June 4, 2023 Brother Jonah Lowrance & Elder Bryce Lowrance

Brother Jonah Lowrance considers the doctrine of predestination, beginning in the first chapter of Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus. He distinguishes between the terms of foreknowledge, election and predestination, noting the limited times predestinate is used in the Bible. After looking at some common mischaracterizations of the doctrine of predestination, Brother Jonah then asks and answers some questions concerning predestination. Why does God predestinate? What is the adoption God predestinates us to? Finally, he looks at the hope and joy we can experience, and strength it can give us, when we understand we are “joint heirs with Christ” and that God does not cast away His people. Elder Bryce Lowrance looks to Psalm 11 and considers verse three “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” He notes the previous Psalms leading up to it and how Psalm 11 has a glorious, emphatic theme that we must trust in the Lord. Brother Bryce looks at the likely occasion that frame the Psalmist’s statement in verse three, and then he looks at the numerous scriptural proofs that refute the foundations ever being destroyed and other lies and strategies of the devil. Of the remaining verses, Brother Bryce shows us that God is unaffected by the devil, that he chastens whom He loves but doesn’t destroy, that the Lord will judge the wicked, and that we should glorify God for His righteousness and trust Him.