Monday, January 31, 2011

IS IT MEAN TO BE INSISTENT

Galatians 5:12   I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!

http://www.opc.org/nh.html?article_id=217
Galatians 5:12 was posted in reflection on a letter John Newton wrote which addresses on how Calvinists should be meek in witnessing. My point is: Being bold against a TOPIC should not be lumped as being rude to a person. We can say Mormonism is heretical without being rude to a Mormon. We can say Freemasonry is a lie without being rude to Freemasons. It is a fact that praying to Mary is wrong, just as drunkenness, lying, drugs, sloth, greed is wrong.



Newton is upfront that haughtiness in Calvinism is wrong, I can't tell Newton, "Now Newton, be meek now." when he is merely being truthful in telling us that haughtiness is wrong. I am sure he is insistent in his point, there is no compromise when he comes to exposing haughtiness. Man's ability is just as wrong as haughtiness. Conditional Election is just as wrong as pride in Calvinism; Unapplied Atonement is just as needful for correction as brash theology; etc. So sometimes people blur a unwavering theology as a sign of being rude, or a public insistency against a doctrine as being mean...yet Newton's own letter has an unwavering positon in what he asserts, and it is now a public insistency for what is asserted; and so likewise I have no problem with being unwavering against Arminianism and being publicly insistent on the errors of the system...Newton has done the same thing, just on a different subject matter.


If that letter is misapplied to Calvinist then Calvinist can return the notion to Newton, which is to silence Newton too. If that letter is properly seen as firm and public in it's purpose, then likewise it supports Calvinist being firm and public in their purpose to adominsh the system of Arminianism. Rick Warren will insist to me that his ministry is fine, and likewise I will insist that his ministry is not fine, both are insistent, both are polite...so I find it unfair to portray plain speech and forthrightness as "fleshly". John called men objectively a brood of vipers, and we can do the same, without being counseled to be a docile, passive wet-noodle.

So I think it is improper to push for more moderation, when the issue is not about delivery, but content, and content must never be in moderation; The blue lights are blue lights, the speeder may get mad and call them mean blue lights, but they are on, and his frustration is not really with the blue light itself as been "delivered" for that is nominal, but he is angry at the "insistent meaning" of that delivery. The cop will not turn off the lights, and finds no reason to tell the lights to "tone it down" when the lights are merely "constant in meaning" never "brash"; Whatever Newton's letter means, it cannot mean that we turn off the blue lights, just to make the speeder happy, but that is how many people seem to apply that letter. Gal 5:12 is an unwavering view, don't accuse Paul of failing to be meek in his adamancy, and many are unwavering in TULIP, and should not be falsely accused of failing to be meek in that adamancy. (yes, there are rude calvinist, but there is still a danger of confusing all insistent theology is thereby innately rude-- which is not true.


So that was the context of me posting this verse.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

FEWER PEOPLE

‎"If the gospel were more faithfully preached, there would be fewer people professing to believe it."
-- A.W. Pink

Thursday, January 27, 2011

WHY PRESENT

Are we saying that God did not show the resurrected body of Jesus to all sinners (beyond doubting Thomas) because God knew that evidence would not convince them; If God knows this presentation will not convince the unbeliever, then why give any other presentations at all, which God likewise knows will never convince them?

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

KNOWING CHRIST

Note to Self:  Focus on Knowng Christ (Philip 3), not making a difference; (1 Cor 2:1-5);  #1.  You will never make a difference until you know Christ.  (John 15:5)  #2.  You might find out that they more you are made like Christ, the more the world will scorn you as they did Christ (John 15:18-John 16::4);  they crucified Him according to the design of God (Acts 2:23).  God just might show you many things you are to suffer for His name's sake.(Acts 9:16);

Monday, January 24, 2011

FROM ROME

I must repeat, what already seems to have given him so much offence, that Arminianism "came from Rome, and leads thither again."

If we sum up the evidence that has been given, we shall find its amount to be, that Arminianism came from the Church of Rome, and leads back again to the pit whence it was digged.



Augustus Toplady

ONLY AXES

"The wickedest of enemies of God are only axes and saws and hammers in his hands, and are ignorantly his instruments for doing his work in the world." - J. C. Ryle

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

WRONG DEFINITION

Ministry Visibility is not synonymous with: Christian Impact, nor God's approval, nor Christ Exalted, nor Scripture Honored.

WHO IS ON THE LORD'S SIDE

Exodus 32:25-29 And when Moses saw that the people had broken loose (for Aaron had let them break loose, to the derision of their enemies), [26] then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, "Who is on the Lord's side? Come to me." And all the sons of Levi gathered around him. [27] And he said to them, "Thus says the Lord God of Israel, 'Put your SWORD on your side each of you, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp, and each of you kill his brother and his companion and his neighbor.' " [28] And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And that day about three thousand men of the people fell. [29] And Moses said, "Today you have been ordained for the service of the Lord, each one at the cost of his son and of his brother, so that he might bestow a blessing upon you this day."


Matthew 10:34  "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a SWORD. [35] For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. [36] And a person's enemies will be those of his own household.

[37] Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. [38] And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. [39] Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.


Luke 14:25-33   Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, [26] "If anyone comes to me and does not HATE HIS OWN FATHER AND MORTHER AND WIFE AND CHILDREN AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS, YES AND EVEN HIS OWN LIFE, he cannot be my disciple. [27] Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple..... [33] So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

(Luke has the same material as Matthew)  Luke 12:49-53   "I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! [50] I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! [51] Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. [52] For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. [53] They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

In Luke and Matthew, Jesus describes who cannot be His disciple, or to state it positively who can be his disciple.  The very same question was addressed by Moses,  "Who is on the Lord's side?"  Jesus answers that question.  He is a greater High Priest than any Levite.  Jesus will come with His own sword and strike down the Nations.  He is Joshua.  Yehoshua.  Jesus.

Rev. 19:11-21

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. [12] His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. [13] He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. [14] And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. [15] From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. [16] On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

[17] Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, "Come, gather for the great supper of God, [18] to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great." [19] And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. [20] And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. [21] And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

AMONG CHRISTIAN MECHANICS

This devotional is really revolutionary for me, something that has paralyzed me deeply for years.  But this helpful observation came to mind today.  "Who is the John Owen, Martin Luther, John Gill, Thomas Boston among Christian Auto Mechanics?"  The answer?  We don't know.  The point.  We don't have to know. 

A self-employed Christian Mechanic may repair over 300 cars a year.  That is 300 lives and homes helped.  In theory it may be 300 pastors, missionaries, elders, deacons, widows, and blessings for explicit gospel needs or otherwise implicit gospel needs.   The Christian mechanic does not look back and think, "but the other mechanics are getting more books written and sold, more initivations to preach, hold conference, and serve as professor; they have 10 locations and 3000 attendees compared to my small 300;  everyone knows their brand name, but not mine, woe is me, what is the point."

This can parallel into every occupation that Christians partake.  The lowly nurse with 300 patients a year, the mother with 5 kids, the brick mason, the janitor, the truck driver, the chicken farmer, the widget maker.  A nurse may bless her patients, but is still anonymous among the pool of a million Christian nurses.  A mother may raise a pastor, elder, deacon, author, missionary, but is still anonymous among other Christian mothers. 

The brick mason may build church plant facilities, hospitals, and seminaries, but is also anonymous among other Christian brickmasons.  How would baptists survive without Chickens to eat, and yet the chicken farmer does not compare himself with other famous Chicken farmers.  The truck driver ships books, pews, and supplies for congregations to worship and minister, but is still unknown in his labors.

Do I admire William Carey?  Sure, but there are countless servants also sacrificing and laboring in secret who will never be known this side of Glory.  Do I admire James White?  Sure, but let us name all the unknown pastors and professors and authors and friends that shaped in during his formative years.  Monergism.com is a great website, yet they did not author 90% of what they provide.

In conclusion,

#1   It is wrong to divide the "sacred" from the "secular",
#2  Because all labors are to be sacred and offered unto Christ.
#3  All Christian labors are made unto Christ, not in comparison to the publicity of other Christian labors.
#4  All Christian labors find their value and significance by the grace of Christ directing them to the glory of Christ in that labor, not by the attention of men giving attention to the servants.

Think about these things.

Monday, January 10, 2011

THE LORD SEES THEM

” I can hardly recollect a single plan of mine, of which I have not since seen reason to be satisfied, that had it taken place in season and circumstance just as I proposed, it would, humanly speaking, have proved my ruin; or at least it would have deprived me of the greater good the Lord had designed for me.

We judge of things by their present appearances, but the Lord sees them in their consequences, if we could do so likewise we should be perfectly of His mind; but as we cannot, it is an unspeakable mercy that He will manage for us, whether we are pleased with His management or not; and it is spoken of as one of his heaviest judgments, when He gives any person or people up to the way of their own hearts, and to walk after their own counsels.”


John Newton (1725-1807)

Sunday, January 9, 2011

STASH OF QUOTES FOUND

GREAT STASH OF QUOTES FOUND ON OSHEA DAVIS' WALL.  http://www.osheadavis.com/

"As it is fit that God should love and esteem His own excellence, it is also fit that He should value and esteem the love of His excellency. And if it becomes a being highly to value Himself, it is fit that He should love to have Himself valued and esteemed"(Edwards, Works, 99).



"Another part of God's fulness which He communicates, is His happiness. This happiness consists in enjoying and rejoicing in Himself; and so does also the creature's happiness. It is a participation of what is in God; and God and His glory are the objective ground of it. The happiness of the creature consists in rejoicing in God; by which also God is magnified and exalted"(Edwards, Works, 101).


"Be more afraid of sin than of suffering. A man may be afflicted, and yet have the love of God; but if he sin, immediately God is angry"--Thomas Watson(Sermons of the Great Ejection, 142).


"God's rod is a pencil to draw Christ's image more distinctly upon us"(Watson, Gleanings , 141).

GOD'S FREEDOM FOR INEQUALITY

Did God look down the corridors of time and see a choice of Abram or Moses or David or John or Saul and determine to make them the father, prophet, king, forerunner...among the 6 million plus peers in their respective generations? What a tremendous blessing not granted to their peers. Apparently God quote fore-knew that the rest were all going to reject his equal offer, attempt, and effort. (tongue-in-cheek)

HE STOOD BETWEEN

Atonement of the Holy Place: a reality from the blood, not from the tent's acceptance and trust in an offer/priest
Leviticus 16:16-19 Thus he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel and because of their transgressions, all their sins. And so he shall do for the tent of meeting, which dwells with them... in the midst of their uncleannesses. [17] No one may be in the tent of meeting from the time he enters to make atonement in the Holy Place until he comes out and has made atonement for himself and for his house and for all the assembly of Israel. [18] Then he shall go out to the altar that is before the Lord and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the blood of the bull and some of the blood of the goat, and put it on the horns of the altar all around. [19] And he shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it and consecrate it from the uncleannesses of the people of Israel.


‎2 Cor. 6:16 For we are the temple of the living God;


Ephes. 2:21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

‎1 Cor. 3:16-17 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? [17] If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.


1 Cor. 6:19 Or do you not know... that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

Numbers 16:41-50 But on the next day all the congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and against Aaron, saying, "You have killed the people of the Lord." [42] And when the congregation had assembled against Moses and a...gainst Aaron, they turned toward the tent of meeting. And behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord appeared. [43] And Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting, [44] and the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, [45] "Get away from the midst of this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment." And they fell on their faces. [46] And Moses said to Aaron, "Take your censer, and put fire on it from off the altar and lay incense on it and carry it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone out from the Lord; the plague has begun." [47] So Aaron took it as Moses said and ran into the midst of the assembly. And behold, the plague had already begun among the people. And he put on the incense and made atonement for the people. [48] And he stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stopped. [49] Now those who died in the plague were 14,700, besides those who died in the affair of Korah. [50] And Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance of the tent of meeting, when the plague was stopped.


The people were GRUMBLING against Moses and were AGAINST MOSES and AGAINST Aaron (priests), not trusting him as God's designated mediator and prophet. The Lord was ready to consume the people in a moment. The wrath of the Lord has gone out, and the plague begun.

Aaron made atonement for the people. ..... AND HE STOOD BETWEEN THE DEAD AND THE LIVING AND THE PLAGUE WAS STOPPED.

Over 14,700 were dead. I find it impossible to suggest the plague stopped on all the inhabitants because every solitary inhabitant paused to forsake their grumbling and begin trusting in Moses and the atonement made>>> as the basis of the plague stopping.

BUYING SHEEP

 Some would say the Father does not make salvation a reality for sinners on the basis the Jesus' decision (and action), but the Father makes salvation a reality for sinners on the basis of their decision. What was lacking and insufficient in the decision (and action) of the spotless Lamb to deem it unworthy of making salvation a reality in and of itself.

These persons should not say, "The Father sent Jesus to make the salvation of all sinners a reality" nor that " Jesus came to make the salvation of all sinners a reality." When I present a coupon to a cashier, the cashier accepts it and applies it because of the validity of that which is presented. When Jesus presents His life, death, and blood to the Father, the Father accepts it and applies it because of the validity of that which is presented. Jesus purchased sheep. Shepherds do not look to the sheep to wait for them to accept the payment of their Redeemer.

IT WOULD MANIFEST

‎"Remember this--there is not a worse nature in hell

than that which is in you, and it would manifest itself

accordingly--if the Lord did not restrain it!"
 
~~Thomas Brooks;

Saturday, January 8, 2011

PONDERING WHAT GOD WILLED

‎1. God willed to make Man. Adam was not free or able to will himself into existence.




2. God willed to make Man mutable. Adam was not free or able to will himself immutable. This was not a trait left up to Adam to determine. If Adam ...could determine himself to be immutable, then he could have eaten of the forbidden tree and then remained alive, contrary to God's warning that Adam would surely die.



3. God willed to make a tree of forbidden food. Man was not free or able to prevent the existence of such a tree.



4. God willed to make a snake with legs that Satan could possess and approach and talk to Eve. Adam was not free or able to prevent Satan's access to the snake, garden or Eve.



5. God willed: to create Adam, when to make Adam, where to make Adam, how to make Adam (two legs not eight), to limit Adam (from flying, creating worlds by speech, absolving sin). Adam was not free or able to determine: if he was going to be made, when he was going to be made, where he was going to be made, how he was going to be made, his capabilities and limitations; Adam did not determine why he was being made. God determined why Adam was being made as well.



6. God willed to make Adam before Eve; Eve could will herself to be made prior to Adam, or vice versa.



7. If Adam had a free will then he could have told God which trees were acceptable and which trees where forbidden, and what consequences (if any) would result from eating of the forbidden tree. But Adam does not set rules and consequences before the eternal God. If Adam had a free-will he could have uncursed the ground which God cursed and un-cursed the snake; or, commanded the angels not to gaurd the tree of life. (Obviously his command would have been ignored by them);



8. Adam had a will, and even while upright, it was limited, not free and not sovereign. The elect angels today have wills, but they are not free nor sovereign, they are limited. If Adam wants a free will then he must first free his will from the Sovereign will of God, until then Adam's will is not free to override God's sovereign will.



9. Did God will to cover Adam's nakedness, or merely make a covering to be possiblity? Did God will to save every son of Adam, or merely make the salvation of every son of Adam to be a possibility? If God made Adam's covering to be only a possibility, then it would be up to Adam to meet a condition for that covering to be a reality.



10. If God made Peter's salvation to be only a possibility, then it would be up to Peter to meet a condition for that salvation to be a reality. If Peter's salvation is contingent on Peter meeting a condition (moreover command) of God before Peter is actually saved, then Peter's salvation is no more of grace, but of a work of Peter. Thus Peter would have reason to glory in himself for meeting the condition of God. Salvation is a work of Grace, because it is a work of God in Jesus Christ presented to the Father as a substitue for the person in need. Christians glory not in themselves, but in Christ who secured and accomplished and guaranteed salvation for all whom he died.



11. Those who reject TULIP cannot proclaim that the death of Jesus ALONE guarantees and assures the salvation of any sinner; However, Christians in contrast profess (without double speak) the wonderful truth surmised by the phrase: Sola Christus, Christ alone.



12. The accomplishment and full satisfaction of Jesus before the Father is the basis of the Holy Spirit regenerating all for whom Christ died. The Holy Spirit will not fail to regenerate all that Christ died for. The accomplishment and full satisfaction of sinners placing faith in Jesus before the Father is NOT THE BASIS (condition met, obedience given) of the Holy Spirit regenerating some for whom Christ died. The Holy Spirit in His work honors the decision and death of Jesus, not the decison of the sinful creature. For the Holy Spirit, Jesus makes all the difference. Thus the sinner cannot say "I made the difference, my faith made the difference." Many will never say this, but yet they believe it, and thereby contradict all Scripture and even God Himself.

EFFICACIOUS

‎"I may be called Antinomian or Calvinist for preaching a limited atonement; but I had rather believe a limited atonement that is efficacious for all men for whom it was intended, than a universal atonement that is not efficacious for anybody, except the will of man be joined with it."

~CH Spurgeon

VERY CONFUSING

It doesn't make any sense to say, "Jesus knew from all eternity past, before Adam was created, that Goliath would reject faith in Christ, but yet Jesus went ahead and died for Goliath in an divine but failing attempt to save him".

In sarcasm, but in analogy, I sent a check for $5,000 along with 10 books, 10 videos, and 100 mp3s to Pharaoh's tomb, in an attempt to get him to let the jewish slaves free, and spare himself the coming plagues.

Friday, January 7, 2011

JESUS REDEEMS INDEED

Did Jesus intercede for a sinner in life, prayer, blood, and death on a criminal's cross before His Father, and His Father deem His intercession to be insufficient or unacceptable?  Did Jesus sprinkle His blood in the heavenly Holy of Holies, and His blood not avail redemption and atonement?

Did Jesus, who is fully God, Thrice Holy, uncreated, eternal, infinite in power and wisdom....intercede for a sinner in life, prayer, blood, and death on a criminal's cross before His Father, and His Father deem His intercession to be insufficient or unacceptable?  Did Jesus sprinkle His blood in the heavenly Holy of Holies, and His blood not avail redemption and atonement?

FAR MORE OCCUPIED

"We are far more occupied with our work [in ministry] than we are with our prayer." - Andrew Murray; thanks Craig Ireland. Bracketed note is mine, not Murray's or Craig's.
- - - -

Al Hartman added:

If we would realize that our work, all of it, is ministry, and that ministry, all of it, is performed unto God and not for self, family, home, church, or community, then we would realize our insufficiency to work adequately and would be driven to prayer for His help in it.


As it is, we need to be driven to prayer just for the wisdom to recognize all that we have failed to realize...
- - - -
 
Pondering:  "all is performed unto God"
Consider Luther trembling in his first communion service...the Holiness of God.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

JOHN OWEN, DDDC, BOOK 1, SECTION 3.

III. Rebuttal against general ransom theory.


A. general ransom-- to pay, redeem for all, every single one of Adam.

If this be the end, if this be the fruit, product thereof.

1. Either God and Christ failed, did not accomplish their intention (the death of Christ being not a fitly proportioned means to the attaining end.-- is blasphemous injurious to the wisdom, power, and perfection of God, likewise derogatory to the worth, value of the death of Christ.

2. or else, that all mean, all the posterity of Adam, must be saved, purged, sanctified, glorified. Which will not maintain the testimony of Scripture and the woeful experience of millions will not allow. (for such a conclusion) {universalism}

These then:

1. Do deny that God or His Son had any such absolute aim or end in the death and blood shedding of Jesus Christ. ---or/and---

2. Do Deny that any such thing was immediately procured and purchased by it. -- that God intended nothing, and Christ effected nothing.

That no benefit arises to any immediately but that which is comes to all and every soul (though never so cursedly unbelieving here and eternally damned hereafter) until some act not procured for them by Christ (for if it were, why have they it all not alike) but to wit- Faith-- does distinguish them from others.

Faith is an effect of the satisfaction and death of Christ, not the basis thereof.

Faith is an product of grace, not a cause of grace.

FLAWED PREMISE

‎(If) "Responsibility denotes capability". Then be perfect.
 
-- Will Torres  [to explose the error of Arminian Philosophy)

LOVE LESS ERROR

Arminians will say "hated" means "love less".  Then they will say,  'God does not hate the sinner, he loves the sinner, but hates the sin."    Which then we must tell them, "Oh so, you are saying He does not hate sin, he merely loves the sin less."  What a horror. (you cannot have it both ways.)

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

CAN THIS POSSIBLY NOT TAKE PLACE

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 a charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died---more than that, who was raised to life---is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us (Romans 8:32-34).


The Father gave the Son in our place. Who is the "our" of this passage? The text says that it is "those whom God has chosen," that is, the elect of God. Again, the intercessory work of Christ at the right hand of the Father is presented in perfect harmony with the death of Christ---those for whom Christ died are those for whom He intercedes. And, as this passage shows, if Christ intercedes for someone, who can possibly bring a charge against that person and hope to see them condemned? So we see what we have seen before: Christ dies in someone's place, He intercedes for them, and they are infallibly saved. Christ's work is complete and perfect. He is the powerful Savior, and He never fails to accomplish His purpose.

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13).

Are all the friends of Christ? Do all own His name? Do all bow before Him and accept Him as Lord? Do all do His commandments (John 15:14)? Then not all are His friends.

While we wait for the blessed hope---the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good (Titus 2:13-14).

Both the substitutionary element of the cross (gave himself for us) and the purpose thereof (to redeem us...to purify) are forcefully presented to Titus. If it was the purpose of Christ to redeem and purify those for whom He died, can this possibly not take place?

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).

Christ will save His people from their sins. I ask what Edwin Palmer asked me before: Well, did He? Did He save His people, or did He not?

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).

This is the common confession of every true believer in Christ. We died with Him, our Substitute, the one who loved us and gave Himself in our behalf.

We have seen, then, that the Word teaches that Christ died for many, for His sheep, for the Church, for the elect of God, for His friends, for a people zealous for good works, for His people, for each and every Christian.

--- James White
 
http://vintage.aomin.org/Was%20Anyone%20Saved.html

WHY CHRIST CAME

The Intention of the Atonement


Why did Christ come to die? Did He come simply to make salvation possible, or did He come to actually obtain eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:12)? Let's consider some passages from Scripture in answer to this question.

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost (Luke 19:10).

Here the Lord Jesus Himself speaks of the reason for His coming. He came to seek and to save the lost. Few have a problem with His seeking; many have a problem with the idea that He actually accomplished all of His mission. Jesus, however, made it clear that He came to actually save the lost. He did this by His death.

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners---of whom I am the worst (1 Timothy 1:15).

Paul asserts that the purpose of Christ's coming into the world was to actually save sinners. Nothing in Paul's words leads us to the conclusion that is so popular today---that Christ's death simply makes salvation a possibility rather than a reality. Christ came to save. So, did He? And how did He? Was it not by His death? Most certainly. The atoning death of Christ provides forgiveness of sins for all those for whom it is made. That is why Christ came.

--James White


http://vintage.aomin.org/Was%20Anyone%20Saved.html

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

THROUGH THE LOVE OF GOD

"The love and hate of God towards men is immutable and eternal, existing, not merely before there was any merit or work of ‘free-will,’ but before the world was made; [so] all things take place in us of necessity, according as He has from eternity loved or not loved ... faith and unbelief come to us by no work of our own, but through the love and hatred of God."


~ Martin Luther (1483-1546): (The Bondage of the Will)

FAR BEYOND

‎"to mortify the lusts of the flesh, to be crucified unto the world, to overcome the Devil, to die daily unto sin and live unto righteousness, to be meek and lowly in heart, trustful and obedient, pious and patient, loving and gentle is a task far, far beyond the poor resources of fallen human nature." - A.W. Pink

THINK

DID CHRIST DIE FOR EVERYONE?  You may think that question is absurd. Most people would agree with you. Everybody knows that "God loves all men, Christ died for all men, and the Holy Spirit is striving to save all men?" But could it be that those things are not so? If you will examine the Word of God you will discover that none of those things are so.

God does not love all people (Rom. 9:13). If he did, no one would go to hell! Christ does not pray for all men (John 17:9, 20). If he did, none would perish! Christ did not die for all men (Isa. 53:8). If he did, none would be required to suffer for their sins! The Holy Spirit is not trying to save all sinners (Acts 16:6). If he were, all would be saved!

THINK! Don't blindly accept the traditions and doctrines of men. Your soul is at stake! The glory of God is at stake! If Christ died for the sins of all men, then none shall be lost; all the sins of all men must be forgiven; or Christ is a failure! If the Son of God died for some of the sins of all men, then all men must perish forever, because none can make atonement for sin. BUT IF, as the Scriptures everywhere assert, Christ died for all the sins of some men (God's elect), then all for whom he died must be saved. His blood was not shed in vain. Justice, being satisfied, demands that all for whom atonement has been made must be saved.

"Payment God cannot twice demand,  First at my bleeding Surety's hand, And then again at mine!"

Donald S. Fortner, Pastor
GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH OF DANVILLE
2734 Old Stanford Road
Danville, Kentucky 40422

FREEWILL RELIGION

"Freewillism is that doctrine that says, “God loves you, Christ died for you, and the Holy Spirit is calling you; but it will all be vain unless you choose to be saved.” Freewillism makes the determining factor in salvation to be the will of man. It makes the work of the Triune God and the grace of God to be impotent without the consent of man’s “freewill.” Freewill religion is in direct opposition to the gospel of the free grace of God. The Bible declares that salvation is not accomplished, determined by, or dependent upon the will of man, but by the will of God (John 1:12-13; Rom. 9:16). The word “freewill”, when used with reference to salvation is a blasphemous obscenity!"

- Don Fortner taken from, "Damnable Heresies."