Bereansearching Bible Studies

Introduction

God’s thoughts and ways are far above mankind’s thoughts and ways

There are many places in the Bible where God shows us how He works His magnificent plan of salvation through the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ. And, from a human perspective, God’s ways do not necessarily always seem fair. The doctrine of election is perhaps the clearest example of that, which will be addressed below.

In our world today, we all hear a lot about “Equity”. This term has an earthly social context with the meaning of “freedom from disparities in the way people of different races, genders, etc. are treated”. However, God’s uses this term with His spiritual, eternal focus. In the Bible, in the Old Testament, we find that the word translated as equity from the original Hebrews is מֵישָׁר (mêšār)^H4339, which means “evenness“, “uprightness“, “correctness“…as would be administered in righteous judgment.

For example:

• Psalm 9:8, “And he (God) shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness (מֵישָׁר (mêšār))^H4339.”
• Psalm 58:1, “[[To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David.]] Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly (מֵישָׁר (mêšār))^H4339, O ye sons of men?“
• Psalm 98:9, “Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity (מֵישָׁר (mêšār))^H4339.”

The Doctrine of Election is a Manifestation of God’s Equity (“So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen” Matthew 20:16 )

Mankind’s View of “Equity”

Mankind’s view of ‘equity’ would say that each person is his or her final arbiter, or captain, in the determination of his or her’s own fate. They would argue that ‘fairness’ and ‘equity’ dictates that every person has a ‘free will”, which he or she can exercise at his or her own discretion (for either salvation or damnation) and when asked most people will say that they have done more good than bad. Many have been sold on the idea that God loves everyone and/or that there is no Hell to pay for sin. But does that conform with what God declares?

God’s View of Equity

But God’s statements flip that idea upside down. God’s Equity is NOT mankind’ equity…Jesus made this clear in the following verses:

1. Matthew 19:30, “But many [that are] first shall be last; and the last [shall be] first.”
2. Matthew 20:16, “So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.”
3. Mark 9:35, “And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, [the same] shall be last of all, and servant of all.”
4. Mark 10:31, “But many [that are] first shall be last; and the last first.”
5. Luke 9:48, “And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.“
6. Luke 13:30, “And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.” Jesus expands a bit more on the meaning of this in Luke 13:24, “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all [ye] workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you [yourselves] thrust out. And they shall come from the east, and [from] the west, and from the north, and [from] the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.“
8. Luke 17:33, “Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.” Similarly, Matthew 10:39, “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” and Matthew 16:25, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” and Mark 8:35, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.” and John 12:25, “He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.“

For help in understanding why and how this can be, we need to also understand the other examples that God provides in the Bible. According to the law of inheritance, a married couple’s firstborn son always received the best benefits, usually a double portion, and the Patriarchal blessing. Moreover we read in Exodus 13:2, “Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, [both] of man and of beast: it [is] mine.“

Nonetheless, we are given many examples of how God instituted a complete turnaround of this in the scriptures. Regarding the twin brothers in the womb of Rebecca, Esau was the firstborn son, but the younger son, Jacob (who became Israel), was given the firstborn’s inheritance as well as Esau’s birthright blessing. We read in Genesis 25:23, “And the LORD said unto her (Rebecca), Two nations [are] in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and [the one] people shall be stronger than [the other] people; and the elder shall serve the younger.” and again referring back to Genesis, the Apostle Paul restated it in Romans 9:12, “It was said unto her (Rebecca), The elder shall serve the younger.” And remember also what Jesus said in Luke 22:26, “But ye [shall] not [be] so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.“

We should also remember that the nation of Israel was identified as God’s “firstborn” in the Bible (Exodus 4:22; Jeremiah 31:9)and therefore Israel held a special place of privilege and blessing among the nations until the cross (remembering also that Jesus, the Only Begotten of the Father, Is God’s Firstborn and Jesus was of Israel). And then National Israel became the last among nations as the Gospel went forth to the Gentiles during the New Testament era. That is the primary spiritual implication of this message and which plays out is other similar Biblical accounts to underscore this point.

The Humble Will Be Exalted While the Proud Are Brought Low

• Luke 14:11, “For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
• Note the similarity with Isaiah 2:12, “For the day of the LORD of hosts [shall be] upon every [one that is] proud and lofty, and upon every [one that is] lifted up; and he shall be brought low:“
• James 4:6, “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”
• Jamess 4:10, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”
• 1 Peter 5:5, “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”
• Job 22:29, “When [men] are cast down, then thou shalt say, [There is] lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.”
• Psalm 138:6, “Though the LORD [be] high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.”
• Proverbs 3:34&35, “Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly. The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.”
• Matthew 23:12, “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”
• And also in James 1:9-11, “¶Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.“

There is also Jesus’ parable of the two sons who were instructed by the father to work in the father’s vineyard that we read in:Matthew 21:28-32. There we read where Jesus was condemning the Chief priests and elders of National Israel for their self-righteousness and lack of repentance. It provides another lesson of those who would have generally been considered to be “first” in the kingdom of God…the chief priests and elders…being surpassed by the publicans and harlots, who would have generally been considered among those who would be “last”. “¶But what think ye? A [certain] man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I [go], sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of [his] father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen [it], repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.“

More on God’s View of Equity

We should all understand that from God’s Holy viewpoint, every man is a sinner due to the fact that every human being is considered by God to have been present in the loins of Adam in the Garden of Eden at the Fall, and therefore everyone is subject to the same curse of sin and death…and which condemns every person who has ever been born to an eternity in Hell apart from the intervening Grace of God, which is made operable through the Person and Atoning Work of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. And that Work involved Jesus having to pay the full intercessory price of dying and going to Hell for the equivalent of eternity for the sins of those whom God chooses to save.

Let us take a close look at the Book of Romans, focusing on Chapter nine, to learn how God has established His equity.

We read in the Apostle Paul’s epistle to the Romans in Romans 9:10-24, “And not only [this]; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, [even] by our father Isaac; (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;) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. ¶ What shall we say then? [Is there] unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 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. So then [it is] not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 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. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will [have mercy], and whom he will he hardeneth.

And note in particular, the following, as it relates to the Parable of the laborers below, in Romans 9:19-24 we read, “¶Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 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? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? ¶[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: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?”

Please see this post on Election entitled: “The Doctrine of Election Is Salvation by God’s Sovereign Grace Alone: God Is The Potter, We are the Clay (and His Workmanship)“.

Mutuality and Consistency of OTHER SCRIPTURES with Election

Anyone who claims to be a Christian should be familiar with the following verses: 

Matthew 22:14, “¶For many are called, but few are chosen.” Please note the passive voice. It should therefore be understood that it was never Jesus’ intent to save everybody, or anybody, who ‘chooses’ (active voice) Him! God Alone does the choosing!

The Gospel “call” goes out to the whole world, but the only ones who will really respond are the ones who are “chosen” by God and predestined to come to Jesus before the foundations of the world.

Psalm 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.“

Jesus clearly stated in John 6:44, that “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.“

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 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:”

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; )“

Mutuality and Consistency of PARABLES with Election

Second is the astonishing fact that Jesus did not “speak plainly”, but instead “spoke in parables”!

Matthew 13:34, ¶All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:” (and Mark 4:34) which fulfilled Psalm 78:2)

That is why we have Mark 4:12, “That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.”  See also Matthew 13:13, Luke 8:10

And when we consider that the entire Bible is a “Parable”, it makes perfect sense from God’s perspective (but not man’s) that Election depends on the veiling of Truth through the use of parables. 

Moreover, parables are, themselves, just a “sign” that God’s Salvation Program is strictly by Election, because even when the parables are explained perfectly to someone, if that person is not one of God’s elect, then the explanation and teaching of the parables will still have no effect on that person. Such a person will physically hear the words, but will reject them by either simply dismissing them, mocking them, or even hating them because he or she does not want to hear the Truth. The words will have no spiritual effect, because each such hearer was not chosen by God to spiritually hear, and therefore was never among the elect of God in the first place.

Romans, chapter nine, makes the point that the unsaved man will find this to be unfair, and judge God as being unfair as a result. But what is not understood is that no human being would ever turn to God of his or her own free will because everyone is spiritually dead in their trespasses and sins. A dead thing cannot choose life. God has to empower a person to respond to the Gospel call by the quickening of The Holy Spirit. Each person who is to be saved must be “born again” of The Spirit and given the spiritual ears to hear. In effect, everyone is the unsaved state is physically alive, but still spiritually dead by nature.

God Is All, and Is Above All, and Totally Sovereign

God makes clear in Isaiah 55:8&9, “For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.“

Psalm 89:27, “Also I will make him [my] firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.” and Psalm 97:9, ” For thou, LORD, [art] high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.”

Psalm 103:11, “For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.“

Proverbs 19:21, “[There are] many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.“

Isaiah 57:15, “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name [is] Holy; I dwell in the high and holy [place], with him also [that is] of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” (Consider also Psalm 34:18, “The LORD [is] nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” and Psalm 51:17, “The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.“)

1 Samuel 16:7, “¶But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.“

God’s Equity Explained

Ezekiel 18:24-32, “¶But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, [and] doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked [man] doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die. ¶Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal? When a righteous [man] turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die. Again, when the wicked [man] turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal? ¶Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn [yourselves] from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn [yourselves], and live ye.“

The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard

God’s Equity (or Economy) is NOT man’s equity (or economy). Jesus’ Parable of “The Laborers in the Vineyard”, as is presented in Matthew 20:1-16, explains more about God’s Economy, which some might describe as “equal pay for unequal work“. This is because we are saved not by our works, but by the Grace of God alone. Ephesians 2:8-10, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.“

(Full Text of the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard)

In Matthew 20:1-16, we gain more insights in how God works out His Plan of Salvation: “¶For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man [that is] an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, [that] shall ye receive. ¶So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them [their] hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that [were hired] about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received [it], they murmured against the goodman of the house, Saying, These last have wrought [but] one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend*, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take [that] thine [is], and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.“

Key Words Reveal the Meaning of The Parable

Before we go to the key words that this teacher feels are important to highlight, let us all understand that the “householder” or “good man of the house” represents God, because only God is “Good”. That representative “man” contracted with each laborer for an agreed to amount “for a penny a day“. That is what the contract (one could call it a “covenant”) called for, nothing more. So let us look at some key words that reveal information that might otherwise not be so obvious on the surface.

“Thou Hast Made Them ‘Equal‘ Unto Us“

Here we see the basis for the discontent of man with God’s equitable economy. The murmuring laborers complained to the “good man of the house”, as any carnal man would, that they did a full day’s work even through the heat of the day, while the laborers who were brought in at the last hour received the same pay, and were paid first. Does not this remind us of the elder brother who complained to his father regarding the prodigal son (the younger son who wasted his inheritance and yet received honor from the father upon returning home in repentance)?

“Murmured“

Notice that in this parable those laborers who were hired first later “murmured” (like the Pharisees and the scribes who murmured against Jesus in Luke 15:1-2, “¶Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.”) and these unhappy laborers were subsequently viewed as having an “eye” that is “evil” because they rejected God’s economy. The lesson of this parable as well as those in Luke Chapter 15, is that everyone who becomes saved at any point in his or her life, become a servant of God to work in His vineyard to harvest souls, and it does not matter when in his or her lifetime that any believer joins into that work, at the end of the day (the end of his or her physical life), all the believers will receive the same wage…and certainly not a “penny”, but rather Eternal Life with God in Heaven! And they will definitely not be angry, resentful, or “murmuring” in their hearts, but rather the believers, the saints, will be rejoicing in Heaven with God praising Jesus for their Salvation!

1 Corinthians 10:10, “Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.“, which referred back to both Exodus 16:2, “And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:” and Numbers 14:35-37, “I the LORD have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die. ¶And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land, Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD.” Note how this is was also recounted for our admonition in Psalm 106:25, “But murmured in their tents, [and] hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD.“

For more on this topic of murmuring, it is useful to review the Parable of the Prodigal Son, because the elder son (who was first) effectively became ‘last’ because of his resentment and inner hatred of his younger brother (who originally last) who was lost, but then was found and became ‘first’. That study on the Prodigal son points us to three other pairs of brothers (true bothers in real life) where the elder is superseded by the younger and the allegorical roles that each serve to illustrate God’s equity/economy, 1) Cain and Abel, 2) Ishmael and Isaac, and 3) Esau and Jacob (Israel). And just as the elder brother served as an example of an unsaved person in those three pairs of brothers, so too does the murmuring man to whom the “Good” man suggested had an evil eye and who he addressed as “Friend”.

An “Evil‘ “Eye“

Regarding the statement by the “Good” man to the one murmurer, “Is thine eye evil”?, we should note in particular what Jesus said in regards to the natural, carnal, unsaved man in Mark 7:21-23, “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.“

Jesus also said in Matthew 6:23, “But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great [is] that darkness!”

Jesus elaborated even more in Luke 11:34-36, “The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when [thine eye] is evil, thy body also [is] full of darkness. Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.“

*“Friend”

We should take particular notice of the fact that the “householder” or “good man of the house” (who spiritually represents God) addressed one of the murmuring laborers as “Friend“. This word, which is translated in English as “Friend“, is from the original Greek word, ἑταῖρος (hetairos)^G2083, which means “acquaintance” or “comrade” and most certainly implies close “familiarity”. However, we should be careful to note that this word for “Friend” is used sparingly in the Bible, a total of only four times and only in the Book of Matthew (and each of the three times that it is found in the singular, it is also capitalized in the King James translation). And, with further scrutiny, we can see that this original Greek word word that is translated in English as “Friend” does not have the same positive connotation that one might initially think, in fact just the opposite, it is quite negative. This is because, most notably, this particular word, which has been translated as “Friend” in Matthew 20:13, just so happens to also be found in these two unhappy circumstances:

1. The original Greek word that is translated as “Friend“ here is the exact same word found in the “the Parable of the Wedding Feast” of Matthew 22:12 in which the king addressed the man who lacked a wedding garment as “Friend” (ἑταῖρος (hetairos))^G2083 and whom the king immediately ordered to be bound and cast “into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (in other words, that “Friend” was ordered to be cast into Hell!).
2. It is also the exact same word that Jesus used in addressing Judas Iscariot (upon being betrayed by Judas with a kiss) as we read in Matthew 26:48-50, ¶Now he (Judas) that betrayed him (Jesus) gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he (Judas) came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. ¶And Jesus said unto him, Friend (ἑταῖρος (hetairos))^G2083, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.” And also note how well that compares with Psalm 41:9, “Yea, mine own familiar friend (אִישׁ (‘îš))^H376, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.“ (consistent also with Obadiah 1:7, “the men of thy confederacy have brought thee [even] to the border: the men that were at peace with thee have deceived thee, [and] prevailed against thee; [they that eat] thy bread have laid a wound under thee: [there is] none understanding in him.”.and Psalm 55:13-15,”But [it was] thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.We took sweet counsel together, [and] walked unto the house of God in company. Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness [is] in their dwellings, [and] among them.” And we should all know that Judas Iscariot is assigned to Hell as we read in John 17:12, where Jesus prayed to God The Father, “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.” (fulfilling Psalm 55:13-15). Perdition is another word for a state of eternal punishment and damnation, which is Hell, that awaits an unrepentant person.

In English we have only one word for “friend”, but in the original Greek there is a clear distinction between the meanings of the two words that are found in the New Testament, which have been both been translated into English as “friend”.

The other word in the original Greek is φίλος (philos)^G5384 that was translated into English as “friend” (and clearly does mean ‘friend” as generally is understood) is found in John 15:13, where Jesus said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (φίλος (philos)) ^G5384. And Jesus most certainly did that (and much more) for all whom He came to seek and to save.

In the Old Testament there is at least two words in the original Hebrew that can be used to represent “friend“, like familiar “friend” (אִישׁ (‘îš))^H376 in Psalm 41:9 (from which it can also be interpreted as speaking of Judas, who betrayed Jesus, as being otherwise a “peaceable” “man”), and רֵעַ (rēaʿ)^H7453, which is more often translated as “neighbor”. That word has been translated into English by the King James translators variously as neighbour (102x), friend (42x), another (23x), fellow (10x), companion (5x), other (2x), brother (1x), husband (1x), lovers (1x). And note in particular what we find in Job 16:21, “O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man [pleadeth] for his neighbour (רֵעַ (rēaʿ))^H7453!” How poignant is that? Remember what we read in 1 John 2:1, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.“

Conclusion

The last verses of the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard sum it all up. We read there, “Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.“

Again, God’s Equity (or Economy) is NOT man’s equity (or economy). No one can murmur against God and say to God what is fair or unfair. God is Sovereign and His Ways are not man’s ways and God Is Perfect and Just to Save whomever He Wills to save as we read in Romans 9:18-21, “Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will [have mercy], and whom he will he hardeneth. ¶Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 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? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? No one has any right as the creature to question the Creator on how He deals with His Creation.

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men as we read in 1 Corinthians 1:26-28, “¶For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, [are called]: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, [yea], and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:”

If anyone wants to really understand WHY God’s Equity is not mankind’s equity, it boils down to one single simple concept, and that is the GOSPEL OF GRACE! Mankind believes in the exercise of its free will, and, with it, a salvation dependent upon his or her’s own good works in some version of being “good” in accordance with God’s Law. But the Law of God demands PERFECT obedience, and therefore the Law only serves to judge and condemn everyone for sin. As a result, God’s Equity purposed to establish an alternative, which flips this line of reasoning on its head. God provided a Substitute, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who Was the Only One Who could be PERFECTLY obedient to the Law. The result is that the means of salvation is not earned by our failed attempts in keeping the Law, but rather solely by God’s mercy in granting salvation by Grace alone, and not of works, as we read in:

1. Ephesians 2:7-9, “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us  through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.“
2. 2 Timothy 1:8-11, “¶Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 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, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.“
3. Genesis 15:1, “After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram:I [am] thy shield, [and] thy exceeding great reward.”
4. Matthew 5:12, “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.“

The exceeding “great reward” is God Himself, in the Person of Jesus Christ, the believer’s kinsman Redeemer. Nothing more and nothing less, for Jesus is EVERYTHING. 1 Corinthians 2:9, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.“

Dear Reader, as this teacher has said before, in many other posts, as hard as this post is to accept, we must remember that Jesus stated specifically, twice for emphasis, the following in 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.” and John 6:65, “And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.“

1 Corinthians 4:7, “For who maketh thee to differ [from another]? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received [it]?”

However, just because Election (“many be called but few chosen“) is a predetermined Grace upon one individual and not another…everyone, while still living, is in no way absolved from not turning back to God in repentance for sin, and is therefore still faced with the personal reckoning. Everyone needs to ask, “Am I saved or not?” IF this issue is disturbing, then that is a positive sign of being fearful of God’s wrath come Judgment Day. It is a sing that God is instilling a desire to make peace with Him through the Atoning Sacrifice of His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Everyone is obligated to cry out to God for mercy, and God will show mercy. IF, on the other hand, an individual becomes disgusted and does not like what has been said above, then so be it. God Is still The Creator, The Potter, and The Judge.

May this post (as well as each of the others found on this website) be a blessing to all who read it.

Postscript

We should also remember another facet of God’s Equity…Remember what Jesus said in:

1. the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:12, “For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.” and again later in
2. the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:29, “For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. and this also
3. Luke 8:18, “Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.” And that word “seemeth” is from the original Greek word δοκέω (dokeō)^G1380, which is better translated as “thinks”. Many people “think” that they are right with God, by taking upon them the name of Jesus Christ (hence “Christians”) for their salvation, but sadly they are not truly saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ Alone.
4. God adds wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those with understanding as we read in Daniel 2:20-22, “¶Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what [is] in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.“
5. And from the Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican (tax collector) in Luke 18:14, “I tell you, this man (the Publican) went down to his house justified [rather] than the other (the Pharisee): for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.“

However, we must also remember what Jesus said in Luke 12:48, “But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few [stripes]. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” The more wisdom and understanding God graciously grants a person from His Word, the greater the responsibility that person will have to use it to His Glory! Which brings to mind Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.“