Too many, far too many, individuals, churches and larger organizations within ear-shot of the Body of Christ have been blinded in recent years by what I might refer to as "Agenda Driven" platforms. These have been covered with good sounding names and sold across the world as being 'Christian'.
Certainly these efforts are supported by Bible verses, but instead of being in-depth studies of God's Word, they are topical in nature and Expository Bible Study has been tossed to the side. The effect upon the doctirnes of the Church is devastating at best and irreversible at worst.
Advocation a 'return' to the way the things were kind of mentality is not the correct course to follow, for there is no return, no turning back and certainly no retreat. We cannot and should not return to the way things were in the 1950's, this is not a solution at all.
However, we must simply begin to teach directly from God's Word and move away from the bright lights of stage production and teach from God's Word rather than from someone's deriviative of the same. Evangelism and strengthening of the Body of Christ is basic faith and Christianity.
Looking into the Word of God we will find nothing of Emerging Church movements, no Church Growth efforts, no building programs and none of this, or none of that.....However, what is found are calls and demands from those who believe in Christ as Savior and Lord to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Where do we find "Everything Driven" in the Word of God? Where do we find "Six Steps to Successful Church Growth" in Paul's writings? Neither do we find any kind of "Experiencing Anything" between the books of Genesis and Revelation.
But what we do find are statements like these:
• "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction."
• "Follow Me and I will make you Fishers of Men."
• "Be filled with the Holy Spirit." "Be strong in the Lord."
• "I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able."
• "I am not ashamed of the Gospel for it is the power of God for salvation....."
"How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but they are like chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish.”
Psalm 1:1-7.
The Agenda Driven mentality has been successful in charting the course of well meaning churches and larger organizations to focus less on the Message of the Cross and to focus on "How to's". Have we become so blind and have we become totally corrupted by these worldly movements around us?
We must teach biblical doctrines in order to live faithful Christian lives instead of seeking larger numbers and buldings in order to have enormous church organizations that appear successful. The Christian faith is more than this......Jesus is Lord......
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
Why I Am a Southern Baptist
I believe the Bible to be literally true and that Truth is my world view. Folks who do not hold to this literal truth do not like it and are not interested in it. These have forsaken God’s Truth and the time will come when they will not be able to endure it.
________________________________________
B.H. Carroll, Founder of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, wrote, “"What is the object of inspiration? It is to put accurately in human words ideas from God. If the words are not inspired, how am I to know how much to reject and how to find out whether anything is from God? When you hear the silly talk that the Bible contains the Word of God, it is not the Word of God. You hear a fools talk.”
W. A. Criswell had some enticing words for this topic, too. “Frequently we hear discussions centering on whether the Bible is the Word of God or only contains the Word of God. If, by the former, it is meant that God spoke every word in the Bible, the answer is, of course, no, but if it is meant that God caused every word in the Bible, true or false, to be recorded, the answer is yes. In the Bible, there are words of Satan. In the Bible, there are words of false profits, there are words of the enemies of Christ, yet, they are as inspired as being in the Bible. Not in the sense God uttered them, in a sense God calls them to be recorded infallible, inherently and for our profit. In this sense, the Bible does not merely contain the Word of God; it is the Word of God." "Why Preach the Bible as Literally True", B&H Publishing Group, 1999.
“Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:12-17.
I find it interesting that those who do not receive the Word of God as literally true seem to think that we who do so are ‘twisted in our way of viewing things’. But allow me to remind them that Paul writes, “But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” v. 13.
Standing with Paul is much better company than those who are deceiving and who are being deceived.
Another reason for being a Southern Baptist is the understanding of who Jesus Christ is. And this thought is one that is founded in the Literal Truth of God’s Word,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” John 1:1-5.
Salvation that comes through the shed blood of Jesus Christ outside the walls of Jerusalem 2 millennia past is yet another factor for my being Southern Baptist.
Observe for a moment what Peter writes in 1Peter 1:18. Peter expresses that it is the blood of the Christ that redeems lost mankind.
"…Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life that you inherited from you forefathers, but with precious blood as of the Lamb unblemished spotless the blood of Christ for He was foreknown before the foundations of the World, but has appeared in these last times, for the sake of you.
The Author of Hebrews continues this thought in chapter 9, verse 22 with these words, "without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own. Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.” Hebrews 9:22-28.
And then, there is the irrefutable truth concerning the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Doctor Luke confirms the words of the Apostle Paul in Acts 26:21-25,
"For this reason some Jews seized me in the temple and tried to put me to death. So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place; that the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles." While Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, "Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad." But Paul said, "I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I utter words of sober truth.”
There are many more statements about why I am a Southern Baptist, and they range from Believers Baptism to the Passion for Evangelism that moves God’s people to share the Good News of Jesus Christ in a dark world.
Jesus is Lord
BW
________________________________________
B.H. Carroll, Founder of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, wrote, “"What is the object of inspiration? It is to put accurately in human words ideas from God. If the words are not inspired, how am I to know how much to reject and how to find out whether anything is from God? When you hear the silly talk that the Bible contains the Word of God, it is not the Word of God. You hear a fools talk.”
W. A. Criswell had some enticing words for this topic, too. “Frequently we hear discussions centering on whether the Bible is the Word of God or only contains the Word of God. If, by the former, it is meant that God spoke every word in the Bible, the answer is, of course, no, but if it is meant that God caused every word in the Bible, true or false, to be recorded, the answer is yes. In the Bible, there are words of Satan. In the Bible, there are words of false profits, there are words of the enemies of Christ, yet, they are as inspired as being in the Bible. Not in the sense God uttered them, in a sense God calls them to be recorded infallible, inherently and for our profit. In this sense, the Bible does not merely contain the Word of God; it is the Word of God." "Why Preach the Bible as Literally True", B&H Publishing Group, 1999.
“Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:12-17.
I find it interesting that those who do not receive the Word of God as literally true seem to think that we who do so are ‘twisted in our way of viewing things’. But allow me to remind them that Paul writes, “But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” v. 13.
Standing with Paul is much better company than those who are deceiving and who are being deceived.
Another reason for being a Southern Baptist is the understanding of who Jesus Christ is. And this thought is one that is founded in the Literal Truth of God’s Word,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” John 1:1-5.
Salvation that comes through the shed blood of Jesus Christ outside the walls of Jerusalem 2 millennia past is yet another factor for my being Southern Baptist.
Observe for a moment what Peter writes in 1Peter 1:18. Peter expresses that it is the blood of the Christ that redeems lost mankind.
"…Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life that you inherited from you forefathers, but with precious blood as of the Lamb unblemished spotless the blood of Christ for He was foreknown before the foundations of the World, but has appeared in these last times, for the sake of you.
The Author of Hebrews continues this thought in chapter 9, verse 22 with these words, "without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own. Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.” Hebrews 9:22-28.
And then, there is the irrefutable truth concerning the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Doctor Luke confirms the words of the Apostle Paul in Acts 26:21-25,
"For this reason some Jews seized me in the temple and tried to put me to death. So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place; that the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles." While Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, "Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad." But Paul said, "I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I utter words of sober truth.”
There are many more statements about why I am a Southern Baptist, and they range from Believers Baptism to the Passion for Evangelism that moves God’s people to share the Good News of Jesus Christ in a dark world.
Jesus is Lord
BW
Friday, May 14, 2010
Both Sides of the Gospel of Christ
When we seek to understand the Gospel in Truth we must also seek to understand Salvation history, His Story.
________________________________________
It is obvious that no one comes to Christ of his own volition,
“Jesus answered and said to them, "Do not grumble among yourselves. No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, 'AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.” John 6:44.
In this Passage, Jesus is speaking to a group of Jews who were “grumbling among themselves” about this Carpenter’s son who is claiming to have come from Yaweh, God the Father. Because of this gathered group of Jews to whom He is speaking it is important to understand that no longer will the people of God go to the Temple for consecration. They will only come to the Father through Jesus and all will be drawn by Him and not by their own volition.
His Word also tells us that "Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name " Then a voice came out of heaven: "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again." So the crowd of people who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, "An angel has spoken to Him." Jesus answered and said, "This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sakes. Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself." But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die. "Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour." John 12:27-33.
Jesus later speaks to His disciples and to a group of Greeks who have come to the Disciples seeking Jesus.
There are three very important facts that Jesus speaks of here:
1. His Purpose for coming is to glorify the Name of the Father
2. Judgment upon the ruler of Evil has come
3. Jesus’ death upon the Cross is to draw everyone to Himself
This is NO contradiction; the simple TRUTH remains that God’s Holy Spirit is at work in the life of every person who hears the Proclamation of His Word.
"But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.” John 16:7-11.
His Work is to Convict the World:
1. of sin
2. of judgment
3. of righteousness
The Word of God does not return empty when publicly proclaimed although not everyone will believe.
“I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:14-16.
• WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.
• How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed?
• How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard?
• However, they did not all heed the good news;
• Isaiah says, "LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?"
• faith comes from hearing,
• hearing by the word of Christ.
But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? Indeed they have;
"THEIR VOICE HAS GONE OUT INTO ALL THE EARTH, AND THEIR WORDS TO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD." Romans 10:13-14; 16-18.
Jesus is Lord
BW
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
The Sovereignty of God is Indisputable
Man can only live in short intervals of his faulty reasoning, but is by the absolute sovereignty of God’s compassion that he survives on earth and lives in eternity. ________________________________________
From the time of Creation until this very moment and until the return of His Son, God’s indisputable sovereignty is witnessed. Certainly ignorant and faithless men have rejected, by their own humanism, the Light that shines upon their stormy environment. But by his flawed intervention man will find that God reigns.
"Remember the former things long past, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, 'My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure'; calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of My purpose from a far country truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.” Isaiah 46:9-11.
Being filled with the darkness of soul and spirit, mankind stumbles along following his skewed thoughts and flawed dreams and accomplishing nothing. But it was the Event outside the walls of Jerusalem 2 millenia past that He took upon Himself our sin.
All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. Isaiah 53:6.
Not much has changed since that dark Day. Certainly His Glory and Salvation has been freely offered to every person, but to his demise man has simply looked the other way.
And He was passing through from one city and village to another, teaching, and proceeding on His way to Jerusalem. And someone said to Him, "Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?" And He said to them, "Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. Luke 13:22-24.
The obvious Event outside the walls of Jerusalem was prophetic in every way. But more than prophecy was fulfilled in the course of a week. On that day God fully demonstrated His Sovereignty over sin and the power of evil. On the first day of the week Jesus demonstrated God’s authority over death.
The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. "Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you." Matthew 28:5-7.
The message of the Good News is that all who leave behind their sin and commit their lives to the Christ will discover the fullness of God.
"Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by Myself, the word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness and will not turn back, that to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.” Isaiah 45:22-23.
The majesty of God is not found in the self reliance of the American Dream, in the Light of Hinduism or in the idea of so many virgins on some distant planet. No, the majesty and sovereignty of God is only found in His Son, Jesus Christ.
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1-2.
Jesus is Lord
BW
From the time of Creation until this very moment and until the return of His Son, God’s indisputable sovereignty is witnessed. Certainly ignorant and faithless men have rejected, by their own humanism, the Light that shines upon their stormy environment. But by his flawed intervention man will find that God reigns.
"Remember the former things long past, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, 'My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure'; calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of My purpose from a far country truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.” Isaiah 46:9-11.
Being filled with the darkness of soul and spirit, mankind stumbles along following his skewed thoughts and flawed dreams and accomplishing nothing. But it was the Event outside the walls of Jerusalem 2 millenia past that He took upon Himself our sin.
All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. Isaiah 53:6.
Not much has changed since that dark Day. Certainly His Glory and Salvation has been freely offered to every person, but to his demise man has simply looked the other way.
And He was passing through from one city and village to another, teaching, and proceeding on His way to Jerusalem. And someone said to Him, "Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?" And He said to them, "Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. Luke 13:22-24.
The obvious Event outside the walls of Jerusalem was prophetic in every way. But more than prophecy was fulfilled in the course of a week. On that day God fully demonstrated His Sovereignty over sin and the power of evil. On the first day of the week Jesus demonstrated God’s authority over death.
The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. "Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you." Matthew 28:5-7.
The message of the Good News is that all who leave behind their sin and commit their lives to the Christ will discover the fullness of God.
"Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by Myself, the word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness and will not turn back, that to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.” Isaiah 45:22-23.
The majesty of God is not found in the self reliance of the American Dream, in the Light of Hinduism or in the idea of so many virgins on some distant planet. No, the majesty and sovereignty of God is only found in His Son, Jesus Christ.
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1-2.
Jesus is Lord
BW
Thursday, May 6, 2010
The Failure of TULIP is Inconsistency With God’s Word
May 6, 2010
The character of human nature is inconsistent with the Nature of God and therefore is forced by that nature to be inconsistent with His Word.
For a very long time the subject of Predestination and Election has been on my mind, but until recently I have not been motivated to write. In recent years the growth of the so-called TULIP theory of salvation by election has caught my attention. With this heightened sense of interest I began to read, study and now write. With every page that I have read in God’s Word and the failure of TULIP to convince me to look any further, I began to write.
God’s message of Salvation by His Grace and one’s faith in Christ is for everyone who believes, Period. God by His Grace provides everyone an opportunity to respond to Him in faith and to repent of their sin through by the convicting work of the Holy Spirit.
“And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.” John 16:8-11.
When the discussion of Predestination surfaces, and is noted, the word appears 4 times in the New Testament, 2 times in Romans and twice in Ephesians. The word Predestination in the Greek means “to decide beforehand”, and the Greek word Elect makes reference to God’s act of choosing. The two words are almost synonymous and therefore, must be discussed with the damnation of the ELECT as well. Those who have been chosen by God to Hell is the obvious negative side of Predestination. Some call this Reprobation.
Predestination in TULIP cannot remove Reprobation from the dogma if it is to be consistent with the Sovereignty of God. Theological consequences of including Reprobation with Predestination is the absolute failure of that doctrine. However, if one is predestined for salvation, another must also be predestined for eternal damnation and the location of that damnation is HELL.
The Apostle Peter tells us that
“But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” 1 Peter 3:7-9.
“Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. 2 Peter 3:14-16.
One of the many statements of the Christ that should bring issue for the TULIP theory of salvation is found in Matthew 28:18-20. There is no indication for the purpose of Election or Predestination in this message from Jesus, “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Paul seems to underscore the unlimited bounds of God’s Saving Grace in his short letter to Titus, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” Titus 2:11-14.
There are 3 very obvious points made to Titus:
1. God brings salvation to everyone
2. Jesus gave Himself for the Believer’s redemption
3. His Possession are those whom He purifies for Himself.
The Apostle writes quite clearly in Romans 10:8-13, "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART"--that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."
THE TULIP THEORY CANNOT HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.
“ 'AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.' Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know-- this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.” Acts2:21-24.
The Predetermined plan is that everyone who believes and calls upon the name of the Lord Jesus will be saved.”
Take notice of what John the Baptizer said about the One who was to follow after him, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12-13. And then Jesus himself repeats the same thought to Nicodemus in John 3:3-7, "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.'”
AGAIN, THERE IS NO MENTION OF PREDESTINATION OR ELECTION BY THE CHRIST.
Eternal Life or Eternal Damnation is found completely in every person’s man’s response to God’s call to repent,
“Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." Mark 1:14-15.
Suggesting that God has predestined a select few is ludicrous in light of what Jesus says about himself,
"These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” Luke 24:44-48.
Certainly, those folks who are not yet Believers in the saving Grace of God are on their way to eternal damnation in a place called Hell. These are living on the precipice of eternal separation from the Almighty.
“Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe.” Jude 3-5.
BEFORE ONE SAYS, “AH HA, HERE IS ELECTION IN V. 4, LOOK FURTHER TO VERSE 5, “DESTROYED THOSE WHO DID NOT BELIEVE.” PAUL, IS SPEAKING ABOUT THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVER AS BEING MARKED FOR CONDEMNATION.
In the closing moments of his vision to the Church, John writes in Revelation 22:17, The Spirit and the bride say, "Come " And let the one who hears say, "Come" And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.” There is not a single hint of election uttered here by the Apostle.
Through out Holy Writ we find the freedom to choose or deny the Grace of the Almighty, and those who have fallen into eternal death have rejected God.
"Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each according to his conduct," declares the Lord GOD. "Repent and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you. Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies," declares the Lord GOD. "Therefore, repent and live." Ezekiel 18:30-32.
The doctrine of Predestination and Election for Eternal Life or Death simply does not coincide with the message of the Gospel of God. Simply stated, “All” and “Whosoever” indicate that God’s plan of salvation is for everyone and not for a select few. All are spiritually lost until they receive by faith the Saving Grace of God in Christ. Tragically, the opposite is true, too. That is, all who hear have opportunity to repent and become sons of God and do not are eternally damned at death.
Jesus tells everyone in Matthew 11 28-30, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Jesus is the Lord of Freedom to Choose
BW
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Salvation by Election or by Grace?
The reason that so many people believe in doctrines that are untrue is there is an enormous void of Bible reading among ‘Believers’. Those who are strident Followers of Christ read and know what God’s Word teaches.
The subjects of Election and Free Will are possibly among the most studied topics in the organized church. However, I am certain that the Church, the Body of Christ, is made up of individual Believers, Christians, who have been born again by the blood of Jesus Christ as they were drawn by the Holy Spirit. The Bible clearly teaches that Salvation by Faith in Jesus Christ has been predestined by the Father, but not everyone will come to acknowledge Him as Savior and Lord. And the underscore should be drawn under 2 Peter 3:9 as a place of beginning.
“But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.“ 2 Peter 3:7-9.
Many well meaning folks, including John Calvin, Martin Luther and many very well known individuals within the Church define salvation as an event in the life of elect that is predestined only for a very select group. I would go so far to say that these mislead folks follow systems of human thought rather than the Savior who died on a Cross.
God’s Word tells us that He is “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” This does not imply nor suggest nor declare that a few lucky winners will go to Heaven…….This does tell us that the Cross Event is indeed for everyone who believes and Jesus himself is speaks His Truth when he speaks to Nicodemus,
"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 3:16-18.
This does not sound as if the Christ had any one particular group of people in mind when He states, “whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” However, I am convinced that if Predestination had been the issue Jesus would have said as much.
God’s Grace in Salvation History…..
Furthermore, the Hebrew Nation in the Old Testament and the Bride of Christ, His Church, are the elect of God. And both groups will have found their peculiar spots in Heaven when Christ returns. The Salvation History of Scripture is about these two groups, not about individuals. Christ will come again to receive unto Himself His Church. He will not return specifically for me, but rather for His Church.
Those who park in the Predestination Space declare that salvation is nothing more than God’s choosing and freedom to reject has no place there. There are others holding to the other side of the Standard that it is all man’s free will and choice rather than God’s ability to secure what has been done. The reality is that Salvation is mostly God’s doing and by His grace and humankind must respond to His Grace. However, God does know who will respond why He knows who His people are BEFOREHAND.
“Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father's name, these testify of Me. But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.” John 10:25-29.
Those who decide to follow the Christ will be saved. They were even more astonished and said to Him, "Then who can be saved?" Looking at them, Jesus said, "With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God." Peter began to say to Him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed You." Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel's sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last, first." Mark 10:26-31.
There is absolutely no hint of Predestination for those who are being saved, but we do find that the freedom of man to follow Him is obvious.
Election in Salvation History:
Matthew 22:14,24: 22, 24, 31
Mark 13:20,22,25
Luke 18:7; Ro. 8:33; Col 3:12
2 Timothy 2:10; Ti. 1:1
1 Peter 1:1
There are but 16 verses in the New Testament which give testimony to ‘Election’ for salvation; not so many as most might think. The reason that so many people believe in doctrines that are untrue is there is an obvious void of Bible reading among local church members. Those who are strident followers of Christ read and know what God’s Word teaches.
In search of the meaning of God’s grace in election, there are several Scriptures that must be entertained:
Careful examination of this word from Paul to Titus reveals that God does not lie and in His time His word was revealed. This is an obvious reference to His Son.
“Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness— a faith and knowledgeresting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, and at his appointed season he brought his word to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior.” Titus 1:1
Be reminded that Paul is writing to the Church in Rome as he speaks about about predestination, glorification, justification and glorification of those who are Believers.
"And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies" Romans 30-33.
"For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.“ Matthew 24:22.
God does have an Elect people. Does election surface when folks believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ, or were they chosen for salvation beforehand?
The Apostle Peter writes, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:1-5.
It is not so difficult to see that obedience to Christ, His cleansing blood and His sanctification comes through the resurrection of Christ. God knows who will become followers of His Son Jesus Christ. Why should this be so difficult to accept or to some, abhorrent, unless Predestination is involved.
Prophetic utterances are given hundreds of years beforehand that tell us of God’s obvious foreknowledge. Judas’ betrayal of the Christ is, perhaps the most infamous of all. God is omniscient….that is, He knows all things before time.
Isaiah writes, “You have not heard, you have not known even from long ago your ear has not been open, because I knew that you would deal very treacherously; And you have been called a rebel from birth. "For the sake of My name I delay My wrath, and for My praise I restrain it for you, in order not to cut you off." Isaiah 48:8.
The Prophet is speaking to the House of Jacob and their lack of obedience toward God. And, yes, this House has rebelled from Jacob’s spirit of rebellion.
“But I said, "I have toiled in vain, I have spent My strength for nothing and vanity; Yet surely the justice due to Me is with the LORD, and My reward with My God." And now says the LORD, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob back to Him, so that Israel might be gathered to Him (For I am honored in the sight of the LORD, and My God is My strength), He says, "It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations so that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Jeremiah 49:4-6.
The foreknowledge of God cannot be denied. Paul further explains to the Church in Rome, “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" Romans 9:10-11.
“Jesus answered and said to them, "Do not grumble among yourselves. "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. "It is written in the prophets, 'AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.” John 6:43-45.
"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. But there are some of you who do not believe For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. And He was saying, "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father." John 6:63-65.
"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you”. John 15:13-16.
Do we forget that Jesus walked along the shores of Galilee calling men to follow Him and others he sought from their businesses and other walks of life Yes, Jesus Chooses and seeks His Followers to bring forth effective fruit.
It is of utmost urgency that we understand that by simply repeating a “sinners prayer” is erroneous unless God the Father has drawn them, opened their spiritual eyes and given them a revelation of Christ that they might repent and be born-again. Anything different is merely a “Hallelujah Moment,” a religious experience.
John again reminds us that Jesus came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:11-13.
This is NOT a statement supporting Predestination, but rather a statement explaining that man cannot save himself…..but is fully the work of Jesus at the Cross Event.
According to the Bible, salvation is specifically and only by the will and grace of God. As many as received him, received him because they had their minds opened to see the truth of Christ and were given the power by the Holy Spirit to become sons of God by believing on His name, which in other scripture means they did something with what they were given by God for to believe means to act on that which you believe. They were given the faith to believe and they acted on that faith and repented of their sin and received Jesus as their LORD and SAVIOR, for if He is not LORD then HE is not SAVIOR.
“But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART"--that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED." Romans 10:8-11.
Believers are empowered by the Spirit of God to believe on Jesus’ name to be born again, not by works of man, but by His Spirit. The work of the Holy Spirit to open the heart of sinful man, to convict him of his sin, repentance, and to be saved is not spoken of in Scripture as being predestined from God. However, we must understand that the ability and desire to respond to the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ and His finished work at Calvary only comes through the Presence of God.
While speaking to Nicodemus, Jesus emphasizes to him in John 3:3, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." People cannot respond to salvation in Christ unless the Holy Spirit convicts of sin.
Paul writes in Romans 2:4 , “Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS:”
We do not choose repentance, but rather, it is the Holy Spirit who leads the lost to repentance and further to salvation. He calls us while we are dead in our sin.
The Apostle Paul goes on to say to the Church at Ephesus, " But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:4-7 .
It is not us, but He. He does it all. He draws us. He convicts us. He opens our eyes to see the truth and it is He who gives us the faith to believe. The Holy Spirit works in us and salvation comes by His grace and mercy, and through our faith. We must accept His offer and by the faith that comes from Him we are then saved.
We must not discount the following:
• Not all are called because NOT everyone is of the Faith
• Not all accept the call because only those who follow Him will receive the Call
• Not all remain His followers because they did not follow Him
“They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.” 1 John 2:19.
Moses writes, "All the nations will say, 'Why has the LORD done thus to this land? Why this great outburst of anger?' Then men will say, 'Because they forsook the covenant of the LORD, the God of their fathers, which He made with them when He brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went and served other gods and worshiped them, gods whom they have not known and whom He had not allotted to them. Therefore, the anger of the LORD burned against that land, to bring upon it every curse which is written in this book; and the LORD uprooted them from their land in anger and in fury and in great wrath, and cast them into another land, as it is this day.'” Deuteronomy 29:24-28.
Verse 29 then reveals, “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.”
This is Food for Thought, is it not?
Jesus remains Lord
BW
The subjects of Election and Free Will are possibly among the most studied topics in the organized church. However, I am certain that the Church, the Body of Christ, is made up of individual Believers, Christians, who have been born again by the blood of Jesus Christ as they were drawn by the Holy Spirit. The Bible clearly teaches that Salvation by Faith in Jesus Christ has been predestined by the Father, but not everyone will come to acknowledge Him as Savior and Lord. And the underscore should be drawn under 2 Peter 3:9 as a place of beginning.
“But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.“ 2 Peter 3:7-9.
Many well meaning folks, including John Calvin, Martin Luther and many very well known individuals within the Church define salvation as an event in the life of elect that is predestined only for a very select group. I would go so far to say that these mislead folks follow systems of human thought rather than the Savior who died on a Cross.
God’s Word tells us that He is “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” This does not imply nor suggest nor declare that a few lucky winners will go to Heaven…….This does tell us that the Cross Event is indeed for everyone who believes and Jesus himself is speaks His Truth when he speaks to Nicodemus,
"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 3:16-18.
This does not sound as if the Christ had any one particular group of people in mind when He states, “whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” However, I am convinced that if Predestination had been the issue Jesus would have said as much.
God’s Grace in Salvation History…..
Furthermore, the Hebrew Nation in the Old Testament and the Bride of Christ, His Church, are the elect of God. And both groups will have found their peculiar spots in Heaven when Christ returns. The Salvation History of Scripture is about these two groups, not about individuals. Christ will come again to receive unto Himself His Church. He will not return specifically for me, but rather for His Church.
Those who park in the Predestination Space declare that salvation is nothing more than God’s choosing and freedom to reject has no place there. There are others holding to the other side of the Standard that it is all man’s free will and choice rather than God’s ability to secure what has been done. The reality is that Salvation is mostly God’s doing and by His grace and humankind must respond to His Grace. However, God does know who will respond why He knows who His people are BEFOREHAND.
“Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father's name, these testify of Me. But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.” John 10:25-29.
Those who decide to follow the Christ will be saved. They were even more astonished and said to Him, "Then who can be saved?" Looking at them, Jesus said, "With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God." Peter began to say to Him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed You." Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel's sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last, first." Mark 10:26-31.
There is absolutely no hint of Predestination for those who are being saved, but we do find that the freedom of man to follow Him is obvious.
Election in Salvation History:
Matthew 22:14,24: 22, 24, 31
Mark 13:20,22,25
Luke 18:7; Ro. 8:33; Col 3:12
2 Timothy 2:10; Ti. 1:1
1 Peter 1:1
There are but 16 verses in the New Testament which give testimony to ‘Election’ for salvation; not so many as most might think. The reason that so many people believe in doctrines that are untrue is there is an obvious void of Bible reading among local church members. Those who are strident followers of Christ read and know what God’s Word teaches.
In search of the meaning of God’s grace in election, there are several Scriptures that must be entertained:
Careful examination of this word from Paul to Titus reveals that God does not lie and in His time His word was revealed. This is an obvious reference to His Son.
“Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness— a faith and knowledgeresting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, and at his appointed season he brought his word to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior.” Titus 1:1
Be reminded that Paul is writing to the Church in Rome as he speaks about about predestination, glorification, justification and glorification of those who are Believers.
"And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies" Romans 30-33.
"For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.“ Matthew 24:22.
God does have an Elect people. Does election surface when folks believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ, or were they chosen for salvation beforehand?
The Apostle Peter writes, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:1-5.
It is not so difficult to see that obedience to Christ, His cleansing blood and His sanctification comes through the resurrection of Christ. God knows who will become followers of His Son Jesus Christ. Why should this be so difficult to accept or to some, abhorrent, unless Predestination is involved.
Prophetic utterances are given hundreds of years beforehand that tell us of God’s obvious foreknowledge. Judas’ betrayal of the Christ is, perhaps the most infamous of all. God is omniscient….that is, He knows all things before time.
Isaiah writes, “You have not heard, you have not known even from long ago your ear has not been open, because I knew that you would deal very treacherously; And you have been called a rebel from birth. "For the sake of My name I delay My wrath, and for My praise I restrain it for you, in order not to cut you off." Isaiah 48:8.
The Prophet is speaking to the House of Jacob and their lack of obedience toward God. And, yes, this House has rebelled from Jacob’s spirit of rebellion.
“But I said, "I have toiled in vain, I have spent My strength for nothing and vanity; Yet surely the justice due to Me is with the LORD, and My reward with My God." And now says the LORD, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob back to Him, so that Israel might be gathered to Him (For I am honored in the sight of the LORD, and My God is My strength), He says, "It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations so that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Jeremiah 49:4-6.
The foreknowledge of God cannot be denied. Paul further explains to the Church in Rome, “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" Romans 9:10-11.
“Jesus answered and said to them, "Do not grumble among yourselves. "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. "It is written in the prophets, 'AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.” John 6:43-45.
"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. But there are some of you who do not believe For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. And He was saying, "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father." John 6:63-65.
"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you”. John 15:13-16.
Do we forget that Jesus walked along the shores of Galilee calling men to follow Him and others he sought from their businesses and other walks of life Yes, Jesus Chooses and seeks His Followers to bring forth effective fruit.
It is of utmost urgency that we understand that by simply repeating a “sinners prayer” is erroneous unless God the Father has drawn them, opened their spiritual eyes and given them a revelation of Christ that they might repent and be born-again. Anything different is merely a “Hallelujah Moment,” a religious experience.
John again reminds us that Jesus came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:11-13.
This is NOT a statement supporting Predestination, but rather a statement explaining that man cannot save himself…..but is fully the work of Jesus at the Cross Event.
According to the Bible, salvation is specifically and only by the will and grace of God. As many as received him, received him because they had their minds opened to see the truth of Christ and were given the power by the Holy Spirit to become sons of God by believing on His name, which in other scripture means they did something with what they were given by God for to believe means to act on that which you believe. They were given the faith to believe and they acted on that faith and repented of their sin and received Jesus as their LORD and SAVIOR, for if He is not LORD then HE is not SAVIOR.
“But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART"--that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED." Romans 10:8-11.
Believers are empowered by the Spirit of God to believe on Jesus’ name to be born again, not by works of man, but by His Spirit. The work of the Holy Spirit to open the heart of sinful man, to convict him of his sin, repentance, and to be saved is not spoken of in Scripture as being predestined from God. However, we must understand that the ability and desire to respond to the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ and His finished work at Calvary only comes through the Presence of God.
While speaking to Nicodemus, Jesus emphasizes to him in John 3:3, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." People cannot respond to salvation in Christ unless the Holy Spirit convicts of sin.
Paul writes in Romans 2:4 , “Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS:”
We do not choose repentance, but rather, it is the Holy Spirit who leads the lost to repentance and further to salvation. He calls us while we are dead in our sin.
The Apostle Paul goes on to say to the Church at Ephesus, " But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:4-7 .
It is not us, but He. He does it all. He draws us. He convicts us. He opens our eyes to see the truth and it is He who gives us the faith to believe. The Holy Spirit works in us and salvation comes by His grace and mercy, and through our faith. We must accept His offer and by the faith that comes from Him we are then saved.
We must not discount the following:
• Not all are called because NOT everyone is of the Faith
• Not all accept the call because only those who follow Him will receive the Call
• Not all remain His followers because they did not follow Him
“They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.” 1 John 2:19.
Moses writes, "All the nations will say, 'Why has the LORD done thus to this land? Why this great outburst of anger?' Then men will say, 'Because they forsook the covenant of the LORD, the God of their fathers, which He made with them when He brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went and served other gods and worshiped them, gods whom they have not known and whom He had not allotted to them. Therefore, the anger of the LORD burned against that land, to bring upon it every curse which is written in this book; and the LORD uprooted them from their land in anger and in fury and in great wrath, and cast them into another land, as it is this day.'” Deuteronomy 29:24-28.
Verse 29 then reveals, “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.”
This is Food for Thought, is it not?
Jesus remains Lord
BW
Saturday, April 24, 2010
What IS Biblical Predestination? Part 2
Standing amazed in the presence of God’s resurrected Son, He extends His hand of love promising eternal salvation by His grace alone, “whosoever believes in me will find eternal life in Heaven.”
28And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.29For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. Romans 8:28-30.
The third time the word "predestined" is used is in Romans 8:29.
"For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren”
Note once does this verse say, "predestined to be saved."
Why is the Believer Predestined?
“….He also predestined (the Believer) to become conformed to the image of His Son. Being conformed to the image of His Son is the object of predestination ... NOT salvation.
When shall we be "conformed to the image of his Son"?
"Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." 1 John 3:2-3.
When shall we be like Him? When shall we be conformed to the image of His Son? This will occur when Christ returns for His Church. God alone assures salvation and accomplishes His "eternal purpose" in every Born again Believer. We are born again by His grace through faith in His Son…..not by the crazy notion of salvation by predestination.
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:4-10.
God extends to every Believer
1. His love
2. His grace
3. His gift of faith
4. His workmanship…not our own
However, there is one important factor that must be underlined…..note that God PREPARED good works beforehand so that we would walk in them…..NOT salvation.
The Fourth time we see "predestine" is in Romans 8:30.
" these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified...”
Verse 30 must be observed in the context of verse 29. God predestines the Believer to be conformed to the image of His Son and this is a daily maturing of faith in the life of the Christian. However, we will not be as HE IS until the day that He comes to meet HIS BRIDE…HIS CHURCH.
Notice three important actions of God in this verse:
Those He calls, He justifies and those He justifies He also glorifies. These acts of God demonstrate His grace toward the Believer His Grace in the life of the Believer indicates the completeness of the nature of God’s gift of redemption at the Cross.
Compare with verse 32.
"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also FREELY GIVE US ALL THINGS."
GOD has predestined that the Believer will be eternally saved. HE GAVE HIS OWN SON ... HE CALLS THE BELIEVER ... HE JUSTIFIES THE BELIEVER ... HE MAKES CERTAIN THE BELIEVER WILL BE GLORIFIED.
Having observed the four occurrences of the word "predestination" in the Bible, GOD has predestined the Believer to accomplish His purpose of becoming as His Son is.
Open your Bible and seek the instruction of His Truth from Him…..NOT John Calvin.
JESUS ALONE IS LORD AND HIS TRUTH IS FOUND IN HIS WORD
BW
28And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.29For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. Romans 8:28-30.
The third time the word "predestined" is used is in Romans 8:29.
"For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren”
Note once does this verse say, "predestined to be saved."
Why is the Believer Predestined?
“….He also predestined (the Believer) to become conformed to the image of His Son. Being conformed to the image of His Son is the object of predestination ... NOT salvation.
When shall we be "conformed to the image of his Son"?
"Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." 1 John 3:2-3.
When shall we be like Him? When shall we be conformed to the image of His Son? This will occur when Christ returns for His Church. God alone assures salvation and accomplishes His "eternal purpose" in every Born again Believer. We are born again by His grace through faith in His Son…..not by the crazy notion of salvation by predestination.
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:4-10.
God extends to every Believer
1. His love
2. His grace
3. His gift of faith
4. His workmanship…not our own
However, there is one important factor that must be underlined…..note that God PREPARED good works beforehand so that we would walk in them…..NOT salvation.
The Fourth time we see "predestine" is in Romans 8:30.
" these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified...”
Verse 30 must be observed in the context of verse 29. God predestines the Believer to be conformed to the image of His Son and this is a daily maturing of faith in the life of the Christian. However, we will not be as HE IS until the day that He comes to meet HIS BRIDE…HIS CHURCH.
Notice three important actions of God in this verse:
Those He calls, He justifies and those He justifies He also glorifies. These acts of God demonstrate His grace toward the Believer His Grace in the life of the Believer indicates the completeness of the nature of God’s gift of redemption at the Cross.
Compare with verse 32.
"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also FREELY GIVE US ALL THINGS."
GOD has predestined that the Believer will be eternally saved. HE GAVE HIS OWN SON ... HE CALLS THE BELIEVER ... HE JUSTIFIES THE BELIEVER ... HE MAKES CERTAIN THE BELIEVER WILL BE GLORIFIED.
Having observed the four occurrences of the word "predestination" in the Bible, GOD has predestined the Believer to accomplish His purpose of becoming as His Son is.
Open your Bible and seek the instruction of His Truth from Him…..NOT John Calvin.
JESUS ALONE IS LORD AND HIS TRUTH IS FOUND IN HIS WORD
BW
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