Definition of Unconditional Election from the Westminster Confession of Faith
3.5 Those of mankind that are predestinated unto life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to His eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of His will, hath chosen in Christ unto everlasting glory, out of His mere free grace and love, without any foresight of faith or good works, or perseverance in either of them, or any other thing in the creature, as conditions, or causes moving Him thereunto; and all to the praise of His glorious grace.
3.6 As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so hath He, by the eternal and most free purpose of His will, foreordained all the means thereunto. Wherefore, they who are elected being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ; are effectually called unto faith in Christ by His Spirit working in due season; are justified, adopted, sanctified, and kept by His power, through faith, unto salvation. Neither are any other redeemed by Christ, effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.
The Classic Arminian Position (Election Based on Foreknowledge)
“[God purposes] to save particular persons and to damn others, which decree rests upon the foreknowledge of God, by which he has known from eternity which persons should believe according to such an administration of the means serving to repentance and faith through his preceding grace and which should persevere through subsequent grace, and also who should not believe and persevere.” (Quoted in Carl Bangs, Arminius: A Study in the Dutch Reformation, 1971, p. 352).
The Contemporary Arminian Emphasis (Election Corporate, Not Individual):
“The point is that the election of the church is a corporate rather than an individual thing. It is not that individuals are in the church because they are elect, it is rather that they are elect because they are in the church which is the body of the elect One.” (R. T. Forster and V. P. Marston, God’s Strategy in Human History , 1973, p. 136).
“...election is a corporate category and not oriented to the choice of individuals for salvation. . . . [Election has reference to] a class of people rather than specific individuals.” (Clark Pinnock, The Grace of God and the Will of Man: A Case for Arminianism, 1990, p. 20)
The modern Arminian view on election is that the election of the church is a corporate, rather than an individual, thing. It is not that individuals are in the church because they are elect; it is rather that they are elect because they are in the church, which is the body of the elect one. If you ask an Arminian “how did you get in the church?” the answer is that they got themselves into church. Yes there is an assisting grace, but it can be resisted, and the reason they are ultimately in the church is because by faith, by a self standing, self determining, decisive choice they got themselves into the church. They conquered, in the end, their deadness in sin, with God’s assistance up to a point, but they did the decisive conquering. So then election is not of individuals, election is of the church, and it was unspecified so God did not elect particular individuals, He elected a mass and then He left it to the people to decide who would get into that mass. Election is a corporate category. It is not oriented to the choice of individuals for salvation. Election speaks of a class of people rather than specific individuals.
A Calvinist believes that the Bible teaches that individuals are chosen before the foundation of the world and they are chosen freely apart from any achievement or conditions on their part at all, even foreseen faith.
The Arminian either emphasizes that election is based on foreseen faith, or is corporate rather than individual so neither has to reckon with the fact that it’s unconditional for individuals.
Is Election Not Individual Because It Is “in Him”?
Ephesians 1:3-6
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
The phrase Arminians land on is “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world”. Many people think that He chose Christ as the elect One, and He did not choose particular individuals who would be in Christ. So if you are in Christ you are now elect, but He didn’t choose you to be in Christ. He chose Christ and you were the decisive actor in getting into Christ. The Calvinist would say those words could carry that meaning, but they also could not. It may mean that He chose us in the very natural meaning of this word “select”. No doubt God contemplates the Savior when thinking about those He will save. He saves by Jesus, He saves in Jesus, He saves in relation to Jesus. He chose (put the name of one who is born again here) in relation to Jesus. Same thing with predestination. He predestined us to adoption through Jesus. It’s through Jesus that He is bringing me to Himself.
Does “All Things” Include Our Faith?
Ephesians 1:11
In [Christ] also we have been chosen, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.
Were We Dead and Unable to Believe So That Life and Faith Had to Be Given to Us?
Ephesians 2:4-9
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
What kind of election is this? It’s grace God made us alive together with Christ. He did it. If he did it for me but not others, isn’t election individual. His grace brought me from deadness to alive. If grace raised me from the dead and enabled me to believe, God did not wait in His electing decrees to see whether I would believe on my own and thus elect me. He chose those for whom he would do this gracious work, which means He chose before they did it, which means He chose unconditionally. It is a gift. All of that saving work is a gift. If this is true then the Arminian view that election is based on our work of faith being foreknown falls to the ground, because God is providing the faith, not waiting to see if it comes to pass on the basis of which He would elect. If He provides the faith then He is choosing people before they have faith, which means He’s choosing them before they do anything to merit it or show themselves distinctive from any other believer and thus bring them to Himself.
Is Election Individual and Are We in Christ Because of God?
1 Corinthians 1:26-30
For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.
Is Election Individual?
James 2:5
Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
Is Election the Effect or the Cause of Obtaining Salvation, That Is, of Foreknown Faith?
Romans 11:1-8
Do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? “Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE.” But what is the divine response to him? “I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL.” In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God's gracious choice. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; just as it is written, “GOD GAVE THEM A SPIRIT OF STUPOR, EYES TO SEE NOT AND EARS TO HEAR NOT, DOWN TO THIS VERY DAY.”
Who Obtained What Israel Was Seeking?
Romans 9:30-33
What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith; but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone, just as it is written, "BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."
Is Election Based on Foreknown Faith or Does Faith Happen Because of Election?
Acts 13:48
When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
Do We Belong to God Because We Come to Jesus, or Do We Come to Jesus Because We Belong to God?
John 17:6-9
I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. . . . I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours.
John 6:37-39
All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.
Are We Jesus’ Sheep Because We Believe, or Do We Believe Because We Are His Sheep?
John 10:24-27
The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father's name, these testify of Me. But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”
Is Evangelism Making Sheep or Gathering Sheep?
John 10:16
I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.
Is World Missions Begetting Children of God or Gathering Children of God?
John 11:50-52
[Caiaphas said,] “it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.” Now he did not say this on his own initiative, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.
Acts 18:9-10
And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city.”
Did God Choose Us Because He Knows We Will Come, or Do We Come Because He Chose to Give Us the Will to Come?
John 6:44, 65
“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. . . .” And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”
Acts 16:14
A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.
Is Election Based on Foreknown Faith or Is Faith the Effect of Election?
Romans 8:28-33
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies.
Is Election Individual and Unconditional and Dealing with Eternal Destiny?
Romans 9:1-23
I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen. But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; nor are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants, but: “THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED.” That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants. For this is the word of promise: “AT THIS TIME I WILL COME, AND SARAH SHALL HAVE A SON.” And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God's purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, it was said to her, “THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER.” Just as it is written, “JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED.” What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.” So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH.” So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires. You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?” On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it? Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use? What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory.
Some Texts that May Seem Problematic for Unconditional Election
1 Timothy 2:1-4
First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
I. Howard Marshall, who is not a Calvinist and who writes on this text in “Universal Grace and Atonement in the Pastoral Epistles,” The Grace of God, the Will of Man: A Case for Arminianism, (p. 56), concedes that there are two levels of willing implied in this text: To avoid all misconceptions it should be made clear at the outset that the fact that God wishes or wills that all people should be saved does not necessarily imply that all will respond to the gospel and be saved. We must certainly distinguish between what God would like to see happen and what he actually does will to happen, and both of these things can be spoken of as God’s will. The question at issue is not whether all will be saved but whether God has made provision in Christ for the salvation of all, provided that they believe, and without limiting the potential scope of the death of Christ merely to those whom God knows will believe. But nowhere in the entire essay does Marshall mention the one text in the Pastoral Epistles that points most clearly to these two wills and what they are, namely, 2 Timothy 2:24-26 and 2 Peter 3:8-10.
2 Timothy 2:24-26
The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
Marshall poses the question whether any text in the Pastorals would lead us to believe that “faith and repentance are the gifts of God, who gives them only to the previously chosen group of the elect” (p. 66). He concludes that there is not, even though the text that comes closest to saying this very thing is passed over.
2 Peter 3:8-10
But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.
Ezekiel 18:23
“Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord GOD, “rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?
Lamentations 3:31-33 (An example of God willing in one sense what he does not will in another sense) For the Lord will not reject forever, For if He causes grief, Then He will have compassion, According to His abundant lovingkindness. For He does not afflict willingly, Or grieve the sons of men.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
What Happened Whensday: August 27, 2008
This is the 239th day of the year (240th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 126 days remaining until the end of the year.
Events:
479 BC - Greco-Persian Wars: Persian forces led by Mardonius are routed by Pausanias, the Spartan commander of the Greek army in the Battle of Plataea. Along the with the Greek victory on the same day in the Battle of Mycale, the Persian invasion of Greece ended.
410 - Visigothic sack of Rome ends after three days.
663 - Remnants of the Korean Baekje Kingdom and their Yamato Japanese allies engage the combined naval forces of the Tang Chinese and Silla Koreans on the Geum River in Korea; the outcome is a significant Tang-Silla victory, while the Japanese would not attempt another invasion of Korea until the Japanese invasions of Korea of the late 16th century.
1232 - The Formulary of Adjudications is promulgated by Regent Hōjō Yasutoki. (Traditional Japanese date: August 10, 1232)
1689 - The Treaty of Nerchinsk is signed by Russia and the Qing empire.
1776 - Battle of Long Island, in present day Brooklyn, New York, British forces under General William Howe defeat Americans under General George Washington.
1789 - The French National Assembly adopts the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, proclaiming that "men are born and remain free and equal in rights."
1793 - French counter-revolution, port of Toulon revolts and admits the British fleet, which lands troops and seizes the port leading to Siege of Toulon.
1798 - United Irishmen and French forces clash with the British army in the Battle of Castlebar, part of the Irish Rebellion of 1798.
1813 - French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte defeats a larger force of Austrians, Russians and Prussians at the Battle of Dresden.
1828 - The Russians defeat the Turks at the Battle of Akhalzic.
1828 - Uruguay is formally proclaimed independent at preliminary peace talks brokered by Britain between Brazil and Argentina during their war.
1859 - Petroleum discovered in Titusville, Pennsylvania. World's first successful oil well.
1861 - Civil War: Union (Northern) forces attack Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
1896 - Anglo-Zanzibar War: the shortest war in world history (09:00 to 09:45) between the United Kingdom and Zanzibar.
1916 - World War I: Romania declares war against Austria-Hungary, entering World War I as one of the Allied nations. It is soon occupied by German and Bulgarian forces.
1921 - The British install the son of Sharif Hussein bin Ali (leader of the Arab Revolt of 1916 against the Ottoman Empire) as King Faisal I of Iraq.
1927 - American aviators Billy Brock and Ed Schlee fly the Pride of Detroit over London on the way to completing the first-ever flight around the world.
1928 - Kellogg-Briand Pact, outlawing war, signed by sixty nations.
1939 - First flight of the Heinkel He 178, the first modern jet aircraft.
1943 - World War II: Japanese forces evacuate New Georgia Island in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II.
1952 - Reparation negotiations between West Germany and Israel end in Luxembourg; West Germany to pay 3 billion Deutschmark.
1957 - The Constitution of Malaysia came into force.
1962 - Mariner 2 unmanned space mission launched to Venus by America's NASA.
1965 - Music: 1965 - Elvis Presley played host to the Beatles at his home in Bel-Air, CA.
1969 - Israeli commando force penetrates deep into Egyptian territory to stage mortar attack on regional Egyptian Army headquarters in the Nile Valley of Upper Egypt.
1971 - A coup attempt fails in the African nation of Chad. The Chadian government accuses Egypt of playing a role in the attempt and breaks off diplomatic relations.
1975 - The Governor of Portuguese Timor abandons its capital, Dili, and flees to Atauro Island, leaving control to a rebel group.
1979 - An IRA bomb kills British World War II admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten and 3 others while boating on holiday in Sligo, Republic of Ireland. Another bomb near Warrenpoint, Northern Ireland kills 18 British soldiers.
1982 Turkish military diplomat Colonel Atilla Altikat is shot and killed in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada's capital. Justice Commandos Against Armenian Genocide claim responsibility, saying they were avenging the massacre of 1.5 million Armenians in the 1915 Armenian Genocide.
1985 - The Nigerian government is peacefully overthrown by Army Chief of Staff Major General Ibrahim Babangida.
1990 - Pro Wrestling: Kerry Von Erich defeated Curt Hennig for the WWE Intercontinental title at WWE Summerslam; At the same event, The Hart Foundation defeated Demolition for the WWE Tag Team title.
1991 - The European Community recognizes the independence of the Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
1991 - Moldova declares independence from the USSR.
1993 - The Rainbow Bridge, connecting Tokyo's Shibaura and the island of Odaiba, is completed.
1995 - Pro Wrestling: Bertha Faye defeated Alundra Blaze for the WWE Women's title at WWE Summerslam.
2000 - Ostankino Tower in Moscow catches fire, three people are killed.
2000 - Pro Wrestling: Chyna defeated Val Venis by pinning Trish Stratus in a tag match for the WWE Intercontinental title at WWE Summerslam; At the same event, Steve Blackman defeated Shane McMahon for the WWE Hardcore title.
2003 - Mars makes its closest approach to Earth in nearly 60,000 years, passing approximately 34,646,416 miles (55,758,006 kilometers) from Earth.
2006 - Comair Flight 5191 crashed en route from Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky, to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia. Forty-nine of the 50 people aboard the flight were confirmed dead in the hours following the crash
Notable Births:
1910 - Mother Teresa, Roman Catholic nun, Nobel laureate (d. 1997)
1947 - Barbara Bach, American actress
1952 - Paul "Pee-Wee Herman" Reubens, American actor
1953 - Alex Lifeson, Canadian guitarist (Rush)
1961 - Yolanda Adams, American gospel singer
1962 - Adam Oates, Canadian ice hockey player
1963 - Downtown Julie Brown, Welsh TV personality and former MTV VJ
1978 - Mase, American rapper
Notable Deaths:
827 - Pope Eugene II
1590 - Pope Sixtus V (b. 1521)
1964 - Gracie Allen, American actress and comedienne (b. 1895)
1967 - Brian Epstein, English manager of The Beatles (b. 1934)
1990 - Stevie Ray Vaughan, American guitarist (b. 1954)
2006 - Maria Capovilla, oldest woman alive from 2004-2006 (b. 1889)
Events:
479 BC - Greco-Persian Wars: Persian forces led by Mardonius are routed by Pausanias, the Spartan commander of the Greek army in the Battle of Plataea. Along the with the Greek victory on the same day in the Battle of Mycale, the Persian invasion of Greece ended.
410 - Visigothic sack of Rome ends after three days.
663 - Remnants of the Korean Baekje Kingdom and their Yamato Japanese allies engage the combined naval forces of the Tang Chinese and Silla Koreans on the Geum River in Korea; the outcome is a significant Tang-Silla victory, while the Japanese would not attempt another invasion of Korea until the Japanese invasions of Korea of the late 16th century.
1232 - The Formulary of Adjudications is promulgated by Regent Hōjō Yasutoki. (Traditional Japanese date: August 10, 1232)
1689 - The Treaty of Nerchinsk is signed by Russia and the Qing empire.
1776 - Battle of Long Island, in present day Brooklyn, New York, British forces under General William Howe defeat Americans under General George Washington.
1789 - The French National Assembly adopts the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, proclaiming that "men are born and remain free and equal in rights."
1793 - French counter-revolution, port of Toulon revolts and admits the British fleet, which lands troops and seizes the port leading to Siege of Toulon.
1798 - United Irishmen and French forces clash with the British army in the Battle of Castlebar, part of the Irish Rebellion of 1798.
1813 - French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte defeats a larger force of Austrians, Russians and Prussians at the Battle of Dresden.
1828 - The Russians defeat the Turks at the Battle of Akhalzic.
1828 - Uruguay is formally proclaimed independent at preliminary peace talks brokered by Britain between Brazil and Argentina during their war.
1859 - Petroleum discovered in Titusville, Pennsylvania. World's first successful oil well.
1861 - Civil War: Union (Northern) forces attack Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
1896 - Anglo-Zanzibar War: the shortest war in world history (09:00 to 09:45) between the United Kingdom and Zanzibar.
1916 - World War I: Romania declares war against Austria-Hungary, entering World War I as one of the Allied nations. It is soon occupied by German and Bulgarian forces.
1921 - The British install the son of Sharif Hussein bin Ali (leader of the Arab Revolt of 1916 against the Ottoman Empire) as King Faisal I of Iraq.
1927 - American aviators Billy Brock and Ed Schlee fly the Pride of Detroit over London on the way to completing the first-ever flight around the world.
1928 - Kellogg-Briand Pact, outlawing war, signed by sixty nations.
1939 - First flight of the Heinkel He 178, the first modern jet aircraft.
1943 - World War II: Japanese forces evacuate New Georgia Island in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II.
1952 - Reparation negotiations between West Germany and Israel end in Luxembourg; West Germany to pay 3 billion Deutschmark.
1957 - The Constitution of Malaysia came into force.
1962 - Mariner 2 unmanned space mission launched to Venus by America's NASA.
1965 - Music: 1965 - Elvis Presley played host to the Beatles at his home in Bel-Air, CA.
1969 - Israeli commando force penetrates deep into Egyptian territory to stage mortar attack on regional Egyptian Army headquarters in the Nile Valley of Upper Egypt.
1971 - A coup attempt fails in the African nation of Chad. The Chadian government accuses Egypt of playing a role in the attempt and breaks off diplomatic relations.
1975 - The Governor of Portuguese Timor abandons its capital, Dili, and flees to Atauro Island, leaving control to a rebel group.
1979 - An IRA bomb kills British World War II admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten and 3 others while boating on holiday in Sligo, Republic of Ireland. Another bomb near Warrenpoint, Northern Ireland kills 18 British soldiers.
1982 Turkish military diplomat Colonel Atilla Altikat is shot and killed in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada's capital. Justice Commandos Against Armenian Genocide claim responsibility, saying they were avenging the massacre of 1.5 million Armenians in the 1915 Armenian Genocide.
1985 - The Nigerian government is peacefully overthrown by Army Chief of Staff Major General Ibrahim Babangida.
1990 - Pro Wrestling: Kerry Von Erich defeated Curt Hennig for the WWE Intercontinental title at WWE Summerslam; At the same event, The Hart Foundation defeated Demolition for the WWE Tag Team title.
1991 - The European Community recognizes the independence of the Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
1991 - Moldova declares independence from the USSR.
1993 - The Rainbow Bridge, connecting Tokyo's Shibaura and the island of Odaiba, is completed.
1995 - Pro Wrestling: Bertha Faye defeated Alundra Blaze for the WWE Women's title at WWE Summerslam.
2000 - Ostankino Tower in Moscow catches fire, three people are killed.
2000 - Pro Wrestling: Chyna defeated Val Venis by pinning Trish Stratus in a tag match for the WWE Intercontinental title at WWE Summerslam; At the same event, Steve Blackman defeated Shane McMahon for the WWE Hardcore title.
2003 - Mars makes its closest approach to Earth in nearly 60,000 years, passing approximately 34,646,416 miles (55,758,006 kilometers) from Earth.
2006 - Comair Flight 5191 crashed en route from Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky, to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia. Forty-nine of the 50 people aboard the flight were confirmed dead in the hours following the crash
Notable Births:
1910 - Mother Teresa, Roman Catholic nun, Nobel laureate (d. 1997)
1947 - Barbara Bach, American actress
1952 - Paul "Pee-Wee Herman" Reubens, American actor
1953 - Alex Lifeson, Canadian guitarist (Rush)
1961 - Yolanda Adams, American gospel singer
1962 - Adam Oates, Canadian ice hockey player
1963 - Downtown Julie Brown, Welsh TV personality and former MTV VJ
1978 - Mase, American rapper
Notable Deaths:
827 - Pope Eugene II
1590 - Pope Sixtus V (b. 1521)
1964 - Gracie Allen, American actress and comedienne (b. 1895)
1967 - Brian Epstein, English manager of The Beatles (b. 1934)
1990 - Stevie Ray Vaughan, American guitarist (b. 1954)
2006 - Maria Capovilla, oldest woman alive from 2004-2006 (b. 1889)
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
The Doctrines of Grace - Limited/Unlimited Atonement
Before we discuss the topic, let's remember what we are being atoned from. All sin, in all of it’s dramatic diversity, is, in it’s acted out form, always a drama of an inward horror, namely the exchange of the glory of God for other things. All of the suffering in the world, and all of the futility in the world, and all of the death in the world is also a drama of an inward horror. If you think that there are physical, moral, and spiritual horrors in the world, you are right, and we have not seen the half of it where we live. In some countries babies are hacked with machetes. It would be hard to completely love the doctrine of the atonement unless we begin to see how rotten, ugly, bankrupt, rebellious, and at enmity against God so that there is no hope for us whatsoever, and that we are deserving of the worst possible hackings to death. Until we feel that, the death of Jesus (which was the worst of all tortures) will simply be another thought, another doctrine.
Definition of Atonement
The atonement is the work of God in Christ, by his obedience and death, by which he canceled the debt of our sin, appeased his holy wrath against us, and won for us all the benefits of salvation.
Everything good that comes into the life of a sinner was bought at Calvary, from the rising of the sun, to marriage, to children, to health, to a job, to the forgiveness of sin, and to everlasting life. If we got our due we would die the moment we were conceived, because in Adam all sin/sinned, and we would perish. Even though we are discussing “limited atonement” it’s effects are felt by all.
Why Is an Atonement Needed for God to Save Sinners?
Romans 3:23-26
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance (patience) of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:21
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
1 Peter 3:18
For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God.
Romans 5:9-10
Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
Romans 8:32
He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
God had Jesus crucified to make sure justice was carried out on someone because of sin, which had previously gone unpunished. When Jesus was crucified it was as if God considered Christ to be sin made flesh instead of God made flesh.
Who Limits the Atonement?
Both Calvinists and Arminians.
Arminians limit the effectiveness of the atonement by denying that it purchased the promises of the New Covenant for irresistible grace. Calvinists affirm this purchase of the promises of the New Covenant for irresistible grace, and therefore limit the full blessings of the atonement to a certain group of people (those God irresistibly brings to faith).
Salvation and the faith that saves are gifts of God’s grace, promised by the new covenant to God’s people. Repentance is another one of these gifts. Arminians deny that the atonement purchased the promises of the new covenant in that they don’t believe that God purchased the gift of faith or the gift of repentance, but that you must perform the gift of faith in order to get in the benefit of the atonement, because the atonement is for everybody in the same way. Calvinists believe faith and repentance were purchased by the atonement, as well as everything else.
What Are Other Names for “Limited Atonement”?
Definite Atonement
Meaning that it is designed for definite individuals who are effectively saved by it.
Particular Redemption
Meaning that God has particular people in mind, or in view, in the design of the atonement to purchase all the blessings of salvation for his people.
What Is Another Name for “Unlimited Atonement”?
Universal Redemption
Meaning that God’s design in the atonement is the same for all individual humans. It creates opportunity for all humans to receive salvation, and once we believe and repent then it is effective for us.
Do Calvinists Water Down John 3:16?
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
No, because John 3:16 affirms that God loved the world so that anyone who believes will be saved by the death of his Son. Both Calvinists and Arminians affirm this: All who believe will be saved by the atonement of Jesus.
So what’s the Dispute?
Calvinists believe that the death of Christ accomplished or purchased something more than Arminians believe it did, namely, the effectual grace to believe and come to Christ. All the irresistible grace (or effectual calling) that we saw in the last post, Calvinists believe, was purchased by the death of Christ.
For example:
Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
2 Timothy 2:24-25
The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth.
Acts 16:14
A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.
John 6:65
For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.
If Calvinists Believe the Atonement Purchased More Than Arminians Believe it Did, Why is it Called Limited Atonement?
It’s not a good label. But the “limitation” is in the conscious design or intention of the atonement by God. Calvinists believe that God really means to accomplish, through the atonement, the conversion of a definite (limited) group of people, not just hold out the opportunity to all people to believe. Whereas the Arminian says the atonement simply holds out the opportunity for all. Calvinists agree that there is opportunity for all, and the atonement was sufficient for all, and that all or any who believe will be forgiven and saved, but also believe that the atonement purchased the faith and repentance of those God chose.
Why Do Calvinists Believe That The Atonement Purchases Irresistible Grace?
Mainly because the New Covenant promises this grace to God’s people and the blood of Jesus purchased this covenant.
Luke 22:20
And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.”
When Jesus shed His blood He bought and secured the New Covenant for whoever the New Covenant is for.
Matthew 26:28
This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.
1 Corinthians 11:25
In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
Jeremiah 31:31-33
“Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD. “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”
Jeremiah 32:38-40
They shall be My people, and I will be their God; and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good and for the good of their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me.
Ezekiel 11:19
And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh.
Ezekiel 36:26-27
Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.
How Does the Book of Hebrews Develop This?
Hebrews 13:20-21
Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 10:14-18
For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying, “THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART, AND ON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM,” He then says, “AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.” Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.
Hebrews 2:9-18
But we do see [Jesus] who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, “I WILL PROCLAIM YOUR NAME TO MY BRETHREN, IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE.” And again, “I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM.” And again, “BEHOLD, I AND THE CHILDREN WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME.” Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the seed of Abraham. Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.
Hebrews 9:27-28
And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.
A Word from John Owen on the New and Old Covenants
[Note: John Owen (1616 - August 24, 1683) was an English church leader and theologian.]
With regard to Jeremiah 31:31-32 and Hebrews 8:9-11, John Owen says, “Wherein, first the condition of the covenant is not said to be required, but it is absolutely promised: ‘I will put my fear in their hearts.’ And this is the main difference between the old covenant of works and the new one of grace, that in that the Lord did only require the fulfilling of the condition prescribed, but in this he promises to effect it in them himself with whom the covenant is made. This then is one main difference of these two covenants – that the Lord did in the old only require the condition; now, in the new, he will also effect it in all the federates, to whom this covenant is extended” (The Death of Death, vol. 10, pp. 236-237).
Texts Often Used to Deny Limited Atonement
1 Timothy 2:6
Christ gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.
1 John 2:1-2
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.
Hebrews 2:9
But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
2 Corinthians 5:19
God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
John 1:29
The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
2 Peter 2:1
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves (See 1 Corinthians 8:11; Romans 14:14:15).
Texts that Seem to Designate the Atonement for a Limited Group
Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
1 Thessalonians 5:10
Christ died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.
John 10:11, 14-15
I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep . . . I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
Ephesians 5:25
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her.
Acts 20:28
Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
John 11:51-52
Being high priest that year, [Caiaphas] prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.
Hebrews 10:14
For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.
Arminians take all the passages which say the death of Christ is “for us” (Romans 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:10) or for “his own sheep” (John 10:11, 15) or for “the church” (Ephesians 5:25; Acts 20:28) or for “the children of God” (John 11:52) or for “those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14) and say that the meaning is that God designs and intends the atonement for all people in the same way, but that God applies it as effective and saving only for those who believe and become part of “us” and “the sheep” and “the church” and “the children of God.” In this view, then, the sentence, “Christ died for you,” means: Christ died for all sinners, so that if you will repent and believe in Christ, then the death of Jesus will become effective in your case and will take away your sins.
Now, as far as it goes, this seems to me to be acceptable teaching. But then Arminians deny something that I think the Bible teaches. They deny that the texts about Christ’s dying for “us” or “his sheep” or his “church” or “the children of God” were intended by God to obtain something more for his people than the benefits they get after they believe. They deny, specifically, that the death of Christ was not only intended by God to obtain benefits for people after they believe (which is true), but even more, Christ’s death was intended by God to obtain the very willingness to believe. In other words, the divine grace that it takes too overcome our hardness of heart and become a believer was also obtained by the blood of Jesus. There is no dispute that Christ died to obtain great saving benefits for all who believe. Moreover, there is no dispute that Christ died so that we might say to all persons everywhere without exception: “God gave his only begotten Son to die for sin so that if you believe on him you may have eternal life.” The dispute is whether God intended for the death of Christ to obtain more than these two things: 1) saving benefits after faith, and 2) a bona fide invitation that can be made to any person to believe on Christ for salvation. Specifically, did God intend for the death of Christ to obtain the free gift of faith (Ephesians 2:8) and repentance (2 Timothy 2:25)? Did the blood of Jesus obtain both the benefits after faith, and the benefit of faith itself? Does the historic Arminian interpretation of any of the “universal” texts on the atonement necessarily contradict this “more” that I am affirming about God’s intention for the death of Christ? (Texts like: 1 Timothy 2:6; 1 John 2:1-2; Hebrews 2:9; 2 Corinthians 5:19; John 1:29; 2 Peter 2:1.) I don’t think so. Arminians historically are just as eager as Calvinists to avoid saying that these texts teach “universal salvation.” So they do not teach that the death of Christ “for all” saves all. Rather, they say, in the words of Millard Erickson, “God intended the atonement to make salvation possible for all persons. Christ died for all persons, but this atoning death becomes effective only when accepted by the individual.” Erickson then says, “This is the view of all Arminians” (Christian Theology, p. 829, emphasis added). Arminians do not say that in the death of Christ God intends to effectively save all for whom Christ died. They only say that God intends to make possible the salvation of all for whom Christ died. But this interpretation of these “universal” texts does not contradict the Calvinist assertion that God does intend to obtain the grace of faith and repentance for a definite group by the death of Christ. Arminians may deny this assertion, but they cannot deny it on the basis of their interpretation of the “universal” texts of the atonement. That interpretation simply affirms that all may have salvation if they believe. Calvinists do not dispute that. They only go beyond it. Here’s the rub: if he did this “more,” he didn’t do it for everyone. So at this level the atonement becomes “limited.” And this is what Arminians stumble over: is there anything that God would do to get some unbelievers saved that he would not do for all? This “limitation” implies a choice on God’s part to save some and not all. This leads to unconditional election, which we will take up in the next post on Thursday.
Texts Supporting the Assertion That the Atonement Obtained the Grace of Faith The Blood of the New Covenant
Luke 22:20
And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.”
Ezekiel 36:26-27
Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.
The Ingathering of the Children of God
1 John 2:2
He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.
John 11:50-52
“It is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish." Now [Caiaphas] did not say this on his own initiative, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.
John 10:11
I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep . . . I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
Revelation 5:9
And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.”
By His Wounds You Were Returned to Your Shepherd
1 Peter 2:24-25
He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.
Texts Showing the Design of the Atonement for God’s Chosen Ones:
The Death of Christ for the Elect Is the Ground of Their Assurance
Romans 8:29-33
For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God's elect?
He Tasted Death for All the Children God Gave to Him
Hebrews 2:9-18
But we do see [Jesus] who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, “I WILL PROCLAIM YOUR NAME TO MY BRETHREN, IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE.” And again, “I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM.” And again, “BEHOLD, I AND THE CHILDREN WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME.” Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the seed of Abraham. Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
Definition of Atonement
The atonement is the work of God in Christ, by his obedience and death, by which he canceled the debt of our sin, appeased his holy wrath against us, and won for us all the benefits of salvation.
Everything good that comes into the life of a sinner was bought at Calvary, from the rising of the sun, to marriage, to children, to health, to a job, to the forgiveness of sin, and to everlasting life. If we got our due we would die the moment we were conceived, because in Adam all sin/sinned, and we would perish. Even though we are discussing “limited atonement” it’s effects are felt by all.
Why Is an Atonement Needed for God to Save Sinners?
Romans 3:23-26
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance (patience) of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:21
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
1 Peter 3:18
For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God.
Romans 5:9-10
Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
Romans 8:32
He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
God had Jesus crucified to make sure justice was carried out on someone because of sin, which had previously gone unpunished. When Jesus was crucified it was as if God considered Christ to be sin made flesh instead of God made flesh.
Who Limits the Atonement?
Both Calvinists and Arminians.
Arminians limit the effectiveness of the atonement by denying that it purchased the promises of the New Covenant for irresistible grace. Calvinists affirm this purchase of the promises of the New Covenant for irresistible grace, and therefore limit the full blessings of the atonement to a certain group of people (those God irresistibly brings to faith).
Salvation and the faith that saves are gifts of God’s grace, promised by the new covenant to God’s people. Repentance is another one of these gifts. Arminians deny that the atonement purchased the promises of the new covenant in that they don’t believe that God purchased the gift of faith or the gift of repentance, but that you must perform the gift of faith in order to get in the benefit of the atonement, because the atonement is for everybody in the same way. Calvinists believe faith and repentance were purchased by the atonement, as well as everything else.
What Are Other Names for “Limited Atonement”?
Definite Atonement
Meaning that it is designed for definite individuals who are effectively saved by it.
Particular Redemption
Meaning that God has particular people in mind, or in view, in the design of the atonement to purchase all the blessings of salvation for his people.
What Is Another Name for “Unlimited Atonement”?
Universal Redemption
Meaning that God’s design in the atonement is the same for all individual humans. It creates opportunity for all humans to receive salvation, and once we believe and repent then it is effective for us.
Do Calvinists Water Down John 3:16?
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
No, because John 3:16 affirms that God loved the world so that anyone who believes will be saved by the death of his Son. Both Calvinists and Arminians affirm this: All who believe will be saved by the atonement of Jesus.
So what’s the Dispute?
Calvinists believe that the death of Christ accomplished or purchased something more than Arminians believe it did, namely, the effectual grace to believe and come to Christ. All the irresistible grace (or effectual calling) that we saw in the last post, Calvinists believe, was purchased by the death of Christ.
For example:
Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
2 Timothy 2:24-25
The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth.
Acts 16:14
A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.
John 6:65
For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.
If Calvinists Believe the Atonement Purchased More Than Arminians Believe it Did, Why is it Called Limited Atonement?
It’s not a good label. But the “limitation” is in the conscious design or intention of the atonement by God. Calvinists believe that God really means to accomplish, through the atonement, the conversion of a definite (limited) group of people, not just hold out the opportunity to all people to believe. Whereas the Arminian says the atonement simply holds out the opportunity for all. Calvinists agree that there is opportunity for all, and the atonement was sufficient for all, and that all or any who believe will be forgiven and saved, but also believe that the atonement purchased the faith and repentance of those God chose.
Why Do Calvinists Believe That The Atonement Purchases Irresistible Grace?
Mainly because the New Covenant promises this grace to God’s people and the blood of Jesus purchased this covenant.
Luke 22:20
And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.”
When Jesus shed His blood He bought and secured the New Covenant for whoever the New Covenant is for.
Matthew 26:28
This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.
1 Corinthians 11:25
In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
Jeremiah 31:31-33
“Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD. “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”
Jeremiah 32:38-40
They shall be My people, and I will be their God; and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good and for the good of their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me.
Ezekiel 11:19
And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh.
Ezekiel 36:26-27
Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.
How Does the Book of Hebrews Develop This?
Hebrews 13:20-21
Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 10:14-18
For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying, “THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART, AND ON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM,” He then says, “AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.” Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.
Hebrews 2:9-18
But we do see [Jesus] who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, “I WILL PROCLAIM YOUR NAME TO MY BRETHREN, IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE.” And again, “I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM.” And again, “BEHOLD, I AND THE CHILDREN WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME.” Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the seed of Abraham. Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.
Hebrews 9:27-28
And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.
A Word from John Owen on the New and Old Covenants
[Note: John Owen (1616 - August 24, 1683) was an English church leader and theologian.]
With regard to Jeremiah 31:31-32 and Hebrews 8:9-11, John Owen says, “Wherein, first the condition of the covenant is not said to be required, but it is absolutely promised: ‘I will put my fear in their hearts.’ And this is the main difference between the old covenant of works and the new one of grace, that in that the Lord did only require the fulfilling of the condition prescribed, but in this he promises to effect it in them himself with whom the covenant is made. This then is one main difference of these two covenants – that the Lord did in the old only require the condition; now, in the new, he will also effect it in all the federates, to whom this covenant is extended” (The Death of Death, vol. 10, pp. 236-237).
Texts Often Used to Deny Limited Atonement
1 Timothy 2:6
Christ gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.
1 John 2:1-2
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.
Hebrews 2:9
But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
2 Corinthians 5:19
God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
John 1:29
The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
2 Peter 2:1
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves (See 1 Corinthians 8:11; Romans 14:14:15).
Texts that Seem to Designate the Atonement for a Limited Group
Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
1 Thessalonians 5:10
Christ died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.
John 10:11, 14-15
I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep . . . I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
Ephesians 5:25
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her.
Acts 20:28
Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
John 11:51-52
Being high priest that year, [Caiaphas] prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.
Hebrews 10:14
For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.
Arminians take all the passages which say the death of Christ is “for us” (Romans 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:10) or for “his own sheep” (John 10:11, 15) or for “the church” (Ephesians 5:25; Acts 20:28) or for “the children of God” (John 11:52) or for “those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14) and say that the meaning is that God designs and intends the atonement for all people in the same way, but that God applies it as effective and saving only for those who believe and become part of “us” and “the sheep” and “the church” and “the children of God.” In this view, then, the sentence, “Christ died for you,” means: Christ died for all sinners, so that if you will repent and believe in Christ, then the death of Jesus will become effective in your case and will take away your sins.
Now, as far as it goes, this seems to me to be acceptable teaching. But then Arminians deny something that I think the Bible teaches. They deny that the texts about Christ’s dying for “us” or “his sheep” or his “church” or “the children of God” were intended by God to obtain something more for his people than the benefits they get after they believe. They deny, specifically, that the death of Christ was not only intended by God to obtain benefits for people after they believe (which is true), but even more, Christ’s death was intended by God to obtain the very willingness to believe. In other words, the divine grace that it takes too overcome our hardness of heart and become a believer was also obtained by the blood of Jesus. There is no dispute that Christ died to obtain great saving benefits for all who believe. Moreover, there is no dispute that Christ died so that we might say to all persons everywhere without exception: “God gave his only begotten Son to die for sin so that if you believe on him you may have eternal life.” The dispute is whether God intended for the death of Christ to obtain more than these two things: 1) saving benefits after faith, and 2) a bona fide invitation that can be made to any person to believe on Christ for salvation. Specifically, did God intend for the death of Christ to obtain the free gift of faith (Ephesians 2:8) and repentance (2 Timothy 2:25)? Did the blood of Jesus obtain both the benefits after faith, and the benefit of faith itself? Does the historic Arminian interpretation of any of the “universal” texts on the atonement necessarily contradict this “more” that I am affirming about God’s intention for the death of Christ? (Texts like: 1 Timothy 2:6; 1 John 2:1-2; Hebrews 2:9; 2 Corinthians 5:19; John 1:29; 2 Peter 2:1.) I don’t think so. Arminians historically are just as eager as Calvinists to avoid saying that these texts teach “universal salvation.” So they do not teach that the death of Christ “for all” saves all. Rather, they say, in the words of Millard Erickson, “God intended the atonement to make salvation possible for all persons. Christ died for all persons, but this atoning death becomes effective only when accepted by the individual.” Erickson then says, “This is the view of all Arminians” (Christian Theology, p. 829, emphasis added). Arminians do not say that in the death of Christ God intends to effectively save all for whom Christ died. They only say that God intends to make possible the salvation of all for whom Christ died. But this interpretation of these “universal” texts does not contradict the Calvinist assertion that God does intend to obtain the grace of faith and repentance for a definite group by the death of Christ. Arminians may deny this assertion, but they cannot deny it on the basis of their interpretation of the “universal” texts of the atonement. That interpretation simply affirms that all may have salvation if they believe. Calvinists do not dispute that. They only go beyond it. Here’s the rub: if he did this “more,” he didn’t do it for everyone. So at this level the atonement becomes “limited.” And this is what Arminians stumble over: is there anything that God would do to get some unbelievers saved that he would not do for all? This “limitation” implies a choice on God’s part to save some and not all. This leads to unconditional election, which we will take up in the next post on Thursday.
Texts Supporting the Assertion That the Atonement Obtained the Grace of Faith The Blood of the New Covenant
Luke 22:20
And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.”
Ezekiel 36:26-27
Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.
The Ingathering of the Children of God
1 John 2:2
He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.
John 11:50-52
“It is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish." Now [Caiaphas] did not say this on his own initiative, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.
John 10:11
I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep . . . I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
Revelation 5:9
And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.”
By His Wounds You Were Returned to Your Shepherd
1 Peter 2:24-25
He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.
Texts Showing the Design of the Atonement for God’s Chosen Ones:
The Death of Christ for the Elect Is the Ground of Their Assurance
Romans 8:29-33
For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God's elect?
He Tasted Death for All the Children God Gave to Him
Hebrews 2:9-18
But we do see [Jesus] who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, “I WILL PROCLAIM YOUR NAME TO MY BRETHREN, IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE.” And again, “I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM.” And again, “BEHOLD, I AND THE CHILDREN WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME.” Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the seed of Abraham. Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Back Home
It's good to be back home after spending a week in the great state of Kentucky. Most of my time was spent reading. I finished Peter Kreeft's "The Three Philosophies of Life" and got started on "Pagan Christianity" by Frank Viola and George Barna. I also spent some time in Stanley Grenz' "Theology for the Community of God."
Two Saturdays ago, after traveling 286 miles to my Aunt and Uncle's place in Firebrick, KY, I watched Michael Phelps' win his 8th gold medal in the 29th Olympiad, thus surpassing Mark Spitz' record for most gold medals won by a single competitor in one Olympics.
Last Monday, my brother, my cousin and I went to North Bend, OH to visit the tomb of William Henry Harrison. It was an awesome and worth while trip as we paid our respects to the 9th President of the United States.
Tuesday we traveled 159 miles from Firebrick to Dorton, KY where my Mom and Dad spent the summer. Most of my time there was spent reading and watching the first 9 editions of WWE's Summerslam.
Thursday my brother and I traveled to Greenville, TN to go to the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site. Comprised of a visitor's center, two of Andrew Johnson's homes, and his final resting place. A wonderful experience and an amazing trip though 19th century American history. I was honored to pay my respects to the 17th President of the United States. He seemed like a decent and honorable man.
After spending Friday resting, we traveled back to our home here in Michigan yesterday. All in all, a good trip and one of my favorite end of summer trips to KY that I can recall.
That's all for today, tomorrow I may post something but Tuesday we'll certainly continue the journey through the Doctrines of Grace with a look at Limited/Unlimited Atonement. Till then...
Two Saturdays ago, after traveling 286 miles to my Aunt and Uncle's place in Firebrick, KY, I watched Michael Phelps' win his 8th gold medal in the 29th Olympiad, thus surpassing Mark Spitz' record for most gold medals won by a single competitor in one Olympics.
Last Monday, my brother, my cousin and I went to North Bend, OH to visit the tomb of William Henry Harrison. It was an awesome and worth while trip as we paid our respects to the 9th President of the United States.
Tuesday we traveled 159 miles from Firebrick to Dorton, KY where my Mom and Dad spent the summer. Most of my time there was spent reading and watching the first 9 editions of WWE's Summerslam.
Thursday my brother and I traveled to Greenville, TN to go to the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site. Comprised of a visitor's center, two of Andrew Johnson's homes, and his final resting place. A wonderful experience and an amazing trip though 19th century American history. I was honored to pay my respects to the 17th President of the United States. He seemed like a decent and honorable man.
After spending Friday resting, we traveled back to our home here in Michigan yesterday. All in all, a good trip and one of my favorite end of summer trips to KY that I can recall.
That's all for today, tomorrow I may post something but Tuesday we'll certainly continue the journey through the Doctrines of Grace with a look at Limited/Unlimited Atonement. Till then...
Friday, August 15, 2008
The Go-Gos Said It Best When...
...they wrote the lyrics "Vacation, all I ever wanted; Vacation, had to get away."
Next week there will be little blogging going on here as I will be in the hills of the Bluegrass State. The only blog that I can guarantee will be up next week is What Happened Wednesday. More than likely there will be no Tuesday or Thursday posts regarding the doctrines of grace.
While I'm away I will be chillin', reading, and listening to music. I also will get to engage in continuing one of my life goals, which is to visit the grave sites of every U.S. President.
So far I only have 1 of 42 down, that being the grave of our 38th President, Gerald R. Ford. On my Myspace blog I posted a slideshow of pictures from when I visited the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. For anyone who is interested, here is that slideshow...
There will certainly be a couple of slideshows coming up to document my visits with our 9th President - William Henry Harrison and our 17th President - Andrew Johnson.
Till Monday, August 25, so long...
Next week there will be little blogging going on here as I will be in the hills of the Bluegrass State. The only blog that I can guarantee will be up next week is What Happened Wednesday. More than likely there will be no Tuesday or Thursday posts regarding the doctrines of grace.
While I'm away I will be chillin', reading, and listening to music. I also will get to engage in continuing one of my life goals, which is to visit the grave sites of every U.S. President.
So far I only have 1 of 42 down, that being the grave of our 38th President, Gerald R. Ford. On my Myspace blog I posted a slideshow of pictures from when I visited the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. For anyone who is interested, here is that slideshow...
There will certainly be a couple of slideshows coming up to document my visits with our 9th President - William Henry Harrison and our 17th President - Andrew Johnson.
Till Monday, August 25, so long...
Thursday, August 14, 2008
The Doctrines of Grace - Irresistible Grace
Grace Can Be Resisted Until God Wills to Overcome Resistance
Irresistible grace is written off by a misunderstanding, and by pointing to texts that say you can resist God.
Acts 7:51
You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did.
Ephesians 4:30
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
1 Thessalonians 5:19
Do not quench the Spirit.
Romans 10:21
But as for Israel He says, “All the day long I have stretched out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”
However, these texts do not ever say that God does not, will not, or cannot triumph over people’s resistance. There is no denying that God will sometimes allow us to resist for a season, but the question is does there come a point in time when God says “I’m done suffering this resistance, now I will triumph over this resistance. I’m through being grieved by this saint's recurring backsliding, I will now pour my spirit upon him afresh and lift him to a new level of sanctification and cause him to walk in my statutes.”? Is there a time after He holds out His hands to a person, He then reaches into their hearts to do more? There is nothing in these texts that contradict these possibilities. The question is does He? Look at the conversion of Lydia.
Acts 16:14
A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.
God overcame her resistance. He defeated it. He went under it and exploded it. He transformed it.
The doctrine of irresistible grace means that God is sovereign and can overcome all resistance when he wills. "He does according to his will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand!" (Daniel 4:35). "Our God is in the heavens; he does whatever he pleases" (Psalm 115:3). When God undertakes to fulfill his sovereign purpose, no one can successfully resist him.
Six Arguments for Irresistible Grace
Argument #1: Faith and repentance are a gift of God.
Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
What does this “that” refer to? In the Greek the word “that” is neuter, the words “salvation (saved)” “grace” and “faith”, as nouns, are feminine. The gift is either one of these or all of these. Since we know that grace and salvation are gifts, then we must realize that “that” is referring to all three.
Romans 12:3
For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
2 Timothy 2:24-26
The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
Acts 11:18
When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life."
Acts 16:14
A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.
2 Chronicles 30:6-12 (Hezekiah’s call for repentance)
O sons of Israel, return to the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that He may return to those of you who escaped and are left from the hand of the kings of Assyria. Now do not stiffen your neck like your fathers, but yield to the LORD and enter His sanctuary which He has consecrated forever, and serve the LORD your God, that His burning anger may turn away from you. For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and your sons will find compassion before those who led them captive and will return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and compassionate, and will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him.” So the couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun, but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them. Nevertheless some men of Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the LORD.
Argument #2: We cannot come to Christ unless God draws us.
John 6:44
No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.
John 6:63-65
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”
An Arminian says a person who hears the Word is drawn by the Holy Spirit to begin to feel convicted of his/her sins and begin to feel like it’s simple, it would be a great thing to do, and then the Holy Spirit draws a line, because He doesn’t want to infringe upon self determination and free will, and backs off. At that point you, sovereign, self determining, and wooed, must finish it. The Calvinist does not stop there, but believes that the Holy Spirit does not back off, instead He convicts of sin, He opens the eyes of the blind, He opens the ears of the deaf, he awakens the dead, and He fills the person God draws with such enthusiasm that they push the door of their heart open. They must push it open…
Revelation 3:20
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”
…but behind the act of opening the door was a God who mercifully enabled it to happen.
John 12:32
"And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself."
The term “all men” refers to the sheep or those who God has chosen.
John 8:47
"He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God."
John 10:26
"But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep.”
John 11:51-52
(Caiaphas) prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.
Argument #3: God’s effectual calling overcomes resistance to the gospel.
1 Corinthians 1:22-24
Indeed, Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
The effectual call and the general call are different. The general call such as the message of the gospel heard by those not drawn is what goes out to everyone, it reveals to the unbeliever the true blameworthiness of the heart, increasing accountability. Only those chosen receive the effectual call.
Argument #4: The new birth enables us to receive Christ.
1 John 5:1
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born [literally: perfect tense, “has been born”] of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him.
John 1:11-13
He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe [= are believing] in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 3:3
Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Argument #5: The New Covenant promises a grace that will triumph over resistance.
Deuteronomy 29:2-4 (The problem with the Old Covenant)
And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them, “You have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh and all his servants and all his land; the great trials which your eyes have seen, those great signs and wonders. Yet to this day the LORD has not given you a heart to know, nor eyes to see, nor ears to hear.”
Deuteronomy 30:6
Moreover the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.
Jeremiah 31:31-33
“Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD. “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”
Jeremiah 32:40
I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me.
Ezekiel 11:19-20
And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God.
Ezekiel 36:26-27
Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.
Argument # 6: Who then can resist his will?
Romans 9:14-23
What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.” So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires. You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?” On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it? Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use? What if God, though willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory.
(References: John Piper and Desiring God)
We'll continue next Tuesday with what may be the most controversial section, Limited/Unlimited Atonement.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
What Happened Whensday: August 13, 2008
This is the 225th day of the year (226th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 140 days remaining until the end of the year.
Events:
3114 BC - According to the Lounsbury correlation, the Maya calendar starts.
1315 - Louis X of France marries Clemence d'Anjou.
1326 - Aradia de Toscano, according to legend/folklore, is initiated into a Dianic witchcraft cult, subsequently founds the tradition of Stregheria later known as the Malandanti.
1415 - Hundred Years' War: Henry V of England lands at Chef-en-Caux, France with 8000 men.
1516 - Treaty of Noyon between France and Spain signed. In it, Francis recognises Charles's claim to Naples, and Charles recognises Francis's claim to Milan.
1521 - Tenochtitlán (present day Mexico City) falls to conquistador Hernán Cortés.
1536 - Buddhist monks from Kyoto's Enryaku Temple set fire to 21 Nichiren temples throughout Kyoto in the Tenbun Hokke Disturbance. (Traditional Japanese date: July 27, 1536).
1553 - Michael Servetus arrested by John Calvin in Geneva as a heretic.
1704 - War of the Spanish Succession: Battle of Blenheim - English and Austrians victorious over French and Bavarians.
1814 - The Convention of London, a treaty between the United Kingdom and the United Provinces, is signed in London.
1913 - Otto Witte, an acrobat, is crowned King of Albania.
1913 - Invention of stainless steel by Harry Brearley.
1918 - Women enlist in the United States Marine Corps for the first time. Opha Mae Johnson is the first woman to enlist.
1918 - Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) established as a public company in Germany.
1920 - Polish-Soviet War: Battle of Warsaw begins, lasts till August 25. The Red Army is defeated.
1937 - Battle of Shanghai begins.
1938 - Music: Robert Johnson played a show at a roadhouse outside Greenwood, MS. It speculated that Johnson was poisoned by the bar owner. Johnson died several days later.
1940 - World War II: Battle of Britain begins - The Luftwaffe launches a series of attacks on British fighter bases and radar installations.
1954 - Radio Pakistan broadcasts National Anthem of Pakistan for the first time.
1960 - The Central African Republic declares independence from France.
1961 - The German Democratic Republic closes the border between the eastern and western sectors of Berlin, to thwart its inhabitants' attempts to escape to the West.
1965 - Music: The Jefferson Airplane made its stage debut at the Matrix Club in San Francisco, CA.
1967 - The Daughters of the American Revolution refused to allow Joan Baez to perform at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC. because of her opposition to the Vietnam War.
1968 - Alexandros Panagoulis attempts to assassinate the Greek dictator Colonel G. Papadopoulos in Varkiza, Athens.
1979 - The roof of the uncompleted Rosemont Horizon near Chicago, Illinois collapses, killing 5 workers and injuring 16.
1996 - Marc Dutroux, his wife Michelle Martin, and Michel Lelièvre are arrested on suspicion of kidnapping. All are found guilty on June 22, 2004, with sentences of life, 30, and 25 years, respectively.
2004 - Hurricane Charley, a Category 4 storm, strikes Punta Gorda, Florida and devastates the surrounding area.
2004 - Black Friday crackdown by NSS on a peaceful protest in the capital city of Maldives, Malé.
2004 - 156 Congolese Tutsi refugees massacred at the Gatumba refugee camp in Burundi.
Notable Births
1860 - Annie Oakley, American sharpshooter (d. 1926)
1899 - Alfred Hitchcock, English film director (d. 1980)
1912 - Ben Hogan, American golfer (d. 1997)
1926 - Fidel Castro, Cuban revolutionary and politician
1959 - Danny Bonaduce, American actor
1970 - Elvis Grbac, American football player
1970 - Matt Hyson, American professional wrestler
1970 - Alan Shearer, English footballer
1971 - Moritz Bleibtreu, German actor
1971 - Patrick Carpentier, Quebec race car driver
1975 - Marty Turco, Canadian ice hockey player
Notable Deaths
1910 - Florence Nightingale, English nurse (b. 1820)
1946 - H. G. Wells, English writer (b. 1866)
1989 - Tim Richmond, American race car driver (b. 1955)
1995 - Mickey Mantle, American baseball player (b. 1931)
2004 - Julia Child, American chef and television personality (b. 1912)
2007 - Brian Adams, aka Demolition Crush, American professional wrestler (b. 1964)
2007 - Yone Minagawa, Japanese woman, oldest person (b. 1893)
2007 - Phil Rizzuto, American baseball player and sportscaster (b. 1917)
Events:
3114 BC - According to the Lounsbury correlation, the Maya calendar starts.
1315 - Louis X of France marries Clemence d'Anjou.
1326 - Aradia de Toscano, according to legend/folklore, is initiated into a Dianic witchcraft cult, subsequently founds the tradition of Stregheria later known as the Malandanti.
1415 - Hundred Years' War: Henry V of England lands at Chef-en-Caux, France with 8000 men.
1516 - Treaty of Noyon between France and Spain signed. In it, Francis recognises Charles's claim to Naples, and Charles recognises Francis's claim to Milan.
1521 - Tenochtitlán (present day Mexico City) falls to conquistador Hernán Cortés.
1536 - Buddhist monks from Kyoto's Enryaku Temple set fire to 21 Nichiren temples throughout Kyoto in the Tenbun Hokke Disturbance. (Traditional Japanese date: July 27, 1536).
1553 - Michael Servetus arrested by John Calvin in Geneva as a heretic.
1704 - War of the Spanish Succession: Battle of Blenheim - English and Austrians victorious over French and Bavarians.
1814 - The Convention of London, a treaty between the United Kingdom and the United Provinces, is signed in London.
1913 - Otto Witte, an acrobat, is crowned King of Albania.
1913 - Invention of stainless steel by Harry Brearley.
1918 - Women enlist in the United States Marine Corps for the first time. Opha Mae Johnson is the first woman to enlist.
1918 - Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) established as a public company in Germany.
1920 - Polish-Soviet War: Battle of Warsaw begins, lasts till August 25. The Red Army is defeated.
1937 - Battle of Shanghai begins.
1938 - Music: Robert Johnson played a show at a roadhouse outside Greenwood, MS. It speculated that Johnson was poisoned by the bar owner. Johnson died several days later.
1940 - World War II: Battle of Britain begins - The Luftwaffe launches a series of attacks on British fighter bases and radar installations.
1954 - Radio Pakistan broadcasts National Anthem of Pakistan for the first time.
1960 - The Central African Republic declares independence from France.
1961 - The German Democratic Republic closes the border between the eastern and western sectors of Berlin, to thwart its inhabitants' attempts to escape to the West.
1965 - Music: The Jefferson Airplane made its stage debut at the Matrix Club in San Francisco, CA.
1967 - The Daughters of the American Revolution refused to allow Joan Baez to perform at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC. because of her opposition to the Vietnam War.
1968 - Alexandros Panagoulis attempts to assassinate the Greek dictator Colonel G. Papadopoulos in Varkiza, Athens.
1979 - The roof of the uncompleted Rosemont Horizon near Chicago, Illinois collapses, killing 5 workers and injuring 16.
1996 - Marc Dutroux, his wife Michelle Martin, and Michel Lelièvre are arrested on suspicion of kidnapping. All are found guilty on June 22, 2004, with sentences of life, 30, and 25 years, respectively.
2004 - Hurricane Charley, a Category 4 storm, strikes Punta Gorda, Florida and devastates the surrounding area.
2004 - Black Friday crackdown by NSS on a peaceful protest in the capital city of Maldives, Malé.
2004 - 156 Congolese Tutsi refugees massacred at the Gatumba refugee camp in Burundi.
Notable Births
1860 - Annie Oakley, American sharpshooter (d. 1926)
1899 - Alfred Hitchcock, English film director (d. 1980)
1912 - Ben Hogan, American golfer (d. 1997)
1926 - Fidel Castro, Cuban revolutionary and politician
1959 - Danny Bonaduce, American actor
1970 - Elvis Grbac, American football player
1970 - Matt Hyson, American professional wrestler
1970 - Alan Shearer, English footballer
1971 - Moritz Bleibtreu, German actor
1971 - Patrick Carpentier, Quebec race car driver
1975 - Marty Turco, Canadian ice hockey player
Notable Deaths
1910 - Florence Nightingale, English nurse (b. 1820)
1946 - H. G. Wells, English writer (b. 1866)
1989 - Tim Richmond, American race car driver (b. 1955)
1995 - Mickey Mantle, American baseball player (b. 1931)
2004 - Julia Child, American chef and television personality (b. 1912)
2007 - Brian Adams, aka Demolition Crush, American professional wrestler (b. 1964)
2007 - Yone Minagawa, Japanese woman, oldest person (b. 1893)
2007 - Phil Rizzuto, American baseball player and sportscaster (b. 1917)
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
The Doctrines of Grace - Total Depravity
The very first thing I would like to point out as we take a look at the doctrine of total depravity is that no sinner is too sinful for God to save.
1 Timothy 1:15-17
It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
The importance of learning this doctrine is simply that it shows us how deeply rooted in sin humanity is and how far down God has to reach to bring us out from that deadly path. As a sin-filled species we can do nothing, unless we do it in Christ, to please the Father. All “good deeds” are sin to God unless Christ is in it. Even though throughout the day we don’t do all of the bad things that we could do, our depravity and sin state is not seen in relation to men, rather it is seen in relation to God.
It is crucial to see our depravity in relation to God.
1 Corinthians 10:31
Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
If we are to do everything to the glory of God then it’s not only when we do “bad” things that we fail but also when we do “good” things not to the glory of God. This also means that everyone that is not leaning on God does them (“good” and “bad” things) not for the glory of God, therefore everything they do is sin.
Romans 14:23
But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.
If whatever is not from faith is sin, then that means that unbelievers only sin. As John Piper puts it, if a pagan philanthropist builds a hospital in a third world country, we may say that it
is good, but God still says that it’s sin because it did not proceed from faith. People who ignore God in their good deeds offend God.
James 2:10-11
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. For He who said, “DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,” also said, “DO NOT COMMIT MURDER.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
Even if you keep 99.9% of God’s law and you missed it by .1% you are still a lawbreaker. If you keep 9 out of 10 commandments but your one law that you broke was that you were covetous over your neighbor’s car, then you looked into the face of the God who said “Do not covet”, you pondered His heart and His will and you said to that God “NO!”, and that same God you told “NO!” said all of the other commandments. The unity of the commandments is the unity of the person of God. Obedience is not a response to pieces of commandments, obedience is a response to a person, and if you look a person who has the authority of God in the face and He says “Here is the place where the battle is being fought, right here, covetousness, my will is for you to resist that, trust me, I will provide your needs, don’t yield to that,” and you say “I’m going to yield to this!” you have broken God, you have cut yourself off from God. If you try to justify yourself by saying “but I got 9 of 10 right!,” your really saying “I can pick and choose from God and His grocery list of commandments. The ones I want to do, I’ll do, and the ones I don’t want to do, I won’t do,” and that makes you a lawbreaker.
1. Depravity affects every human.
Romans 3:23
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
1 Kings 8:46
There is no man who does not sin.
Psalm 143:2
And do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for in Your sight no man living is righteous.
1 John 1:8
If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
The totality of this depravity embraces the entire human race.
2. Our rebellion or hardness against God is total, that is, apart from the grace of God there is no delight in the holiness of God, and there is no glad submission to the sovereign authority of God.
Romans 3:9-11, 18
What then? Are we (Jews) better than they (Gentiles)? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; as it is written, “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD . . . THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.”
Paul is not saying “sins” as in “here’s one, there’s one,” because we all will continue to commit “sins”, but sin here means this powerful force like a disease that plagues humanity. This is also not saying no one literally seeks God (Acts 17:27). It’s more like saying that nobody seeks Him out of true, heartfelt repentance. It could also mean that no one seeks God successfully. The fact that religion or spirituality is so prevalent in America is a mark of human depravity. It is a myth that man in his natural state is genuinely seeking God. Men do seek God. But they do not seek him for who he is. They seek him in a pinch as one who might preserve them from death or enhance their worldly enjoyments. Apart from conversion, no one comes to the light of God.
John 3:19-21
This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.
Yes there are those who come to the light—namely those whose deeds are the work of God. "Wrought in God" means worked by God. Apart from this gracious work of God all men hate the light of God and will not come to him lest their evil be exposed—this is total rebellion.
If we find someone in this world like Cornelius (from Acts 10), who is praying and seeking, we have found someone in whom God’s grace is already at work, drawing and wooing.
Romans 1:18
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.
3. In his total rebellion everything man does is sin.
Romans 14:23
Whatever is not from faith is sin.
Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
Romans 7:18
For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.
So what Paul is saying is that apart from the work of God's Spirit all we think and feel and do is not good.
4. Man’s inability to submit to God and do good is total.
Romans 8:5-9
For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh [literally: “the mind of the flesh”] is death, but the mind set on the Spirit [literally: “the mind of the Spirit”] is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh [literally: “the mind of the flesh”] is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. The "mind of the flesh" is the mind of man apart from the indwelling Spirit of God. So we see that natural man has a mindset that does not and cannot submit to God. Man cannot reform himself.
However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
John 3:5-7
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’”
Until someone is born again, they are only flesh and only have the mind of the flesh.
Romans 6:17-18
But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
Ephesians 2:1-5
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).
The point of deadness is that we are incapable of any life with God.
Ephesians 4:17-18
So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart.
Our hearts are like a stone toward God.
John 6:44
No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.
1 Corinthians 2:14
But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately [incurably] sick; who can understand it?
Our hearts are blind and incapable of seeing the glory of God in Christ. It’s not like we can choose to do good and choose God, because we were born into sin and only God could pull us out. We were dead in sin, i.e. we were dead and could not do anything to do anything God-ward on our own. Natural man does not accept the things of God because they are foolish to him. He cannot understand them because they are spiritually appraised. The natural man is someone who is born of the flesh and does not walk in the spirit.
5. Our rebellion is totally deserving of eternal punishment.
Ephesians 2:3
Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
We are under God's wrath because of the corruption of our hearts that make us as good as dead before God.
2 Thessalonians 1:8-9
[God will] deal out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.
Matthew 25:46
These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
If these texts are true, then there must be something about us that’s pretty bad (totally depraved). The reality of hell is God's clear indictment of the infiniteness of our guilt. If our corruption were not deserving of an eternal punishment, God would be unjust to threaten us with a punishment so severe as eternal torment. But the Scriptures teach that God is just in condemning unbelievers to eternal hell. Therefore, to the extent that hell is a total sentence of condemnation, to that extent must we think of ourselves as totally blameworthy apart from the saving grace of God.
Summary and Conclusion
In summary, total depravity means that apart from any enabling grace from God, our hardness and rebellion against God is total, everything we do in this rebellion is sin, our inability to submit to God or reform ourselves is total, and we are therefore totally deserving of eternal punishment. It is hard to exaggerate the importance of admitting our condition to be this bad. If we think of ourselves as basically good or even less than totally at odds with God, our grasp of the work of God in redemption will be defective. But if we humble ourselves under this terrible truth of our total depravity, we will be in a position to see and appreciate the glory and wonder of the work of God discussed in the next four points.
Barring a barrage of questions or comments (lol), Thursday we will be taking a look at the grace of God.
(Sources include John Piper, Desiring God, and Travis Carden)
1 Timothy 1:15-17
It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
The importance of learning this doctrine is simply that it shows us how deeply rooted in sin humanity is and how far down God has to reach to bring us out from that deadly path. As a sin-filled species we can do nothing, unless we do it in Christ, to please the Father. All “good deeds” are sin to God unless Christ is in it. Even though throughout the day we don’t do all of the bad things that we could do, our depravity and sin state is not seen in relation to men, rather it is seen in relation to God.
It is crucial to see our depravity in relation to God.
1 Corinthians 10:31
Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
If we are to do everything to the glory of God then it’s not only when we do “bad” things that we fail but also when we do “good” things not to the glory of God. This also means that everyone that is not leaning on God does them (“good” and “bad” things) not for the glory of God, therefore everything they do is sin.
Romans 14:23
But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.
If whatever is not from faith is sin, then that means that unbelievers only sin. As John Piper puts it, if a pagan philanthropist builds a hospital in a third world country, we may say that it
is good, but God still says that it’s sin because it did not proceed from faith. People who ignore God in their good deeds offend God.
James 2:10-11
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. For He who said, “DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,” also said, “DO NOT COMMIT MURDER.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
Even if you keep 99.9% of God’s law and you missed it by .1% you are still a lawbreaker. If you keep 9 out of 10 commandments but your one law that you broke was that you were covetous over your neighbor’s car, then you looked into the face of the God who said “Do not covet”, you pondered His heart and His will and you said to that God “NO!”, and that same God you told “NO!” said all of the other commandments. The unity of the commandments is the unity of the person of God. Obedience is not a response to pieces of commandments, obedience is a response to a person, and if you look a person who has the authority of God in the face and He says “Here is the place where the battle is being fought, right here, covetousness, my will is for you to resist that, trust me, I will provide your needs, don’t yield to that,” and you say “I’m going to yield to this!” you have broken God, you have cut yourself off from God. If you try to justify yourself by saying “but I got 9 of 10 right!,” your really saying “I can pick and choose from God and His grocery list of commandments. The ones I want to do, I’ll do, and the ones I don’t want to do, I won’t do,” and that makes you a lawbreaker.
Human Depravity Is Total in at Least Five Senses
1. Depravity affects every human.
Romans 3:23
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
1 Kings 8:46
There is no man who does not sin.
Psalm 143:2
And do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for in Your sight no man living is righteous.
1 John 1:8
If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
The totality of this depravity embraces the entire human race.
2. Our rebellion or hardness against God is total, that is, apart from the grace of God there is no delight in the holiness of God, and there is no glad submission to the sovereign authority of God.
Romans 3:9-11, 18
What then? Are we (Jews) better than they (Gentiles)? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; as it is written, “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD . . . THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.”
Paul is not saying “sins” as in “here’s one, there’s one,” because we all will continue to commit “sins”, but sin here means this powerful force like a disease that plagues humanity. This is also not saying no one literally seeks God (Acts 17:27). It’s more like saying that nobody seeks Him out of true, heartfelt repentance. It could also mean that no one seeks God successfully. The fact that religion or spirituality is so prevalent in America is a mark of human depravity. It is a myth that man in his natural state is genuinely seeking God. Men do seek God. But they do not seek him for who he is. They seek him in a pinch as one who might preserve them from death or enhance their worldly enjoyments. Apart from conversion, no one comes to the light of God.
John 3:19-21
This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.
Yes there are those who come to the light—namely those whose deeds are the work of God. "Wrought in God" means worked by God. Apart from this gracious work of God all men hate the light of God and will not come to him lest their evil be exposed—this is total rebellion.
If we find someone in this world like Cornelius (from Acts 10), who is praying and seeking, we have found someone in whom God’s grace is already at work, drawing and wooing.
Romans 1:18
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.
3. In his total rebellion everything man does is sin.
Romans 14:23
Whatever is not from faith is sin.
Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
Romans 7:18
For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.
So what Paul is saying is that apart from the work of God's Spirit all we think and feel and do is not good.
4. Man’s inability to submit to God and do good is total.
Romans 8:5-9
For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh [literally: “the mind of the flesh”] is death, but the mind set on the Spirit [literally: “the mind of the Spirit”] is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh [literally: “the mind of the flesh”] is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. The "mind of the flesh" is the mind of man apart from the indwelling Spirit of God. So we see that natural man has a mindset that does not and cannot submit to God. Man cannot reform himself.
However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
John 3:5-7
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’”
Until someone is born again, they are only flesh and only have the mind of the flesh.
Romans 6:17-18
But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
Ephesians 2:1-5
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).
The point of deadness is that we are incapable of any life with God.
Ephesians 4:17-18
So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart.
Our hearts are like a stone toward God.
John 6:44
No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.
1 Corinthians 2:14
But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately [incurably] sick; who can understand it?
Our hearts are blind and incapable of seeing the glory of God in Christ. It’s not like we can choose to do good and choose God, because we were born into sin and only God could pull us out. We were dead in sin, i.e. we were dead and could not do anything to do anything God-ward on our own. Natural man does not accept the things of God because they are foolish to him. He cannot understand them because they are spiritually appraised. The natural man is someone who is born of the flesh and does not walk in the spirit.
5. Our rebellion is totally deserving of eternal punishment.
Ephesians 2:3
Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
We are under God's wrath because of the corruption of our hearts that make us as good as dead before God.
2 Thessalonians 1:8-9
[God will] deal out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.
Matthew 25:46
These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
If these texts are true, then there must be something about us that’s pretty bad (totally depraved). The reality of hell is God's clear indictment of the infiniteness of our guilt. If our corruption were not deserving of an eternal punishment, God would be unjust to threaten us with a punishment so severe as eternal torment. But the Scriptures teach that God is just in condemning unbelievers to eternal hell. Therefore, to the extent that hell is a total sentence of condemnation, to that extent must we think of ourselves as totally blameworthy apart from the saving grace of God.
Summary and Conclusion
In summary, total depravity means that apart from any enabling grace from God, our hardness and rebellion against God is total, everything we do in this rebellion is sin, our inability to submit to God or reform ourselves is total, and we are therefore totally deserving of eternal punishment. It is hard to exaggerate the importance of admitting our condition to be this bad. If we think of ourselves as basically good or even less than totally at odds with God, our grasp of the work of God in redemption will be defective. But if we humble ourselves under this terrible truth of our total depravity, we will be in a position to see and appreciate the glory and wonder of the work of God discussed in the next four points.
Barring a barrage of questions or comments (lol), Thursday we will be taking a look at the grace of God.
(Sources include John Piper, Desiring God, and Travis Carden)
Monday, August 11, 2008
Monday: On The Radar
After not posting last Monday for Music Monday I have thought about recalibrating my Monday blogs. I think that from now on Mondays will be for what I'm calling "On The Radar." This will not only be for posting music I have been listening to but also blogs I am finding interesting, sites I'm really digging, books I'm reading, and in general, what's on the horizon for the week. With that being said, here is what's currently on the radar...
Music:
Third Day - Show Me Your Glory
I've not been listening to much music this past week because I've been busy listening to my first audio book. Christianaudio.com has a free download each month and this month it is Confessions by Augustine of Hippo. Go to the site and click on "Free Downloads" and follow directions from there.
Blogs:
Fundamentally Reformed
The past few posts on this blog have been dealing with the alcohol debate and they have an interview with Kenneth Gentry, author of the book "God Gave Wine."
On The Horizon:
Tonight is going to be another great get together at the Young home. Last week we started this deal where anyone who wants to come by and hang out at the Young's is welcome to do so. When I get home, me and my boy Justin will watch WWE Raw on the DVR.
Tuesday will a fairly free day but I will be taking some time to prepare for Wed. night. What am I preparing for???
Wednesday night is "Theology Night w/ Ryan." We are going through Stanley Grenz's book "Theology for the Community of God." Should be a good start this Wed.
Thursday is fairly free right now.
Friday I am going to a wedding and getting things cleaned up around the crib before my folks get home from vacation.
Saturday I am heading down to the hills of Kentucky for a week to spend some more time w/ the fam there and to help my folks pack up and return home.
That's it for today. Check back tomorrow as we will dive deeper into the doctrines of God's sovereign grace by looking at why we need his grace, our totally depraved sinful nature. Until then...
Music:
Third Day - Show Me Your Glory
I've not been listening to much music this past week because I've been busy listening to my first audio book. Christianaudio.com has a free download each month and this month it is Confessions by Augustine of Hippo. Go to the site and click on "Free Downloads" and follow directions from there.
Blogs:
Fundamentally Reformed
The past few posts on this blog have been dealing with the alcohol debate and they have an interview with Kenneth Gentry, author of the book "God Gave Wine."
On The Horizon:
Tonight is going to be another great get together at the Young home. Last week we started this deal where anyone who wants to come by and hang out at the Young's is welcome to do so. When I get home, me and my boy Justin will watch WWE Raw on the DVR.
Tuesday will a fairly free day but I will be taking some time to prepare for Wed. night. What am I preparing for???
Wednesday night is "Theology Night w/ Ryan." We are going through Stanley Grenz's book "Theology for the Community of God." Should be a good start this Wed.
Thursday is fairly free right now.
Friday I am going to a wedding and getting things cleaned up around the crib before my folks get home from vacation.
Saturday I am heading down to the hills of Kentucky for a week to spend some more time w/ the fam there and to help my folks pack up and return home.
That's it for today. Check back tomorrow as we will dive deeper into the doctrines of God's sovereign grace by looking at why we need his grace, our totally depraved sinful nature. Until then...
Thursday, August 07, 2008
The Doctrines of Grace - Prologue Part 2
(Click here to read Part 1)
In this post I would like to take some time and review the history and main points of what has come to be known as Calvinsm.
Calvinism (sometimes called the Reformed tradition, the Reformed faith, or Reformed theology) is a theological system and an approach to the Christian life that emphasizes the rule of God over all things. While the reformed doctrines are completely Scriptural (as you will see in the coming weeks), the systematics of it were developed by theologians such as Martin Bucer, Heinrich Bullinger, Peter Martyr Vermigli, and Huldrych Zwingli and influenced English reformers such as Thomas Cranmer and John Jewel. It bears the name of the French reformer John Calvin because of his preeminent influence on it and because of his role in the confessional and ecclesiastical debates throughout the 16th century. Today, this term also refers to the doctrines and practices of the Reformed churches of which Calvin was an early leader.
The founder of the Arminian party was Jacob Arminius (1560-1609). Arminius came to reject certain reformed teachings. The controversy spread all over Holland, where the Reformed Church was the overwhelming majority. The Arminians drew up their creed in Five Articles, and laid them before the state authorities of Holland in 1610 under the name Remonstrance, signed by forty-six ministers.
The official reformed response came from the Synod of Dort, which was held to consider the Five Articles from November 13, 1618 to May 9, 1619. There were eighty-four members and eighteen secular commissioners. The Synod wrote what has come to be known as the Canons of Dort. These are still part of the church confession of the Reformed Church in America and the Christian Reformed Church. They state the Five Points of Calvinism in response to the Five Articles of the Arminian Remonstrants.
So the so-called Five Points were not chosen by the Calvinists as a summary of their teaching. They emerged as a response to the Arminians who chose these five points to oppose.
It is more important to give a positive Biblical position on the five points than to know the exact form of the original controversy. These five points are still at the heart of Biblical theology. They are not unimportant. Where we stand on these things deeply affects our view of God, man, salvation, the atonement, regeneration, assurance, worship, and missions.
Somewhere along the way the five points came to be summarized under the acronym TULIP.
T - Total Depravity
U - Unconditional Election
L - Limited Atonement (Definite Atonement)
I - Irresistible Grace
P - Perseverance of the Saints
The differences between the Calvinist and the Arminian on these five points are as follows...
Depravity: The Calvinist believes that people are so depraved and rebellious that they are unable to trust God without His special work of grace to change their hearts so that they necessarily and willingly believe; The Arminian believes that people are depraved and corrupt but are able to trust God with the general divine assistance that He gives to all people. God’s help is not decisive.
Election: The Calvinist believes that God has chosen unconditionally whom he will bring to faith and salvation out of their sin and depravity; The Arminian believes that God has chosen to bring to salvation all of those whose faith He foresaw.
Atonement: The Calvinist believes that in the death of Christ God provided a sufficient atonement for all but designed that it be efficient for the elect (meaning that it purchased for them the new covenant promise that God would work in His people the grace of faith and perseverance); The Arminian believes that in the death of Christ God provided a sufficient atonement for all and designed that it become efficient by virtue of faith (meaning that the faith itself is not a purchased gift, but that it is the human means of obtaining the gift of God’s forgiveness).
Grace (New Birth): The Calvinist believes that new birth is God’s work of renewal in our hearts which necessarily brings about the act of saving faith. Irresistible grace does not mean that God cannot be resisted, but it means that if God chooses He can in any given person overcome the resistance. You can resist God, and if He wills, He can let you resist Him right into hell, but He can also overcome the resistance; The Arminian believes that new birth is God’s work of renewal in our hearts in response to our act of saving faith.
Perseverance: The Calvinist believes that God works infallibly to preserve in faith all who are truly born again so that no one is ever lost; The Arminian believes that God works to preserve His people but does not always prevent some who were born again from falling away to destruction. There is no eternal security.
I will not follow this order in this presentation. There is a good rationale for this traditional order: it starts with man in need of salvation and then gives, in the order of their occurrence, the steps God takes to save his people. He elects, then he sends Christ to atone for the sins of the elect, then he irresistibly draws his people to faith, and finally works to cause them to persevere to the end.
It seems, however, that people grasp these points more easily if we follow a presentation based on the order in which we experience them.
1. We experience first our depravity and need of salvation.
2. Then we experience the irresistible grace of God leading us toward faith.
3. Then we trust the sufficiency of the atoning death of Christ for our sins.
4. Then we discover that behind the work of God to atone for our sins and bring us to faith was the unconditional election of God.
5. And finally we rest in his electing grace to give us the strength and will to persevere to the end in faith.
This is the order I will follow in this presentation.
I would like to spell out what I believe the Scripture teaches on these five points. My great desire is to honor God by understanding and believing his truth revealed in Scripture. I am open to changing any of these ideas which can be shown to contradict the truth of Scripture. I do not have any vested interest in John Calvin himself, and I find some of what he taught to be wrong. But in general I am willing to let myself be called a Calvinist on the five points, because I find the Calvinist position to be Biblical.
(Sources include Desiring God Ministries and Wikipedia)
On Tuesday I will move forward with this series by taking a look at the total depravity of man. The following questions will be looked at: Is man basically good or basically evil? Are people good deep down? Are men totally depraved? Is every faculty of the person corrupted? Can men do good when they want to? Are men at least born pure? What is the natural disposition of man toward God? Can man do anything to please God? Can the natural man comprehend the gospel or come to saving knowledge of God on his own? Can men of themselves accept God's gift of salvation? Do men choose God on their own? Can men do anything to help themselves?
Until then, Soli Deo gloria!!!
In this post I would like to take some time and review the history and main points of what has come to be known as Calvinsm.
Calvinism (sometimes called the Reformed tradition, the Reformed faith, or Reformed theology) is a theological system and an approach to the Christian life that emphasizes the rule of God over all things. While the reformed doctrines are completely Scriptural (as you will see in the coming weeks), the systematics of it were developed by theologians such as Martin Bucer, Heinrich Bullinger, Peter Martyr Vermigli, and Huldrych Zwingli and influenced English reformers such as Thomas Cranmer and John Jewel. It bears the name of the French reformer John Calvin because of his preeminent influence on it and because of his role in the confessional and ecclesiastical debates throughout the 16th century. Today, this term also refers to the doctrines and practices of the Reformed churches of which Calvin was an early leader.
The founder of the Arminian party was Jacob Arminius (1560-1609). Arminius came to reject certain reformed teachings. The controversy spread all over Holland, where the Reformed Church was the overwhelming majority. The Arminians drew up their creed in Five Articles, and laid them before the state authorities of Holland in 1610 under the name Remonstrance, signed by forty-six ministers.
The official reformed response came from the Synod of Dort, which was held to consider the Five Articles from November 13, 1618 to May 9, 1619. There were eighty-four members and eighteen secular commissioners. The Synod wrote what has come to be known as the Canons of Dort. These are still part of the church confession of the Reformed Church in America and the Christian Reformed Church. They state the Five Points of Calvinism in response to the Five Articles of the Arminian Remonstrants.
So the so-called Five Points were not chosen by the Calvinists as a summary of their teaching. They emerged as a response to the Arminians who chose these five points to oppose.
It is more important to give a positive Biblical position on the five points than to know the exact form of the original controversy. These five points are still at the heart of Biblical theology. They are not unimportant. Where we stand on these things deeply affects our view of God, man, salvation, the atonement, regeneration, assurance, worship, and missions.
Somewhere along the way the five points came to be summarized under the acronym TULIP.
T - Total Depravity
U - Unconditional Election
L - Limited Atonement (Definite Atonement)
I - Irresistible Grace
P - Perseverance of the Saints
The differences between the Calvinist and the Arminian on these five points are as follows...
Depravity: The Calvinist believes that people are so depraved and rebellious that they are unable to trust God without His special work of grace to change their hearts so that they necessarily and willingly believe; The Arminian believes that people are depraved and corrupt but are able to trust God with the general divine assistance that He gives to all people. God’s help is not decisive.
Election: The Calvinist believes that God has chosen unconditionally whom he will bring to faith and salvation out of their sin and depravity; The Arminian believes that God has chosen to bring to salvation all of those whose faith He foresaw.
Atonement: The Calvinist believes that in the death of Christ God provided a sufficient atonement for all but designed that it be efficient for the elect (meaning that it purchased for them the new covenant promise that God would work in His people the grace of faith and perseverance); The Arminian believes that in the death of Christ God provided a sufficient atonement for all and designed that it become efficient by virtue of faith (meaning that the faith itself is not a purchased gift, but that it is the human means of obtaining the gift of God’s forgiveness).
Grace (New Birth): The Calvinist believes that new birth is God’s work of renewal in our hearts which necessarily brings about the act of saving faith. Irresistible grace does not mean that God cannot be resisted, but it means that if God chooses He can in any given person overcome the resistance. You can resist God, and if He wills, He can let you resist Him right into hell, but He can also overcome the resistance; The Arminian believes that new birth is God’s work of renewal in our hearts in response to our act of saving faith.
Perseverance: The Calvinist believes that God works infallibly to preserve in faith all who are truly born again so that no one is ever lost; The Arminian believes that God works to preserve His people but does not always prevent some who were born again from falling away to destruction. There is no eternal security.
I will not follow this order in this presentation. There is a good rationale for this traditional order: it starts with man in need of salvation and then gives, in the order of their occurrence, the steps God takes to save his people. He elects, then he sends Christ to atone for the sins of the elect, then he irresistibly draws his people to faith, and finally works to cause them to persevere to the end.
It seems, however, that people grasp these points more easily if we follow a presentation based on the order in which we experience them.
1. We experience first our depravity and need of salvation.
2. Then we experience the irresistible grace of God leading us toward faith.
3. Then we trust the sufficiency of the atoning death of Christ for our sins.
4. Then we discover that behind the work of God to atone for our sins and bring us to faith was the unconditional election of God.
5. And finally we rest in his electing grace to give us the strength and will to persevere to the end in faith.
This is the order I will follow in this presentation.
I would like to spell out what I believe the Scripture teaches on these five points. My great desire is to honor God by understanding and believing his truth revealed in Scripture. I am open to changing any of these ideas which can be shown to contradict the truth of Scripture. I do not have any vested interest in John Calvin himself, and I find some of what he taught to be wrong. But in general I am willing to let myself be called a Calvinist on the five points, because I find the Calvinist position to be Biblical.
(Sources include Desiring God Ministries and Wikipedia)
On Tuesday I will move forward with this series by taking a look at the total depravity of man. The following questions will be looked at: Is man basically good or basically evil? Are people good deep down? Are men totally depraved? Is every faculty of the person corrupted? Can men do good when they want to? Are men at least born pure? What is the natural disposition of man toward God? Can man do anything to please God? Can the natural man comprehend the gospel or come to saving knowledge of God on his own? Can men of themselves accept God's gift of salvation? Do men choose God on their own? Can men do anything to help themselves?
Until then, Soli Deo gloria!!!
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