“Them he also did predestinate." -- Romans 8:29
Do not be afraid of predestination. And do not be ashamedof it. We are predestinarians, because we believe the Bible; and predestination is a Bible doctrine, full of comfort andjoy for God's saints. Predestination is God's infallible purpose of gracere garding his elect whom he foreknew. It simply means that our eternal destiny was settled by God, andinfallibly secured by him before the world began. In sovereign predestination, God eternally and immutably determined WHO he would save, HOW he would save them,WHEN he would save them, and WHERE he would save them. Then he sovereignly arranged everything necessary, both to accomplish their salvation and to bring them to gloryat last, perfectly conformed to the image of his dear Son.
Predestination marked the house into which grace would come, paved the road by which grace would travel to that house,set the time when grace would enter, and guaranteed that grace actually would come and enter in at the appointed time! Nothing was left to chance, blind fate, luck, or man's imaginary free will! Predestination is no more and no less than God Almighty having arranged from eternity everything necessary to bring his elect children into heaven in the perfection of everlasting life.
June 10, 2004
June 09, 2004
Bow to the Word by Don Fortner
I bow to the Word of God.
There are many good creeds, confessions, and catechisms written by men, clearly setting forth the gospel of the graceof God; but I do not pin my faith to the writings of any man, or any group of men, no matter how much I may admire them. The Word of God alone is my rule of faith and practice.
I bow my will and my reason, my experience and my feelings,to the Word of God. I do not understand all that is written in the Scriptures; but I believe it all.
I bow to the authority of Holy Scripture. I do so unreservedly. Let men call it bigotry, ignorance, or whatever they may, I am not even open to the consideration of any thought, idea, or evidence which contradicts the Book of God.
There are many good creeds, confessions, and catechisms written by men, clearly setting forth the gospel of the graceof God; but I do not pin my faith to the writings of any man, or any group of men, no matter how much I may admire them. The Word of God alone is my rule of faith and practice.
I bow my will and my reason, my experience and my feelings,to the Word of God. I do not understand all that is written in the Scriptures; but I believe it all.
I bow to the authority of Holy Scripture. I do so unreservedly. Let men call it bigotry, ignorance, or whatever they may, I am not even open to the consideration of any thought, idea, or evidence which contradicts the Book of God.
June 07, 2004
Redemptive blood by E. Wilson
I just read through Exd. Chapter 12 and saw it as a marvelous example of the Gospel and salvation. There is a wonderful symbolism in demonstrating God’s sacrifice and the redemptive power of the blood. But being honest there are some strong contradictions to modern religion that I was wondering if you could explain.
For the father of every house was required to find an unblemished lamb as a sacrifice. Much like Jesus in the final days they was to keep the lamb for four days to prove it was clean and with out fault. Only after they have determined it pure was it offered up by the father as a sacrifice for their house. The lamb paying the price for that household must be a burnt offering, displaying the judgment by fire. They were then to take the blood of that lamb and place it on their posts as a token and eat of the flesh of the lamb.
On that night of the Passover the Lord passed through Egypt and every first-born child that believed that the blood would save them was spared, but every child who did not look to the blood and believe was smited. Was this a just and loving God to provide the blood to all from Pharaoh to Jew to the captive who was in the dungeon? All that was required was for the child to realize they needed a savior and accept their father’s sacrifice of the lamb as their salvation. Only then would they be saved. The only way they were condemned to die was if they did not believe.
The contradiction comes in that it is obviously not what was written. In fact, I could not find, after reading, any reference to the first-born child with the exception of the judgment of God in smiting or sparing based on the gift of their father. It appears that salvation for the first-born was not based on their belief but rather it was truly by grace. It was truly an unmerited gift from there father, not based on what they had done or believed but because they were their fathers child. It was the father who placed the blood; it was the father who redeemed his child by the sacrifice he made. What would have happened if the child did not believe that his father’s sacrifice would not save them, would he have been saved? Why did the Egyptians not place the blood on their door, because they did not believe or was these things not revealed to them? “But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep” (John 10:26)
For the father of every house was required to find an unblemished lamb as a sacrifice. Much like Jesus in the final days they was to keep the lamb for four days to prove it was clean and with out fault. Only after they have determined it pure was it offered up by the father as a sacrifice for their house. The lamb paying the price for that household must be a burnt offering, displaying the judgment by fire. They were then to take the blood of that lamb and place it on their posts as a token and eat of the flesh of the lamb.
On that night of the Passover the Lord passed through Egypt and every first-born child that believed that the blood would save them was spared, but every child who did not look to the blood and believe was smited. Was this a just and loving God to provide the blood to all from Pharaoh to Jew to the captive who was in the dungeon? All that was required was for the child to realize they needed a savior and accept their father’s sacrifice of the lamb as their salvation. Only then would they be saved. The only way they were condemned to die was if they did not believe.
The contradiction comes in that it is obviously not what was written. In fact, I could not find, after reading, any reference to the first-born child with the exception of the judgment of God in smiting or sparing based on the gift of their father. It appears that salvation for the first-born was not based on their belief but rather it was truly by grace. It was truly an unmerited gift from there father, not based on what they had done or believed but because they were their fathers child. It was the father who placed the blood; it was the father who redeemed his child by the sacrifice he made. What would have happened if the child did not believe that his father’s sacrifice would not save them, would he have been saved? Why did the Egyptians not place the blood on their door, because they did not believe or was these things not revealed to them? “But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep” (John 10:26)
June 02, 2004
BAPTISM by Tim James
1Pe 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
The Word of God says that baptism is the answer of a good conscience toward God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Since baptism is also the believer's confession of his identification with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection (Romans 6:3-5), then it must be upon this basis that answers that he has a good conscience toward God. The only good conscience toward God is a clear conscience toward God. The only clear conscience toward God is one upon, which there is no ground to accuse. It stands to reason then, that when Christ arose from the dead, the grounds upon which the conscience accuses ceased to exist. On what basis does the conscience lays charges against someone? Is it not in the realm of the law that this screaming banshee within indicts us? Does not scripture declare that, in Christ and by His substitutionary satisfaction of the law, our "conscience is purged from dead works…" (Hebrews 9:14), and that the worshippers once purged should have no more conscience of sins…(Hebrews 10:2)? When our Lord put away sins by the sacrifice of Himself, was buried and rose again for our justification, what possible ground did conscience have upon which to accuse? Has not our sin been put away…does God remember it no more…is it not separated from us as far as the east is from the west? The conscience comes to the believer with the Law of God, turns on the searchlight of God's Holiness, scans the believer from top to bottom, even to the depths of heart thoughts and can find nothing but the pure, pristine, undiluted, unmitigated, unadulterated imputed righteousness of Christ. Conscience then must say, " Nothing here…no spot…no blemish…no wrinkle…nor any such thing…all is clear"! When a believer is baptized, he is confessing the unqualified success of the finished work of Christ…the answer of a good conscience toward God.
The Word of God says that baptism is the answer of a good conscience toward God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Since baptism is also the believer's confession of his identification with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection (Romans 6:3-5), then it must be upon this basis that answers that he has a good conscience toward God. The only good conscience toward God is a clear conscience toward God. The only clear conscience toward God is one upon, which there is no ground to accuse. It stands to reason then, that when Christ arose from the dead, the grounds upon which the conscience accuses ceased to exist. On what basis does the conscience lays charges against someone? Is it not in the realm of the law that this screaming banshee within indicts us? Does not scripture declare that, in Christ and by His substitutionary satisfaction of the law, our "conscience is purged from dead works…" (Hebrews 9:14), and that the worshippers once purged should have no more conscience of sins…(Hebrews 10:2)? When our Lord put away sins by the sacrifice of Himself, was buried and rose again for our justification, what possible ground did conscience have upon which to accuse? Has not our sin been put away…does God remember it no more…is it not separated from us as far as the east is from the west? The conscience comes to the believer with the Law of God, turns on the searchlight of God's Holiness, scans the believer from top to bottom, even to the depths of heart thoughts and can find nothing but the pure, pristine, undiluted, unmitigated, unadulterated imputed righteousness of Christ. Conscience then must say, " Nothing here…no spot…no blemish…no wrinkle…nor any such thing…all is clear"! When a believer is baptized, he is confessing the unqualified success of the finished work of Christ…the answer of a good conscience toward God.
June 01, 2004
Acted or Acted upon? by Tim James
Luk 6:44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.
Things are not always as they appear. In the plant world it appears that flower stems bend their flowers to follow the sun as it goes from horizon to horizon. Is the plant acting or is being acted upon? In truth, the plant is responding to a stimulus outside it self. Also, in truth, there is something in the plant that reacts to the outside stimulus. Inside the stem of the plant there is a hormone called Auxin. This hormone causes cells in the stem of the plant to elongate when light touches the plant. In the presence of sunlight the auxin migrates to the shady side of the plant stem and causes the cells on the shady side to elongate, thus bending the plant toward the light source. It appears that the plant is acting but, in reality, it is reacting. Its apparent action is the result of being acted upon. Without this knowledge, one might look at the plant bending and attribute wisdom, understanding and power of will to the plant. As with most things in nature a spiritual lesson or illustration may be drawn.
Men come to Christ for salvation. They choose to do so. They are willing to do so. Scripture declares that they do so (John 6:37, 45). Religion looks at men as they profess faith, as they enter the waters of baptism, as they seemingly gain an interest in spiritual things. They assess these acts and reach the conclusion that salvation is dependent upon an act of man or that man is acting. They then attribute wisdom, understanding and power to the will of man. With eyes that are only capable of seeing that which is visible, religion can reach no other conclusion. Man, however, is not an actor in the matter of salvation, he is a reactor. When one of the elect comes to Christ, it is because God has put something in him, a kind of divine auxin. God gives him life, spiritual life, through the Word. This life in him reacts to the light of the knowledge of Christ. He believes because God gives him faith. He wills to come because he is made willing in the day of God’s power. He comes to Christ because God the Father draws him. He loves God because God first loves him. He is acted upon and he reacts. As the flowers is caused to bend to and follow the sun, so the elect is caused to bow to and follow the Son. “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him…. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee…”
Things are not always as they appear. In the plant world it appears that flower stems bend their flowers to follow the sun as it goes from horizon to horizon. Is the plant acting or is being acted upon? In truth, the plant is responding to a stimulus outside it self. Also, in truth, there is something in the plant that reacts to the outside stimulus. Inside the stem of the plant there is a hormone called Auxin. This hormone causes cells in the stem of the plant to elongate when light touches the plant. In the presence of sunlight the auxin migrates to the shady side of the plant stem and causes the cells on the shady side to elongate, thus bending the plant toward the light source. It appears that the plant is acting but, in reality, it is reacting. Its apparent action is the result of being acted upon. Without this knowledge, one might look at the plant bending and attribute wisdom, understanding and power of will to the plant. As with most things in nature a spiritual lesson or illustration may be drawn.
Men come to Christ for salvation. They choose to do so. They are willing to do so. Scripture declares that they do so (John 6:37, 45). Religion looks at men as they profess faith, as they enter the waters of baptism, as they seemingly gain an interest in spiritual things. They assess these acts and reach the conclusion that salvation is dependent upon an act of man or that man is acting. They then attribute wisdom, understanding and power to the will of man. With eyes that are only capable of seeing that which is visible, religion can reach no other conclusion. Man, however, is not an actor in the matter of salvation, he is a reactor. When one of the elect comes to Christ, it is because God has put something in him, a kind of divine auxin. God gives him life, spiritual life, through the Word. This life in him reacts to the light of the knowledge of Christ. He believes because God gives him faith. He wills to come because he is made willing in the day of God’s power. He comes to Christ because God the Father draws him. He loves God because God first loves him. He is acted upon and he reacts. As the flowers is caused to bend to and follow the sun, so the elect is caused to bow to and follow the Son. “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him…. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee…”
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