The following excerpt is taken from Predestined to Believe (2ed.)

Dear Wesley,

I fully understand and appreciate the reasons you gave for believing Jesus Christ died on the cross for all of humanity without exception. Your position seems quite plausible at first glance especially in light of several passages you sent that seem to substantiate your convictions. Let me first address one of the verses you cited in support of your position, specifically, John 1:29, and consider some practical ramifications of interpreting the way you have. "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’" Sounds plain enough. How could anyone rightly refute such clear teaching of Scripture? The answer for me did not come easily. I had to think deeply about these verses for years before I reached a conclusion. I was not truly convinced of my own position until I encountered a Reformed elder who helped me to consider some things that I had never before pondered. Perhaps a brief dialogue of a typical conversation will help clarify the differences between the positions and might help to explain my position more succinctly. 

Paul: For whom did Christ die?

John: Christ died for everyone as John 3:16 states. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Paul: Is there any other possible interpretation of "world" as stated in John 3:16?

John: Absolutely not. John 3:16 is unequivocal in declaring for whom Christ died. That is to say, Jesus Christ died for everyone without exception.

Paul: But if you are correct in stating Christ died for everyone, is there anyone that goes to hell?

John: Of course there is. Don’t be absurd.

Paul: Why are people in hell if Christ died for their sins?

John: People are in hell because of their unbelief.

Paul: You just said that Christ died for the sins of everyone. If He died a substitutionary death and satisfied God’s wrath in order to bring salvation to mankind, then it logically follows that Christ suffered the punishment for all sins—including the sin of unbelief. God could not justly condemn unbelievers to eternal punishment after Christ satisfied God’s wrath for the sins of the world. Since Christ died for all of humanity, His death on the cross fulfilled the necessary sacrifice. If, however, you still deny that Christ paid for the sin of unbelief, you must also deny that Christ satisfied God’s wrath. And if God’s wrath was not satisfied, we are all in trouble, and all face eternal peril. This is the ultimate outcome of your argument when carried to its logical conclusion.

Now the above dialogue demonstrates the inconsistencies inherent to the argument that passages describing Christ as dying for the "world" should be interpreted to mean that Christ died for everyone without exception. Admittedly, such thinking is appealing to think that Christ died for everyone, and it sounds good to tell people that, but it is not grounded in biblical truth. Think of what it would mean to serve a God who accepts an offering for one sin, but rejects the same offering for a different sin after having established the terms on which His wrath could be satisfied. What would it say about God that He sent His own Son to take away the sin of the world only to reject the sacrifice for a particular sin? I would submit to you that it would make God arbitrary, and it would also make Him cruel. What are we to think of God who sent His Son to die for the sins of the world then refuse to accept His Son’s sacrifice unconditionally and subsequently punish unbelievers by condemning them to an eternity in the lake of fire even after Christ had obeyed God and died for their sins? It would mean that God is guilty of double jeopardy in that He exacts punishment from man after having punished His Son. Even our justice system recognizes the fundamental flaw of double jeopardy and strictly condemns it. If our justice system understands the egregious nature of double jeopardy, how much more perfectly does God?

Beyond what has already been written, an omnipotent God cannot fail in achieving what He intended. God ordained a specific purpose for a specific people that He intended to save from the beginning (Rev. 13:8). His mission was defined even before His birth, just as the angel had promised. "He shall save his people from their sins" (Matt 1:21). Scripture makes it clear that Christ had a definite charge that He would certainly fulfill. When God has a plan, it shall come to pass. Take comfort in knowing that God is not arbitrary. He defines His mission and is successful in bringing it to fruition.

I promise to write soon to further explain the different ways in which universal terms such as "all" and "world" are used throughout the Bible. Maybe that will then help to clarify the difficulties many see in universalistic passages.

Your affectionate uncle,
Luke

"I take my text and make a bee-line to the Cross."
—C. H. Spurgeon

I will never forget the memorable words of the gifted bible teacher, William Scroggie, who wrote concerning the harmony of the gospels that, "The New Testament is in the Old contained; the Old Testament is in the New explained." How true that is.

Without the New Testament we would not know Abel was a prophet. "That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; from the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation" (Luke 11:50–51).

Without the New Testament we would not know Lot was a righteous man who found divine deliverance in the day of judgment. "And [the angels] delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds)" (2 Pet 2:7–8).

Without the New Testament we would not know Satan contended with Michael over the body of Moses. "Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee" (Jude 1:9).

Without the New Testament we would never be able to understand the image of the presence of the Lord in the form of fire on the day of Pentecost and reference that momentous event back to the fire which guided the church during its wilderness journey. Acts 2:3 reads, "And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them." Compare this to Exodus 13:21, "And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night."

There is so much to discover in comparing Scripture with Scripture—keeping in mind that every verse is all about the Lord Jesus Christ. "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he [Christ] expounded unto them [the Emmaus disciples] in all the scriptures the things concerning himself" (Luke 24:27).

Oh Christian, give yourself afresh to a study of the Bible and never forget, "The New Testament is in the Old concealed; the Old Testament is in the New revealed."

Once more there is godless excitement over an ancient fossil that was recently discovered in Germany. It is being promoted as the "missing link" between man and his ape-like ancestory. The world is being taught The Link—named Ida—is the foundational evidence that proves man evolved from a monkey. Some promoters of Ida are absolutely giddy with joy. Specifically, Paleontologist Jorn Hurum, who led a team that analyzed the "47-million-year-old fossil," audaciously suggests Ida is a critical missing-link species in primate evolution.

The fossil, he says, bridges the evolutionary split between higher primates such as monkeys, apes, and humans and their more distant relatives such as lemurs.

"This is the first link to all humans," Hurum, of the Natural History Museum in Oslo, Norway, said in a statement. Ida represents "the closest thing we can get to a direct ancestor."

Ida, properly known as Darwinius masillae, has a unique anatomy. The lemur-like skeleton features primate-like characteristics, including grasping hands, opposable thumbs, clawless digits with nails, and relatively short limbs.

"This specimen looks like a really early fossil monkey that belongs to the group that includes us," said Brian Richmond, a biological anthropologist at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., who was not involved in the study, published this week in the journal PLoS ONE.

Those who actually look at the fossil, however, might be disappointed. Why? Because it looks very much like a lemur monkey. However, the public is assured that what they are looking at in stone is 47 million years old and has all of the characteristics described above.

The only saving grace in this new excitement is an honest admission there is a massive gap in the fossil record. Researchers are not sure when and where the primate group that includes monkeys, apes, and humans split from the other group of primates that includes lemurs.

I would suggest to you that there may be a reason for the gap—the evolutionary split does not exist. Man is distinct and is a "kind" of his own according to divine design. Notice the biblical division. "And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them" (Gen 1:25-27).

As the speculators of evolutionary theory—and it is only that, a theory—continue their quest to disprove the biblical account of Creation, the Christian can rest assure that God has not lied to us. The scientific community has, time and again. One of their greatest hoaxes was the Pildown Man. This hoax involved the discovery of fragments of a skull and jawbone collected in 1912 from a gravel pit at Piltdown, a village near Uckfield, East Sussex, England. It took many years before the truth came out.

As God has not lied to us, so He has written words that can be plainly understood. The world is not invited to look at something and see what is not there. We read that in six literal days God created the heavens and the earth and all that is on it. On the sixth day God created man and on the seventh day He rested.

Concerened Christian, remember this: Jesus Christ believed in Adam and Eve. Jesus believed the Genesis account and for good reason. He should know. Christ was there at creation for He is the Creator!

• Jesus believed in Adam and Eve. "And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder" (Matt 19:4-6).
  
• Christ is the Creator. "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him" (Col 1:16). 

Christian, let not your heart be troubled. If you believe in God, believe in His Word and in His Son Jesus Christ. God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). As the world dances in foolish delight believing they have discredited Creationism, do not despair. The theory of evolution remains a theory with admittable "gaps" while the Word of God is pure and true and abides forever.

The atheistic evolutionist calls a fossil discovery "Ida." God calls such an evolutionist "Fool." "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good" (Ps 14:1).

Wise is the person who will adhere to Scripture and believe in God. Time and honesty will eventually prove there is no controversy between the Bible and true science for the Scriptures are trustworthy. The rest is just more monkey business.

From the Associated Press comes this story of May 12, 2009. NEW YORK—"A Roman Catholic archbishop who resigned in 2002 over a sex and financial scandal involving a man describes his struggles with being gay in an upcoming memoir about his decades serving the church. Archbishop Rembert Weakland, former head of the Milwaukee archdiocese, said in an interview Monday that he wrote about his sexual orientation because he wanted to be candid about "how this came to life in my own self, how I suppressed it, how it resurrected again." Called "A Pilgrim in a Pilgrim Church: Memoirs of a Catholic Archbishop," the book is set to be released in June. "I was very careful and concerned that the book not become a Jerry Springer, to satisfy people's prurient curiosity or anything of this sort," Weakland told The Associated Press. "At the same time, I tried to be as honest as I can." Weakland stepped down soon after Paul Marcoux, a former Marquette University theology student, revealed in May 2002 that he was paid $450,000 to settle a sexual assault claim he made against the archbishop more than two decades earlier. The money came from the archdiocese. "

The heart of the compassionate Christian can grieve with the former archbishop over his struggle with his sexual orientation. Any person who has wrestled with any form of spiritual bondage knows how difficult it is to be fundamentally and forever different. Being religious is not enough as the Archbishop can testify. The hope for the Archbishop and for any person pursuing holiness in the sight of God is redemption through the new birth followed by gospel obedience in practical Christian living.

But here is the reality. Time and again a conscious decision is made not to consult the Scriptures on the will of the Lord on a given matter; time and again a conscious decision is made not to obey Christ.

If the Archbishop still wishes to be made whole then let him heed this counsel. First, do not say to yourself, "I am weak." Speak truth to self and say, "I am wicked." The apostle Paul did. As Paul struggled with inbred corruptions he cried out, O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (Romans 7:24). Second, believe that Christ will deliver you from this moral aberration. Again, there is apostolic example. Paul cried out in hope, I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 7:25). Third, obey the Scriptures. In particular realize that you have followed a doctrine of demons for that is what forced celibacy is called in the Bible. 1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. The text is translated correctly in the Catholic Bible as well and says the same thing. Those who forbid others to marry are teaching a doctrine of devils and the results are obvious for the world to witness.

Finally, the Archbishop should immediately withdraw his book from publication. I know he wants to be loved. He says so. It appears he wants money. But his story, according to the interview with the Associated Press, will only serve to justify the unjustifiable and will lead others into the same evil he has struggled with himself. Paul writes of those whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake (Titus 1:11). The mouth of the Archbishop should be stopped, by himself. He has done enough damage already to the church.

Exegesis involves work. Many of us probably cringe at the very word but the importance of due diligence in understanding what the Bible actually says cannot be overstated for one simple reason—because it is the very word of God. That is to say, Scripture does not merely contain the words of God but as Paul tells us—Scripture is theopneustos, God-breathed (2 Tim 3:16). Because of this we must recognize that we have been entrusted with something special from God. We attempt to engage in clarity because we are handling divine truth. Mankind finds himself in the unique position that he has the opportunity to hear the voice of God through the text of Scripture. The nature of canon alone should give us a hunger and thirst for the God-breathed words so that we may know exactly what the Lord has revealed to us.

Furthermore, exegesis is important in that it allows God to speak to us and not the other way around. So often the tendency is to inject our own emotions and biases into what we think the Scripture should teach that we fail to verify whether our beliefs are in harmony with what God has actually revealed. What might seem logically consistent or rational to us might in fact be in direct opposition to the truth. All of us have the tendency to read Scripture through our theological paradigms, which sometimes can cause us to violate the rules of proper exegesis. Or put another way, instead of testing our doctrines in light of Scripture we often are guilty of the precise opposite. And in so doing, there might be occasions where we force doctrines that are foreign to the Bible and substitute purity of the gospel message for man-made traditions.

That reality, for me, was crystallized in a recent discussion with a co-worker concerning the authority of the Bible as the sole rule of faith. What began as a seemingly innocent dialogue touching upon the nature of canon turned out to be an outright assault on the complete authority of the God-breathed Scriptures.

I was directed to 2 Thessalonians 2:15 as "definite proof" against the idea that divine revelation is to be found only in the Bible. Not only was my position abiblical, I was told, it was unbiblical. And then the charge went one step further, that is, I refused to obey the clear command of Paul to accept "tradition."

Alas, as with so many discussions over theological disagreements, proper exegesis was not utilized—nor was it preferred—in determining the true meaning of the text. If my co-worker had much interest in finding out what exactly Paul meant by "tradition," then he probably would have been surprised to learn that the apostle was not advocating some nebulous principal that denies the sufficiency of Scripture as our sole, infallible rule of faith, but that he was in fact reminding the Thessalonians to stand firm in the faith. That is to say, Paul was commanding his readers to hold tenaciously to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I found this personal incident to be symptomatic of many groups who come in the name of authority to attack the sufficiency of the Bible. Once we allow for the possibility that something other than the Holy Spirit is necessary to guide us into truth, then the fundamentals of sound exegesis are no longer necessary, since we are then told what the Scriptures actually say. Exegesis, therefore, is then relegated to a subservient role to sound hermeneutical principles.

I would submit to you that the reality is we must all learn from the Bereans who were more noble-minded than the Thessalonicans for their commitment to searching the Scriptures diligently. They did not rely upon what some authority to guide them into truth, but they went directly to the God-breathed Scriptures to discover His will. May each and every one of us practice this principle as we press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Phil 3:14).

Tyler Frost, the high school senior who was suspended for attending his girlfriend's prom, has become a sensation in the liberal media—which should come as no surprise in our current cultural of youthful anarchy. In defiance of the Christian school’s code of ethics, which he voluntarily signed he would uphold, and his family agreed to support, Frost is now saying he made the right decision to break his oath and attend the prom.

Frost’s position is typical of self-centered thinking in a narcissistic society. While he admits his private Christian school does have a contract stipulating "no dancing," he does not believe it should include dancing outside of school. The problem with this position is that it is not up to any student or parent to change the rules or parse them into a new understanding. The apostle Peter talked about individuals who take the Scriptures and twist them to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:16).

For eight long years a former president of the United States twisted the normal meaning of words and taught by his negative example another generation to do the same. It is wrong in the secular world and it is wrong in the Christian community to do this.

As a former Christian school administrator I can testify how militant young people can be. I can also testify how supportive parents can be of their rebellious children when the little darlings decide to violate established rules and regulations.

According to news report, the Frost family is threatening a law suit. That too is a clear violation of the Bible and the known will of God. Christians are not to take Christians to court as per 1 Corinthians. "Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? How much more things that pertain to this life? If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? No, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers" (1 Cor 6:1–6).

Long ago God the Holy Spirit addressed the case of young Mr. Frost by way of prophetic principle. "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away" (2 Tim 3:1). 

For his defiance of established authority, for his breaking of his signed vow, for his threat of a law suit the Christian school would have a biblical basis to turn young Mr. Frost away. And he should be ashamed.

For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged (Proverbs 28:2).

Time and again, all over the world, a nation will exalt the most vile and ruthless individual to the highest political office in the land. Usually, the people are responding to promises made by the candidate to give them money from the public treasury and to look after their needs—from the cradle to the grave.

Of course, much heartache and tragedy awaits the nation when this is done because it is an observable fact that, the more a government takes upon itself the task of looking after the welfare of the people, the less religious that nation becomes. There is a simple reason. No longer do citizens have to look to heaven and pray to God the Father, "Give us this day our daily bread." They look to the state.

But those in power cannot produce what they have promised and they certainly cannot produce righteousness in a people for they themselves tend to become corrupted by the process. The rise to power and the promotion of others to power gives the freedom to release the dark passions of the naturally depraved heart.

In the recent Correspondence Dinner the president of the United States engaged in vile and despicable "humor" when referring to his chief of staff Rahm Emanuel who apparently has a profane vocabulary, according to the president. All of this can happen for a simple reason: who is able to rebuke them now?

Many years ago John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, (1834–1902), the historian and moralist, expressed a very astute opinion in a letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton in 1887: "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men."

The true stabilizing force in a nation is the person of spiritual understanding and knowledge. Jesus said to His disciples, Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Matthew 5:13). The church must not forget the vital role it plays in the survival of a nation. "By a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged."

By way of application to our own country, the hope of our nation is ultimately not in a political party but in an understanding of the importance of returning to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The survival of this nation rests upon Christ and the values He has instilled in His people. Let the church be the church and let the people rejoice. It is as simple—and as difficult—as that.

10 Who can find a virtuous [thrifty and devoted] woman? For her price is far above rubies.
31:10. Who can find. While a virtuous woman might be difficult to find, it is not an impossible task. God has many daughters of grace whose value is far above rubies. These great ladies become the mothers of Israel (the church). The virtuous woman is a woman who can be depended upon. She is capable, has a high energy level, maintains a high sense of dignity, and is capable of handling her household duties.

11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil [prey, booty].
31:11. The heart of a good husband will have total confidence in the love, loyalty and unselfish affection of a good woman. Despite his position in life he will never be poor.

12 She will do him good and not evil [injurious behavior] all the days of her life.
31:12. The virtuous woman will use all of her influence for the good of her husband. She will not speak evil of him or do anything to cause him harm. She will not embarrass him in any way all the days of her life.

13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
31:13. As Eve was made to be a help mate for Adam, so the virtuous woman finds joy in acts of service. Her mental attitude regarding service is one of delight and not drudgery. She seeks to serve and works willingly.

14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
31:14. The ancient ships would bring treasures from distant lands. In like manner the virtuous woman is constantly like the merchant’s ships as she brings forth things old and new to surprise and delight those whom she serves with love.

15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat [prepares food] to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
31:15. The virtuous woman will rise early if necessary to accomplish the work that needs to be done. Her thoughts on not on herself or having others serve her. Rather, she serves others.

16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
31:16. The virtuous woman is not only industrious but looks to enlarge the possessions of the family through wise investments.

17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
31:17. The virtuous woman exerts herself and her physical strength increases. She is able to accomplish much through proper planning and organization.

18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
31:18. The virtuous woman has confidence in what she produces and she diligently works at what her hand finds to do. He candle does not go out by night for she toils until her task is done.

19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold [pull] the distaff [the prepared fibers from the spindle].
31:19. It is possible to hold a distaff in one hand and twirl the long wool spindles with the other then pausing to wrap the thread around a spindle.

20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
31:20. By diligent work the virtuous woman is able to help the needy.

21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet [the best].
31:21. As the virtuous woman looks after the needs of the poor she does not neglect her own. Some parents are so busy doing good for others they neglect their own family, and that is wrong. The virtuous woman clothes her family with the best garments possible for her economy.

22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry [cloth]; her clothing is silk [fine white linen] and purple.
31:22. Silk was not brought to Israel until the time of Justinian (AD 483 – 13 or 14 November 565). Fine white linen is probably referred to. The virtuous woman does not mind dressing well and that is important. Far too many women let their personal appearance dissipate after they are married. That should not be done.

23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
31:23. The virtuous woman will be patient and marry well. She will marry someone of like faith and temperament. As a result, the marriage will allow her to enhance her husband’s reputation and promote him so that he is honored among others. He is known in the gates, the place of public gathering for important discussions.

24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
31:24. The diligence and hard work of the virtuous woman has produced enough for her to make linen and sell it for profit. Spiritually, there is an application from this section. The virtuous one is filled with practical godliness so that she is a blessing to her family and a blessing to others as well.

25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
31:25. A person is more than the substance of material matter. Every person has a soul and thus a character. Spiritual strength and personal honor characterize the virtuous woman bringing her peace of mind and inner joy for time and eternity. There is much joy in having a good conscience toward God that is undefiled (1 Peter 3:21).

26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law [governing principle] of kindness.
31:26. Wisdom is the right application of bible doctrine to a given situation. The virtuous woman is known for being wise and expressing her thoughts with kindness according to gospel terms. Violent verbal language, sarcasm, emotional outbursts and dark thoughts are not to be found in the virtuous woman. Aesop (620-560 BC), the ancient storyteller, told this fable: Once upon a time, a donkey found a lion's skin. He tried it on, strutted around, and frightened many animals. Soon a fox came along, and the donkey tried to scare him, too. But the fox, hearing the donkey's voice, said, "If you want to terrify me, you'll have to disguise your bray."

Aesop's moral: Clothes may disguise a person, but words will give a person away. Blessed (and rare) is the man who has found a woman characterized by kindness in her conversation.

27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
31:27. The virtuous woman is not an idle woman. She puts her family and not herself first. Others are her priority and in serving them she finds personal fulfillment. The virtuous woman does not let the hours slip away in idle behavior that is unproductive and self destructive of her time and character. The Spanish philosopher Miquel Unamuno (1864-1936) once illustrated how destructive idleness is in all of nature. He told about the Roman aqueduct at Segovia, in his native Spain. It was built in 109 A.D. For eighteen hundred years, it carried cool water from the mountains to the hot and thirsty city. Nearly sixty generations of men drank from its flow. Then came another generation, a recent one, who said, "This aqueduct is so great a marvel that it ought to be preserved for our children, as a museum piece. We shall relieve it of its centuries-long labor." They did; they laid modern iron pipes. They gave the ancient bricks and mortar a reverent rest. And the aqueduct began to fall apart. The sun beating on the dry mortar caused it to crumble. The bricks and stone sagged and threatened to fall. What ages of service could not destroy, idleness disintegrated (Resource, Sept./ Oct., 1992).

28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
31:28. The virtuous woman does not crave self attention and she certainly does not demand it. Nevertheless, if she will be virtuous and forget herself and serve her family and others, she will be rewarded. One day her children and her husband will rise up and call her blessed. They will do this out of a deep appreciation for who and what a good woman is. Any woman who demands attention and affection and honor will not find it. That is not the gospel way. God’s way is for a woman to serve others and in that service she will find her glory. If this is a biblical concept hard to believe, it is because a generation of women has arisen more interested in looking out for number one than in having a meek and gentle spirit. Study 1 Peter 3:1. "Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: 6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

29 Many daughters have done virtuously [well], but thou excellest them all.
31:29. Many types of women can excel in life but the virtuous women is said to remain pre-eminent. Brains, beauty, an attractive figure, and a large bank account are commendable assets but the spiritual woman is the most honored in the kingdom of God.

30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
31:30. The virtuous woman may not be the most physically attractive woman but her spirituality and tremendously kind personality makes her a beauty to all. Men by nature are initially attracted to outward beauty but most do value much more a godly and virtuous woman. She is the one who shall be praised. Shame, decay, sorrow and death awaits those who live for the sake of personal vanity and do not cultivate an inward spiritual life that fears the LORD.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
31:31. The final listed characteristic of a virtuous woman reflects the sum total of her life. The works of a woman will either condemn or praise her. How can a man recognize a virtuous woman? Jesus has provided the answer in Matthew 7:20. "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."

31:11-27.  

Characteristics of a Virtuous Woman
What a Christian Woman will Do

• A Christian woman will not give her husband any cause for behavioral concern (31:11).
• A Christian woman will not engage in injurious behavior towards her husband (31:12).
• A Christian woman will work diligently with the tasks set before her (31:13).
• A Christian woman will be wise in matters of commerce (31:14).
• A Christian woman will prefer the needs of others before her own interests (31:15).
• A Christian woman will be able to successfully engage in expanding her household resources (31:16).
• A Christian woman will not avoid hard work (31:17).
• A Christian woman will not be bound to a strict time schedule but will do all that is necessary to bring many projects to a good conclusion (31:18).
• A Christian woman will be accomplished in practical matters within her sphere of endeavor (31:19).
• A Christian woman will be compassionate and reach out her hands to help others in need (31:20).
• A Christian woman will make sure her family is seasonably comfortable (31:21).
• A Christian woman will be careful about her personal appearance (31:22).
• A Christian woman will marry wisely an honorable man (31:23).
• A Christian woman will be able to be industrious when the opportunity arises and seek out ways to improve the household income (31:24).
• A Christian woman will be characterized by moral and spiritual strength and honor (31:25) so there is nothing she will be ashamed of.
• A Christian woman will be gracious in her speech, dispensing words of wisdom with kindness (31:26).
• A Christian woman will not be slothful but diligent in her labors (31:27).

Self Evaluation

• I do not give my husband any cause for behavioral concern (31:11).
• I do not engage in injurious behavior towards my husband (31:12).
• I work diligently on the tasks set before me (31:13).
• I am wise in matters of money (31:14).
• I prefer the needs of others before my own interests (31:15). Yes ___ No ___
• I successfully engage in expanding my household resources (31:16). Yes ___ No ___
• I do not avoid hard work (31:17). Yes ___ No ___
• I am not bound to a strict time schedule but do all that is necessary to bring projects to a good conclusion (31:18). Yes ___ No ___
• I am accomplished in practical matters in my sphere of endeavor (31:19). Yes ___ No ___
• I am compassionate and reach out to help others in need (31:20). Yes ___ No ___
• I make sure my family is seasonably comfortable (31:21). Yes ___ No ___
• I am careful about my personal appearance (31:22). Yes ___ No ___
• I married wisely an honorable man (31:23). Yes ___ No ___
• I am industrious when the opportunity arises and seek out ways to improve the household income (31:24). Yes ___ No ___
• I am characterized by moral and spiritual strength and honor (31:25). There is nothing I am ashamed of. Yes ___ No ___
• I am gracious in my speech and try very hard to dispense words of wisdom with kindness (31:26). Yes ___ No ___
• I am diligent in my daily labors (31:27). Yes ___ No ___

The following letter is taken from the second edition of Predestined to Believe (to be released summer 2009).

Dear Wesley,

Your latest objection has reminded me of the condemnation of the Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei. Perhaps you remember the story from your studies in Christian history. Galileo was convinced of the truth of Copernicus’s heliocentric theory—the theory that proposed that the Earth and other planets revolved around the sun—and publicly embraced this revolutionary concept. Galileo’s open support for the theory eventually culminated in his being summoned to Rome in 1633 to face the Inquisition. There, Galileo was found guilt of heresy and recanted under threat of torture. He was forced to live the remainder of his life under house arrest as a consequence for believing what we know today to be true. It took nearly four centuries until the church officially vindicated Galileo and admitted his scientific observations were correct.

Now I mention this incident—not to condemn Christians in ages past—but to demonstrate that there has always been a segment of society that fears the potential theological ramifications from what they think will naturally follow. Just as the church once believed the heliocentric theory would cast doubt on the veracity of Holy Scripture, your latest objection seems to be a tacit implication that the truth of total depravity would shatter the foundation of your beliefs. This is the only conclusion that I can think of which has any plausibility. I can think of no other compelling reason why you still maintain the belief that the Bible is silent on man’s spiritual condition since the fall.

After the passages I presented in my previous letter I must honestly ask how you can still maintain the position that the Bible does not speak of the radical condition of all human beings apart from the grace of God to prevent or to transform man. We can disagree as to the extent of the fall, but I think we must both be honest in saying the Bible makes some radical statements about the nature of man after he fell from grace. Let’s first note a few things about the doctrine and then turn our attention to the biblical support.

I am not arguing that man is as bad as he could be towards his fellow man. Many incorrectly assume that total depravity implies all men everywhere are as bad as they could be. Objectors like to point to the charitable works of Muslims, Buddhists, and Atheists—to name just a few—as proof that people perform good works apart from the belief in the God of Christianity. But this, of course, is simply a false attack against what is actually meant by the term. The Westminster Confession of Faith states it plainly, "Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation; so as a natural man, being altogether averse from good, and dead in sin, is not able, by his own strength, to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto."¹ Put another way, man’s depravity is total in that there is no aspect of man—be it body, mind, or will—that was unaffected by the fall. But unfortunately it gets worse. It is total in the case of our rebellion against God and in our rebellion against righteousness.

There is a popular myth circulating in evangelical churches today that goes something like this: Man is earnestly searching after God. The reality, though, is something far different. As I wrote to you before, "There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one" (Rom 3:10–12). This passage alone should prove sufficient that there is no delight in the holiness of God apart from His grace. This is not to say that totally depraved men cannot be religious. In fact, they can be very much so—some even more than professing Christians. I personally know quite a few people who live upright lives, but they deny their Maker. The difference is that they are not seeking after the one true God. The reality is that they have suppressed the sensus divinitus and are searching to please the god of their imaginations because they are under the power of sin (Rom 3:9). People might "seek" God as a way to protect them from death or suffering or to enhance their temporal blessings. But these good acts are performed for selfish reasons. We are told that "whatever is not from faith is sin" (Rom 14:23). Many are eager to credit unbelievers with good works, but God is the one who judges and He has already declared "all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment" (Isa 64:6). Just because someone appears to be seeking does not mean he has the innate ability or desire—apart from grace—to do so.

The apostle Paul gives as his starting point that fact that all of mankind have sinned in Adam (Rom 5:12). This is federal representation. That is, the Lord views this first man as the representative of the entire human race. Unfortunately for us, Adam plunged us into a condition where we are now dead in our trespasses and sin (Eph 2:1). All men are consequently without excuse before God (Rom 2:1), because we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). Paul elsewhere confirms this idea when he wrote to the Ephesians "remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world" (Eph 2:12). We are all without hope apart from the goodness and mercy of God.

Since the fall, men are by nature children of wrath (Eph 2:3) and are utterly indisposed and disabled to all that which is good and only evil inclinations originate from them. Paul tells us that "the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so" (Rom 8:7). Compare these words with those of Jesus who taught, "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil" (John 3:19).

A study of biblical anthropology reveals that man has a bias against God and will always choose freely and willingly that which is evil. Think for a moment what this means. With respect to matters of righteousness, man will not—because he cannot—do what God commands. Listen to the words of Jesus, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day."

Now I have often heard many try to explain this passage away by interpreting the verse to mean that Jesus "woos" sinners to Him. I would submit to you, however, that such an interpretation does violence to the text. The Greek verb translated here as "draw" is used also in the book of Acts. "But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place before the authorities" (Acts 16:19). Paul and Silas were not wooed into the market but they were dragged. That is, they were compelled to appear before the authorities. John uses the same Greek term when he describes God’s action in the calling of sinners. God does not woo sinners but drags them willingly to Himself. I find this to be absolutely amazing and a true testimony of love because the "natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised" (1 Cor 2:14). God must give us the desire and then compel us to come otherwise we would never do so apart from the Holy Spirit.

Just as the Ethiopian cannot change his skin, nor can the leopard his spots, (Jer 13:23) the sinner cannot change his ways through his own efforts. Genuine and everlasting change transcends the ability of man and his only hope is a change brought by the sovereign power and regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. The next time you have the inclination to think more highly of yourself than you ought, just remember the biblical concept of man is one who does not possess the power of self-regeneration, and until an inward change happens, he remains an enemy with God. Remember that it was God who promised, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh" (Ezek 36:26). So the reason you are a changed individual and love the Lord is because of God’s promise to deliver His people from their sins (Matt 1:21) and not because you exercised your own ability to choose God.

In summary, total depravity refers to our absolute rebellion towards our Maker in that everything we do is in opposition to God. This can ultimately lead to only one destiny—eternally separated from God. I cannot begin to express to you the importance of this doctrine, and I do not believe I am overstating the importance of this reality. If we do not see ourselves for what we truly are then it is hard to grasp the goodness, grace, and mercy of God in the redemptive plan of salvation through His Son. Once we humble ourselves to this biblical truth of our total depravity, then we will better understand what it means to declare that salvation is of the Lord (Jonah 2:9).

I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word (John 17:6).

17:6 I have manifested thy name. In the Bible, the term "name" is used in a special way. To refer to the name was to refer to the whole character of the person in as far as the person can be known. Psalm 9:10 says of God, "Those who know Thy name put their trust in thee." The reference is not to a special title but the very character and nature of God. The Psalmist noted that, "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God" (Ps 20:7). The Psalmist knows that he can trust God because he knows something of the power and the majesty of Almighty God. Isaiah envisioned a Golden Age whereby all men would know the name of God and thereby know fully what God is like. Isaiah 52:6 "Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I." In John 14:9 Jesus put it another way when He said, "He who hath seen me has seen the Father."

Because of Jesus Christ all of the guesswork as to what God is like can cease.

• Men have wondered if God exits. He lives. He is the God who is there.
• Men have wondered if God is distinct and separate from His creation. During the time of religious confusion the Hindus of old decided that God was not distinct from but was part of creation itself.

One of the major religions that Jesus Christ challenged with His simple declarations was that of Stoicism. Stoicism had been found three centuries before Christ by Zeno, a native of the city of Citium [modern Larnaka] in Cyprus. Zeno would stand in the "stoa" or colonnade at Athens and deliver his philosophy about life. The three key words of Zeno’s creed were materialism, monism, and mutation.

Zeno believed that everything in the universe—every moment of time, every thought of the mind—had some kind of bodily substance or material. He believed that everything could ultimately be referred to a single unifying principle (monism). And Zeno taught that everything is perpetually in process of changing and becoming something different from what it was before (mutation).

According to one professor, "Many of the men who flocked into the Christian community during the second century had been educated in these doctrines from their youth." (Maxwell Staniforth) The teaching of Zeno would be very acceptable to the youth of today for his concepts are still pervasion reflected in the teaching of men like Carl Sagan who speaks of the Cosmos, eternal matter, and education (mutation). Jesus Christ declared that not only does God exist but also He is distinct from His creation. "I leave the world," said Christ, "and go to the Father."

If ever individuals are to fully appreciate God the Father, they must look closely at Jesus Christ. Dr. William Barclay notes, "It is Jesus’ supreme claim that in Him men see the mind, the character, and the heart of God."

Not all men see the mind, the character, and the heart of God and the Bible explains why. People are born physically alive but spiritually dead. The natural person is a soul without spiritual life, without spiritual sight, and without any genuine hope. Every impulse of the heart, every thought of the imagination, is away from God and is centered on self.

Society steps in to curb the natural tendency of the heart to be a god unto itself, lawless and accountable to no one. Sometimes, society does a pretty good job. Most of the time it fails. But what society cannot do, what the home, and the schools cannot do, what the Laws of the land cannot do for men and women and young people is to give them true spiritual life. Only the Almighty God can do that.

This truth does not stop individuals from trying to change. The bookstores are filled to overflowing with an endless array of self-help literature. And yet, for all of the many writings, the honest heart will confess that something is still needed in the soul. The Bible calls this need regeneration or the new birth. Jesus told Nicodemus, "You must be born again."

Educated and uneducated alike need to be born again. Good people as well as the dregs of society need to be born again. Those who enjoy religious privileges need to be born again.

One of the saddest stories in the entire Bible is that of the man who kissed the Hope of Heaven, literally, on his way to hell. His name—Judas Iscariot. Judas could have eaten of the Bread of Life, he could have drunk from the Well of Living Water, but instead Judas chose to merely kiss the Door of Heaven and depart to his own place. In the end, Judas was remorseful for the life he had lived and the deed he had done, but he remained unregenerate, unrepentant, and unresponsive to true discipleship.

Dear reader, do not come so close to Christ that you could kiss Him, and then die without faith in Him.

Have you ever stopped to consider your personal worldview? That is, have you ever really given thought to some of life’s most basic questions—and how your answers correspond with those who do not believe in the God of Christianity? Everyone has a framework of ideas, beliefs and presuppositions through which he interprets the world around him and how he interacts in it. Think for a moment about four fundamental questions: Who are we? Where are we? What is wrong? What is the answer? Do your answers revolve around man or are they God-centered? Consider: 

Who are we? One must first know who the only living and true God is before he can properly discern matters relating to self. Only when one discovers the beauty of an eternal, all-knowing, all-powerful, all-loving, and immutable Being can he truly begin to understand his own purpose. God created man in His image. That is to say, human beings were created out of the dust from the ground and became living creatures (Gen 2:6). Mankind was endowed with a soul, an intellectual capacity to reason, moral uprightness, and dominion over the creation. The Lord set human beings apart as the crowing achievement of His creation and we are to fulfill our highest purpose and chief end: to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.

Where are we? The world in which mankind lives and operates is one that was created by God—a world that God called "good." The world and all the inhabitants therein were created without defect. Nevertheless, sin entered into the world and death and destruction soon followed. This mystery of how the first evil choice could voluntarily arise from a creature made perfect and holy will probably never be solved this side of heaven. It is hard to imagine what would cause a creature to choose evil if he was not already inclined to do so. Theologians have debated this issue for centuries and have offered reasonable explanations. Finite creatures can only remain without blemish through the indwelling of a perpetually holy God guarding against sin. But, if God chose to remove his preserving power from his creatures they would inevitably fall. This is what happened with Satan and Adam causing each to rebel. By way of illustration, to make a candle burn—it must be lighted, and to make the flame go out—it only need to be left alone. With that said, we currently find ourselves living in a world, yet we are to be set apart in that we do not partake of anything that seeks to displace God. That is not to say, however, that we are not to toil or partake of temporal things while we are here, but rather, our future hope rests in something greater than the here and now. Jesus answered Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). Jesus has prepared a place for us in heaven (John 14:3), so that we might spend eternity in the presence of our Savior.

What is wrong? There is an often-told anecdote about The Times asking several prominent authors one question: What is wrong with the world? G. K. Chesterton—influential English writer of the 20^th century—responded simply, "I am." Chesterton’s response succinctly sums up the reality of sin in this world since the fall. The apostle Paul informs us that sin came into the world through Adam—who acted as the federal head—and death came through sin and so it spread to all of mankind because all have sinned (Rom 5:12). Evil is a bitter reality that God has sovereignly ordained to bring punishment upon the wicked (Ps 81:11–12), to test and to discipline those he loves (Heb 12:4–14), and to bring good from nefarious acts (Gen 50:20). Every sin that is committed has a special purpose in God’s design which he is working out for good for those who love him (Rom 8:28). It is not as if God did not want sin to come into existence. God’s will was that sin should enter the world for his ultimate glory, otherwise it would have never happened. And it was more than bare permission—it was by God’s eternal decree in order to fulfill his purpose. If God was not in absolute control over evil then we would have no assurance that he could prevent sinful actions from happening. If God did not ordain every evil act—past, present, and future—then there is no redemptive purpose why evil occurs. But, we know that God uses all sinful actions for his ultimate glory, just as Joseph told his brothers: "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today" (Gen 50:20).

What is the answer? True happiness is the consequence of having peace—and an everlasting peace that passes understanding comes only from a proper relationship with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 5:1). One is only a member of this relationship with God after the Holy Spirit has worked within the individual to renew his heart, making it alive. This act is necessary, because Paul tells us by nature people are "dead in the trespasses and sins" (Eph 2:1). Jesus further taught that unless a sinner was regenerated or born again, he could not see the kingdom of heaven. The New Testament speaks of hope as being the assurance of something not yet experienced. Our hope is not based on uncertain, wishful thinking but on Jesus Christ who is called "our hope" (1 Tim 1:1). This world is rife with trials and tribulations, but the Lord will give us strength to fight the good fight until he returns for all that believe.