Pastor Mac that was absolutely fantastic, truly Holy Spirit lead and a very important message. These issues are a plague to the church. I would love to live in Hawaii to be able to hear you and Pastor JD each week in person but I am at least blessed by being able to watch online. Thank you.
I always watch your incredible presentations, please keep going strong with the power of the holy spirit which the Living God has given to you. Thank you Pastor Mac . Much blessings from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Wow! What a sermon thank you Holly Spirit and thank you brother for obeying the Holy Spirit. . .! Thank you Jesus for your Word which will not fail. . .!
Amen, we serve an AWESOME Sovereign God who not only knows, but told us the end from the beginning. Of course man has free will or else we would be only robots unable to make any choices for ourselves. As Jesus said I offer you life and death: choose life. Another powerful teaching pastor Mac, may God keep you strong and bless you greatly Brother
Yes we do serve an Awesome sovereign God and I love Him more each day. I am overwhelmed with happiness to think He gave me the free will to serve Him. He took me from bondage to freedom in His truth. Pastor Mac is such a good teacher. What a blessing he is. His last teaching on racism was so good and funny too. I'm glad he fills in when JD is gone
Pastor Mack, your beautiful, clear, dynamic and original scripture explanations complement J.D.s occasional pulpit absences .... Thanks, for building on this ministry when the need arises ...... You're a gift to all of us!
I love this Ministry and Pastor Mac your teaching is one of the best and filled with the Holy Spirit. I like how you teach the topics you teach on. They're exactly what we need to hear as followers of Christ. God bless. 🙏🙏
Thank you for this offering, I will have to concentrate on it at least once more because it is not sinking in and I know it is a word I need to hear. It is in fact the teaching I have been wanting . It is the question of the flesh and mind being the door Satan can enter and is not protected by the Holy Spirit I am struggling with, filling myself with the Word to close this door is the struggle. I continue to pray for enlightenment and will listen to this again . God Bless your ministry Pray for me
Pastor Mac...great teaching..I've had debates on this very subject lately...you explained free will...and God's sovrienty...way better than i could...I'll be better prepared next time...thanks and God bless.
Thanks for addressing this issue, Pastor Mac. As you mentioned, there is no way to adequately plumb the depths of this centuries-old debate within an hour. I was forced to study the arguments and fortify my belief system after learning that my pastor was a 5-point Calvinist and was beginning to force-feed that philosophy upon the congregation. After discussions with the pastor and elders, my wife and I were forced to withdraw our church membership since we stood in opposition to the church's Statement of Faith, which covertly included the 5 tenets of Calvinism. Some of the resources that truly blessed my time of study include the following: soteriology101.com (former Calvinist pastor who now has a podcast to warn people of the dangers of Calvinism) Soteriology 101 RUclips Channel (Here's a wonderful episode that included Calvary Chapel Pastor Mike Winger: ruclips.net/video/sRPGz7oKhc8/видео.html) Dr. David Allen's excellent book "The Extent of the Atonement" www.amazon.com/Extent-Atonement-Historical-Critical-Review/dp/1433643928 George Bryson (Calvary Chapel pastor): The Dark Side of Calvinism www.calvarychapeltheology.com/the_dark_side_of_calvinism_preface_second_edition.html Others who have given messages on RUclips include the following (simply search using the word "Calvinism" followed by their name): Earl Radmacher, Adrian Rogers, John Lennox, Bob Wilkin, Greg Laurie, David Guzik, Mike Winger, among many others. Finally, many people do not realize that there is a 3rd position, apart from Calvinism and Arminianism, that many people have embraced that is balanced and Biblical regarding soteriology. It's referred to as "Traditionalism" or "Provisionism". You can see how this view compares to Calvinism here: connect316.net/theological-positions/ “God sovereignly decreed that man should be free to exercise moral choice, and man from the beginning has fulfilled that decree by making his choice between good and evil. When he chooses to do evil, he does not thereby countervail the sovereign will of God but fulfills it, inasmuch as the eternal decree decided not which choice the man should make but that he should be free to make it. If in His absolute freedom God has willed to give man limited freedom, who is there to stay His hand or say, 'What doest thou?' Man’s will is free because God is sovereign. A God less than sovereign could not bestow moral freedom upon His creatures. He would be afraid to do so.” ― A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy
Hello. I would highly suggest you read the ebook on Kindle- entitled: Freewill vs. Ownership by Stephen E. Jones who reveals this subject /explains Biblically from a different perspective re:this controversial topic. Mahalo.
Humanity has free will because GOD gifted us with it. He knew us before the first day. He knew what choices each and every one of us would make with free will, and what would occur. He understands cause and effect far greater than anyone. After all He created cause and effect. Knowing what choices we would make through His work of free will in us shows the truth of election. The inverse is therefore true, that all who choose to reject Messiah do so from the work of GOD by the free will that they have been gifted. They are therefore guilty by choice in their rejection, and GOD knew them before the first day as well. Does this excuse us in our evil? No, for we have still made that choice on our own by the gift of free will. There are no excuses, there are no free passes, there is no blame towards GOD that is just. Simply stated; GOD knows what we will do before we do it. We do not. We must choose. It is therefore just to say election and free will go hand in hand. The main argument between Calvinism and Arminianism is moot, for they are not in opposition, but are complimentary to each other. The other arguments are simply mankind's desire to confirm he is right and the other is wrong, and have done nothing but show the empty sum of the argument in total. It is the boasting of man through both beliefs to attempt to explain all things. Trust GOD, read the word, pray for understanding. This is all we can do, as we will never answer all things until the great hope is upon us. May GOD continue to bless and keep Pastor Mac and Kaneohe Calvary Chapel. Love and prayers to you all.
God is sovereign over all things. He will do all His good pleasure. Who are we to say He is not in complete control of EVERYTHING?! Therefore if He wants to give us free will, who can tell Him otherwise? I got 2 passages to show this...Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? Romans 9:21 NKJV But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. II Timothy 2:20-21 NKJV OK now I'll watch and see if I am right. If not I'm sure pastor Mac will put me in my place.
Here's a good response to the Calvinist definition of "sovereignty": ruclips.net/video/T8sJMenYqls/видео.html The Biblical definition of sovereignty = "in control"... not "controlling everything". Is a Sovereign God unable to enable man to have free will? Must He "play both sides of the chessboard?" The non-deterministic view has a higher view of God because He enables man to have libertarian free will, yet is still able to accomplish His plans and purposes for His glory.
Rosh Hashana" rapture? Rosh hashanah ( head of the year, Babylonian) which Christians call the "feast of trumpets", it seems should be named and translated Yom Teruah meaning day of shouting to JEHOVAH in Lev. 23:23, Num 29:1 This is explained by Nehemia Gordon. According to the Bible it has nothing to do with trumpets(shofar). Israel today dictates that this is to start the new year but the new year according to God starts in Nisan. If this day is not for a new year, what is it for? The Jews celebrate the "feast of trumpets" 14 days later but this is not in the Bible. Clarence Larkin also explains that the 4months that separate the first three festivals relating to the church from the last four festivals of Israel represents the dispensation church period/grace which is terminated by Yom Teruah. Hebrew year 5666=1906 + 120 = 5786=1926, redemption at Megiddo?
We have the ability to choose, bit saying it is not constrained is a lie. We didn't choose our sin nature our parents what circumstances were in. We can choose but is not free it is caused by outside influences.
Here's a good response to the Calvinist definition of "sovereignty": ruclips.net/video/T8sJMenYqls/видео.html The Biblical definition of sovereignty = "in control"... not, "controlling everything". Is a Sovereign God unable to enable man to have free will? Must He "play both sides of the chessboard?" The non-deterministic view has a higher view of God because He enables man to have libertarian free will, yet is still able to accomplish His plans and purposes for His glory.
Thanks this is a good talk but I do not agree with OSAS. The Bible is constantly talking about righteousness being God's commandment and it does not matter if you believe in God or not, if you are not sufficiently righteous I do not believe you are worthy to be a saint and or saved. Obedience is not works and God will judge who is sufficiently obedient. God knows everyone's heart and will render to each person according to his works/ways/values and he is a righteous witness and a just judge. Whether someone is saved or was saved and lost their salvation is entirely up to God and we cannot say one way or the other. The word saved not mean sanctified/ to be made a saint. It seems to me these are two separate matters. We know that in the future there will be Gentiles on earth so these may be people who were not wicked nor were they worthy to be saints. God's sovereignty vs man's free will is a mystery. That God knows all we will do before we do it is a mystery. Man, the establishment, the world, the devil are obsessed with knowing how things work but we know little about how anything work!
Faith without works is dead ...we need faith (God's sovereignty) and we need works (God's righteousness) or we are dead and wont bear the fruit so we will be cut off. Without God's grace in his sovereignty and righteousness who are we?
All throughout Scripture, the Bible teaches the preservation of the believer. Brother, if I had to save myself and keep myself saved, I'd be in a fix tonight. Furthermore, I'd never know if i worked enough to maintain my salvation. Blessed be the name of the Lord, for I know that I now have eternal life!
All; I see the points and the Bible does seem to contradict itself so each person believes what they feel but as far as I'm concerned given the conflicting impression I look at the overall message and nature of God and that is that we have to be good souls. That's the bottom line and only God knows the heart. I cannot be sure I am "saved" or a saint. I cannot forgive sins. It's up to God. I strive to live according to God's values and principles and God decides my destiny.
I used to not believe in OSAS. As I continued to search the scriptures to prove that I was right, scriptures proved that I was wrong. Try doing that and I’ll pray that you can have assurance of your salvation in Christ. One of my favorite passages “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” I John 5:13 NKJV Peace
Thank you Lord for this wonderful teaching. So packed full ...
Pastor Mac that was absolutely fantastic, truly Holy Spirit lead and a very important message. These issues are a plague to the church. I would love to live in Hawaii to be able to hear you and Pastor JD each week in person but I am at least blessed by being able to watch online. Thank you.
I always watch your incredible presentations, please keep going strong with the power of the holy spirit which the Living God has given to you. Thank you Pastor Mac
. Much blessings from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Wow! What a sermon thank you Holly Spirit and thank you brother for obeying the Holy Spirit. . .! Thank you Jesus for your Word which will not fail. . .!
Amen great teaching! Scripture clearly teaches both the sovereignty of God and man's free will.
Thank you Pastor Mac!
You have cleared up the confusion that was trying to creep in. I am very grateful for this biblically accurate explanation.
A difficult message, but very needed. Thank you Pastor Mac.
Amen, we serve an AWESOME Sovereign God who not only knows, but told us the end from the beginning. Of course man has free will or else we would be only robots unable to make any choices for ourselves. As Jesus said I offer you life and death: choose life. Another powerful teaching pastor Mac, may God keep you strong and bless you greatly Brother
Yes we do serve an Awesome sovereign God and I love Him more each day. I am overwhelmed with happiness to think He gave me the free will to serve Him. He took me from bondage to freedom in His truth.
Pastor Mac is such a good teacher. What a blessing he is. His last teaching on racism was so good and funny too. I'm glad he fills in when JD is gone
Pastor Mack, your beautiful, clear, dynamic and original scripture explanations complement J.D.s occasional pulpit absences .... Thanks, for building on this ministry when the need arises ...... You're a gift to all of us!
I love this Ministry and Pastor Mac your teaching is one of the best and filled with the Holy Spirit. I like how you teach the topics you teach on. They're exactly what we need to hear as followers of Christ. God bless. 🙏🙏
I praise God for you, Pastor Mac. Thank you for your clear and precise teaching from the Word of God. What a blessing!
Amazing! I love this church!
5.50+ yes!! Yes yes yes yes yes!! Our God is an awesome God!!!
what a great message well thought out and well delivered.....thank you
Preach it brother, all glory to God , Blessings from Texas to all my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus 🙏✝️❤️
Thank you brother! Words that are good to hear to remind us of who and where we are.
Thank you for this offering, I will have to concentrate on it at least once more because it is not sinking in and I know it is a word I need to hear. It is in fact the teaching I have been wanting . It is the question of the flesh and mind being the door Satan can enter and is not protected by the Holy Spirit I am struggling with, filling myself with the Word to close this door is the struggle. I continue to pray for enlightenment and will listen to this again . God Bless your ministry Pray for me
Pastor Mac...great teaching..I've had debates on this very subject lately...you explained free will...and God's sovrienty...way better than i could...I'll be better prepared next time...thanks and God bless.
Thank you.
Awesome sermon
Thank you and God bless
Thank you Pastor Mac (hope I spelled that correctly) Needed to hear this. Also appreciate the Bible verses on the screen. _karen in FL
Good lesson. Unbelievers are always saying, "if God has all power why does this or that happen"
Thanks pastor.
Amen!
Thanks for addressing this issue, Pastor Mac. As you mentioned, there is no way to adequately plumb the depths of this centuries-old debate within an hour. I was forced to study the arguments and fortify my belief system after learning that my pastor was a 5-point Calvinist and was beginning to force-feed that philosophy upon the congregation. After discussions with the pastor and elders, my wife and I were forced to withdraw our church membership since we stood in opposition to the church's Statement of Faith, which covertly included the 5 tenets of Calvinism.
Some of the resources that truly blessed my time of study include the following:
soteriology101.com
(former Calvinist pastor who now has a podcast to warn people of the dangers of Calvinism)
Soteriology 101 RUclips Channel (Here's a wonderful episode that included Calvary Chapel Pastor Mike Winger: ruclips.net/video/sRPGz7oKhc8/видео.html)
Dr. David Allen's excellent book "The Extent of the Atonement" www.amazon.com/Extent-Atonement-Historical-Critical-Review/dp/1433643928
George Bryson (Calvary Chapel pastor): The Dark Side of Calvinism www.calvarychapeltheology.com/the_dark_side_of_calvinism_preface_second_edition.html
Others who have given messages on RUclips include the following (simply search using the word "Calvinism" followed by their name): Earl Radmacher, Adrian Rogers, John Lennox, Bob Wilkin, Greg Laurie, David Guzik, Mike Winger, among many others.
Finally, many people do not realize that there is a 3rd position, apart from Calvinism and Arminianism, that many people have embraced that is balanced and Biblical regarding soteriology. It's referred to as "Traditionalism" or "Provisionism". You can see how this view compares to Calvinism here: connect316.net/theological-positions/
“God sovereignly decreed that man should be free to exercise moral choice, and man from the beginning has fulfilled that decree by making his choice between good and evil. When he chooses to do evil, he does not thereby countervail the sovereign will of God but fulfills it, inasmuch as the eternal decree decided not which choice the man should make but that he should be free to make it. If in His absolute freedom God has willed to give man limited freedom, who is there to stay His hand or say, 'What doest thou?' Man’s will is free because God is sovereign. A God less than sovereign could not bestow moral freedom upon His creatures. He would be afraid to do so.”
― A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy
Hello. I would highly suggest you read the ebook on Kindle- entitled: Freewill vs. Ownership by Stephen E. Jones who reveals this subject /explains Biblically from a different perspective re:this controversial topic. Mahalo.
Humanity has free will because GOD gifted us with it. He knew us before the first day. He knew what choices each and every one of us would make with free will, and what would occur. He understands cause and effect far greater than anyone. After all He created cause and effect. Knowing what choices we would make through His work of free will in us shows the truth of election. The inverse is therefore true, that all who choose to reject Messiah do so from the work of GOD by the free will that they have been gifted. They are therefore guilty by choice in their rejection, and GOD knew them before the first day as well. Does this excuse us in our evil? No, for we have still made that choice on our own by the gift of free will. There are no excuses, there are no free passes, there is no blame towards GOD that is just. Simply stated; GOD knows what we will do before we do it. We do not. We must choose. It is therefore just to say election and free will go hand in hand. The main argument between Calvinism and Arminianism is moot, for they are not in opposition, but are complimentary to each other. The other arguments are simply mankind's desire to confirm he is right and the other is wrong, and have done nothing but show the empty sum of the argument in total. It is the boasting of man through both beliefs to attempt to explain all things. Trust GOD, read the word, pray for understanding. This is all we can do, as we will never answer all things until the great hope is upon us. May GOD continue to bless and keep Pastor Mac and Kaneohe Calvary Chapel. Love and prayers to you all.
God is sovereign over all things. He will do all His good pleasure. Who are we to say He is not in complete control of EVERYTHING?! Therefore if He wants to give us free will, who can tell Him otherwise? I got 2 passages to show this...Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?
Romans 9:21 NKJV
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
II Timothy 2:20-21 NKJV
OK now I'll watch and see if I am right. If not I'm sure pastor Mac will put me in my place.
Here's a good response to the Calvinist definition of "sovereignty": ruclips.net/video/T8sJMenYqls/видео.html The Biblical definition of sovereignty = "in control"... not "controlling everything". Is a Sovereign God unable to enable man to have free will? Must He "play both sides of the chessboard?" The non-deterministic view has a higher view of God because He enables man to have libertarian free will, yet is still able to accomplish His plans and purposes for His glory.
Rosh Hashana" rapture?
Rosh hashanah ( head of the year, Babylonian) which Christians call the "feast of trumpets", it seems should be named and translated Yom Teruah meaning day of shouting to JEHOVAH in Lev. 23:23, Num 29:1 This is explained by Nehemia Gordon. According to the Bible it has nothing to do with trumpets(shofar). Israel today dictates that this is to start the new year but the new year according to God starts in Nisan. If this day is not for a new year, what is it for?
The Jews celebrate the "feast of trumpets" 14 days later but this is not in the Bible.
Clarence Larkin also explains that the 4months that separate the first three festivals relating to the church from the last four festivals of Israel represents the dispensation church period/grace which is terminated by Yom Teruah.
Hebrew year 5666=1906 + 120 = 5786=1926, redemption at Megiddo?
We have the ability to choose, bit saying it is not constrained is a lie. We didn't choose our sin nature our parents what circumstances were in. We can choose but is not free it is caused by outside influences.
Here's a good response to the Calvinist definition of "sovereignty": ruclips.net/video/T8sJMenYqls/видео.html The Biblical definition of sovereignty = "in control"... not, "controlling everything". Is a Sovereign God unable to enable man to have free will? Must He "play both sides of the chessboard?" The non-deterministic view has a higher view of God because He enables man to have libertarian free will, yet is still able to accomplish His plans and purposes for His glory.
Thanks this is a good talk but I do not agree with OSAS. The Bible is constantly talking about righteousness being God's commandment and it does not matter if you believe in God or not, if you are not sufficiently righteous I do not believe you are worthy to be a saint and or saved. Obedience is not works and God will judge who is sufficiently obedient. God knows everyone's heart and will render to each person according to his works/ways/values and he is a righteous witness and a just judge. Whether someone is saved or was saved and lost their salvation is entirely up to God and we cannot say one way or the other.
The word saved not mean sanctified/ to be made a saint. It seems to me these are two separate matters. We know that in the future there will be Gentiles on earth so these may be people who were not wicked nor were they worthy to be saints.
God's sovereignty vs man's free will is a mystery. That God knows all we will do before we do it is a mystery. Man, the establishment, the world, the devil are obsessed with knowing how things work but we know little about how anything work!
Faith without works is dead ...we need faith (God's sovereignty) and we need works (God's righteousness) or we are dead and wont bear the fruit so we will be cut off. Without God's grace in his sovereignty and righteousness who are we?
All throughout Scripture, the Bible teaches the preservation of the believer. Brother, if I had to save myself and keep myself saved, I'd be in a fix tonight. Furthermore, I'd never know if i worked enough to maintain my salvation. Blessed be the name of the Lord, for I know that I now have eternal life!
If you're not saved forever, then you are NOT saved.
All; I see the points and the Bible does seem to contradict itself so each person believes what they feel but as far as I'm concerned given the conflicting impression I look at the overall message and nature of God and that is that we have to be good souls. That's the bottom line and only God knows the heart. I cannot be sure I am "saved" or a saint. I cannot forgive sins. It's up to God. I strive to live according to God's values and principles and God decides my destiny.
I used to not believe in OSAS. As I continued to search the scriptures to prove that I was right, scriptures proved that I was wrong.
Try doing that and I’ll pray that you can have assurance of your salvation in Christ.
One of my favorite passages
“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”
I John 5:13 NKJV
Peace