I dont believe we are to elevate these earthly kings to the level of our Father in the way being done here, because it is clear who was in charge from this story. It was not Xerxes.
It's a type. Just like David was not actually Christ, He was a type of Christ. I believe all of the OT testifies of Christ.
And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.
Acts 28:23 KJV
And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.
2 Corinthians 3:13-15 KJV
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
John 5:39 KJV
I am responding to the statement you made that no amount of faith or repentance could justify a sinner if God doesnt "know" you. I am trying to determine how God gives a person repentance and faith, without "knowing" them.
Those do not justify sinners. The blood of Christ justified sinners on the cross. He said it is finished and then He sat down. I've never heard of a High Priest sitting down before. Those who are justified, will come to faith and repentance by hearing the Gospel. I believe there are only two types of people, those in Christ and those in Adam. A good example would be Esau.
For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
Hebrews 12:17 KJV
(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth
It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
Romans 9:11-13 KJV
Works arent bad, it is the fact that they believed they could be justified by works that was their destruction.
Agree.
While you cannot be justified by works, you are absolutely justified by faith (Rom 5:1). So saying "no amount of faith or repentance could justify a sinner" is a major issue.
I do not agree. I do not believe one is justified by their faith. I believe that God's people are justified by Christ blood on the cross 2000 years ago. I believe they are sanctified in Christ also 2000 years ago.
I believe that faith is a metynomy for Christ.
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Romans 5:9 KJV
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Galatians 2:16 KJV
Thanks for the good discussion.