The eisegesis series part 2: Joshua 24:15

Notice in this picture how they have two paths to choose from? This is one example of the gross misapplying of the verse to free will. Man is already on the road to destruction, and does not have to do one thing to go to hell. Man does not come to the proverbial ‘fork in the road’ and choose option A or option B.

 

Now onto the issue at hand…

 

I don’t know the times I’ve heard this verse used and abused when used in conjunction with free will. Anytime ppl hear free will, they use this verse as one of their favorites. They’ll say, “it’s a free choice,” and “and as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” But’s lets delve deeper into this verse and see what it entails.

 

“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

 

Ppl get hung up on the choose for yourselves whom you will serve  and but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Is that what that verse is really saying? Absolutely not. So, lets lay the context out for all to see and read for themselves and see which side is right.

 

In verse 2, Joshua tells them how God had called Abraham out from Ur, as he and his family worshiped other gods, in other words, they were pagan idol worshippers. He then told them how God had rescued them from Egypt(another pagan nation Israel was enslaved to) and even drowned Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea. He then mentioned how God had delivered them from Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites. Then we come to verse 14 where Joshua said “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.” He, Joshua, instructed them to throw away the idols their ancestors worshiped(so they were also pagan idol worshipers, too). Then in verse 15 Joshua stated But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. So, Joshua is basically saying, If you think serving the Lord is not desirable for you, then choose the idols your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites. So, he is telling them to choose to serve idol A or idol B. He then said, But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

 

Now, they did say they would not forsake the Lord, but Joshua said they were unable to serve Him[vs 19] then they said they would and he said  “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the Lord.”[vs 22] and they replied “Yes, we are witnesses.” 

 

But in reality, did they serve Him? No. As you can see that many times they fell into idolatry and killed many of God’s prophets, after this encounter with Joshua and his stern warning. “He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after he has been good to you.” [vss19b,20] So, what this verse is really saying, is not that they could choose between serving God or Satan, but rather, choose from idol A, the gods their fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or idol B, the gods of the Amorites.

 

Not much to choose from, eh?

 

The eisegesis series, part 1: 2 Peter 3:9

 

In today’s churches, very little exegesis is being used, and eisegesis is being abused as you can tell by the state of said churches. I will attempt to clear the muddied water and tackle some verses that ppl want to misapply to fit their theology. I will use the NIV and, to a lesser extent, the NASB. So, here we go…

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.[2 Peter 3:9 NIV]

Now, ppl want to focus on the part of this verse that says not wanting anyone to perish and then say that God desires all to be saved. But, look at who the target audience is who Peter was writing to. In 2 Peter 1:1-2 he wrote Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:  Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. It was written to believers. The whole context of this second book Peter wrote is address to believers. Here are several examples of this truth:

 

His divine power has given us everything…[vs 3]

Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises….[vs 4]

For we did not follow cleverly devised stories…[vs 16]

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture…[vs 20]

……just as there will be false teachers among you.[2 Peter 2:1]

In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories….[vs 3]

Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you….[2 Peter 3:1]

I want you to recall the words spoken….[vs 2]

Above all, you must understand that in the last days…..[vs 3]

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends:…[vs 8]

…Instead he is patient with you…[vs 9]

 

The context of 3:9 is that God is not willing any of His sheep would die lost. In Romans 8:28-30, we can see a clear chain…hence being referred to as the ‘Golden Chain of Redemption’, and all of this chain has them being linked to God’s sovereign choice of those He elected to salvation. Look at how Paul wrote this…And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

 

First, we can see that God works for the good those who love Him. Now, who are the ones who love Him? The regenerate, the saved, as we can read Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. [1 John 4:7] Those who truly love God have been born of Him. He has given them a new heart and Spirit[Ezekiel 11:19 & Ezekiel 36:26]. So, those who love Him have been born of Him, and He works for the good of them.

 

Second, we can read that those who love Him, have been born of Him, and these who have been born of Him, He works for the good of them, these are those who are called according to His purpose. These are those who He foreknew. Now, this is not that foreseen faith where He looked down through the corridors of time to see those who would receive Him and He elected them accordingly, as this impugns His omniscience. The word ‘foreknew’, in context, means to be pre-arranged. Now, we can find God’s foreknowledge in Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.[1 Peter 1:1-2] So, God’s elect have been chosen based upon His foreknowledge, His pre-arrangement, in giving them to His Son to redeem for the world of lost ppl.

 

Third, we can read that those who love Him, are those who were born of Him, those who God works for their good, those who have been called according to His purpose, those He foreknew(pre-arranged), He predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son. Now, where ppl who don’t understand predestination correctly go off the rails is they misunderstand it and accuse us of believing God predestines ppl to hell. They believe that any predestination is double predestination. That is not what most Calvinists believe. Now, I am sure there are some who hold to this gross error, but most mainstream Calvinists do not. When Adam fell, the whole human race fell, being in Adam. God had to do nothing to ensure their eternal ruin. However, by sending His Son to die for a MULTITUDE of undeserving sinners, He predestined them for heaven. So to understand predestination in its proper context is a most God-exalting doctrine. We can read where election took place in For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love  he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—[Ephesians 1:4-5] Before the beginning of time, He chose a ppl to give to His Son to redeem from the world of lost ppl.

 

Fourth, we read that those who love Him, are those who were born of Him, those who God works for their good, those who have been called according to His purpose, those He foreknew(pre-arranged), those He predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, He also called. Now, how is it that He calls ppl today? It is through the gospel of the Christ. We can read But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim:  If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.  As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,  for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?  And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”  But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message? Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.[Romans 10:8-17] And also For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”  Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.[1 Corinthians 1:18-21] And lastly And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.[Ephesians 1:13] All of this links up. It takes the hearing of the gospel to bring ppl to faith in Christ. That is how God saves ppl.

 

Fifth, those who love Him, are those who have been born of Him, those who God works for their good, those who have been called according to His purpose, those He foreknew(pre-arranged), those He predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, those He also called, He also justified. Now, how are ppl justified? It is by faith. As we can read Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.[Romans 5:1] Now, seeing that faith is a fruit of the Spirit, per Galatians 5:22, and those who are in the flesh(devoid of God’s Spirit in its proper context) can not possess a fruit of the Spirit, it shows that faith is a gift of God. See Romans 12:3 and Hebrews 12:2 as well. We can further read about God justifying ppl apart from works where However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.[Romans 4:5] And also Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.[Romans 8:33] And in Galatians 3:8 it states that God justifies the nations(heathen) by faith. So, if faith is innate within man and not a gift, man can justify himself, and voids all verses that state it is God who justifies.

 

Sixth, those who love Him, are those who have been born of Him, those who God works for their good, those who have been called according to His purpose, those He foreknew(pre-arranged), those He predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, those He called, those He also justified, He also glorified. Now, what is glorification? It is that moment at the consummation of all things, where we are changed into the image of the Christ, given our glorified body, and appear in His likeness. We can find this where Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.  For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.[1 Corinthians 15:51-54] We are changed from mortal to immortal, from perishable to imperishable. What a day that will be for those who look forward to His coming in the cloud!!

 

So in closing, I have done my very best to show you how God is not willing that any of His ppl die lost. The context of 2 Peter 3:9 should bear this out, if you are willing to lay aside your presuppositions and allow the bible to teach you. We know that many will die eternally lost, away from the presence of God, and if God is not willing any should perish, many are dying in opposition to His will. Are you willing to say that aloud to others? Does God’s will triumph over man’s? Is He too weak to overcome man’s will? I’ll let you decide.