Sir;

Isa 1:17-18 and Rev 3:20 … talk about salvation. My question is, if salvation is a done deal, why the invitation to reason, and also [ why is] Jesus knocking at the door (of peoples’ hearts)? Could you please comment on these two scripture verses?

Thank you,
L____

Hi L___,

The question you are struggling with is the same one I struggled with. Why, if God is all knowing, does He tell us not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, while in reality He knows we will eat of that tree and has already prepared the Lambnslain from the foundation of the world; Rev 13:8. Why does He say Come let us reason together, when in reality,…

Pro 21:1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, [ as] the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will…

… and…

Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw [ Gk. – drag] him?

The answer is that while God is all knowing [(Isa 46:10) Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure…] WE DO NOT KNOW EVEN WHAT TOMORROW WILL BRING FORTH! Consequently, we must make daily decisions AS IF we, ourselves, were making those decisions, when all the while, the Truth is: it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure (Php 2:13). So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy (Rom 9:16).

It is an amazing Truth that the word ‘responsibility’ is nowhere to be found in the scriptures! The reason is The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil (Pro 16:4). 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 (Isa 45:6-7).

Is this also true of those he asks to “Come and let us reason together?” Is it true for those of whom He says: Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me (Rev 3:20)? Here is your answer:

Joh 6:44) No man can come to [ sup with] me, except the Father which hath sent me draw [ drag] him.
Eph 1:11 [ He] worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

So while the word ‘responsibility’ is nowhere mentioned in scripture, the word ‘account’ is everywhere mentioned; (Rom 14:12) So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God… (Rom 2:6) … Who will render to every man according to his deeds.

If you haven’t already, be sure to read Strong Delusion and Biblical Examples of Rightly Dividing The Word on www. iswasandwillbe. com. Those two papers will help you to keep God’s Word foremost in your mind as you make all those decisions that God, but not you, already knows you will make.

I hope this has been of help.

Mike >