Thursday, November 8, 2012
Divine Providence LBCF
1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith
Chapter 5: Of Divine Providence
1. God the good Creator of all things, in his infinite power and wisdom doth
uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures and things, from the greatest
even to the least, by his most wise and holy providence, to the end for the which
they were created, according unto his infallible foreknowledge, and the free and
immutable counsel of his own will; to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power,
justice, infinite goodness, and mercy.
(Hebrews 1:3; Job 38:11; Isaiah 46:10; Psalm 135:6; Matthew 10:29-31;
Ephesians 1:11)
2. Although in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first cause,
all things come to pass immutably and infallibly; so that there is not anything befalls
any by chance, or without his providence; yet by the same providence he ordereth
them to fall out according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely,
or contingently.
(Acts 2:23; Proverbs 16:3; Genesis 8:22)
3. God, in his ordinary providence maketh use of means, yet is free to work with-
out, above, and against them at his pleasure.
(Acts 27:31,44; Isaiah 55:10.11; Hosea 1:7; Romans 4:19-21; Daniel 3:27)
4. The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God, so
far manifest themselves in his providence, that his determinate counsel extendeth
itself even to the first fall, and all other sinful actions both of angels and men; and
that not by a bare permission, which also he most wisely and powerfully boundeth,
and otherwise ordereth and governeth, in a manifold dispensation to his most holy
ends; yet so, as the sinfulness of their acts proceedeth only from the creatures, and
not from God, who, being most holy and righteous, neither is nor can be the author
or approver of sin.
(Romans 11:32-34; 2 Samuel 24:1; 1 Chronicles 21:1; 2 Kings 19:28; Psalm76:10;
Genesis 1:20; Isaiah 10:6,7 12; 1 John 2:16)
5. The most wise, righteous, and gracious God doth oftentimes leave for a season
his own children to manifold temptations and the corruptions of their own hearts, to
chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of
corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled; and to raise
them to a more close and constant dependence for their support upon himself; and
to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for other just
and holy ends. So that whatsoever befalls any of his elect is by his appointment, for
his glory, and their good.
(2 Chronicles 32:25,26,31; 2 Corinthians 12:7-9; Romans 8:28)
6. As for those wicked and ungodly men whom God, as the righteous judge, for
former sin doth blind and harden; from them he not only withholdeth his grace,
whereby they might have been enlightened in their understanding, and wrought
upon their hearts; but sometimes also withdraweth, the gifts which they had, and
exposeth them to such objects as their corruption makes occasion of sin; and withal,
gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the power of
Satan, whereby it comes to pass that they harden themselves, under those means which
God useth for the softening of others.
(Romans 1:24-26,28; Romans 11:7,8; Deuteronomy 29:4 Matthew 13:12; Deuteron-
omy 2:30; 2 Kings 8:12,13; Psalm 81:11,12; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12; Exodus 8:15,32;
Isaiah 6:9,10; 1 Peter 2:7,8)
7. As the providence of God doth in general reach to all creatures, so after a more
special manner it taketh care of his church, and disposeth of all things to the good thereof.
(1 Timothy 4:10; Amos 9:8-9; Isaiah 43:3-5
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
What Now?
Ok liberal Americans, you got what you wanted -- an Obama victory. Be careful
what you wish for.
The people of Israel, instead of relying on God, begged him to appoint a king who
would lead them. I know Obama is not a king, but many treat him that way, or even
worse, as the Messiah.
Many of those kings the Jews wanted as their leaders, were corrupt and evil doers.
They led the people in the wrong direction -- a way that was against God's will.
I see that happening here in America. So many people looking to sinful men to
lead them, when they should be turning to God.
Our newly re-elected president claims to be a Christian, but has openly mocked the
Bible, and certainly has political positions that are contrary to God's word. Jesus
warned us about such people who say they are followers of God, but openly disobey
Him and lead others to follow them (i.e. Obama's approval of homosexual marriage and
abortion with no restrictions; even opposing medical aid for a baby that survives an
abortion. He believes the baby should just be left to die. Shameful! Evil!).
Such people can be recognized by the fruit they produce.
(Jesus said), "Watch for false prophets. They come to you
in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
By their fruit you will recognize them."
Matthew 7:15-16a
Obama seems to have more respect for Muslims and Islam than for Christianity,
the religion he claims as his own. The god of Jeremiah Wright and Barack Obama
is not the God of the Bible.
He ignores and refuses to enforce laws he doesn't like, even though he swore an
oath to God, with his hand on the Bible, to execute the laws of the United States, and
defend and uphold the constitution.
He ran a dirty campaign, falsely accusing Republicans of waging a "war on women,"
and shamefully painting Mitt Romney, a decent man, as a murderer and felon who cares
only for the rich. Actually, Romney gives more to charity in one year than Obama and
Biden have given in their entire lives combined. He also has done more charitable work
without publicizing it than Obama ever dreamed of.
Due to his out of control spending we can look forward to much bigger deficits and
debt over the next four years, as he turns our nation toward a socialist European style
government.
A corrupt and biased media have aided and abetted him for four years and helped
him win re-election by ignoring his scandals and refusing to report on them.
Rush Limbaugh said of the media's complicity in the Benghazi scandal, "that it would
be like Woodward and Bernstein helping Nixon cover up Watergate;" and nobody
died in Watergate, but four Americans died at Benghazi.
I believe God is judging America for turning away from Him and doing whatever
it pleases, instead of what pleases Him. He has given us a corrupt and sinful man to
lead us because of our rebellion against Him.
Just as God took His blessings away from Israel, He can do the same to America.
He is not compelled to bless us when we refuse to follow Him.
So what do we do now?
We should pray for the president as the Bible tells us to pray for everyone (1 Tim 2:17).
God has established him in office for His purposes (Romans 13:1). We should pray
that God would grant him repentance for his sins and turn him toward the only hope
anyone has for salvation -- Jesus.
We, as Americans, Christians and non-Christians, need to get on our knees and repent
and beg for God's mercy and forgiveness for our sins.
All of us who trust in God know that He will take care of us, but He may show His
wrath against our country for turning away from Him in so many ways.
There is still hope for America, but we must turn from the direction we are going,
and seek God's will.
Monday, November 5, 2012
God's Providence
"Providence is God's guardianship and care
for His creatures and creation."
James Montgomery Boice
**********
God is sovereign over all things -- everything that exists and everything that
happens is under His control. He can and does use good and evil to bring about
His purpose and will.
Providence has a purpose -- God's purpose.
"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."
Romans 8:28
God purposed that Joseph would be sold into slavery by his brothers, so that
he would be in position to help Israel during the time of famine.
[Joseph said to his brothers], "... do not be angry
with yourselves for selling me here, because it
was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.
... God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you
a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a
great deliverance."
Genesis 45:5b.7
"But Joseph said to them, 'Don't be afraid.
Am I in the place of God? You intended
to harm me, but God intended it for good
to accomplish what is now being done, the
saving of many lives."
Genesis 50:19-20
From eternity God has been sovereign and everything is dependent on Him.
Through Jesus, He created everything.
"He (Christ) is before all things,
and in Him all things hold together."
Colossians 1:17
God directs the course of all men, even kings.
"The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD;
He directs it like a watercourse wherever
He pleases."
Proverbs 21:1
"In his heart a man plans his course,
but the LORD determines his steps."
Proverbs 16:9
"Many are the plans in a man's heart,
but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails."
Proverbs 19:21
God uses the evil actions of wicked men to bring about His purpose and will,
but they are still responsible for the wrong they do.
"Men can do nothing but what God has appointed; still this does
not free them from condemnation, when they are led by a wicked
desire to sin. For though God directs them, by an unseen bridle,
to an end which is unknown to them, nothing is, farther from their
intention than to obey His decrees."
John Calvin
"Then Jesus replied, 'Have I not chosen you,
the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!'
He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot,
who, though one of the Twelve, was later
to betray Him."
John 6:70-71
"Always place before our minds the providence of God,
which Judas himself, and all wicked men -- though it
be contrary to their wish, and though they have another
end in view -- are compelled to obey."
John Calvin
"This man was handed over to you by God's
set purpose and foreknowledge; and you,
with the help of wicked men, put Him to
death by nailing Him to the cross. But God
raised Him from the agony of death, be-
cause it was impossible for death to keep
its hold on Him."
Acts 2:23-24
"Christ's betrayal results both from divine fiat and human sin,
yet God, mysteriously, remains untainted by evil in the process.
This exemplifies the doctrine of providence."
R.C. Sproul
"Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met to-
gether with the Gentiles and the people
of Israel in this city to conspire against
your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.
They did what your (God's) power and will
had decided beforehand should happen."
Acts 4:27-28
**********
"The Lord is able to bring about what He wills even through the
wicked deeds of men. We should therefore trust that He is
working out His good purposes for His people, even as others
do evil to us."
R.C. Sproul
Friday, November 2, 2012
Why Do Some Believe and Others Do Not?
"The disciples came to him (Jesus) and asked,
'Why do you speak to the people in parables?'
He replied, 'The knowledge of the secrets of
the kingdom of heaven has been given to you,
but not to them.
"Whoever has will be given more, and he will
have an abundance. Whoever does not have,
even what he has will be taken from him. This
is why I speak to them in parables: Though
seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do
not hear or understand.
"In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
'You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
For this people's heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears, and they have
closed their eyes.
"Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear
with their ears, understand with their hearts and
turn, and I would heal them. But blessed are your
eyes because they see, and your ears because they
hear."
Matthew 13:10-16
The people were spiritually dull because of sin and even though they saw
the mighty deeds Jesus had performed, and had heard the words spoken, they
didn't understand them, and refused to turn from their sins, and to God for salvation.
Their hearts had never been awakened or quickened by the Holy Spirit, and
they were hardened by God and were unable to come to Him for redemption.
However, the Holy Spirit had changed the hearts of the disciples and many
others so that they could turn from their sins and trust in Jesus and be saved.
"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 uncleanness."
Ezekiel 36:26-29a
The Holy Spirit marks those who believed with a seal, guaranteeing their
salvation.
"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the
word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having be-
lieved, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised
Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance
until the redemption of those who are God's possession --
to the praise of His glory."
Ephesians 1:13-14
The Holy Spirit was sent to teach them and cause them to remember Jesus'
words.
(Jesus said), "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the
Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and
will remind you of everything I have said to you."
John 14:26
The Holy Spirit convicts the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness
and judgment.
"When He (The Holy Spirit) comes, He will convict the world of
guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard
to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to rightoues-
ness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no
longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world
now stands condemned."
John 16:8-11
The Holy Spirit points people to Christ.
Not only is the Holy Spirit necessary for salvation, but the entire trinity is involved.
"Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ
To God's elect ... who have been chosen according to the
foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying
work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and
sprinkling by His blood:
Grace and peace be yours in abundance."
1 Peter 1:1-2
"Salvation is the work of the triune God -- election by the Father, redemption in
the Son, calling by the Spirit."
Steve Lawson
Foundations of Grace
The preaching of God's word leads people to Him, through the power of the Holy
Spirit, and not clever words spoken by men.
"My message and my preaching were not with wise and
persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's
power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom,
but on God's power."
1 Corinthians 2:4-5
The Holy Spirit reveals the important things to His people.
"However, it is written:
'No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived what God
has prepared for those who love
Him -- but God has revealed it to
us by His Spirit.
"The Spirit searches all things, even the deep
things of God. ... We have not received the
spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from
God, that we may understand what God has
freely given us.
"This is what we speak, not in words taught us
by human wisdom but in words taught by the
Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual
words.
"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. 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 2:9-10,12-16
The Holy Spirit opens our eyes and ears, and minds and hearts, to see
and hear, and understand and trust in God.
The Holy Spirit opens our minds, eyes, ears, and hearts to the rational
and the truth, and not the irrational and lies.
The Holy Spirit gives us inspiration, illumination, regeneration, in-
dwelling, sanctification, and guidance.
The only reason we see and hear and believe is because of the Sovereign
grace of God.
Source: Sermon by Al Mohler
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Happy Reformation Day!
Today is Halloween, and many folks will be celebrating by dressing up in
costumes, and partying, while the kids are trick or treating.
However, there's another reason, a much more important reason, for Christians
around the world to celebrate this day -- it's Reformation Day.
495 years ago, Martin Luther, a German monk, posted his 95 Theses onto a
Wittenberg church door, protesting some of the beliefs and practices of the Roman
Catholic church. It served as an invitation to debate these issues, and it helped
lead to the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.
Huldreich Zwingli, a Swiss religious leader, and John Calvin, a French theo-
logian, also had major influences, along with many others, on starting the Protestant
Reformation.
********************
There were three major principles of the Reformation:
1. Sola Scriptura (by Scripture alone)
Scripture is considered the sole, infallible rule of faith for the Christian,
and is "the only authority for the Christian in the matters of faith, life, and conduct."
Theopedia
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful
for teaching, rebuking, correcting and train-
ing in righteousness, so that the man of God
may be thoroughly equipped for every good
work."
2 Timothy 3:16-17
"Paul affirms God's active involvement in the writing of Scripture,
an involvement so powerful and pervasive that what is written is the
infallible word of God."
NIV Commentary
"Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of
Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpre-
tation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will
of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried
along by the Holy Spirit."
2 Peter 1:20-21
"In the production of Scripture both God and man were active partici-
pants. God was the source of the content of Scripture, so that what it says is
what God has said. But the human author also actively spoke; he was more
than a recorder. Yet what he said came from God. Although actively speak-
ing, he was carried along by the Holy Spirit."
NIV Commentary
2. Sola Fide (by faith alone)
This is the view that "we are justified before God (and thus saved) by faith alone,
not by anything we do, not by anything the church does for us, and not by faith
plus anything else. It is anchored by the broader principle of Sola Gratia (by grace
alone)."
Theopedia
"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
"For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart
from observing the law."
Romans 3:28
"So we too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may
be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law,
because by observing the law no one will be justified."
Galatians 2:16b
"You who are trying to be justified by law have been
alienated from Christ, you have fallen away from
grace. But by faith we eagerly await through the
Spirit the righteousness for which we hope."
Galatians 5:4-5
"Clearly no one is justified before God by the law,
because, 'The righteous will live by faith.' "
Galatians 3:11
3. The Priesthood of all believers
"Scripture teaches that believers are a 'holy priesthood.'
"As you come to him, the living Stone -- rejected
by men but chosen by God and precious to Him --
you also, like living stones, are being built into a
spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering
spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through
Jesus Christ."
1 Peter 2:4-5
"All believers are priests before God through our great High Priest
Jesus Christ. As believers, we alll have direct access to God through
Christ, so there is no necessity for an earthly mediator."
Theopedia
" ... You have come to God, the judge of all men,
to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to
Jesus the mediator of a new covenant ..."
Hebrews 12:23b-24a
"But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior
to theirs (earthly high priests) as the covenant of
which He is mediator, is superior to the old one,
and it is founded on better promises."
Hebrews 8:6
Jesus interceded for His people only, and not for the rest of the world.
(Jesus said), "For I gave them the words you gave me
and they accepted them. They knew with certainty
that I came from you, and they believed that you sent
me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world,
but for those you have given me, for they are yours.
All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And
glory has come to me through them."
John 17:8-10
Jesus interceded for those who would believe in Him.
"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those
who will believe in me through their message, that all
of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and
I am in you."
John 17:10-21a
"Evangelical Protestants see the Reformation as simply a call back to
biblical Christianity."
Theopedia
Reformation Day -- a day to remember what God has done for those
who love Him.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Why It Matters
On one side -- Universal Atonement.
This is the view that Jesus died for all the sins of every single person in the
world. His death made it POSSIBLE for a person to be saved through faith in
Him.
On the other side -- Definite Atonement (or Particular Redemption).
This is the view that Jesus's death atoned for all the sins of a particular people --
that is, His chosen or elect people. Salvation was accomplished at the cross, and
nothing needs to be added to what Jesus has done in His death for His people.
Christians are divided on this subject, with some believing in universal atone-
ment and others holding to a definite or particular atonement.
Obviously, both can't be correct.
Does it matter? I believe it does.
The Thirsty Theologian writes this about the doctrine of definite atonement or
particular redemption:
"I need this doctrine to assure me that when Jesus said, 'It is finished,'
'it' meant everything. 'It' meant MY salvation. I need to know that when Jesus made
atonement for sin on the cross, it was an actual atonement for specific sin -- mine--
and not just a theoretical atonement that I, if I was so inclined, could join, like a
class-action lawsuit."
"The point is not to say that Jesus didn't die for So-and so. The point
is to say that Jesus died for actual people, individuals, and did so intentionally. He
didn't take the general category of sin upon Him, He took my sins, each and every
one of them, and made full satisfaction for them."
"On the cross, He actually saved me. That is what this doctrine means.
The moment Jesus died, my salvation was accomplished. Though I had not been
born, though I had not yet come to faith in Christ, my salvation was a fait accompli.
There was nothing left for me to do. It was finished."
"How else could I sing
I need no other argument, I need no other plea,
It is enough that Jesus died, and that He died for me."
********************
Jesus' death actually accomplished salvation for His people.
[Caiphas the high priest said to the Sanhedrin], "You do not
realize that it is better for you that one man die for the
people than that the whole nation perish.
He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he
prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and
not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of
God, to bring them together and make them one."
John 11:50b-52
[Paul said to the Ephesian believers] "Be shepherds of the church
of God, which He bought with His own blood."
Acts 20:28b
Jesus' death ransomed His people and set them free from sin.
"How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the
eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our
consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the
living God.
For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those
who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance -- now
that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins com-
mitted under the first covenant."
Hebrews 9:14-15
Jesus bore the sins of His people on the cross.
"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
1 Peter 1:1-2 tells us who "our" refers to in verse 24 above -- the people to whom
he sent this letter.
"Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To God's elect, strangers in the world, ...
who have been chosen according to the
foreknowledge of God the Father, through
the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for o-
bedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by
His blood:
Grace and peace be yours in abundance."
Jesus' death wasn't just a theoretical atonement that makes salvation possible,
but was a definite, effective, particular atonement for His people, that actually
brought them salvation.
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