Transcript 7 Myths About Salvation - 6 - God Saves or Condemns Aapart
Examining and reproving these myths in light of God’s word
The Author of Salvation…
Hebrews 5:9 - And having been perfected,
He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him
…
“God Saves or Condemns Apart from My Will” #5
The Position
I.
“
God from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass
yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin, nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures; nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established.
II.
Although God knows whatsoever may or can come to pass upon all supposed conditions;
yet has He not decreed anything because He foresaw it as future
, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions.
III. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of His glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life; and others foreordained to everlasting death.
IV. These angels and men, thus predestinated, and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed, and their number so certain and definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished.
The Position
V.
Those of mankind that are predestinated unto life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to His eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of His will, has chosen, in Christ,
unto everlasting glory, out of His mere free grace and love, without any foresight of faith, or good works, or perseverance in either of them, or any other thing in the creature, as conditions, or causes moving Him thereunto; and all to the praise of His glorious grace.
VI. As God has appointed the elect unto glory, so has He, by the eternal and most free purpose of His will, foreordained all the means thereunto. Wherefore, they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ, are effectually called unto faith in Christ by His Spirit working in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified, and kept by His power, through faith, unto salvation.
only
.
Neither are any other redeemed by Christ, effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect
The Position
VII. The rest of mankind God was pleased, according to the unsearchable counsel of His own will, whereby He extends or withholds mercy, as He pleases, for the glory of His sovereign power over His creatures, to pass by; and to ordain them to dishonor and wrath for their sin, to the praise of His glorious justice
.
VIII. The doctrine of this high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care, that men, attending the will of God revealed in His Word, and yielding obedience thereunto, may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured of their eternal election. So shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reverence, and admiration of God; and of humility, diligence, and abundant consolation to all that sincerely obey the Gospel.” ( http://www.reformed.org/documents/wcf_with_proofs/ )
The Position
“So then, what of Unconditional Election? It seems to boil down to a dichotomy:
“Does God foreknow because he foreordains or does he foreordain because he foreknows?”
”
( http://www.tektonics.org/tulip/ulip.html
)
The Position
Ephesians 1:3–14 -
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places
in Christ
, 4 just as He chose us
in Him
before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame
before Him
in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons
by Jesus Christ
to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted
in the Beloved
. 7
In Him
we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed
in Himself
, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things
in Christ
, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—
in Him
.
The Position
Ephesians 1:3–14 -
11
In Him
also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted
in Christ
should be to the praise of His glory. 13
In Him
you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation;
in whom
also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
The Position
1 Peter 1:17–21 17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20
He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world
, but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
The Position
Romans 8:28–30 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son
, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover
whom He predestined
, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
General Reproofs
•
If we are saved or condemned apart from our will, what is the purpose of “persuading” men to follow the Lord and believe the Gospel?
– Acts 13:43 43 Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them,
persuaded them to continue in the grace of God
. – 2 Corinthians 5:10–11 good or bad. 11 K
we persuade men
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether
nowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord,
; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
General Reproofs
•
If we are saved or condemned apart from our will, what is the purpose of “persuading” men to follow the Lord and believe the Gospel?
– Acts 2:40 40 And with many other words
he testified and exhorted them
, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” – Acts 17:2–5 is the Christ.” 2 4 Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and
for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures
explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you And
some of them were persuaded
; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading , 3 women, joined Paul and Silas. 5 But
the Jews who were not persuaded
people. , becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the
General Reproofs
•
If we are saved or condemned apart from our will, what is the purpose of “persuading” men to follow the Lord and believe the Gospel?
– Acts 18:4 4 And
he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks
. – Acts 19:8–10 8 And
he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God
. 9 But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10 And
this continued for two years
, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
General Reproofs
•
If we are saved or condemned apart from our will, what is the purpose of “persuading” men to follow the Lord and believe the Gospel?
– Acts 28:23–24 23 So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom
he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening
. 24 And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved.
General Reproofs
•
If we are saved or condemned apart from our will, what is the purpose of “persuading” men to follow the Lord and believe the Gospel?
– Mark 16:15–16 15 And He said to them, “
Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. – Matthew 28:19–20 19
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations
, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
General Reproofs
•
If we are saved or condemned apart from our will, why does God’s word say He desires the salvation of all men?
– 1 Timothy 2:4 4 …
who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth
. – Ezekiel 18:23 23
“Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord G OD ,
“and not that he should turn from his ways and live? – 2 Peter 3:9 9
The Lord
is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but
is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance
.
General Reproofs
•
If we are saved or condemned apart from our will, why does God’s word say He desires the salvation of all men?
– John 3:14–18 life.
16
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the that name of the only begotten Son of God.
General Reproofs
•
If we are saved or condemned apart from our will, why does God’s word say He desires the salvation of all men?
– Matthew 18:11 11 For
the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost
. – Matthew 11:28–30 28
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
General Reproofs
•
If we are saved or condemned apart from our will, how is it that men can sin willfully?
– Hebrews 10:26–29 26 For
if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth
, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Spirit of grace? 28 27 but a certain fearful Anyone who has rejected Moses’ Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the
General Reproofs
•
If we are saved or condemned apart from our will, how is it that men can sin willfully?
– Philippians 2:12 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence,
work out your own salvation with fear and trembling
… – John 12:47–48 47 And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48
He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words
, has that which judges him— the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.
General Reproofs
•
If we are saved or condemned apart from our will, The Judgment is nothing more than a mere mockery.
– Psalm 9:8 8
He shall judge the world in righteousness
, And He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness. – Acts 17:30–31 30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because
He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained
. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”
General Reproofs
•
If we are saved or condemned apart from our will, The Judgment is nothing more than a mere mockery.
– Romans 2:4–11 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? judgment of God, 6 who 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous
“will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, 8 but to those tribulation and
of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11
For there is no partiality with God.
General Reproofs
•
If we are saved or condemned apart from our will, The Judgment is nothing more than a mere mockery.
– 2 Corinthians 5:10–11 10 For
we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
Case Studies
•
Esau (and by virtue, the Israelites)…
– Numbers 14:11–12 11 Then the L ORD said to Moses:
“How long will these people reject Me?
among them? 12 and mightier than they.” And how long will they not believe Me, with all the signs which I have performed I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater – Romans 9:10–12 10 And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac
(for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls)
11 , 12 it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.”
Case Studies
•
Esau (and by virtue, the Israelites)…
– Hebrews 12:16–17 16 …
lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.
17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing,
he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance
, though he sought it diligently with tears.
Case Studies
•
Abraham…
– Hebrews 11:17 17 By faith Abraham,
when he was tested
, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, – Genesis 22:1 1 Now it came to pass after these things that
God tested Abraham
, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” – Revelation 2:10 10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison,
that you may be tested
, and you will have tribulation ten days.
Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life
.
Case Studies
•
The Jews in Antioch…
– Acts 13:42–49 Sabbath. 43 word of God. 45 42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them,
persuaded them to continue in the grace of God
But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were things spoken by Paul. 46
life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.
And 47 For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’” 48 Now when the
as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed
. 49 the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. . Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, And 44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the
“It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting
Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord.