<TITLE>15. Par 150-157</TITLE>L-150 When He chose Esau, or chose Jacob and rejected Esau, before either boy could have a right to make a choice, himself, neither one of them; before they was born, still in the womb of the mother, God said, "I hate Esau, and I love Jacob." See? Why?
For he said unto 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... him that willeth, nor... him that runneth, but it's God that sheweth mercy.
For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Therefore he... (now watch here)... for he... mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Thou will say... unto me, Why then does he... find fault? For who has resisted his will?
Nay but, O man, who art thou that rilest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me this?
Has not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel to honour, and the other to dishonour?
What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured... such long-suffering the vessel of wrath fitted to destruction:
... that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessel of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

L-151   Now argue with That a while. God did it! He had to make it this a way. It had to be there. Now listen now for about five minutes, I want to call your attention to something.

L-152 What is God? God is a great Eternal. At the beginning, way back before there was a beginning, He wasn't even God. Did you know that? God is an "object of worship," and there wasn't nothing to worship Him. He lived alone.

L-153 And in Him was attributes. What is an attribute? A thought. Now you'll get something that will border on the lesson for tonight. Notice, He was His attributes that was in Him. Now, it was in Him to be Father, it was in Him to be God, it was in Him to be Son, it was in Him to be Saviour, it was in Him to be Healer. And all these things here are just displaying His attributes. There is nothing out of order. You think God didn't see the end from the beginning? Certainly, He did. There's nothing out of order, it's just displaying His attributes.

L-154   Now, He could not be just and make a man to fall. He had to put him on equal basis, of free moral agency, to make his own choice, but knowing he would fall.

L-155 Now, He can't be a Saviour unless something is lost. He can't be a Healer unless something is sick. These things had to be that way. God made them thus so that His great attributes could be displayed. If there wasn't that, He'd have never been a Saviour. But we know He was, even before there was a time, He was a Saviour. He was a Saviour, so there has to be something lost. How is it going to be?

L-156 If He takes and loses it, just in order to save it, then it isn't justice to His judgment. He couldn't send a man to hell, and be just. He is kind, gentle, true, honest, and He is a great Judge. See, He would be working against Himself.

L-157 So He had to put a man out here, and make him on free moral agency, so he would, knowing, would fall; and the man, in His Own image, how could he fall? Now you seeing day Light? So, He had to make a by-product, something out of the original creation. Now you see it. See? There you come. See? Then, that's what fell. He made it, knowing it would fall. And it's put over in the hands of Satan, for a vessel of dishonor. Where is honor bestowed today? You think on that. Notice closely now.


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