Your peace isn't dependent on you knowing everything; rather, it depends on you trusting in God to provide everything you need to know.

Do you believe that anyone who believes in Jesus Christ for salvation can be saved? I do. Is this open to interpretation? Nope. It’s clearly stated holy doctrine in the Word of God.

As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
-John 3:14-18

We read the word believe five times in this one passage. In every case mentioned, man is held responsible for believing (or not). Case closed. If there’s ever been clearly stated doctrine in Holy Scripture, it’s at least so here. Agreed?

Anyone can be saved who believes in Jesus Christ. The full responsibility for believing (or not) is placed on man.

Just before the above passage, Jesus spoke to Nicodemus about being “born again”.

Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Nicodemus *said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?"

Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

"That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'

"The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
-John 3:3-8

Jesus clearly stated that unless a person is born again, they cannot be saved. This is a radical statement because, as was the case with our natural birth, there’s nothing we can do to make ourselves born again! Rebirth (aka regeneration, being made a new creature, having our hearts circumcised, etc.) is a sovereign act of God alone. As Jesus explained, "that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (v7). While we are able to see the effects of rebirth, we do not control it (v8).

God alone sovereignly chooses to supernaturally regenerate a person for salvation. Man has no part in this (how could he?).

At this point, someone may react as Paul suspected they would, “You will say to me then, ‘Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?’" (Romans 9:19). We have here what we might think of as “parallel truths” regarding God’s salvific plan. We have to accept them and not question God’s choice to keep some things a mystery.

If you are familiar with the passage in Romans 9 following the above objection, you know the punchline begins with, “who are you, O man…” (v20). This is the same general pattern we see with Job, who questioned God from a state of ignorance (he suffered at the hand of Satan and didn’t know it). “Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now gird up your loins like a man, And I will ask you, and you instruct Me!” (Job 38:1-3).

A person who “darkens counsel by words without knowledge” has overstepped their God-given boundaries regarding knowledge and understanding. In doing so, they have cast a shadow on God’s glorious, sovereign, holy grace.

Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.
-James 1:16-18

The phrase “He brought us forth” comes from the Greek word apokueo, which means “to give birth to” (Strong’s Concordance), which parallels what Jesus explained to Nicodemus, “Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again” (John 3:7). This rebirth was “In the exercise of his will” (v18) and with “no variation”, from the Greek word parallage, meaning “change, variation, mutation” (Strong’s Concordance).

Spiritual regeneration occurs because God so desires it. In fact, He decreed every believer’s rebirth from eternity past before they were even born.

And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God's purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, it was said to her, "THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER." Just as it is written, "JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED."

What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be!
-Romans 9:10-14

Is salvation the only doctrine in Holy Scripture comprised of parallel truths? Not at all.

In Isaiah 6:10-19, God uses Assyria as a weapon against His own people, Israel. Why? To accomplish His will. Did Assyria know about God’s intentions? Nope. “Yet it does not so intend, nor does it plan so in its heart, but rather it is its purpose to destroy and to cut off many nations” (Isaiah 10:7). In other words, Assyria had its own plans from its own perspective, exercising its own freedom to choose aggression towards Israel; yet, God sovereignly orchestrated the whole of it. Once God had accomplished His own will, He destroyed Assyria, who had been boasting as if it were responsible for what God had ultimately ordained. “Shall the axe boast over him who hews with it, or the saw magnify itself against him who wields it? As if a rod should wield him who lifts it, or as if a staff should lift him who is not wood!” (Isaiah 10:15).

Here are a few more parallels in Holy Scripture for your consideration:

After being sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, Joseph said to them, “So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt” (Genesis 45:8).

Jesus taught the crowds parallel truths when, “[He] said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst’” (John 6:35) and then later said, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me” (John 6:37-38).

Jesus laid out parallel truths regarding salvation to the crowds, “All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:27-28)

Peter preached that God used the murderous hearts of the Jews (who will be judged for their actions) to accomplish His salvific plan through Jesus. “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men” (Acts 2:22-23).

Whatever the Lord God wills, He does. Whatever He purposes, He brings to pass. The will of the Lord cannot be thwarted. He is absolutely sovereign. If there’s one truth we ought to be comfortable with, it’s this one!

God has planned a life for every person who has or ever will live. Some will end up in Hell and some in Heaven. God ordains it all, regardless of man’s presumptuous nature to the contrary.

Let us not lose sleep over this; rather, let us rejoice under the omnipotent hand of God! Let us enjoy this freedom we have been given as slaves of righteousness. This is faith, my friend, in a nutshell. The more faith you have the more peace you’ll possess. And, by the way, this faith is truly yours to exercise!

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
-John 15:11

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
-John 14:27

So, again, your peace isn't dependent on you knowing everything; rather, it depends on you trusting in God to provide everything you need to know.

Throughout the Word of God, we see parallels where God’s will and man’s will coexist. Although our finite minds cannot fully comprehend such things, we must accept God’s Word at face value. By faith, we believe them because the Bible says they are true. We must resist the temptation to draw conclusions that aren’t there (Deuteronomy 4:2). God gives us precisely as much as He desires for us to know, nothing more, nothing less. Knowing this one truth is a blessing in and of itself. Embrace it. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever.

Amen.
-Romans 11:33-36

Love in Christ,

Ed Collins