Thursday, April 26, 2012
Jesus Seeks His Lost Sheep
Tax collectors, sinners, and Pharisees had gathered around to listen to Jesus as He
spoke.
He was telling them a parable.
"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave
the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And
when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home."
"Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have
found my lost sheep. I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in
heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not
need to repent." Luke 15:4-7
*************************************
If you had lost one of your children, wouldn't you search everywhere for him until
you found him and brought him home with you?
Jesus is the good shepherd and He protects and lays down His life for His sheep
(John 10:11).
Certainly, Jesus, does the same for His children.
Jesus knows His sheep and His sheep know Him - John 10:14.
If one of His sheep is lost, He will seek and find him and bring him home with Him.
"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19:10
***************************************
When Jesus' sheep (children) are lost, they are unwilling and unable to seek Him
for salvation.
"There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one
who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is
no one who does good, not even one." Romans 3:10-12
"...the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.
Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God." Romans 8:7-8
"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise
him up at the last day." John 6:44
***************************************
Since His lost sheep are unable and unwilling to come to Him, God must take the
initiative and seek them for their salvation.
All whom God seeks, He will find.
The Father draws His lost children to Jesus from their hiding place of sin and shame,
and they will come to Him.
"All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never
drive away." John 6:37
The phrase "the ones God gives to Jesus" refers to the elect.
"For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in
his sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in
accordance with His pleasure and will - to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has
freely given us in the One he loves." Ephesians 1:4-6
Jesus will never drive them away, but will raise them up on the last day.
*****************************************
Jesus will never stop looking for His lost sheep until every last one is found and
reunited with Him.
"(Jesus said), 'At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great
power and glory. And He will send His angels and gather His elect from the four winds,
from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens." Mark 13:26-27
"(Jesus said) ... there shall be one flock and one shepherd." John 10:16b
******************************************
There will be rejoicing in heaven over every lost sheep who is found, and Jesus will
be leading the celebration!
Sunday, April 22, 2012
The Atonement
The following is from an article by Tom Ascol, in Tabletalk magazine.
"He (Jesus) is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also
for the sins of the whole world." 1 John 2:2
If the word "world" means each and every person who ever lived or will live,"
then everyone will be saved because of the objective nature of propitiation (pla-
cating, appeasing, or satisfying the wrath of God) by the atoning sacrifice of Christ.
No sin would be left unpaid for - including the sin of unbelief.
Unless the Bible teaches Universalism (that everyone will ultimately be saved),
and it certainly doesn't, then the word "world" cannot mean everyone who ever
lived or will live. John is not teaching Universalism here.
John is asserting that Jesus is the only Savior the world has . His death redeems
people not just from among the Jews or Americans or from any one group, but
from among the whole world.
***********************************
Reformed Theology:
The death of Jesus saves everyone for whom it was designed. Therefore, the
atonement is viewed as limited in its scope and purpose. All for whom Christ died,
His people, will be saved.
Arminianism:
The death of Jesus was designed to save each and every person in history (without
actually doing so).
As such, the atonement did not save everyone for whom it was intended. In other
words, the Arminian view, while claiming that the atonement is unlimited in it extent,
is forced to conclude that it is limited in its efficacy. It failed to accomplish its uni-
versal purpose.
*********************************
Covenant of Redemption (Reformed view):
Before history began, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit pledged to bring about the
salvation of fallen people. Out of sheer mercy and grace, the Father chose individual
people to be saved.
"For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless
in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in
accordance with His pleasure and will - to the praise of His glorious grace, which He
has freely given us in the One He loves." Ephesians 1:4-6
"But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because
from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the
Spirit and through belief in the truth." 2 Thessalonians 2:13
The Father gave those chosen ones to His Son.
"All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to
me I will never drive away." John 6:37
"And this is the will of Him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all
that He has given me, but raise them up at the last day." John 6:39
The Son committed to accomplish their salvation through His incarnate redemptive
mission.
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and
to give His life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:45
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the
sheep." John 10:11
In keeping with this divine agenda, the Spirit is sent into the world by the Father and
the Son.
"(Jesus said), When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from
the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, He will testify about me."
John 15:26
The Holy Spirit applies the work of Christ to those whom the Father gave the Son
and for whom the Son died.
*********************************
This view of the atonement guarantees the success of evangelism. God has a people
who will be saved infallibly through the preaching of the Gospel.
1. The Father has chosen them.
2. The Son has died for them.
3. And the Holy Spirit will regenerate them through the message of salvation.
"He (Jesus) is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also
for the sins of the whole world." 1 John 2:2
If the word "world" means each and every person who ever lived or will live,"
then everyone will be saved because of the objective nature of propitiation (pla-
cating, appeasing, or satisfying the wrath of God) by the atoning sacrifice of Christ.
No sin would be left unpaid for - including the sin of unbelief.
Unless the Bible teaches Universalism (that everyone will ultimately be saved),
and it certainly doesn't, then the word "world" cannot mean everyone who ever
lived or will live. John is not teaching Universalism here.
John is asserting that Jesus is the only Savior the world has . His death redeems
people not just from among the Jews or Americans or from any one group, but
from among the whole world.
***********************************
Reformed Theology:
The death of Jesus saves everyone for whom it was designed. Therefore, the
atonement is viewed as limited in its scope and purpose. All for whom Christ died,
His people, will be saved.
Arminianism:
The death of Jesus was designed to save each and every person in history (without
actually doing so).
As such, the atonement did not save everyone for whom it was intended. In other
words, the Arminian view, while claiming that the atonement is unlimited in it extent,
is forced to conclude that it is limited in its efficacy. It failed to accomplish its uni-
versal purpose.
*********************************
Covenant of Redemption (Reformed view):
Before history began, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit pledged to bring about the
salvation of fallen people. Out of sheer mercy and grace, the Father chose individual
people to be saved.
"For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless
in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in
accordance with His pleasure and will - to the praise of His glorious grace, which He
has freely given us in the One He loves." Ephesians 1:4-6
"But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because
from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the
Spirit and through belief in the truth." 2 Thessalonians 2:13
The Father gave those chosen ones to His Son.
"All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to
me I will never drive away." John 6:37
"And this is the will of Him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all
that He has given me, but raise them up at the last day." John 6:39
The Son committed to accomplish their salvation through His incarnate redemptive
mission.
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and
to give His life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:45
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the
sheep." John 10:11
In keeping with this divine agenda, the Spirit is sent into the world by the Father and
the Son.
"(Jesus said), When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from
the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, He will testify about me."
John 15:26
The Holy Spirit applies the work of Christ to those whom the Father gave the Son
and for whom the Son died.
*********************************
This view of the atonement guarantees the success of evangelism. God has a people
who will be saved infallibly through the preaching of the Gospel.
1. The Father has chosen them.
2. The Son has died for them.
3. And the Holy Spirit will regenerate them through the message of salvation.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
The Bad News and the Good News
There's a lot of bad news in the world today, but thankfully, because of God's
grace, there's a lot of good news too!
THE BAD NEWS - "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,
in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler
of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful
nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects
of wrath." Ephesians 2:1-3
THE GOOD NEWS - "But because of his great love for us, God who is rich in
mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by
grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him
in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show
the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it
is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:4-9
**********************************************
THE BAD NEWS - "They are darkened in their understanding and separated from
the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their
hearts." Ephesians 4:18
THE GOOD NEWS - "We know also that the Son of God has come and has given
us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him, who is
true - even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life." 1 John 5:20
********************************************
THE BAD NEWS - "The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by
the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to
God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God."
Romans 8:6-8
THE GOOD NEWS - "For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and
has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the
law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one
new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of
them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility." Ephesians 2:14-16
***************************************
THE BAD NEWS - "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come
from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them,
because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2:14
THE GOOD NEWS - "The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he
himself is not subject to any man's judgment: 'For who has known the mind of the Lord
that he may instruct him?' But we have the mind of Christ." 1 Corinthians 2:15-16
****************************************
THE BAD NEWS - "...but you do not believe because you are not my sheep."
John 10:26
THE GOOD NEWS - "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow
me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out
of my hand." John 10:27-28
************************************************
THE BAD NEWS - "For the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted
and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.
The claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, dis-
obedient and unfit for doing anything good." Titus 1:15-16
THE GOOD NEWS - "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do
good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10
******************************************
THE BAD NEWS - "...but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because
he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." John 3:18b
THE GOOD NEWS - "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in
Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit of life set me free from
the law of sin and death." Romans 8:1-2
**************************************
THE BAD NEWS - "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our
righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our
sins sweep us away." Isaiah 64:6
THE GOOD NEWS - "God made him who had no sin, to become sin for us, so that
in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21
*****************************************
THE BAD NEWS - (Jesus said),"Why is my language not clear to you? Because
you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want
to carry out your father's desire."
He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you
do not belong to God." John 8:43-44a; 47
THE GOOD NEWS - "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep
know me - just as the Father knows me and I know the Father - and I lay down my life
for the sheep. I have other sheep (Gentiles) that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring
them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one
shepherd." John 10:14-16
******************************************
THE BAD NEWS - "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws
him..." John 6:44
"He went on to say, 'This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the
Father has enabled him." John 6:65
THE GOOD NEWS - (Jesus said), 'All that the Father gives me will come to me, and
whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not
to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent
me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.
For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have
eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:37-40
*******************************************
THE BAD NEWS - "If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he
was thrown into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:15
THE GOOD NEWS - "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud
command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead
in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up
together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the
Lord forever." 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
*******************************************
Those who do not believe in Jesus stand condemned already, but those who do believe
in Him will be saved!
grace, there's a lot of good news too!
THE BAD NEWS - "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,
in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler
of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful
nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects
of wrath." Ephesians 2:1-3
THE GOOD NEWS - "But because of his great love for us, God who is rich in
mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by
grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him
in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show
the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it
is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:4-9
**********************************************
THE BAD NEWS - "They are darkened in their understanding and separated from
the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their
hearts." Ephesians 4:18
THE GOOD NEWS - "We know also that the Son of God has come and has given
us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him, who is
true - even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life." 1 John 5:20
********************************************
THE BAD NEWS - "The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by
the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to
God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God."
Romans 8:6-8
THE GOOD NEWS - "For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and
has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the
law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one
new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of
them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility." Ephesians 2:14-16
***************************************
THE BAD NEWS - "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come
from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them,
because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2:14
THE GOOD NEWS - "The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he
himself is not subject to any man's judgment: 'For who has known the mind of the Lord
that he may instruct him?' But we have the mind of Christ." 1 Corinthians 2:15-16
****************************************
THE BAD NEWS - "...but you do not believe because you are not my sheep."
John 10:26
THE GOOD NEWS - "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow
me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out
of my hand." John 10:27-28
************************************************
THE BAD NEWS - "For the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted
and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.
The claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, dis-
obedient and unfit for doing anything good." Titus 1:15-16
THE GOOD NEWS - "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do
good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10
******************************************
THE BAD NEWS - "...but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because
he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." John 3:18b
THE GOOD NEWS - "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in
Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit of life set me free from
the law of sin and death." Romans 8:1-2
**************************************
THE BAD NEWS - "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our
righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our
sins sweep us away." Isaiah 64:6
THE GOOD NEWS - "God made him who had no sin, to become sin for us, so that
in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21
*****************************************
THE BAD NEWS - (Jesus said),"Why is my language not clear to you? Because
you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want
to carry out your father's desire."
He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you
do not belong to God." John 8:43-44a; 47
THE GOOD NEWS - "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep
know me - just as the Father knows me and I know the Father - and I lay down my life
for the sheep. I have other sheep (Gentiles) that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring
them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one
shepherd." John 10:14-16
******************************************
THE BAD NEWS - "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws
him..." John 6:44
"He went on to say, 'This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the
Father has enabled him." John 6:65
THE GOOD NEWS - (Jesus said), 'All that the Father gives me will come to me, and
whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not
to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent
me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.
For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have
eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:37-40
*******************************************
THE BAD NEWS - "If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he
was thrown into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:15
THE GOOD NEWS - "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud
command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead
in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up
together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the
Lord forever." 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
*******************************************
Those who do not believe in Jesus stand condemned already, but those who do believe
in Him will be saved!
Friday, April 13, 2012
"Who Then Can Be Saved?"
Years ago, I made the comment to someone, "It's easy to become a Christian.
Just ask God to forgive you for your sins, and accept Jesus as your Savior, and you
will be saved." I was so wrong!
There is so much more to salvation than that. It's not as easy as 1-2-3.
In fact, even Jesus talked about how difficult it is to be saved.
*************************************
*The Narrow Gate
"(Jesus said), Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is
the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate
and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14
John MacArthur comments:
"Christ is drawing the line as clearly as possible between the way that leads to
destruction and the way that leads to life."
"Both the narrow gate and the wide gate are assumed to provide the entrance
to God's kingdom. Two ways are offered to people. The narrow gate is by faith,
only through Christ, constricted and precise." It represents true salvation in God's
way that leads to life eternal."
"The wide gate incudes all religions of works, and self-righteousness, with no
single way, but leads to hell, not heaven."
MacArthur continues:
"Christ continually emphasized the difficulty of following him. Salvation is
by grace alone, but it is not easy. It calls for knowledge of the truth, repentance,
submission to Christ as Lord, and a willingness to obey his will and word."
***************
*Eye of a Needle
"And Jesus said to his disciples, 'Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will
a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again you I tell it is easier for a camel to
go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, 'Who then can
be saved?' But Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with
God all things are possible." Matthew 19:23-26
A rich young man had just asked Jesus what he must do to have eternal life.
When Jesus told him to keep the commandments, the man told him that he had
done so.
Next, Jesus told him (since he was evidently perfect, because he had claimed to
have kept all the commandments) to sell all he had and give it to the poor, and he
would have treasure in heaven.
Jesus knew the man was not blameless, and he lacked true faith in Him. He was
not teaching salvation by works either, but that the man had to give Him first place
in his life to truly be saved.
Salvation comes only by the divine grace of God.
"...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, whom God put
forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith." Romans 3:23-25a
The disciple were surprised that Jesus had said it was so difficult for a rich man
to enter God's kingdom, since the common thinking at the time was that God had
shown favor on the wealthy by enriching them, and therefore they were more likely
to go to heaven.
Jesus emphasized that salvation is not earned by works, but comes only through
grace, by faith in Him.
***************
*Many are Called, But Few are Chosen
"(Jesus said), For many are called, but few are chosen. Matthew 22:14
John MacArthur comments:
"The call spoken of here is sometimes referred to as the 'general call' - a summons
to repentance and faith that is inherent in the gospel message. This call extends to all
who hear the gospel."
"Many hear it; few respond. Those who respond are the 'chosen,' the elect. This
call is God's irresistible calling extended to the elect alone (Rom 8:30), known as the
'effectual call.' The effectual call is the supernatural drawing of God that Jesus speaks
of in the gospel of John .
"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 6:44
"The 'chosen' enter the kingdom only because of the grace of God in choosing and
drawing them."
The choosing:
"...even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world..." Ephesians 1:4
Matthew Henry wrote: "Many are called to the wedding feast, but few chosen to
the wedding garment, that is to salvation, by sanctification of the Spirit. This is the
strait gate, and narrow way which few find."
**************************************
Since man is dead in sin (Ephesians 2) and hostile toward God (Romans 8), He not
only must elect them, and call them, but also regenerate them. He must change their
heart that is unresponsive toward him because of sin.
"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. And I will put
my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my
rules. ... and you shall be my people, and I will be your God." Ezekiel 36:26-28
*******************************************
So who then can be saved?
"For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all,
bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the
Lord will be saved." Romans 10:12-13
"And they said,' Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your
household." Acts 16:31
"And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given
among men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12
********************************************
Yes everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved, but only because
of the amazing grace of God who chooses, draws, and regenerates them, so that they are
willing and able to come to Jesus for salvation.
Just ask God to forgive you for your sins, and accept Jesus as your Savior, and you
will be saved." I was so wrong!
There is so much more to salvation than that. It's not as easy as 1-2-3.
In fact, even Jesus talked about how difficult it is to be saved.
*************************************
*The Narrow Gate
"(Jesus said), Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is
the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate
and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14
John MacArthur comments:
"Christ is drawing the line as clearly as possible between the way that leads to
destruction and the way that leads to life."
"Both the narrow gate and the wide gate are assumed to provide the entrance
to God's kingdom. Two ways are offered to people. The narrow gate is by faith,
only through Christ, constricted and precise." It represents true salvation in God's
way that leads to life eternal."
"The wide gate incudes all religions of works, and self-righteousness, with no
single way, but leads to hell, not heaven."
MacArthur continues:
"Christ continually emphasized the difficulty of following him. Salvation is
by grace alone, but it is not easy. It calls for knowledge of the truth, repentance,
submission to Christ as Lord, and a willingness to obey his will and word."
***************
*Eye of a Needle
"And Jesus said to his disciples, 'Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will
a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again you I tell it is easier for a camel to
go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, 'Who then can
be saved?' But Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with
God all things are possible." Matthew 19:23-26
A rich young man had just asked Jesus what he must do to have eternal life.
When Jesus told him to keep the commandments, the man told him that he had
done so.
Next, Jesus told him (since he was evidently perfect, because he had claimed to
have kept all the commandments) to sell all he had and give it to the poor, and he
would have treasure in heaven.
Jesus knew the man was not blameless, and he lacked true faith in Him. He was
not teaching salvation by works either, but that the man had to give Him first place
in his life to truly be saved.
Salvation comes only by the divine grace of God.
"...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, whom God put
forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith." Romans 3:23-25a
The disciple were surprised that Jesus had said it was so difficult for a rich man
to enter God's kingdom, since the common thinking at the time was that God had
shown favor on the wealthy by enriching them, and therefore they were more likely
to go to heaven.
Jesus emphasized that salvation is not earned by works, but comes only through
grace, by faith in Him.
***************
*Many are Called, But Few are Chosen
"(Jesus said), For many are called, but few are chosen. Matthew 22:14
John MacArthur comments:
"The call spoken of here is sometimes referred to as the 'general call' - a summons
to repentance and faith that is inherent in the gospel message. This call extends to all
who hear the gospel."
"Many hear it; few respond. Those who respond are the 'chosen,' the elect. This
call is God's irresistible calling extended to the elect alone (Rom 8:30), known as the
'effectual call.' The effectual call is the supernatural drawing of God that Jesus speaks
of in the gospel of John .
"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 6:44
"The 'chosen' enter the kingdom only because of the grace of God in choosing and
drawing them."
The choosing:
"...even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world..." Ephesians 1:4
Matthew Henry wrote: "Many are called to the wedding feast, but few chosen to
the wedding garment, that is to salvation, by sanctification of the Spirit. This is the
strait gate, and narrow way which few find."
**************************************
Since man is dead in sin (Ephesians 2) and hostile toward God (Romans 8), He not
only must elect them, and call them, but also regenerate them. He must change their
heart that is unresponsive toward him because of sin.
"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. And I will put
my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my
rules. ... and you shall be my people, and I will be your God." Ezekiel 36:26-28
*******************************************
So who then can be saved?
"For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all,
bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the
Lord will be saved." Romans 10:12-13
"And they said,' Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your
household." Acts 16:31
"And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given
among men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12
********************************************
Yes everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved, but only because
of the amazing grace of God who chooses, draws, and regenerates them, so that they are
willing and able to come to Jesus for salvation.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Secured Salvation
Jesus' death on the cross did much more than make salvation possible.
His death did not just provide a potential salvation for sinners, but it was an
actual, effectual, definite atonement for His people.
He fully accomplished and secured the salvation of His people!
Believers can have an assurance that their salvation is secure, not because of
anything they've done or something within them, but because of the redemptive
and saving work of Jesus on the cross.
******************************************
To understand how believers can have this assurance, we need to know the
difference between SECURED salvation and APPLIED salvation.
SECURED SALVATION is salvation assured by Jesus' death, securing or
guaranteeing redemption, reconciliation, justification, and sanctification for God's
elect. These benefits are then APPLIED to them through the work of the Holy
Spirit throughout their lives.
For those who died before Christ's death, or were alive at the time and believed,
those benefits secured by Jesus had already been applied to them when He died,
because of God's decreed certainty of Christ's work of redemption for them.
For the rest of the elect, those who were not yet born or those who were alive
but hadn't believed when Christ died, the benefits secured at the cross by Christ,
are applied only when God grants them faith and they trust in Him.
****************************************
Jesus' death satisfied God the Father's wrath against them for their sins, but
this propitiation must be received by faith ("God presented Him as a sacrifice of
atonement, through faith in His blood." Romans 3:25a), which is a gift from God.
Until they believe, they remain God's enemies ("For if we were God's enemies, we
were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been
reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!" Romans 5:10), even though their
salvation was predestined and totally fulfilled by Christ ("For those God foreknew
He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son ... " Romans 8:29a).
******************************************
Jesus died on the cross as a substitute for the people the Father had chosen and
given to Him for salvation ("All that the Father has given me will come to me, and
whoever comes to me I will never drive away." John 6:37).
Jesus secured their salvation, and its benefits - redemption, reconciliation, justi-
fication, and sanctification.
ON THE CROSS, JESUS SECURED REDEMPTION FOR GOD'S ELECT.
"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is
written, 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." Galatians 3:13
Jesus redeemed us (His people) on the cross.
"He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but He entered the
Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption."
Hebrews 9:12
Unlike the High Priest in the Old Testament, who offered animal sacrifices for the
sins of his people, Jesus offered Himself with His own blood, as payment for His
people's sins, obtaining redemption for THEM, not Himself. He had no need to offer
sacrifice for Himself, as He was sinless.
ON THE CROSS, JESUS SECURED RECONCILIATION FOR GOD'S ELECT.
"For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the
barrier, dividing the wall of hostility, by abolishing in His flesh the law with its
commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new man
out of the two, thus making peace, and in this body to reconcile both of them to God
through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility." Ephesians 2:14-16
"Jesus' death abolished Old Testament ceremonial laws, feasts, and sacrifices,
which uniquely separated Jews from Gentiles." John MacArthur
When we are reconciled through Jesus' death, we are no longer Jew or Gentile -
only Christian.
"Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of
your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through
death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation - if
you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in
the gospel." Colossians 1:21-23a
We were at war with God, His enemies, because of sin, but He reconciled us with Him,
through Christ's death on the cross (our faith obviously came later).
"He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and
live for righteousness ..." 1 Peter 2:24a
He bore our (believers) sins in His body, so that would die to sin and live righteously.
ON THE CROSS, JESUS SECURED JUSTIFICATION FOR GOD'S ELECT.
"After the suffering of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied; by His
knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities."
Isaiah 53:11
The Son and the Father will be satisfied by His atonement, and Jesus will bear the
sins of those He justifies (His people).
"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners,
Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more
shall we be saved from God's wrath, through Him! For if, when we were God's
enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more,
having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!" Romans 5:8-10
God showed His love for His people by sending His Son to die for them.
He justified them and saved them from God's wrath, through His blood shed for
them, and His life lived for them.
ON THE CROSS, JESUS SECURED SANCTIFICATION FOR GOD'S ELECT.
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up
for her, to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word."
Ephesians 5:25-26
Christ loved the church (His people) and gave Himself up for her.
"... while we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and
Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, to redeem us from all wickedness and to
purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good."
Titus 2:13-14
Jesus gave Himself for us (His people), redeemed us from wickedness, and purified us
for Himself, so that we would do good.
"And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus
Christ once for all." Hebrews 10:10
Jesus came to do the Father's will - to save His people and to make them holy through
the sacrifice of His body once for all (time).
***********************************************
As you can see, Jesus death accomplished much more than making salvation possible -
His death actually saved His people.
A potential salvation that requires the cooperation of man to be effective, and may even
be rejected, is not a finished work at all.
Jesus fulfilled the mission His Father gave Him - to save His people, by shedding His
blood, on the cross, for them!
Source: Daryl Wingerd
Christian Communicaters
His death did not just provide a potential salvation for sinners, but it was an
actual, effectual, definite atonement for His people.
He fully accomplished and secured the salvation of His people!
Believers can have an assurance that their salvation is secure, not because of
anything they've done or something within them, but because of the redemptive
and saving work of Jesus on the cross.
******************************************
To understand how believers can have this assurance, we need to know the
difference between SECURED salvation and APPLIED salvation.
SECURED SALVATION is salvation assured by Jesus' death, securing or
guaranteeing redemption, reconciliation, justification, and sanctification for God's
elect. These benefits are then APPLIED to them through the work of the Holy
Spirit throughout their lives.
For those who died before Christ's death, or were alive at the time and believed,
those benefits secured by Jesus had already been applied to them when He died,
because of God's decreed certainty of Christ's work of redemption for them.
For the rest of the elect, those who were not yet born or those who were alive
but hadn't believed when Christ died, the benefits secured at the cross by Christ,
are applied only when God grants them faith and they trust in Him.
****************************************
Jesus' death satisfied God the Father's wrath against them for their sins, but
this propitiation must be received by faith ("God presented Him as a sacrifice of
atonement, through faith in His blood." Romans 3:25a), which is a gift from God.
Until they believe, they remain God's enemies ("For if we were God's enemies, we
were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been
reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!" Romans 5:10), even though their
salvation was predestined and totally fulfilled by Christ ("For those God foreknew
He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son ... " Romans 8:29a).
******************************************
Jesus died on the cross as a substitute for the people the Father had chosen and
given to Him for salvation ("All that the Father has given me will come to me, and
whoever comes to me I will never drive away." John 6:37).
Jesus secured their salvation, and its benefits - redemption, reconciliation, justi-
fication, and sanctification.
ON THE CROSS, JESUS SECURED REDEMPTION FOR GOD'S ELECT.
"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is
written, 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." Galatians 3:13
Jesus redeemed us (His people) on the cross.
"He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but He entered the
Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption."
Hebrews 9:12
Unlike the High Priest in the Old Testament, who offered animal sacrifices for the
sins of his people, Jesus offered Himself with His own blood, as payment for His
people's sins, obtaining redemption for THEM, not Himself. He had no need to offer
sacrifice for Himself, as He was sinless.
ON THE CROSS, JESUS SECURED RECONCILIATION FOR GOD'S ELECT.
"For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the
barrier, dividing the wall of hostility, by abolishing in His flesh the law with its
commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new man
out of the two, thus making peace, and in this body to reconcile both of them to God
through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility." Ephesians 2:14-16
"Jesus' death abolished Old Testament ceremonial laws, feasts, and sacrifices,
which uniquely separated Jews from Gentiles." John MacArthur
When we are reconciled through Jesus' death, we are no longer Jew or Gentile -
only Christian.
"Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of
your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through
death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation - if
you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in
the gospel." Colossians 1:21-23a
We were at war with God, His enemies, because of sin, but He reconciled us with Him,
through Christ's death on the cross (our faith obviously came later).
"He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and
live for righteousness ..." 1 Peter 2:24a
He bore our (believers) sins in His body, so that would die to sin and live righteously.
ON THE CROSS, JESUS SECURED JUSTIFICATION FOR GOD'S ELECT.
"After the suffering of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied; by His
knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities."
Isaiah 53:11
The Son and the Father will be satisfied by His atonement, and Jesus will bear the
sins of those He justifies (His people).
"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners,
Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more
shall we be saved from God's wrath, through Him! For if, when we were God's
enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more,
having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!" Romans 5:8-10
God showed His love for His people by sending His Son to die for them.
He justified them and saved them from God's wrath, through His blood shed for
them, and His life lived for them.
ON THE CROSS, JESUS SECURED SANCTIFICATION FOR GOD'S ELECT.
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up
for her, to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word."
Ephesians 5:25-26
Christ loved the church (His people) and gave Himself up for her.
"... while we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and
Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, to redeem us from all wickedness and to
purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good."
Titus 2:13-14
Jesus gave Himself for us (His people), redeemed us from wickedness, and purified us
for Himself, so that we would do good.
"And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus
Christ once for all." Hebrews 10:10
Jesus came to do the Father's will - to save His people and to make them holy through
the sacrifice of His body once for all (time).
***********************************************
As you can see, Jesus death accomplished much more than making salvation possible -
His death actually saved His people.
A potential salvation that requires the cooperation of man to be effective, and may even
be rejected, is not a finished work at all.
Jesus fulfilled the mission His Father gave Him - to save His people, by shedding His
blood, on the cross, for them!
Source: Daryl Wingerd
Christian Communicaters
Friday, April 6, 2012
Follow the Pronouns (Part Deux)
Since we had so much fun playing the game "Follow the Pronouns" earlier this
week, let's play it again, but with a twist this time.
We'll follow the pronouns again, but if we look closely we can see for whom
Christ atoned with His death on the cross. Didn't Jesus atone for everyone when He
died? Well, no!
Atonement means "to reconcile." In this case, we're referring to Jesus' atonement.
Did Jesus' death reconcile everyone to God? No, only those who have trusted in Him
for salvation have been reconciled to God. All others are still hostile toward God and
His word.
Therefore, we can correctly conclude that Jesus' atonement on the cross was a
"limited" or "definite atonement," for His people.
*********************
When playing the game "Follow the Pronouns," remember that anytime the pronouns
"we" or "us" are used, they refer to believers (elect). "He," "His," 'Him," and "Your"
refer to God.
*************************
"28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those
who are called according to HIS purpose. 29 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."
31 "What then shall WE say to these things? If God is for US, who can be against US?
32 HE who did not spare HIS own Son but gave HIM up for US all, how will HE not also with
HIM graciously give US all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is
God who justifies."
34 "Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died - more than that, who was raised -
who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for US. 35 Who shall separate US
from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness,
or danger, or sword?"
36 "As it is written, 'For YOUR sake WE are being killed all the day long; WE are regarded
as sheep to be slaughtered.' 37 No, in all these things WE are more than conquerors through
HIM who loved US."
38 "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present nor
things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be
able to separate US from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
**************************
Paul wrote these words for believers. The words "us all" refers to believers only, and not
to everyone who ever lived. The phrase, "[God] who did not spare His own Son, but gave
Him for us all," describes for whom Jesus atoned on the cross - His people.
Daryl Wingerd comments: "In this passage, the same people whom God foreknew,called,
justified, and glorified, are those for whom He sacrificed His Son ("us all" in verse 32). The
same people will receive 'all things' (verse 32). So if the Father sent Jesus to die for everyone,
then all men everywhere can expect to receive 'all things.'" (Certainly only believers would
be the only ones to qualify for these gifts, not those who die in their sins without Christ).
Wingerd continues, "But in verse 33, the same group is referred to as 'the elect,' or chosen.
(These are the people for whom Christ intercedes with the Father - verse 34).
Continuing then, with verses 38-39, we see that the elect, those for whom Christ is sacrificed,
are the same ones who can never be separated from the love of God."
"If Paul were saying God delivered up Jesus for everyone, then NO ONE will ever be sep-
arated from the love of God. The objects of the atonement, and the recipients of God's ever-
lasting love in Christ are both said to be the same group of people - the elect."
******************************
"God chose a people for salvation out of the mass of fallen humanity. He gave those
chosen people to Christ as a bride for Him to save and sanctify. And in perfect keeping
with the Father's will, Jesus gave His life as a sacrifice to save His people from their sins."
week, let's play it again, but with a twist this time.
We'll follow the pronouns again, but if we look closely we can see for whom
Christ atoned with His death on the cross. Didn't Jesus atone for everyone when He
died? Well, no!
Atonement means "to reconcile." In this case, we're referring to Jesus' atonement.
Did Jesus' death reconcile everyone to God? No, only those who have trusted in Him
for salvation have been reconciled to God. All others are still hostile toward God and
His word.
Therefore, we can correctly conclude that Jesus' atonement on the cross was a
"limited" or "definite atonement," for His people.
*********************
When playing the game "Follow the Pronouns," remember that anytime the pronouns
"we" or "us" are used, they refer to believers (elect). "He," "His," 'Him," and "Your"
refer to God.
*************************
"28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those
who are called according to HIS purpose. 29 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."
31 "What then shall WE say to these things? If God is for US, who can be against US?
32 HE who did not spare HIS own Son but gave HIM up for US all, how will HE not also with
HIM graciously give US all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is
God who justifies."
34 "Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died - more than that, who was raised -
who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for US. 35 Who shall separate US
from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness,
or danger, or sword?"
36 "As it is written, 'For YOUR sake WE are being killed all the day long; WE are regarded
as sheep to be slaughtered.' 37 No, in all these things WE are more than conquerors through
HIM who loved US."
38 "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present nor
things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be
able to separate US from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
**************************
Paul wrote these words for believers. The words "us all" refers to believers only, and not
to everyone who ever lived. The phrase, "[God] who did not spare His own Son, but gave
Him for us all," describes for whom Jesus atoned on the cross - His people.
Daryl Wingerd comments: "In this passage, the same people whom God foreknew,called,
justified, and glorified, are those for whom He sacrificed His Son ("us all" in verse 32). The
same people will receive 'all things' (verse 32). So if the Father sent Jesus to die for everyone,
then all men everywhere can expect to receive 'all things.'" (Certainly only believers would
be the only ones to qualify for these gifts, not those who die in their sins without Christ).
Wingerd continues, "But in verse 33, the same group is referred to as 'the elect,' or chosen.
(These are the people for whom Christ intercedes with the Father - verse 34).
Continuing then, with verses 38-39, we see that the elect, those for whom Christ is sacrificed,
are the same ones who can never be separated from the love of God."
"If Paul were saying God delivered up Jesus for everyone, then NO ONE will ever be sep-
arated from the love of God. The objects of the atonement, and the recipients of God's ever-
lasting love in Christ are both said to be the same group of people - the elect."
******************************
"God chose a people for salvation out of the mass of fallen humanity. He gave those
chosen people to Christ as a bride for Him to save and sanctify. And in perfect keeping
with the Father's will, Jesus gave His life as a sacrifice to save His people from their sins."
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Jesus Bore the Sins of His People
"To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example,
that you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in
his mouth."
"When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he
made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly."
"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins, and
live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed."
"For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd
and Overseer of your souls." 1 Peter 2:21-25
*************************
1 Peter is written to "God's elect, ... who have been chosen according to the fore-
knowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience
to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood." 1 Peter 1:1-2a
One emphasis of the letter is God's saving grace through Christ's death on the
cross for his people.
**************************
"To this you were called" - "And those whom he predestined he also called, and those
whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified."
Romans 8:30
"Because Christ suffered for you" - "But he was wounded for transgressions; he was
crushed for our iniquities." Isaiah 53:5a
"Leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps" - (Jesus said), "For I
have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you." John 13:15
"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth" - "Although he had done
no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth." Isaiah 53:9b
"When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made
no threats" - "And the high priest stood up and said, 'Have you no answer to make? What
is it that these man testify against you?' But Jesus remained silent." Matthew 26:62-63a
"Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly." - "Jesus answered him, 'You
would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above."
John 19:11a
"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live
for righteousness" - "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for
the forgiveness of sins." Matthew 26:28
"By his wounds you have been healed" - "Upon him was the chastisement that brought
us peace, and with his stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5b
"For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and
Overseer of your souls" - "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
I will give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one can snatch them out of
my hand." John 10:27-28
*************************
God's people were chosen by him for salvation, sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and re-
deemed by the blood of Jesus, who set an example for his people to live holy lives.
that you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in
his mouth."
"When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he
made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly."
"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins, and
live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed."
"For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd
and Overseer of your souls." 1 Peter 2:21-25
*************************
1 Peter is written to "God's elect, ... who have been chosen according to the fore-
knowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience
to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood." 1 Peter 1:1-2a
One emphasis of the letter is God's saving grace through Christ's death on the
cross for his people.
**************************
"To this you were called" - "And those whom he predestined he also called, and those
whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified."
Romans 8:30
"Because Christ suffered for you" - "But he was wounded for transgressions; he was
crushed for our iniquities." Isaiah 53:5a
"Leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps" - (Jesus said), "For I
have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you." John 13:15
"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth" - "Although he had done
no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth." Isaiah 53:9b
"When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made
no threats" - "And the high priest stood up and said, 'Have you no answer to make? What
is it that these man testify against you?' But Jesus remained silent." Matthew 26:62-63a
"Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly." - "Jesus answered him, 'You
would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above."
John 19:11a
"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live
for righteousness" - "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for
the forgiveness of sins." Matthew 26:28
"By his wounds you have been healed" - "Upon him was the chastisement that brought
us peace, and with his stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5b
"For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and
Overseer of your souls" - "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
I will give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one can snatch them out of
my hand." John 10:27-28
*************************
God's people were chosen by him for salvation, sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and re-
deemed by the blood of Jesus, who set an example for his people to live holy lives.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Follow the Pronouns
Since this is Easter week, let's leave the egg hunting to the kids, and play a game called
"Follow the Pronouns."
A pronoun is a word that substitutes for a noun or a noun phrase. For examples, the words
"he," "she," "it," "him," and "her" are pronouns. Some linguists do not consider the word "our,"
a pronoun, while some do. I'll go with the latter group to help make my point.
When we read or study the Bible, we need to make sure we know to whom the message
is intended. Much of the Bible is intended for everyone ("Repent, then, and turn to God, so that
your sins may be wiped out," Acts 3:19a, and "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is
Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" Romans
10:9).
However, a large portion of Scripture is meant for believers only.
************************************************
Let's examine a familiar passage, Romans 5:1-11, and play our little game of "follow the
pronouns," to see who the receipent of this message is.
Any time the words "we," "us," and "our" are used in these verses, they refer to BELIEVERS,
and not to everyone in the world.
The book of Romans is Paul's letter to "all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be
saints," - in other words, BELIEVERS.
"Therefore, since WE have been justified through faith, WE have peace with God through
OUR Lord Jesus Christ, through whom WE have gained access by faith into this grace in which
WE now stand. And WE rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but WE also
rejoice in OUR sufferings, because WE know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance,
character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint US because God has poured out
HIS love into OUR hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom HE has given US."
"YOU see, at just the right time, when WE were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly
dare to die. But God demonstrates HIS own love for US in this: while WE were still sinners,
CHRIST DIED FOR US."
"Since WE have now been justified by HIS blood, how much more shall WE be saved from
God's wrath through HIM! For if, when WE were God's enemies, WE were reconciled to HIM
through the death of HIS Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall WE be saved
through HIS life!"
"Not only is this so, but WE also rejoice in God through OUR Lord Jesus Christ, through
whom WE have now received reconciliation." Romans 5:1-11
************************************************************
BELIEVERS receive many blessings from God that unbelievers do not receive, but
BELIEVERS also suffer (for God) in ways that unbelievers do not suffer.
*BELIEVERS are justified (declared not guilty for our sins) through faith.
*BELIEVERS have peace with God through Jesus.
*BELIEVERS have gained access by faith into God's grace.
*BELIEVERS rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, and in our sufferings.
*GOD has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom we received as
a gift.
*At God the Father's appointed time, CHRIST DIED FOR US, even though we were
still sinners.
*BELIEVERS have been justified by Christ's blood and saved from the Father's wrath
through him.
*BELIEVERS have been reconciled to God through his Son's death, and saved through
his life! "Since we were reconciled (an end to hostility to God, or made right with God) when
we were enemies of God, we will be saved because Christ lives to keep us." NIV commentary
*BELIEVERS rejoice in God through Jesus Christ because he has reconciled us to the Father
through his atonement for us.
********************************************************
So, we should remember when we read our Bible, we need to stop and figure out to whom
the message is intended, and to whom it is not intended.
May his people never forget any of God's blessings!
"Follow the Pronouns."
A pronoun is a word that substitutes for a noun or a noun phrase. For examples, the words
"he," "she," "it," "him," and "her" are pronouns. Some linguists do not consider the word "our,"
a pronoun, while some do. I'll go with the latter group to help make my point.
When we read or study the Bible, we need to make sure we know to whom the message
is intended. Much of the Bible is intended for everyone ("Repent, then, and turn to God, so that
your sins may be wiped out," Acts 3:19a, and "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is
Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" Romans
10:9).
However, a large portion of Scripture is meant for believers only.
************************************************
Let's examine a familiar passage, Romans 5:1-11, and play our little game of "follow the
pronouns," to see who the receipent of this message is.
Any time the words "we," "us," and "our" are used in these verses, they refer to BELIEVERS,
and not to everyone in the world.
The book of Romans is Paul's letter to "all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be
saints," - in other words, BELIEVERS.
"Therefore, since WE have been justified through faith, WE have peace with God through
OUR Lord Jesus Christ, through whom WE have gained access by faith into this grace in which
WE now stand. And WE rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but WE also
rejoice in OUR sufferings, because WE know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance,
character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint US because God has poured out
HIS love into OUR hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom HE has given US."
"YOU see, at just the right time, when WE were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly
dare to die. But God demonstrates HIS own love for US in this: while WE were still sinners,
CHRIST DIED FOR US."
"Since WE have now been justified by HIS blood, how much more shall WE be saved from
God's wrath through HIM! For if, when WE were God's enemies, WE were reconciled to HIM
through the death of HIS Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall WE be saved
through HIS life!"
"Not only is this so, but WE also rejoice in God through OUR Lord Jesus Christ, through
whom WE have now received reconciliation." Romans 5:1-11
************************************************************
BELIEVERS receive many blessings from God that unbelievers do not receive, but
BELIEVERS also suffer (for God) in ways that unbelievers do not suffer.
*BELIEVERS are justified (declared not guilty for our sins) through faith.
*BELIEVERS have peace with God through Jesus.
*BELIEVERS have gained access by faith into God's grace.
*BELIEVERS rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, and in our sufferings.
*GOD has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom we received as
a gift.
*At God the Father's appointed time, CHRIST DIED FOR US, even though we were
still sinners.
*BELIEVERS have been justified by Christ's blood and saved from the Father's wrath
through him.
*BELIEVERS have been reconciled to God through his Son's death, and saved through
his life! "Since we were reconciled (an end to hostility to God, or made right with God) when
we were enemies of God, we will be saved because Christ lives to keep us." NIV commentary
*BELIEVERS rejoice in God through Jesus Christ because he has reconciled us to the Father
through his atonement for us.
********************************************************
So, we should remember when we read our Bible, we need to stop and figure out to whom
the message is intended, and to whom it is not intended.
May his people never forget any of God's blessings!
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