The apostle Paul emphasized to the Romans that God has an overarching right to do as he pleases with what is his. He gives mercy
and compassion to whomever he will, while at the same time, withholding it from others. "But indeed, O man, who are you to reply
against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, 'Why have you made me like this?' " (Rom.9:21). In other
words, "Who do you think you are, anyway?!"
But God will have mercy and compassion upon whomever he will; it is his call, not ours. "As it is written, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! For he says to Moses, 'I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever
I will have compassion.' So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. For
the Scripture says to Pharaoh, 'For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show my power in you, and that my name may
be declared in all the earth.' Therefore he has mercy on whom he wills, and whom he wills he hardens" (Rom.9:13-18).
Some deluded
professing Christians (blinded Armstrong polytheistic binitarians) are saying that THEY will become God as God is God! But God
has a word for them: "I am the LORD, that is my name; and my glory I will not give to another, nor my praise to carved images" (Isa.42:8).
God
Almighty thunders his identity from the heavens: "Hear, O
God Almighty puts forth his promise to
believers: "But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run
and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint" (Isa.40:31).
Some self-deluded professing Christians claim that Satan the Devil sits
upon the throne of earth, ruling it. But the word of God says otherwise!
"The earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness, the
world and those who dwell therein. For he has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the waters. Who may ascend
into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted
up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his
salvation… Who is this king of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads,
O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the king of glory shall come in. Who is this king of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the king of glory" (Ps.24:1-10).
On top of this, the man Jesus Christ has been exalted as king of kings and
lord of lords, turning all those into liars who claim that the devil is king of the earth. Read this and weep and howl, all
you who claim that the devil, and not Jesus Christ, sits upon the throne of earth. John is given a greeting from the one who
is the ruler over all the kings of the earth, and at the right hand of the Father in heaven. "John, to the seven churches which
are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his
throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth" (Rev.1:4-5a). Also: "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth' " (Matt.28:18; cf. Jn.3:35;
17:2).
God has a few things to say to the exalted ones among us: "Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: 'Who is
this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer
me. Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?" (Job 38:1-4). Job wisely shut his mouth at this point. But some of us today, as professing believers, do not shut our mouths and stay our words.
"But I say to you, love your enemies, bless
those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons
of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matt.5:44,
45). This is a warning to professing believers!
The Father, Yahweh, is supreme. "My father, who has given them to me, is
greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of my father's hand" (Jn.10:29). But you can take yourself out and fall
away (Lk.8:12; Heb.6:4-6).
Believers will do good works. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works
and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matt.5:16).
"All things have been delivered to me by my father, and no one knows the Son except
the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal him. [Evidently,
the Son is able to introduce or reveal the Father to individuals he deems worthy apart from the Father's call.] Come to me,
all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and
lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matt.11:27-30). (Continued...)
