Thursday, May 07, 2009
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
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