Day 287 of the timeline, chronological reading plan, clearly outlines Scripture that deals specifically with the doctrine of Illumination. Matthew 13:11-17, the Words of Jesus, reads as follows:
NLT – “He replied, "You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. 12 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. 13 That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don't really see. They hear, but they don't really listen or understand. 14 This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, 'When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. 15 For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes--so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.' 16 "But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17 I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn't see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn't hear it.”
Above, our Lord and Savior was Clearly describing His Illuminating Ways and how this phenomenon works. First, verse 11 tells us that certain people are “permitted” to Understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven. So, in other words, certain people are placed into a “Group Policy” that grants Understanding regarding specific information that the Lord desires that one would have. Therefore, if a person is not “permitted” to Understand, if they are [not] placed into the “Group Policy,” they will not and cannot Turn to the Lord, just as verse 15 clearly states . . . “their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me.” Quite literally, a person is incapable of Turning to Christ unless he or she has been brought from Spiritual death to Spiritual Life, which is done through Spiritual Circumcision as clearly described in Colossians 2:9-15. A person must be removed from the Spiritual “Group Policy” that applies to the Curse of God. When a person is taken out of Spiritual “Deep Sleep” (which equates to the Sinful Nature), they are set free and can begin to think and behave in Righteous ways representing a complete, well-balanced Mind of Christ. But until then, and according to the image Paul paints below of how the Sinful Nature works, a person will remain Spiritually blind and deaf.
Romans 11:8 NLT – “As the Scriptures say, "God has put them into a deep sleep. To this day he has shut their eyes so they do not see, and closed their ears so they do not hear."
The Purpose of Christ is to Redeem us from the Curse of the Lord. The Work of Christ does just that; it separates, Enables, grants, and even pays the debt for our sins so that we would be made Right with Father God.
Romans 5:12, 15-21 NLT - 12 “When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. “... 15 “But there is a great difference between Adam's sin and God's gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. 16 And the result of God's gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man's sin. For Adam's sin led to condemnation, but God's free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. 17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. 18 Yes, Adam's one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ's one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. 19 Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous. 20 God's law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God's wonderful grace became more abundant. 21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God's wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
What does it mean to “live in triumph” over sin and death? Does it seem reasonable that a person who has triumphed over sin and evil would continue to frequent prostitutes? Would they continue to beat their wife and children? Would they continue their substance abuse? Would they continue their sexual prowess with many lovers? Would they continue to curse, swear, and speak like the world? Or, does a person who has “triumphed over sin” undergo the process of Sanctification . . . a Holy Transformation that comes by way of Renewal of the Mind?
Romans 12:2 NLT – “Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
Having been Spiritually drawn by the Spirit, a person is first Circumcised by Christ, then Enabled to Turn to God, Repent, and accept the gift of the Holy Spirit. When a person is released from the Curse by the Hands of Christ, they will naturally gravitate toward their new Master, their Illuminating Christ. There will be no other choice to make once a person has been gifted Holy Illumination . . . they [will] respond to Christ. Further, this is the very Promise that was Mysteriously discussed in Genesis chapter 17. The Promise is that of a Circumcised Heart so that Jews and Gentiles alike will share in the Promised Holy Land (Heaven). It is the Circumcision of Christ that breaks down the wall of hostility between Jew and Gentile, for this Purity that only comes from Christ is what establishes the Righteous and Holy from the evil and degenerate. There are two groups of thinking in this world . . . those with the mind of the Devil and those with the Mind of Christ. The two think and operate in two completely distinct ways.
If this is True, then “free will” is . . . at best . . . limited. But again, story after story shows that God is leading, guiding, and directing all creation down a precisely detailed pre-written Plan, written in the Heavenly Scroll of the Lord.
As I began collecting and organizing these passages that at least seem to have an impact on the understanding of “free will,” I was forced to accept they these stories were real and that the building number of them all was overwhelming. I don’t recall at what point, but I did eventually cave into the fact that there is so much Biblical evidence that this is what the Bible centers around . . . the controlling Force of God as He uses all of His creation as a way to demonstrate His Almighty Power over all. In other words, God told of what He would do here on earth, and He is doing it . . . perfectly.
Free will? Well, we’re all entitled to believe what is in our hearts, yet I will always say that God is in control of my life and not the other way around. I’d be constantly unnerved if I felt alone and apart from God and felt like I was in total control. No, I much prefer to be aware that God is in control of my desire to be in control.
