The wonderful aspect of salvation is the personal involvement of God in our salvation. God was in Christ reconciling me! Though the tone of the Bible is a corporate "us" the application is personal. We say give "us" this day our daily bread but we know when we pray we can ask God to grant "me" my daily bread. When we say God loves the World I know God loves me.
There are two views of closeness used specifically in creation. Transcendent and immanent. God is both separate from his creation and yet involved in creating. There are three unbiblical views that are dispelled by the creation account: materialism, pantheism and dualism.
Basically creation accounts are Theistic accounts in contrast to evolutionary theories. There are Theist who attempt to blend evolution and creation into "Theistic evolution". Among the non-evolutionary theories (the word theory is an attempt to be fair to all sides) are the old earth and the young earth theories.
For many years I was non-committal on these and attempted to explain both in fairness. In the past 10-15 years I have been committed to the young earth theory. Old earth theorist believe that the earth is millions if not billions of years old yet God is none the less involved. Young earth theorist believe that the earth is perhaps 10-20,000 years old. God was involved in a literal seven day creation. Much of my beliefs have been influence by Ken Ham's ministry "Answers in Genesis" (AiG). One of the things about a young earth theory is it brings God up close and personal to creation. This in no way overcomes the problems of aligning science and the Bible. It certainly frustrates the scientist and the "gap theorist" but it allows God to be very much involved in all creation. God is a personal being very close in creation to all his handiwork.
But also is it not a reach to say that it brings the God who is transcendent so close to man immanently in redemption? God who simply spoke by the gesture of his sweeping hand the solar systems into existence gave his only begotten son to reconcile the world unto himself. How immanent can you get? Perhaps this is why the gospel confounds the wise of this world.
But also the wise of this world are confounded by the determination of God to save his elect. They will bend over backwards to defend human free-will over God's sovereignty to choose freely who to save. Man just has to have a part in the decision for salvation never fully admitting that he squandered his choice in the garden.
If you allow for a pelagian humanism then you have to deal with an unfair Savior. Of course no fundamental Christian wants to accuse God of being unfair. So they alter His sovereignty to allow for free choice. This argument of atonement is limited vs. general redemption. Does God send his son to die for everyone so that a choice is offered to man or does Christ die for the elect? This is not a question of his sufficiency to save all but of his application to save a selection. He saves me! I am an undeserving sinner saved by grace!
Before you question the fairness of God you have to admit the sinful condition of man from Adam and understand that in fairness God could damn all men to hell. It is not a matter of fairness but justice. God is merciful in saving the elect and that election is not according to worth because the determination was made before the foundations of the earth was laid, before we had done good or bad. The foolish things of this world confounds the wise but to us who have been recipients of God's redemption it is a powerful work in our hearts.
Limited Atonement brings salvation up close and personal for us. The transcendent God is immanent in our lives!
Monday, September 8, 2008
Monday, September 1, 2008
Wake Up Believers!
Cannons of Dort The Decision of the Synod of Dort on the Five Main Points of Doctrine in Dispute in the Netherlands 1618
Error rejected: Who teach that in election to faith a prerequisite condition is that man should rightly use the light of nature, be upright, unassuming, humble, and disposed to eternal life, as though election depended to some extent on these factors. (You cannot be good enough to be saved)
Affirmation: For this smacks of Pelagius, and it clearly calls into question the words of the apostle: We lived at one time in the passions of our flesh, following the will of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in transgressions, made us alive with Christ, by whose grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with him and seated us with him in heaven in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages we might show the surpassing riches of his grace, according to his kindness toward 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 (Eph. 2:3-9). (God saves sinners!)
Error rejected: Who teach that the incomplete and nonperemptory election of particular persons to salvation occurred on the basis of a foreseen faith, repentance, holiness, and godliness, which has just begun or continued for some time; but that complete and peremptory election occurred on the basis of a foreseen perseverance to the end in faith, repentance, holiness, and godliness. And that this is the gracious and evangelical worthiness, on account of which the one who is chosen is more worthy than the one who is not chosen. And therefore that faith, the obedience of faith, holiness, godliness, and perseverance are not fruits or effects of an unchangeable election to glory, but indispensable conditions and causes, which are prerequisite in those who are to be chosen in the complete election, and which are foreseen as achieved in them. (There is nothing we can do to earn God's favor, absolutely nothing!)
Affirmation: This runs counter to the entire Scripture, which throughout impresses upon our ears and hearts these sayings among others: Election is not by works, but by him who calls (Rom. 9:11-12); All who were appointed for eternal life believed (Acts 13:48); He chose us in himself so that we should be holy (Eph. 1:4); You did not choose me, but I chose you (John 15:16); If by grace, not by works (Rom. 11:6); In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son (1 John 4:10).
This is from a document in Netherlands, 1618. The Dutch Church stood firm against "works" salvation and this document has withstood the test of time. It has the reliability of the King James committee which produced the version of the Bible that has been the basis of our English translations, sometimes called the Authorized Version.
Strangely this doctrine of grace places the assurance of salvation on God's gracious provision and not on our backs. You should be thrilled to know that you are chosen and elected to salvation.
In fact the very concern you have about your assurance is further evidence that you are the chosen of God and that the Spirit is dealing with your heart. If you are not concerned that still could mean that the Holy Spirit has not chosen at the moment to deal with you. From cover to cover of the Bible God delights in the election of his children. There is more than enough room in heaven to house his children. Don't let anyone tell you that there are few children. There are few of God's children on this earth who realize the positions of grace and live below their standing with God. The way to this realization is found on a narrow curving path and the way of those who live below their status have a wide highway and wide gate and it is the road of least resistance. Matthew 7:13-14 Believers have a choice of paths. Sinners are led down the course of this earth. They don't have a choice.
Hey! Believers! You have a choice to make and the rewards are found in this life and the life to come. Your choice determines if you have heaven on earth.
Life was far more difficult in the 1600's. Men were coming out of dark ages of unimaginable degradation of human worth. However many more experienced the blessings of grace then than do now. They made a choice to believe Christ's promises. They heard reformation preaching. Today seldom is the reformed message heard in America. Chances are that you are not hearing it from your church and your pastor. I attend a very good church but I confess that I am not hearing reformation preaching rather I hear a mixture of works and grace. I get grace from the Holy Spirit from my personal study.
America is rich and thinks that she has need of nothing. She is actually in poverty, destitute and naked. Revelation 3:15-17
Error rejected: Who teach that in election to faith a prerequisite condition is that man should rightly use the light of nature, be upright, unassuming, humble, and disposed to eternal life, as though election depended to some extent on these factors. (You cannot be good enough to be saved)
Affirmation: For this smacks of Pelagius, and it clearly calls into question the words of the apostle: We lived at one time in the passions of our flesh, following the will of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in transgressions, made us alive with Christ, by whose grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with him and seated us with him in heaven in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages we might show the surpassing riches of his grace, according to his kindness toward 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 (Eph. 2:3-9). (God saves sinners!)
Error rejected: Who teach that the incomplete and nonperemptory election of particular persons to salvation occurred on the basis of a foreseen faith, repentance, holiness, and godliness, which has just begun or continued for some time; but that complete and peremptory election occurred on the basis of a foreseen perseverance to the end in faith, repentance, holiness, and godliness. And that this is the gracious and evangelical worthiness, on account of which the one who is chosen is more worthy than the one who is not chosen. And therefore that faith, the obedience of faith, holiness, godliness, and perseverance are not fruits or effects of an unchangeable election to glory, but indispensable conditions and causes, which are prerequisite in those who are to be chosen in the complete election, and which are foreseen as achieved in them. (There is nothing we can do to earn God's favor, absolutely nothing!)
Affirmation: This runs counter to the entire Scripture, which throughout impresses upon our ears and hearts these sayings among others: Election is not by works, but by him who calls (Rom. 9:11-12); All who were appointed for eternal life believed (Acts 13:48); He chose us in himself so that we should be holy (Eph. 1:4); You did not choose me, but I chose you (John 15:16); If by grace, not by works (Rom. 11:6); In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son (1 John 4:10).
This is from a document in Netherlands, 1618. The Dutch Church stood firm against "works" salvation and this document has withstood the test of time. It has the reliability of the King James committee which produced the version of the Bible that has been the basis of our English translations, sometimes called the Authorized Version.
Strangely this doctrine of grace places the assurance of salvation on God's gracious provision and not on our backs. You should be thrilled to know that you are chosen and elected to salvation.
In fact the very concern you have about your assurance is further evidence that you are the chosen of God and that the Spirit is dealing with your heart. If you are not concerned that still could mean that the Holy Spirit has not chosen at the moment to deal with you. From cover to cover of the Bible God delights in the election of his children. There is more than enough room in heaven to house his children. Don't let anyone tell you that there are few children. There are few of God's children on this earth who realize the positions of grace and live below their standing with God. The way to this realization is found on a narrow curving path and the way of those who live below their status have a wide highway and wide gate and it is the road of least resistance. Matthew 7:13-14 Believers have a choice of paths. Sinners are led down the course of this earth. They don't have a choice.
Hey! Believers! You have a choice to make and the rewards are found in this life and the life to come. Your choice determines if you have heaven on earth.
Life was far more difficult in the 1600's. Men were coming out of dark ages of unimaginable degradation of human worth. However many more experienced the blessings of grace then than do now. They made a choice to believe Christ's promises. They heard reformation preaching. Today seldom is the reformed message heard in America. Chances are that you are not hearing it from your church and your pastor. I attend a very good church but I confess that I am not hearing reformation preaching rather I hear a mixture of works and grace. I get grace from the Holy Spirit from my personal study.
America is rich and thinks that she has need of nothing. She is actually in poverty, destitute and naked. Revelation 3:15-17
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