Irresistible Grace - Part-2

The Sovereign Work of the Holy Spirit in the soul PRECEDES all holy exercises of the heart—such as sorrow for sin, faith in Christ, love toward God. ‪ It is by the secret and effectual operation of the Spirit that the Father brings each of His elect to a saving knowledge of Christ. No sinner ever comes to Christ until the Holy Spirit first comes to him! And no sinner will savingly believe on Christ until the Spirit has first communicated faith to him (Ephesians 2:5, 8; Colossians 2:12); and even then, faith is an eye to discern Christ before it is a foot to approach Him. There can be no act without an object, and there can be no exercising of faith upon Christ till Christ is seen in His excellency, sufficiency and suitability to poor sinners. “They that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee” (Psalm 9:10). #‎irresistiblegrace #reformed #reformedtheology #grace #love #faith #god #jesus #hope #bible #believe #pray #peace #prayer #christian #jesuschrist #amen #blessed Paradise Church - Saturday Bible Study Time: September 10th, 2022 11:00 AM IST Topic: Irresistible Grace Speaker: Br. Praveen Jannu For more information please contact us : Br. Vasanth:9490313271/ Br. Prakash: 8341453718.

TURE GOSPEL DIVIDES FAMILIES

TURE GOSPEL DIVIDES FAMILIES

Jesus's words bring division into the families.

The Lord began His ministry even until He comes again, the preaching of the truth will continue to divide families!

Genesis 1:4  - "And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness." "And God saw the light that it was good, and God divided between the light and the darkness."

Luke 12:51-53 - Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, 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 daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” 

The Lord said emphatically that this was one of the reasons why He came. When He sent out His twelve apostles to preach, He cautioned them beforehand saying the same words.

We hardly hear this kind of message…. The fact is Christ divides families is NOT an EXCEPTION, but the RULE.

Let’s see a few more Bible verses Matthew10:36  - a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.

Nowhere in the scripture does our Lord promise to save all the family members or complete family. 

Starting from the book of Genesis

In Adam’s family he has two sons Cain and Abel out of them God loved only Able.

We can see the division of the family -     1 John3:12  Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered.

In Noah’s Family Ham the younger one is not saved - Genesis 9:22-24

Abraham’s two sons—Ishmael, the elder, and Isaac the younger.  Romans 9 :13“ Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”  - Malachi 1:2, 3

Brother shall betray brother to death, and fathers shall betray their own children. And children shall rise against their parents and cause their deaths. - Matthew10:21

Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. John 15:20

When the true born of spirit fallows the master with all his soul and heart, he/ she will definitely face persecution and hatred. If he/she tries to compromise the truth, we will escape persecution. 

CHRIST BRINGS DIVISION

DIVISION IS INEVITABLE 

The Lord said He came to seek and save His lost sheep, and His sheep are scattered in ‘families’ both Christian and non-Christian. So when the Lord calls out His sheep out of these families the DIVISION IS INEVITABLE.

"A man’s foes shall be they of his own household" [Matt. 10:36].

The ‘man’ in this passage is the Lord’s sheep whom He has chosen to save as opposed to the rest of his family whom he hath chosen not to save. He says "five in ONE HOUSE SHALL BE DIVIDED, three against two, and two against three." At times the Lord may choose to save two or even three in a family of five, but NOWHERE in the Scripture does the Lord promise to save the whole family!

Was it not so from the beginning? 

1) Adam had two sons – Cain and Abel. God loved Abel, but Cain was of the wicked one [1 John 3:12].

2) Noah found grace in God’s eyes and was therefore saved. But were all of Noah’s family ‘children of God’? No! Ham the younger son of Noah proved to be wicked! [Gen 9:22-24].

3) The same with the sons of Issac, one was loved of God the other was hated. “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, and I hated Esau’! [Mal 1:2,3]

4) 1 Samuel 3: 14 And therefore I have sworn unto the HOUSE OF ELI, that the iniquity of Eli's HOUSE SHALL NOT be purged with sacrifice nor offering forever.

5) 1 Cor 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that FLESH and BLOOD CAN NOT inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

The point being this: God has no grandchildren! Only Children! Preachers who baptize their children ASSUMING that they too are chosen to be saved have not fully understood and grasped the Sovereignty of God in Salvation!  A.W. Pink rightly affirms –“the taking place of the new birth is “NOT OF BLOODd” that is to say, it is not a matter of heredity, for regeneration does not run in the veins”!

You cannot contend that God wants the whole family saved and YET DO JUSTICE to the Lord’s words which emphatically teach that the GOSPEL DIVIDES FAMILIES!!

6) He says in Matt 10:21 "And the BROTHER SHALL DELIVER UP BROTHER to death, and the FATHER THE CHILD; and the CHILDREN SHALL RISE UP AGAINST THEIR PARENTS, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated by all men for My name’s sake; but he that endureth till the end shall be saved [Matt 10:21,22].

And where does Jesus word bring division?

Luke 12:51-53

"For from HENCEFORTH there shall be five in ONE HOUSE DIVIDED, three against two, and two against three. 

a) The father shall be divided against the son, and

b) the son against the father;

c) the mother against the daughter,

d) and the daughter against the mother;

e) the mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law,

f) and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law 

Note the words ‘FROM HENCEFORTH’ which means from the time the Lord began His ministry even until He comes again, the PREACHING OF TRUTH WILL CONTINUE TO DIVIDE FAMILIES!!!

The Lord said emphatically that this was one of the reasons why He came. When He sent out His twelve apostles to preach, He cautioned them beforehand saying the same words: "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came NOT TO SEND PEACE, but A SWORD. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me" [Mt. 10:34-37].

Beloved, the fact that Christ DIVIDES THE FAMILIES IS NOT AN EXCEPTION, BUT A RULE.

7) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever! [Heb13:8]. The Lord has not changed and neither will the effects caused by His words ever change! In his letter to the Galatians, the Apostle affirms, “But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, EVEM SONIT IS NOW”! [Gal 4:29].

The Christian is one who is born after the Spirit. And almost every ‘born-again’ child of God when he initially becomes a Christian has testified of the hatred that he felt from his family and loved ones. He is then glad to relate to his Master’s Words, “The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” [John 15:20].

This persecution and hatred is only experienced by those who are making every effort to live like their Master! But if we are unfaithful by hiding our light under a bushel and are compromising the truth by attempting to serve two masters then we can successfully escape “the reproach of Christ”! He was hated by the world and has called us to fellowship with His sufferings. And it is only, “All those who live godly in Christ Jesus who suffer persecution! [2Tim 3;12].

Please look at

8) Mark 6:3-4

 "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And THEY WERE OFFENDED AT HIM.

But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is NOT without honour, but in his own country, and AMONG HIS OWN KIN, and IN HIS OWN HOUSE. "

Isn't this a family division?

9) Then one said unto Him, Behold, Thy mother and Thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with Thee.

But He answered and said unto him that told him, Who is My mother? and who are My brethren?

And He STRETCHED FORTH HIS HAND toward His disciples, and said, Behold My mother and My brethren!

For whosoever shall do the will of My Father which is in heaven, the same is My brother, and sister, and mother.

Here, did not Jesus offended His physical mother? 

10) John 7:5

"His brethren, therefore, said unto Him, DEPART HENCE, and go into Judaea, that Thy disciples also may see the works that Thou doest.

For there is no man that doeth anything in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If Thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.

For NEITHER DID HIS BRETHREN BELIEVE IN HIM."

Do you not see this as separation in Jesus's own family?

All the above verses are related to divisions in the family because of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.

I have shown you and taught you what I firmly believe for last 25 years, and I do not boast in this but to let you know God has preserved me from error and given me integrity.

As I say it again, the family division is not optional nor exceptional BUT THIS IS a MANDATORY RULE and PATTERN for every disciple of Jesus. This is the cross that Jesus wants us to carry throughout our lives.

By Brother Praveen 

TURE GOSPEL DIVIDES FAMILIES

 TURE GOSPEL DIVIDES FAMILIES 

Jesus' words bring division into the families. 

The Lord began His ministry even until He comes again, the preaching of the truth will continue to divide families! 

Genesis 1:4 "And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness." "And God saw the light that it was good, and God divided between the light and the darkness."

Luke 12:51-53 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, THREE AGAINST TWO AND TWO AGAINST THREE. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

The Lord said emphatically that this was one of the reasons why He came. When He sent out His twelve apostles to preach, He cautioned them beforehand saying the same words.

We hardly hear this kind of message…. The fact is Christ divides families is NOT an EXCEPTION, but the RULE.

Let’s see a few more Bible verses Matthew 10:36  - a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household. 

Nowhere in the scripture does our Lord promise to save all the family members or complete family.  

Starting from the book of Genesis- 

In Adam’s family he has two sons Cain and Abel out of them God loved only Able.

We can see the division of the family -     1 John 3:12  Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered. 

In Noah’s Family Ham the younger one is not saved - Genesis 9:22-24

Abraham’s two sons—Ishmael, the elder, and Isaac the younger.  Romans 9:13“ Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”  - Malachi 1:2, 3 

Brother shall betray brother to death, and fathers shall betray their own children. And children shall rise against their parents and cause their deaths. - Matthew 10:21

Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. John 15:20

When the true born of spirit fallows the master with all his soul and heart, he/ she will definitely face persecution and hatred. If we try to compromise the truth, we will escape persecution.

Types of Calvinism

Types of Calvinism (Points 1 to 9): 

1) Total Hyper-Calvinism 

They reject duty-faith, well-meant offer of gospel, common grace, any love for the reprobate by God, universal preaching of the gospel.  

God is the author of sin and man has no responsibility before God, the Gospel should only be preached to the elect; They are usually anti-evangelistic or sometimes restrictive.

They believe in eternal justification, active reprobation, that God works ends without means, Providence and moral responsibility are incompatible, Determinism (ends up in fatalism in practice), Supralapsarianism and selective evangelism 

Hyper-Calvinism therefore can be defined as believing in any one of these:

• God is the author of sin and evil 
• Human beings have absolutely no will whatsoever 
• Individuals are not responsible for their own decisions and actions 
• Justification occurs in eternity, not in time 
• God does not command all people to repent of sin 
• Not everyone is required to believe upon Christ Jesus for salvation 
• God creates unbelief in the hearts of the non-elect 
• Assurance of election must be sought prior to repentance and faith 
• Election is evident simply by a profession of faith, regardless of sanctification (antinomianism) 
• Saving faith is equivalent to believing predestination (only “Calvinists” are Christians) 
• Limited atonement must be believed in order to hear the gospel and be saved 
• Evangelism is unnecessary, or even wrong 
• God has no love whatsoever for humanity in His providence (common grace)

 2) Partial Hyper-Calvinism: 

They reject common grace and well-meant offer of the gospel, any love for the reprobate by God, universal preaching of the gospel, sometimes duty-faith.  

They believe in some form of eternal justification (not strongly though), active reprobation, no love for the reprobate by God, hardest version of determinism, supralapsarianism and restricted evangelism.  

3) Ultra High Calvinism 

Denies the Well– Meant Offer, Common Grace, and the idea that God has any love for the non-elect.   

They believe that the elect are in some sense eternally justified, believe in double predestination (determinism), supralapsarianism, Universal preaching of the gospel, many times active reprobation, little to no love for the reprobate by God, duty-faith.  

4) High Calvinism 

Most deny the Well-Meant Offer, Common Grace and the idea that God has any love for the non-elect (That God in NO sense desires to save the reprobate).   

Most are Supralapsarian viewing God’s decrees. Double destination. All hold to limited atonement. Most believe in particular grace and see the atonement as sufficient only for the elect. All believe redemption is applied by legal imputation.  

5) Moderate Calvinism 

That God does in some sense desires to save the reprobate, Infralapsarian in viewing God’s decrees. 

Affirms Common Grace, Most believe redemption is applied by faith. They usually believe in well-meant offer of the gospel, universal preaching of the gospel, Non-salvific love for the reprobate by God.  

6) Lower Moderate Calvinism

Mostly they believe in Infralapsarianism, or sometimes without any lapsarian position, believe in common grace and well-meant offer of the gospel, universal preaching of the gospel, Non-salvific love for the reprobate, sometimes salvific love, mostly single predestination and sometimes double destination.  

7) Low Calvinism  

That Christ died for all in a legal sense, so one can speak of Christ dying for the non-elect. That God has two distinct wills. Affirms the Well-Meant Offer and Common Grace. Mostly Infralapsarian or without any lapsarian view, universal preaching of the gospel, many times believe in salvific love for the non-elect, softer forms of double predestination  

8) Lowest Calvinism

Mostly without any lapsarian view, believe in common grace and well-meant offer of the gospel, salvific love for the non-elect, single predestination only. 

 9) Amyraldism (4 point Calvinism)

Mostly without any lapsarian view, Salvific grace for all, general atonement, common grace and usually love for all people, usually some form of election, single predestination only.   

10) Arminianism: 

That God has given man libertarian freedom, that God’s knowledge of future is solely based on His foreknowledge. That Christ died for all and desires all to be saved. A person can fall from the state of grace i.e. lose ones salvation, since it is our free will that chooses Christ at conversion.

Note: The last point, 'arminianism' is not to be considered as any part of Calvinism. 

I believe in High-Calvinism.

#typesofcalvinism, #pjannu #HighCalvinism #Arminianism

HAVE YOU BELIEVED A FALSE GOSPEL?

How I Distinguish Between the Gospel and False Gospels

HAVE YOU BELIEVED A FALSE GOSPEL? 

Jesus said, "Take heed that no one deceives you, for many false christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect" (Mt 24:4, 24). How can you know if you are the victim of a false gospel. By testing it with God's Word. 

Given below is a checklist for you to checkout.              

1. If the preacher, you're listening  to speaks mainly on God's love, His blessings, health, wealth and prosperity etc. He is preaching a false gospel. The true gospel lays emphasis on sin, repentance, hell, damnation and the Judgement day, which the majority don't want to hear about (Read II Tim 4:2-4). 

2. Do all men speak well of the preacher you're listening to? Do political ministers and bishops of the Roman Catholic faith speak well of him and assist him in his meetings? Then he is a false prophet and he is preaching a false gospel. The Lord Jesus said, "Woe unto you when all men speak well of you, for so did, their fathers to the false prophets"(Lk 6:26, Jam 4:4). 

3. Does the preacher ask for "Seed-faith offerings"? Does he promise special healings and financial miracles for those who send him money? If so, then he is preaching a give-to-get gospel which appeals to your greed. The Bible warns of preachers who teach that godliness is a means of gain, from such withdraw yourself. As a Christian our motive for giving should be gratitude and not greed.(Read I Tim 6:5-10). 

4. Carefully examine the miracles and signs performed by the preacher in the light of God's word. 

(a) Do people fall down when the preacher lays his hands on them? Are they 'Slain in the spirit '?If so, this is unbiblical, for the Bible   says that our spirits are subject to us and God has given us a spirit of self control. I Cor 14:32, II Tim 1:7).The Holy Spirit does not over rule our spirits and knock us down, for He is gentle. Therefore the spirit that knocks people down in meetings is NOT of God.

(b) Do people start laughing beyond their control when the preacher 1ays hands on them (Holy laughter)? If so, this is demonic and has nothing to do with the Spirit of God. Jesus said "Woe unto you that laugh, for you shall weep. (Lk 6:25, Jam 4:9). 

(c) Does the preacher call out names of people and reveal their affairs? 

This practice is not of God. Don't be impressed if the preacher calls out your name and reveals your affairs. Any fortune teller with a spirit of divination can do the same but the Lord has not appointed such for us! (Acts 16:16, 17, Deut 18:14). 

    Dear Friend, if you are part of a church or ministry that has the above characteristics then you need to come out of it. This is God's command. "Come out of her my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues"(Rev 18:4). Read Revelation chapters 2&3, and you will see that God's judgement is going to fall on the churches who have been unfaithful to Him and His word. 

It is not enough to say that you love Jesus, and then attend regular Sunday service and a weekly Bible study. If you really love Him, then start living for Him. Get involved in His work. Tell others about Him. Don't just preach the truth, but preach against the lie too (Eph 5:11). Genuine Salvation exposes the false message of salvation.

If you are a Hindu or a Muslim or a Roman Catholic come out of it, follow Jesus Christ and warn people who are still in it to come out of it too. Remember, if your message or life does not offend any body you are probably not God's child (In 15:19,20, I1 Tim 3:12).  

If you are still trying to please men and not offend any body like so many 'pastors' and false prophets, then you should not claim to be the servant of Christ (Gal 1:10). 

Friend, be hot or be cold, but please don't be lukewarm (Rev 3:15,16). The Word of God admonishes us to contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints (Jude 3). If this tract has stirred your conscience and you truly want to follow Jesus and live for Him, then we would like to help you. 

We love you in Jesus.

Why we reject that God is the Author of Sin!

God is NOT the Author of Sin!

There are those who ask the question “Is not God the author of sin” out of curiosity. There are others who ask this question for the sake of encouraging a debate or discussion on the matter, not that they are convinced in themselves that God IS the author of sin; but there are others, not a few, who assert that God IS the author of sin! This to them is an ‘orthodox doctrine’, and if you differ they will even go so far as to call you an Antichrist! The article I have penned above is actually the outcome of such an accusation.

These who assert that God is the  author of sin are pretty set in their delusion (for delusion it is) and they will not listen to any other view on the matter. The attitude being – “My mind is made up, don’t confuse me with the facts”!

Their only defense is – “If the Bible says that God created all things, then He created sin too”! “It stands to reason, they say” and thus bow before the ‘god of reason’! Like the Jehovah’s Witnesses who just don’t see how the Lord Jesus can be both God and man at the same time. Reason, rationality and logic are all very good and have their place. But the Mighty Jehovah and His ways cannot be discovered or understood by these!

“Canst thou by SEARCHING find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty UNTO PERFECTION? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? Deeper than hell; what canst thou know? The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea”. [Job 11:7-9]

“Lo, these are PARTS OF HIS WAYS: but how little a portion is heard of Him? but the thunder of His power who can understand”?  [Job 26:14]

There was a time when I used to wonder WHY God did not say things a little more plainly in the Scriptures. Why did He allow SEEMING contradictions in His Word? Like with the issue on hand, why did He not just put a verse in there somewhere that says, “I am not the author of sin”! This would have made life so easy for us who contend earnestly for the faith.

But it is only since a few years I am beginning to see more plainly that God wrote the Bible with one purpose in mind – to SAVE HIS ELECT AND TO CONFUSE AND DAMN THE REPROBATE!

When the disciples asked the Master why He spoke things in parables rather than just say things PLAINLY, He said – “Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them”. [Mark 4:11,12]

But there is ANOTHER reason why God wrote the Bible the way it is written; and that is  – “there MUST BE ALSO HERESIES among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you”. [1Cor 11:19]. How can there be ‘heresies’ if everything was plain and there were no verses which SEEMINGLY contradict the truth?!

Boettner was right when he said – “The Bible is NOT a work on Systematic Theology, but only the QUARRY out of which the stone for such a temple can be obtained”. You can tell me ANY cardinal doctrine of the Christian faith and I’ll show you at least a couple of verses that seem to teach the EXACT OPPOSITE!

Do you believe in the Holy Trinity? Why, my Bible tells me that ‘But to us there is but ONE GOD, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him’ [1Cor8:6]

Do you believe that salvation is by Faith alone? My Bible tells me that ‘BY WORKS a man is justified, and NOT BY FAITH ONLY’. [Jam 2:24]

Are you contending that the ‘Pentecostals’ are wrong and that ‘tongues’ are not for today? My Bible says – “I would that ye ALL spake with tongues”! And “FORBID NOT to speak with tongues” etc. [1Cor 14:5,39]

But you see ‘Doctrine’ is not built on a stray verse here and there, but by the PREPONDERANCE OF SCRIPTURE. What is the overall, dominating teaching of the Scriptures on a given subject? And if a verse or two seem to teach the opposite, we don’t pit Scripture against Scripture but harmonize the seemingly opposing verse or wait till God gives us further light.

Many untaught minds reject the doctrine of Election, because according to them, it would be unjust for God to save only a few and pass by the others. But we who have our understanding enlightened by the grace of God know that God does not owe man anything. He would be just if He sent us all to Hell, because we are a condemned race, already tried and condemned in our head – Adam!

And we who reject the teaching that God is ‘the author of sin’, do so, not because we are blind or deluded as the Arminian; but because we are persuaded that “surely GOD WILL NOT DO WICKEDLY, neither will the Almighty PERVERT JUDGMENT”. “Shall not the Judge of all the earth DO RIGHT”? [Gen 18:25]

To take an innocent unfallen Adam, infuse sin into him and ‘make him to sin’ and then condemn him and his posterity to an unimaginable Hell Fire for all ETERNITY, is NOT THE NATURE OF THE GOD WE HAVE COME TO KNOW!

As the Apostle affirms – “This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in HIM IS NO DARKNESS AT ALL”! [1John 1:5]

We cannot conceive of a thrice Holy God who is ‘All day long stretching forth His hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people’ to repent [Rom 10:21], while at the same time infusing sin into them and making them disobedient!

There ARE mysteries in the Bible. How God can become a man and be God at the same time is a mystery. It is called the ‘great mystery of Godliness’ [1Tim 3:16]. In like manner the origin of sin is a mystery! Scripture in one place calls it ‘the mystery of iniquity’ [2Thes 2:7]. God has deemed it best not to reveal its origin, nor has He claimed to be the Author of it! The best minds in divinity have searched this out for centuries and come to the conclusion, that GOD IS NOT THE AUTHOR OF SIN, though He has decreed it, permitted it in His universe and channels it to His glory!

Those who charge God with this folly only REPROACH AND BLASHEME GOD, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God! And the Day is coming when He shall ask of them – “WHO hath required this at your hand”?! And He will charge them with the same charge as he did Job’s ‘friends’ – ‘Ye have not spoken of Me THE THING THAT IS RIGHT”! [Job 42:7]

#Sin #GodisNOTtheAuthorofSin

REPROBATION!

THERE CAN BE NO ELECTION WITHOUT ITS OPPOSITE, REPROBATION!

You have heard of the truth of ‘Election’ and ‘Predestination’ and rejoice in it, but what of ‘Reprobation’? There are those who say, “We have not so much as heard whether there be such a thing as ‘Reprobation’! Well, THERE IS, and the Scripture has much to say about it, as we shall see.

The Church of the Lord Jesus was meant to be the “pillar and ground of the truth” [I Tim. 3:15]. And just as He came to bear witness to the truth, even so, the ministers of God are commanded to preach the whole truth which is synonymous to sound doctrine. Like everything else sound doctrine has two sides to it, the sweet and the bitter. When the Word of God says that, “men will not endure sound doctrine” [II Tim. 4:3], it usually means the bitter side of sound doctrine. Men generally will most eagerly welcome the doctrine of election but will not endure its opposite i.e., reprobation. They will eagerly welcome a doctrine which emphasizes the Lord’s blessings but will want nothing to do with one that demands the cost of discipleship.

There are those who not only ignore the doctrine of reprobation but at times out-rightly deny it. Take John MacArthur, Jr., for instance, he says,

“You’ll never find any place in the Bible that God sends people to hell, you’ll never find any place in the Bible that God damns people. If men choose to go to hell, they go there because they pronounce their own sentence in rejecting Jesus Christ” (Tape GC 1746).

Well, that is true, but it is only a part of the truth. It is the truth from the human side. But  there is a divine side too, and this side of the truth needs to be stressed or God will be robbed of His glory.

THERE CAN BE NO ELECTION WITHOUT ITS OPPOSITE, REPROBATION.

The very terms “elect” and “Election” imply the terms “non-elect” and “Reprobation”. Every choice, evidently and necessarily implies a refusal, for where there is no leaving out there can be no choice. If there be some whom God has elected unto salvation [II Thess. 2:13], there must be others who are not elected unto salvation. If there be some who are not appointed unto wrath [I Thess. 5:9], there must be others who are appointed to wrath. The scripture speaks of those who stumble at the word, being disobedient, whereunto also they were appointed [I Pet. 2:8].

Though the doctrine of reprobation is offensive to the carnal mind, there are those who are compelled to admit that the Bible does teach reprobation, only because there are explicit verses that establish this fact. But they subtly adulterate this biblical truth by speaking of it only as a judicial act of God. In other words, God, they say only hardens and reprobates those who have rejected His truth. Once again consider the words of MacArthur,

John MacArthur wrote:

“Those who perish and go to hell, go because they are depraved and worthy only of hell and have rejected the only remedy, Jesus Christ; not because they were created for hell and predetermined to go there.”

[MacArthur’s Commentary Bible 2 Peter 3:9].

While speaking on the doctrine of Reprobation, one fact needs to be established. i.e. that THE CAUSE OF THE DIVINE DECREE OF REPROBATION IS NOT TO BE FOUND IN ANYTHING ELSE OTHER THAN THE SOVEREIGN GOOD PLEASURE OF GOD. I quote below a commentary on Romans 9:18-20 by A.W. Pink.

A.W. Pink wrote:

“Therefore hath He mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whom He will He hardeneth”. The “therefore” announces the general conclusion which the apostle draws from all he had said in the three preceding verses in denying that God was unrighteous in loving Jacob and hating Esau, and specifically it applies the principle exemplified in God’s dealings with Pharaoh. It traces everything back to the sovereign will of the Creator. He loves one and hates another, He exercises mercy toward some and hardens others, without reference to anything save His own sovereign will.

That which is most repellant to the carnal mind in the above verse is the reference to hardening—”Whom He will He hardeneth”—and it is just here that so many commentators and expositors have adulterated the truth. The most common view is that the apostle is speaking of nothing more than judicial hardening, i.e., a forsaking by God because these subjects of His displeasure had first rejected His truth and forsaken Him. Those who contend for this interpretation appeal to such scriptures as Rom. 1:19-26—”God gave them up”, that is (see context) those who “knew God” yet glorified Him not as God (v. 21). Appeal is also made to II Thess. 2:10-12. But it is to be noted that the word “harden” does not occur in either of these passages.

But further. We submit that Rom. 9:18 has no reference whatever to judicial “hardening”. The apostle is not there speaking of those who had already turned their backs on God’s truth, but instead, he is dealing with God’s sovereignty, God’s sovereignty as seen not only in showing mercy to whom He wills, but also in hardening whom He pleases. The exact words are “Whom He will”—not “all who have rejected His truth”—”He hardeneth”, and this, coming immediately after the mention of Pharaoh, clearly fixes their meaning. The case of Pharaoh is plain enough, though man by his glosses has done his best to hide the truth.

“Therefore hath He mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whom He will he hardenteth”. This affirmation of God’s sovereign “hardening” of sinners’ hearts—in contradistinction from judicial hardening—is not alone. Mark the language of John 12:37-40, “But though He had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on Him: that the saying of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? And to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe (why?), because that Isaiah said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their hearts (WHY? Because they had refused to believe on Christ? This is the popular belief, but mark the answer of scripture) that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.”

Now, reader, it is just a question as to whether or not you will believe what God has revealed in His Word. It is not a matter of prolonged searching or profound study, but a childlike spirit which is needed, in order to understand this doctrine of Sovereign Reprobation.

Before we close we propose to quote from the writings of some of the standard theologians since the days of the Reformation, not that we would buttress our own statements by an appeal to human authority, however venerable or ancient, but in order to show that WHAT WE HAVE ADVANCED ABOVE IS NO NOVELTY OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY, NO HERESY OF THE ‘LATTER DAYS’ BUT, INSTEAD, A DOCTRINE WHICH HAS BEEN DEFINITELY FORMULATED AND COMMONLY TAUGHT BY MANY OF THE MOST PIOUS AND SCHOLARLY STUDENTS OF HOLY WRIT.

Martin Luther is his most excellent work “De Servo Arbitrio” (Free will a Slave), wrote: “All things whatsoever arise from, and depend upon, the Divine appointments, whereby it was preordained who should receive the Word of Life, and who should disbelieve it, who should be delivered from their sins, and who should be hardened in them, who should be justified and who should be condemned. This is the very truth which razes the doctrine of freewill from its foundations, to wit, that God’s eternal love of some men and hatred of others is immutable and cannot be reversed.”

John Fox, whose Book of Martyrs was once the best known work in the English language (alas that it is not so today, when Roman Catholicism is sweeping upon us like a great destructive tidal wave!), wrote:—”Predestination is the eternal decreement of God, purposed before in Himself, what should befall all men, either to salvation, or damnation”.

John Bunyan, author of “The Pilgrim’s Progress,” wrote a whole volume on “Reprobation”. From it we make one brief extract:—”Reprobation is before the person cometh into the world, or hath done good or evil. This is evidenced by Romans 9:11. Here you find twain in their mother’s womb, and both receiving their destiny, not only BEFORE they had done good or evil, but before they were in a capacity to do it, they being yet unborn—their destiny, I say, the one unto, the other not unto the blessing of eternal life; the one elect, the other reprobate; the one chosen, the other refused”. In his “Sighs from Hell”, John Bunyan also wrote: “They that do continue to reject and slight the Word of God are such, for the most part, as are ORDAINED TO BE DAMNED”.

Commenting upon Romans 9:22, “What if God willing to shew His wrath, and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction” Jonathan Edwards (Vol. 4, p. 306—1743 A.D.) says, “How awful doth the majesty of God appear in the dreadfulness of His anger! This we may learn to be one end of the damnation of the wicked.”

Augustus Toplady, author of “Rock of Ages” and other sublime hymns, wrote: “God, from all eternity decreed to leave some of Adam’s fallen posterity in their sins, and to exclude them from the participation of Christ and His benefits”. And again; “We, with the Scriptures, assert: That there is a predestination of some particular persons to life, for the praise of the glory of Divine grace; and also a predestination of other particular persons to death for the glory of Divine justice—which death of punishment they shall inevitably undergo, and that justly, on account of their sins

George Whitefield, that stalwart of the eighteenth century, used by God in blessing to so many, wrote: “Without doubt, the doctrine of election and reprobation must stand or fall together. . . . I frankly acknowledge I believe the doctrine of Reprobation, that God intends to give saving grace, through Jesus Christ, only to a certain number; and that the rest of mankind, after the fall of Adam, being justly left of God to continue in sin, will at last suffer that eternal death which is its proper wages.

John Calvin wrote in his ‘Institutes’ – “Predestination we call the decree of God, by which He has determined in Himself, what He would have to become of every individual of mankind. For they are not all created with a similar destiny: but eternal life is foreordained for some, and eternal damnation for others. Every man, therefore, being created for one or the other of these ends, we say, he is predestinated either to life or to death”

“Fitted to destruction” (Rom. 9:22). After declaring this phrase admits of two interpretations, Dr. Hodge—perhaps the best known and most widely read commentator on Romans—says, “The other interpretation assumes that the reference is to God and that the Greek word for ‘fitted’ has its full participle force; PREPARED (by God) FOR DESTRUCTION.” This, says Dr. Hodge, “Is adopted not only by the majority of Augustinians, but also by many Lutherans”.

Were it necessary we are prepared to give quotations from the writings of Wycliffe, Huss, Ridley, Hooper, Cranmer, Ussher, John Trapp, Thomas Goodwin, Thomas Manton (Chaplain to Cromwell), John Owen, Witsius, John Gill (predecessor of Spurgeon), and a host of others. We mention this simply to show that many of the most eminent saints in bye-gone days, the men most widely used of God, held and taught this doctrine which is so bitterly hated in these last days, when men will no longer “endure sound doctrine”; hated by men of lofty pretensions, but who, notwithstanding their boasted orthodoxy and much advertised piety, are not worthy to unfasten the shoes of the faithful and fearless servants of God of other days.

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counsellor? or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory forever, Amen” (Rom. 11:33-36).

[Much of the above is paraphrased and quoted from A.W. Pink’s ‘The Sovereignty of God’ – Baker publications]

#elect #reprobation #sin #siner #reprobrate #sovereigntyofgod #sovereignty

Limited Atonement - Scripture Proofs:

Limited Atonement - Scripture Proofs:

1. Primary references. 

    a. Matthew 1:21. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 

Notice here the emphasis on "his people." They are the ones Jesus saves and no others. Whoever they may be (and the Scriptures teach us in other places that they are the elect), they are a limited and particular number of persons. But notice also the emphasis on the fact that He does save them. He does not merely make salvation available but saves them from their sins entirely. Most important of all is the fact that these are the reasons why He is called JESUS. To deny either of these things is to deny His very name and the meaning of His name. 

    b. Isaiah 53:11. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 

    c. Matthew 20:28. Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. 

    d. Matthew 26:28. For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sin. 

    e. Hebrews 9:28. So Christ was once offered to bear the sin of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. 

All four of these texts show that Christ gave His life for a select and limited number of persons and not for every single person. This is not to deny that there are also passages which speak of "all" or of the "world"; but if the Bible is indeed the infallible Word of God, then the two types of passages cannot contradict each other, and either it must be shown that "many" somehow does mean "every single person," or it must be shown that "all" and "world" do not necessarily refer to every single person living or who has lived. Isaiah 53:11 and Matthew 26:28 also use this language. 

It might be noted here, too, that the Scriptures speak of this "many" for whom Christ gave His life in connection with the fact that that gift of His life was a satisfaction and justification for those for whom He died, a ransom that actually purchases them out of the slavery of sin and death, and that it actually remits sin, i.e., sends it away. 

    f. John 6:37-39. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 

This passage also says that Christ actually loses none of those for whom He does His work. It is not as though Christ comes for all and yet loses many who slip away or do not believe. If He had lost even one of those for whom He came, He would not have done the Father's will, and His work would not even have been approved of God. This, by the way, also shows that it was not even God's will that Christ should die for or make salvation possible for all men. 

Here again the ones for whom He comes and does His work are those given Him by the Father, that is, the elect, those chosen by God before the foundations of the world. 

This passage is also valuable because it gives clear guidance as to how the word "all" is used in the Scriptures. We must not forget that it is not only used here but further defined as "all whom the Father giveth me." The "all" for whom Christ died, as this passage shows so clearly, never includes anyone but "all" the elect. 

    g. John 10:14, 15. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 

This passage not only teaches limited atonement by its emphasis on the sheep as the ones for whom Christ died, but it teaches very plainly what we have previously called "particular" atonement in that it tells us that Christ knows His sheep in the same way that the Father knows Him and He knows the Father, i.e., personally and by name. If this is true and if He laid down His life for those whom He knows personally, then He cannot have died merely so that anyone and everyone might have a chance at salvation. 

    h. John 10:26-28. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 

That He actually saves His sheep by His death, saves them all the way to heavenly glory, infallibly and completely, is taught in the verses quoted. These verses show that it is not our faith that determines whether we will profit from Christ's death, but the will of God. In other words, as Jesus tells the unbelieving Jews, it is not that they are not part of the sheep who profit from His death because they do not believe; but because they are not of His sheep, they do not believe, i.e., because He did not die for them, they do not receive the gift of faith which He purchases for us with His own blood nor any of the other blessings of salvation. 

    i. Acts 20:28. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 

This passage identifies once again those for whom the blood of Christ was shed as a limited and particular number of persons, in this case, the church. And when we remember that very often in the Scriptures the church is contrasted with the world as a group drawn and called out of it, this makes the text even more emphatic. 

    j. Isaiah 53:8. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 

    k. Luke 1:68. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people. 

Here are two more passages that define those for whom Christ gave His life as "His people" or even "My people" (God Himself speaking). Surely the wicked and unbelieving cannot be called that! 

    l. Titus 2:13, 14. Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of all good works. 

   m. Galatians 3:13. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree. 

These last passages define those who benefit from Christ's redemptive work as "us," and the word used is by its very nature exclusive rather than inclusive. 

Titus 2:13, 14 is especially significant because it not only speaks of Christ giving Himself for us but shows that those for whom He gave Himself are surely and completely saved - redeemed, purified, and zealous of good works. 

2. Passages which show that Christ's death actually and fully saves those for whom He died. 

Many of the passages quoted above demonstrate clearly that Christ's death does not make salvation just a possibility, so that it depends on our accepting it to become efficacious but that it is salvation and the guarantee of eternal life for all those for whom He died. Since this is the real issue, however, in the debate over limited atonement, we add these passages to those previously quoted. 

    a. Luke 19:10. For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. 

Notice here that Christ comes to save the lost, not just to make it possible for them to be saved, the lost being those who know themselves lost like Zacchaeus. What is especially important about this verse, though, is that it is an explanation ("For ...") of the previous verse. There Jesus says, "This day is salvation come to this house." Salvation came, therefore, to the house of Zacchaeus not because he believed but because the Son of Man comes to save. 

    b. Romans 5:8-10. But God commended therewith his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 

The point cannot be made anymore clearly than this verse makes it. We are reconciled to God by the death of Christ. That means that there is nothing anymore that is between God and us, nor can anything come between us, for having been reconciled, we shall be saved. This reference to salvation is more a reference to the final glory of God's people than to their first partaking of it, but that in no wise lessens the emphasis of the text. If anything, it makes the text even stronger, for then we have here a guarantee not only of the beginning of salvation but of eternal life itself and of heavenly glory. What is more, the passage is repeating and re-emphasizing that point, for it has already stated that we are justified by His blood (and therefore have peace with God (v. 1), and being justified shall surely be saved from wrath. The line of thought therefore is this: (1) Christ's death justifies; (2) because it justifies, it surely saves us from God's wrath; (3) therefore, there is no possibility of condemnation for anyone for whom Christ died but rather the assurance of life everlasting. 

    c I Peter 2:24. Who his ownself bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 

This passage also teaches that not only Christ's death, but also all His suffering (his stripes) have actual saving power. It is to us the death of sin and the beginning of a new life of righteousness as well as our healing. And not only is it not merely the possibility of healing, but by it we were (literally, "have been") healed.

THE ONLY TIME WHEN GOD RAN!

Do you know the only time when GOD ran..?     

But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion his father "ran" to meet him: We do not read of the "prodigal" running as he set out to return to his "father." All that is said of him is that "he arose, and came to his father." But of the "father" it is said that he "RAN"! [Luke 15:20]

Do you know dear reader, that this is the ONLY VERSE IN ALL THE BIBLE which represents God has being in a hurry! In the restoration of the ruined earth He acted orderly, we might say leisurely. In everything else but this, God is viewed as acting with calmness and deliberation, as befits One who has all eternity at His disposal. 

But here is what we term the IMPATIENCE OF DIVINE LOVE! [A.W. Pink]

It is with tears I say, that I do not deserve such a great and loving Father! And it will take more than an Eternity to understand this Love of God which passeth all knowledge and understanding! Hallelujah!

THE MEANING OF "KOSMOS" IN JOHN 3:16

 THE MEANING OF "KOSMOS" IN JOHN 3:16

A.W. Pink 

It may appear to some of our readers that the exposition we have given of John 3:16 in the chapter on "Difficulties and Objections" is a forced and unnatural one, inasmuch as our definition of the term "world" seems to be out of harmony with the meaning and scope of this word in other passages, where, to supply the world of believers (God’s elect) as a definition of "world" would make no sense. Many have said to us, "Surely, ‘world’ means world, that is, you, me, and everybody." In reply we would say: We know from experience how difficult it is to set aside the "traditions of men" and come to a passage which we have heard explained in a certain way scores of times, and study it carefully for ourselves without bias Nevertheless, this is essential if we would learn the mind of God. 

Many people suppose they already know the simple meaning of John 3:16, and therefore they conclude that no diligent study is required of them to discover the precise teaching of this verse. Needless to say, such an attitude shuts out any further light which they otherwise might obtain on the passage. Yet, if anyone will take a Concordance and read carefully the various passages in which the term "world" (as a translation of "kosmos") occurs, he will quickly perceive that to ascertain the precise meaning of, the word "world" in any given passage is not nearly so easy as is popularly supposed. 

The word "kosmos," and its English equivalent "world," is not used with a uniform significance in the New Testament. Very far from it. It is used in quite a number of different ways. Below we will refer to a few passages where this term occurs, suggesting a tentative definition in each case: 

"Kosmos" is used of the Universe as a whole: Acts 17: 24 - "God that made the world and all things therein seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth." is used of the Universe as a whole: Acts 17: 24 - "God that made the world and all things therein seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth." 

"Kosmos" is used of the earth: John 13:1; Eph. 1:4, etc., etc.- "When Jesus knew that his hour was come that He should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved His own which were in the world He loved them unto the end." "Depart out of this world" signifies, leave this earth. "According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world." This expression signifies, before the earth was founded—compare Job 38:4 etc. 

"Kosmos" is used of the world-system: John 12:31 etc. "Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the Prince of this world be cast out"— compare Matt. 4:8 and I John 5:19, R. V.

"Kosmos" is used of the whole human race: Rom. 3: 19, etc.—"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God." 

"Kosmos" is used of humanity minus believers: John 15:18; Rom. 3:6 "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you." Believers do not "hate" Christ, so that "the world" here must signify the world of unbelievers in contrast from believers who love Christ. "God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world." Here is another passage where "the world" cannot mean "you, me, and everybody," for believers will not be "judged" by God, see John 5:24. So that here, too, it must be the world of unbelievers which is in view. is used of humanity minus believers: John 15:18; Rom. 3:6 "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you." Believers do not "hate" Christ, so that "the world" here must signify the world of unbelievers in contrast from believers who love Christ. "God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world." Here is another passage where "the world" cannot mean "you, me, and everybody," for believers will not be "judged" by God, see John 5:24. So that here, too, it must be the world of unbelievers which is in view. 

"Kosmos" is used of Gentiles in contrast from Jews: Rom. 11:12 etc. "Now if the fall of them (Israel) be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them (Israel) the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their (Israel’s) fulness." Note how the first clause in italics is defined by the latter clause placed in italics. Here, again, "the world" cannot signify all humanity for it excludes Israel! 

"Kosmos" is used of believers only: John 1:29; 3:16, 17; 6:33; 12;47; I Cor. 4:9; 2 Cor. 5:19. We leave our readers to turn to these passages, asking them to note, carefully, exactly what is said and predicated of "the world" in each place. is used of believers only: John 1:29; 3:16, 17; 6:33; 12;47; I Cor. 4:9; 2 Cor. 5:19. We leave our readers to turn to these passages, asking them to note, carefully, exactly what is said and predicated of "the world" in each place. 

Thus it will be seen that "kosmos" has at least seven clearly defined different meanings in the New Testament. It may be asked, Has then God used a word thus to confuse and confound those who read the Scriptures? We answer, No! nor has He written His Word for lazy people who are too dilatory, or too busy with the things of this world, or, like Martha, so much occupied with "serving," they have no time and no heart to "search" and "study" Holy Writ! 

Should it be asked further, But how is a searcher of the Scriptures to know which of the above meanings the term "world" has in any given passage? The answer is: This may be ascertained by a careful study of the context, by diligently noting what is predicated of "the world" in each passage, and by prayer fully consulting other parallel passages to the one being studied. 

The principal subject of John 3:16 is Christ as the Gift of God. The first clause tells us what moved God to "give" His only begotten Son, and that was His great "love;" the second clause informs us for whom God "gave" His Son, and that is for, "whosoever (or, better, ‘every one’) believeth;" while the last clause makes known why God "gave" His Son (His purpose), and that is, that everyone that believeth "should not perish but have everlasting life." 

That "the world" in John 3:16 refers to the world of believers (God’s elect), in contradistinction from "the world of the ungodly" (2 Pet. 2:5), is established, unequivocally established, by a comparison of the other passages which speak of God’s "love." "God commendeth His love toward US"—the saints, Rom. 5:8. "Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth"—every son, Heb. 12:6. "We love Him, because He first loved US"—believers, I John 4:19. 

The wicked God "pities" (see Matt. 18:33). Unto the unthankful and evil God is "kind" (see Luke 6:35). The vessels of wrath He endures "with much long-suffering" (see Rom. 9:22). But "His own" God "loves"!!

#universalatonement #gospel  #kosmos #john3 #world  #godslove #allworld

Theory of a well-meant offer.

 Well-Meant Offer of the Gospel

The theory of a well-meant offer, that is, God’s offer of salvation to all humans with the desire that all humans be saved, and the heresy of universal atonement are inseparably linked. If God in the preaching desires all to be saved out of a love for them all, Christ must have died for all.

 Theologians are now pressing this truth upon nominally Reformed theologians and churches that have committed themselves to the well-meant offer. The theory of a well-meant offer necessarily implies universal atonement.

The heresy is that God loves all (with a saving love–the love that gave Jesus to the cross). The misunderstanding, if such it is, and not worse, is that one can promiscuously preach Christ, draw the elect to God, and assure elect sinners of their salvation only by preaching the well-meant offer. In fact, the gospel presents Christ to all; (externally, but seriously) calls all hearers to come to Christ for salvation; and promises salvation to all who come in a true faith. To preach promiscuously “whoever believes will be saved” does not need nor does it depend upon universal atonement. Those who will believe are the elect in the audience, whom God will draw by His inner, efficacious call as the gospel is preached.

To state the issue bluntly, preaching “whoever believes will be saved” does not require, or imply, universal atonement. It requires, and implies, atonement for whomever repents and believes. And these are the elect.

#universalatonement #gospel 

The Value of the Reprobate To God

 The Value of the Reprobate To God

The reprobate have value to God as scaffolding is valuable to a builder. They are used by God as a means to help build up and support His church throughout the ages. 

For example, unbelieving (and perhaps reprobate) daughter of Pharaoh, who was used by God to take Moses out of the Nile river, and also the unbelieving (and perhaps reprobate) teachers and instructors who were used by God to raise up that young child in all kinds of earthly wisdom and knowledge, in order to bring him to the position he got to in Egypt.

It’s the same in our age and experience: God providentially raises up many unbelievers (the majority of which are reprobate) who are used by Him to build church buildings, do the electrical installations, tarmac the driveway, and set up security systems. Also, there are many unbelieving parents raise up offspring, some of which are God’s elect (some of which are even reading this article!) who later come to repentance. An unbelieving spouse also supports a believing spouse in driving them to church (even though the unbeliever hates the gospel and never goes into the building on the Lord’s Day). 

All men are valuable to God in various ways, but not all have equal value. God is sovereign in His love and mercy: 

“[He has] mercy on whom he will have mercy” (Romans 9:15).

“I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee” (Isaiah 43:3).

An illustration in nature is seen in the corn plant—the most important part being the kernel. But the kernel is sustained and supported by various things: the roots, the stem, the leaves, and the chaff—all of which are “rejected” and burned by the farmer on the day of harvesting. The farmer only has his eye on the kernels of corn or wheat, etc.   In the same way, God has His eye of grace and salvation only upon the elect in the world that He made. He loves them only and causes all things in the earthly creation to grow, mature, and revolve around them alone:

“... for no other reason does he [i.e., God] sustain the world than to collect from it the number of the elect ...” (Francis Turretin, “Institutes of Elenctic Theology,” vol. 3, p. 42).

“The reprobate are for the purpose of the elect, as scaffolding is necessary for building the temple of God (Eph. 2:20-22). Even Cyrus, ungodly king of Persia, is called God’s ‘shepherd’ in Isaiah 44:28. Though he was a reprobate, God used him to bring Judah’s captive people back to Canaan at the end of 70 years.” (Herman C. Hanko, “Covenant Reformed News,” vol. 17, no. 2 [February 2020]).

God providentially supports and sustains the existence of the reprobate in the world through various things—sunshine, rain, families, knowledge, science, inventions, etc.—but only for the purpose of using them in His greater plan that He has for His elect church.

Soli Deo Gloria!

#elect #Reprobate #sovereigntyofGod #truth #sovereigntyofGod #scripture #faith #blessed #Bible #Faith 

Is the gospel of God’s grace in Christ to be offered to all men?”

 Is the gospel of God’s grace in Christ to be offered to all men?”

If one would be willing to change the word offer in the question into preaching then I can readily answer in the affirmative. The word offer does not fit in that context, for grace is not offered, but given. Apart from that I would have no objection to the proposition that the preaching must be a proclamation of God’s grace in Christ. (Herman Hoeksema, "A Power of God Unto Salvation," p. 76)

This controversy is not about whether the gospel should be preached to all men and that all should be called to repentance and faith and that the promise of the gospel should be made known to all. All agree to the above, but debate is over the will and desire of God in the call of the gospel. (Lau Chin Kwee, “Protestant Reformed Theological Journal,” vol. 36, no. 1 [Nov. 2002], p. 29)

Other questions and answers 

#Gospel 

Total Depravity

Questions on Total Depravity 

    

1. మనిషి ప్రాథమికంగా మంచివాడా లేక ప్రాథమికంగా చెడ్డవాడా?

Is man basically good or basically evil?

2. మనుష్యులందరూ చెడ్డవారు మరియు అవినీతిపరులా? ఏమైనా మినహాయింపులు ఉన్నాయా?

 All men are evil and corrupt? Are there any exceptions?

3. మనుషులందరూ చాలా మంచివారా?

 Are people good deep down?               

4. ప్రజలందరూ పూర్తిగా చెడిపోయారా? వ్యక్తి యొక్క ప్రతి అవయవం పాడైందా?

 Are men totally depraved? Is every faculty of the person corrupted?

5. ప్రజలందరూ తమను తాము మార్చుకోగలరా లేదా వారు కోరుకున్నప్పుడు మంచి చేయగలరా?

 Can men change themselves or still do good when they want to?

6.  కనీసం పుట్టినప్పుడు అందరూ పవిత్రులా?$

 Are men at least born pure?

7.  దేవుడు గురించి మానవుని సహజ స్వభావం ఏమిటి?

 What is the natural disposition of man toward God?

8. దేవునికి మనిషికి ఉన్న సంబంధం ఏమిటి?

 What is man’s relationship to God?

9. దేవుణ్ణి సంతోషపెట్టడానికి మనిషి ఏదైనా చేయగలడా?

 Can man then do anything to please God?

10. మనుష్యులు కనీసం దేవుణ్ణి వెతుకుతున్నారా?

 Are men at least seeking God?

11. సాధారణ మనిషి సువార్తను గ్రహించగలడా లేదా దేవుని గురించిన జ్ఞానమును తనంతట తాను తెలుసుకుని తనను తాను రక్షించుకోగలడా?

 Can the natural man comprehend the gospel or come to saving knowledge of God on his own?

12. దేవుని బహుమానమైన రక్షణను తనకు తాను అంగీకరించగలడా? మనుష్యులు దేవుణ్ణి తెలుసుకోగలడా/ఎన్నుకోగలడా లేక స్వయంగా ఆయన వద్దకు వస్తారా?

 Can men of themselves accept God’s gift of salvation? Do men choose God or come to Him on their own?

13. విశ్వాసం/నమ్మకం/పశ్చాత్తాపాన్ని ఎవరు అందిస్తారు?

 Who supplies faith/belief/repentance?

14. ప్రజలందరూ తమకు తాముగా సహాయం చేసుకోవడానికి ఏదైనా చేయగలరా?

 Can men do anything to help themselves?

15. అప్పుడు మన అతిశయాలు  ఏమవుతాయి?

 Then what becomes of our boasting?

16. మనుషులు దేవుడి చేతిలో కీలుబొమ్మలా?

 Are men mere puppets in Gods hands?

17. దేవుని దృష్టిలో నీతిమంతుడుగా  ఉన్న కనీసం ఒక నైనా లేఖనాలనుండి చూపించగలరా? లేక తన స్వంత సామర్థ్యాలతో సువార్తకు సానుకూలంగా స్పందించిన వారు ఎవరైనా ఉన్నారా?

 Can you quote from Scriptures atleast one person who is 'good' in God's expectations? or any one who positively responded to gospel with his own abilities?

ఎ) 2 పేతురు 2:5 నీతిమంతుడు మరియు నీతిని బోధించే నోవహు గురించి ఏమిటి?

18. What about Noah, who is just and preacher of righteousness 2 Pet 2:5?

బి) వినయంగా ఉండే మోషే. సంఖ్యాకాండము 12:3?

19. Moses who was humble. Numbers 12:3? 

సి) పోతీఫరు భార్య నుండి పారిపోయిన జోసెఫ్? ఆది 39:12?

20.  Joseph who ran from Potiphar's wife? Gen 39:12?

డి) ''పరిపూర్ణుడు మరియు యథార్థవంతుడు, దేవునికి భయపడి చెడును విడిచిపెట్టేవాడు'' అయిన యోబు గురించి ఎలా చెప్పాలి? యోబు 1:8

 How about Job, who is ''a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God and escheweth evil'? Job 1:8

21. "God is the Father only of those who've been born again through faith in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ." What's the error?   Is this a correct statement?

నిత్యసంకల్పం తరువాతే భవిష్యదజ్ఞానము! ఇది తారుమారు అయితే, గందరగోళం ఏంటి?

Foreordination first and then Foreknowledge. What is the wrong view if the sequence is the other way...?

Of the prodigal, Scripture says, he came to his own senses... Does this mean man hath a free will?

Does "whosoever will" indicate man's ability?

22. “Is the gospel of God’s grace in Christ to be offered to all men?”

If one would be willing to change the word offer in the question into preaching then I can readily answer in the affirmative. The word offer does not fit in that context, for grace is not offered, but given. Apart from that I would have no objection to the proposition that the preaching must be a proclamation of God’s grace in Christ. (Herman Hoeksema, "A Power of God Unto Salvation," p. 76)

This controversy is not about whether the gospel should be preached to all men and that all should be called to repentance and faith and that the promise of the gospel should be made known to all. All agree to the above, but debate is over the will and desire of God in the call of the gospel. (Lau Chin Kwee, “Protestant Reformed Theological Journal,” vol. 36, no. 1 [Nov. 2002], p. 29).

#depravity  #TotalDepravity #ReformedTheology #paradisechurch #godslove #telugumessages #god #sin