freewillism

"SAVED" BY GOD'S WILL, NOT MAN'S WILL

by Ken Norris

John 5:40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

.....for the text says, "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." So far from asserting that men of their own wills ever do such a thing, it boldly and flatly denies it, and says, "Ye WILL NOT come to me, that ye might have life." Why, beloved, I am almost ready to exclaim, Have all free-willers no knowledge that they dare to run in the teeth of inspiration? Have all those that deny the doctrine of grace no sense? Have they so departed from God that they wrest this to prove free-will; whereas the text says, "Ye WILL NOT come to me that ye might have life."
(an excerpt from the sermon "Free Will - A Slave" by C H Spurgeon)

[ANOTHER QUOTE FROM SPURGEON...]
“Free-will doctrine – what does it? It magnifies man into God; it declares God’s purposes a nullity, since they cannot be carried out unless men are willing. It makes God’s will a waiting servant to the will of man, and the whole covenant of grace dependent upon human action. Denying election on the ground of injustice it holds God to be a debtor to sinners so that if He gives grace to one He is bound to do so to all. It teaches that the blood of Christ was shed equally for all men and since some are lost, this doctrine ascribes the difference to man’s own will, thus making the atonement itself a powerless thing until the will of man gives it efficacy. Those sentiments dilute the scriptural description of man’s depravity, and by imputing strength to fallen humanity, rob the Spirit of the glory of His effectual grace: this theory says in effect that it is of him that willeth, and of him that runneth, and not of God that showeth mercy.”

Decisional Regeneration by James E. Adams	Decisionism by Dr. Ken Matto	Unconditional Election - Romans 9 {audio} by James White
Human Inability by Charles Spurgeon	God's Sovereignty In The Salvation Of Men by Jonathan Edwards	God's Part and Man's Part in Salvation by John Reisinger
The Sovereignty Of God In Salvation by Arthur W. Pink	Bondage Of The Will by Martin Luther	Bible Logic Fallacies of Synergists by J W Hendryx & Roger Smalling

Who Controls Salvation - Man or God? {video} {This is a must listen to!!!}	"I Believe in 'Free-will' So I Can Boast Myself." {"Common Grace" Refuted; Regeneration Precedes Faith}
Freedom of the Will by Jonathan Edwards	Free Will and Divine Sovereignty by R C Sproul {video}
A Brief Comparative Study of: Arminianism and Calvinism	Chosen By God by R C Sproul
GOD'S WILL AND MAN'S WILL by Charles Spurgeon	The Fall & Its Consequences by John Samson
What About Altar Calls?	HOW CAN YOU FIGHT ELECTION?

SAVED ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL, NOT MAN'S WILL -

Daniel 4:35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, "What have you done?"

Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision [is] from the LORD.

Exodus 6:7 I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I [am] the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

Deuteronomy 7:6 "For you [are] a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.

Matthew 23:37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under [her] wings, but you were not willing!

Matthew 11:27 "All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

Acts 2:39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself."
{The Lord does the calling, not man}

Acts 2:47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Titus 3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

Romans 9:29 And as Isaiah said before: "Unless the LORD of Sabaoth had left us a seed, We would have become like Sodom, And we would have been made like Gomorrah."
{If God had not elected some to salvation, all would be lost; had God not chosen some, none would be saved.}

Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Ephesians 2:1-5 And you [He made alive], who were dead in trespasses and sins, (2) in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, (3) among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. (4) But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, (5) even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
{Believers are saved by God's mercy & grace, NOT by man's (freewill?) choice.}

Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Ephesians 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

James 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

1 Corinthians 3:7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

1 Corinthians 4:7 For who makes you differ [from another]? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive [it], why do you boast as if you had not received [it]?

2 Corinthians 5:18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,

Romans 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Psa 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in man.

2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Romans 10:20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.

Romans 9:11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

Psalms 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

Jeremiah 10:23 O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

Ephesians 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

Mark 10:24-27 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! (25) It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. (26) And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? (27) And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

Isaiah 65:12 Therefore I will number you for the sword, And you shall all bow down to the slaughter; Because, when I called, you did not answer; When I spoke, you did not hear, But did evil before My eyes, And chose [that] in which I do not delight."

Isaiah 66:4 So will I choose their delusions, And bring their fears on them; Because, when I called, no one answered, When I spoke they did not hear; But they did evil before My eyes, And chose [that] in which I do not delight."

Psalms 47:2-4 For the LORD Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth. (3) He will subdue the peoples under us, And the nations under our feet. (4) He will choose our inheritance for us, The excellence of Jacob whom He loves. Selah

Isaiah 55:11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (4) to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, (5) who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Acts 16:14 Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.

NO ONE SEEKS GOD OF THEIR OWN FREE WILL -

Westminster Confession -
9:3 Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation (Joh_15:5; Rom_5:6; Rom_8:7): so as, a natural man, being altogether averse from that good (Rom_3:10, Rom_3:12), and dead in sin (Eph_2:1, Eph_2:5; Col_2:13), is not able, by his own strength, to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto (Joh_6:44, Joh_6:65; 1Co_2:14; Eph_2:2-5; Tit_3:3-5).

Psalms 10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

Psalms 119:155 Salvation [is] far from the wicked, For they do not seek Your statutes.

Jeremiah 18:12 And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.

John 1:10-11 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. (11) He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

John 5:39-40 39 "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 "But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

Romans 3:11-12 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. (12) They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

1 Corinthians 2:14   The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
John 8:43   Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.
John 8:47   He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God."

1 Corinthians 12:3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

Isa 65:1 I am sought of [them that] asked not [for me]; I am found of [them that] sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation [that] was not called by my name.

Isaiah 66:3e-4 (3e) "Just as they have chosen their own ways, And their soul delights in their abominations, (4) So will I choose their delusions, And bring their fears on them; Because, when I called, no one answered, When I spoke they did not hear; But they did evil before My eyes, And chose that in which I do not delight."

Genesis 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually.

John 8:34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.

John 14:17 "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

Romans 8:5-9 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. (6) For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (7) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. (8) So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (9) But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
{In verse 7, "nor indeed can be" means "for it is unable to do so".}
{Unregenerate man is unable to do what is "pleasing to God"; namely, repent & believe}

John 8:43-47 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. (44) You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. (45) But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. (46) Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? (47) He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God."

2 Peter 2:10 and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries,

Noah: Gen. Chap.6-8    (How many people chose to go on the ark of their own free will?)
Genesis 6:5-8   Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (6) And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. (7) So the LORD said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them." (8) But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
Genesis 7:1, 5, 13, 16   (1) Then the LORD said to Noah, "Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen [that] you [are] righteous before Me in this generation. (5) And Noah did according to all that the LORD commanded him. (13) On the very same day Noah and Noah's sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and Noah's wife and the three wives of his sons with them, entered the ark (16) So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the LORD shut him in.

Luke 14:15-24 Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, "Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!"
(16) Then He said to him, "A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, (17) "and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, "Come, for all things are now ready." (18) "But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, "I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused." (19) "And another said, "I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused." (20) "Still another said, "I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come." (21) "So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, "Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind." (22) "And the servant said, "Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room." (23) "Then the master said to the servant, "Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled." (24) "For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper."
{ALL of those who were invited rejected Christ's offer. God, thus, chose (elected) others to attend the supper. Otherwise, God would have been eating by Himself. God had to draw (compel) them before they would attend the supper. Without God's intervention, man will always reject God and choose sin instead, as this parable illustrates.}

Luke 23:13, 18-21 (13) Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, ...
(18) And they all cried out at once, saying, "Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas" (19) who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder. (20) Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them. (21) But they shouted, saying, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!"
Luke 23:24-25 So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested. (25) And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will.
{Man's "free will" in action; choosing a murderer (sin) rather than Christ. Man's "free will" is shown here wanting to rid themselves of Christ by killing Him. So much for man's "free choice" while in his natural, unsaved state}

John 6:37   "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
John 6:44   "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him ; and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:65   And He said, "Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father ."
{The key word in these verses is the word "can". The use of this word here illustrates that man is "unable" to come to God without God's help. According to Strong's, the Greek word used here is "dunamai", which means "to have the ability...to be able to do something". If, as free-willers claim, man has a freewill choice to choose God, then the word "may" would be in these verses as opposed to the word "can". And, even if the word "may" were used in these verses, man still would not be able to come to God "unless it has been granted to him by My Father". (Hmmm, sure sounds like "election" to me.)
These are just three more verses(of the many) that clearly show that free-will doctrine does NOT line up with God's Word.}

RELATED ARTICLES:
The Jesus Syllogism	The Sinner, Neither Able Nor Willing	How Free is "Free Will"? Part 1 Part 2

GOD DOES THE SEEKING -

Ezekiel 34:11 For thus says the Lord GOD: "Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out.

Ezekiel 34:16 "I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment."

Luke 5:31-32 Jesus answered and said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. (32) "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."

Luke 15:1-5 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. (2) And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, "This Man receives sinners and eats with them." (3) So He spoke this parable to them, saying: (4) "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? (5) "And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

Luke 19:10 "for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

1 Timothy 1:13-16 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. (14) And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. (15) This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. (16) However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.

1 John 4:9-14 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. (10) In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (11) Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (12) No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. (13) By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. (14) And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.

IT'S GOD'S CHOICE & PURPOSE, NOT MAN'S -

John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

James 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Titus 3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

Acts 2:39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself."
{The Lord does the calling, not man}

Deuteronomy 7:6 "For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.

Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, (12) teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, (13) looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, (14) who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
{"all men" = all types of men.....Jews & Gentiles}

John 12:39-40 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, (40) He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with [their] eyes, nor understand with [their] heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

John 10:15-16 "As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. (16) "And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
(Notice that this verse says "I have", not "I shall have"; thus proving that being of "the fold"{the Elect} is NOT determined by man's future choice, but rather by God's predetermined choice.)

John 10:26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
(This verse does not say that they are not his sheep because they did not believe. It does say they did not believe because they are not his sheep.)

2 Corinthians 5:18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, (14) to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Isa 65:1 I am sought of [them that] asked not [for me]; I am found of [them that] sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation [that] was not called by my name.

Romans 11:2-5 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, (3) Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. (4) But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. (5) Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Romans 9:27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:

Romans 9:18-24 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. (19) Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? (20) Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? (21) Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? (22) What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: (23) And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, (24) Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

Acts 10:35 "But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.

Acts 10:40-41 "Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, (41) "not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, [even] to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.

Ephesians 1:4-6 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, (5) having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, (6) to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.

Psalms 100:3 Know that the LORD, He [is] God; [It is] He [who] has made us, and not we ourselves; [We are] His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Isaiah 44:6-8 "Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: "I [am] the First and I [am] the Last; Besides Me [there is] no God. (7) And who can proclaim as I do? Then let him declare it and set it in order for Me, Since I appointed the ancient people. And the things that are coming and shall come, Let them show these to them. (8) Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and declared [it]? You [are] My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed [there is] no other Rock; I know not [one]."

Isaiah 26:1-15 In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:
"We have a strong city; [God] will appoint salvation [for] walls and bulwarks. (2) Open the gates, That the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in. (3) You will keep [him] in perfect peace, [Whose] mind [is] stayed [on You], Because he trusts in You. (4) Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD, [is] everlasting strength.
(5) For He brings down those who dwell on high, The lofty city; He lays it low, He lays it low to the ground, He brings it down to the dust. (6) The foot shall tread it down The feet of the poor [And] the steps of the needy." (7) The way of the just [is] uprightness; O Most Upright, You weigh the path of the just.
(8) Yes, in the way of Your judgments, O LORD, we have waited for You; The desire of [our] soul [is] for Your name And for the remembrance of You. (9) With my soul I have desired You in the night, Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early; For when Your judgments [are] in the earth, The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. (10) Let grace be shown to the wicked, [Yet] he will not learn righteousness; In the land of uprightness he will deal unjustly, And will not behold the majesty of the LORD.
(11) LORD, [when] Your hand is lifted up, they will not see. But they will see and be ashamed For [their] envy of people; Yes, the fire of Your enemies shall devour them. (12) LORD, You will establish peace for us, For You have also done all our works in us. (13) O LORD our God, masters besides You Have had dominion over us; [But] by You only we make mention of Your name.
(14) [They are] dead, they will not live; [They are] deceased, they will not rise. Therefore You have punished and destroyed them, And made all their memory to perish. (15) You have increased the nation, O LORD, You have increased the nation; You are glorified; You have expanded all the borders of the land.

Deuteronomy 31:16-17   And the LORD said to Moses: "Behold, you will rest with your fathers; and this people will rise and play the harlot with the gods of the foreigners of the land, where they go to be among them, and they will forsake Me and break My covenant which I have made with them. (17) "Then My anger shall be aroused against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide My face from them, and they shall be devoured. And many evils and troubles shall befall them, so that they will say in that day, 'Have not these evils come upon us because our God is not among us?'
Deuteronomy 31:20   "When I have brought them to the land flowing with milk and honey, of which I swore to their fathers, and they have eaten and filled themselves and grown fat, then they will turn to other gods and serve them; and they will provoke Me and break My covenant.
Deuteronomy 31:27, 29   "for I know your rebellion and your stiff neck. If today, while I (Moses) am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the LORD, then how much more after my death? (29) "For I know that after my death you will become utterly corrupt, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days, because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger through the work of your hands."

GOD DOES IT ALL -

Salvation Is Of The Lord
by Charles Spurgeon

Ezekiel 36:26-27 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. (27) And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

John 6:29 Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."

Deuteronomy 29:4 "Yet the LORD has not given you a heart to perceive and eyes to see and ears to hear, to this [very] day.

1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God [which was] with me.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us [is] God, (22) who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

Titus 3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure.
(The unsaved will not seek to be led by God)

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Hebrews 1:1-3 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, (2) has in these last days spoken to us by [His] Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; (3) who being the brightness of [His] glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
{The Lord cleanses His people of all their sins by Himself.}

Hebrews 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

GOD DRAWS US TO HIM -

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Psa 65:4 Blessed [is the man whom] thou choosest, and causest to approach [unto thee, that] he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, [even] of thy holy temple.

John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

UNBELIEVERS ARE SPIRITUALLY DEAD -

Ephesians 2:1 And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Ephesians 2:4-5 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Colossians 2:13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,

John 5:21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth [them]; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
{Spiritual death is primarily in view here; physical death is secondarily in view}

John 3:5-6 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Dead Dry Bones: Ezek. 37: 1-14 (Raised to life without "accepting" it first) -
Ezekiel 37:1-14 The hand of the LORD came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. (2) Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. (3) And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" So I answered, "O Lord GOD, You know."
(4) Again He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, "O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! (5) "Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: "Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. (6) "I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD."
(7) So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. (8) Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.
(9) Also He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, "Thus says the Lord GOD: "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live." (10) So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.
(11) Then He said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, "Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!" (12) "Therefore prophesy and say to them, "Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. (13) "Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. (14) "I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it," says the LORD."

Raising Of Lazarus: John 11:38-44 (Raised to life without "accepting" it first) -
John 11:38-44 Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. (39) Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days."
(40) Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" (41) Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. (42) "And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me." (43) Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" (44) And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go."

GOSPEL IS VEILED TO THE SPIRITUALLY DEAD -

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.

Matthew 11:27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and [he] to whomsoever the Son will reveal [him].

Romans 11:7-8 What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. (8) Just as it is written: "God has given them a spirit of stupor, Eyes that they should not see And ears that they should not hear, To this very day."

Hebrews 4:2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.

PEOPLE MUST BE REGENERATED BEFORE
THEY CAN UNDERSTAND & BELIEVE THE GOSPEL -

The New Birth
by Brian Schwertley

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
("Kingdom of God" used as a synonym of "the gospel": Mat. 13:11, 19; Lk. 4:43, 8:1, 9:2, 9:60; Acts 20:25, 28:23; Lk. 17:21 & Jer. 31:33)

John 8:43 "Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.

John 1:5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Romans 8:5-9 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. (6) For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (7) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. (8) So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (9) But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

1 Corinthians 12:3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Hebrews 4:2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.

Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

Jeremiah 24:7 Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I [am] the LORD; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart.

John 14:17 "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

John 8:47 "He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God."

John 6:63,65 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. (65) And He said, "Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father."

Ephesians 2:1-10   And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, (2) in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, (3) among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
(4) But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, (5) even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), (6) and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (7) that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
(8) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, (9) not of works, lest anyone should boast. (10) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Genesis 5:1-3   This is the book of the genealogy of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. (2) He created them male and female, and blessed them and called them Mankind in the day they were created. (3) And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.
Romans 5:12   Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned;
Ephesians 2:3   among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
[Notice that Genesis 5:1 states, that man was created in God's image before the Fall. But, also notice what verse 3 states, that man, henceforth, is made in Adam's sin-tainted image, born with a sin nature, after the Fall.]

THE CROSS + NOTHING -
(God does not need our help)

Isaiah 48:3,5 "I have declared the former things from the beginning; They went forth from My mouth, and I caused them to hear it. Suddenly I did them, and they came to pass. (5) Even from the beginning I have declared it to you; Before it came to pass I proclaimed it to you, Lest you should say, `My idol has done them, And my carved image and my molded image Have commanded them.'
John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Hebrews 4:3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Isaiah 46:9-11 Remember the former things of old, For I [am] God, and [there is] no other; [I am] God, and [there is] none like Me, (10) Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, "My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure," (11) Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken [it]; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed [it]; I will also do it.

Romans 10:9-10 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (10) For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
{Confession because of faith, not into it} {Remember what Mat. 7:21 says: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven."}

GOD IS TOTALLY SOVEREIGN -

Isaiah 46:9-11 Remember the former things of old, For I [am] God, and [there is] no other; [I am] God, and [there is] none like Me, (10) Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, `My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,' (11) Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken [it]; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed [it]; I will also do it.

Isaiah 55:11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Genesis 50:20 "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
[ This verse shows that God's plan & purpose will NOT be changed, despite man's attempt at doing so. Though man tries to change things for his own sinful purposes, God's will & purpose will ALWAYS prevail. ]

Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision [is] from the LORD.

Matthew 10:29 "Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will.

Acts 4:27-28 "For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together (28) "to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.

1 Samuel 2:6-9 "The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up. (7) The LORD makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. (8) He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the beggar from the ash heap, To set them among princes And make them inherit the throne of glory. "For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, And He has set the world upon them. (9) He will guard the feet of His saints, But the wicked shall be silent in darkness. "For by strength no man shall prevail.

Joshua 23:14 "Behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth. And you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one word of them has failed.

Genesis 20:6 And God said to him in a dream, "Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her.

Psalms 33:8-11 Let all the earth fear the LORD; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. (9) For He spoke, and it was [done]; He commanded, and it stood fast. (10) The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. (11) The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations.

Job 14:1-5 "Man who is born of woman Is of few days and full of trouble. (2) He comes forth like a flower and fades away; He flees like a shadow and does not continue. (3) And do You open Your eyes on such a one, And bring me to judgment with Yourself? (4) Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? No one! (5) Since his days are determined, The number of his months is with You; You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass.

Psalms 115:3 But our God [is] in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

Psalms 135:5-6 For I know that the LORD is great, And our Lord is above all gods. (6) Whatever the LORD pleases He does, In heaven and in earth, In the seas and in all deep places.

Daniel 4:35 All the inhabitants of the earth [are] reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And [among] the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, "What have You done?"

Romans 9:18-24 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. (19) Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? (20) Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? (21) Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
(22) What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: (23) And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, (24) Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

1 Peter 2:7-8 Therefore, to you who believe, [He is] precious; but to those who are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone," (8) and "A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense." They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

The Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 10 illustrates these points:
1. All those whom God hath predestinated unto life, and those only, he is pleased, in his appointed and accepted time, effectually to call,[1] by his Word and Spirit,[2] out of that state of sin and death, in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation, by Jesus Christ;[3] enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God,[4] taking away their heart of stone, and giving unto them a heart of flesh;[5] renewing their wills, and, by his almighty power, determining them to that which is good,[6] and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ:[7] yet so, as they come most freely, being made willing by his grace.[8]
      1. Acts 13:48; Rom. 4:28, 30; 11:7; Eph. 1:5, 11; II Tim. 1:9-10
      2. II Thess. 2:13-14; James 1:18; II Cor. 3:3, 6; I Cor. 2:12
      3. II Tim. 1:9-10; I Peter 2:9; Rom 8:2; Eph. 2:1-10
      4. Acts 26:18; I Cor. 2:10, 12; Eph. 1:17-18; II Cor. 4:6
      5. Ezek. 36:26
      6. Ezek. 11:19; 36:27; Deut. 30:6; John 3:5; Titus 3:5; I Peter 1:23
      7. John 6:44-45; Acts 16:14
      8. Psa. 110:3; John 6:37; Matt. 11:28; Rev. 22:17; Rom. 6:16-18; Eph. 2:8; Phil 1:29
2. This effectual call is of God's free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man,[9] who is altogether passive therein, until, being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit,[10] he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it.[11]
      9. II Tim. 1:9; Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 9:11
     10. I Cor. 2:14; Rom. 8:7-9; Titus 3:4-5
     11. John 6:37; Ezek. 36:27; I John 3:9; 5:1
4. Others, not elected, although they may be called by the ministry of the Word,[15] and may have some common operations of the Spirit,[16] yet they never truly come unto Christ, and therefore cannot be saved:[17] much less can men, not professing the Christian religion, be saved in any other way whatsoever,[17] be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature, and the laws of that religion they do profess.[18] And, to assert and maintain that they may, is very pernicious, and to be detested.[19]
     15. Matt. 13:14-15; 22:14; Acts 13:48; 28:24
     16. Matt. 7:22; 13:20, 21; Heb. 6:4-5
     17. John 6:37, 64-66; 8:44; 13:18; cf. 17:12
     18. Acts 4:12; I John 4:2-3; II John 1:9; John 4:22; 14:6; 17:3; Eph. 2:12-13; Rom. 10:13-17
     19. II John 1:9-12; I Cor. 16:22; Gal. 1:6-8

REPENTANCE IS FROM GOD -

Luke 5:32 "I have not come to call [the] righteous, but sinners, to repentance."

Acts 5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand [to be] a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Acts 11:18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

Romans 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow produces repentance [leading] to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

2Tim 2:25-26 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; (26) And [that] they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

True repentance makes us hate our evil (Ezekiel 36:31), acknowledge our sin (Psalm 32:5) and also involves resulting deeds (Acts 26:20) & turning from that sin (Ezekiel 18:30).

EVEN FAITH IS FROM GOD -

John 6:29 Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."

Romans 4:4-6 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. (5) But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, (6) just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think [of himself] more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

Eph 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Php 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Acts 18:27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ:

Acts 3:16 "And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which [comes] through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

Psalms 22:9 Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother's breasts.

Faith is a fruit of the Spirit:
John 15:4   Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Galatians 5:22   But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
1 Corinthians 12:7-9   But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit [of all]: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,

THE ELECT ARE CHOSEN BY GOD
BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD -

Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Revelation 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

Matthew 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

Does ALL always mean ALL? -

The question is, does ALL always mean ALL in the bible "OR" is it qualified? Does ALL always mean every single person without exception, or is what it covers defined by Bible context and reference? The "TRUTH" is that the word "ALL" is qualified in the scriptures. For example:
Mark 1:5 "And there went out to him ALL the land of Judea, and they of Jerusalem and were ALL baptized in the river Jordan"
{Certainly not every single man, woman, and child (bar none) in the Land of Judea went to get baptized that day, correct? The "ALL" there is qualified.}

John 8:2 "And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and ALL the people came unto him; and he sat down and taught them."
{Again, the "ALL" is qualified. Even though it says "ALL" it doesn't mean that every single person came to listen to Jesus.}

Acts 22:15   "For thou (Paul) shalt be a witness unto ALL men of what thou hast seen or heard."
Matthew 10:22   "And ye shall be hated of ALL men for my name's sake."
John 3:26   "And they came unto John and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou bearest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and ALL men came to him."
Luke 2:1   "And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that ALL the world should be taxed."
{In these scriptures we see "CLEARLY" that the word "ALL" does not in these instances mean every person without exception. Either the word "ALL" is being used in a sense of a hyperbole, referring to a very large number but not everyone without exception, or it is being used to speak of ALL people without distinction. And so to say "ALL" always means all or should be understood to mean all in scripture is a misnomer.}

If there are some of you who are still not convinced, here's one "all" you'll have to deal with:
Luke 23:18-19 And they all cried out at once, saying, "Away with this [Man], and release to us Barabbas" (19) who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder.
Luke 23:24-25 So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested. (25) And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will.
{This "all" shows man's will rejecting God and choosing Barabbas (sin). They ALL rejected Christ.}

Also, the word "world" does not necessarily mean every individual on the planet:
John 12:19   The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, "You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!"
{If "world" meant every individual, then that would include the Pharisees who are complaining in this verse.}

The following verses illustrate that the meaning of "world" can mean certain individuals from the entirety of the world:
John 17:9   "I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.
Revelation 5:9   And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

RELATED ARTICLE -
ALL ALWAYS MEANS ALL, RIGHT?

On the issue of salvation, the "ALL" means only the "ELECT" -

The elect = those chosen by God to be saved (past, present & future):
Ephesians 1:4-5 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (5) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

In 2 Peter 3:9, Peter is speaking of only the saved. He is speaking to believers here(as verse 1:1 shows); the "US-WARD", the "ANY" and the "ALL" refer to the saved only(the elect) in verse 9.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward(the elect), not willing that any(of the elect) should perish, but that all(of the elect) should come to repentance.

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad.
This verse says the "we...all" must appear before the judgement seat of Christ. Only believers appear here.
In context, the "we" are believers only, as the following verse shows:
2 Corinthians 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Unbelievers will appear before the great white throne of judgement and are cast into the lake of fire(the second death):
Revelation 20:11-15 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. (12) And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (13) And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. (14) And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (15) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Believers do not take part in this judgement:
Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
2 Peter 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

ALL can also mean "some of every kind" or "some from every nation" as the following verses illustrate:
Matthew 13:47-50 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, (48) "which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. (49) "So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, (50) "and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth."
Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

Many false teachers, especially Universalists, say:
"We are all God's children"

...but...

God's Word says:
John 1:12   But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
and...
Romans 8:14   For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
and...
Ephesians 1:4-5   just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, (5) having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
and...
Romans 9:6-8   But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, (7) nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, "In Isaac your seed shall be called." (8) That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.

{Only those who truly believe in Christ are children of God }

IRRESISTIBLE GRACE -

Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, (12) Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Psalms 65:4 Blessed [is the man whom] thou choosest, and causest to approach [unto thee, that] he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, [even] of thy holy temple.

John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.