Tag Archives: salvation

Grace is Shorthand for God’s Freedom in Our Utter Inability

Posted on by

The grace of God in bestowing this gift is most free. It was what God was under no obligation to bestow. He might have rejected fallen man, as he did the fallen angels. It was what we never did anything to merit: ’twas given while we were yet enemies, and before we had so much as repented. It was from the love of God that saw excellency in us to attract it; and it was without expectation of ever being rewarded for it… And ’tis from mere grace that the benefits of Christ are applied to such and such particular persons. Those that are called and sanctified are to attribute it alone to the good pleasure of God’s goodness, by which they are distinguished. He is sovereign and hath mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will, he hardens.

Jonathan Edwards, God Glorified in Man’s Dependence, 204.

What I Believe About the Five Points of Calvinism: Perseverance of the Saints

Posted on by

I believe in the perseverance of the saints meaning that everyone who is redeemed by Jesus Christ will endure faithfully to the end and those of whom have fallen asleep will be raised.

Clarification: This is not to say that everyone who makes a ‘profession of faith’ in Jesus Christ will endure to the end, but only those who are elect in Christ, that is, those who possess saving faith which is manifested by the fruit of faithfulness, by grace alone (Eph 4:17-32; Col 3:1-17; 1 John 2:19).

The perseverance of the saints is the conclusive act of God in the Christian doctrine of salvation. Salvation is the work of the triune God to bring sinful humans into saving fellowship. The perseverance of the saints highlights the Spirit’s activity in perfecting the salvation of the individual as it is the Father who elects, the Son who reconciles, and the Spirit who perfects (Eph 1:11-14).

The perseverance of the saints underlines the role of God in his faithfulness to completely redeem the elect (Phil 1:6). God’s faithfulness is repeatedly highlighted in the Psalter. The hesed of the LORD is translated as “steadfast love” or “covenant faithfulness” Ps 5:7; 6:4; 13:5; 17:7; 18:50; 21:7; 25:6-7, 10; 26:3; 31:7, 16, 21; 32:10; 33:5, 18, 22; 36:5, 7, 10; 40:10-11; 42:8; 44:26; 48:9; 51:1; 52:1, 8; 57:3, 10; 59:10, 16-17; 61:7; 62:12; 63:3; 66:20; 69:13, 16; 77:8; 85:7, 10; 86:5, 13, 15; 88:11; 89:1-2, 14, 24, 28, 33, 49; 90:14; 92:2; 94:18; 98:3; 100:5; 101:1; 103:4, 8, 11, 17; 106:1, 7, 45; 107:1, 8, 15, 21, 31, 43; 108:4; 109:21, 26; 115:1; 117:2-118:4; 118:29; 119:41, 64, 76, 88, 124, 149, 159; 130:7; 136:1-26; 138:2, 8; 143:8, 12; 144:2; 145:8; 147:11).

This reality of God’s faithfulness assures the believer of his salvation. This assurance is not rooted in the believer’s ability to remain faithful in himself, but is utterly dependent upon Christ’s continual intercession and the testimony of the Holy Spirit (Lk 22:32; Rom 8:15-17). On God rests our salvation and our glory; our mighty rock, our refuge is God (Psalms 62:7 ). Salvation is the work of God from unconditional election to the consummation of the kingdom and the recreation of the cosmos and this work absolutely cannot be thwarted (1 Cor 1:8-9; Jn. 6:37-40; 10:27-28; 17:12; 18:9; 2 Tim 4:7; 1 Pet 1:5; Jude 24-25; Rom 8:31-39).

What I Believe About the Five Points of Calvinism: Irresistible Grace

Posted on by

I believe in the irresistible grace of God meaning that God’s calling of an individual to salvation is effectual and cannot be resisted by the individual’s will.

Clarification: This is not to say that God’s grace cannot be resisted, for perhaps many of the elect refused the offer of salvation, or outward call, before they were eventually converted. A more accurate title would be “effectual calling.” The offer of salvation can be resisted, but the call of God through the offer of salvation will be effective and cannot be deterred by the will of man (Acts 2:39; 9:1-19; Rom 9:11; 1 Tim 6:12).

The effectual call is the third act of God in the Christian doctrine of salvation. Salvation is the work of the triune God to bring sinful humans into saving fellowship. The effectual call highlights the Spirit’s activity in salvation as it is the Father who elects, the Son who reconciles, and the Spirit who perfects (Eph 1:7-10; Jn 3:3-8).

The effectual call of God is does not require any human assent or cooperation prior to its action in the life of the individual. Contrary to Canon Four of the Council of Trent, depraved man cannot prepare himself or dispose himself towards obtaining this call, nor can he refuse this call if he wishes (Eph 2:4; 2 Cor 4:6; Jn 3:8). However, neither is the will entirely passive. The effectual call of God does not regenerate the individual apart from his will, but it transforms the individuals will with the gift of faith to embrace the gospel and confess Jesus Christ as Lord (Acts 9:1-19; Phil. 3:7-11; Rom 10:9; 1 Cor 12:3).

What I Believe About the Five Points of Calvinism: Limited Atonement

Posted on by

I believe in the limited atonement of Jesus Christ meaning that the wrath-bearing and sin-removing death of Jesus Christ on the cross was to accomplish the redemption of a particular people, namely, those who were elected in Christ before the foundations of the world and therefore respond to the gospel by faith.

Clarification: The death of Jesus Christ is not limited in its general benevolence towards all mankind, yet it is particularly effective and purposefully designed for the salvation of those who have been chosen in Christ before the foundations of the world (Exod. 17:1-7; 1 Cor 10:4).

The atonement of Jesus Christ is the center of the second act of the Christian doctrine of salvation. Salvation is the work of the triune God to bring sinful humans into His eternal fellowship. Limited atonement describes the activity of the Son to reconcile sinful humans as it is the Father who elects, the Son who reconciles, and the Spirit who perfects (Eph 1:7-10).

The death of Jesus Christ was a historical event that accomplished the salvation of those of whom the Father had chosen in Him and the Spirit would regenerate from every tribe, language, people, and nation (Jn. 10:11-13, 15, 17; 11:51-52; Eph 5:25-27; Acts 20:28; Matt. 1:21; 20:28; Isa 53:10; Ps 22; Titus 2:14; Rev. 5:9). The specificity and definitive language of Christ’s death maximizes its significance as an accomplished purchase of sinners rather than an option offered to the corrupted will of man. This view of the atonement best corresponds to the nature of Christ’s death as penal-substitutionary and propitiatory. Jesus Christ took the place of a particular people and bore the wrath deserved by a particular people so that that particular people are no longer condemned. The atonement of Jesus Christ for his church is actualized by individuals when they respond by faith to the hearing of the Word (Rom 10:17).

Because the death of Jesus Christ was effective to save a particular people, the proclamation of the gospel should go out towards all men from every tribe, tongue, people, and nations on the grounds that the hearers who have been appointed to eternal life will believe (Matt 22:9; Rom 10:17; Acts 13:48; 18:10; Rev 5:9).

Grace is a Master and How That Trumps Our Stupid Folk Religion

Posted on by

“I will not accept a bull from your house or goats from your folds. For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine.
“If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine.”
(Psalms 50:9-12)

Folk religion is an interesting phenomenon. It is something like the syncretism of superstition and legitimate religious doctrine. It is not Scripture-oriented. It is saturated with the practical. It is the scribbles of life removed from the realm of true truth. It develops over time, like a fungus. It contaminates our perception of reality. Here is one incentive for the person reformata semper reformanda.

What does a person really think about God if they believe that their attempt to do good things really accrues his favor? Is God so needy that the only way he is capable of giving us good is when we have paid our dues? Is the triune God who is sovereign over everything like a pool membership?

“Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” (Romans 11:35)

God does not want your stupid bull or goat or month of perfect attendance or successful week on your Bible-reading plan. He wants you. How have we forgotten that? We have been breathing in too much of the wrong air. Where are we hearing this stuff that we need to feed God? Who is promising people out there the favor of God if only they would do _____. Or give _____. Or act _____. Or stop _____?

God will have none of it. He says so.

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23-24)

God will stop your doing and giving and acting and stopping. If you will be justified, you will be justified by his grace as a gift. There are no options here. It is grace as a gift or it is suffering under His righteous wrath forever. It is threatening, isn’t it? To know that it is all of grace requires a submission that is not expected if you are allowed to pay your subscription. Grace is a master like that. It is a purely Christian concept.

Something is Better Than Eating With Pigs: This is My Plea for You to Come Home

Posted on by

It is not that eating with pigs is undesirable. The text is clear, “And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate…” (Luke 15:16). The kid really wanted some food. He wanted it so bad that he longed to share with the pigs. And it is precisely at this point that he “comes to himself” (v. 17). His eyes were opened.

But how did that happen? How did he move from kneeling shoulder to shoulder with pigs, grappling for their slop, to suddenly getting up and making his way back to his father? It was not his pathetic situation that led him there. He did not bemoan his condition until he considered another one.

It was not the sight of the pigs, the taste of the food, or the smell of air around him that made him come to himself. It was the reality that there is something out there that is better. The thought occurred: My father has hired servants who have more than enough bread. My father has a table that is loaded with good food, in the company of those who love me. And I am here? Here with the pigs.

It became obvious. He desired what is better. Something other than what he experienced was better and therefore he left the pig food and went back home. The impetus behind that journey back home was not the pigs, it was the superiority of the life that awaited him. It was just better. Just plain better.

Here is my plea to you. You will never look around you and see the pigs or notice the stench, unless your eyes are opened to realize that there is something better out there. Please come home. God has showed his love for you in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us. He has made all the moves here and is eager to run and embrace and kiss (15:20). There is a table spread for you. There is a feast of celebration that is planned for you. Come home. Embrace Jesus Christ as your God and Savior. Enter the feast and belong to the one in whose presence there is fullness of joy, at whose right hand are pleasures forevermore.

How Heavy Was That Stone?

Posted on by

“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26)

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2Corinthians 5:21)

Q: What is the relationship between these two verses? More specifically, what is the relationship between the sin that Jesus bore and our hearts of stone that God removed?

A: Jesus bearing our sins was Jesus taking our hearts of stone, as it were.

Where else do you think it went when God removed it? The heart is what caused all the damage—the icy, obstinate stone that hated God and worshiped Self. How heavy do you think it was? The perfect Son of God who had enjoyed an infinity of communion with the Father, incomprehensibly perfect and holy and good and lovely. This One took our heart of stone. He took the heart and all the wreckage it caused. He took it upon Himself—the heart of cursing and fist-shaking, vanities and idolatry. Our heart became his heart. How heavy do you think it was? What kind of pain do you think he felt? We cannot fathom.

Where is it now? The wrath of God must have incinerated it. Maybe it melted into the Son’s bloodstream and dripped from the cross, soaking into the Jerusalem soil. All we know is that it is gone—“removed.” That stone is gone and another was rolled away so that when God spoke to your soul—“Let light shine out of darkness!”—the light shone.

Praise Him!

On That Friday: He Sought Those Who Sought Him Not

Posted on by

Christ undertook the cause when it was given up for lost: undertook to bring those to themselves that were lost to God and all goodness. Observe: Christ came into this lost world to seek and save it. His design was to save, when there was not salvation in any other. In prosecution of that design, he sought, taking all probable means to effect that salvation. He seeks those that were not worth seeking; he seeks those that sought him not, and asked not for him.

Matthew Henry, Commentaries
(‘Thought for Good Friday’ from The City, go here subscribe)

Jesus Christ, the Family, and What the Inferior Bond I Share with My Children Means for How I Live

Posted on by

Mark 3:31   And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 32 And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” 33 And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

How we understand the  covenant community will affect the way that we understand our own families, in particular, how our unregenerate children relate to us in a subordinate bond to that of our spiritual brethren. (I tried to be careful there–most people won’t like that).

Jesus has redefined “family” in Mark 3. “Family” are those who do the will of the Father (v. 35). Jesus is gathering a new community, a new family, that will transcend everything else. There is a bond that I share with a brother or sister in Christ that is superior to the bond that I currently share with my own daughter who does not yet have a new heart.

I am perfectly happy with saying this. The implication is even more glorious…

First, what it is NOT. The implication is not that Jesus has abolished the family. Absolutely not. There is just something sweeter now. And just because this one bond is sweeter does not mean that I choose Church over family. That is the worry, right? The supposed implication that makes us recoil at what I previously said is that we think it means that now I should choose the Church over my children. Superiority in bond does not equal importance, nor does it prioritize my efforts.

Quite the contrary, knowing that this superior bond is lacking between my daughters and I does not bump them down on the list, it puts them on the top! My home is currently a mission field. Do you get that? Giving the gospel to my children is the greatest calling on my life.

Mark 3:31-35 makes me love the Church more, and it makes me pour out my life for the sake of my children.

The Reason Why I Decided Not to Terminate my ‘Christian Blog’

Posted on by

I am broken either way, blog or no blog, and Jesus saved me.

The problem of distractions in prayer is the problem of my own sin. If it were not the blog then it would be something else. I’d be too much of an idealist to think that terminating my blog would then allow me to come to God in a way other than messed up.

The blog is not what makes by mind fragmented, affections askew, and my heart cold. That is my sin. That is why I need the cross. I do not, indeed, I cannot, come to God any other way. There I am, a mess with my heart laid out bare before Him. My mind chasing every little thought that comes by, a blog post or dinner that night or why the book of Leviticus is a lesser favorite than the Psalter…

And there I am, a sinner in need of salvation. A sinner who needs to get out of himself and look to the work of Jesus Christ. And look again. (That would make a good post.) Look again. And again. And again. (Post the ‘again and again’ part, too.) Look again. And come to write the post while looking again.

I pray broken and I write broken, and I pray and write as one saved only because of the work of Jesus Christ for me. Still looking, by His grace.