they are. 00:18:48.559 --> 00:18:52.640 Is this a historical doctrine that has been taught for thousands of years? 00:18:52.880 --> 00:18:53.519 Absolutely. 00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:55.519 This is not the new kid on the block. 00:18:55.680 --> 00:19:08.799 Instead, the idea that man actually chooses God is actually the new kid on the block, Arminianism, and it's a false doctrine that has just sprung up in the last couple of hundred years. 00:19:09.039 --> 00:19:20.319 So what we are preaching this morning, brothers and sisters, let me make this crystal clear, is biblical doctrine that is thousands of years old and is not a departure from the Word of God. 00:19:20.640 --> 00:19:35.039 Modern mainstream understanding of quote-unquote man choosing God, that is a new doctrine, a false doctrine that has reared its head in the last 200 years and is not founded in the Bible. 00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:35.599 Okay? 00:19:35.839 --> 00:19:37.519 Let's get that out of the way. 00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:41.279 So, what is the problem with predestination election? 00:19:41.519 --> 00:19:51.680 The first problem that I see is this doctrine has not been properly and widely taught from the pulpit. 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:56.240 Therefore, uh people are ignorant of this doctrine. 00:19:56.400 --> 00:19:59.279 Now, please don't give me your uh please don't misunderstand me. 00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:02.640 I do not mean an insult by the word ignorant. 00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:05.200 Um I actually like the word ignorant. 00:20:05.359 --> 00:20:10.720 What you mean by Joshua, in our modern day times, the word ignorant is an insult, okay? 00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:17.279 But I want to tell y'all that uh I am ignorant of nuclear physics. 00:20:17.680 --> 00:20:18.319 I am. 00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:21.680 I do not know the ins and outs of nuclear physics. 00:20:21.839 --> 00:20:23.920 I'm not a I'm not a physicist. 00:20:24.079 --> 00:20:33.599 And if I was sitting in a conference on nuclear physics uh other than the English language that the men might be speaking, I would probably have no clue of what they're talking about. 00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:43.680 Now, uh, if I did a tremendous amount of study, you know, over a course of a long period of time, could I get to the point where I had a basic understanding of that and what they're talking about? 00:20:43.839 --> 00:20:45.759 Probably, and you could probably too. 00:20:45.920 --> 00:20:52.559 But but I want to tell y'all right now, as I stand in this pulpit this morning, I am ignorant of nuclear physics. 00:20:52.640 --> 00:20:53.759 I don't know anything about it. 00:20:53.839 --> 00:20:54.160 Okay. 00:20:55.279 --> 00:21:00.160 The word ignorance simply means the absence of knowledge. 00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:21.119 So I would venture to say one of the quote-unquote problems that there is with predestination election is there there is a general ignorance or lack of knowledge about what this doctrine actually says among the larger Christian community as a whole. 00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:29.039 That is one of the problems that it has not been properly and widely taught from the pulpit in modern times. 00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:29.519 Okay? 00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:32.319 So let's dive into it. 00:21:32.640 --> 00:21:36.640 Proverbs chapter 28 and verse. 00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:41.039 I'm sorry, Proverbs chapter 29 and verse 18. 00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:46.559 Proverbs chapter 29 and verse 18. 00:21:49.839 --> 00:21:53.119 This is one of those verses in the Bible that we ought to underline. 00:21:55.119 --> 00:21:59.759 So Solomon writes in Proverbs 29 and 18. 00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:08.400 Where there is no vision, the people perish, but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. 00:22:08.640 --> 00:22:10.480 So what does that mean? 00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:15.759 Where there is no vision, the people perish. 00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:20.799 The word vision in the King James means prophecy. 00:22:21.200 --> 00:22:28.559 It literally means the public administration or the expounding of the word. 00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:54.000 So, in other words, when there are not ministers that are publicly explaining the word of God in an understandable manner to the people, either by neglect because it's just not being done, like hey, there's no churches there, there's no preachers there, or the preachers that are there are not talking about this subject, or they're not properly talking about this subject. 00:22:54.240 --> 00:23:01.279 So the idea in Proverbs is where there is no vision or prophecy, the people perish. 00:23:01.680 --> 00:23:11.039 Where there is no proper expounding and explaining of the word of God, in that case, the people perish. 00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:13.200 Well, what does the word perish mean? 00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:16.640 It's not talking about they die in hellfire. 00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:17.920 That's not what it's talking about. 00:23:18.079 --> 00:23:23.599 The word perish here literally means they are exposed and they are naked. 00:23:23.839 --> 00:23:24.960 They are exposed. 00:23:25.119 --> 00:23:45.839 How would y'all like to go outside in the dead of winter when it's raining in South Mississippi and being caught out in the woods when it's you know 29 or 30 degrees outside and pouring down rain and having to walk seven or eight miles back to your house and only be in the lightest t-shirt and shorts with no shoes on? 00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:53.599 By the time you get back to the house, you would uh probably be headed to the hospital if you even made it back to the house with hypothermia. 00:23:53.839 --> 00:23:57.359 You would be naked, you would be in danger, you would be exposed. 00:23:57.920 --> 00:24:00.319 Y'all tell me, would y'all be in a healthy estate? 00:24:00.480 --> 00:24:01.759 Would y'all be in a strong state? 00:24:01.920 --> 00:24:03.759 Would y'all be in a joyous state of mind? 00:24:03.920 --> 00:24:05.759 Would y'all be in a position to help anybody else? 00:24:05.920 --> 00:24:06.160 No. 00:24:06.319 --> 00:24:12.160 You would be weak and downcast and sickly and in harm and you would be unprotected. 00:24:12.400 --> 00:24:14.480 You would be in a terrible estate. 00:24:15.039 --> 00:24:22.480 So where there is no vision or prophesying or preaching of the word, the people perish. 00:24:22.559 --> 00:24:25.680 They are in an exposed and naked estate. 00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:29.839 So here, let's fast forward to America in 2026. 00:24:30.079 --> 00:24:41.599 And so now when you have quote-unquote, and again, let's let's for the moment lump our church in with all the other quote-unquote evangelical Christian churches of all face and order for just a moment. 00:24:41.759 --> 00:24:43.519 Let's just lump us in there. 00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:59.680 As a whole, as an entire whole, Christians don't understand this doctrine because it has not been properly and widely taught as a whole. 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:02.640 People are ignorant of this doctrine. 00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:04.319 They just don't know. 00:25:05.200 --> 00:25:13.200 And as a result of them not knowing, now that has exposed them to danger. 00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:18.079 They're in a bad estate. 00:25:18.559 --> 00:25:24.880 They can be weak and sickly as a result of this doctrine not being widely taught. 00:25:25.440 --> 00:25:30.240 Now, so turn, if you will, to Ephesians chapter 4. 00:25:31.759 --> 00:25:33.359 Ephesians chapter 4. 00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:40.400 And you will see the same thing that has just been mentioned over here in the Old Testament. 00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:48.079 You will see the exact same thoughts here in the New Testament as the Apostle Paul writes to the Ephesian church. 00:25:48.400 --> 00:25:54.240 So we're going to pick up in verse 11, and then we're going to read through verse 15. 00:25:55.039 --> 00:26:03.839 So, so if I if this little bitty section, so let's just dive into it. 00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:05.519 Ephesians 4 and 11. 00:26:06.160 --> 00:26:15.759 So Paul writes to the Ephesian church and tells them, and he, God, gave some men to be what? 00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:22.799 Apostles, some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. 00:26:23.359 --> 00:26:25.519 And why did God do that? 00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:27.519 The next verse. 00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:30.400 God did this for this reason. 00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:37.920 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. 00:26:38.079 --> 00:26:38.880 Hard stop. 00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:47.200 The reason why God put these men in the church was for this end. 00:26:47.599 --> 00:26:50.640 So that the word it says for the perfecting of the saints. 00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:53.680 That word means for the complete furnishing of the saints. 00:26:53.839 --> 00:27:02.319 It's so that the little Christian wasn't walking around in the forest in his shorts and his t-shirts, freezing to death and half naked. 00:27:02.880 --> 00:27:08.559 So he called pastors to go out there and to help find the little Christian. 00:27:08.720 --> 00:27:10.079 Again, he's already a Christian. 00:27:10.160 --> 00:27:12.559 The pastor didn't make him one, okay, you understand. 00:27:13.039 --> 00:27:31.039 He helped pastors to go be shepherds and under-shepherds, as it were, to go out and find that little sheep and to go and put a coat on him, to dry him off, to bring him something warm, to put shoes on his feet, to help him, to equip him and help him lead the way back to a safe place. 00:27:32.640 --> 00:27:43.680 The reason why God put these men in the church for the perfecting of the word means complete furnishing of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. 00:27:43.839 --> 00:27:47.119 The word edifying means to build up and strengthen. 00:27:48.640 --> 00:27:52.160 If pastors don't do their jobs, their churches are weak. 00:27:52.559 --> 00:27:53.200 Amen? 00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:57.839 If preachers do not do a good job, their churches are weak. 00:27:58.319 --> 00:27:59.599 They are not strong. 00:27:59.839 --> 00:28:00.559 They are not. 00:28:00.720 --> 00:28:04.640 That is one of the reasons why I want to preach through the catechism of this series of questions and answers. 00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:10.079 So y'all folks not only know the answer, it's not that I want you to go out there and get in a debate with other people. 00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:11.839 I want you to know for you. 00:28:12.160 --> 00:28:17.599 I want you to know so that when your grandchildren, in a loving manner, say, Papa, what does that mean? 00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:20.400 You don't have to say, well, we'll have to go to church and hear it from the preacher. 00:28:20.559 --> 00:28:23.759 No, I want you to explain it to your grandchildren. 00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:28.160 Mother and father and local, I want you to explain it to your children. 00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:32.480 In the Bible, who are the primary disciplers of their home? 00:28:32.640 --> 00:28:33.920 Mother and father. 00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:38.480 Do you know whose ultimate responsibility it is for children to know the Word of God? 00:28:39.200 --> 00:28:40.319 Be taught the Word of God? 00:28:40.559 --> 00:28:41.200 Parents. 00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:46.319 Pastors just come alongside of that and help and equip the parents. 00:28:46.559 --> 00:28:47.440 You understand? 00:28:47.759 --> 00:28:55.119 Brother Sisters, it's and see this modern, again, let's talk about the modern church as a whole. 00:28:55.680 --> 00:28:58.480 Why do we have youth pastors in the church? 00:29:00.079 --> 00:29:03.519 Well, Brother Josh, I'm just not equipped in the Word of God. 00:29:03.599 --> 00:29:07.920 Therefore, I'm just going to drag my children to church and get the youth pastor and teach them everything they know. 00:29:08.160 --> 00:29:10.000 Nope, it's not how that works. 00:29:10.240 --> 00:29:11.680 You know what we're supposed to do? 00:29:11.920 --> 00:29:15.519 The whole family is supposed to come to church together. 00:29:15.759 --> 00:29:22.480 And mom and dad are supposed to learn the word of God along with the young people, however little or big they may be. 00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:37.279 Even when they do have questions, or even when they don't have questions, mom and dad are supposed to come alongside and teach and train their children in the word of the Lord every day, diligently, purposefully, intentionally, proactively. 00:29:37.359 --> 00:29:38.720 It is their job to do that. 00:29:38.880 --> 00:29:46.000 It is not the quote-unquote youth pastor job, which we don't even have in the old Baptist Church, because it's not found in the Bible. 00:29:47.440 --> 00:29:50.640 Well, Josh, y'all just old and inequality, that's why y'all don't have youth pastors. 00:29:50.799 --> 00:29:55.519 No! The reason why we don't have youth pastors is because God doesn't want youth pastors. 00:29:55.599 --> 00:29:58.960 And again, I'm not saying that those men aren't good men and they don't love the Lord. 00:29:59.039 --> 00:30:00.000 That's not what I'm saying. 00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:22.319 What I'm saying instead is that the model that the Bible sets is the pastor is supposed to come as an under-shepherd and teach the whole family, and then mom and dad are supposed to take that meat off of the table and then go disseminate that to the children and actively, purposefully, intentionally train their children up in the word of the Lord in the home. 00:30:22.880 --> 00:30:26.480 That is the very foundation of the church and society. 00:30:27.599 --> 00:30:30.559 And by the way, that's why our society's falling apart. 00:30:30.880 --> 00:30:36.960 Because we've outsourced that job to people that it was not ever their job to do that. 00:30:37.359 --> 00:30:38.079 Not their job. 00:30:38.160 --> 00:30:39.920 It's mom and dad's job. 00:30:40.640 --> 00:30:43.200 Now, what's pastor's job? 00:30:43.440 --> 00:30:54.720 The pastor's job is to edify the body of Christ, to build it up, to strengthen it, to bring you the clothes, the cover you up, to show you. 00:30:55.039 --> 00:31:10.720 Now, he says, for the the ministry's calling, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till or until we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man and of the measure of the statue of the fullness of Christ. 00:31:11.519 --> 00:31:16.799 When are we going to get to that fullness of our faith and the measure of the statue of the fullness of Christ when we go to heaven? 00:31:16.960 --> 00:31:21.279 So in other words, it doesn't matter if you're eight or eighty. 00:31:21.680 --> 00:31:24.400 A pastor is supposed to minister to you. 00:31:24.640 --> 00:31:33.039 If you're an eight-year-old in the church or an eighty-year-old in the church, the pastor's job is to feed you, feed the lambs, feed the sheep, you understand, right? 00:31:33.279 --> 00:31:36.480 To build the eight-year-old up and to build the eighty-year-old up. 00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:44.400 Until the eighty-year-old goes to be at home in heaven, and that's when they have reached the measure of the stature of fullness of Christ, when their sins are burnt away. 00:31:44.480 --> 00:31:48.160 I mean, literally, when they're where they're made like unto Christ and given a new body. 00:31:48.400 --> 00:31:50.880 That's when we're going to know fully as we're fully known. 00:31:51.039 --> 00:31:56.319 But until that time, it is my job as a pastor to feed y'all folks, right? 00:31:56.559 --> 00:31:58.000 Spiritual food. 00:31:58.319 --> 00:31:59.119 And you know what? 00:31:59.200 --> 00:32:02.640 There are a lot of Christians in America who are starving to death. 00:32:03.119 --> 00:32:05.519 They're starving to death of spiritual food. 00:32:05.680 --> 00:32:11.759 They have the appearance of religion and religiosity because their churches are busy and they're bustling. 00:32:12.079 --> 00:32:13.359 But where's the depth? 00:32:13.440 --> 00:32:14.160 Where's the meat? 00:32:14.240 --> 00:32:16.640 Where's the food that feeds the soul? 00:32:17.839 --> 00:32:24.799 There's so many churches that we're so busy with all the things, but yet we're starving to death. 00:32:25.759 --> 00:32:29.519 They're eating Twinkies. 00:32:29.759 --> 00:32:30.880 Oh, it tastes so good. 00:32:31.599 --> 00:32:34.960 They're not eating homegrown garden vegetables. 00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:38.240 The pasture killed meat. 00:32:39.119 --> 00:32:42.319 It actually feeds the body and strengthens it. 00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:47.200 Let's go on. 00:32:48.319 --> 00:32:52.240 This is the part that is exactly the same as Proverbs. 00:32:52.480 --> 00:32:53.599 Verse 14. 00:32:54.319 --> 00:33:02.559 And God did, you understand that God gave all these men to edify, to build up, to equip, to what end? 00:33:03.680 --> 00:33:16.559 Verse 14, that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the slight of men and the cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive. 00:33:16.799 --> 00:33:23.839 In other words, one of the first problems, what is the problem with predestination and election? 00:33:24.400 --> 00:33:31.759 Most Christians don't understand the doctrine because it hasn't been properly and widely taught from the pulpit. 00:33:31.920 --> 00:33:35.680 The problem is ignorance on the part of the church as a whole. 00:33:35.920 --> 00:33:44.960 Therefore, therefore, because people are ignorant, they are not, they're not strengthened. 00:33:45.039 --> 00:33:46.880 They're not grounded in the Word of God. 00:33:46.960 --> 00:33:52.720 And now instead, they're tossed to and fro like a ship that's ungrounded on the sea. 00:33:52.799 --> 00:33:54.160 It doesn't have an anchor down. 00:33:54.319 --> 00:33:56.880 It's just carried about with every wind of doctrine. 00:33:56.960 --> 00:34:00.559 It's tossed by the storm, every trend, every fad. 00:34:00.640 --> 00:34:01.440 Let's follow this. 00:34:01.519 --> 00:34:02.000 Let's do this. 00:34:02.160 --> 00:34:03.839 This is a modern thing. 00:34:06.880 --> 00:34:11.199 God doesn't want us to be children in the Word. 00:34:11.360 --> 00:34:14.559 He wants us to be, He wants us to grow up in knowledge. 00:34:17.599 --> 00:34:27.440 He doesn't want us to be tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the slight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie and wait to deceive. 00:34:27.599 --> 00:34:34.079 That's what happens when first pastors and second parents don't do their job. 00:34:34.320 --> 00:34:36.480 That's what happens to children. 00:34:36.639 --> 00:34:38.960 They get tossed about in the world. 00:34:39.119 --> 00:34:39.760 Amen? 00:34:40.239 --> 00:34:42.800 That is what causes that problem. 00:34:43.920 --> 00:34:44.239 Okay? 00:34:45.920 --> 00:34:48.239 So what are we supposed to do as ministers? 00:34:48.480 --> 00:34:49.440 And parents. 00:34:50.000 --> 00:34:58.159 But speaking the truth in love may grow up into him in all things which is the head, even Christ. 00:34:58.639 --> 00:35:05.039 It is my job to tell y'all folks the truth, but not do it like some self-righteous Pharisee. 00:35:05.280 --> 00:35:08.239 But to do it in love, because I want y'all to know the truth. 00:35:08.400 --> 00:35:10.159 I want you to be established in the truth. 00:35:10.320 --> 00:35:15.360 I don't want you to be naked and exposed, and I don't want your ship to be tossed to and fro on the sea. 00:35:15.519 --> 00:35:21.199 I want you to have knowledge and have a foundation and for you to go to be able to lead your own household. 00:35:21.440 --> 00:35:22.000 Amen? 00:35:22.239 --> 00:35:23.840 That's my job. 00:35:24.559 --> 00:35:26.880 And shame on me if I don't do it. 00:35:27.119 --> 00:35:30.000 And shame on you if you don't do it. 00:35:32.320 --> 00:35:33.840 That's enough shaming. 00:35:35.360 --> 00:35:36.800 Second question. 00:35:37.280 --> 00:35:43.760 So y'all can see that this is one of the things that I believe is the reason. 00:35:44.079 --> 00:35:47.039 In other words, what is wrong with predestination election? 00:35:47.280 --> 00:35:48.719 Absolutely nothing. 00:35:49.039 --> 00:35:54.239 It's one of the most glorious and beautiful doctrines in all the Bible and the very foundation of the gospel. 00:35:54.400 --> 00:35:59.920 Well, what is wrong with predestination election from the standpoint of somebody who doesn't believe in it? 00:36:00.239 --> 00:36:02.960 What is wrong about it is they are ignorant of it. 00:36:03.119 --> 00:36:05.519 They do not understand it. 00:36:06.239 --> 00:36:09.119 And they haven't been properly taught about it. 00:36:09.280 --> 00:36:10.639 Therefore, they're afraid of it. 00:36:10.800 --> 00:36:11.599 They don't understand it. 00:36:11.760 --> 00:36:13.039