God Does Not Force

 God does not want robots. 

If there is an all-knowing, omnipotent God, then there is no free will. He knows who will serve Him and who will not. What is the point? There is, in and of itself, a problem for some. The concept of a Creator who holds ultimate power but chooses to restrain that power to allow for genuine love and free will is one of the most beautiful aspects of the Christian faith.

This is what we will discuss today. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we come before you today in praise and thanksgiving. We thank you, Father, for allowing us to be adopted into your family rather than being forced to be slaves serving you. As we enter your Word, we pray for eyes to see, ears to hear, and the ability to receive and understand your Word and your love. In Jesus' name we ask and pray. Amen!

Here is the main thing. True love requires a choice. If God forced us to serve Him, we would be programmed, not partners. Love forced is not love at all; it’s coercion. From the very beginning, God placed a tree in the garden. The presence of the tree wasn't a trap; it was the presence of a choice. Without the ability to say "no," saying "yes" has no moral or relational value.

Then God gave man a choice. To be obedient, or not to. 

“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Genesis 2:16-17

Now I want you to see two things. One, God gives man a choice. Obey or not. Live or die. Two, notice this also. Eve was not there yet. Do you see that? This is also man’s first opportunity to lead in a Godly direction. 

Sounds a bit like this, does it not? 

“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess.

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.” Deuteronomy 30:15-20

God desires a relationship, not mere obedience. Robots can obey; only free-willed beings can love. Do you want more examples? Here are a few more powerful passages that highlight God’s invitation versus coercion.

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." Revelation 3:20

Jesus knocks; He doesn't kick the door down. He waits for an invitation.

"And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15

Joshua echoes God's heart here. The choice is laid out clearly, but the decision is left to the people. Also here. Remember when Jesus was heartbroken? 

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!" Matthew 23:37

This shows the heartbreak of God. He has the power to force them, but He respects their will, even when it grieves Him. Imagine a man who wants to marry a woman. Instead of asking her, he uses a chemical to brainwash her into saying yes. Is that a marriage? Does he actually have her love? No. God wants a bride, not a hostage. 

We are going into this detail for a reason. Hang in there. Remember the prodigal Father. No, not the son, although if not for the son, we would not know about the Father. When the prodigal son wanted to leave, the father didn't lock him in his room. Deny his inheritance. No. He gave it to him. He let him go. He watched him walk away with a broken heart. Then, he waited patiently for the son to choose to come home on his own. Luke 15

Knowing this. Should it not change how you live? Not only on Sunday morning, but on Monday? Everyday? See, we can rest knowing that God genuinely wants us. We aren't draft picks who were forced into His army; we are chosen, and we chose Him back.

Now we talked about this aspect before. If God doesn’t force people, we shouldn't either. Our job is to invite, love, and reflect Christ. Not to manipulate or coerce others into faith. Sharing the Truth with others is our obligation; however, their acceptance is not our responsibility. No matter how much you may want someone you love to follow Christ and be saved, it is up to them to do it. To accept and live, or reject and die.  

Now I know, I understand, some disagree with this. Often called "double predestination" or strict Calvinism, they argue that if God is completely sovereign, He must choose every individual outcome, leaving human free will as an illusion. However, this creates a massive theological crisis when it comes to the character of God. 

If Sue goes to hell simply because God skipped over her, it makes salvation an arbitrary lottery and turns God's unconditional love into something highly conditional. If God chooses Sue and forces her to love Him without her consent, it completely redefines the biblical definition of love.

If Sue has absolutely no choice in the matter, how can she be held morally responsible for rejecting God? You cannot justly punish someone for failing to do something they were physically and spiritually incapable of doing. Right? 

Scripture repeatedly commands humans to "repent," "believe," and "choose." If we have no choice, those commands are empty theater. God wouldn't command us to do something we are utterly incapable of doing just to mock our inability.

The argument for absolute predestination usually hinges on verses that say we are "chosen" or "elect." But a closer look at the context of those words often reveals a different meaning. In the ancient world, "choosing" was often corporate, not just individual. God chose the Nation of Israel to be His vehicle for blessing the world. He chose the Church, or the body of believers, to be His bride. Anyone who chooses to enter Christ becomes part of that "chosen" group. Think of it like a cruise ship: God chose the ship and its destination, but individuals still choose to step on board.

In the New Testament, when God "chooses" an individual, it is almost always for a specific task or ministry, not just a ticket to heaven. He chose Paul to carry the gospel to the Gentiles, but Paul still wrote about the necessity of running the race so that he himself wouldn't be disqualified, 1 Corinthians 9:27.

Whenever someone argues this with me, I always have to ask, then what does the word 'whoever' mean? Whoever, whosoever, all, everyone- what do these words mean? These are all part of the universal invitations of the Bible. The Greek word pas ("whosoever" or "everyone") is used intentionally to show that the door is open to all.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

If salvation were restricted to a pre-selected few, it would say "that the elect believe in him." 

“This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:3-4

If God wants all people saved, but only some are, and He is the only one who has a say, then God's own will is being thwarted by Himself. That makes no sense. Remember,

"The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." 2 Peter 3:9

God is all-powerful. He could force Sue to love Him. He could drag everyone into heaven or push them into hell like chess pieces. But supreme power doesn't mean supreme control. True sovereignty means God is so powerful that He can create a universe with free-willed creatures, allow them to genuinely choose or reject Him, and still ensure His ultimate plans are accomplished. He doesn't need to manipulate Sue to be God’s. He wants her heart, and hearts cannot be forced.

If God doesn't force anyone, then the ball is entirely in our court. That changes everything about how we view our relationship with Him. If salvation isn't a cosmic lottery, if God isn't pulling strings to force some in and lock others out, then that means something incredibly beautiful, but also incredibly urgent for every single one of us here today. It means God is looking at you right now, holding out His hands, and waiting for your reply.

Many people live their lives waiting for God to hit them over the head with a lightning bolt or force them into obedience. They say, "Well, if God wants me to stop this habit, He'll take away the desire," or "If God wants me to serve, He'll make it happen." Sorry, that is an excuse—a copout. God is a gentleman. He won't drag anyone into modern discipleship. If they want a deeper relationship with Him, they have to choose to wake up and pursue it actively.

When people believe God forces or coerces us, Christianity becomes a religion of checklist obligation, of doing things just so we don't get punished. Because God invites rather than forces, our service to Him shouldn't come from fear or guilt. It should come from gratitude. We serve Him not because we have to, but because we want to. It turns "I have to go to church/pray/give" into "I get to."

This is a massive point for how we live on Monday. If the Almighty Creator of the universe refuses to force people to align with Him, we have no right to force, manipulate, or badger people into alignment with us. This changes, or should change,  how we parent, how we treat our spouses, and how we share our faith with neighbors. We stop using guilt, anger, or coercion to get our way. Instead, we learn the patient, long-suffering art of loving invitation. Just like God does.

God’s love is vulnerable. By giving us a choice, He gave us the power to break His heart. And yet, Jesus still chooses to stand at the door and knock. Today, the door doesn't need to be kicked down from the outside. It just needs to be opened from the inside. Are you getting up? Are you ready to open it? He is patient. However, there will come a time when it is too late. 

This is what we will be discussing next time. 

  

Remember, you can always check out the vast archive here at TAG

The email, if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Spirit and the peace of our Lord Jesus be with you all. May God bless and be with you always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

2 Peter 2

 Chapter 2

1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.

12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the daytime. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;

14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

22 But it has happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Unlimited Atonement

Free Will Series.

What is  "Unlimited Atonement?” It is the view that Christ died for everyone, everywhere, even if not all choose to accept that gift. At its core, Unlimited Atonement (sometimes called general or universal atonement) is the understanding that Jesus Christ's death on the cross was sufficient, intended, and offered for every single person who has ever lived.

Let’s talk about it. Let us pray. Father, we come before you with thanksgiving and praise, and we thank you for all we have, had, and ever will have. We gather today to learn about your Unlimited Atonement and how it fits with our free will. We pray, Father, for eyes to see, ears to hear, and a spirit to receive and understand your Truth and Revelation. We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen!

To break it down clearly. The scope is Universal. Christ paid the penalty for the sins of the entire world, not just a select group. While Christ provided salvation for everyone, that salvation is only applied to those who believe. It doesn't mean everyone is automatically saved (which would be universalism); rather, it means the door is genuinely open to all.

“He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”  1 John 2:2

I want you to picture an open door. Look at that door. Look around the door. Do you see anything saying VIP only? No. Do you see Muslims, Jews, or Christians only? No. What do you see? An open door. 

The cross of Jesus Christ wasn't a limited-capacity rescue mission. It was God throwing the doors of heaven wide open to the whole world.

Before we can understand the scope of the cross, we have to look at the heart of the One who planned it. The atonement is unlimited because God’s love and desire for a relationship are unlimited. God does not take pleasure in anyone's loss; His baseline desire is rescue.

“This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:3–4

God desires all people to be saved. Say “all,” and 2 Peter 3:9: He is patient, not wishing that any should perish.

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

If God’s revealed desire is for all to come to repentance, then the provision He made on the cross must match that desire. An unlimited invitation requires an unlimited provision. It must be sufficient for all. 

Let's move from God's character to Jesus's action. What actually happened on the cross? Jesus didn’t just pay for a specific subset of human sins. The weight of the world's brokenness was placed on Him. This is John the Baptist.

“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!“ John 1:29. 

Also in Isaiah 53:6 

“All we like sheep have gone astray; 

We have turned--everyone--to his own way; 

and the LORD has laid on him 

the iniquity of us all.”

Sufficiency vs. efficiency. The sacrifice is sufficient for all, but efficient (effective) only for those who believe. A check has been written for the whole world, but a check must be cashed to benefit the recipient.

Remember, "whosoever will.” Because God’s heart is for all, and Christ's death paid for all, the preaching of the Gospel can be offered to anyone with absolute honesty. No caveats in the offer: When we tell someone "Jesus died for you," we don't have to wonder if it's legally true for them. It is.

Of course, we have John 3:16-18 

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

And Revelation 22:17

“The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.”

This is why Jesus gave us the Great Commission. 

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Because the atonement is unlimited, our mandate to preach is unrestricted. Every person your congregation meets is someone Jesus explicitly died for. 

“For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" Romans 10:13-15

 We serve a God whose love is boundless, who paid a flawless price, offering a timeless invitation. Sadly, an unlimited gift still requires acceptance. The tragedy of a lost life isn't that a payment wasn't made; it's that the payment was refused. Look here.

“When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, 'Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!’ 

 But he said to him, "A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. And at the time for the banquet, he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.' But they all began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please excuse me.' And another said, 'I have bought five yokes of oxen, and I am going to examine them. Please excuse me.' And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' 

So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.' And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.' And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.'" Luke 14:15-24

I understand that this can be a hard lesson. Some become offended by it. However, it does not change the reality. The Banquet is the marriage of the Lamb, the gift of Salvation. The “invited guests” are the Jews. The Jewish people. Those who refused, you guessed it, the Jewish People. Those in the “highways, byways, the poor and crippled, and blind and lame.” Well, they are us. Me, you, them, everyone. 

“He came unto his own, and his own received him not.  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:11-14

As you know, 

“For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.“ Galatians 3:27-29

Look at where we stand today. Look at the sheer beauty of what Christ accomplished. You never have to look at your neighbor, your coworker, or even your enemy and wonder, "Did Jesus die for them?" He did. We have been sent out into the highways and hedges to compel people to come in. There is still room at the table!

The check has been signed in the blood of Christ. But a check left on the counter doesn't pay the bills. It has to be accepted. An unlimited gift still requires a personal choice.

And that brings us to a crucial, sobering reality. God threw the door wide open. He paid for the lock to be broken. He handles the hinges, and He stands on the other side with open arms. But God will not drag anyone through it. He respects human choice too much for that.

Today, we see the glorious side of the coin: God’s provision is grand enough for every single soul. However, we have to look squarely at the other side of that coin, the heavy responsibility that comes with our ability to choose. God does not force.

Consider the immense significance of it all. Love, by its very nature, cannot be forced. A love that is coerced isn’t love at all; it’s more like conscription. God is a Father seeking a family, not a dictator demanding obedience from puppets. When He granted humanity free will, He bestowed upon us something incredibly precious yet daunting. He gave us the ability to say "Yes" to Him, which also meant that He had to allow us the ability to say "No."

Next time, we are going to unpack exactly what that means. We're going to look at how real free will works, why it matters so deeply to God, and the tragic reality of what happens when a human heart stubbornly uses its free will to walk away from a banquet that has already been fully paid for.

But today, as we close, the door is open. The invitation is without price, but it demands a choice.  Let us stop making excuses. If you haven't walked through that door, choose Christ today. And if you have, let’s get out into the highways and byways to bring others to His table.

Remember, you can find a vast archive at TAG

The email is, as always, truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the Lord our God go before you as your way maker, as well as behind you as your rear guard, and may He be with you, always. 

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

2 Peter 1

 Chapter 1

2 Peter 1

1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

13 Yea, I think it meets, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;

14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.

15 Moreover, I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Mercy of God

 Mercy of God

In the Bible, the mercy of God is one of the most prominent and defining aspects of His character. Rather than being a passive feeling, biblical mercy is deeply tied to action, covenant loyalty, and forgiveness.

To understand how the Bible describes God's mercy, it is helpful to look at the specific original languages used, as well as the recurring imagery throughout the Old and New Testaments. The biblical definition of mercy is best understood through the specific terms the original writers used: Hanan (Hebrew): This root word conveys a heartfelt response of compassion. It implies a superior showing favor, kindness, or pity to an inferior who has no inherent claim to it.

Hesed (Hebrew): Often translated as "mercy," "steadfast love," or "lovingkindness," hesed is a foundational Old Testament concept. It refers to God’s unwavering, loyal, covenant-keeping love for His people, even when they fail Him.

Eleos (Greek): In the New Testament, this word describes a deep pity or compassion that manifests in outward action, specifically, relieving the misery of someone in a wretched or helpless state.

Rachamim (Hebrew) / Splanchnizomai (Greek): These words literally refer to the "bowels" or "womb." It represents a visceral, deeply felt emotional response of compassion, akin to a mother’s protective love for her child.

The foundational Old Testament definition of God's mercy is repeated like a creed across multiple books (including Exodus, Numbers, Psalms, Joel, and Jonah): "The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love (hesed) and faithfulness..."  Exodus 34:6.  Key characteristics highlighted in the Old Testament include: relentless and untiring. Lamentations 3:22–23 notes that His mercies "never come to an end; they are new every morning." 

This is where “It’s a new day, new chance” comes from. 

Psalm 103 describes God's mercy as being as high as the heavens are above the earth, explicitly noting that because of His mercy, He "does not deal with us according to our sins."

The cover of the Ark of the Covenant was known as the Mercy Seat ( kapporeth). This was the specific place where sacrificial blood was sprinkled to make atonement, symbolizing that God's presence meets humanity through the filter of mercy.

Paul describes God as being uniquely "rich in mercy." 

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- and raised us with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:4

The New Testament emphasizes that salvation is entirely independent of human merit. As Titus 3:4-7 states,

“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” 

"He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy." Because of Christ, the author of Hebrews encourages believers to "with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." 

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. “ Hebrews 4:16

Ultimately, the Bible describes God’s mercy not as a suspension of justice, but as a deliberate choice to withhold the punishment an individual deserves, while providing the grace and restoration they could never earn. It is portrayed as parental, enduring, and actively seeking out the broken.

Did you know that the text that the rest of the entire Bible quotes more than any other when describing who God is is Exodus 34:6–7?

“The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation."

What makes this the "best" biblical description is its context. Moses is on Mount Sinai right after the golden calf disaster. Israel has just broken the brand-new covenant before the ink is even dry. Moses asks to see God’s glory, and instead of a blinding flash of light, God describes His character.

It is the first time in Scripture where God systematically defines Himself. If you break down the original Hebrew text, you get a beautiful, natural outline of His nature. God uses specific words that paint a vivid, multi-dimensional picture of mercy:

Rachum (רַחוּם) – "Merciful" or "Compassionate." This word shares its root directly with the Hebrew word for "womb" (rechem). It describes a visceral, maternal instinct to protect and care for a vulnerable child. When God says He is rachum, He is saying His mercy isn't just a legal decision; it's a deep, emotional, protective love for His people when they are at their weakest.

Chanun (חַנּוּן) – "Gracious." This describes a ruler who leans down to show favor to someone who has absolutely no right to claim it. It is entirely unearned, unconditional favor. 

Erek Apayim (אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם) – "Slow to Anger" or "Long-suffering." The literal Hebrew idiom here is fascinating: it means "long of nose." In the ancient Near East, a person’s anger was described by their nostrils flaring or heating up. God is saying, "It takes a very long time for My nose to get hot." He breathes through His nose, takes a long pause, and gives people space to repent. He is patient.

Rav Chesed (וְרַב־חֶסֶד) – "Abounding in Covenant Love." Chesed is one of the most important words in the Old Testament. It doesn't just mean "goodness"—it means loyal, stubborn, covenant-keeping love. It is the love that refuses to give up on someone, even when they fail. And God doesn't just have a little bit of it; He is rav (abounding, overflowing) in it.

Noseh Avon va-Peshah va-Chata'ah (נֹשֵׂא עָוֺן וָפֶשַׁע וְחַטָּאָה) – "Forgiving three layers of rebellion." God uses three distinct Hebrew words for human failure here to show that His mercy covers every single type of sin: Iniquity (Avon): Twisted, crooked behavior or crooked thinking. Transgression (Peshah): Intentional, willful betrayal and breaking of trust. Sin (Chata'ah): Missing the mark, failing, or wandering off the path. God states that He noseh them—which literally means "to lift and carry away." He bears the weight of the sin, so the people don't have to.

It does not matter what you did, what you do, or even what you may do. The Mercy of God is greater than any sin. Big or small. White or horrendous. From the sins of Saul to the grace of Paul, you are in good hands if you are covered in God’s Mercy. Is there such a thing as Unlimited Atonement? Absolutely. This is what we will be discussing next time. 

Remember, you can always check out the vast archive here at TAG

The email, if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Spirit and the peace of our Lord Jesus be with you all. May God bless and be with you always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

1 Peter 5

 Chapter 5

Shepherd the Flock of God

1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. 13 She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son. 14 Greet one another with the kiss of love.

Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

Total Depravity

 Free will series.  

To be clear on definitions, theologians who use this term (most notably in Reformed theology or Calvinism) don't mean that humans are as absolutely evil as they could be in every action. Instead, they mean that every part of human nature, the mind, the will, the emotions, and the flesh, has been corrupted by sin. The core idea is that apart from God, a person is spiritually dead and entirely incapable of choosing or pleasing God on their own. So, how can free will exist then? This is what we are discussing today. Let us pray. 

Heavenly Father, we come before you today, gathered in your name, to learn your Truths and revelations. As we dive into your Word, we pray for eyes to see, ears to hear, and a spirit to receive your wisdom and knowledge for what you want us to understand. Show us, Father, how even though we are totally depraved, you still love us, guide us, and allow us to be washed clean by the blood of your Son. We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen!

What does it mean that we are “totally depraved?” 

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” Ephesians 2:1-3

This is often considered the definitive passage on the state of humanity without divine intervention. Paul describes the natural human condition before being made alive by Christ. The keyword here is "dead." A physically dead person cannot reach out, call for help, or choose to breathe. Therefore, a spiritually dead person has zero capacity to seek or choose God until God acts first to make them alive.

“What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God.  All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." Romans 3:10–12

In this passage, Paul strings together several Old Testament quotes (primarily from the Psalms) to create an absolute, all-inclusive declaration about human nature apart from grace. This explicitly denies that humans possess a natural spark of goodness that seeks out the divine. Left to our own devices, the text argues, human orientation is universally away from God.

In the world, we are often told, by some people who truly mean well, that we should just follow our hearts. That is one of the worst things you could ever do. Why? The Old Testament frequently addresses the internal condition of human desires and motivation, most famously in this verse from Jeremiah.

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? "The LORD searches the heart and tests the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds." Jeremiah 17-9-10

Human brokenness isn't just a matter of bad external behavior; it is an internal sickness of the heart itself. Because the "generator" of human desires is corrupted, a person cannot naturally produce holy or God-pleasing choices.

Look at Romans 8:5-8 

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” 

Also, here in 1 Corinthians 2:14

“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”

These focus on the human intellect and will, arguing that without the Holy Spirit, the human mind is fundamentally incapable of aligning with God.

Note the words "it cannot" and "he is not able." This goes beyond a person choosing not to follow God; it claims a fundamental, systemic inability to do so. I can hear a friend of mine yelling out, “SEE. No free will. What you are teaching does not exist.”

He believes in Total Depravity based on these verses, and he will argue that because humans are spiritually "dead" and "cannot please God," free will is useless. God must choose them and activate them, or they will stay dead.

Others and I, who emphasize human responsibility, argue that while humanity is indeed deeply broken and crippled by sin, God's "prevenient Grace" reaches out to everyone, temporarily overriding that spiritual death just enough to give them the ability to freely choose or reject Him.

This perspective agrees that humanity is genuinely crippled by sin, spiritually dead, and unable to seek God by its own natural power. However, God does not leave humanity entirely in that helpless state.

Through prevenient grace, or a divine grace that goes before and prepares the heart, God partially restores human free will and lifts the deadening effects of sin just enough for a person to respond. The command to "choose life" is a genuine invitation made possible because God has already initiated contact, shining light into the darkness and enabling a real, accountable choice. In short, the inability is real by nature, but overcome by grace, making the choice genuinely possible for anyone.

When Paul uses phrases like "none seeks for God" in Romans 3, quoting the Psalms, he is constructing a legal argument to show that neither Jew nor Gentile can claim righteousness based on their own merit or law-keeping. From this perspective, the "deadness" and "not seeking" describe the universal human condition apart from a covenant relationship with God. The commands to choose life are the ongoing, relational expressions of God's desire for His people. A standard that highlights human accountability regardless of our moral weakness.

The reason I believe in free will is simple. Two main reasons. If we did not have free will, then what would be the point of any of it? Adam and Eve could never have sinned. Jesus would not have had to come and die for us. Passages like this, 

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.“ John 3 16-18

All the whoevers, any, ifs, and the like are pointless. If we cannot choose, then why would we have a choice? If we do not have a choice, the Ten Commandments are mute. We would never break them. If we do not have a choice, we would not be called, but commanded to do whatever God says. God is not a liar. If He tells us to choose, yet we have no choice, then He is lying. 

The next reason is sad to even imagine. If God does choose some from the dawn of time to be saved, then for whatever reason, He chooses not to choose millions of others, then would that not mean that God created millions of people to just simply live here, and then suffer forever? With no chance of salvation? No matter what? 

Now I understand that our little finite minds cannot possibly grasp the concept of God and His ways; however, I feel we learn enough in His Word to say, " This does not sound like the God of the Bible.” 

 We have all fallen from grace. We have all sinned against God. Why? Because we do have free will, and we do love the things of the flesh. This alone proves we have free will. But let's get into this more deeply next time. 

Thankfully, no matter what, God’s mercy and grace are there for us, so we may indeed choose Him when we hear the truth. Through His grace and mercy, we can hear, accept, and allow the truth to set us free. 

Remember, you can always find this, and so much more, in the archives, over at TAG

The email, if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the Lord our God go before you as your way maker, as well as behind you as your rear guard, and may He be with you, always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!