Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
Doctrines of Grace
These are the fundamental core truths about God, man's total depravity, grace and salvation, as taught in HolyWrit..thanks to http://www.the-highway.com/doctrinesofgrace.html
TOTAL DEPRAVITY
Man's depravity, as a result of the Fall, is total. All men are born into this world spiritually dead, blind, and deaf to the things of God; the sinner's heart is desperately corrupt. His will is not free; it is in bondage to his evil nature. Therefore, he has lost his ability to choose good over evil in the spiritual realm. It takes more than the Spirit's assistance to bring the sinner to Christ -it takes regeneration by which the Spirit makes the sinner alive and gives him a new nature. Faith is not something man contributes to salvation but is itself a part of God's gift of salvation - it is God's gift to the sinner, not the sinner's gift to God.
Psalm 51:5, 58:3; Isaiah 53:6, 64:6; Jeremiah 17:9; John 3:3, 8:44; Romans 3:10-12, 5:12; Ephesians 2:2-3; I Corinthians 2:14
UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION
God's choice of certain individuals unto salvation before the foundation of the world rested solely in His own sovereign will. His choice of particular sinners was not based on any foreseen response or obedience on their part, such as faith, repentance, etc. On the contrary, God gives faith and repentance to each individual whom He selected. These acts are the result, not the cause, of God's choice. Election, therefore, was not determined by or conditioned upon any virtuous quality or act foreseen in man. Those whom God sovereignly elected He brings through the power of the Spirit to a willing acceptance of Christ. Thus, God's choice of the sinner, not the sinner's choice of Christ, is the ultimate cause of salvation.
Deuteronomy 7:6-7; Isaiah 55:11; John 6:44, 15:16; Acts 13:48; Romans 8:28; 9:11-13; II Timothy 1:9
LIMITED ATONEMENT
Christ's death was a substitutionary endurance of the penalty of sin in the place of certain specified sinners. Christ's redeeming work was intended to save only the elect (those whom the Father had given him) and actually secured salvation for them. Christ's redemption secured everything necessary for the elect's salvation, including faith which unites them to Him. The elect are the sole object of God's saving grace.
Matthew 1:21, 20:28; John 10:14-18, 17:9; Acts 20:28; Romans 5:8-9; Titus 2:14; Revelation 5:9
IRRESISTIBLE GRACE
In addition to the outward general call to salvation which is made to everyone who hears the gospel, the Holy Spirit extends to the elect a special inward call that inevitably brings them to salvation. The external call (made without distinction) can be and is often rejected; whereas the internal call (made only to the elect) cannot be rejected; it always results in conversion. By means of this special call, the Spirit irresistibly draws sinners to Christ. He is not limited by man's will or dependent upon man's cooperation for success. The Spirit graciously causes the elect sinners to cooperate, to believe, to repent, and to come freely and willingly to Christ. God's grace, therefore, is invincible; it never fails to result in the salvation of those to whom it is extended.
Ezekiel 11:19-20; John 6:37; Romans 8:30; Colossians 2:13; James 1:18; Titus 3:5
PRESERVATION OF THE SAINTS
All who were chosen by God, redeemed by Christ, and given faith by the Spirit are eternally saved. They are kept in faith by the power of Almighty God and, thus, persevere to the end. Therefore, salvation is wholly dependent upon the God who has willed to save those whom He gave to His dear Son. Their salvation can never be lost. The elect are kept by God's power through faith, and nothing can separate them from His love. They have been sealed with the Holy Spirit who has been given as the guarantee of their salvation, and they are thus assured of an eternal inheritance. This doctrine does not maintain that all who profess the Christian faith are certain of heaven. Many who profess belief and then “fall away” do not fall from grace; they were never in grace. True believers fall into various temptations and commit grievous sins, but these sins do not cause them to lose their salvation or separate them from Christ.
Isaiah 43:1-3; Jeremiah 32:40; Romans 8:35-39; Ephesians 1:13-14; I Thessalonians 5:23-24; Jude 24-25
CONCLUSION
Salvation is accomplished by the almighty power of the Triune God. The Father chose a people, the Son died for them, and the Holy Spirit makes Christ's death effective by bringing the elect to faith and repentance, thereby causing them to willingly obey the gospel. The entire process of election, redemption, and regeneration is the work of God and is by His grace alone. Thus God, not man, determines who will be the recipients of the gift of salvation
John 1:12-13; John 15:16; Romans 9:14-16; Ephesians 1:2-14
TOTAL DEPRAVITY
Man's depravity, as a result of the Fall, is total. All men are born into this world spiritually dead, blind, and deaf to the things of God; the sinner's heart is desperately corrupt. His will is not free; it is in bondage to his evil nature. Therefore, he has lost his ability to choose good over evil in the spiritual realm. It takes more than the Spirit's assistance to bring the sinner to Christ -it takes regeneration by which the Spirit makes the sinner alive and gives him a new nature. Faith is not something man contributes to salvation but is itself a part of God's gift of salvation - it is God's gift to the sinner, not the sinner's gift to God.
Psalm 51:5, 58:3; Isaiah 53:6, 64:6; Jeremiah 17:9; John 3:3, 8:44; Romans 3:10-12, 5:12; Ephesians 2:2-3; I Corinthians 2:14
UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION
God's choice of certain individuals unto salvation before the foundation of the world rested solely in His own sovereign will. His choice of particular sinners was not based on any foreseen response or obedience on their part, such as faith, repentance, etc. On the contrary, God gives faith and repentance to each individual whom He selected. These acts are the result, not the cause, of God's choice. Election, therefore, was not determined by or conditioned upon any virtuous quality or act foreseen in man. Those whom God sovereignly elected He brings through the power of the Spirit to a willing acceptance of Christ. Thus, God's choice of the sinner, not the sinner's choice of Christ, is the ultimate cause of salvation.
Deuteronomy 7:6-7; Isaiah 55:11; John 6:44, 15:16; Acts 13:48; Romans 8:28; 9:11-13; II Timothy 1:9
LIMITED ATONEMENT
Christ's death was a substitutionary endurance of the penalty of sin in the place of certain specified sinners. Christ's redeeming work was intended to save only the elect (those whom the Father had given him) and actually secured salvation for them. Christ's redemption secured everything necessary for the elect's salvation, including faith which unites them to Him. The elect are the sole object of God's saving grace.
Matthew 1:21, 20:28; John 10:14-18, 17:9; Acts 20:28; Romans 5:8-9; Titus 2:14; Revelation 5:9
IRRESISTIBLE GRACE
In addition to the outward general call to salvation which is made to everyone who hears the gospel, the Holy Spirit extends to the elect a special inward call that inevitably brings them to salvation. The external call (made without distinction) can be and is often rejected; whereas the internal call (made only to the elect) cannot be rejected; it always results in conversion. By means of this special call, the Spirit irresistibly draws sinners to Christ. He is not limited by man's will or dependent upon man's cooperation for success. The Spirit graciously causes the elect sinners to cooperate, to believe, to repent, and to come freely and willingly to Christ. God's grace, therefore, is invincible; it never fails to result in the salvation of those to whom it is extended.
Ezekiel 11:19-20; John 6:37; Romans 8:30; Colossians 2:13; James 1:18; Titus 3:5
PRESERVATION OF THE SAINTS
All who were chosen by God, redeemed by Christ, and given faith by the Spirit are eternally saved. They are kept in faith by the power of Almighty God and, thus, persevere to the end. Therefore, salvation is wholly dependent upon the God who has willed to save those whom He gave to His dear Son. Their salvation can never be lost. The elect are kept by God's power through faith, and nothing can separate them from His love. They have been sealed with the Holy Spirit who has been given as the guarantee of their salvation, and they are thus assured of an eternal inheritance. This doctrine does not maintain that all who profess the Christian faith are certain of heaven. Many who profess belief and then “fall away” do not fall from grace; they were never in grace. True believers fall into various temptations and commit grievous sins, but these sins do not cause them to lose their salvation or separate them from Christ.
Isaiah 43:1-3; Jeremiah 32:40; Romans 8:35-39; Ephesians 1:13-14; I Thessalonians 5:23-24; Jude 24-25
CONCLUSION
Salvation is accomplished by the almighty power of the Triune God. The Father chose a people, the Son died for them, and the Holy Spirit makes Christ's death effective by bringing the elect to faith and repentance, thereby causing them to willingly obey the gospel. The entire process of election, redemption, and regeneration is the work of God and is by His grace alone. Thus God, not man, determines who will be the recipients of the gift of salvation
John 1:12-13; John 15:16; Romans 9:14-16; Ephesians 1:2-14
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
"A Reprobate Mind"
This study of Romans 1 comes from Jon Cardwell at Justification by Grace. This post focuses on the reprobate mind...
The New American Standard Bible translates the verse in this way: “And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper.” Fallen, sinful, unsaved, and unrepentant men didn’t care anything about God to even acknowledge Him. Interestingly, this is worse than someone who claims to be an atheist, a person who vehemently opposes the existence of God. The atheist, at the very least through their denials and opposition, acknowledge that others believe in God; which in itself is some acknowledgement of God. The people spoken of in this passage are far worse than that; they don’t even acknowledge God and care nothing for Him or about Him.
So the mind was reprobate and depraved. The fall of mankind, through Adam’s disobedience, corrupted every area of the human condition. Man did not become as bad as he could possibly be; however, man’s depravity was so complete that sin touched and tainted every area of fallen man’s being. That which allowed him to act out his sinfulness was his depraved mind. The Greek word, translated “mind” here, is also translated “understanding” and refers to the seat of the will and the home of one’s intellect.
When a man’s mind goes, then his will corresponds wherever his mind has gone; and if God has given the heathen over to reprobate minds, those sinners will act upon their depravity. This is why the reading, preaching, hearing, studying and meditating upon the Word of God is so very, very important; for it is by the Word of God that the Lord cleanses and sanctifies His church (Ephesians 5:26; John 17:17).
The apostle then presents a list of things “which are not convenient,” or “those things which are not proper” (NASB), in the verses that follow in this chapter, which are found here...
The New American Standard Bible translates the verse in this way: “And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper.” Fallen, sinful, unsaved, and unrepentant men didn’t care anything about God to even acknowledge Him. Interestingly, this is worse than someone who claims to be an atheist, a person who vehemently opposes the existence of God. The atheist, at the very least through their denials and opposition, acknowledge that others believe in God; which in itself is some acknowledgement of God. The people spoken of in this passage are far worse than that; they don’t even acknowledge God and care nothing for Him or about Him.
So the mind was reprobate and depraved. The fall of mankind, through Adam’s disobedience, corrupted every area of the human condition. Man did not become as bad as he could possibly be; however, man’s depravity was so complete that sin touched and tainted every area of fallen man’s being. That which allowed him to act out his sinfulness was his depraved mind. The Greek word, translated “mind” here, is also translated “understanding” and refers to the seat of the will and the home of one’s intellect.
When a man’s mind goes, then his will corresponds wherever his mind has gone; and if God has given the heathen over to reprobate minds, those sinners will act upon their depravity. This is why the reading, preaching, hearing, studying and meditating upon the Word of God is so very, very important; for it is by the Word of God that the Lord cleanses and sanctifies His church (Ephesians 5:26; John 17:17).
The apostle then presents a list of things “which are not convenient,” or “those things which are not proper” (NASB), in the verses that follow in this chapter, which are found here...
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Stand Firm as the Day of the Lord Approacheth
by Mike Ratliff
So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. (2 Thessalonians 2:15 ESV)
Last evening I watched the movie “The Nativity” instead of writing. I needed the break I suppose. I was somewhat tired and felt quite beaten down. However, as I watched the story of the advent of my Saviour as a helpless baby into this fallen, evil, and cruel world, I pondered the grace, the incredible love our Lord has for His people that He would become the atoning sacrifice to save them from their sins. This encouraged me as I put into perspective that temporal focus of most professing Christians this time of year as opposed to the call for each of us to deny ourselves, take up our crosses and follow our Lord. At the urging of a dear sister in Christ, I also listened to a sermon by Paul Washer. This more than confirmed what I had learned as I listened to the Holy Spirit during the movie.
The crux of the message I have been receiving from our Lord over the last several weeks is that genuine Christianity is vastly different than the religiosity and Churchianity all around us.
continue reading here...
So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. (2 Thessalonians 2:15 ESV)
Last evening I watched the movie “The Nativity” instead of writing. I needed the break I suppose. I was somewhat tired and felt quite beaten down. However, as I watched the story of the advent of my Saviour as a helpless baby into this fallen, evil, and cruel world, I pondered the grace, the incredible love our Lord has for His people that He would become the atoning sacrifice to save them from their sins. This encouraged me as I put into perspective that temporal focus of most professing Christians this time of year as opposed to the call for each of us to deny ourselves, take up our crosses and follow our Lord. At the urging of a dear sister in Christ, I also listened to a sermon by Paul Washer. This more than confirmed what I had learned as I listened to the Holy Spirit during the movie.
The crux of the message I have been receiving from our Lord over the last several weeks is that genuine Christianity is vastly different than the religiosity and Churchianity all around us.
continue reading here...
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Be Watchful
I respect my brothers and sisters in Christ who hold to a different view than I do concerning the bible's teaching on being caught up to meet our Lord in the air. I am posting this article by Terry James for the edification of all, however, I will not get into a debate over pre or post-mil views. That's not what this blog is for; my goal is to serve Christ, and to edify and encourage those who belong to Him.
Rapture Readying
Terry James
This Wednesday (December 16), The History Channel is supposed to air a program as part of its series, "The Nostradamus Effect." The topic of the program will be "The Rapture." It is the program for which I was asked to interview, and did so last June.
The program was first scheduled, according to the documentary's project co-producer, for Wednesday, December 2. It was then moved to Wednesday, December 9, and finally, I was alerted that it will be aired this Wednesday (December 16).
While the move of the program's air date is frustrating in that we must keep changing our announcement to you, it is nonetheless interesting to observe that the program's delay allows for further developments on the world and national scenes that make us know the time of the Rapture itself is drawing ever nearer - thus the title of this commentary, "Rapture Readying.."
That's exactly how I view things that have been developing for these past months. The world is readying for the Rapture of the church of Jesus Christ. The fact is increasingly obvious to those who put their spiritual hearts and minds into observing the issues and events of these recent times, looking with spiritual eyes through the prism of biblical prophetic truth.
continue reading here...
Rapture Readying
Terry James
This Wednesday (December 16), The History Channel is supposed to air a program as part of its series, "The Nostradamus Effect." The topic of the program will be "The Rapture." It is the program for which I was asked to interview, and did so last June.
The program was first scheduled, according to the documentary's project co-producer, for Wednesday, December 2. It was then moved to Wednesday, December 9, and finally, I was alerted that it will be aired this Wednesday (December 16).
While the move of the program's air date is frustrating in that we must keep changing our announcement to you, it is nonetheless interesting to observe that the program's delay allows for further developments on the world and national scenes that make us know the time of the Rapture itself is drawing ever nearer - thus the title of this commentary, "Rapture Readying.."
That's exactly how I view things that have been developing for these past months. The world is readying for the Rapture of the church of Jesus Christ. The fact is increasingly obvious to those who put their spiritual hearts and minds into observing the issues and events of these recent times, looking with spiritual eyes through the prism of biblical prophetic truth.
continue reading here...
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
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