Aug 22 0 comments
free will, predestination, salvation

on salvation (part 1)

Recently I was put a bit a miss and lost for words in response to a couple of people putting forward a view on salvation different from predestination and free will. A third way if you will pardon the miss-use of the term. This position put forward that salvation is not only 100% of God, it is also 100% of man. I had never heard of this one before! Naturally I was curious and decided to let the proponents put forward their view. Till this day I’m still confused as to the matter. From what I can gather it was a modified reformed position to attempt to deal with the criticisms of “we’re not robots” and “that’s cold, mean and heartless”. I will also add here that there will most likely be several blog posts on the subject as I become more familiar with the views involved. So, this first post will be a positive post on the view of predestination.

To begin with, lets look at Ephesians 1:3-14 which is detailed bellow.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Lets take note of a couple of key points which are shown in the above passage, namely:

  • He chose us in him before the foundation of the world (v4)
  • We should be blameless before him (v4)
  • in love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus (v4-5)
  • predestined … according to the purpose of his will (v5)
  • predestined … to the praise of his glorious grace (v5-6)
  • he has blessed us in the Beloved (v6)
  • redemption through his blood and the forgiveness of our trespasses are according to the riches of his grace (v7)
  • redemption and forgiveness are lavished upon us (v7-8)
  • they are lavished upon us in all wisdom and insight to make known the mystery of his will set forth in Christ (v8-9)
  • Our inheritance is predestined (v11)
  • Predestination occurs according the will of God (v11)
  • Our hope in Christ, having been predestined, might be to the praise of his glory (v11-12)
  • Having heard the word, were sealed in him with the promised Holy Spirit (v13)
  • The promised Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance (v14)
  • All to the praise of his glory (v14)

There is such depth in the passage, not only with regard to predestination but also to salvation and Gods will. Yet, we must unpack what it says about salvation and the positive position it casts on predestination. Some detractors may highlight verse 13 where it says “… and believed in him …” though that is simply taking the small part of that verse out of context.

From the passage, it is clear that God’s sovereign choice of who will believe is set forth before the foundation of the world. Before anything began, God chose to set his love upon people. This love is not just a “I love you mate” type love but rather a love that has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. That is, his love is a love that predestines to salvation. Every blessing that is ours through the adoption of sons and gaining of an inheritance is done for God’s praise and glory. It is his glory that is ultimate, not ours.

Having looked at Ephesians 1:3-14 it is also important to have a look at what is said about predestination with less relation (though still some relation) to the subject of salvation. The first passage is Acts 4:27-31 which relates predestination to God’s sovereign will and choice over all creation. Predestination is related again to God choosing and causing events to happen. This is not God looking down the span of time and seeing that something would happen and then predestining it to occur. It is God purposefully causing things to occur.

The second passage is more closely related to salvation (well, directly related in that is talks about election). This passage is Romans 9:11-12. It talks about Essau and Jacob. It was God’s will that the older would serve the younger.

If we turn back to the issue of salvation and predestination we get a reaffirmation of predestination being different from foreknowledge (even though the two are used in the same sentence) in Romans 8:29-30.

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

The second verse shows predestination involves calling. It is an act of God and yet one that causes a great response of joy rather than one of remorse.

But the question still remains. What is mans participation in salvation? Is he complicit? Does he merit it through faith? From the passages examined (I’m sure there are more than just those, but they escape my memory at this moment) it is clear that the act of choice is solely on the part of God. The passages show that God not only chose us, he also called us to be sons (and daughters) in Christ.

It is there that I shall leave the discussion. Much more reading needs to be done to cover the rest of the discussion.

God bless,

Matt.

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Aug 19 NO comments
baptism, church

On Baptism

This post is in response to a couple of remarks made about Baptism on facebook. The first was a quote from Mark Driscoll that was nonsensical and funny. This sparked a small back and forth that showed that I didn’t really understand the theology relating to baptism. The second was having done some reading and making a decision in favour of believers baptism (credobaptism) instead of infant baptism (paedobaptism). Before the start of the week I held to the latter, I now hold to the former having read and considered the issue. Some people will cry ‘but you haven’t given it enough consideration’ or ‘what about this part of scripture’. I don’t claim to have written a doctrinal thesis on the matter so please feel free to respond and put your case forward. I have though considered what Wayne Grudum and Louis Berkhof have to say in their systematic theologies. I’ve also read what John Calvin has to say in his Institutes of the Christian Religion.

The first consideration is to define, positively, what is meant by Baptism. It is a sacrament, or ordinance if you prefer that term, that symbolises the death of a believer in Jesus and subsequently being raised to new life. It is an outward sign of an inward work of God to change a persons life.

Some of you may note that I placed in the term ‘believer’ there. Having done that am I not ruling out infant baptism by definition? No. Paedobaptists believe that baptism of an infant to a covenant believing family is a sign of the future promise that God may bring about the salvation of the subject of the baptism.

So what does the Bible say about the symbolism of baptism? The passages I want to highlight are Romans 6:3-4 and Colossians 2:12. They clearly talk about how those are baptised are baptised into Christ’s death and resurrection. There is further the promise, in baptism, of being raised to new life in Jesus. Baptism shows the joyful reality of salvation in Jesus Christ alone. It is something to rejoice in. Though baptism doesn’t save. It is Jesus that saves. He is the one who died for our sins and rose again. Baptism is the symbolisation of that reality.

The contentious issue is that of who should be the recipients of baptism. Though I advocate believers baptism I by no means say that those who hold to infant baptism are heretical or reprobate. I was baptised as an infant myself and even confirmed. Both occurred without holding a sound understanding of the Gospel, though in God’s grace he did bring about a saving faith in the finished work of his son Jesus who is the Christ.

This issue of the recipients of baptism is best answered by looking at what the Bible records for us about the administration of the sacrament of Baptism. The first occurrence is found in Acts 2:41 which shows us that those who received the word were baptised. Acts 8:12 shows that those who were baptised had believed Philip who preached the good news about the Kingdom of God. In Acts 8:36 the Ethiopian Eunuch asks what prevents him from being Baptised having just listened to Philip explain how Jesus is the one referred to in Isaiah 53. There are several more cases of those who believe being baptised such as Cornelius and those of his household in Acts 10, Lydia in Acts 16:14-15 and the Philippian Jailer in Acts 16:32-33. Now these later occurrences do mention whole households coming to faith, though are silent on the issue of whether children were baptised as part of that. What they do mention is that Baptism was done in response to having heard and believed.

So, if baptism is a symbolism of being united with Christ in his death and resurrection, it makes us members of a community. That community is often referred to as the covenant community. In the Old Testament it was circumcision that symbolised membership. In the New Testament it is Baptism. Circumcision showed that you were born into a community and gained access as such. Baptism shows that you are granted access having faith in Jesus. In Galatians 3:29 it is clear that we are members of the covenant community (Abraham’s heirs) through faith in Jesus. Romans 4:11-12 backs this up showing that Abraham, through faith, is the father of the uncircumcised as well as the circumcised. Colossians 2:17 shows that circumcision is a shadow of the things to come but the substance belongs to Jesus. It is clear that Baptism is the sign of membership instead of circumcision. Though do the same rules apply? Are we to baptise our infants so that they are members of the covenant community? No, as the criteria for membership is different from the Old Testament to the New Testament. The Old Testament had the criteria of being born into the community. The New Testament has criteria of being the recipient of saving faith. Yes, it is true that receiving saving faith is being born from above but that is still no reason say that the same rules apply.

Now, some may come back and say that not all who were circumcised in the old covenant were saved. That is true, Jews were saved by their faith in the promise of a messiah to come. Christians are likewise saved in the faith of a messiah, Jesus, who has come. Being circumcised doesn’t save and likewise baptism doesn’t save. It is faith that saves, though that doesn’t mean infants should be baptised.

I’ve ranted long enough and know that there will probably be a long comment thread. You will need to register to comment and even then I will need to approve the comment before it appears. Don’t be disheartened if this takes a bit of time to appear.

My parting words are hold fast to the faith you have in Jesus Christ, it is him alone that saves. He is the author and perfecter of your faith and of mine as well. We are brothers and sisters in Christ, though may disagree on some issues.

God bless,

Matt.

May 05 NO comments
church, missional

The Gospel and The Church

The Gospel has many practical implications for how Church should be run. In this short video from Daniel Montgomery, lead pastor of Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, Kentucky the interaction and intersection between the Gospel and the Church are presented. He correctly points out how some Church’s over emphasize one aspect and the danger of doing so at the neglect of the others. The Church needs to be holistic in its approach to ministry and practice.

God bless,

Matt

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May 02 NO comments
missional

John Piper on when to share the Gospel with a Neighbor

This video excerpt is from an Ask Pastor John live stream. The viewer asks “when is the best time to share the Gospel with my neighbor?” and John Piper responds in typical fashion with love, grace and humility.

In such situations I would add, listen to the Holy Spirit who resides in your heart to discern when to share and when not to share.

God bless,

Matt.

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Apr 30 NO comments
church, missional

Francis Chan on the ‘New Middle Road’

Thanks to The Resurgence for posting this video. I’m posting it here as well.

God bless.

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Apr 25 NO comments
missional

Tim Keller talking about ‘The Reason for God’ at Google

This is an old talk that was done when ‘The Reason for God’ came out. It is well worth the watching as it is still relevant today. It came up in discussion after Church this evening with a couple of visitors from Sydney.

God bless,

Matt

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Apr 20 NO comments
church

The sovereignty of God in the salvation of mankind.

First, let me state that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son so that all who believe in him may not die but receive eternal life (John 3:16). It is out of a love of God and all that he has done that I write. The issue I write about isn’t always an easy one, yet, it is one that has eternal significance.

Before we get started, lets set some groundwork. God is the loving ruler of the world. He is worthy to receive all glory, honor and power for by him and through him all things were created and have their being (Revelation 4:11). God was there in the beginning (Genesis 1:1, John 1:1-3). God created man to be ruler of the world under his authority to work and keep the land (Genesis 2:15). Though man rebelled and decided to rule under his own authority and was thus cursed (Genesis 3:1-24). The punishment of man’s turning away is death (Hebrews 9:27) and all men have turned away from God. There is no-one who understands. There is no-one who seeks after God (Romans 3:10-12).

It is clear to see that God is the rightful rules or the world. We, in our sin, stand opposed to him. We will be judged and found guilty. We will be punished for our sin and the punishment of that sin is death. That though isn’t the end of the story. God, in his love and mercy, sent his son Jesus to become sin (2 Corinthians 5:18-21). This is seen in Jesus death and resurrection. It was on the cross that Jesus took on our sin. He died there is our place. Though because in him there was no sin, death had no claim over him and he rose again (Acts 2:23-24, Acts 2:31).

It is important to understand that salvation, redemption, reconciliation is a work of God. We are saved through Jesus Christ alone, by God’s grace alone, through faith alone. We turn in repentance and faith (themselves gifts from God) not because of anything we have done but rather solely because of what Jesus has done on our behalf.

Let us now turn to our standing before God. There are only two options with this.

The first option is that we remain in our sin. Remember that there is no one righteous, no not one. We are all descendants of Adam and as such are all under the curse. Further there is no excuse as God has made it plain to them about himself. There is enough evidence in creation so that man is without excuse (Romans 1:18-23). This standing, either under Adam or under Christ, has the theological term of “Federal Headship” and is described briefly in 1 Corinthians 15:21-22.

More simply put there are two ways to live. Everyone lives under Adam. It is the default position. They have sinned and fallen short of what God has asked of them. Though God, in his grace, mercy and sovereignty has chosen some to be saved.

But that’s not fair I hear you claim? I’m still a good enough person, I still have free will. Yes, you do still have free will though that will is corrupted due to sin. Because of sin you can’t choose God. I’ve mentioned this several times and it deserves repeating. You can’t choose God. God chose you for his glory, by his grace and mercy. His choice and free will is sovereign. The Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Romans wrote about this very issue (Romans 9:6-29) and it deserves quoting here.

Romans 9:6-29

But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. 9 For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” 10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, [2] but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? 25 As indeed he says in Hosea,

“Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’
and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’”
26 “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’
there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”

27 And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel [3] be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, 28 for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay.” 29 And as Isaiah predicted,

“If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring,
we would have been like Sodom
and become like Gomorrah.”

Paul prefaced this by saying that he wished himself accuresed and cut of from the benefits of Christ for his people (Romans 9:1-6) and likewise I wish that by any means I could bear the sin of some people so that they may know the benefits of Christ. Yet that is impossible. Like everyone else I’m a sinner and in as much need of God’s grace (maybe even more some if you know me well). Christ is the only one that is capable of bearing another persons sin.

Please don’t let this just wash over but consider what it says. Salvation is a sovereign act of God. It is completely undeserved and unwarranted. Salvation is an act of God towards us. It is from love that the Father sent the Son to die upon the cross. It is from love that the Son willing chose to obey the father and go to the cross. It is from love that we are not left alone but are filled with the Holy Spirit.

God bless,

Matt

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Apr 14 1 comments
church

People and Politics (random thoughts)

Yesterday I had the delight of being partly involved in a presbytery meeting here in the Ballarat presbytery. Well, it wasn’t in Ballarat itself rather at the Presbyterian Church in Ararat. To give you a heads up, no I haven’t gone crazy.

I was there on official business as the Church I attend, of which I’m also a member, was vacant up until yesterday. I was at presbytery performing the role of a commissioner. I had to present why it was that Grace Presbyterian Church was putting forward a call for a minister. This ended up with a favorable response from the minister with further details to be worked out throughout the year. For the rest of the day I was there as an observer.

It was a fun experience and rather different from the university student union and even workplace politics I’ve experienced in the past. It is that difference I am drawing a highlight to. People. People make the difference. Not the people themselves who are more than capable to hold their own politically, rather that the focus of the members of the presbytery was on loving and serving the people of their respective congregations.

Many people would easily highlight that the Presbyterian denomination is rather politically oriented and rather strict. Yes, I will agree that there are some churches (not going to point fingers) who choose to get bogged down in the system. The politics though is there for a reason, and that is to provide boundaries and structures for the love and service of the people. The structure is there so that things are done in an orderly manor so that the people may grow in their faith of Jesus as disciples.

Several months ago, in early November 2009 if memory serves me correct, a couple of gentlemen from the PTC came and gave a discussion on discipleship and small group dynamics. This was a well attended seminar, predominately of elderly men, though unfortunately one that seems to have born little fruit. Though in God’s providence he seems to be driving the point as there is another discipleship seminar being organized for later this year.

This brings me back to my point that politics, is a wonderful thing that is designed to facilitate and encourage people. Particularly within Church denominations it is there to facilitate the making of Christlike disciples.

So, instead of callously fighting the system as I know I’m prone to do. Understand that the structure is there to encourage and build up disciples who are like Christ. Disciples who as they go about their daily lives make disciples who are like Jesus.

Yes, it has taken some time for me to understand this, having thought about it from first principles aided by experiential circumstances and guided the Holy Spirit as I read scripture and attempt to walk in God’s light.

The Church is about making disciples. It is about building disciples that make disciples. The structure of the Church is there to support and encourage the making of disciples who are like Christ. It is all about the people, not about the politics.

God bless,

Matt

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Feb 11 NO comments
missional

What are you going to do the next day you’re there?

As Christians, there is a drive to get to know your neighbors. Though what is the plan after that? Do you get into the lives of the people you meet so that you can share the Gospel?

Listen to get involved and into their world. Share the Gospel with them so that they may live life in Jesus.

Watch the video and ask yourself, even if you aren’t into Church planting, what you can do to live in your city and love your city.

God bless.

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Feb 11 NO comments
Uncategorized

Don’t waste your retirement

Many thanks to John Piper and the Don’t Waste Your Life crew for this video.

God bless.

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