Sunday, May 31, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Musing on the eternal covenant
Below is a transcript from a Spurgeon sermon where he describes this covenant and then wonders what it would have been like to be to hear this covenant being made.
“Now, in this covenant of grace, we must first of all observe the high contracting parties between whom it was made. The covenant of grace was made before the foundation of the world between God the Father, and God the Son; or to put it in a yet more scriptural light, it was made mutually between the three divine persons of the adorable Trinity.”
“I cannot tell you it in the glorious celestial tongue in which it was written: I am fain to bring it down to the speech which suiteth to the ear of flesh, and to the heart of the mortal. Thus, I say, run the covenant, in ones like these:”
"I, the Most High Jehovah, do hereby give unto my only begotten and well-beloved Son, a people, countless beyond the number of stars, who shall be by him washed from sin, by him preserved, and kept, and led, and by him, at last, presented before my throne, without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. I covenant by oath, and swear by myself, because I can swear by no greater, that these whom I now give to Christ shall be for ever the objects of my eternal love. Them I will forgive through the merit of the blood. To these will I give a perfect righteousness; these will I adopt and make my sons and daughters, and these shall reign with me through Christ eternally." Thus run that glorious side of the covenant.
The Holy Spirit also, as one of the high contracting parties on this side of the covenant, gave his declaration, "I hereby covenant," saith he, "that all whom the Father giveth to the Son, I will in due time quicken. I will show them their need of redemption; I will cut off from them all groundless hope, and destroy their refuges of lies. I will bring them to the blood of sprinkling; I will give them faith whereby this blood shall be applied to them, I will work in them every grace; I will keep their faith alive; I will cleanse them and drive out all depravity from them, and they shall be presented at last spotless and faultless." This was the one side of the covenant, which is at this very day being fulfilled and scrupulously kept.
As for the other side of the covenant this was the part of it, engaged and covenanted by Christ. He thus declared, and covenanted with his Father: "My Father, on my part I covenant that in the fullness of time I will become man. I will take upon myself the form and nature of the fallen race. I will live in their wretched world, and for my people I will keep the law perfectly. I will work out a spotless righteousness, which shall be acceptable to the demands of thy just and holy law. In due time I will bear the sins of all my people. Thou shalt exact their debts on me; the chastisement of their peace I will endure, and by my stripes they shall be healed. My Father, I covenant and promise that I will be obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. I will magnify thy law, and make it honourable. I will suffer all they ought to have suffered. I will endure the curse of thy law, and all the vials of thy wrath shall be emptied and spent upon my head. I will then rise again; I will ascend into heaven; I will intercede for them at thy right hand; and I will make myself responsible for every one of them, that not one of those whom thou hast given me shall ever be lost, but I will bring all my sheep of whom, by thy blood, thou hast constituted me the shepherd—I will bring every one safe to thee at last."
-Charles Spurgeon-
“Now, in this covenant of grace, we must first of all observe the high contracting parties between whom it was made. The covenant of grace was made before the foundation of the world between God the Father, and God the Son; or to put it in a yet more scriptural light, it was made mutually between the three divine persons of the adorable Trinity.”
“I cannot tell you it in the glorious celestial tongue in which it was written: I am fain to bring it down to the speech which suiteth to the ear of flesh, and to the heart of the mortal. Thus, I say, run the covenant, in ones like these:”
"I, the Most High Jehovah, do hereby give unto my only begotten and well-beloved Son, a people, countless beyond the number of stars, who shall be by him washed from sin, by him preserved, and kept, and led, and by him, at last, presented before my throne, without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. I covenant by oath, and swear by myself, because I can swear by no greater, that these whom I now give to Christ shall be for ever the objects of my eternal love. Them I will forgive through the merit of the blood. To these will I give a perfect righteousness; these will I adopt and make my sons and daughters, and these shall reign with me through Christ eternally." Thus run that glorious side of the covenant.
The Holy Spirit also, as one of the high contracting parties on this side of the covenant, gave his declaration, "I hereby covenant," saith he, "that all whom the Father giveth to the Son, I will in due time quicken. I will show them their need of redemption; I will cut off from them all groundless hope, and destroy their refuges of lies. I will bring them to the blood of sprinkling; I will give them faith whereby this blood shall be applied to them, I will work in them every grace; I will keep their faith alive; I will cleanse them and drive out all depravity from them, and they shall be presented at last spotless and faultless." This was the one side of the covenant, which is at this very day being fulfilled and scrupulously kept.
As for the other side of the covenant this was the part of it, engaged and covenanted by Christ. He thus declared, and covenanted with his Father: "My Father, on my part I covenant that in the fullness of time I will become man. I will take upon myself the form and nature of the fallen race. I will live in their wretched world, and for my people I will keep the law perfectly. I will work out a spotless righteousness, which shall be acceptable to the demands of thy just and holy law. In due time I will bear the sins of all my people. Thou shalt exact their debts on me; the chastisement of their peace I will endure, and by my stripes they shall be healed. My Father, I covenant and promise that I will be obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. I will magnify thy law, and make it honourable. I will suffer all they ought to have suffered. I will endure the curse of thy law, and all the vials of thy wrath shall be emptied and spent upon my head. I will then rise again; I will ascend into heaven; I will intercede for them at thy right hand; and I will make myself responsible for every one of them, that not one of those whom thou hast given me shall ever be lost, but I will bring all my sheep of whom, by thy blood, thou hast constituted me the shepherd—I will bring every one safe to thee at last."
-Charles Spurgeon-
Thursday, May 28, 2009
There are at least 3 reasons to drop by Open House on Sunday
Reason #1
See the progress on the facility and the renovated offices
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Scripture emphasizes that preservation leads to perseverence.
John tells us that Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, is under promise to his Father (John 6:37-40) and to his sheep directly (John 10:28-29) to keep them so that they never perish. In his high-priestly prayer before his passion Jesus asked that those whom the Father had given him (John 17:2, 6, 9, 24) would be preserved to glory, and it is inconceivable that his prayer, which still continues (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25), will go unanswered.
Paul sees the sovereign plan of God for the salvation of his elect as a unitary whole, of which the glorifying of the justified is part (Rom. 8:29-30). On this basis he builds the triumphant peroration of Romans 8:31-39, in which he celebrates the present and future security of the saints in the almighty love of God. Elsewhere he rejoices in the certainty that God will complete the “good work” that he began in the lives of those Paul addresses (Phil. 1:6; cf. 1 Cor. 1:8-9; 1 Thess. 5:23-24; 2 Thess. 3:3; 2 Tim. 1:12; 4:18). --JI Packer
Paul sees the sovereign plan of God for the salvation of his elect as a unitary whole, of which the glorifying of the justified is part (Rom. 8:29-30). On this basis he builds the triumphant peroration of Romans 8:31-39, in which he celebrates the present and future security of the saints in the almighty love of God. Elsewhere he rejoices in the certainty that God will complete the “good work” that he began in the lives of those Paul addresses (Phil. 1:6; cf. 1 Cor. 1:8-9; 1 Thess. 5:23-24; 2 Thess. 3:3; 2 Tim. 1:12; 4:18). --JI Packer
Spurgeon Morning June 16
“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish.”
John 10:28
The Christian should never think or speak lightly of unbelief. For a child of God to mistrust his love, his truth, his faithfulness, must be greatly displeasing to him. How can we ever grieve him by doubting his upholding grace? Christian! it is contrary to every promise of God’s precious Word that thou shouldst ever be forgotten or left to perish. If it could be so, how could he be true who has said, “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I never forget thee.” What were the value of that promise—“The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.” Where were the truth of Christ’s words—“I give unto my sheep eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” Where were the doctrines of grace? They would be all disproved if one child of God should perish. Where were the veracity of God, his honor, his power, his grace, his covenant, his oath, if any of those for whom Christ has died, and who have put their trust in him, should nevertheless be cast away? Banish those unbelieving fears which so dishonor God. Arise, shake thyself from the dust, and put on thy beautiful garments. Remember it is sinful to doubt his Word wherein he has promised thee that thou shalt never perish. Let the eternal life within thee express itself in confident rejoicing.
“The gospel bears my spirit up:
A faithful and unchanging God
Lays the foundation for my hope,
In oaths, and promises, and blood.”
John 10:28
The Christian should never think or speak lightly of unbelief. For a child of God to mistrust his love, his truth, his faithfulness, must be greatly displeasing to him. How can we ever grieve him by doubting his upholding grace? Christian! it is contrary to every promise of God’s precious Word that thou shouldst ever be forgotten or left to perish. If it could be so, how could he be true who has said, “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I never forget thee.” What were the value of that promise—“The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.” Where were the truth of Christ’s words—“I give unto my sheep eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” Where were the doctrines of grace? They would be all disproved if one child of God should perish. Where were the veracity of God, his honor, his power, his grace, his covenant, his oath, if any of those for whom Christ has died, and who have put their trust in him, should nevertheless be cast away? Banish those unbelieving fears which so dishonor God. Arise, shake thyself from the dust, and put on thy beautiful garments. Remember it is sinful to doubt his Word wherein he has promised thee that thou shalt never perish. Let the eternal life within thee express itself in confident rejoicing.
“The gospel bears my spirit up:
A faithful and unchanging God
Lays the foundation for my hope,
In oaths, and promises, and blood.”
Saturday, May 23, 2009
We are not left to our own resources!
Christians can only persevere through the power of God. Left to themselves, to their own strength, to their own resources, they would undoubtedly fall away and lose their salvation. But God will not permit this to happen to those who are his own, whom He has chosen in Christ from the creation of the world (Ephesians 1:4) and whom He predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son (Romans 8:29)... this is the heart of the teaching (of perseverence & preservation)... believers persevere only because God in His unchangeable love enables them to persevere.
--Anthony Hoekema
--Anthony Hoekema
Hymns Help
"My name from the palms of His hands
Etemity will not erase;
Impress'd on His heart it remains,
In marks of indelible grace."
and
"The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never forsake!"
Etemity will not erase;
Impress'd on His heart it remains,
In marks of indelible grace."
and
"The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never forsake!"
Perseverence & Preservation
Let it first be said that in declaring the eternal security of God’s people it is clearer to speak of their preservation than, as is commonly done, of their perseverance. Perseverance means persistence under discouragement and contrary pressure. The assertion that believers persevere in faith and obedience despite everything is true, but the reason is that Jesus Christ through the Spirit persists in preserving them. --J.I. Packer
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Jesus is the Great Kardiognostes
I've extended this great quote beyond preachers only:
" Love will help the preacher/sun school teacher/comm.Group leader/parent! to be understanding in his
approach not only because he will then take trouble to get
to know his people and their problems, but also because he
will be better able to appreciate them when he knows them.
Love has a strange intuitive faculty. Jesus our Lord
possessed it to perfection. Again and again it is said of
him that he knew people's thoughts. Indeed, the apostle
John writes, 'He knew all men and needed no one to bear
witness of man; for he himself knew what was in man.' Men
felt instinctively that he understood them. He is the
great "kardiognostes", or heart-knower, who 'searches mind
and heart', and we should seek from him insight to be and
do the same. Love, the unselfish care which longs to
understand and so to help, is one of the greatest secrets
of communication. It is when the preacher loves his
people, that they are likely to say of him, 'He understands
us.'
--John Stott
" Love will help the preacher/sun school teacher/comm.Group leader/parent! to be understanding in his
approach not only because he will then take trouble to get
to know his people and their problems, but also because he
will be better able to appreciate them when he knows them.
Love has a strange intuitive faculty. Jesus our Lord
possessed it to perfection. Again and again it is said of
him that he knew people's thoughts. Indeed, the apostle
John writes, 'He knew all men and needed no one to bear
witness of man; for he himself knew what was in man.' Men
felt instinctively that he understood them. He is the
great "kardiognostes", or heart-knower, who 'searches mind
and heart', and we should seek from him insight to be and
do the same. Love, the unselfish care which longs to
understand and so to help, is one of the greatest secrets
of communication. It is when the preacher loves his
people, that they are likely to say of him, 'He understands
us.'
--John Stott
Monday, May 18, 2009
Especially helping a broken heart
“He is a physician good to all diseases, especially at the binding up of a broken heart. He died that He might heal our souls with the plaster of His own blood, and by that death save us. Shall our sins discourage us when He appears only for sinners?” -- Richard Sibbs, 1630 Puritan pastor.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
special Music this AM
Awake My Soul
1. The image of God invisible
The firstborn of all life
Before and within,
He holds it all in
One name, one faith, one Christ
Chorus: No one is good enough
To save himself
Awake my soul tonight
To boast nothing else
2. I trust no other source or name
Nowhere else can I hide
This grace gives me fear,
and this grace draws me near
And all that it asks it provides
(Repeat chorus)
Bridge: No seam in this garment
All my rags to hide
No less than your love
For Jesus is mine
3. When I stand on the edges of Jordan
With the saints and the angels beside
When my body is healed
and the glory revealed
Then still I can boast only Christ
GOD DRAWS HIS PEOPLE TO HIMSELF ... by Packer
EFFECTUAL CALLING
GOD DRAWS HIS PEOPLE TO HIMSELF
.... From the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 THESSALONIANS 2:13-14
Effectual calling is a sixteenth-century English phrase that became the title of chapter X of the 1647 Westminster Confession. The chapter begins thus:
All those whom God hath predestinated unto life, and those only, he is pleased, in his appointed and accepted time, effectually to call, by his Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death, in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation, by Jesus Christ; enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God, taking away their heart of stone and giving unto them a heart of flesh; renewing their wills, and, by his almighty power, determining them to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ: yet so, as they come most freely, being made willing by his grace.
What is being spoken of here is the many-sided reality of Christian conversion, involving illumination, regeneration, faith, and repentance. It is being analyzed as a sovereign work of God, “effectually” (i.e., effectively) performed by the power of the Holy Spirit. The concept corresponds to Paul’s use of the verb call (meaning “bring to faith”) and called (meaning “converted”) in Romans 1:6; 8:28, 30; 9:24; 1 Corinthians 1:24, 26; 7:18, 21; Galatians 1:15; Ephesians 4:1, 4; and 2 Thessalonians 2:14, and contrasts with the idea of a merely external and ineffective invitation, as found in Matthew 22:14.
Original sin renders all human beings naturally dead (unresponsive) to God, but in effectual calling God quickens the dead. As the outward call of God to faith in Christ is communicated through the reading, preaching, and explaining of the contents of the Bible, the Holy Spirit enlightens and renews the heart of elect sinners so that they understand the gospel and embrace it as truth from God, and God in Christ becomes to them an object of desire and affection. Being now regenerate and able by the use of their freed will to choose God and the good, they turn away from their former pattern of living to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and to start a new life with him. --from Packer, concise theology
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Before Belief
Consider the masterful way the authors of the Catechism describe the process of our coming to faith:
"Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit whereby (three progressive participles indicate inward changes beginning to unfold): convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills; he (the Spirit, having prepared our hearts) doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered in the Gospel" (#31).
The various nuances of that catechism answer are extraordinary and provide great insight into helping a person recall the powerful working of God before they actually believed. Usually when people give a testimony of their salvation they will allude to these kinds of experiences, but often with the thought that they were almost random events rather than the deliberate moving into their lives of the Holy Spirit of God. It seems to me that taking time to reflect back on our lost condition and then recall how God moved in and changed us is a pattern frequently applied by Paul
(1 Corinthians 1:26-31, "think of what you were when you were called..."; Ephesians 2:1; Colossians 1:13,14,21).
--Steve Smallman in a really helpful article called "Understanding the New Birth"
"Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit whereby (three progressive participles indicate inward changes beginning to unfold): convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills; he (the Spirit, having prepared our hearts) doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered in the Gospel" (#31).
The various nuances of that catechism answer are extraordinary and provide great insight into helping a person recall the powerful working of God before they actually believed. Usually when people give a testimony of their salvation they will allude to these kinds of experiences, but often with the thought that they were almost random events rather than the deliberate moving into their lives of the Holy Spirit of God. It seems to me that taking time to reflect back on our lost condition and then recall how God moved in and changed us is a pattern frequently applied by Paul
(1 Corinthians 1:26-31, "think of what you were when you were called..."; Ephesians 2:1; Colossians 1:13,14,21).
--Steve Smallman in a really helpful article called "Understanding the New Birth"
Piper on what we don't have without the new birth
Effectual Calling and Regeneration (The gift of NEW LIFE) are clearly and closely tied together.
What won’t we have without the new birth? Here they are in summary:
What won’t we have without the new birth? Here they are in summary:
- Without the new birth, we won’t have saving faith, but only unbelief (John 1:11-13; 1 John 5:1; Ephesians 2:8-9; Philippians 1:29; 1 Timothy 1:14; 2 Timothy 1:3).
- Without the new birth, we won’t have justification, but only condemnation (Romans 8:1; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 2:17; Philippians 3:9).
- Without the new birth, we won’t be the children of God, but the children of the devil (1 John 3:9-10).
- Without the new birth, we won’t bear the fruit of love by the Holy Spirit but only bear the fruit of death (Romans 6:20-21; 7:4-6; 15:16; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:10; Galatians 5:6; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 John 3:14).
- Without the new birth, we won’t have eternal joy in fellowship with God, but only eternal misery with the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41; John 3:3; Romans 6:23; Revelation 2:11; 20:15).
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on effectual calling
1 Corinthians 1:2 'Unto the church of God which is at Corinth to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints …'. it is not simply that they are called saints, they are called to be saints. And then, in that same chapter, the Apostle repeats it. He says, 'We preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness' — then notice — 'but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God, and the wisdom of God' ( 1 Cor. 1:23– 24 ). Now there are people to whom the preaching of Christ is foolishness; they are the unsaved. But the saved he again describes as those who are called .
--MLJ
--MLJ
What is effectual calling?
ANSWER: Effectual calling is the work of God's Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.
--q.31 of Westminster Shorter Catechism
Scriptures that influenced this answer:
Acts 26:18. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. 1 Corinthians 2:10, 12. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.... Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 2 Corinthians 4:6. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:17-18. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints
--q.31 of Westminster Shorter Catechism
Scriptures that influenced this answer:
Acts 26:18. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. 1 Corinthians 2:10, 12. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.... Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 2 Corinthians 4:6. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:17-18. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints
Thursday, May 14, 2009
More on Common Grace
Throughout this grandeur of grace series we are focusing on the special love of God towards His people. His love that is particular and persuasive.
This doesn't mean that there isn't a common love of God towards His creation. There is...
"God's common grace restrains evil (Genesis 20:6) and bestows good (Psalm 145:15,16) so that no one is a stranger to God's kindness." --Robert Peterson and Michael Williams
Genesis 20:6 God said to him (Abimelech) in the dream, “Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me."
and
This doesn't mean that there isn't a common love of God towards His creation. There is...
"God's common grace restrains evil (Genesis 20:6) and bestows good (Psalm 145:15,16) so that no one is a stranger to God's kindness." --Robert Peterson and Michael Williams
Genesis 20:6 God said to him (Abimelech) in the dream, “Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me."
and
Psalm 145:15 The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food in due season.
16 You open your hand;
you satisfy the desire of every living thing.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Jesus' Confidence
"All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will in never cast out.". Jesus in Jn 6:37
However many people don't believe, God's saving purposes cannot be thought to be frustrated. Jesus' confidence doesn't rest in the potential for positive response amongst well-meaning people. Far from it: his confidence is in his Father to bring to pass the Father's redemptive purposes.
--D.A. Carson
He places LIFE in His own
Because of his or her spiritual inability the unregenerate person is unable, apart from the special working of the Holy Spirit, to change the basic direction of his life from sinful self-love to love for God.
Unless God by His Spirit opens the heart of the hearer, thus enabling him or her to believe, he or she will never accept the gospel call.
This opening of the heart happens in "internal" or "effectual" calling.
--hoekema
What He Does
The chief role of the Holy Spirit in the process of our salvation is to make us one with Christ.
--Anthony Hoekema
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Definite Redemption
here is packer, or go print pdf here and read with open bible:
Jesus Christ Died for God's ElectFrom Concise Theology by J. I. Packer
I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me--just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep.JOHN 10:14-15
Definite redemption, sometimes called "particular redemption," "effective atonement," and "limited atonement," is an historic Reformed doctrine about the intention of the triune God in the death of Jesus Christ. Without doubting the infinite worth of Christ's sacrifice or the genuineness of God's "whoever will" invitation to all who hear the gospel (Rev. 22:17), the doctrine states that the death of Christ actually put away the sins of all God's elect and ensured that they would be brought to faith through regeneration and kept in faith for glory, and that this is what it was intended to achieve. From this definiteness and effectiveness follows its limitedness: Christ did not die in this efficacious sense for everyone. The proof of that, as Scripture and experience unite to teach us, is that not all are saved.
The only possible alternatives are (a) actual universalism, holding that Christ's death guaranteed salvation for every member of the human race, past, present, and future, or (b) hypothetical universalism, holding that Christ's death made salvation possible for everyone but actual only for those who add to it a response of faith and repentance that was not secured by it. The choices are, therefore, an atonement of unlimited efficacy but limited extent (Reformed particularism), one of unlimited extent but limited efficacy (hypothetical universalism), or one of unlimited efficacy and unlimited extent (actual universalism). Scripture must be the guide in choosing between these possibilities.
Scripture speaks of God as having chosen for salvation a great number of our fallen race and having sent Christ into the world to save them (JOHN 6:37-40, 10:27-29, 11:51-52; Rom. 8:28-39; Eph. 1:3-14; 1 Pet. 1:20). Christ is regularly said to have died for particular groups or persons, with the clear implication that his death secured their salvation (JOHN 10:15-18,27-29; Rom. 5:8-10, 8:32; Gal. 2:20, 3:13-14, 4:4-5; 1 John 4:9-10; Rev. 1:4-6, 5:9-10). Facing his passion, he prayed only for those the Father had given him, not for the "world" (i.e., the rest of mankind, JOHN 17:9,20). Is it conceivable that he would decline to pray for any whom he intended to die for? Definite redemption is the only one of the three views that harmonizes with this data.
There is no inconsistency or incoherence in the teaching of the New Testament about, on the one hand, the offer of Christ in the gospel, which Christians are told to make known everywhere, and, on the other hand, the fact that Christ achieved a totally efficacious redemption for God's elect on the cross. It is a certain truth that all who come to Christ in faith will find mercy (JOHN 6:35,47-51,54-57; Rom. 1:16, 10:8-13). The elect hear Christ's offer, and through hearing it are effectually called by the Holy Spirit. Both the invitation and the effectual calling flow from Christ's sin-bearing death. Those who reject the offer of Christ do so of their own free will (i.e., because they choose to, Matt. 22:1-7; JOHN 3:18), so that their final perishing is their own fault. Those who receive Christ learn to thank him for the cross as the centerpiece of God's plan of sovereign saving grace.
From: Concise Theology: A Guide To Historic Christian Beliefs
and
here in pdf
Jesus Christ Died for God's ElectFrom Concise Theology by J. I. Packer
I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me--just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep.JOHN 10:14-15
Definite redemption, sometimes called "particular redemption," "effective atonement," and "limited atonement," is an historic Reformed doctrine about the intention of the triune God in the death of Jesus Christ. Without doubting the infinite worth of Christ's sacrifice or the genuineness of God's "whoever will" invitation to all who hear the gospel (Rev. 22:17), the doctrine states that the death of Christ actually put away the sins of all God's elect and ensured that they would be brought to faith through regeneration and kept in faith for glory, and that this is what it was intended to achieve. From this definiteness and effectiveness follows its limitedness: Christ did not die in this efficacious sense for everyone. The proof of that, as Scripture and experience unite to teach us, is that not all are saved.
The only possible alternatives are (a) actual universalism, holding that Christ's death guaranteed salvation for every member of the human race, past, present, and future, or (b) hypothetical universalism, holding that Christ's death made salvation possible for everyone but actual only for those who add to it a response of faith and repentance that was not secured by it. The choices are, therefore, an atonement of unlimited efficacy but limited extent (Reformed particularism), one of unlimited extent but limited efficacy (hypothetical universalism), or one of unlimited efficacy and unlimited extent (actual universalism). Scripture must be the guide in choosing between these possibilities.
Scripture speaks of God as having chosen for salvation a great number of our fallen race and having sent Christ into the world to save them (JOHN 6:37-40, 10:27-29, 11:51-52; Rom. 8:28-39; Eph. 1:3-14; 1 Pet. 1:20). Christ is regularly said to have died for particular groups or persons, with the clear implication that his death secured their salvation (JOHN 10:15-18,27-29; Rom. 5:8-10, 8:32; Gal. 2:20, 3:13-14, 4:4-5; 1 John 4:9-10; Rev. 1:4-6, 5:9-10). Facing his passion, he prayed only for those the Father had given him, not for the "world" (i.e., the rest of mankind, JOHN 17:9,20). Is it conceivable that he would decline to pray for any whom he intended to die for? Definite redemption is the only one of the three views that harmonizes with this data.
There is no inconsistency or incoherence in the teaching of the New Testament about, on the one hand, the offer of Christ in the gospel, which Christians are told to make known everywhere, and, on the other hand, the fact that Christ achieved a totally efficacious redemption for God's elect on the cross. It is a certain truth that all who come to Christ in faith will find mercy (JOHN 6:35,47-51,54-57; Rom. 1:16, 10:8-13). The elect hear Christ's offer, and through hearing it are effectually called by the Holy Spirit. Both the invitation and the effectual calling flow from Christ's sin-bearing death. Those who reject the offer of Christ do so of their own free will (i.e., because they choose to, Matt. 22:1-7; JOHN 3:18), so that their final perishing is their own fault. Those who receive Christ learn to thank him for the cross as the centerpiece of God's plan of sovereign saving grace.
From: Concise Theology: A Guide To Historic Christian Beliefs
and
here in pdf
We give our hand...we meet around the cross
Our unity with Christians does not require full agreement on
doctrines such as election, particular redemption, etc. I love these words
of Charles Spurgeon:
“We give our hand to every man that loves the
Lord Jesus Christ, be he what he may or who
he may. The doctrine of election, like the great
act of election itself, is not intended to divide
between Israel and Israel but between Israel
and the Egyptians. Not between saint and
saint, but between saints and the children of
the world. A man may be evidently of God’s
chosen family and yet, though elected, may
not believe in the doctrine of election. I hold
that there are many savingly called who do
not believe in effectual calling and that there
are a great many who persevere to the end
who do not believe the doctrine of final perseverance.
We do hope the hearts of many are a
great deal better than their heads. We do not
set their fallacies down to any willful opposition
to the truth as it is in Jesus, but simply to
an error in their judgment which we pray God
to correct. We hope that if they think us mistaken,
too, they will reciprocate the same
Christian courtesy. And when we meet around
the cross, we hope that we shall ever feel that
we are one in Christ Jesus.”
doctrines such as election, particular redemption, etc. I love these words
of Charles Spurgeon:
“We give our hand to every man that loves the
Lord Jesus Christ, be he what he may or who
he may. The doctrine of election, like the great
act of election itself, is not intended to divide
between Israel and Israel but between Israel
and the Egyptians. Not between saint and
saint, but between saints and the children of
the world. A man may be evidently of God’s
chosen family and yet, though elected, may
not believe in the doctrine of election. I hold
that there are many savingly called who do
not believe in effectual calling and that there
are a great many who persevere to the end
who do not believe the doctrine of final perseverance.
We do hope the hearts of many are a
great deal better than their heads. We do not
set their fallacies down to any willful opposition
to the truth as it is in Jesus, but simply to
an error in their judgment which we pray God
to correct. We hope that if they think us mistaken,
too, they will reciprocate the same
Christian courtesy. And when we meet around
the cross, we hope that we shall ever feel that
we are one in Christ Jesus.”
Saturday, May 09, 2009
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished.
--How Deep the Father’s Love, Stuart Townend
From heav'n He came and sought her
To be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her,
And for her life He died.
--The Church’s One Foundation
Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
“Full atonement!” can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Lifted up was He to die;
“It is finished!” was His cry;
--Man of Sorrows (Hallelujah! What a Savior)
I will sing of my Redeemer
And His wondrous love to me
On the cruel cross He suffered
From the curse to set me free
Sing, oh sing of my Redeemer
With His blood, He purchased me.
On the cross, He sealed my pardon,
Paid the debt, and made me free.
--I will sing of my Redeemer
Jesus paid it all
All to Him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow
--Jesus Paid it All
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished.
--How Deep the Father’s Love, Stuart Townend
From heav'n He came and sought her
To be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her,
And for her life He died.
--The Church’s One Foundation
Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
“Full atonement!” can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Lifted up was He to die;
“It is finished!” was His cry;
--Man of Sorrows (Hallelujah! What a Savior)
I will sing of my Redeemer
And His wondrous love to me
On the cruel cross He suffered
From the curse to set me free
Sing, oh sing of my Redeemer
With His blood, He purchased me.
On the cross, He sealed my pardon,
Paid the debt, and made me free.
--I will sing of my Redeemer
Jesus paid it all
All to Him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow
--Jesus Paid it All
The "ALL" & "WORLD" passages
When developing an understanding of what the Bible teaches, you must wrestle with all the bible, not just the bits that explicitly back your view.... so we should think about about the ALL and WORLD passages
POINT: The bible uses words like ALL and WORLD when it does not mean every human being.
example
John 12:19 The Pharisees said to one another, "Look, the whole world has gone after him."
Does anyone seriously think the entire population of earth was following Jesus?
ALSO:
Luke 2:1 (“all the world”) does not envisage the entire population of the planet taking part in a Roman census any more than Matthew 3:5 (“all Judea”) means to
suggest that every man, woman, and child in Judea was baptised by John.
--Lee Gattis, in a pretty dense but helpful paper
POINT: The bible uses words like ALL and WORLD when it does not mean every human being.
example
John 12:19 The Pharisees said to one another, "Look, the whole world has gone after him."
Does anyone seriously think the entire population of earth was following Jesus?
ALSO:
Luke 2:1 (“all the world”) does not envisage the entire population of the planet taking part in a Roman census any more than Matthew 3:5 (“all Judea”) means to
suggest that every man, woman, and child in Judea was baptised by John.
--Lee Gattis, in a pretty dense but helpful paper
Handle with care
Wayne Grudem comments about limited atonement:
“a subject that almost inevitably leads to some confusion, some
misunderstanding, and often some wrongful argumentativeness and divisiveness among God’s people – all of which are negative pastoral considerations.”
So while particular redemption informs our doctrine at many levels and challenges our received practices, it
may well be better to keep such a disputable matter somewhat in the background of an ordinary preaching
ministry. It is a doctrine, to be sure, which belongs in the engine room of theology, a major component of the
potent theological apparatus which is the Reformed faith. Yet while engines are impressive in their ability to
get things moving, it can be messy, and rather disturbing for those less mechanicallyminded,
to see them
disassembled and laid out on the floor in pieces. It is, therefore, a doctrine to be handled with particular care.
--Lee Gatiss
“a subject that almost inevitably leads to some confusion, some
misunderstanding, and often some wrongful argumentativeness and divisiveness among God’s people – all of which are negative pastoral considerations.”
So while particular redemption informs our doctrine at many levels and challenges our received practices, it
may well be better to keep such a disputable matter somewhat in the background of an ordinary preaching
ministry. It is a doctrine, to be sure, which belongs in the engine room of theology, a major component of the
potent theological apparatus which is the Reformed faith. Yet while engines are impressive in their ability to
get things moving, it can be messy, and rather disturbing for those less mechanicallyminded,
to see them
disassembled and laid out on the floor in pieces. It is, therefore, a doctrine to be handled with particular care.
--Lee Gatiss
2 Corinthians 5:19
God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself.
Hallelujah, what a Savior.
Hallelujah, what a salvation.
Hallelujah, what a Savior.
Hallelujah, what a salvation.
News from RUF Belize team
Today was a huge day for us. Everything out on the construction site is ready for the big "pouring" tomorrow. Over 40 villagers are coming to help us pour the roof and we had a great time today with the construction workers as we were tying up loose ends on the job site. Michael and James helped me build pediatric equipment for the two villagers with disabilities. We sat and watched a dad play with his 9 year old son on one of the pieces of equipment that was made and that is a scene none of us present will ever forget. The boy was smiling and laughing from ear to ear and we just got to hang out with that family and enjoy them. Today was the last day of VBS and most students were invited to come and see the kids homes and meet their parents. We brought 500 pairs of sandals from a man in Tampa (Holy Trinity Pres) who has come before and the kids were very excited about having these shoes and taking us to meet their families. The students shared many stories tonight at our devotions of the conversations they had about the VBS message and what it was like to be in a Belizian home today. We are all tired, but happy about what we learned and got to experience today.
Tomorrow is the big event- be praying for safety as we haul concrete in buckets up a ladder and cover this roof. We get Sunday off and will attend two different villiage churches and get to do some exploring. Looking forward to worshipping with our new friends down here.
Thanks for praying for us,
Steve & Jenna Lammers
Tomorrow is the big event- be praying for safety as we haul concrete in buckets up a ladder and cover this roof. We get Sunday off and will attend two different villiage churches and get to do some exploring. Looking forward to worshipping with our new friends down here.
Thanks for praying for us,
Steve & Jenna Lammers
Friday, May 08, 2009
What are the five points, briefly
‘Salvation is of the Lord’... thus flows these summary statements of bible truths:
1. Fallen man in his natural state lacks all power to believe the gospel, just as he lacks all
power to believe the law, despite all external inducements that may be extended to him.
2. God’s election is a free, sovereign, unconditional choice of sinners, as sinners, to be
redeemed by Christ, given faith, and brought to glory.
3. The redeeming work of Christ had as its end and goal the salvation of the elect.
4. The work of the Holy Spirit in bringing men to faith never fails to achieve its object.
5. Believers are kept in faith and grace by the unconquerable power of God till they come to
glory.
These five points are conveniently denoted by the mnemonic TULIP: Total
depravity, Unconditional election, Limited atonement, Irresistible grace, Preservation of
the saints. --this is from Packer's CLASSIC intro to John Owen's Death of Death
1. Fallen man in his natural state lacks all power to believe the gospel, just as he lacks all
power to believe the law, despite all external inducements that may be extended to him.
2. God’s election is a free, sovereign, unconditional choice of sinners, as sinners, to be
redeemed by Christ, given faith, and brought to glory.
3. The redeeming work of Christ had as its end and goal the salvation of the elect.
4. The work of the Holy Spirit in bringing men to faith never fails to achieve its object.
5. Believers are kept in faith and grace by the unconquerable power of God till they come to
glory.
These five points are conveniently denoted by the mnemonic TULIP: Total
depravity, Unconditional election, Limited atonement, Irresistible grace, Preservation of
the saints. --this is from Packer's CLASSIC intro to John Owen's Death of Death
Packer
Scripture speaks of God as having chosen for salvation a great number of our fallen race and having sent Christ into the world to save them (JOHN 6:37-40, 10:27-29, 11:51-52; Rom. 8:28-39; Eph. 1:3-14; 1 Pet. 1:20). Christ is regularly said to have died for particular groups or persons, with the clear implication that his death secured their salvation (JOHN 10:15-18,27-29; Rom. 5:8-10, 8:32; Gal. 2:20, 3:13-14, 4:4-5; 1 John 4:9-10; Rev. 1:4-6, 5:9-10). Facing his passion, he prayed only for those the Father had given him, not for the "world" (i.e., the rest of mankind, JOHN 17:9,20). Is it conceivable that he would decline to pray for any whom he intended to die for?
Mission Accomplished
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
--spafford
Jesus, friend of sinners
Loved me ’ere I knew Him
Drew me with His cords of love
Tightly bound me to Him
’Round my heart still closely twined
The ties that none can sever
For I am His and He is mine
Forever and forever
---sovereign grace music
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
--spafford
Jesus, friend of sinners
Loved me ’ere I knew Him
Drew me with His cords of love
Tightly bound me to Him
’Round my heart still closely twined
The ties that none can sever
For I am His and He is mine
Forever and forever
---sovereign grace music
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Redemption, according to some, secured for God a right to make this offer, but did not of itself ensure that anyone
would ever accept it; for faith, being a work of man’s own, is not a gift that comes to him from
Calvary. Christ’s death created an opportunity for the exercise of saving faith, but that is all it
did. Calvinists, however, define redemption as Christ’s substitutionary endurance of the penalty of sin in the place of certain specified sinners, through which God was reconciled to them, their liability to punishment was for ever destroyed, and a title to eternal life was secured for them.
In consequence of this, they now have in God’s sight a right to the gift of faith, as the means of
entry into the enjoyment of their inheritance. Calvary, in other words, not merely made possible
the salvation of those for whom Christ died; it ensured that they would be brought to faith and
their salvation made actual. The cross saves. Where some will only say; ‘I could not have
gained my salvation without Calvary’, the Calvinist will say, ‘Christ gained my salvation for me
at Calvary.’ --Packer
would ever accept it; for faith, being a work of man’s own, is not a gift that comes to him from
Calvary. Christ’s death created an opportunity for the exercise of saving faith, but that is all it
did. Calvinists, however, define redemption as Christ’s substitutionary endurance of the penalty of sin in the place of certain specified sinners, through which God was reconciled to them, their liability to punishment was for ever destroyed, and a title to eternal life was secured for them.
In consequence of this, they now have in God’s sight a right to the gift of faith, as the means of
entry into the enjoyment of their inheritance. Calvary, in other words, not merely made possible
the salvation of those for whom Christ died; it ensured that they would be brought to faith and
their salvation made actual. The cross saves. Where some will only say; ‘I could not have
gained my salvation without Calvary’, the Calvinist will say, ‘Christ gained my salvation for me
at Calvary.’ --Packer
God...Saves...Sinners
For of Calvinism there is really only one point to be made in the field soteriology: the
point that God saves sinners.
God—the Triune Jehovah, Father, Son and Spirit; three Persons
working together in sovereign wisdom, power and love to achieve the salvation of a chosen
people, the Father electing, the Son fulfilling the Father’s will by redeeming, the Spirit executing
the purpose of Father and Son by renewing.
Saves—does everything, first to last, that is involved
in bringing man from death in sin to life in glory: plans, achieves and communicates redemption,
calls and keeps, justifies, sanctifies, glorifies.
Sinners—men as God finds them, guilty, vile,
helpless, powerless, blind, unable to lift a finger to do God’s will or better their spiritual lot. God
saves sinners—and the force of this confession may not be weakened by disrupting the unity of
the work of the Trinity, or by dividing the achievement of salvation between God and man and
making the decisive part man’s own, or by soft-pedaling the sinner’s inability as to allow him to
share the praise of his salvation with his Savior. This is the one point of Calvinistic soteriology
which the ‘five points’ are concerned to establish ...
namely, that sinners do not save themselves in any sense at all, but that salvation, first and last,
whole and entire, past, present and future, is of the Lord, to whom be glory for ever; amen!
--Jim Packer
point that God saves sinners.
God—the Triune Jehovah, Father, Son and Spirit; three Persons
working together in sovereign wisdom, power and love to achieve the salvation of a chosen
people, the Father electing, the Son fulfilling the Father’s will by redeeming, the Spirit executing
the purpose of Father and Son by renewing.
Saves—does everything, first to last, that is involved
in bringing man from death in sin to life in glory: plans, achieves and communicates redemption,
calls and keeps, justifies, sanctifies, glorifies.
Sinners—men as God finds them, guilty, vile,
helpless, powerless, blind, unable to lift a finger to do God’s will or better their spiritual lot. God
saves sinners—and the force of this confession may not be weakened by disrupting the unity of
the work of the Trinity, or by dividing the achievement of salvation between God and man and
making the decisive part man’s own, or by soft-pedaling the sinner’s inability as to allow him to
share the praise of his salvation with his Savior. This is the one point of Calvinistic soteriology
which the ‘five points’ are concerned to establish ...
namely, that sinners do not save themselves in any sense at all, but that salvation, first and last,
whole and entire, past, present and future, is of the Lord, to whom be glory for ever; amen!
--Jim Packer
He really does redeem
The negative cast of the ‘five points’ is misleading chiefly with
regard to the third (limited atonement, or particular redemption), which is often read with stress
on the adjective and taken as indicating that Calvinists have a special interest in confining the
limits of divine mercy. But in fact the purpose of this phraseology, as we shall see, is to
safeguard the central affirmation of the gospel—that Christ is a redeemer who really does
redeem. --Packer, ibid
regard to the third (limited atonement, or particular redemption), which is often read with stress
on the adjective and taken as indicating that Calvinists have a special interest in confining the
limits of divine mercy. But in fact the purpose of this phraseology, as we shall see, is to
safeguard the central affirmation of the gospel—that Christ is a redeemer who really does
redeem. --Packer, ibid
Not in part, but the whole!
"Complete atonement Thou hast made,
And to the utmost farthing paid,
Whate'er Thy people owed;
How, then, can wrath on me take place,
If sheltered in Thy righteousness,
And sprinkled with Thy blood."
great article on this hymn here
And to the utmost farthing paid,
Whate'er Thy people owed;
How, then, can wrath on me take place,
If sheltered in Thy righteousness,
And sprinkled with Thy blood."
great article on this hymn here
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
News from Belize
We had a very good day on the construction site (laying rebarb on the roof to prepare for pouring concrete on Saturday and cleaning out the ground floor of the building so we can paint tomorrow). VBS at the village that was planned got canceled. We were taken to a different village where one of the church plants is located and we were encouraged that about 50 children came out the first day. The students prepared a lesson on creation with a craft and games to follow and we all had a wonderful time- the village children loved the attention the students gave- that was definitely the highlight of our day.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Definitions
this sunday we will celebrate the tremendous accomplishment of Jesus on the cross
atone - to supply satisfaction foratonement - the reconciliation of God and man through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ
redeem - a: to buy back: REPURCHASE b: to get or win back
Definite Redemption
I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me--just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep. JOHN 10:14-15
Without doubting the infinite worth of Christ's sacrifice or the genuineness of God's "whoever will" invitation to all who hear the gospel (Rev. 22:17), the doctrine states that the death of Christ actually put away the sins of all God's elect and ensured that they would be brought to faith through regeneration and kept in faith for glory, and that this is what it was intended to achieve. From this definiteness and effectiveness follows its limitedness: Christ did not die in this efficacious sense for everyone. The proof of that, as Scripture and experience unite to teach us, is that not all are saved. --J.I. Packer
Without doubting the infinite worth of Christ's sacrifice or the genuineness of God's "whoever will" invitation to all who hear the gospel (Rev. 22:17), the doctrine states that the death of Christ actually put away the sins of all God's elect and ensured that they would be brought to faith through regeneration and kept in faith for glory, and that this is what it was intended to achieve. From this definiteness and effectiveness follows its limitedness: Christ did not die in this efficacious sense for everyone. The proof of that, as Scripture and experience unite to teach us, is that not all are saved. --J.I. Packer
Saturday, May 02, 2009
Election Affirmations by Baptist and Episcopal Churches
excerpted from the LONDON BAPTIST CONFESSION OF 1869
3._____ By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated, or foreordained to eternal life through Jesus Christ, to the praise of his glorious grace; others being left to act in their sin to their just condemnation, to the praise of his glorious justice.
( 1 Timothy 5:21; Matthew 25:34; Ephesians 1:5, 6; Romans 9:22, 23; Jude 4 )
4.______These angels and men thus predestinated and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed, and their number so certain and definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished.
( 2 Timothy 2:19; John 13:18 )
5._____ Those of mankind that are predestinated to life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to his eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of his will, hath chosen in Christ unto everlasting glory, out of his mere free grace and love, without any other thing in the creature as a condition or cause moving him thereunto.
( Ephesians 1:4, 9, 11; Romans 8:30; 2 Timothy 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; Romans 9:13, 16; Ephesians 2:5, 12 )
6._____ As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so he hath, by the eternal and most free purpose of his will, foreordained all the means thereunto; wherefore they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ, are effectually called unto faith in Christ, by his Spirit working in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified, and kept by his power through faith unto salvation; neither are any other redeemed by Christ, or effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.
( 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:9, 10; Romans 8:30; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:5; John 10:26; John 17:9; John 6:64 )
7._____ The doctrine of the high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care, that men attending the will of God revealed in his Word, and yielding obedience thereunto, may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured of their eternal election; so shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reverence, and admiration of God, and of humility, diligence, and abundant consolation to all that sincerely obey the gospel.
( 1 Thessalonians 1:4, 5; 2 Peter 1:10; Ephesians 1:6; Romans 11:33; Romans 11:5, 6, 20; Luke 10:20 )
and from the 39 articles of the Episcopal Church of 1801
XVII. Of Predestination and Election.
Predestination to Life is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby (before the foundations of the world were laid) he hath constantly decreed by his counsel secret to us, to deliver from curse and damnation those whom he hath chosen in Christ out of mankind, and to bring them by Christ to everlasting salvation, as vessels made to honour. Wherefore, they which be endued with so excellent a benefit of God, be called according to God's purpose by his Spirit working in due season: they through Grace obey the calling: they be justified freely: they be made sons of God by adoption: they be made like the image of his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ: they walk religiously in good works, and at length, by God's mercy, they attain to everlasting felicity.
As the godly consideration of Predestination, and our Election in Christ, is full of sweet, pleasant, and unspeakable comfort to godly persons, and such as feel in themselves the working of the Spirit of Christ, mortifying the works of the flesh, and their earthly members, and drawing up their mind to high and heavenly things, as well because it doth greatly establish and confirm their faith of eternal Salvation to be enjoyed through Christ as because it doth fervently kindle their love towards God: So, for curious and carnal persons, lacking the Spirit of Christ, to have continually before their eyes the sentence of God's Predestination, is a most dangerous downfall, whereby the Devil doth thrust them either into desperation, or into wretchlessness of most unclean living, no less perilous than desperation.
Furthermore, we must receive God's promises in such wise, as they be generally set forth to us in Holy Scripture: and, in our doings, that Will of God is to be followed, which we have expressly declared unto us in the Word of God.
Because of Christ's Satisfaction
H'brg Catechism #56. Q. What do you believe concerning the forgiveness of sins?
A. I believe that God, because of Christ's satisfaction,
will no more remember my sins,[1]
nor my sinful nature, against which I have to struggle all my life,[2]
but He will graciously grant me the righteousness of Christ,
that I may never come into condemnation.[3]
[1] Ps. 103:3, 4, 10, 12; Mic. 7:18, 19; II Cor. 5:18-21; I John 1:7; 2:2.
[2] Rom. 7:21-25.
[3] John 3:17, 18; 5:24; Rom. 8:1, 2.
At the bottom of it all
The thought struck me, How did you
come to be a Christian? I sought the
Lord. But how did you come to seek
the Lord? The truth flashed across my
mind in a moment—I should not have
sought him unless there had been
some previous influence in my mind
to make me seek him. I prayed,
thought I, but then I asked myself,
How came I to pray? I was induced to
pray by reading the Scriptures. How
came I to read the Scriptures? I did
read them, but what led me to do so?
Then, in a moment, I saw that God
was at the bottom of it all, and that
he was the Author of my faith, and so
the doctrine of grace opened up to
me, and from that doctrine I have not
departed to this day, and I desire to
make this my constant confession,
“I ascribe my change wholly to God.”
— Charles Spurgeon
come to be a Christian? I sought the
Lord. But how did you come to seek
the Lord? The truth flashed across my
mind in a moment—I should not have
sought him unless there had been
some previous influence in my mind
to make me seek him. I prayed,
thought I, but then I asked myself,
How came I to pray? I was induced to
pray by reading the Scriptures. How
came I to read the Scriptures? I did
read them, but what led me to do so?
Then, in a moment, I saw that God
was at the bottom of it all, and that
he was the Author of my faith, and so
the doctrine of grace opened up to
me, and from that doctrine I have not
departed to this day, and I desire to
make this my constant confession,
“I ascribe my change wholly to God.”
— Charles Spurgeon
If election is supposed to lead to arrogance, somebody forgot to memo John Calvin
from Calvin's last will & testament:
“I give thanks to God that, taking compassion on me whom he had created and placed in this world, he delivered me by his power out of the deep darkness of idolatry, into which I was plunged, that he might bring me into the light of his gospel, and make me a partaker of the doctrine of salvation, of which I was most unworthy.
With the same goodness and mercy he has graciously and kindly borne with my multiplied transgressions and sins, for which I deserved to be rejected and cut off by him; and has also exercised towards me such great compassion and clemency, that he has condescended to use my labor in preaching and publishing the truth of his gospel. I also testify and declare that it is my full intention to pass the remainder of my life in the same faith and religion which he has delivered to me by his gospel, having no other defense or refuge of salvation than his gratuitous adoption, on which alone my safety depends.
I also embrace with my whole heart the mercy which he exercises towards me for the sake of Jesus Christ, atoning for my crimes by the merits of his death and passion, that in this way satisfaction may be made for all my transgressions and offenses, and the remembrance of them blotted out. I further testify and declare that, as a suppliant, I humbly implore of him to grant me to be so washed and purified by the blood of that sovereign Redeemer, shed for the sins of the human race, that I may be permitted to stand before his tribunal in the image of the Redeemer himself.”
—John Calvin, “The Will of John Calvin”
I sing
Can you hear me when I sing?
You're the reason I sing.
You're the reason the opera is in me.
You're the reason I sing.
You're the reason the opera is in me.
I was born to sing for you.
I didn't have a choice but to lift you up,
And sing whatever song you wanted me to.
--U2 in sometimes you can't make it & magnificent
God must have the priority
The decisive factor in determining
who is to be saved from sin is not the
decisions of the human beings
concerned, but the sovereign grace
of God—though human decision does
play a significant role in the
process.…We must therefore affirm
both God’s sovereignty and man’s
responsibility; both God’s sovereign
grace and our active participation in
the process of salvation. We can
only do justice to biblical teaching if
we firmly hold on to both sides of the
paradox. But since God is the Creator
and we are his creatures, God must
have the priority. Hence we must
maintain that the ultimately decisive
factor in the process of our salvation is
the sovereign grace of God.
— Anthony Hoekema
Rob: Last week we wanted to focus on the sinfulness of man to be seen in the full context of mankind being broken AND beautiful (still bearing God's image). So this week we want the electing grace of God to be seen in the full context of God's people being elected AND personally expressing their faith (which is a gift from God) in Christ.
who is to be saved from sin is not the
decisions of the human beings
concerned, but the sovereign grace
of God—though human decision does
play a significant role in the
process.…We must therefore affirm
both God’s sovereignty and man’s
responsibility; both God’s sovereign
grace and our active participation in
the process of salvation. We can
only do justice to biblical teaching if
we firmly hold on to both sides of the
paradox. But since God is the Creator
and we are his creatures, God must
have the priority. Hence we must
maintain that the ultimately decisive
factor in the process of our salvation is
the sovereign grace of God.
— Anthony Hoekema
Rob: Last week we wanted to focus on the sinfulness of man to be seen in the full context of mankind being broken AND beautiful (still bearing God's image). So this week we want the electing grace of God to be seen in the full context of God's people being elected AND personally expressing their faith (which is a gift from God) in Christ.
God's Secrets
Deuteronomy 29:29: The secret things belong to God.
I implore him to explain
some theological mystery, arrogantly assuming that my brain
would not be microwaved by exposure to such divine illumination.
But in his goodness, wisdom, and mercy, he doesn’t tell me any
secrets, either.
How comfortable are you with the secret things of God?…with
the difficult to understand?…the paradox?…the apparent
contradiction? Are you at peace in the deep end of the pool? --CJ
I implore him to explain
some theological mystery, arrogantly assuming that my brain
would not be microwaved by exposure to such divine illumination.
But in his goodness, wisdom, and mercy, he doesn’t tell me any
secrets, either.
How comfortable are you with the secret things of God?…with
the difficult to understand?…the paradox?…the apparent
contradiction? Are you at peace in the deep end of the pool? --CJ
Positioned to Enjoy God
These are not academic questions. The
Christian who misunderstands or
misinterprets the underlying cause of his or
her conversion can be vulnerable to legalism,
pride,self-reliance,ingratitude,condemnation,
and lack of assurance. But when we rightly
understand the nature of our conversion—
that is, when we clearly grasp the role
of God’s sovereign grace in election—we
position ourselves to enjoy, in an ongoing way,
the wonderfully life-transforming benefits
that are available only through the gospel. --CJ Mahaney
Christian who misunderstands or
misinterprets the underlying cause of his or
her conversion can be vulnerable to legalism,
pride,self-reliance,ingratitude,condemnation,
and lack of assurance. But when we rightly
understand the nature of our conversion—
that is, when we clearly grasp the role
of God’s sovereign grace in election—we
position ourselves to enjoy, in an ongoing way,
the wonderfully life-transforming benefits
that are available only through the gospel. --CJ Mahaney
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)