JUSTIFICATION
So far, we've looked at the first four steps in the Biblical Order of Salvation -
ELECTION, THE CALL, REGENERATION, AND CONVERSION.
The next step is JUSTIFICATION.
Justification is a right legal standing in God's eyes.
It is the instantaneous legal act of God in which He:
1) Thinks of our sins as forgiven and Christ's righteousness as
belonging to us and
2) Declares us to be righteous in His sight because of Jesus' atonement on the
cross for us.
Because we broke His law, we were guilty before God, but Jesus' death paid the
price for our (His people)sins.
God put our (believers) sins on the sinless Jesus and imputed His righteousness to us,
making us just in His eyes.
"For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we
might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21).
We are justified by faith, which is a gift from God.
"...yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in
Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith
in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified"
Galatians 2:16).
"So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified
by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus
you are all sons of God, through faith" (Galatians 3:24).
Every one of God's children has been declared not guilty because of Jesus' atonement
for them on the cross.
****************
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
CONVERSION
Continuing our series on the Biblical Order of Salvation (steps one through
three are ELECTION, THE CALL, and REGENERATION), we now look at
step four - CONVERSION.
Conversion is our willing response to the gospel call, in which we sincerely
repent of our sins and place our trust in Christ for salvation.
Before conversion, we were hostile, and at war with God because of our sin-
fulness. "For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not
submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please
God" (Romans 8:7-8).
God must give us the ability to come to Him. (Jesus said), "This is why I told
you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him" (John 6:65).
Since we were unable to please God in anyway, we weren't able to come to Him
for salvation. Jesus gives his people the understanding of His gospel to make us
willing and able to submit to Him.
"And we know 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, in His Son
Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life" (1 John 5:20).
****************************************************************
God then grants us repentance and faith.
"Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not
knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance" (Romans 2:4).
"God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and
they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being cap-
tured by him to do his will" (2 Timothy 2:25).
******************************************************************
We receive the gift of faith.
"For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him
but also suffer for His sake..." (Philippians 1:29a).
"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 2:8-9).
Grace, salvation, and faith, are all gifts from God.
********************************************************************
We repent and trust in Jesus for salvation.
"Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of
refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send the Christ
appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the
things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets long ago" (Acts 3:19-21).
"For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas
worldly grief produces death" (2 Corinthians 7:10).
******************************************************************
We confess Jesus as Savior.
"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. For it is with your heart that you believe
and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved" (Romans 10:9-10).
*******************************************************************
We receive Him as Lord and Savior.
"Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become
children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's
will, but born of God" (John 1:12-13).
Those who have received Jesus will be changed and live obedient lives.
"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built
up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness"
(Colossians 2:6-7).
As you can see, conversion, as with all the other steps, is totally the work of God,
and not man!
********************************************************************
Next time, we'll look at the next three steps in the Biblical Order of Salvation -
JUSTIFICATION, ADOPTION, AND SANCTIFICATION.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Regeneration
The Biblical Order of Salvation Continued
So far we've looked at the first two steps - Election and The Call.
The next step in the biblical order of salvation is regeneration, also known as
the new birth (being "born again" or "born from above").
Regeneration is the secret act of God in which He imparts new spiritual life
to us.
Webster's describes the term as "formed or created again, or to be spiritually reborn
or converted."
************************************************************
The Bible describes what happens when regeneration takes place in Ezekiel 11:19-20
and Ezekiel 36:26-29a.
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your
heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit in you and move you
to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.... You will be my people, and I will
be your God. I will save you from all your uncleaness" (Ezekiel 36:26-29a).
God takes our heart (which is hard as stone toward God, and leads us to desire what we
want and not what God wants) (unresponsive), and He softens our heart and gives us a heart
of flesh, which makes us willing (responsive) and able to come to Him for salvation.
Then He moves us to follow Him in obedience, as we have become His people and He
becomes our God.
**************************************************************
Before we recieved Christ, we were at war with God and were dead in our transgressions
and sins (Ephesians 2:1). Because of our sinfulness we were objects of God's wrath (Ephesians
2:3), "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" (Ephesians
2:4-5).
When the gospel is proclaimed and we hear it and believe in Jesus for our salvation (even
though we are dead in our sin), God will give us new life that lasts for eternity.
(Jesus said), "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me
has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you
the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of
God and those who hear will live" (John 5:24-25).
******************************************************************
The Bible makes it clear it is God who is working to bring about the new birth, not man.
"When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, GOD
MADE YOU ALIVE WITH CHRIST. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written
code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away,
nailing it to the cross" (Colossians 2:13-14).
God and God alone, is totally responsible for our new birth, and He guards and keeps our
salvation safe for eternity.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, HE
HAS CAUSED US TO BE BORN AGAIN to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in
heaven for you, WHO BY GOD'S POWER ARE BEING GUARDED THROUGH FAITH
FOR A SALVATION ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:3-5).
*****************************************************************
Why do we need to be born again?
1. To avoid God's wrath for our sins, and eternity in hell where there will be weeping
gnashing of teeth, and agony.
2. To see the Kingdom of God. The kingdom is heaven and everywhere that God reigns
in majesty. Believers inherit eternity in heaven with God and we will reign with Him forever.
Jesus told Nicodemus that "no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again"
(John 3:3). Moments later he said, "You must be born again. The wind blows wherever it
pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.
So it is with everyone born of the Spirit" (John 3:7-8).
The NIV commentary states, "The Holy Spirit is sovereign. He works as He pleases in
His renewal of the human heart."
3. Since we were dead in our sins before, we need to be made alive or spiritually born
again. When we are born again, we are still the same human being, but we have a new heart
and a new nature.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold
the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17).
*******************************************************************
We don't "born again" ourselves; it is totally a work of the grace of God the Father and
the Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ the Son.
Next time: Step 4 - Conversion.
So far we've looked at the first two steps - Election and The Call.
The next step in the biblical order of salvation is regeneration, also known as
the new birth (being "born again" or "born from above").
Regeneration is the secret act of God in which He imparts new spiritual life
to us.
Webster's describes the term as "formed or created again, or to be spiritually reborn
or converted."
************************************************************
The Bible describes what happens when regeneration takes place in Ezekiel 11:19-20
and Ezekiel 36:26-29a.
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your
heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit in you and move you
to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.... You will be my people, and I will
be your God. I will save you from all your uncleaness" (Ezekiel 36:26-29a).
God takes our heart (which is hard as stone toward God, and leads us to desire what we
want and not what God wants) (unresponsive), and He softens our heart and gives us a heart
of flesh, which makes us willing (responsive) and able to come to Him for salvation.
Then He moves us to follow Him in obedience, as we have become His people and He
becomes our God.
**************************************************************
Before we recieved Christ, we were at war with God and were dead in our transgressions
and sins (Ephesians 2:1). Because of our sinfulness we were objects of God's wrath (Ephesians
2:3), "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" (Ephesians
2:4-5).
When the gospel is proclaimed and we hear it and believe in Jesus for our salvation (even
though we are dead in our sin), God will give us new life that lasts for eternity.
(Jesus said), "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me
has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you
the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of
God and those who hear will live" (John 5:24-25).
******************************************************************
The Bible makes it clear it is God who is working to bring about the new birth, not man.
"When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, GOD
MADE YOU ALIVE WITH CHRIST. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written
code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away,
nailing it to the cross" (Colossians 2:13-14).
God and God alone, is totally responsible for our new birth, and He guards and keeps our
salvation safe for eternity.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, HE
HAS CAUSED US TO BE BORN AGAIN to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in
heaven for you, WHO BY GOD'S POWER ARE BEING GUARDED THROUGH FAITH
FOR A SALVATION ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:3-5).
*****************************************************************
Why do we need to be born again?
1. To avoid God's wrath for our sins, and eternity in hell where there will be weeping
gnashing of teeth, and agony.
2. To see the Kingdom of God. The kingdom is heaven and everywhere that God reigns
in majesty. Believers inherit eternity in heaven with God and we will reign with Him forever.
Jesus told Nicodemus that "no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again"
(John 3:3). Moments later he said, "You must be born again. The wind blows wherever it
pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.
So it is with everyone born of the Spirit" (John 3:7-8).
The NIV commentary states, "The Holy Spirit is sovereign. He works as He pleases in
His renewal of the human heart."
3. Since we were dead in our sins before, we need to be made alive or spiritually born
again. When we are born again, we are still the same human being, but we have a new heart
and a new nature.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold
the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17).
*******************************************************************
We don't "born again" ourselves; it is totally a work of the grace of God the Father and
the Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ the Son.
Next time: Step 4 - Conversion.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
The Call
The Biblical Order of Salvation
1.ELECTION 2.THE CALL 3.REGENERATION 4.CONVERSION
5.JUSTIFICATION 6.ADOPTION 7.SANCTIFICATION
8.PERSEVERANCE 9.DEATH 10.GLORIFICATION
We continue with the next step in the biblical order of salvation - The Call.
There are two kinds of calls that come from God:
1. General call or outward call, is the call proclaiming the message of the Gospel to all
mankind. It may bring a certain intellectual knowledge of the truth and cause a person to
curb his tendencies to sin, but will not lead him to unite with Christ in salvation.
He may make an outward profession of faith, join a church body, and may even be
baptized, but will lack a saving faith that comes only from God.
Through this general call, God reveals Himself in His own creation, and all people
are without excuse, and should honor and glorify God. They refuse to acknowledge God as their
Creator, and thank Him for all they have, and instead worship idols of their own making.
"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and
wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known
about God is plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities -
his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what
has been made, so that men are without excuse" (Romans 1:18-20).
"But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will
be wrath and anger" (Romans 2:8).
God will judge and condemn anyone who does not turn from his evil ways and trust in
Jesus Christ for salvation.
**********************************
2. Effectual call or inward call, is the call of the Holy Spirit, which is an act of God the
Father speaking through the human proclamation of the gospel, in which he summons people
to Himself in such a way that they irresistibly respond in saving faith.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who
have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to
be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.
And those He predestined, he also called; those He called, He also justified; those He
justified, He also glorified" (Romans 8:28-30).
When God "foreknows" someone, it means He chooses to enter into a deep, personal
relationship with that person. God predestines; God calls; God justifies; and God glorifies.
God is active and accomplishes all these things.
John Samson, pastor and author, wrote, "'Foreknew' does not mean a passive gathering of
infallible knowledge (by God) of the future actions of free creatures, but it reveals that from start to
finish, salvation is a divine accomplishment. It is God and God alone who saves, to the
praise of His glory alone."
*********************************
The London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689) has this to say about predestination:
"Those of mankind who are predestinated to life, God chose before the foundation of the
world was laid, in accordance with His eternal and immutable purpose and the secret
counsel and good pleasure of His will. God chose them in Christ for everlasting glory,
solely out of His gree grace and love, without anything in the creature as a condition or
cause moving Him to choose."
"The doctrine of this mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence
and care, in order that men who are heeding the will of God revelaed in His word, and
who are yielding obedience to it may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be
assured of their eternal election."
************************************
An example of the effectual call of God is found in the second chapter of Acts.
Peter was proclaiming the gospel to a crowd of Jews and Gentiles in Jerusalem.
"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you
by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you
yourselves know."
"This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you
put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross. But God raised Him from the agony of
death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him."
"God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact."
"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified,
both Lord and Christ. When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to
Peter and the other apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?'"
"Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for
the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise
is for you and your children and for all who are far off - for all whom the Lord our God
will call.'"
"Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to
their number that day" (Acts 2:22-24, 32, 36-39, &41).
God's effectual call was sent through the proclamation of the gospel, and all who
repented and trusted in Jesus Christ were saved.
********************************
John 6:44 is further proof that God is sovereign in calling us to a saving faith in Him.
(Jesus said), "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I
will raise him up at the last day."
God enables only those He draws to Himself to come to Jesus, and all those He draws,
Jesus will raise up at the last day. All others are unable to come to Jesus because they do
not belong to God (they belong to the Devil) and are unable to hear Him (Jesus said," He
who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not
belong to God" John 8:47).
*********************************
Concerning the "effectual call" of God to His people, the London Baptist Confession
of Faith states this:
"Those whom God hath predestined unto life, He is pleased in His appointed, and
accepted time, effectually to call, by His Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death
in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ; enlightening their
minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God; taking away their heart of
stone, and giving them a heart of flesh; renewing their wills, and by His almighty power
determining them to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ;
yet so as they come most freely, being made willing by His grace."
"This effectual call is of God's free and special grace alone, not from anything at all
forseen in man, nor from any power or agency in the creature, being wholly passive
therein, being dead in sins and trespasses, until being quickened and renewed by the
Holy Spirit, he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered
and conveyed in it, and that by no less power than that which raised up Christ from the dead."
Sources: The Bible, John Samson, Mark Kielar, and London Baptist Confession
of Faith (1689).
********************************
Next time - Regeneration (The New Birth).
1.ELECTION 2.THE CALL 3.REGENERATION 4.CONVERSION
5.JUSTIFICATION 6.ADOPTION 7.SANCTIFICATION
8.PERSEVERANCE 9.DEATH 10.GLORIFICATION
We continue with the next step in the biblical order of salvation - The Call.
There are two kinds of calls that come from God:
1. General call or outward call, is the call proclaiming the message of the Gospel to all
mankind. It may bring a certain intellectual knowledge of the truth and cause a person to
curb his tendencies to sin, but will not lead him to unite with Christ in salvation.
He may make an outward profession of faith, join a church body, and may even be
baptized, but will lack a saving faith that comes only from God.
Through this general call, God reveals Himself in His own creation, and all people
are without excuse, and should honor and glorify God. They refuse to acknowledge God as their
Creator, and thank Him for all they have, and instead worship idols of their own making.
"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and
wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known
about God is plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities -
his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what
has been made, so that men are without excuse" (Romans 1:18-20).
"But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will
be wrath and anger" (Romans 2:8).
God will judge and condemn anyone who does not turn from his evil ways and trust in
Jesus Christ for salvation.
**********************************
2. Effectual call or inward call, is the call of the Holy Spirit, which is an act of God the
Father speaking through the human proclamation of the gospel, in which he summons people
to Himself in such a way that they irresistibly respond in saving faith.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who
have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to
be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.
And those He predestined, he also called; those He called, He also justified; those He
justified, He also glorified" (Romans 8:28-30).
When God "foreknows" someone, it means He chooses to enter into a deep, personal
relationship with that person. God predestines; God calls; God justifies; and God glorifies.
God is active and accomplishes all these things.
John Samson, pastor and author, wrote, "'Foreknew' does not mean a passive gathering of
infallible knowledge (by God) of the future actions of free creatures, but it reveals that from start to
finish, salvation is a divine accomplishment. It is God and God alone who saves, to the
praise of His glory alone."
*********************************
The London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689) has this to say about predestination:
"Those of mankind who are predestinated to life, God chose before the foundation of the
world was laid, in accordance with His eternal and immutable purpose and the secret
counsel and good pleasure of His will. God chose them in Christ for everlasting glory,
solely out of His gree grace and love, without anything in the creature as a condition or
cause moving Him to choose."
"The doctrine of this mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence
and care, in order that men who are heeding the will of God revelaed in His word, and
who are yielding obedience to it may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be
assured of their eternal election."
************************************
An example of the effectual call of God is found in the second chapter of Acts.
Peter was proclaiming the gospel to a crowd of Jews and Gentiles in Jerusalem.
"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you
by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you
yourselves know."
"This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you
put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross. But God raised Him from the agony of
death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him."
"God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact."
"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified,
both Lord and Christ. When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to
Peter and the other apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?'"
"Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for
the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise
is for you and your children and for all who are far off - for all whom the Lord our God
will call.'"
"Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to
their number that day" (Acts 2:22-24, 32, 36-39, &41).
God's effectual call was sent through the proclamation of the gospel, and all who
repented and trusted in Jesus Christ were saved.
********************************
John 6:44 is further proof that God is sovereign in calling us to a saving faith in Him.
(Jesus said), "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I
will raise him up at the last day."
God enables only those He draws to Himself to come to Jesus, and all those He draws,
Jesus will raise up at the last day. All others are unable to come to Jesus because they do
not belong to God (they belong to the Devil) and are unable to hear Him (Jesus said," He
who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not
belong to God" John 8:47).
*********************************
Concerning the "effectual call" of God to His people, the London Baptist Confession
of Faith states this:
"Those whom God hath predestined unto life, He is pleased in His appointed, and
accepted time, effectually to call, by His Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death
in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ; enlightening their
minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God; taking away their heart of
stone, and giving them a heart of flesh; renewing their wills, and by His almighty power
determining them to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ;
yet so as they come most freely, being made willing by His grace."
"This effectual call is of God's free and special grace alone, not from anything at all
forseen in man, nor from any power or agency in the creature, being wholly passive
therein, being dead in sins and trespasses, until being quickened and renewed by the
Holy Spirit, he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered
and conveyed in it, and that by no less power than that which raised up Christ from the dead."
Sources: The Bible, John Samson, Mark Kielar, and London Baptist Confession
of Faith (1689).
********************************
Next time - Regeneration (The New Birth).
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Biblical Order Of Salvation - Election
Previously, we looked at a general outline of the biblical order of salvation.
Now, we'll go a little deeper into each step, beginning with God's "Election."
ELECTION
Election is the act of God, before creation, in which He chooses some people
to be saved, not on account of any unforeseen merit in them, but only because of His
sovereign good pleasure.
Election is found throughout the New Testament, and one verse that illustrates
the doctrine is 2 Thessalonians 2:13, as Paul is writing to the church at Thessalonica.
"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."
The trinity is in view in this passage as the Lord Jesus Christ loved His people,
and the Father chose them to be saved, through the sanctifying work of the Holy
Spirit and belief in the truth.
For many Christians, the Doctrine of Election is largely ignored and/or mis-
understood. The idea that God chooses some, but not all for salvation, is abhorrent
to them.
However, God's Election is never arbitrary or capricious, but always according
to His good pleasure and in conformity with the purpose of His will.
Some believe this doctrine teaches that God forces a
person to believe in Him, even if that person doesn't wish to do so. That's a
misunderstanding of election.
Charles Spurgeon, known as the "Prince of Preachers," wrote this about God's
Election: "A man is not saved against his will, but he is made willing by the operation
of the Holy Spirit. A mighty grace which he does not wish to resist, enters into the
man, disarms him, makes a new creature of him, and he is saved." This is the new birth
or regeneration, which we'll address in step three.
In his letter to the believers in Ephesus, Paul taught the doctrine to the saints.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ
with every spritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before
the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him."
"In love He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the
purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in
the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our
trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom
and insight making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which
He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in
heaven and things on earth."
"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, so that we who were the
first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also, when you heard
the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
who is the guarantee of out inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of
His glory" (Ephesians 1:3-14).
God's chosen people belonged to Him from the beginning. John MacArthur said, "The
words of Jesus, 'They were yours,' in John 17:6, asserts that even before conversion, the elect
were God's possession, because of His election."
God the Father gives them to Jesus, He accepts them as a love gift from the Father, they
come to Him, and He will never drive them away.
"All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive
away" (John 6:37).
It is the Father's will that Jesus lose none of them, but to raise them to eternal life at the last
day. "And this 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).
God has chosen, predestined, adopted, and redeemed His people, according to His
purpose and will. Furthermore, the Holy spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance, salvation,
and eternal life with God, to the praise of His glory.
***************************************
Next time we'll look at the next step in the biblical order of salvation - God's "Call."
Now, we'll go a little deeper into each step, beginning with God's "Election."
ELECTION
Election is the act of God, before creation, in which He chooses some people
to be saved, not on account of any unforeseen merit in them, but only because of His
sovereign good pleasure.
Election is found throughout the New Testament, and one verse that illustrates
the doctrine is 2 Thessalonians 2:13, as Paul is writing to the church at Thessalonica.
"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."
The trinity is in view in this passage as the Lord Jesus Christ loved His people,
and the Father chose them to be saved, through the sanctifying work of the Holy
Spirit and belief in the truth.
For many Christians, the Doctrine of Election is largely ignored and/or mis-
understood. The idea that God chooses some, but not all for salvation, is abhorrent
to them.
However, God's Election is never arbitrary or capricious, but always according
to His good pleasure and in conformity with the purpose of His will.
Some believe this doctrine teaches that God forces a
person to believe in Him, even if that person doesn't wish to do so. That's a
misunderstanding of election.
Charles Spurgeon, known as the "Prince of Preachers," wrote this about God's
Election: "A man is not saved against his will, but he is made willing by the operation
of the Holy Spirit. A mighty grace which he does not wish to resist, enters into the
man, disarms him, makes a new creature of him, and he is saved." This is the new birth
or regeneration, which we'll address in step three.
In his letter to the believers in Ephesus, Paul taught the doctrine to the saints.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ
with every spritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before
the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him."
"In love He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the
purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in
the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our
trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom
and insight making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which
He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in
heaven and things on earth."
"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, so that we who were the
first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also, when you heard
the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
who is the guarantee of out inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of
His glory" (Ephesians 1:3-14).
God's chosen people belonged to Him from the beginning. John MacArthur said, "The
words of Jesus, 'They were yours,' in John 17:6, asserts that even before conversion, the elect
were God's possession, because of His election."
God the Father gives them to Jesus, He accepts them as a love gift from the Father, they
come to Him, and He will never drive them away.
"All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive
away" (John 6:37).
It is the Father's will that Jesus lose none of them, but to raise them to eternal life at the last
day. "And this 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).
God has chosen, predestined, adopted, and redeemed His people, according to His
purpose and will. Furthermore, the Holy spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance, salvation,
and eternal life with God, to the praise of His glory.
***************************************
Next time we'll look at the next step in the biblical order of salvation - God's "Call."
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Biblical Order Of Salvation
Our salvation, from beginning to end, is the work of a gracious and sovereign God!
The following is a general outline of the biblical order of salvation.
1.ELECTION From the beginning 2 Thess 2:13
Before the foundation of the world Eph 2:3-14
God chose us IN HIM (Jesus)
God gives us to Jesus Jn 17:6; 6:37
Jesus ACCEPTS US as a love gift Jn 6:37,39
from the Father
2.THE CALL (Foreknown, Predestined) and Called Rom 8:28,30
God draws us to Jesus through hearing Jn 6:44
the gospel 1 Cor 15:1-2
3.REGENERATION God changes our heart of stone into Ez 36:26-27
(Born Again) a heart of flesh Jn 5:24-25
Col 2:13
4.CONVERSION God makes us willing and able to 1 Jn 5:20
understand how to know him 1 Cor 2:9-10
1 Cor 2:14
God grants us repentance and faith 2 Tim 2:25
Eph 2:8-9
Rom 2:4
We repent and believe (trust) in Jesus Acts 2:19-21
2 Cor 7:10
We receive him as Lord and Savior Jn 1:12
5.JUSTIFICATION God forgives our sins and declares us Rom 8:30
righteous because of Jesus' atonement 2 Cor 5:21
6.ADOPTION God makes us members of his family Eph 1:5
Jn 1:12-13
7.SANCTIFICATION In a process that continues throughout 1 Cor 6:11
life, God sets us apart to be more like Jn 17:17-19
Christ
8.PERSEVERANCE Through God's power and grace we 1 Pet 1:3-5
remain in him forever Jude 24-25
Phil 1:6
9.DEATH Going to be with God 2 Cor 5:6-8
10.GLORIFICATION Receiving glorified body Rom 8:30
like Christ's Phil 3:20-21
1 Cor 15:42-44
*****************************
1 Election - happened in the past (from the beginning).
2-6 The Call, Regeneration, Conversion, Justification, and
Adoption happen instantaneously.
God's choosing, calling, and regenerating us precedes
our belief in him.
7-8 Sanctification and Perseverance are ongoing processes.
9-10 Death and Glorification are guaranteed future events.
God begins our salvation and ensures that it is completed!
*************************
Next time: More in depth on the Biblical Order Of Salvation.
The following is a general outline of the biblical order of salvation.
1.ELECTION From the beginning 2 Thess 2:13
Before the foundation of the world Eph 2:3-14
God chose us IN HIM (Jesus)
God gives us to Jesus Jn 17:6; 6:37
Jesus ACCEPTS US as a love gift Jn 6:37,39
from the Father
2.THE CALL (Foreknown, Predestined) and Called Rom 8:28,30
God draws us to Jesus through hearing Jn 6:44
the gospel 1 Cor 15:1-2
3.REGENERATION God changes our heart of stone into Ez 36:26-27
(Born Again) a heart of flesh Jn 5:24-25
Col 2:13
4.CONVERSION God makes us willing and able to 1 Jn 5:20
understand how to know him 1 Cor 2:9-10
1 Cor 2:14
God grants us repentance and faith 2 Tim 2:25
Eph 2:8-9
Rom 2:4
We repent and believe (trust) in Jesus Acts 2:19-21
2 Cor 7:10
We receive him as Lord and Savior Jn 1:12
5.JUSTIFICATION God forgives our sins and declares us Rom 8:30
righteous because of Jesus' atonement 2 Cor 5:21
6.ADOPTION God makes us members of his family Eph 1:5
Jn 1:12-13
7.SANCTIFICATION In a process that continues throughout 1 Cor 6:11
life, God sets us apart to be more like Jn 17:17-19
Christ
8.PERSEVERANCE Through God's power and grace we 1 Pet 1:3-5
remain in him forever Jude 24-25
Phil 1:6
9.DEATH Going to be with God 2 Cor 5:6-8
10.GLORIFICATION Receiving glorified body Rom 8:30
like Christ's Phil 3:20-21
1 Cor 15:42-44
*****************************
1 Election - happened in the past (from the beginning).
2-6 The Call, Regeneration, Conversion, Justification, and
Adoption happen instantaneously.
God's choosing, calling, and regenerating us precedes
our belief in him.
7-8 Sanctification and Perseverance are ongoing processes.
9-10 Death and Glorification are guaranteed future events.
God begins our salvation and ensures that it is completed!
*************************
Next time: More in depth on the Biblical Order Of Salvation.
Friday, February 10, 2012
The Good Shepherd
The Shepherd
The Palestinian shepherd leads his sheep (doesn't drive them like cattle),
and they follow him.
He calls them, they hear him, and come to him.
The sheep who don't belong to him do not come when he calls.
The shepherd does not call sheep randomly, only the ones who belong to him.
The shepherd chooses his sheep.
"I am the good shepherd."
Jesus is The good shepherd, and he lays down his life for his sheep (John 10:11).
He knows his sheep and they know him. When he calls them, they come to him and
follow him (John 10:27-28).
Those sheep who don't belong to his flock do not come to him and follow him
(John 10:26).
****************************************************************
THE GOOD SHEPHERD:
Searches for his sheep (Ezekiel 34:11) Protects his sheep (Ezekiel 34:12)
Rescues his sheep (Ezekiel 34:12) Calls his sheep (John 10:27)
Searches for lost sheep (Ezekiel 34:16) Binds up the injured (Ezekiel 34:16)
Strengthens the weak (Ezekiel 34:16) Knows his sheep (John 10:14)
Holds his sheep in his hand (John 10:28) Gives his sheep abundant life (John 10:10)
Dies for his sheep (John 10:11) Saves his sheep (John 10:28)
Gives his sheep eternal life (John 10:28) Preserves his sheep eternally (John 10:28)
*****************************************************************
His sheep listen to the good shepherd and follow him (John 10:27).
The sheep believe in the good shepherd. Those who are not his sheep do not believe
in him because they are not his sheep (John 10:26). They are unable to hear him because
they belong to the devil (John 8:43-44).
Those who belong to him - his sheep - hear what he says (John 8:47).
*******************************************************************
The good shepherd chooses his sheep (Ephesians 1:4).
The good shepherd atoned and propitiated for his sheep, and reconciled them to God the
Father (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 2:17).
No one can snatch his sheep out of the good shepherd's hand (John 10:28).
The good shepherd is the gate - the only way to salvation (John 10:9)!!
The Palestinian shepherd leads his sheep (doesn't drive them like cattle),
and they follow him.
He calls them, they hear him, and come to him.
The sheep who don't belong to him do not come when he calls.
The shepherd does not call sheep randomly, only the ones who belong to him.
The shepherd chooses his sheep.
"I am the good shepherd."
Jesus is The good shepherd, and he lays down his life for his sheep (John 10:11).
He knows his sheep and they know him. When he calls them, they come to him and
follow him (John 10:27-28).
Those sheep who don't belong to his flock do not come to him and follow him
(John 10:26).
****************************************************************
THE GOOD SHEPHERD:
Searches for his sheep (Ezekiel 34:11) Protects his sheep (Ezekiel 34:12)
Rescues his sheep (Ezekiel 34:12) Calls his sheep (John 10:27)
Searches for lost sheep (Ezekiel 34:16) Binds up the injured (Ezekiel 34:16)
Strengthens the weak (Ezekiel 34:16) Knows his sheep (John 10:14)
Holds his sheep in his hand (John 10:28) Gives his sheep abundant life (John 10:10)
Dies for his sheep (John 10:11) Saves his sheep (John 10:28)
Gives his sheep eternal life (John 10:28) Preserves his sheep eternally (John 10:28)
*****************************************************************
His sheep listen to the good shepherd and follow him (John 10:27).
The sheep believe in the good shepherd. Those who are not his sheep do not believe
in him because they are not his sheep (John 10:26). They are unable to hear him because
they belong to the devil (John 8:43-44).
Those who belong to him - his sheep - hear what he says (John 8:47).
*******************************************************************
The good shepherd chooses his sheep (Ephesians 1:4).
The good shepherd atoned and propitiated for his sheep, and reconciled them to God the
Father (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 2:17).
No one can snatch his sheep out of the good shepherd's hand (John 10:28).
The good shepherd is the gate - the only way to salvation (John 10:9)!!
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