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 

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