"It will not do to tell us that this doctrine of perseverance, is merely a piece of Calvinism. Nothing is easier than to get up a prejudice against a truth, by giving it a bad name. Men deal with doctrines they do not like, much as Nero did when he persecuted the early Christians. They dress them up in a hideous garment and then hold them up to scorn and run them down. The perseverance of the saints is often treated in this manner. People stave it off by some sneering remark about Calvinism, or by some apocryphal old wives' fable about Oliver Cromwell's deathbed, and think they have settled the question. Surely it would be more becoming to enquire whether perseverance was not taught in the Bible 1400 years before Calvin was born. The question to be decided is not whether the doctrine is Calvinistic, but whether it is Scriptural. The words of Bishop Horsley deserve to be widely known."
"Take especial care," he says, "before you aim your shafts at Calvinism, that you know what is Calvinism and what is not;- that in the mass of doctrine which it is of late become the fashion to abuse under the name Calvinism, you can distinguish with certainty, between that part of it which is nothing better than Calvinism, and that which belongs to our common Christianity and the general faith of the reformed Churches;- lest, when you mean only to fall foul of Calvinism you should unwarily attack something more sacred and of a higher origin."
Pages 10-11 "Never Perish" by Bishop J.C. Ryle (1816-1900)
Thursday, 31 May 2018
Wednesday, 30 May 2018
The 'dreaded' TULIP in as few words as possible!!
Why do so many Christians find Calvinism (aka doctrines of grace) so offensive? It can't be worldlings, for they would also find Arminianism to be offensive!
T (Total Depravity)
A quick five minute scan through the daily newspapers, TV news and the internet media will confirm the truth of this doctrine!
U (Unconditional Election)
This doctrine allows the Almighty God in Christ to choose whom He will! Not because He saw anything good in the chosen, but just that it pleased Him by His own sovereign grace to do so. (Is this too hard to understand?).
L (Limited Atonement)
This is the one that really angers many believers; that Christ didn't die for every man, woman, and child in the world. A quick perusal through God's Book will confirm this most hated truth; Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Haman, Judas and the unrepentant thief are some examples to prove this fact.
I (Irresistible Grace)
That we cannot resist the Almighty's grace, dare we think otherwise! I can't flatter myself to think that I have the power to do so! Can a true believer resist God? "For Who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive?" 1 Corinthians 4.7. The Father and the Son don't manifest themselves to us in this present age, no this is the work of God's gracious Holy Spirit who came down to the earth after the Son's ascension, John 14.16, 26.
P (Perseverance of the Saints)
That God will enable the elect to persevere to the end through His almighty power. Yes, we may, stumble and fall a great many times along the road to eternity, but God through His gracious Holy Spirit will enable His elect to enter those "many mansions" in "the Father's house" John 14.2. Will not God "confirm you to the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ," 1 Corinthians 1.8?
What is the point of writing an extended treatise on the subject? I could write a thousand pages on it, and it wouldn't convince a dyed in the wool Arminian! Simply put, people will believe what they want to believe. Ever remember, God's Word is a revelation! Revelation, and what we learn from the study of God's Book, are two entirely different things: the former being from God, the latter from our own human reasoning.
In a nutshell, Calvinism gives God all the glory, and Arminianism strips the all glory from Him.
Arminian's contend that Calvinism limits the Atonement, yet they freely aver many are not saved! Granted, they will say "ah! but by their own 'free-will'!" But, how can we come to God by our own 'free will'? As unbelievers, were we not once all dead men walking? 1 Corinthians 2.14 and Romans 8.7 should dispel this false notion, plus the general tenor of Scripture.
As a student of prophecy, fulfilled and unfulfilled, it became very clear to me that any prophetic event cannot possibly happen by chance, otherwise how would a yet unfulfilled event come to pass? How could God orchestrate the fulfillment of His written word, down to the last microdot if He were to be reliant on the will of us "grasshoppers" (Isaiah 40.22) down here? It truly baffles me how intelligent believers cannot see the truth of pre-destination and election.
There are some who would call themselves "Biblicist's"; they aver that they are neither Calvinist's nor Arminian, but the plain truth is that there is no middle position; do we have half, or a quarter 'free-will'? Those Bible students who rail against the doctrines of grace are Arminian by default.
There are some who would call themselves "Biblicist's"; they aver that they are neither Calvinist's nor Arminian, but the plain truth is that there is no middle position; do we have half, or a quarter 'free-will'? Those Bible students who rail against the doctrines of grace are Arminian by default.
Tuesday, 29 May 2018
Shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?
Shall a trumpet be blown in a city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it? Surely the LORD God will do nothing, but he revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets. Amos 3.6-7.
This is the explanation of the preceding similes: God is the Author of all the calamities which come upon you, and which are foretold by His prophets. The evil of sin is from ourselves; the evil of trouble is from God, whoever be the instruments. His secret-viz., His purpose hidden from all, until it is revealed to His prophets (cf. Genesis 18.17). In a wider sense, God's will is revealed to all who love God, which it is not to the world (Ps. 25.14; John 15.15; 17.25, 26). unto His servants-who being servants cannot but obey the Lord in setting forth His purpose (viz., that of judgment against Israel) (Jer. 20.9; Ezek. 9.11). Therefore the fault which the ungodly find with them is groundless (1 Kings 18.17. It aggravates Israel's sin, that God is not about to inflict judgment without having fully warned the people, if haply they might repent.
Page 792, Jameson, Fausset & Brown COMMENTARY ON THE WHOLE BIBLE.
It behoves us as believers to at least try and understand the weight of these verses. Some years back on the mainland when in a small group Bible study, I became aware that some (mainly women) had a propensity for avoiding certain theological study, almost ignoring verses of Scripture that they didn't like! Some tend to make a god in their own image as it were; dwelling on their favorite verses in regard to the Saviour, and the sweet Psalms. It is almost as if they think Jesus is a new improved God, completely detached from the Old Testament, as if He came out of absolutely nowhere; a "Johnny come lately" God! There is "no new thing under the sun"; for this was the heresy of Marcion!
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever." Hebrews 13.8. He is the God of the Old Testament as well as the New Testament.
"And He said unto them, these are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms concerning Me." Luke 24.44 (my emphasis). "Jesus said unto them, verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I am." John 8.58.
"I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil, I the LORD do all these things." Isaiah 45.7.
"Out of the mouth of the Most High proceedeth not evil and good?" Lamentations 3.38.
Are these verses palatable? It matters not what we think of them, but "hath God said them"?
This is the explanation of the preceding similes: God is the Author of all the calamities which come upon you, and which are foretold by His prophets. The evil of sin is from ourselves; the evil of trouble is from God, whoever be the instruments. His secret-viz., His purpose hidden from all, until it is revealed to His prophets (cf. Genesis 18.17). In a wider sense, God's will is revealed to all who love God, which it is not to the world (Ps. 25.14; John 15.15; 17.25, 26). unto His servants-who being servants cannot but obey the Lord in setting forth His purpose (viz., that of judgment against Israel) (Jer. 20.9; Ezek. 9.11). Therefore the fault which the ungodly find with them is groundless (1 Kings 18.17. It aggravates Israel's sin, that God is not about to inflict judgment without having fully warned the people, if haply they might repent.
Page 792, Jameson, Fausset & Brown COMMENTARY ON THE WHOLE BIBLE.
It behoves us as believers to at least try and understand the weight of these verses. Some years back on the mainland when in a small group Bible study, I became aware that some (mainly women) had a propensity for avoiding certain theological study, almost ignoring verses of Scripture that they didn't like! Some tend to make a god in their own image as it were; dwelling on their favorite verses in regard to the Saviour, and the sweet Psalms. It is almost as if they think Jesus is a new improved God, completely detached from the Old Testament, as if He came out of absolutely nowhere; a "Johnny come lately" God! There is "no new thing under the sun"; for this was the heresy of Marcion!
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever." Hebrews 13.8. He is the God of the Old Testament as well as the New Testament.
"And He said unto them, these are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms concerning Me." Luke 24.44 (my emphasis). "Jesus said unto them, verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I am." John 8.58.
"I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil, I the LORD do all these things." Isaiah 45.7.
"Out of the mouth of the Most High proceedeth not evil and good?" Lamentations 3.38.
Are these verses palatable? It matters not what we think of them, but "hath God said them"?
Sunday, 27 May 2018
Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I WONDER what you are!
Jane Taylor the 19th century English nursery rhyme writer who penned the immortal words "Twinkle, twinkle little star how I wonder what you are", was indeed asking a most profound question! A question most serious theologians have given scant regard to. But could it be otherwise, if they have been deceived by the Copernican heliocentric theory? For they thought our sun to be a star (some 900,000 times bigger than our earth!) and if this be true, as they sincerely believed/believe; then if the sun be a star as our great men of science teach, (which it isn't, if we would only believe God's written word!) then it follows that all the stars visible in the night sky are great fiery balls of fire, light years apart!, with variations of size and brightness as depicted in 1 Corinthians 15.41-42. Of the "celestial bodies" there is the "glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon." Indeed, we can observe this for ourselves! It is said there is "another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory." Again we can observe that some stars are brighter than others, though not to the same degree as between the sun and moon. The apostle says regarding the comparison of the celestial bodies with the terrestrial, "So also is the resurrection of the dead." Those who are Christ's at His Coming "shall shine as the brightness of the firmament...as the stars for ever and ever." Daniel 12.3. Or as the incarnate Lord said "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father." Matthew 13.43. The Lord said of the resurrected saints, "For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven." Matthew 22.30.
Trying to connect the dots as it were, there does seem to be an inextricable relationship between mankind, angels, and the stars. And I am trying to find out exactly what the truth is without leaving the confines of God's word. For in the resurrection, the risen saints "will be as the angels in heaven", yet superior, for we will be judging them (not the elect angels-why would they need judgment?) There is an invisible domain in the angelic realm as it were; they can see us, for our Lord tells us regarding "these little ones" (were not we all, once such?) "in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father" Matthew 18.10. but we cannot see them (stars apart)! I believe that Satan is currently acting alone, that all the fallen angels are currently incarcerated; 2 Peter 2.4, Jude 1.6. In a soon coming Day, however there will be an outburst of demonic activity when this infernal "legion" will be released upon the earth: read the whole of Revelation 9, where the "bottomless pit" is "opened"! and "four angels which are bound" are "loosed"! This chapter is perhaps the least understood in the whole Bible! reading it almost send "shivers down one's spine!" It opens thus; "And the fifth angel sounded and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth." A star is obviously not 900,000 (or thereabouts!) times bigger than our earth!
Hebrews 1.14 informs us that angels are "ministering spirits, sent forth to do service for the sake of them that shall inherit salvation"; that is for all those names that are in God's "book of life"*. The hosts of these invisible agents must therefore be currently active in ways that we cannot perceive, doing God's will in upholding all things, but especially for the benefit of the heirs of salvation. Psalms 34.7 & 91.11 shed much light on this; "The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them. For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." The unfallen angels are therefore watching over the heirs of salvation, they are called the "watchers" Daniel 4.13, 17 & 23. All without exception, would agree that they are watching from above, for they are the unfallen angels who are the "ministering spirits", but exactly where are they watching from? This I believe is the grand question we should ask ourselves; are they the observable stars in the night sky, or at least, were some of the stars their "habitation" from which they "left"; Jude 1.6? (those that we can now barely see?).
* It is interesting that the expression "book of life" is found eight times in the KJV 1611 Bible, and that only in the New Testament; eight being the number of resurrection. Who but those who will "inherit salvation" be in that book?
Trying to connect the dots as it were, there does seem to be an inextricable relationship between mankind, angels, and the stars. And I am trying to find out exactly what the truth is without leaving the confines of God's word. For in the resurrection, the risen saints "will be as the angels in heaven", yet superior, for we will be judging them (not the elect angels-why would they need judgment?) There is an invisible domain in the angelic realm as it were; they can see us, for our Lord tells us regarding "these little ones" (were not we all, once such?) "in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father" Matthew 18.10. but we cannot see them (stars apart)! I believe that Satan is currently acting alone, that all the fallen angels are currently incarcerated; 2 Peter 2.4, Jude 1.6. In a soon coming Day, however there will be an outburst of demonic activity when this infernal "legion" will be released upon the earth: read the whole of Revelation 9, where the "bottomless pit" is "opened"! and "four angels which are bound" are "loosed"! This chapter is perhaps the least understood in the whole Bible! reading it almost send "shivers down one's spine!" It opens thus; "And the fifth angel sounded and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth." A star is obviously not 900,000 (or thereabouts!) times bigger than our earth!
Hebrews 1.14 informs us that angels are "ministering spirits, sent forth to do service for the sake of them that shall inherit salvation"; that is for all those names that are in God's "book of life"*. The hosts of these invisible agents must therefore be currently active in ways that we cannot perceive, doing God's will in upholding all things, but especially for the benefit of the heirs of salvation. Psalms 34.7 & 91.11 shed much light on this; "The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them. For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." The unfallen angels are therefore watching over the heirs of salvation, they are called the "watchers" Daniel 4.13, 17 & 23. All without exception, would agree that they are watching from above, for they are the unfallen angels who are the "ministering spirits", but exactly where are they watching from? This I believe is the grand question we should ask ourselves; are they the observable stars in the night sky, or at least, were some of the stars their "habitation" from which they "left"; Jude 1.6? (those that we can now barely see?).
* It is interesting that the expression "book of life" is found eight times in the KJV 1611 Bible, and that only in the New Testament; eight being the number of resurrection. Who but those who will "inherit salvation" be in that book?
God is NOT the author of sin!
There are many believers who will not grasp the truth as it is in Christ. "The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law." Deuteronomy 29.29. (emphasis mine).
What are these "secret things"? If we knew these "secret things" would we not be as God?
Adam and Eve were in a most blessed environment! they were in the "garden of Eden", which of us have been in such a sphere? "And the LORD God commanded the man saying , Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Genesis 2.16-17. (emphasis mine).
It is a fact is it not, that God created Satan? read Ezekiel 28.15. Satan through his enormous pride did indeed fall, for "iniquity was found in thee." The prophet confirms this in verse 17; "Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty." (my emphasis). Satan is the "day star" in Isaiah 14.12 (RV) Lucifer (AV). God put our first parents in the garden; Calvinists and Arminian's are at least agreed on this! But, the grand question is; who is the author of sin? God or Satan? Satan's apostasy was before man, and God allowed Satan to enter into the garden, as he did also grant him permission to "smite" Job in Job 2.6-7. Why then would God do this? But then, who can say to Him "What doest thou?" Daniel 4.35. Nevertheless, of the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil." God expressly commanded Adam and Eve to "not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Genesis 2.17 (my emphasis).
Is it not clear then, why we have been subjected to this test? The "elect angels" (1 Timothy 5.21) know nothing of redemption other than the "spectacle" (Gk. theatre) that they see going on down here below, See 1 Corinthians 4.9. God in Christ "gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a people for His own possession, zealous of good works." Titus 2.14. Without redemption, would we be anything other than automatons? Of the gospel, it is written "the angels desire to look into." 1 Peter 1.12? Why do they "desire to look into these things"?
Can we not but wonder at their astonishment that the Creator became incarnate only to die on that cross? God "saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." 2 Timothy 1.9 (my emphasis). Clearly God had a predetermined plan, otherwise known as predestination and election, not only did He know what would come to pass (foreknowledge), He is the author of all that has happened, is happening, and will happen. Yet He is NOT the author of sin, for "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all." 1 John 1.5. "All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8.28 (emphasis mine). Are not these "all things" every thing, bad as well as good? Though man is a free agent to do what he will, it is God's unseen hand which orchestrates all events; even "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: He turneth it whithersoever He will." Proverbs 21.1. Man is a responsible creature with a God given conscience, more so the believer, so it is incumbent on us to live according to the Law of Christ, walking by the two great commandments, Matthew 22.38-40, on this Peter said "make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye will never fall." 2 Peter 1.10.
In the garden of Eden, it was the arch deceiver Satan who "beguiled" the woman (Genesis 3.6, 1 Timothy 2.14. Eve gave the fruit to Adam and "he did eat" Genesis 3.6. Adam and Eve only had to obey God's command and all would be well. But it was Satan who tempted man to sin against His maker. Did not God have a right to put that tree there? This was surely telling the federal head of our race Who it was that owned the place, was it not?
God created Satan "perfect", so why or how did he apostatise? Certainly he "was full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty" Ezekiel 28.14; it is written that God's ways are "past finding out!" Romans 11.33.
But, even to think that God was caught unawares by Satan's apostasy; could He then be called the omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient One? Some may speculate that even without the serpent's presence in the garden, Adam and Eve may still have sinned (though they may have took longer to do so!) James 1.14 says "every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." They may have kept looking at that fruit until it drove them to distraction, finally to cave in! But this is speculation, for what was predetermined by God actually happened. His plan came to pass.
Some treat the crucifixion as an afterthought, almost as if the devil got the better of the Almighty, and God put 'plan b' into place by sending His Son to die on the cross to save us! But the Scriptures reveal otherwise, that "the Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world" Revelation 13.8, and as 2 Timothy 1.9 puts it "before the world began." God is outside of time, but He predestinated the events to the tiniest minutiae that led to the cross some 4000 years ago, or did all these events happen by chance? Think on these things! The Lord Jesus even "chose a devil" John 6.70 to do the wicked deed, yet Judas did what he did, of his own volition! How do we explain these things? Do we have a plumb line to fathom them? Yet "it is written".
"God calleth His own sheep by name" John 10.3, He is calling them out one by one, "My sheep hear My voice" John 10.27, they will come. But why do they come? "No man can come to Me, except My Father which hath sent Me draw him" John 6.44 (my emphasis). The Gospel call is universal, for He "commandeth all men everywhere to repent" Acts 17.30 (my emphasis). But only the elect (My sheep) hear His voice (John 10.16 & 27).
Arminians will use Acts 7.51 to support 'free will', but this verse is merely telling us that the "stiff necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears" resisted the testimony of the preached word of God, that is to the external work of the Holy Spirit. "My Spirit shall not always strive with man" Genesis 6.3. 1 Peter 3.18-20 shows us that it was the Spirit of Christ in Noah that "strove" with the antediluvians when the patriarch preached to them.
I believe in what is known as Reformed Calvinistic theology; which upholds the "doctrines of grace" aka "TULIP" and pre-destination/election, because I see them very clearly taught in the Scripture of Truth, not because I am a follower of any man, only THE Man!
What are these "secret things"? If we knew these "secret things" would we not be as God?
Adam and Eve were in a most blessed environment! they were in the "garden of Eden", which of us have been in such a sphere? "And the LORD God commanded the man saying , Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Genesis 2.16-17. (emphasis mine).
It is a fact is it not, that God created Satan? read Ezekiel 28.15. Satan through his enormous pride did indeed fall, for "iniquity was found in thee." The prophet confirms this in verse 17; "Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty." (my emphasis). Satan is the "day star" in Isaiah 14.12 (RV) Lucifer (AV). God put our first parents in the garden; Calvinists and Arminian's are at least agreed on this! But, the grand question is; who is the author of sin? God or Satan? Satan's apostasy was before man, and God allowed Satan to enter into the garden, as he did also grant him permission to "smite" Job in Job 2.6-7. Why then would God do this? But then, who can say to Him "What doest thou?" Daniel 4.35. Nevertheless, of the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil." God expressly commanded Adam and Eve to "not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Genesis 2.17 (my emphasis).
Is it not clear then, why we have been subjected to this test? The "elect angels" (1 Timothy 5.21) know nothing of redemption other than the "spectacle" (Gk. theatre) that they see going on down here below, See 1 Corinthians 4.9. God in Christ "gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a people for His own possession, zealous of good works." Titus 2.14. Without redemption, would we be anything other than automatons? Of the gospel, it is written "the angels desire to look into." 1 Peter 1.12? Why do they "desire to look into these things"?
Can we not but wonder at their astonishment that the Creator became incarnate only to die on that cross? God "saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." 2 Timothy 1.9 (my emphasis). Clearly God had a predetermined plan, otherwise known as predestination and election, not only did He know what would come to pass (foreknowledge), He is the author of all that has happened, is happening, and will happen. Yet He is NOT the author of sin, for "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all." 1 John 1.5. "All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8.28 (emphasis mine). Are not these "all things" every thing, bad as well as good? Though man is a free agent to do what he will, it is God's unseen hand which orchestrates all events; even "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: He turneth it whithersoever He will." Proverbs 21.1. Man is a responsible creature with a God given conscience, more so the believer, so it is incumbent on us to live according to the Law of Christ, walking by the two great commandments, Matthew 22.38-40, on this Peter said "make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye will never fall." 2 Peter 1.10.
In the garden of Eden, it was the arch deceiver Satan who "beguiled" the woman (Genesis 3.6, 1 Timothy 2.14. Eve gave the fruit to Adam and "he did eat" Genesis 3.6. Adam and Eve only had to obey God's command and all would be well. But it was Satan who tempted man to sin against His maker. Did not God have a right to put that tree there? This was surely telling the federal head of our race Who it was that owned the place, was it not?
God created Satan "perfect", so why or how did he apostatise? Certainly he "was full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty" Ezekiel 28.14; it is written that God's ways are "past finding out!" Romans 11.33.
But, even to think that God was caught unawares by Satan's apostasy; could He then be called the omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient One? Some may speculate that even without the serpent's presence in the garden, Adam and Eve may still have sinned (though they may have took longer to do so!) James 1.14 says "every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." They may have kept looking at that fruit until it drove them to distraction, finally to cave in! But this is speculation, for what was predetermined by God actually happened. His plan came to pass.
Some treat the crucifixion as an afterthought, almost as if the devil got the better of the Almighty, and God put 'plan b' into place by sending His Son to die on the cross to save us! But the Scriptures reveal otherwise, that "the Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world" Revelation 13.8, and as 2 Timothy 1.9 puts it "before the world began." God is outside of time, but He predestinated the events to the tiniest minutiae that led to the cross some 4000 years ago, or did all these events happen by chance? Think on these things! The Lord Jesus even "chose a devil" John 6.70 to do the wicked deed, yet Judas did what he did, of his own volition! How do we explain these things? Do we have a plumb line to fathom them? Yet "it is written".
"God calleth His own sheep by name" John 10.3, He is calling them out one by one, "My sheep hear My voice" John 10.27, they will come. But why do they come? "No man can come to Me, except My Father which hath sent Me draw him" John 6.44 (my emphasis). The Gospel call is universal, for He "commandeth all men everywhere to repent" Acts 17.30 (my emphasis). But only the elect (My sheep) hear His voice (John 10.16 & 27).
Arminians will use Acts 7.51 to support 'free will', but this verse is merely telling us that the "stiff necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears" resisted the testimony of the preached word of God, that is to the external work of the Holy Spirit. "My Spirit shall not always strive with man" Genesis 6.3. 1 Peter 3.18-20 shows us that it was the Spirit of Christ in Noah that "strove" with the antediluvians when the patriarch preached to them.
I believe in what is known as Reformed Calvinistic theology; which upholds the "doctrines of grace" aka "TULIP" and pre-destination/election, because I see them very clearly taught in the Scripture of Truth, not because I am a follower of any man, only THE Man!
Saturday, 26 May 2018
Defining moments and theology
I believe we all have what we may call "defining moments" in life; when we hit a brick wall as it were, and realise that we are going nowhere. This happened to me around 1998-99, for until then I would watch the soaps religiously, especially Coronation Street, which, from memory, was then broadcast on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings from 7.30-8.00 pm. And if I knew there was any possibility of missing a show, I would pre-set the VHS video recorder (remember them!); so that I wouldn't miss anything, for often the last episode would leave you in a state of suspension, and you just had to know what happened next!
But, one day it suddenly dawned upon me (without any external influence-God apart!) that what I was watching was all make believe, and I asked myself some really serious questions as to why I was watching fiction that originated in the mind of a man that was perhaps no better than me, I was just filling my head up with junk!
I then pulled the plug on "The Street" and have never watched it since, praise God. Subsequently, I started to ask questions about life and attend the local Baptist Church, where I started my journey in pursuit of the truth. To cut a long story short, since that defining moment there have been many ups and downs, and it wasn't long before I realised that the minister of this Baptist Church wasn't teaching the truth, for he had no problem with evolution, and as for the Revelation; "don't go there!" So whilst still spasmodically attending this Church, I was searching beyond this false minister.
Slowly, but surely I began to gravitate toward eschatology, for I seriously started to believe that the Creator God in Christ, the Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour would 'soon' return to this earth at "any moment"! Eschatology then somewhat began to consume me, I became totally absorbed with the rapture! I purchased and read every book I could find on the subject! Over the years after applying myself to much study of God's written word I came to the conclusion that certain events had to happen before the Lord's Return, and researched the Plymouth Brethren Movement that gave rise to pre-tribulationism under J.N.Darby, C.I. Scofield and others via the auspices of Margaret MacDonald, and Edward Irving. This novel doctrine came to the surface circa 1830,and was previously unheard of in some 1800 years of NT Church history, but it has now spread like wildfire to the point that it is now the predominant belief!
The point I am making is that after becoming a believer, I naturally wanted to know how and when the Lord would return, sounds logical I hope; for what true believer wouldn't? But my theology had become so lop-sided as it were, for I had studied eschatology to the detriment of all of the other great Bible doctrines!
I love this quote from Charles Spurgeon, from memory it goes something like this.
"If you were to take the most beautiful face in the whole world and increase her nose by one inch in length, would that face still be beautiful? Beauty, then I take it is proportion, so it is with the Scriptures."
Spurgeon was making this point in regard to the Plymouth Brethren movement, most especially the Darbyites who were known as the "Exclusives".
Many today, most especially the militant Pre-tribulation rapture teachers and preachers seem to be "one trick pony's", all their teachings are heavily interlaced with the rapture!
But, one day it suddenly dawned upon me (without any external influence-God apart!) that what I was watching was all make believe, and I asked myself some really serious questions as to why I was watching fiction that originated in the mind of a man that was perhaps no better than me, I was just filling my head up with junk!
I then pulled the plug on "The Street" and have never watched it since, praise God. Subsequently, I started to ask questions about life and attend the local Baptist Church, where I started my journey in pursuit of the truth. To cut a long story short, since that defining moment there have been many ups and downs, and it wasn't long before I realised that the minister of this Baptist Church wasn't teaching the truth, for he had no problem with evolution, and as for the Revelation; "don't go there!" So whilst still spasmodically attending this Church, I was searching beyond this false minister.
Slowly, but surely I began to gravitate toward eschatology, for I seriously started to believe that the Creator God in Christ, the Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour would 'soon' return to this earth at "any moment"! Eschatology then somewhat began to consume me, I became totally absorbed with the rapture! I purchased and read every book I could find on the subject! Over the years after applying myself to much study of God's written word I came to the conclusion that certain events had to happen before the Lord's Return, and researched the Plymouth Brethren Movement that gave rise to pre-tribulationism under J.N.Darby, C.I. Scofield and others via the auspices of Margaret MacDonald, and Edward Irving. This novel doctrine came to the surface circa 1830,and was previously unheard of in some 1800 years of NT Church history, but it has now spread like wildfire to the point that it is now the predominant belief!
The point I am making is that after becoming a believer, I naturally wanted to know how and when the Lord would return, sounds logical I hope; for what true believer wouldn't? But my theology had become so lop-sided as it were, for I had studied eschatology to the detriment of all of the other great Bible doctrines!
I love this quote from Charles Spurgeon, from memory it goes something like this.
"If you were to take the most beautiful face in the whole world and increase her nose by one inch in length, would that face still be beautiful? Beauty, then I take it is proportion, so it is with the Scriptures."
Spurgeon was making this point in regard to the Plymouth Brethren movement, most especially the Darbyites who were known as the "Exclusives".
Many today, most especially the militant Pre-tribulation rapture teachers and preachers seem to be "one trick pony's", all their teachings are heavily interlaced with the rapture!
Friday, 25 May 2018
All men have not faith: 2 Thessalonians 3.2
Further on from yesterdays little treatise on 1 Timothy 2.4, it occurred to me earlier this morning, that perhaps 2 Thessalonians 3.2 is a much better example to illustrate the fact that the "all" in 1 Timothy 2.4 cannot possibly mean that God "desires" every man "to be saved" as the NASB and ESV render it. For we know that many men in fact DO have faith! So the "all" in 2 Thessalonians 3.2, likewise cannot mean every man, or not?
Otherwise we are all in real trouble! Let us "rightly divide the word of truth".
Otherwise we are all in real trouble! Let us "rightly divide the word of truth".
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