Get God's Free Gift Of Eternal Life: What Does "Ordained To Eternal Life" Mean?

What Does "Ordained To Eternal Life" Mean?

Acts 13:46-48, “Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you [the Jews]: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.”

I found this commentary by F.B. Meyer (1847-1929), a famous Baptist pastor in England, who offers this helpful commentary on our passage from Acts 13:48...

Acts 13:38-52JEWS REJECT, GENTILES ACCEPT, THE GOSPELThe doctrine of justification by faith, so closely associated with the work of Paul, is here stated for the first time. In Jesus there is forgiveness. For those who trust in Him, past sins are absolutely put away, never to be named again, never to be brought up at any future judgment day. Our record is as clear as the sand which has been swept smooth by the ocean waves. We are not only forgiven, but justified. We are treated as though we had never sinned, and are justified from all things. It is a present fact. You may not feel justified or forgiven, but if you are trusting in Jesus, you are at this moment as certainly and as fully justified as have been the saints in heaven. Pride, as well as jealousy of the Gentiles who were crowding into the fold, stirred the Jews to antagonism, but they could not eradicate the seed which had been so profusely scattered. Large numbers believed, and as they experienced salvation in Christ, they discovered that they were in line with an eternal purpose. This is the meaning of ordained in Acts 13:48. If with such slight opportunities, the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit, Acts 13:52, should we not possess the same experience? [emphasis added]

Paul and Barnabas taught the Gentiles that the Jews were chosen by God to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles. The Bible says in our preceding text that the Gentiles were glad to hear this, and they glorified the Word of God, and as many as were "arranged in an orderly manner" to be saved, believed. I think that simply means that God already knows everyone who will be saved in advance. Taken by itself, this verse can be wrestled to teach Calvinism, but if we look at other Scriptures, we see that the word "whosoever" is repeatedly used concerning salvation (e.g., John 3:16; Revelation 22:17). The word "whosoever" appears in the New Testament 93 times.

I found this article I wrote refuting the heresy of predestination. Pastor John MacArthur heretically teaches that God chooses who will be saved. It blows my mind that Dr. Steve Pettit and Bob Jones University bid Godspeed to Dr. MacArthur. Acts 13:48 simply means that God in His foreknowledge KNEW ahead of time, from the beginning of the world, who would be saved, but God did not choose them to be saved. I found this helpful page which shows the Greek meaning of “ordained,” and shows other Scripture passages in which it is used, like Romans 13:1.

Pastor Curtis Hutson (1934-1995) made this excellent statement: “A good rule to follow when interpreting the Bible is to never use an obscure passage to contradict a clear one.” I've noticed that the entire world of Lordship Salvation and Calvinism is nothing more than a house of cards, built upon OBSCURE passages of Scripture taken out of context. Acts 13:48 is one of their go-to verses, which is obscure (i.e., we don't know exactly what it means). But if we examine the rest of the Bible, then we see that God does not choose anyone to salvation. God knows in His foreknowledge who will believe, and He chooses them because they first chose Him. God predestinated them, not to salvation, but to be conformed into Christ's image. Romans 8:29, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” The Bible is very clear, isn't it. Men complicate things, not God.

“If you believe only what the Devil believes, you have no more faith than the Devil!” —Pastor Ralph "Yankee" Arnold, a quote from the sermon titled: “The Damnable Doctrine Of The Devil”

I like something that Pastor Ralph 'Yankee' Arnold said:

Calvinism lie = They believe, because they were chosen;

The truth = We were chosen, because we believe!

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We're Saved By God's Righteousness, Not Ours

Before salvation we are known by our sins, but after salvation we are identified with the righteousness of Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ took all our sin at the cross and now we have the privilege to have His righteous record placed on our account by childlike faith!

Enjoying The Journey Daily Broadcast

Repentance unto salvation is turning to Jesus, not turning from sins.

Sneaking "Works" Through The Back Door Versus Free Grace Forever (This Will Step On Toes)

Repent of sins is NOT part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Inspiring Preacher Quotes

“The law tells me how crooked I am. Grace comes along and straightens me out.” —Evangelist Billy Sunday (1862-1935)

“I never thought, I'd see a day when Baptist preachers would not preach the true Gospel. Tonight, all across this nation, Baptist preachers have succumbed to the heresy of John MacArthur. I said the heresy of John MacArthur! I said the heresy of John MacArthur! And somebody that's got several thousand people to hear 'em, who can go across this country, has got to alert Baptists that we have false teachers in our midst who are no longer teaching and preaching salvation by grace through faith plus nothing. Folks, we're fighting for our lives tonight!” —Pastor Jack Hyles, "A Vote For Preaching"

“The ‘whosoever wills’ are the elect and the ‘whosoever won’ts,’ the non-elect.” —Pastor Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899)

“Salvation is one thing and service is another, and never the two goes together. No man is saved because he serves, and no man has to serve because he is saved. Gotta keep them separate. And if you don't do it, the Scriptures will be confusing to you. You'll not rightly divide what God has to say.” —Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, "Why Lordship Salvation Is Wrong"

“It is 'Good News' if no one must have good works before salvation, or after salvation. For salvation to truly be by grace, it must not have any stipulations of any kind at any time. Works before, during or after; works cannot be evidence of my salvation.” —Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, "Does Calvinism Change The Gospel?"

"The LAW and the GOSPEL are two keys—the law is the key that shuteth up all men under condemnation, and the Gospel is the key which opens the door and lets them out. Remember this, if you're depending upon your own good works to get you to Heaven, you're lost! Your salvation had to be purchased with something that was incorruptible, with the precious blood of Jesus Christ!” —Pastor Ralph 'Yankee' Arnold, Bibleline Radio Show, "The Precious Blood Of Christ"

“Works cannot be the evidence of salvation. If works are required as evidence, then they will prove that you are not saved. Your good works cannot prove you're saved; they can only prove that you're not, if you go by works. Why? Because you have to be perfect. So your works can only prove you're not saved. You have to live a perfect life. 'Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.' You have to fulfill everything that is commanded, that you have to do them. You know that good works did not save you!” —Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, "Once Saved Always Saved: The Final Word"

“If all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags, then why would you use those rags to prove that you're saved?” —Pastor Ralph 'Yankee' Arnold, sermon quote: "How Do I Know God Really Loves Me? - Part 2"

“The mistake the church has made, is we have taught people how to quote Scriptures, we haven't taught people how to love people!” —Pastor John K. Jenkins Sr. (a beautiful quote from the sermon titled: "Developing A Process of Evangelism To Reach The Lost With The Gospel"

“May I ask you, reader, 'Are you a soulwinner?' Remember that a soulwinner is a salvager—one who leads a sinner to choose Christ and one who leads a saint to choose the will of God, the work of God and the plan of God.” ―Pastor Jack Hyles, "What Is Salvation?"

“Redemption is a work of God the Son. Regeneration is the work of God the Holy Spirit. Justification is the work of God the Father as He declares the sinner righteous in the Son. Conversion then becomes the work of the church as we change the use and purpose of a life.” ―Pastor Jack Hyles, "Conversion And Salvation" (chapter 3) from his book: "Salvation Is More Than Being Saved"

“If you do not put a difference between justification wrought by the man Christ without and sanctification wrought by the Spirit of Christ within, you are not able to divide the Word aright; but contrariwise, you corrupt the Word of God, and cast stumbling blocks before the people.” —Evangelist John Bunyan (1628-1688)

“I'm as happy as a June Bug on the 31st of May!” —Pastor Jack Hyles, "The Rapture Comes Before Armageddon"

“Many people are finding the broad way, because they listen to the wrong message. There is few that find the truth. And what's the difference between true Christianity, and all the religions of the world? If it's by Christ alone, it's GRACE. If you have anything to do with it, it's WORKS. And God says, 'For by Grace (Christ) are ye saved, and that not of yourselves (that would be works), it is the gift of God (not of works), lest any man should boast. So any person who depends upon themselves, can always lose their salvation. Check it out! Anybody who teaches you can lose it, it's because their salvation depends upon their works. That's them! That's works! If I depend upon Him, that's grace! I'm saved by grace, Christ. You don't earn it! You don't work for it. 'For by grace are ye saved through faith, that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.' Salvation is the gift of God!” —Pastor Ralph "Yankee" Arnold, a quote from the sermon titled: "The Damnable Doctrine Of The Devil"

“The pastors have destroyed the churches, and they've been trained by people that have never built churches, and they have no compassion.” —Pastor Jack Hyles, "Many Pastors Have Destroyed My Vineyard"

“America needs preaching!” —Pastor Jack Hyles, "Many Pastors Have Destroyed My Vineyard"

“Let God have your life; He can do more with it than you can.” —Dwight L. Moody

"Salvation is not doing your best, it is having Christ's best put to your account through receiving Him by faith.” —Pastor Max Younce

God will not save anyone who is trying to be saved, He will only save those who are trusting to be saved.

“The darker the night the brighter the stars.” —Pastor Bob Gray Sr.,“She Sojourned Seven Years”

Without Christ you have a hopeless end; with Christ you have an endless hope (Titus 1:2).

The false teaching of "Lordship Salvation" is not the SAME as "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:30-31).

Religion is man trying to reach God through human effort, but Christianity is God trying to reach man by the sacrifice of His only begotten Son on the cross.

“Now you listen to me folks! We're living in a world of compromising Christianity. I call it, 'The yuppie generation building yuppie churches!' Brother, we need the old-time Gospel, the old-time religion, the faith of our fathers, and the standards that America used to have!” —Pastor Jack Hyles, a quote from the sermon, “She Sojourned Seven Years”

“Every word in this Bible is inspired by God almighty!” —Dr. Jack Hyles, a quote from the sermon, “A Friend At Midnight”

“A man doesn't get better to get saved; he gets saved to get better.” —Pastor Curtis Hutson (1934-1995), “Salvation Crystal Clear”

“The greatest enemy you have is a church that doesn't teach the Bible!” —Pastor Max D. Younce, “#1 Salvation THROUGH The Blood”

“Lordship Salvation is the unsupportable and unbiblical belief that the performance of good works, the promise of good works, or the evidence of good works, must accompany faith in Christ to establish or provide evidence that such faith has resulted in eternal life.” —Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, “Jesus Versus John MacArthur”

“If you're not being persecuted, you're not living right!” —Pastor Danny Castle, “How To Behave In Perilous Times”

“You know what you need to do with your life? You need to get on the ball and take as many people out of here to Heaven with you as you can possibly round up. That's what you need to do.” —Pastor Danny Castle, “How To Behave In Perilous Times”

“God had no children too weak, but a great many too strong to make use of.” —Pastor Dwight L. Moody (1836-1899)

“More people will die and burn in Hell, because they're trusting too much!” —Pastor Jack Hyles, a precious quote from the MP3 sermon, “Yea, Yea, And Nay, Nay!”

“Everything that's hard and complicated about salvation is God's side of it!” —Pastor Jack Hyles, a precious quote from the MP3 sermon, “Yea, Yea, And Nay, Nay!”

The true Gospel always points you to CHRIST; a false gospel always points to YOU.

Salvation is not a reward for the righteous, it is a gift for the guilty!

“See, when you trusted Christ, He delivered you from the PENALTY [of sin]. You never have to pay for it again. Now that you are saved, He wants to save you from the very POWER of sin in your life. And then one day, He's going to deliver us from the very PRESENCE of sin.” —Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, “Sanctification Explained”

“We ought to realize our standing with God as sons and daughters. He will not "un-child" His children. God has not only adopted us, but we are His by birth; we have been born into His kingdom. The children of God are not perfect, but we are perfectly His children.” —Pastor Dwight L. Moody

Bible repentance is a change of mind from denying THE TRUTH “to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will” (2nd Timothy 2:25-26).

“Faith without works is DEAD FAITH; and works without faith is DEAD WORKS.” —Pastor Steven Anderson, “Repentance And Faith”

“Which comes first, repentance or faith? In Scripture we read, 'Repent ye, and believe the gospel.' Yet we find true believers exhorted to 'repent, and do the first works.' So intimately are the two related that you cannot have one without the other. The man who believes God repents; the repentant soul puts his trust in the Lord when the Gospel is revealed to him. Theologians may wrangle over this, but the fact is, no man repents until the Holy Spirit produces repentance in his soul through the truth. No man believes the Gospel and rests in it for his own salvation until he has judged himself as a needy sinner before God. And this is repentance.” (Except Ye Repent, p. 16)

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What Does "Ordained To Eternal Life" Mean?

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