Monday, April 15, 2013
Great Testimony of God's Sovereignty in Salvation
David Kjos writes a blog called The Thirsty Theologian.
When David and his wife joined the church they had been attending,
David offered his testimony to the congregation.
Notice that he talked about God's grace and mercy, and not about himself.
His emphasis was on what God had done, and not what he had done.
Every born again believer shares David's testimony of God's sovereignty in
salvation.
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"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in
which you once walked, following the course of
this world, following the prince of the power of
the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons
of disobedience --- among whom we all once
lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out
the desire of the body and the mind, and were by
nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind."
"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great
love with which he loved us, even when we were
dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with
Christ -- by grace you have been saved -- raised us
up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly
places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he
might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in
kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."
"For by grace you have been saved through faith.
And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Ephesians 2:1-9
**********
Here is what David said that day.
"I have done nothing; God has done it all. It was God who chose me before the
foundation of the world according to his good pleasure (Ephesians 1). It was God
who sent the gospel to me, who convicted me of my sin, called me to faith in Christ,
gave me the gift of faith (Ephesians 2), granted me repentance (2 Timothy 2), and
gave me the understanding to discern the things of God (1 Corinthians 2)."
"It was God who adopted me as his son (Romans 8, Galatians 4, Ephesians 5),
and made me a joint-heir (Romans 8) with his only natural son, Jesus Christ. It was
God who gave me a new nature (2 Corinthians 5), so that I would hate my sin, and
love him and his Word. And it is God who continues to work in me, 'both to will
and to work for his good pleasure (Philippians 2). Finally, it is God who has
promised to perfect the good work he has begun in me (Philippians 1) and to
glorify me with him (Romans 8)."
"I was conceived and born in sin. I had no ability or inclination to choose Christ,
accept Christ, make a decision for Christ, or any other phrase you may have heard
or used to describe conversion. I was an enemy of God, a rebel, concerned only
with my own pleasure and well-being. As much as I would like to diminish my
role in this story, there is one way in which I was very actively involved. I actively
hated God and loved myself. But God loved me, and saved me. Just as he called
Lazarus out of the grave, he called me from mine; and just as Lazarus could not
raise himself from the dead, neither could I raise myself."
"I am not saved because I have accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I am
saved because God, in Christ, by his perfect righteousness and his death for my
unrighteousness, has made me acceptable to him. He has not accepted me because
I have accepted him. My faith in him is a consequence, not a cause, of his acceptance
of me. I have trusted Jesus as my Lord and Savior because God has accepted me
in Christ."
"Because of Christ, God doesn't see me as the sinner I am. He sees me covered with
Christ's righteousness. And in that same way, I hope when you hear (or read) this
testimony, it causes you to see not me, but the glory of God in Christ."
Friday, April 12, 2013
"Born of Water"
"Jesus answered, 'I tell you the truth, no one
can enter the kingdom of God unless he is
born of water and the Spirit."
John 3:5
In this passage, the word "water" does NOT refer to baptism, but instead to
the spiritual cleansing a person undergoes when he is regenerated by God.
**********
"Jesus referred not to literal water here but to the need for 'cleansing'.
When water is used figuratively in the Old Testament, it habitually refers
to renewal or spiritual cleansing, especially when used in conjunction with
'spirit.'
Thus, Jesus made reference to the spiritual washing or purification of the
soul, accomplished by the Holy Spirit through the word of God at the moment
of salvation, required for belonging to his kingdom."
John MacArthur
ESV Commentary
**********
"(25) I will sprinkle clean water on you,
and you shall be clean from all your
uncleannesses, and from all your
idols I will cleanse you. (26) 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. (27) And I will put
my Spirit within you, and cause you to
walk in my statutes and be careful to
obey my rules."
Ezekiel 36:25-27
"What was figuratively described in v. 25 is explained as literal in vv 26-27.
The gift of the 'new heart' signifies the new birth, which is regeneration by the
Holy Spirit.
"The 'heart' stands for the whole nature. The 'spirit' indicates the governing
power of the mind, which directs thought and conduct. A 'heart of stone' is
stubborn and self-willed. A 'heart of flesh' is pliable and responsive. The evil
inclination is removed and a new nature replaces it."
John MacArthur
ESV Commentary
**********
"But when the goodness and loving kindness
of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not
because of works done by us in righteousness,
but according to his own mercy, by the wash-
ing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus
Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his
grace we might become heirs according to the
hope of eternal life."
Titus 3:4-7
"Salvation is not achieved by human effort or merit but comes through God's
mercy alone. 'Washing of regeneration' is a reference to new birth, of which baptism
(among other things) is a sign. It cannot mean that baptism is necessary for regen-
eration, since the New Testament plainly teaches that the new birth is an act of God's
Spirit and is not effected or achieved by ceremony."
NIV Commentary
"Salvation brings divine cleansing from sin and the gift of a new,
Spirit-generated, Spirit-empowered, and Spirit-protected life as God's own
children and heirs."
John MacArthur
ESV Commentary
Thursday, April 11, 2013
The New Birth is the Work of the Holy Spirit
A Christian publication tells its readers how to be "born again."
Do A, B, C, and D, and you can receive the new birth.
However, Jesus' words to Nicodemus in John 3, show that
regeneration (being born again) is totally the work of the Holy
Spirit, and man contributes nothing to it.
"Jesus answered him, 'Truly, truly, I say to
you, unless one is born again, he cannot
see the kingdom of God.'
" ... unless one is born of water and the
Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and
that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
"Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must
be born again.' The wind blows where it
wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do
not know where it comes from or where it
goes. So it is with everyone who is born of
the Spirit."
John 3:3, 5-8
Notice that Jesus said nothing to Nicodemus about what he needed to do
to be born again, but clearly told him that the new birth was the work of the
Holy Spirit exclusively. It is a mystery (verse 8).
Men have no control over the wind or over the Holy Spirit. The Holy
Spirit does as He pleases.
**********
"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
Here, John tells us that our new birth is not traced to anything we do, but
to the grace of God. Yes, we receive and believe in Jesus for salvation, but
only because God regenerates us ("born of God") before we embrace Christ.
"Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ
has been born of God, and everyone who loves
the Father loves whoever has been born of him."
1 John 5:1
This scripture reveals that saving faith is a result of regeneration and not
the cause of it. In other words, the new birth precedes saving faith. Every-
one who in the present believes, has in the past been regenerated by God.
Faith does not produce regeneration, but regeneration produces faith.
**********
"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 im-
perishable, 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
Peter wrote that God's great mercy, "has caused us to be born again ..."
The new birth is an act of God, not of man. A man does not "born again"
himself; only God can regenerate him.
Just as we contribute nothing to our physical birth, we have nothing to
do with our spiritual birth. It depends on the grace and mercy God shows
for his people.
**********
"... then the LORD God formed the man of dust from
the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath
of life, and the man became a living creature."
Genesis 2:7
God made Adam alive when he breathed life into him. We are made
spiritually alive when the Holy Spirit changes our heart of stone (un-
believing) into a heart of flesh, enabling us to trust in him for our salva-
tion. We become his people.
"I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you
shall be clean from all your uncleannesses,
and from all your idols I will cleanse you.
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.
"You shall dwell in the land that I gave to
your fathers, and you shall be my people,
and I will be your God."
Ezekiel 36:25-28
**********
We can't do anything to be born again. That is a miracle of the
Holy Spirit, bestowed on people who are hostile to God and unable
to do anything to please him.
"... 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 can-
not please God."
Romans 8:7-8
When the Holy Spirit regenerates us, we believe in Jesus for our
salvation, and there is no condemnation for those who are in him.
"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
Sources: Dan Phillips and John MacArthur
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
The Cross Was God's Idea
I caught part of an interview on Fox & Friends recently.
I didn't get the man's name or the name of the book he was
promoting.
Commenting on his book, he said (paraphrasing), "The cross
wasn't God's idea. God just took a horrible act of men and made
it a beautiful thing."
One of the co-hosts responded, "That was beautifully put." I
thought to myself, "How sad" that these two people had such a
lack of understanding about the Bible and God's plan of re-
demption.
Apparently, they believe God made the world, and took His
hands off it, and let man run the show, reacting only when they
went outside of the boundaries He had set for them. That is not the
God of the Bible.
The Bible clearly states that people are responsible for their
own actions, but are not in charge of their own fates.
The heart of man plans his way,
but the Lord establishes his steps.
Proverbs 16:9
Many are the plans in the mind of
a man, but it is the purpose of the
Lord that will stand.
Proverbs 19:21
God had a plan and a purpose for Jesus' death on the cross
and He used wicked men (Judas, Pilate, Pharisees, Roman
soldiers and held them responsible for their evil deeds) to
carry out His plan.
Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus
of Nazareth, a man attested to you by
God with mighty works and wonders and
signs that God did through him in your
midst, as you yourselves know— this
Jesus, delivered up according to the definite
plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified
and killed by the hands of lawless men. God
raised him up, loosing the pangs of death,
because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
Acts 2:23-24
For truly in this city there were gathered
together against your holy servant Jesus
whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius
Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples
of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your
plan had predestined to take place.
Acts 4:27-28
God decided before the creation of the world that Jesus'
death on the cross would be necessary to redeem sinful men.
Ephesians 1:4-7.
God works out everything in conformity with the purpose
of his will. Ephesians 1:11.
It was the Lord's will to provide His Son as a substitute to
pay for His people's sins. Isaiah 53:10.
God knew Adam would fall and therefore everyone
afterward would be born with a sinful nature, unable to please
God without receiving His grace. Romans 8:7-8
Sinful man needed a Savior to escape God's wrath for his
wickedness and Jesus was that perfect sacrifice in human form.
Hebrews 10:14.
All of this was done according to God's perfect plan, from
before the foundation of the world.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Resurrection
"There was a violent earthquake, for an angel
of the Lord came down from heaven and
going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and
sat on it. His appearance was like lightning
and his clothes were white as snow. The
guards were so afraid of him that they shook
and became like dead men."
"The angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid,
for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who
was crucified. He is not here; he is risen, just
as he said. Come and see the place where he
lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples:
He has risen from the dead and is going ahead
of you into Galilee. There you will see him.
Now I have told you."
Matthew 28:2-7
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The Greek word for resurrection very literally means to "stand back up."
I'm so thankful that Jesus died for me and stood back up, appeared to many, and
then returned home to the Father, where He intercedes for me and all believers today.
I'm so glad that God chose me, elected me, called me, justified me, redeemed me,
forgave me, sanctified me, preserved me, and saved me.
Jesus is risen! He is risen indeed!
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Reconciled!
"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 5:10-11
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"A Man (Jesus) of infinite worth,
offering a soul of infinite worth,
to a God of infinite holiness, for
rebels (His chosen people) with
infinite guilt --- and bang! just
like that, they are saved and
reconciled and set apart to God
by that one sacrifice."
Dan Phillips
World Tilting Gospel
"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
Friday, March 29, 2013
"It is Finished"
"It was about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the
whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped
shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.
Jesus called out with a loud voice, 'Father, into your hands
I commit my spirit.'" Luke 23:44-46a
"When he had received the drink, Jesus said, 'It is finished.'
With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."
John 19:30
**********
From the book 'World Tilting Gospel' by Dan Phillips:
"Christ hung and suffered as a substitute. He took on
Himself the sin of all His people, absorbed the wrath
of God they so richly deserved, put his perfectly
righteous life between us and God, satisfied the judg-
ment of God, and so died."
"But before He died, Jesus cried, 'It is finished.' These
three English words translate one Greek word: tetelestai.
With this marvelous word, Christ says, 'It stands ac-
complished.'"
"Everything that needed to be done has been done;
every bit of the mission the Father gave Him for His
glory, the redemption of His people, the defeat of
Satan, and the reclamation of the planet, has been
brought to completion."
"Jesus is saying that everything necessary for the
completion of God's saving plan has been accomplished."
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