Hebrews Sin Dealt With — Billy Strachan

Christ’s Superiority and the Purpose of His Sufferings

We are in section 3, the superiority of the person of Jesus Christ, and we've looked at A, he is superior to angels, and under that, at 1, as the Son of God, greater as the Son of God, a greater position, and greater in rulership, and greater in person, and greater in authority, and then at number 2, as the Son of Man, A, revelation of God's purposes, and then we looked at the guarantee of God's purpose, and the provision to fulfill the purpose is where we are commencing our work, and we put down as a title, the first provision this morning, the reason for his death and resurrection, finishing up with the fact that when it's stated that he was being made perfect through sufferings, that wasn't adding anything to him, but as a captain and a leader, one who's going in front of everyone else, the perfection was the realization of his end, in other words, it was the perfection of his work, and not his person, a perfection of his work, and not his person.

Now in verse 11 of chapter 2 of Hebrews, for both he that sanctifieth, and they who are sanctified are all of one, for which cause he's not ashamed to call them brethren. Now here you're seeing why Christ had to be brought to perfection.

The Meaning and Work of Sanctification

Sanctification, remember, means simply setting apart. There is no moral holiness in it in itself, but that is also included. Now let me rephrase that, let me restate it again, because people tend to presume that any time you use the word sanctification, it automatically means some great moral holiness.

No, no, sanctification in itself simply means setting apart. But when a person's set apart for God, it means that God has more sway and control by his spirit in that person, therefore the outcome of more sway and control by the spirit in a person's life who's set apart is that there will be the outcome of a more moral holiness.

But don't equate the two things as being synonymous. It's the setting apart that releases more of the divine control in the person to produce holiness. That's why we sometimes make the mistake, because when a person does commit themselves totally to Jesus Christ, does set themselves apart for his will in this world, then God can release his life through them, so the outcome is they will be more Christ-like, therefore they are more holy, and you're apt to jump to the conclusion the result of the holiness was sanctification.

No, no, the sanctification allowed the holiness of God to be released in the life of the individual. So make sure you've got the definition for sanctification right, but remember that holiness, because of the release of the divine life within the person who is set apart, is included in it.

So it's not just a cheap, oh, I'm set apart for God, while you live like a pig. Pigs are not really indicative of the divine life of Christ. Now, if you want to put down in your notes, John 17, John 17, John 17, verse 17,.

Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

And so we find that it includes a holiness, it's separation. Look at Hebrews 9, 12 to 14, Hebrews 9, 12 to 14,. Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

For if the blood of bulls and of goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifyeth to the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God.

And so that separation, that sanctifying work through the blood of Christ, makes you a people whose consciences are purged, and more capable of being used to serve the living God, releasing his life in you and through you.

Look at the 10th chapter, verse 9,. Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He takes away the first, that he may establish the second. By which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all.

Jesus Christ is the one who is the great sanctifier. Verse 14,. For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified, set apart for God, set apart for God. And if you look in Hebrews 13 and verse 12, 13 and 12,.

Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood suffered outside the gate. So it's the sacrifice of Christ in the cross and the shedding of his blood that makes it possible for any person to be set apart for God.

Now there is no setting apart of anybody for God unless they've been to the cross of Jesus Christ. I don't care what kind of a systemized denominational issue of theology that may be presented to people in a church to get them all sanctified and separated unto God for the release of his divine life, but if that sanctification propagated by a church is void of the cross of Jesus Christ and the blood of Jesus Christ, it is not a gospel and it's not a sanctification.

And that's it. There is no sanctification setting a person apart for God apart from the application of the very life and blood of the Savior. And don't ever, if you get into Sunday schools or churches or pastoral ministry and you have that ministry to fulfill, don't ever weaken the gospel by leaving out the very essential basis of all theology for the recreation of a new creature in Christ and that is the foundation of the sacrificial work of Christ on the cross and the giving of his blood.

The Three Hebrews 2 Quotations and Christ’s Oneness with Humanity

Now I want you to notice in Hebrews that there are three quotes in chapter 2 and verses 12 and 13. Three quotes. And these three quotes are to show the basis of Christ's oneness with man. The three quotes are to show the basis of Christ's oneness with man.

Now in 2 .12 you get the first quote. So put down in your notes quote one. Quote one. I will declare thy name unto my brethren. In the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. Now that comes from the 22nd Psalm.

The 22nd Psalm and verse 22. Psalm 22 verse 22. I will declare thy name unto my brethren. In the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. And that's speaking about his resurrection. You've already had in the Psalm that he's been pierced.

In verse 16 they pierced my hands and my feet. Then they gambled for my clothes. But then it goes on to say he's going to be delivered. He's going to be raised. He's going to see and he's going to declare the very fact of his name to the Father with his brethren.

Now that quote one in Psalm 22 .22 put down there a past relationship to the Father. A past relationship to the Father. Christ through death came to the throne. Christ through death came to the throne.

So he is related on the basis of the resurrection. This Psalm shows that he's related on the basis of the resurrection. Now in chapter 2 verse 13 put down quote number two. Chapter 2 verse 13 quote number two.

And again I will put my trust in him. I will put my trust in him. Now that's from Isaiah 8 .17. And it shows the present relationship to the Father. The present relationship to the Father. And he's putting his trust in him remember while he's in a state of advocacy.

While he is an intermediary between sinful man and God. So his present relationship to the Father is now while in a state of advocacy. He represents you and I. Now in 2 .13 the second half you've got quote number three.

And again behold I and the children which God hath given me. Now that's from Isaiah 8 .18. Isaiah 8 .18 and that's the future relationship to the Father. The future relationship to the Father. In the Septuagint version it states when he claims his own.

When he claims his own. Say that again. The third quote is verse 13 the second half. And again behold I and the children which God hath given me. Indicating the future relationship to the Father. Now put down the second provision.

Christ’s Incarnation, Death, and Victory over the Devil

The second provision. Chapter 2 verse 14. For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood. He also himself likewise took part of the same. That through death he might destroy him that hath the power of the death.

That is the devil. And so put under that the reason for the incarnation and the cross. The reason for the incarnation and the cross. Now I want you to note this please under that. To overcome the prince of death the devil.

To overcome the prince of death the devil. And then one of the most important things you have to understand in this particular issue. Is that if Christ is to become a man. He must die as a man. For Christ to become a man.

He must also be prepared to die as a man. That's the whole reason you see he's tasting everything. And there is not an experience he's going to have. Where he's not going to be able to have people say on the earth.

You wouldn't understand that because you never went through that. And for him to declare to us. How a total man can be in a relationship to God. And go through every pressure that we go through in life.

Even tasting death and then have resurrection. You are seeing a forerunner that gives us the hope. That that's what we're going to have as well. In fact you could almost tuck in here the excitement. Of the apostle John in 1 John 1.

When he said that which we have seen and heard. And have handled of the word of life. That is what we're declaring unto you. In other words and he's excited. That the fact that he saw the resurrected Christ.

I've seen and handled and touched. Eternal life. And as he was truly man. And we knew him as a true man. A God man on the earth. And saw him taste everything. And John more than any. In that he was the one.

That remains steadfast at the cross. While the others fled. And he was the one that watched him. Tasting death. And knew that this man. Had tasted every aspect. That any other man would ever have to go through.

And that is an essential qualification. Before he can become a savior. Perfected enough in his work. Not his person. To be the one that saves me. We would only be convinced. That he could take us through to resurrection.

If he's tasted death. And gone through into resurrection himself. Now that's vitally important to understand that. If he had not died. If somehow or other he just had said. Well you know I've taken care of sin.

And gone off back to heaven. You'd have said well you know. I don't believe in resurrection. Why he never died and rose again. And so he had to. He had to taste everything. And be raised again. To newness of life.

Now under that put one. Man's partaking. Man's partaking. For as much then. As the children are partakers. Of flesh and blood. Man's partaking. That phrase there. Would be better understood. As to share in common.

With someone else. To share in common. With someone else. And secondly. Number two. Christ's partaking. He also himself. Likewise took part. Or partook. Of the same. That's in verse 14. Now there. It's different.

The language is different. When it's speaking about. For as much then as man. Or the children. Are partakers of the flesh. Share in common with someone else. He also himself. Likewise partook. Of the same.

Now that partaking. Is to hold with. To hold with. In other words. He held human nature. Yet no a sin. Additional to his own character. To render inoperative. Satan. In other words. He held. He held. This humanity.

It was God. In hold of a physical body. He held human nature. That's what it means there by partaking. It was as though God held. Human nature. Yet there was no sin. Additional to his own character there.

And that was what gave him the right. To render inoperative. Satan because he had no sin. To deal with in his own life. He could be the sacrifice. For the sin of others. Now put down the third provision.

Freedom from the Fear of Death

Chapter 2 verse 15. And deliver them. Who through fear of death. Where all their lifetime. Subject to bondage. And put under that. The further reason. For incarnation and cross. The further reason. For the incarnation.

And cross. And it's to free man. From the fear of death. Now I mentioned it this morning. Not. To free man from dying. This is the method by which we are released. From the physical frame. In which the eternal spirit person lives.

That we might be with the Lord. So there is of a necessity. And laying aside of the physical frame. But what he has. What he has done. In his incarnation. And the cross. Is to free us from fearing. That final step.

To take away it's sting. And it's fear. Now. To free man. Is used in ancient writings. To denote. A wife wanting a divorce. A wife wanting a divorce. And that's. What's talking about here. And deliver.

Or to free them. Who through fear of death. Where all their lifetime. Subject to bondage. And that deliver there. The word study on it. Is like that word used in ancient writings. To denote a wife longing for.

A divorce. And we've got to understand. That we have been divorced. From death. When it says we are delivered from death. It's as though we were married to death. To the fear of death. But we've been given a divorce.

Christ's life. Issues the decree. Of divorce. We are now separated. From the fear of death. We've been divorced. We're liberated. No longer under a cruel husband. No longer a cruel dominating. Nose punching.

Husband. That's brutal to a wife. The divorce papers have come through. You don't need to be afraid. He can't hurt you anymore. You've been divorced. From death. And in 2 .16. For verily he took not on him.

The nature of angels. But he took on him the seed of Abraham. Here you see the sphere. Of Christ's work. And that is man. The sphere of Christ's work. Man. Not angels. Man. In 2 .17. Wherefore in all things it behooved him.

To be made like unto his brethren. That he might be a merciful and faithful. High priest in things pertaining to God. To make reconciliation for the sins. Of the people. There you are seeing the scope of Christ's work.

Redemption. The sphere of Christ's work. Is man. The scope of Christ's work. Is redemption. And in the 18th verse. For in that he himself hath suffered. Being tempted. He is able to succor them. That are tempted.

And there you are having the application. Of Christ's work. The conflicts of our life. The conflicts of our life. So the sphere of his work. Is man. The scope of his work. Is redemption. The application of his work today.

Is the conflicts of our life. The conflicts of our life. Now put down. The fourth provision. The fourth provision. And once again. A further reason for the incarnation. And cross. A further reason for the incarnation.

And cross. Verses 16 and 17. To be a faithful. High priest. To be a faithful. High priest. When in all things. It behooved him to be made like unto his brethren. That he might be a merciful. And faithful high priest.

So the fourth provision. To be a faithful high priest. To be a merciful high priest. And notice there in verse 16. For verily he took not on him. The nature of angels. But he took on him the seed of Abraham.

Now it's not. The seed. In this case. It's not the seed. Paul when he speaks in Galatians. About the seed of Abraham. He's referring to one seed. Which is Christ. But here in the epistle to the Hebrews.

The term the seed of Abraham. Is not a reference to Christ. But humanity. And mankind. The offspring of Abraham. Mankind in general. The humanity and mankind. In general. Now in 217. You get Christ's present ministry.

Christ’s Present High-Priestly Ministry and the Perfect Sacrifice

Christ's present ministry. And you have to understand. That priests. Always operated. On the basis of the best sacrifices. Priests. Always operated. On the basis of the best sacrifices. That's why Jesus went in.

And overturned the tables. Of the money changers in the temple. Because it wasn't simply. A means. Of making sure. A sacrifice was perfect. They were being crooked about it. It was well known that. And even Josephus records it in his writings.

That it was an industry. Some man came through the door with an offering. He had to go. To a part of the court. Before he ever went to the temple or the altar. And he had to take his sacrifice there. To be examined.

To see if it was fit for a sacrifice. And they would take it. And even if it was perfect. They'd say oh no that's not good enough. And they'd put it over there and say we'll give you another one. We'll give you so much for that one.

Bring this man a perfect sacrifice. And they'd bring one from a pen over there. And they'd bring it and they'd say now. That plus a little bit more. You can have the perfect sacrifice. That the priest will accept.

And he willingly paid for it. And off he went. And they took that one and put it in there. Next. And then came somebody else and came up. And they'd take a look at his lamb and say. Got a little bit of a twisted foot that one.

Put it down there. We'll give you so much for that one. But we've got a better one over here. Bring that one over here will you. If you like your brother you can have that one. And we'll give you so much for that one plus a little bit more.

And this was the crookedness of it. They were playing on the fact. That it was laid down in the law. That anything that wasn't a perfect sacrifice. For a priest to offer. As a blood sacrifice of the innocent for the guilty.

Had to be rejected. And they were misusing that to make money. All over the place. But it did teach us this much. That even right up to the cross of Christ. They held fast. To this rule. That only the best sacrifices.

Would ever be accepted by priests. To make an offering for sin. And. That's what Jesus did in offering himself. That was the best. Sacrifice God had. In keeping with his own word. Jesus is the best. Sacrifice God had.

To be making a reconciliation. Or a propitiation. For past sins. Our past is taken care of. At the cross. Through God's best sacrifice the Lord Jesus. But the cross. Also takes care of the present. Daily sin.

Of the believer. That cross. Not only took care of the past. The cross also takes care of today's sin. The sins you committed. Since you got up this morning. You have a faithful and merciful. Continuing resurrected high priest.

That's constantly offering himself. Before the father. As the perfect sacrifice. To forgive you today. For the sin that you committed today. And if you confess your sin. He's faithful and just to forgive you your sin.

And cleanse you from all unrighteousness. So it's a present continuing ministry. The priesthood. Yes. Take your hand down and say it again. Yes he is the one that forgives us for our sins. Of the past present and future.

But we are the ones. That will render ourselves. Apart from him in fellowship. By the not confessing of those sins. In other words. No believer has the right to say. Well if he's forgiven the past present.

And what I'm going to do tomorrow. Who cares let's go and do it tomorrow. No because if we willfully. Continue in disobedience and sin. We will be quenching. Grieving and quenching. The operation of God within us.

Through the Holy Ghost. And he will not be able. To manifest his destiny. His will his life. His purposes through a person. Who is willfully. Holding on to sin. And committing sin and considering. A theological right to do it.

Persevering in Holiness Without Excusing Sin

Because he's going to forgive it anyway. He watches the motivation. And attitude of the heart. And if we are going to persist. In saying theologically well. In fact as a matter of fact this is why. Very often a person opts at time.

To become a hyper. Reformed. Calvinist type of believer. Often milked down the gospel. That he gives the impression. To the person in the audience. That if you just come to Jesus. You're going to be so new in a flash of a second.

And your old life gone. And your new life come in. That you're almost left with the impression. There's no problems no sin. Everything in the garden lovely. And you'll be perfect. Well they get up the next morning.

To discover when they turn on consciousness. For a start they're rather surprised. What's coming out of the mind. And it's plain as usual old dirt. And they say oh dear me oops. Where did that come from I'm a new creation.

The preacher told me last night. That I would be a wonder this morning. So where did that come from. Now rather than as a baby Christian say. I better get into the word. To check up if the preacher conned me last night.

In their babyness they don't. Because they trust the man. As the voice of God. Because it definitely spoke to them. And brought them to Christ. But as babies they don't realize. That in his overzealousness.

To get them converted. He rather took the pill. And covered it with pink sugar. To make them take it. And so they go on through their Christian experience. And they've got sin that they commit daily. And they can't understand what's the matter with me.

I was under the impression I was going to be perfect. Well they weren't being properly instructed. That there is the process. Of changing a person. From what they were. To what they're going to be. And that there has to be the release of the divine life.

And a walk in Christ. That is going to enable a person. Though they know what they are. Not to give what they are a positive value. But to walk with the power of Christ. Not to be what they are today.

And in that measure be a new kind of a person. Now if a person's not taught that. And they find that they've got converted. And they're still sinning. First thing they do is the doubt. So they play with lots of doubt.

And so when you doubt that you were really saved. Along comes the little baggage man. With the reasons why. And the first one up that comes up and says. Well it's no surprise. You're like this brother.

Don't doubt your salvation. The trouble is you don't have our experience. You see there is another step to the Christian life. And so he opens his suitcase. And he brings out his another step to the Christian life.

To show you how to get over this hump. And so he will say to you. You have to have a certain experience. A certain doctrine. And as a baby Christian with a whole heart. You say great. Let's go for that.

Because I'm only too keen to get myself right with the Lord. And so you sweep into that doctrine. And they all when they hear you. Mouth it. Phrase it. Say you believe it. Hallelujah. Amen. They say great he's through.

And then you get up the next morning. Switch on your tape recorder. Of a memory. I'm still here. And you say oh good grief. Now I've had that experience. Conversion plus that man in his suitcase. And I'm still kind of sinning.

So what went wrong? And the minute somebody sees you depressed. Around comes the next merchant with his case. And says well brother. It's the lack of theological discipline. And here are the ten basic steps.

Of discipline that you need. To adhere to psychologically. Mentally. The rest of your career and life. And if you ever break one of these laws. Once I've shown you them. Oh betide you. And so he puts round your neck.

A theological chain of a severe discipline. Of so many hours in Leviticus every morning. Followed by Chronicles for lunch. And you can just see the joy. Beginning to emanate. As the weight of your faith.

Is around your neck. And you begin to be really free. And happy. And you say this is not much of a life. But let's do it. And you see as you're doing this. And you get up the next morning. And you say boy today's good.

With all this weight and all this discipline. And I've been through all these things this morning. I've been on my head before the cold open window. I've got my pneumonia. But I've prayed for five hours.

And I've read Leviticus. And you say now that I've got that out of the way. Let's go live life. I'll just turn on my consciousness. That's outside of my prayer life. And guess what plays. I'm still here.

Good morning. Well you know when you get tired of the merchants. They come around with the theological issues of freedom. And you discover. That you've had every experience. Including exorcism. To get rid of all the spirits you see.

You've even submitted yourself to that. And you've got rid of the spirits. And you've had you know. The touch of the miracle healer. And everything you submit yourself. Sincerely to all of that. And you find that you still sin.

You then have to look for a doctrine. That will. Excuse your sin. And not deal with it. And one of the handiest ones. Is to have a hyper super over balance. Idea of election. And you will alienate it.

From the word for knowledge. You will just grab the term. Predestined. To be the elect of God. But you won't say according to the full knowledge of God. Because it will suit you. In your sin. To say at the dawn of world history.

God divided. All the people yet to be born. He divided them. So many to hell. And so many to heaven. So that the heaven lot are the elect. And that lot are for the trash can. But unfortunately. God was a little bit misty eyed.

And not really on the ball. When he picked me. Because I have a sneaky suspicion. I should have been in a garbage can. But since I'm now on this side of the cross. And he's spirit witnesses with my spirit.

That I'm a child of God. Which is true if you've been converted. And that I know that my past sins are forgiven. And I have this witness that I'm going to heaven. Then. He's elected me. But unfortunately.

He didn't realize what he was electing. And since I'm one of these people. That are just rotten. Then he's elected on a rotten person. And he can't go back on his word. And so you find that people. Having gone round the whole circle.

Of all sorts of theological issues. Usually end up grabbing that one. Because it's very handy. Because it's a good scapegoat for sin. To keep doing it. But all that's necessary. Is to tell the person.

Hey. Come off it. The evangelist cheated you. He should have warned you the night you came to Christ. You will still sin. In fact all the way to heaven you're going to be a sinner. But you're going to be a redeemed sinner.

And there's going to be the redemptive. Continued work of Christ. In your life. From now right through to eternity. But it will be necessary for you. Not to excuse your sin. But to have a positive attitude.

Towards your relationship with God. To the extent that each time you sin. You're going to call it sin. You're not going to excuse it. You're going to call it what God calls it. Even if you've done it.

70 times 7 in a day. He guarantees you. He'll still forgive you. But your attitude is the one. You don't just simply sit back and say. Well if he's going to forgive me in the future. Forgive me anyway.

Of course he will. But there are consequences to suffer. Here on the earth. For a person who does not repent of a sin. Seek continued cleansing for the sin. That means they're no longer. Set apart for God.

Because you can't be set apart for God or sanctified. If you're still adhering to. And practicing willfully. And enjoying and thinking you have a theological right to. Commit sin. And so of course. I can say quite definitely to you.

The sins you're going to commit tomorrow. He'll forgive. But you're going to have to in committing those sins tomorrow. Acknowledge the sin. And tell God that I've done it again. And I'm calling it what you call it.

And then unite forces with him. To reduce. The practice of that. And remember in dying on the cross. He did not take away sin. He was punished for it. And he broke it's dominion. Which means it's no longer.

The master of your life. You no longer have to do it. Because you have no alternative. You are a person. Who has had sins dominion broken in your life. Therefore if you want to. Cooperate with Christ.

You will confess it. Now the great thing about confession. Is that although I know in my mind theologically. He will continue to forgive me. By coming each day. To say I'm sorry I've done it again. And you keep getting.

His forgiveness. It begins to develop in you. An attitude of. Wanting one day. When you're not going to have to come and say that. Now I have seen it in pastoral counseling. Where. Some of the preachers.

That I've had to counsel. Have particular sin. And in dealing with that pastor. And knowing where he lives in the country. If in the course of my travel through the country. I'm coming anywhere near his town.

I'll write in advance. And say meet me for lunch. And we'll sit down for a lunch. Or a coffee if it's a morning. When I'm passing through or sometime. And he knows. That I know the best about him. And the worst about him.

And I'm counseling him and helping him. And he knows that even if he has to say to me. In that restaurant. Brother Billy before you even ask me. I'm going to tell you yes I'm sorry. I did it again two weeks ago.

He knows I'm not going to smash him in the face. Across the restaurant table and walk out. And leave him to pay the bill. I'd love to walk out and not pay the bill. Don't get me wrong. But. What I do is I still stay there.

And because he knows I'm not going to leave him. And he knows that once he's confessed. That to me as his counselor. That hey I've done it and I told God. I've done it and I confessed it. And I got my forgiveness from the Lord.

It does something for him to know. That there is another pastor. That I still. Accepts him as a brother in Christ. That's weak. And assures him of the theological truth. That if he confesses and repents he'll be forgiven.

And still stays and finishes the meal. So much so. That there are times. When I will meet a person like that. And I can tell from the moment I see them in the street. All the way to the restaurant. That they're wishing we would hurry up and get settled in.

Say I pray for our meal. And get down to having the fellowship. Because they're dying to tell me. They haven't done it since the last scene. Because they've started working. To be able to thank me. For the fellowship.

And not walking out on them when they're sinning. By saying to me. And by the way since last time. I haven't done it. You see. I haven't done it. And they begin to work. To want in love. Not to do it.

And I think that's one of the healthiest reasons. Behind our constantly. Confessing our sin. Not to encourage his love. He'll never alter. Not to make him. Come back and face the cross again to forgive us all over.

It's been dealt with past present and future. But it's teaching us. To love him. And love his constant forgiveness. And his high priesthood. To the extent that. We will want to go through a day. Where we don't do that again.

So that at night. We can say Lord I relied on you today. Not to do it. Because I wanted to be able to come tonight. With a different kind of prayer. Than the one yesterday. Of having to say I've gone and done it again.

That is to be your attitude. In the face of the theological fact. That the future sin is also taken care of. At the back. Ian. Because the election. That is unbalanced. Is where people. Destroy a person's.

Election, Foreknowledge, and Human Choice

Free will in the matter. In other words. It states that God. Created people to be sent to hell. With no choice or opportunity of ever going to heaven. But you find it. Anywhere in the Bible. Election is mentioned.

It is always accompanied by. For knowledge. In other words. God knows those. Who by their free will. And to be made in the image of God. Demands that free will. They will choose. To say yes. To the gospel.

And that is why in advance. Knowing what you will do by your free choice. You will say yes. You can go ahead even before you are born. And elect you to salvation. But it is not a unilateral choice of God.

Ian is for salvation. And that person is for hell. It is Ian's for salvation. Because I can tell when Ian is cornered with the gospel. That he will make the choice. I have often tried to explain election.