Only the Predestinated are Redeemed
March
10, 2002
WHO IS THIS
MELCHISEDEC 65-0221E 115 Everything's in three. The
natural birth's in three. What's the first thing happens to the woman having
a baby? What breaks first? Water. What breaks next? Blood. What's the next
process? Life: Water, blood, spirit. What happens to the plant? Rots.
What's the first thing? Stalk. What's the next? Tassel. What's the next? Shuck.
Then the grain comes out of that, just the three stages of it till it
gets to the grain. That's exactly. God vindicates that. That's always been
right; God vindicates it to be true. Show's plainly the predestinated is the
only one that's considered in redemption. Did you get it? Let me say that
again. The predestinated is the only one that's considered in redemption.
People might be making like, think they are, but the real redemption is
those that are predestinated. Because the very word "redeem"
means "to bring back." Is that right? To redeem is something... To
redeem anything is bring it back to its original place. Hallelujah. So
it's only the predestinated will be brought back, because the others didn't
come from there. See? Bring back...
This morning I would like to
focus our thinking on this one statement here, Show's
plainly the predestinated is the only one that's considered in redemption. Did you get it? Let me say that again. The
predestinated is the only one that's considered in redemption.
Notice that Brother said these words twice. I believe that in the mouth of Two or three let all things be established. Therefore, as when Jesus said, Verily, Verily I say unto thee, the use of the same words twice was to make a strong impact on what was to be said. And when Brother Branham said, "let me repeat that", and then he did, he was making this statement to place an impact upon our understanding. He said it to get our attention focused on this very thought. And so we shall.
Now, let's look at this statement. In it there are a few words we must understand their meaning in order to understand the scope of this statement.
#1) We must know what the word predestinate means.
#2) We must know that these people who are predestined are the ONLY ONES who are considered in redemption. Therefore, we must know what ONLY ONES considered means.
#3) We must know what he means by redemption.
Now, let's look at #1) What does this word predestinate mean? And who is he speaking of?
First of all let me say, there are many who do not believe in predestination. Back in the early 80's I heard a very popular radio minister say that Predestination is a lie from the pits of hell. Soon after that he fell very deep into sin. Then I heard a brother who claimed to be following Brother Branham's Message say that predestination was a false doctrine. So who is right, the sinner or the One Who wrote the Bible? If it's not right, then what is it doing in God's Bible? If it's not right then rip it out of your Bible! And if we were rip out every page in the Bible that the word predestinate and its synonyms were used, we would have a rather flimsy and spineless bible.
First of all let me say that the word predestinate has to do with both to "purpose and plan". And therefore, in it's Biblical usage, it is dealing with both God's purpose and the plan in which he utilized to bring about his purpose.
In Romans chapter 8 and 9 the Apostle Paul tell us that not only did God foreknow us, but He also predestined our end, which means He determined beforehand our end. What would the Book of Romans be without chapters 8 and 9?
ROMANS
8:29 ¶ For whom he did foreknow,(for
whom He did know beforehand) he also did
predestinate (He also did plan their destiny beforehand) to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be
the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, (plan
out their destiny beforehand) them he also called:
and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also
glorified.
So we see the Apostle Paul tell
us here that the whole plan of redemption is dependent upon a God Who is wise
enough and powerful enough that He might is able to not only choose us before
we even came into this world, but He is also powerful enough to ensure that we
will finish the course and come to the conclusion that he planed for us to
come.
And in Chapter 9 we read, ROMANS 9:8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these [are]
not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the
seed. 9 For this [is] the word of
promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. 10 And not only [this]; but when Rebecca also
had conceived by one, [even] by our father Isaac; 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;) 12
It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but
Esau have I hated. 14 ¶ What shall we say then? [Is there]
unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15 For he saith to Moses, I will have
mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have
compassion. 16 So then [it is] not of
him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 17
For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised
thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared
throughout all the earth. 18 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,
Notice, only on those which he had afore prepared for Glory, and not on any one else. Now, it is very apparent by reading chapter 9 that God is in the predestination business. And it is even more apparent that if He did not predestinate you to Glory, you will never receive it. Now, the word predestination comes from two words, pre- a prefix meaning beforehand, and the word destination which has it's root in the word destiny. In other words, a destiny beforehand. And if there is a setting of a destiny beforehand, then there has got to be a power that can ensure it. And we hear God's Own Words declaring thus.
ISAIAH
55:8 For my thoughts [are] not your
thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For [as] the
heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my
thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For
as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither,
but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give
seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth
forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but It shall
accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto
I sent it.
So we see that we have a God who is not only able to purpose but to plan the fulfillment of that purpose. Abraham knew this and God blessed him for it.
ROMANS
4:20 He staggered not at the promise of
God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he
had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him
for righteousness.
Now, this is two chapters in the Book of Romans we would have to throw out. And anyone who even remotely claims to have any knowledge of Scripture will tell you that the entire book of Ephesians rests on the foundational principle of God's purpose and plan as laid out in chapter 1. Throw out chapter One and you might as well throw out the rest of the Book of Ephesians.
EPHESIANS
1:3 ¶
Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath
blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ: 4 According
as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, (Now,
if He, God, chose us before the foundations of the world, then our own choice
is meaningless. It's a done deal. And his plan was)
that we should be holy and without blame before him (or in His
Presene). 5 In love Having predestinated us unto the
adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good
pleasure of his will,(there's his will again) 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he
hath made us accepted in the
beloved. (There's that past tense language coming in again) 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the
forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8 Wherein he hath
abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9 Having made known unto us the
mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed
in himself: (And there's that purpose coming up again) 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might
gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and
which are on earth; [even] in him: (Now this is telling us what is
coming in the future) 11 In whom also we have
obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him
(Notice again it is all
done according to His Will, therefore your will has nothing to do with it,) who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
(that means His Own, and it does not mean ours.) 12
That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Now, the thing of it is this, if You do not believe that God predestinates, then you can not believe that God has a purpose and a plan. Then you cannot believe in prophecy of future events, for that would make God a director and Guider in the affairs of man. Then you would have to believe in a God who is dead, and inept.
I
CORINTHIANS 2:7 ¶ But we speak the wisdom
of God in a mystery, [even] the hidden [wisdom], which God ordained before
the world unto our glory: When? For what? Before the world was
framed, for what purpose? For our Glory.
That is why the Apostle Paul
could say, 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:
Now, let's look at point #2) Brother Branham said The predestinated is the ONLY ONE that's considered.
And the word con·sid·ered
means 1. Carried out with careful thought; deliberate: And this
again has to do with purpose and plan.
The 2nd
definition of considered is: Highly regarded; or esteemed. And it seems
that those who God has ordained to Glory, He also has highly regarded, and
esteemed, because the word esteem comes from the word to estimate which means
to place a value upon. Therefore the value that has been placed upon this group
of esteemed people is that they are redeemable. In otherwords, they are worthy
of paying a price to get them back. And what a price it was that was paid.
And that brings us
to point #3) which has to do
with the redeemed. He said, The predestinated
is the only one that's considered in redemption. And then brother Branham
goes on to give us the definition of what redeem means. He says, Because the very word "redeem" means "to
bring back." Is that right? To redeem is something... To redeem
anything is bring it back to its original place. Hallelujah. So it's
only the predestinated will be brought back, because the others didn't come
from there. See? Bring back...
re·deem v. tr. 1. To recover ownership of by paying a specified sum.
Therefore Brother Branham hit it exactly right when he said the Predestinated are the only ones esteemed highly enough by God for Him to pay the price of His first born son to redeem the others back. And why was God willing to sacrifice His Only begotten Son? Because all His other sons and daughters had fallen and were in need of redemption or redeeming, and a price had to be paid, and that price that was paid was the most valuable thing God had. This is why it is so important to understand the pre-incarnate role of the Son of God, and His relationship to the Father. Because before anything else was created, God birthed forth the soul and Spirit and even the Theophany of this first born Son. And God dwelt with His Son for ages and ages and working through the instrumentality of His Son, God brought forth the cosmos, and the Universe and all of creation. Then all of God's other children were allowed to fall, to bring forth into manifestation all of God's great attributes of healer and saviour and redeemer, etc. The fall of His children allowed God to show forth His wonderful attributes of Love, Mercy and Grace, etc.
But then they were fallen, and a price had to be paid, and God paid the greatest of all His treasures, that of His First-Born Son, showing the high value he placed on His children that He predestinated.
Now, we have shown you What Predestination is, and we have shown you that the predestinated are the only ones who can be redeemed, and we showed you that to redeem means to buy back, or bring back to their rightful position by paying a price, and we showed you what that price was, but let's look at one more thought before we close and that is what that rightful position is, and how we get there? This is the bonus point, right here. Look, only the predestinated have representation. Jesus said, 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. 45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
And if Jesus said no man can come then no man can come unless the Father Himself draws or pulls him to come, period. Then tell me there isn't any predestination? Notice Jesus told us God would draw them and then He tells us how. He says they will all be taught, but only those who learn will come, and that is the key. You must not only believe it, but you must Learn of Him.
378-1
RESUME OF THE AGES The only ones that
came to Him were already predestinated by the Father.
JOHN 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life. 64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. 65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66 From that [time] many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
FEAST OF THE TRUMPETS 64-0719M 39-4 Now, as soon as this Church, the Bride is drawed together, she's taken up; in that mystery of the Seventh Seal, or the Seventh Seal, the mystery going. And the Jews is called by the mystery of the Seventh Trumpet, which is two prophets, Elijah and Moses. And they come back, and there's where the Pentecostals is all mixed up. They're looking for something to happen, and the Church is done gone, and that's to the Jews.
Now, notice what he said? The seventh seal mystery is what draws the Bride together. And therefore only the Elect or the predestinated are able to receive the mystery revelation of the seventh seal.
TRYING
TO DO GOD A SERVICE 65-1127B 130 He
only reveals His Word in the predestinated.
MARK
OF THE BEAST 56-0715 E-13 God in the beginning knowing all things,
nothing has ever been predicted or put in the Scripture, but what God already
spoke it before the foundation of the world. The whole plan of God was laid
out. You believe it? Saint John the 1st chapter, about the 7th verse, It says,
In the beginning was the Word,... the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Then what this Bible was, is God before the foundation of the world. The only
reason it's written in here, is prophets receiving from God foreknowledge of His
predestinated plan of the ages. A lawyer, studies the books to find out all the
knowledge that he knows how to find out, so that he can give it to his--his
client. Oh, that's the way the prophets are, the teachers are. They study the
word. First the prophet goes to God. And the Word comes down, and he wrote it
in the Bible. And now, that was God's foreordained plan the prophet saw. And he
wrote it in word so that the people following would be warned of situations and
things to come. See Now, by inspiration that Word was spoke by God. By
inspirations the prophets brought It. And by inspiration we have to receive It.
It's not a material. It's not a natural thing. It's not a... The carnal mind...
Listen. The man in his carnal conditions can never understand it, no way at
all. It's impossible. For the spiritual things to the carnal mind is foolish,
says the Scripture, and vice versa. Now, we must be spiritual minded.
SUPER
SIGN 62-0708 91 And no seed, I don't care what it is, if it's not
germitized, it will not come up. I don't care how many times you join church,
how many denominations you belong to; unless that life of yours is germitized
by the Holy Spirit, you'll never go in the rapture; you'll never raise from
that place that you go beneath the grave. That's right.
CHRIST
IS THE MYSTERY 63-0728 18-6 So you can see
here, basically in the beginning the very thought that God had in His mind, He
hid it from all of those scholars. And that just a number, a selected
predestinated number, a predestinated people was the only ones that heard it.
CHRIST
IS THE MYSTERY 63-0728 47-5
Oh, notice. The Holy Ghost is the only Revealer of the Divine revelation of
Christ. There's no school can do it; no scholar can do it, no man, how well
educated, how godly or anything else; there's no man can do it. I could sting
hard here. How many's Christians, borned again (raise up your hands), filled
with the Holy Ghost? All right. Here we go then. All right. Notice, and He will
only do it to the predestinated. That's exactly. "All the Father has given
Me will come, and no man can come except the Father give him to Me first."
CHRIST
IS THE MYSTERY 63-0728 50-1
And the only way it can ever be, is you're predestinated to see it. If it
don't, you'll never see it. If you're not predestinated to see it, you'll never
see it, 'cause that Light can flash and you'll go away and make fun of it and
explain it away by some intellectual conception when the very God Himself
manifesting Himself and proving it. See? But if it ain't upon you to see it,
you won't see it.
CHRIST
IS THE MYSTERY 63-0728 50-1 John would've never known Him (no, sir) had the Holy Ghost
not pointed out. See how God hides His mystery to the high educated and
everything? Look, every one of them people saying... And simplicity reveals it
to whom He has predestinated to see it. Look there. Others standing by and
never even seen the Dove. They never heard no voice. For it was only sent to
that predestinated Seed. "Predestinated?" Certainly he was
predestinated.
CHRIST
IS THE MYSTERY 63-0728 70-4 It goes right by them, and they don't recognize it till
it's gone. It only picks up the predestinated seed that God predestinated
before the foundation of the earth. The same thing come through in the days of
Noah. Same thing come through in the days of Moses, days of Elijah, days of the
prophets, days of Jesus, on down through and to this very hour. The pregnated
person with the seed of God, the Word in there manifesting Itself, so
surrendered to the will of God that the Word and the Word alone manifests
Itself and this person's a prisoner, to an individual.
SHALOM 64-0112
56 Jesus said, "No man can
come to Me except My Father draws him." No man will never see it. It's
that predestinated Seed, and that only, is going to receive it.
RECOGNIZING
YOUR DAY 64-0726M 56 There's only one can see it; that's the one who's
predestinated to see it. Otherwise you'll never see it.
QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 64-0823M 939-84 I believe
predestinated seed will see it, and only them will see it.
FUTURE
HOME 64-0802 37-4 Did he say, "I
believe the Bible?" Sure, but he couldn't recognize the expressed Word of
the hour. He only had a intellectual learning from some group that'd been back
before him. And it's the same thing today. See? I know that's strong but it's
the Truth. There was the Word, as spoken exactly for that day, and he... Yet he
was a scholar; yet, he was a renown person, but he could not recognize It. Why?
No matter how scholarly he was, anything like that, he still didn't have representation
of predestination. See? Only the predestinated will only be the one that
does it. Only can be.