Good morning, everyone. Today is the 4th of February. 4th of February, 2025. We've been reading through the book, God does not love everyone, but he does love his elect from everlasting to everlasting. And today we're ready for chapter 22 and 23. I've entitled this chapter, Today I Must Abide at Thy House. The account of Zacchaeus in the New Testament shows that the new birth is something that comes to all of those chosen before the foundation of the world and revealed to God's children. And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho, and behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus, who he was, and could not for the press, because he was little in stature. And he ran before and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him. where he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and he saw him, and he said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down. For today I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, that he was gone to be guessed with a man that is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, and half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, for so much as he also is a son of Abraham. In other words, he's an elect child of God. He's one chosen before the foundation of the world. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost, Luke 19, 1-10. But in contrast, Jesus said, what will happen to those who are his enemies and what is their response to Christ and Christ's response to their response to him? But those mine enemies, which would not, that I should reign over them, bring hither and slay them before me. And he beheld them and said, what is this then that is written? The same has become the head of the corner. Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken, but on whomsoever it shall fall it will grind him to powder. And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him, and they feared the people. For they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them. And they watched him and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they may take him. that they might take him whole of his words, that so they might deliver him under the power and authority of the governor. And he said unto them, I'll say that Christ is David's son, and David himself saith in the book of Psalms, the Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou on my right hand till I make thine enemies thy footstool. David therefore called him Lord, how is he then his son? Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples, Beware of the scribes which desire to walk in long robes and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts. which devour widows' houses, and for a show make long prayers, the same shall receive greater damnation." Luke 19, 27, 20, Luke 19, 20, and Luke 20, 42-47. God, down through the history, beginning with Satan himself, has created principalities as well as men and women who have been vessels fitted for destruction. And the chief priests and scribes saw how they might kill him, for they feared the people. Then entered Satan into Judas, surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. And he went his way and communed with his chief priests and captains how he might betray unto them. And they were glad and covenanted to give him money, and he promised and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude. Luke 22 2-6 One of the most striking examples in the Bible Is the thief being born again while hanging on the cross? And Christ's response to him? And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be the Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answered, rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due rewards of our deeds. But this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said to Jesus Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom and Jesus said unto him barely I say unto you today thou shall be with me in paradise So the one thief remained in his sins while the other thief received an effectual call from Christ Luke 23 39 through 43 Well, we're ready. We're now at 20 third chapter of this book, God Does Not Love Everyone, and this is a rather lengthy chapter. This is called My Sheep Hear My Voice. Just as the book of Isaiah is my favorite book in the Old Testament along with the Psalms, so is the Gospel of John in the New Testament. The reason is because Christ so clearly teaches in the 6th, 8th, 10th, and 17th chapters the doctrine of election and predestination. Many try to say this was merely a concocted doctrine by the Apostle Paul. The Apostle Paul does certainly teach it throughout all of his epistles and especially in Ephesians and Romans. But how can these same critics argue with Christ himself and his teachings on the same doctrine the Apostle Paul taught? The Gospel of John clearly reveals that Christ is the Eternal Word and the Son of God who has been revealed to all His children. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness to bear witness of the light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that light, but was sent to bear witness of that light. That was the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to Him then gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name, which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Did you get that? Which were born, not of blood, not of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. The word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory and the glory as the only begotten of the father full of grace and truth John 1 1 through 14 Christ taught That not all were his children, but that all of those who are his children must be quickened by the Holy Spirit Jesus answered and sent him verily verily I say unto you I unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto them, How can a man be born when he is old, and enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, but that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, and canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth. So is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I will give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall be a well of water, springing up in everlasting life. For as the Father raises up the dead and quickeneth them, even so the Son quickeneth whom He will." John 3, 1-10, John 3, 22, John 4, 14, and John 5, 21. I remember the first time I read the sixth chapter of John, I was in a state of spiritual shock because I had been taught totally contrary to the teaching of Christ in the chapter. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. for i came down from heaven not to do mine own will but the will of him that sent me and this is the father's will which has sent me that all which he hath given me i should lose nothing but should raise it up again at the last day and this is the will of him that sent me that everyone which seeth the son and believeth on him May have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day The Jews then murmured in him because he said I am the bread which came down from heaven and they said it's not this Jesus the son of Joseph whose father and mother we know how is it then that He saith I came down from heaven Jesus therefore answered and said them murmur not among yourselves No man can come to me except the Father which sent me draw him I And I will raise him up at the last day, as written in the prophets, they shall all be taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard and hath learned of the Father cometh unto me. Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am the bread of life, it is the Spirit that quickeneth the flesh, profiteth nothing. The words that I speak in you, they are spirit and are alive. 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. And He said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto Me, except it were given unto Me and My Father. From that time many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him. John 6, 37-48. John 6, 63-66. Reprobation is further expressed by the example of Judas by Christ in the same chapter. Jesus answered them, Have I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He spake of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it is that that should betray him being one of the twelve, John 6, 70-71. Jesus continued in the chapter 8 to further disclose that there are some people who are the father of the devil. And he said to them, You are beneath, I am from above. You are of this world, I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you that you shall die in your sins. For if you believe not that I am he, you shall die in your sins. Then said they unto them, Who art thou in Jesus' saith unto him? Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning, I have many things to say. and to judge of you, but he that sent me is true. I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. They understood not that he spake of them of the Father. Then said Jesus unto him, When ye have lifted up the Son of Man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I can do nothing of myself. But as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things, and he that sent me is with me. The Father hath not left me alone, for I do always those things that please him. As he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews who had believed on him, In my word then ye are my disciples, indeed, and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never embonished to any man. How sayest thou ye shall be made free? Jesus answered him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever commit a sin is a servant of sin. and the servant abideth not in the house forever, but the son abideth ever. If the son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham's seed, but you seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I see with my father, and you do that which you have seen with your father. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, if you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now, if you seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God, this did not Abraham. You do not the deeds of your father. Then they said to him, We be not born of fornication. We have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, you would love me. For I proceeded forth and came from God, neither came I myself. but he sent me. Why do you not understand my speech? Even because you cannot hear my words. You are of your father the devil, and the lust of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own, for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, you believe me not. Which of you convince me of sin? And if you say the truth, why do you not believe me? He that is of God heareth God's words. Ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. Then answered the Jews and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? Jesus answered, I have not a devil, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me, and I seek not my known glory. There is one that seeketh and judgeth. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead and the prophets and now sayest if a man keep my saying you shall never taste of death art thou greater than our father Abraham which is dead and the prophets are dead who makest thou thyself Jesus answered if I honor myself my honor is nothing it is my father that honored with me of whom you say there is that he is your God you have not known him but I have known him and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you, but I know him, and keep his saying. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. Then took they up stones to cast at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by." John 8, 33 through 59. Well, that concludes the reading of chapter 23. We've read chapter 22 and 23 today in this book. God does not love everyone, but he does love his elect from everlasting to everlasting. And people don't want to hear the truth of The true gospel, which is, all that the Father has given Him will come to Him, and all that come to Him He will in no wise cast out. They don't want to hear that no man can come to Him unless He's given to me and my Father. No one can come to Him unless the Spirit draw Him. No one wants to hear the fact that they are not in charge of their own destiny, but Christ proclaimed the very opposite. May the good Lord be with you today in a special way. It's my prayer. God bless.