TO: R. C. Sproul
FROM: Brother Caleb (of) Yahwehshammah
DATE: August 10, 2003
SUBJECT: All Christians of the Apostate Church believe in Predestination

Dear one in Christ,

Greetings in Jesus precious name! This letter dovetails my previous fax dated July 30, 2003 on the subject of "The Glory of God through man".

The root question to be answered is, "Is God good, all the time or not?" Half our problemS will be solved when we answer this. For then there will be integrity in our leadership.

You say one has received justice and another mercy. But tell me, will God under the same circumstances for very similar people, grant mercy to one and justice to another?

The verse, "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy," does not mean that God is arbitrary in His mercy. The Father does not draw us arbitrarily. Then He would no longer be trustworthy and good. The verse should be read along side the verse, "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways" (Isaiah 55:8). That is, His viewpoint is different from that of ours. When we understand the qualities of God, we will know that His choices are good even though we do not fully understand His reasons.

For instance God knew that if Paul were given the truth, he would exercise all that much more zeal for the kingdom to compensate for the negative zeal he had. Paul too admits that he is untimely (abnormally) born-again (1 Cor. 15:8).

You made another statement, "if mercy is given because of one's works/goodness, it is not mercy anymore." But the Word of God says belief too is a "work" (John 6:29). Indeed the one good deed that opens the gates of heaven is, to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. God demonstrated His grace (undeserved favor) by providing an opportunity for everyone in world by giving away His one and only Son. But we on our part should exercise the work of belief to appropriate this grace! When Paul says, "we are dead in our trespasses" he is only alluding to John 3:18, where Jesus says that we are judged already.

The only explanation to Romans 9:11 is God knew the heart of Jacob and foreknew that he would respond to His love and rebuke and become Israel. This speaks of God's sovereignty and efficacy. God also knew how Esau would not only loose faith in the God of His father Isaac but also become conceited enough to think it would be impossible to loose his birthright especially not over a lentil stew.

In this context, it is worth looking into Luke 1:47,48 and apply it to our lives. God had regard for Mary's humble state and showed favor to her and she did believe in God her Savior. There are millions of people like Mary and Lazarus, the beggar. God wants us to extend the same kind of grace to these people as He extended to us. (Am i going off on a tangent now? No, i am not!) God not only has regard for people in humble states but also for people who are benevolent. The prayers and deeds of charity of Cornelius had ascended as a MEMORIAL before God. God is not partial, "but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him" (Acts 10:34,35 NASB). Note the dynamics. So today, true Christians should not talk about Predestination but love one another. Ephesians 1 speaks of corporate predestination in Him, not individual.

1 Corinthians 7:14; Romans 2:12-16

I will not leave you until you bless me.
Thus says the LORD: Haggai 1:2-4; Acts 2:15