Time Is But Time. I'm Waiting For Eternity.

Greetings! It has been quite awhile since I've posted on here. As anticipated, this summer has been very busy. As Charles Dickens said "It was the best of times. It was the worst of times." There has been some wonderful joyous moments in which we were able to serve and praise our Lord. And there were some sad, mournful moments in which we were able to serve and praise our Lord admist tears. And through it all, the "normalness" of life kept going on, the sun rose and set the same as always. And thankfully my God who is immutable, never changing, was there in it all, growing and changing us all for His glory. Praise be to Him!

It cannot escape my notice, through all of life's ups and downs, joys and sorrows, that my Lord is always Sovereign, with a perfect plan for His children whom He loves. Of course when it comes to thinking on time, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 is the first Scripture passage I think of. I for one am very thankful that "To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under Heaven." For in those appointed times we have the opportunity to grow in our spiritual walks.

No one can live soley on "puppy love" through out an entire marriage, the hope is that that love will grow to a deeper, more meaningful love in the years to come. The same goes for our relationship with God, I pray that it never stays where it resides now, but grows deeper in the future. A deeper, closer relationship does not come easy. Deeper love requires more self sacrifice, more dying to self to live to Christ, less desire to be served, more service given always to Him, His glory always first in our thoughts. A deeper love requires not mere words, but actions. Anything worth having is worth working for, and with the grace of our Lord, we will be purged, tried, sanctified, and grown. By His grace will we love Him more.

"I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. He has made everything beautiful in it's time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts. Except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end." -Ecclesiastes 3:10-11 The things of this earth, the times of mourning, the times of rejoicing, they are but "times". We who are saved have a wonderful hope inside of us, knowing that we have an eternity waiting for us. Not time, eterinty! An eternity where we will be completely rid of these sins that continue to make us stumble, make us aware of how un-righteous we are apart from Christ. An eternity where we won't be focused on ourselves, our sorrows, or even our joys in earthly pursuits. No, we will have an eternity to be COMPLETELY focused on our Lord, able to give Him the glory He deserves. Able to recieve our riches and then blessed with the opportunity to cast them back down at His feet, where they belong. Oh, what a blessed eternity that will be!

As for now, I will praise Him through all of these times. For He has EVERYTHING appropiate in it's time. And with the trials and sorrows we face I can praise Him through it all, praying always to grow and glorify Him in the midst of it. James 1:2-4

We dear brothers and sisters, are running a race towards the goal, in order to win the prize. The goal being to be conformed to the image of Christ, the prize being, that we will be conformed to the image of Christ. Philippians 3:14

We must count it all joy when these things arise in our walks that will strengthen us and get us all the closer to the goal of being like Christ. I praise the Lord that to everything there is a purpose, for without His sovereignty, I would have no hope. Because of it, I may count it all joy and praise and glorify Him for these trial that grow us and bring us closer to Him, strenghten us to serve Him better.

Wield your sword, preach the Gospel unadulterated, run the race to win the prize. Win those crowns in order to have them to cast back to Him. "Rejoice evermore! Pray constantly! In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

"For It Is Written" -Stolen from Hebrews 11 Legacies Blog.

Do you have a favorite quote from a movie or a book? Maybe from one of our famous, dear to the heart heroes from the past? I have plenty I like to share on occasion, if I can recall the quote and do it justice. My favorite though is "for it is written" or or "thus says the Lord".

This phrase is always followed with either conviction or encouragement (when the Word is shared unadulterated). And it's a very key part I believe to a Christian's walk and gaining of maturity in the faith. It's important that we are hiding God's Word in our hearts so as not to sin against Him. (Psalm 119:11)
I looked up how many times "It is written" is found in the Bible. According to one resource it's in the KJV 80 times.

In the OT I found over and over the Israelites commanded to learn and obey the Word of the Lord. Joshua was very strict on this.
"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." - Joshua 1:8
"And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and the cursings, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law." - Joshua 8:34
I'd like to point out that he read ALL the words of the law. He didn't brush aside the curses and head straight to the blessings. Joshua knew that every word of God was "profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, ready for every good work." (II Timothy 3:16) He used God's Word in instruction in rigtheousness; "Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, lest you turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left..." -Joshua 23:6
I love reading through the book of Joshua and seeing the passion that Joshua and other leaders of the Israelites had for preserving, learning, and obeying God's Word. And no wonder, Joshua was close to Moses, can you imagine some of the conversations they must have had around the camp? Moses was God's instrument in writing the first 5 books of the Bible, Moses was given the ten commandments straight from God on Mount Sinai. Moses talked one-on-one with God, hearing His audible voice multiple times. It's understandable why Joshua then grew to love God's Word and defended it so mightily.

Later on we see the "man after God's own heart" on his death bed and giving last instructions to his son Solomon; "And keep the charge of the LORD your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn; that the LORD may fulfill His word which He spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul,’ He said, ‘you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’" -I Kings 2:3-4 David knew from personal experience what happens when man seeks his own will and turns from God's commands. He sought to teach his son otherwise, he warned him to serve God fully, to not turn to the side, but to heed His commands. David knew the importance firsthand of God's Word. He loved His Lord and loved to obey Him, you see David's great remorse every time he sinned, not because of his own punishment, but because it hurt him to disobey his Lord.

In Jeremiah we see how people's lives turn when they seek their own will above God's, when they stop following His Word. Though they don't do "as it is written" our immutable God does; "So I will bring on that land all My words which I have pronounced against it, all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah has prophesied concerning all the nations." -Jeremiah 25:13 In Daniel as well: "Yes, all Israel has transgressed Your law, and has departed so as not to obey Your voice; therefore the curse and the oath written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against Him." -Daniel 9:11

One of the most beautiful things we see though, is what all of these previous sections are leading up to, the coming of our Messiah Jesus Christ! Reading through the gospels you'll see "it is written" quite often as Jesus fulfills prophecy after prophecy after prophecy. It's beautiful to see that happening. Interestingly enough, Christ attest to the importance of Scripture over and over. When He grew angry at the unrighteousness going on at the temple and threw the money changers out, He quotes His Father's Word; " Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’” -Mark 11:17

And of course, likely the most famous passage of Scripture quoting is in Matthew 4 when Jesus was in the desert being tempted by Satan and He defends against him by quoting Scripture. "But He answered and said,“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” and Satan even responds by quoting Scripture; "and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘ He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and,‘ In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”Jesus then responds again, "Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.’” "Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”

Brethren, Satan knows Scripture and he'll use it wrongly to blindly lead people astray. He cunningly takes bits and pieces, he being the chief of liars will convince people that his and our words taken out of context are better than our Lord's pure, complete Word. Satan started practicing this back in Genesis when he told Eve "you will not surely die", yet we see God clearly saying a chapter earlier, "you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die". He was bold enough to tempt the Lord Jesus and try to cause Him to stumble, and quote Scripture while doing so.
We must learn the Scriptures, hide them on our heart, be wise and gain wisdom and discernment, "Teach me good judgment and knowledge, For I believe Your commandments." -Psalm 119:66, "That you may preserve discretion, And your lips may keep knowledge." -Proverbs 5:2
Almost every one of the 31 Proverbs has something to say of gaining wisdom and discretion. We MUST be discerning, in order to defend God's Word against the false teachers out there preaching a false gosple and making souls twice as fit for Hell as they are.

I pray that you read His Word daily, grow to love it ( "Your word is very pure; Therefore Your servant loves it." -Psalm 119:140), learn to heed it ( "How can a young man cleanse his way?By taking heed according to Your word." -Psalm 119:9), defend it ( "Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints." -Jude 1:3), and please preach it ( "For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!" )

Oh how I love to hear "it is written" I pray you do as well. Wield those swords brethren, fellow pilgrims, for the glory of our Most High God!

Quick Survey

A fellow Christian is writing her Senior Research Thesis and is conducting a survey concerning missionaries. I imagine she could use as much input as possible, so please consider filling out the survey. It should take no more than ten minutes. :)

http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dEVSdVpOektYX1BVLW10SGxLOXlpRlE6MQ

Sort of random thought

A somewhat muddled thought I had elsewhere:

when you feel like your life has no meaning or purpose

I too have been at the point where things seem so pointless, but focusing on the sovereignty of God has greatly encouraged me. What I mean is this: First of all, the whole purpose of life, of all of history is to bring glory to God (1 Cor. 10:31, Col. 3:17, and 1 Pet. 4:11). God will be magnified in the end by this great, massive grand scheme, which He has crafted from eternity. That means that even in our simple acts of eating and praying, we bring Him glory. My simple life is a sacrifice unto God, whether I do some great deed or simply follow Him in my simple daily life, that He may be even in some small way be glorified. We live for God in everything, and I am floored that he has shed grace upon grace on me who showed nothing short of hatred for Him. don't get me wrong; I was no raging heathen. I have no remarkable story where I was a great and terrible sinner. I was a "good kid" as far as anyone other than God and me could see, but the point is that even in this my most boring of all lives that anyone could have, God is glorified! There is no greater joy than to know that God was (in spite of me) actually pleased to save me! That, my friend and brother, is the whole point of living. Even in this, my boring day of this, my boring (and jobless :P) life, God will be glorified!

Sola Fide

Sola Fide; "Faith Alone" or, the long and short of it, Salvation by grace through faith alone. This is one of the five Solas and, indeed, is a staple to our faith. However, I have heard it sadly said that the "Alone" is nowhere found in Scripture and thusly invalidates this truth. I will here address this heresy.
The specific passage from whence this doctrine comes is this,

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8)

This was a doctrine Martin Luther struggled with for along time, or, that is, didn't understand. Up unto this point, he believed that one must live a complete and holy life. Which is true if we wish to be holy and acceptable before God Almighty. Luther became a monk so as to attain this but found, rightly so, that his righteousness was as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). Everything he did he found was not enough and that to the core, he was a wicked being that had no hope of salvation! That is, until he found Ephesians 2:8. Here we see clearly that our salvation is the gift of God, given us by no merit of our own as Scripture clearly shows! We have done nothing to earn this gift, nay, not even said the word (Ephesians 1:4-6). Though yes, we have responsibility, must keep a healthy balance here, that is for another discussion.
So in summery, our anthem of Salvation by Grace through Faith Alone is merely a summery of Eph 2:8. Salvation by Grace: "For by grace you have been saved". Through Faith: "through faith". Alone: "And this is not of your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Eph. 2:9 added for emphasis).

Soli Deo Gloria

Bibidy Bobidy Boo! Interpretation: "A Blog Post About Spiritual Gifts." :D

Some of you may remember how ardently I was a cessationist (one who believes the miraculous gifts have ceased) in times past. Originally, this was due to my interest in John Macarthur’s Dispensational teachings. However, I have grown to see the weaknesses in my former arguments and have changed my views on the issue. This may grate on some of my friend’s beliefs, especially the Reformed ones, but there is no Biblical support whatsoever for a cessation of tongues or prophecy.

My Former Arguments and Refutation

Formerly, I tried to get around 1 Corinthians 12-14 by dancing around the context and plain meaning of words. Firstly, I avoided the fact that prophecy continues until the eternal state (13:8-13) by saying that New Testament prophecy referred to preaching the word. However, preaching is never called prophecy, and this contradicts the context of the passage (prophecy called “revelation” in 14:30). Thus, if prophecy refers to a personal revelation in the context, 1 Corinthians certainly supports supernatural revelation today. I was troubled, due to my former understanding that this undermines scripture. But Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theologymakes a convincing argument that New Testament prophecy was not understood as equal to scripture or the Apostles. I refer the reader to that work to understand this issue more fully.

The only text that I understood to teach the cessation of tongues was 1 Corinthians 14:20-22.

“In the Law it is written, ‘By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to me.’ So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those that believe.”

In this passage, Paul quotes Isaiah 22 which was a passage pronouncing condemnation on Israel. In it, God declares that foreign tongues would be a sign of destruction for them. This was fulfilled when Israel was destroyed by foreigners. Paul goes on to say that, in the same way, tongues are a sign for unbelievers and prophecy is a sign for believers.

Now, I listened to a certain Dispensational pastor try to teach this passage, and he made a case that this means that tongues is a sign of Israel’s destruction and when they were destroyed tongues ceased. He weaved a complex theological framework that, in the end, resulted in reading about three pages of information into this one passage. The question for his interpretation is simple: Is this how Paul intended to apply this passage? First of all, such an interpretation renders the statement that prophecy is a sign for believers a mystery; having a complex interpretation for tongues as a sign but no apparent meaning to prophecy as a sign. Paul’s true meaning will be evident as we follow Paul’s argument.

The context of the passage is the necessity of interpretation of tongues so that order can be maintained. Whatever Paul’s meaning is, it is consistent with the context. This complex spider’s web of doctrines inserted into 1 Corinthians 14:20-22 is a sad mishandling of the text, for it rips it from its larger context. Let us read on in Paul’s argument and the meaning will become evident.

“Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? But if all prophecy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.”

This is Paul’s application of his citation of Isaiah. I had a lot of trouble understanding what is meant here, but by looking closely at this passage, one sees what is meant. The passage says that if unbelievers enter and all speak in tongues he will “think that [the church] is mad.” This, indeed, is how it is a sign of judgment for unbelievers. It banishes them from the fellowship of the church due to the lack of order and interpretation of the tongues spoken in it. This understanding does justice to the context and provides an adequate response to the cessationist interpretation. Also, in accordance with the context, Prophecy is a sign of God’s favor to believers since unbelievers confess that God is “truly among” the church in which it takes place. The point of the passage is that what is said in the church must be understandable so that all may be edified. To go beyond this understanding is to add to the text.

Conclusion

There is not a shred of Biblical evidence that teaches cessationism. Although I deny the forbidding of tongues and prophecy, I also oppose the abuse of them. One church I was in encouraged the open speaking in tongues during the service and in many Pentecostal churches tongues are used loosely and chaos ensues. These are unbiblical extremes. Tongues and prophecy, when rightly used, leads to true godliness, sober living and orderly and fearful worship. Everything is to be unto edification and love, in accordance to the Spirit and founded upon the Word. Praise God for the many blessings and differing gifts He gives to the body of Christ!

Back in Action

I am sorry I haven't been here to update over often. Its not like I have a life or anything! LOL Anyway, I am back with some interesting thoughts on Scripture as I read just last night. I am currently reading through the book of Luke and, as a gentile by blood, find this a most exceedingly fascinating book! I am currently in Chapter 4 and have three observations I wish to make.
The first is on v. 13,

And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time. (Luke 4:13)

This is extremely fascinating because it denotes here that Christ was tempted further on in His ministry. Indeed, I believe that it is infact indicative that, part of Christ's being fully human, meant that all His life He was faced with temptation much as we are... well, except that He was perfect while we were made perfect in His sacrifice only. But we must keep Christ's humanity in mind when it concerns the sacrifice of Christ. Without a human sacrifice, it would not suffice for us, humans, who sinned against God and without the lamb being spotless, it would be a meaningless sacrifice.
My next point would be on God's magnificent gift to us, the chosen. Christ made the people of his home town very angry. Why? Because He made plain His mission, that His dominion (His chosen people) would extend beyond the Children of Israel,

And he said, "Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian."(Luke 4:24-27)

Note here please that Christ specifically mentions the nationalities of these individuals in contrast to the widows and lepers of Israel. Notice also Christ's Words. He chooses to say, "Elijah was sent" only to the widow of Sidon. Also of the lepers, "none of the were cleansed but only Naaman the Syrian. Christ is here making plain to whom He has be sent to cleanse. We see here that God chooses the foolish things of the world, these are not some elite blood or some supreme hierarchy but the destitute and broken. Christ came to save the Lost.
Lastly, I wanted to observe v.39,

And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them.(Luke 4:39)

Do we not serve an awesome God that even the fevers obey Him?
Until again, Christ be with you brothers and sisters.

Soli Deo Gloria
Patrick Eklektos

The Transforming Power of the Gospel

I do not expect this blog post to be overly long, or to be very complex. I just want to share some of my experiences with those who would read this and I invite all to seriously consider these words.

A few weeks ago I preached at my church and the theme was evangelism. Before I preached that sermon, I had a sermon on the person of Christ prepared for months. However, the week I was scheduled to preach the Lord moved me to preach on evangelism. Now that I can look back on that sermon, I see that God's purpose in calling me to preach on that topic wasn't so much for the congregation as it was for me. Honestly I have never been the same since I preached it. It has transformed my mind and my person completely, I feel like a train hit me. As I studied the passage I was teaching on, 1 Corinthians 1 and 2, I began praying that the Lord would give me a revelation of Christ and Him crucified, and that I would have a passion for the gospel. The more I prayed that, the more a desire grew in me to live and die for the gospel. It began to consume my thoughts and I began to change. The emphasis in my life was not so much on election than on simply knowing what happened on that cross. It has gotten to the point where I think about it almost all the time, and marvel at the gospel more than ever before. I have even seen new power over old sins in my life--as I meditate on the gospel, the things of the world are becoming less and less appealing!

The other day I felt the call of God to preach the gospel at the park. I have wanted to open-air preach ever since I got saved but was too cowardly to do it. I was scared and worried what others would think of me, but this new passion overcame me and I preached on the sidewalk. Since then I wake up in the morning hoping for the chance to proclaim the gospel wherever I go, however I can, regardless of the consequences. I have been totally consumed by this one thing that I have caught a glimpse of, and my only desire is to spread it to the entire world: The bloody, rugged cross of Christ. All glory be to Jesus Christ for His eternal salvation!

So the Lord has truly done a work in me. It's not that I think that maybe the Lord has done something to me, no, I know that he has. I have gone from a passion for debates in the blogosphere to a passion for the foolish message which is the only power of God unto salvation. I have gone from fearful and defeated to victorious in the area of evangelism. I ask you, would you join me in seeking out the knowledge of Christ and the gospel? The first thing I learned in this endeavor is that it is very hard to get help when preaching the gospel--Friends, this ought not be. I hope and pray that Christians would be driven to their families, their workplaces and the streets by an all-consuming love for Christ and Him crucified. In the words of Jesus, GO!

Original Sin: Four Views

Some may wonder why it is needed to give attention to the old doctrine of Original Sin. The truth is that, although it has been commonly held to be an essential Christian teaching, the reality of our deadness in Adam has been greatly attacked recently by a growing Pelagian minority in so-called evangelicalism. A quick search on Youtube or other avenues of internet ministry will reveal a strong sect of street-preachers, ministers and theologians who are either completely Pelagian or hold at least some of its views. I have done the research myself and am appauled at how almost every publicly known street evangelist (save Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron as far as I can see) is preaching this damnable heresy. I can not adequately examine the data concerning this tremendous doctrine, but I hope to give a brief overview of the different standpoints and thus to set clearly before us what we need to weigh out when considering which one we fall under. Following is a study of each of the four views on Original Sin; the first two are the ones within the free-will camp and the second two are debated amongst Predestinarians.

The Pelagian View

In the fourth and fifth centuries Augustine lived and founded his views on grace and Predestination. His opponent was a man named Pelagius. In his eyes, Augustine's high view of grace would inevitably lead to licentiousness and loose living. To combat this and emphasize man's responsibility to live a holy life, Pelagius taught that man was essentially neutral to good and evil and was not disposed to either. In his thought every man was born in the same moral condition that Adam was--totally free to choose good and evil. In being consistent with his views he taught that sinless perfection with no assistance from grace was possible and essential.

Some say that Pelagians believe that we inherit nothing from Adam. This is a false concept. Pelagianism teaches that we inherit physical death and disease from Adam, but we do not inherit any moral depravity. To them, Adam was merely a bad moral example to the human race with no affect to his progeny.

The Semi-Pelagian (Arminian) view

In response to Augustine's teaching of man's deadness in sin and Pelagius' counter-teaching of man's complete freedom, the Roman church tried to find a middle ground in Semi-Pelagianism. This view teaches that salvation is essentially a cooperation between God and man. In their view of Original Sin, Adam's sin affected all aspects of the human faculties but our will is not completely effaced; we still have the ability to choose good. To them God gives prevenient grace--a divine enabling which woos all men to accept Christ. But cooperating with God's drawing man may be saved and made an heir of eternal life.

The Federal View

Amongst Reformed theologians the most common stance is the Federal view; most identified with Covenant Theology. In this schema Adam acted as the representative of the human race in the garden of Eden and as such his sin is imputed to the rest of humanity. Whereas the Semi-Pelagian view only believes a sin nature was inherited by Adam, in the Reformed views the actual guilt of Adam is the possession of every man from birth. The Federal system comes to this conclusion by seeing Adam as the head of the entire human race. as a representative.

The Augustinian/Traducian View

Finally, Augustine formed a unique understanding of mankind's union with Adam. It was named after him and is held by a minority of Predestinarians today. According to Augustine, all men were seminally and physically present in Adam's loins, in the same way Levi was said to be present in Abraham's loins when he paid tithes to Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:10). Thus, man being really and truly in Adam in the garden, his sin becomes their sin and they are considered to be guilty and spiritually dead just as him.

The scriptures have not been brought up in this discussion, but the reader is directed to Romans 5:12-19 for the Biblical account concerning this doctrine. The writer holds the Augustinian understanding as I think it is the most plain reading of Romans 5:12. All have sinned because all are sinners; may we earnestly contend for our total depravity and the necessity AND sufficiency of grace for salvation!

A Short Word on Faith

Some say "Salvation: So easy a cave man could do it" but I think this is false. Salvation is a VERY hard thing to accomplish for various reasons (If it were so easy why did it take the death of God Himself to secure it?). For one thing, the deadness of man in sin causes us to require a new birth in order to be saved. This new birth is a supernatural work of God alone that some have said "exceeds the power of God displayed in the creation of the universe." But there is another thing that makes salvation so hard and that is what it requires: Faith.

Faith is simple yet complex. I think it's safe to say that faith is a mystery of itself. It is such a simple requirement, and yet it costs its possessor everything. It transforms lives and goes completely against human nature. The Roman Catholics and other belief systems within as well as outside of Christianity have defined faith in two parts.

1. Knowledge of a thing.

2. Assent to it.

This is also the belief of non-biblical sects within Christianity that believe that one can have faith with no affect on the person's life. To these as well as the RCC, faith is mental assent to some kind of truth. This mental assent does not necessarily have to affect the life of the individual. It is mere hollow belief. It is this type of faith that James spoke of when he said "You believe there is one God; you do well. Even the demons believe, and tremble." It is clear that mental assent does not save. The Protestant (and, I believe, the Biblical definition) adds one thing onto the end of this equation. Faith in the orthodox Christian mind goes like this:

1. Knowledge of a thing.

2. Assent to it.

3. Trust in it.

It is the third point that defines faith. Knowledge and mental assent to God is not enough; one must trust in God and what he says. Faith reads of Christ being "pierced for our transgressions, and crushed for our iniquities" (Isaiah 53) and responds in absolute trust in that sacrifice, being confident of inclusion in it. Hebrews puts it this way: "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1). In other words, faith has confident assurance in what God has said even though the thing is "not seen." This is especially true of the gospel. One is left helpless and, logically, unable to be saved through the knowledge of the law but by faith one has assurance that another has kept the law for Him and atoned for His sin; Jesus Christ. But it can also be said of any Biblical revelation.

And this is where faith gets really hard. Believing the gospel and giving up on self-righteousness is a miracle in itself but it doesn't get any easier from there. By faith we are called not to lean on our own understanding. When joining in on the fun of the world seems so fulfilling to our needs and wants, God calls us to have faith that His ways are truly fulfilling. When a marriage is not going well and communication isn't happening between two people, it takes faith in God's goodness not to turn aside to the beautiful, talkative secretary at work. When an unbiblical TV show is on, one must believe that denying that lust is the better way to go based on the mere fact that a good, wise and loving God has spoken.

So the question becomes in regard to any situation: Do you believe God? It is indeed the hardest thing to do to abandon human wisdom, desires and ambitions and humbly trust in the will and wisdom of another. But what we have to remember, friends, is the character of the one we are called to trust in. If we can get a glimpse of the power, love and goodness of God one can see that trusting in His ability to justify the ungodly as well as regulate our daily lives is the only logical thing to do. May we base our entire lives on this truth: God has spoken.

Paul's View of Missions--1 Corinthians 1:17-3:23

Just today I was looking at statistics on the web and came across this one--

1/2 of 1% of youth between the ages of 18 and 23 have a Christian worldview.

Brothers, such a fact should startle us. Our country is spiraling downward into spiritual bankruptcy and almost every one of young adults--those who will comprise the next generation--are unbelievers. The question becomes, what are YOU going to do about it? I say, if this country is going to go to Hell at least let them go there despite our efforts! Friends, our people, the American people, are lost and without hope. Will we pass over these dead sinners and keep the saving gospel to ourselves? May God help us if we do!

I intend this short article to be something to drive us to a Biblical view of Christian ministry and missionary work so that we will be equipped to faithfully preach the good news. However, this is just an introduction. Such a lofty feat can not be done just by blogging. It is my prayer though that the Holy Spirit will use what is in here to spur us on to a Biblical understanding of these things.

1 Corinthians 1-3 contains Paul's views on Christian ministry and especially missions. My intent is to start at the beginning of his argument and work my way through so that we get a complete picture of what our mindsets should be as we preach Christ to those who are perishing.

His argument starts in 1:17 and is encapsulated in the first statement:

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void. For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

This is Paul's thesis. In Paul's thought the missionary has a central duty--to preach the gospel. So much for community service and baptized vacations for youth groups. However, he makes a strange statement. He says that the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved it is the power of God. But one might ask "Isn't everybody 'perishing'"? Yes. So it follows that the crosss is foolishness to everybody. How, then, does anyone go from perishing and lost to saved? The answer is unfolded throughout Paul's argument. For now we must suffice to say, though, that in his thinking there is one way to minister, and that is through the preaching of the gospel.

For it is written, "I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE." Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,

Paul seems to make no sense. He seems to cling so closely to the message to be preached and yet he acknowledges that it is unacceptable to the world. I can hear a church growth guru scolding Paul saying "Forget it man! Nobody wants to hear the gospel, you admit it yourself!"

And such a protest would be partly true. Paul does acknowledge that this message is unacceptable. Paul's basic premise, the entire foundation of his view of missions is that no one will accept the gospel when he preaches it! It sounds strange, but it is evident in Paul's language. What group of people is there besides Jews and Gentiles? Absolutely none; that is the entire human race. And Paul knows that both Jews and Gentles will reject his method of evangelism. Thankfully, though, Paul doesn't leave us there.

but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD."

Thus we see that in Paul's theology, the gospel will be effective because although the entire human race is hostile to it God has chosen a people, both Jew and Gentile, out of the world to be saved. And God has designed it in such a way so that in the end only God can be praised in the salvation of souls because (1 No one will come to salvation unless God has willed it and (2 God has chosen the least likely and the despised of the world to be saved. He has worked it out so that the people that the logical mind would say "Yes, God would choose him because he is wise, strong and able and could do much for God's kingdom." He has passed over and chosen the weak, the base, even the wicked and worthless.

The entire point of this teaching on God's election is that there is nothing in those who were chosen that moved God to choose them. It is based solely on His freedom, His prerogative. Let us examine the argument of foreknowledge at this point. The argument of the passage is that God didn't see people in time and say "You are wise, therefore I choose you." or "You are strong, therefore I choose you." Then wouldn't it be against this passage to say that God looked at mankind and said "You believe, therefore I choose you?" I would submit that the passage implies something that is completely contrary to the popular concept of foreknowledge.

So, God has chosen a smaller group of people out of the mass of fallen humanity to be saved. It is clear that this choosing is unto salvation since the choosing is to be in Christ Jesus, a good parallel would be the same argument that is made in Ephesians 1. Continuing with the study--

and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; but just as it is written, "THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM." For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.

In this passage our initial question is answered. We asked at the beginning of the study, "If all men reject the gospel, how will anyone be saved?" We then learned that God has chosen a people out of the fallen race to be saved. And here we learn how those elected come to faith: By the Spirit revealing the truth of the gospel to them in the inner man. Therefore it is not ultimately the evangelist who is the defining factor in the salvation of souls, but the effectual work of the Holy Spirit of God.

This is in fact the Biblical view of missions. God has a chosen people in the world and He will call them to faith by the Holy Spirit's power when the gospel is preached to them. It is our duty to be faithful to the call and preach the gospel to all creatures, trusting God to call His sheep unto Him. As Paul goes on to say, One plants and another waters but ultimately it is only the work of God that produces any crop.

Christian, will you obey the call? Will you deny the wisdom of man and cling to Christ and Him crucified as the sum and substance of your missions strategy? As a young man I am learning more and more that we MUST NOT waste our lives waiting for our future to happen; a wife, kids, a home. Rather, our focus must be on being fruitful to God now and making an impact for the kingdom. This is a call to all believers to GO! Preach the gospel to every creature with boldness, and do so trusting that God will be faithful to save as you speak. Be faithful to the call and give your life to the Lord's work. Lord, raise up bold and powerful ministers of Your word in this country, and above all may You be glorified in our efforts!

The Life of Saint Augustine--Book Review of Confessions

Saint Augustine (354-430) was one of the most influential church fathers. His powerful ministry has impacted the church in astonishing ways. He was the primary source for many Catholic teachings; however, his views on salvation were completely rejected by the Catholic Church. Those views, commonly known today as Calvinism, are the roots of early Protestantism and continue to be debated today.

Augustine’s Confessions is the autobiography of his road to salvation. In it he delves deeply into his sinfulness and the foolishness of his material pursuits until the book is climaxed with his dramatic salvation experience. He begins with a discourse concerning infancy and childhood and how even the youngest children show signs of a sinful nature. As a young boy, though, Augustine recalls an interest in religion. This is surely an outcome of his family, which he describes as an unsaved father but a devoutly religious mother. It becomes evident that Augustine had great affection for his mother and her tremendous and persevering love for him. Despite this upbringing he began rebelling as a young man. He describes stealing and sexual sinfulness. However, at the age of nineteen Augustine found a different passion that soon replaced his rebellious attitude: The search for wisdom. He was introduced to a philosophy book and was hooked on it from then on. At this time, for the greater part of the book Augustine traces his search for knowledge as he becomes a rhetoric teacher and grows in his studies. Manichaeism, a cultic belief system that he held in his early years, was soon rejected in favor of philosophy. Throughout all of this, Augustine found himself miserable and empty. He compared himself to a beggar and explains that the beggar was probably happier than he. Eventually he became attracted to the Christian faith, something that he formerly rejected. Finally, after the testimonies of friends Augustine came to the end of his rope. Through a very unique and climactic salvation experience he came to Christ and became a dedicated Christian. Thus God answered the many desperate prayers his beloved mother sent up to God. Although Augustine had desires for marriage formerly, he decided to stay single and be devoted to the church after he was saved.

Confessions is a deeply powerful and hard-hitting book. By looking into Augustine’s rocky road to salvation the reader sees parts of his own struggle to follow the Lord. Emotional depth and a great desire for the glory and supremacy of God mark this Christian classic.

The book is written in a very unique style. Unlike many autobiographies, the entire work is written in prayer form. Throughout it Augustine breaks into periods of passionate doxology and praise to the God who showed His matchless grace to him. Augustine’s purpose in the work is to magnify God and bring Him glory through sharing his story with anyone who will read. In all these things his counter-culturally God-centered worldview is evident. The God-oriented lifestyle and mindset that this man held is evident on every page. This flies in the face of the prevailing humanistic philosophy that was prevalent in that day and that he was schooled in early in life.

Augustine’s Biblical knowledge is deep and insightful. He possesses the ability to relate any event in his life with the clear text of scripture. For instance, throughout his explanation of his philosophical studies he makes the connection between his utter emptiness and the fact that he wasn’t seeking wisdom in Christ (a reference to Colossians 2:1-3). He seems to have a good handle on the nature of God and he especially emphasizes God’s omnipresence many times in his discourses. Although such dedication to solid doctrine his evident, there are many instances where Catholic teachings are referenced, such as the fact that he cites his baptism as the moment of Regeneration and holds the sacraments in high regard.

Augustine’s deeply controversial views on salvation are clear for all to see, also. He explains that the Manichees believed in the elect and it seems he believed the Bible taught it also. However, his views on total depravity and the fall of man are especially clear in his writings. He holds that man is desperately wicked from birth and seeks out satisfaction in sin. He draws a very convicting picture of the utter sinfulness of the love and glory of anything besides God. For this reason he dismisses his intellectual knowledge as vanity because it was done in utter selfishness and was not for God’s glory alone. For Augustine, the only fruitful pursuit in life is to lift up the name of the Lord and magnify Him.

Though virtually all sides of the fence disagree with this scholar—the Catholics with his view of salvation and the Protestants with his many agreements with Rome—one can not deny the impact that Saint Augustine has had on the church. His powerful intellect and pious spirit continues to amaze those who look back on his life. His accomplishments and spiritual fervor are to be admired; however, as Augustine would have it we must thank God for giving the church the rich heritage that is found in this man and remember that all good things are His gifts to us.

Psychosis: God's Gift to Me

Before I get into the present discourse, let me be very clear with my intent. I have searched my heart over the past couple of days, searching by God's Spirit for a hint of pride in me as I planned to write this. I do not want to seek the praise of men, for that would be to usurp God of His rightful place of preeminence and place myself in the spotlight. So let me be clear that I do not intend for anyone to admire me, the worm. I have no strength, nor character, nor existence apart from my one true love, Yahweh God. In the words that follow my goal is the same as that of the Apostle Paul: "For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me" (Rom. 15:18).

As some of you know, I have had psychosis for nine years now. For two years I was in remission and had no symptoms, which is common in the disease. There are times when I, quite frankly, would rather not live than to deal with it. It flairs up randomly and drags me kicking and screaming into periods of intense confusion and uncertainty. However, I glorify my Lord for what He has given me, and am beginning to see this ailment not as a curse, but as a gift.

I just heard a Pentecostal shrug and grunt at his computer. "A gift? Why would God give you a gift that is painful and not enjoyable?" Indeed my friend, it is not so much a matter of perspective than priority. For if my goal is to remain healthy and pain free then I have good reason to be in despair. However, by the Spirit's power that is not my priority; my priority is to be further conformed to the image of Christ. With that goal in mind, might I submit to you that hard times may be even more profitable than good times. Let me repeat that so that you understand me: Tribulations bear much more lasting and valuable riches than does prosperity. Consider this passage from Romans:

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.--5:3, 4

Do you see, Christian, the great string of valuable pearls that are born out of tribulations? Perseverance, proven character, hope. Are these not more valuable than any earthly treasure? Than health? Therefore, I am learning by the power of God to change the way I look at my illness--to see it as a source of great wealth, a tool that God has hand-picked for me in love to draw me ever nearer to Him and to bestow on me true wisdom in Christ. Indeed I have already seen great benefit from the illness. I attribute the character and mental strength that God has given me to my growth through it. I see how even now good things have been wrought in me through the instrument of the illness. Most of all being how the daily struggles have served to drive me further and further into the arms of the Savior, who is my Rock and my ever present help.

Think for a moment about the cancer patient. One struggling with cancer may greatly despise the thought of having to go through chemotherapy. It is a painful, horrible procedure. But would we not all agree that the chemotherapy is good for this man who is so sick? Thus it becomes evident that the patient hates what is for his ultimate benefit. Even so God has given me an unpleasant disease in order to purge me from that cancer called self and sin with the ultimate intent to present me complete in Christ (Col. 1:28). And, like the sick man, I do not enjoy what I am going through. For "all discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful," but I hope that having been trained by it to yield the peaceful fruit of righteousness (Hebrews 12:11).

Therefore, when trials come your way, child of God, do not murmur and complain as those who are lost do, but rejoice in hardships, knowing that in them you are greatly blessed. Praise God in the hard times, for in that, not in health or prosperity, is the victory.

The Purpose of Discussing Theology

Some of my closest friends deny the need to discuss theology. They feel that it bears no fruit, only causes division and gives a bad testimony to outsiders. Is this contention true and useful? I do not believe so. In fact, in my view, the discussion of the Bible is extremely edifying and Biblical. However, many today approach the practice with very bad attitudes and thus the outcome of such endeavors is always disastrous. We need to learn with the help of the Holy Spirit how we must approach a delicate thing such as this, for if we handle theology inappropriately we will cause divisions in the church and ultimately prove ourselves to be hypocrites.

The first thing I would like to share is a principle I learned as a young Christian. When I was first saved I was converted through the ministry of Calvinists; therefore I assumed that I was one, not knowing the avid hostility that there certainly is toward that belief. I sought to discuss the issue of Reformed theology with friends without knowing much about it; and as you can imagine the outcome was not in my favor. However, there was a deeper issue in my life, rooted in immaturity, other than simply not knowing my side of the argument. That problem was I had not allowed the doctrines of grace to be deeply rooted in my practical Christian life before I thought I could go and reform America. Put simply, I was speaking with my mouth what had not become real in my heart. I strongly believe that a person should not debate or discuss theology until he has allowed it to affect his life and practice. Debating viewpoints is not the summum bonum of theology, but love is (see 1 Timothy 1). Therefore, our primary goal in knowing and studying theology must always be to spurn us on to love God and neighbor before it becomes intellectual ammunition.

Now that we have our priorities straight we can move on to the actual topic. Is discussing theology useless? Is it profitable? It is my contention that it is not only profitable, but necessary. This is an outgrowth of a high view of the scriptures and God's truth.

If we are conservative evangelicals, we believe that the scriptures are inerrant and are God-breathed. As God-breathed we believe that the 66 books of the Christian Bible are absolute truth. Unlike the postmodern world we live in, we believe that truth can be known. The question becomes, then, to what lengths are we going to strive to know truth, and what is the value that we put on defending and spreading the truth. This, in fact, is the very basis of debating and hashing over theology: The defense and propagation of truth.

Some believe that debates look bad to unbelievers. This is simply false, however; for the opposite is true. Rightly done, debates proclaim to the world our concern for God's truth. When two Christians come together, it should shout to the world "We believe that truth can be known, and we care enough about knowing that truth to come together and seek it out." So brothers, let this be the overriding principle when we talk over our views. We must not be a bad testimony to those who oppose us by showing disrespect for the word by insults and careless and empty rhetoric.

In closing, we live in a day and age that is so relational that objective truth is downplayed. Do you, Christian, have a love for the truth and a longing for it just like you have a love for others? For my friends, we have the very truth of God in the canonical scriptures! Let us have a high view of God's word and exemplify our reverence for it when the time comes to defend it against opponents.

The Evolution of Evolutionists by Design

It seems singular and strange that Evolutionists never seem to be want of a theory on how the world evolved rather than be created by Sovereign Design... uhm, MIRACULOUSLY! However, it has occurred to me that this is a designed evolution of theories. Quite simply, when we logically explain to the Evolutionist the illogical holes in his theory, he will simply evolve his theory to circumnavigate the new problem. For instance, when the fossil record never presented transitional forms, we had a new theory sprout like every green thing on the third day! That is it is now held that transitional forms make major leaps to another form. So what have we here? Why, a merry-go-round! So what I am saying is just this, when we proclaim the logic to the illogic of the degenerate, then we will come to naught. Christ pierced the heart, and so must we! We must proclaim the gospel and address the heart, not the intellect, with the issue of sin rather than the origin of man. Now I am not saying that these issues aren't important. They are, we must continue to guard against these wicked teachings that they not enter the Church and kill us like a mutant cancer. I am proclaiming wither we must go in carrying out the commission! Christ did not address the external nor the intellect; but rather, the heart.

And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven." (Matthew 9:2)

Soli Deo Gloria

A Contextual and Honest Explanation of Romans Nine

Romans chapter nine is a passage that is not often mentioned by non-Calvinists. When brought up, it is often dismissed as speaking of nations, or is explained away by the philosophical construction of "Foreknowledge." Why is this passage treated with such contempt, you ask? The answer is simple: It greatly disturbs long-held traditions of those who kick against God's word. A friend of mine recently posted an appendix in an attempt to explain why Romans nine does not teach the sovereignty of God, however once again the clear teaching of the passage was muddled by the beloved man-made doctrine of free will. This note is first and foremost an attempt to edify the saints of God with scriptural truth, even if from a weak and lowly vessel. Secondly, it is a humble invitation to this friend of mine, who seems to be very certain that Calvinism is false, to test her traditions with scripture. It is my contention that one can not go verse-by-verse through this chapter without being confronted with uncondiional election--God's sovereign choice (and right) to choose who will go to Heaven or Hell. I know that this doctrine is hated in today's church, but Spurgeon made a good point when he said that we must not dull the sharp edges of some doctrines in order to make them more acceptable to our flesh (see Spurgeon, A defense of Calvinism).

I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen. But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel;nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants,

This is the introduction to this tremendous chapter. The context becomes clear--Paul is anticipating his audience's response to his teachings: "Well, Paul, if Jesus really is the Messiah, hasn't He failed miserably, since the Jews have rejected Him?" And Paul responds that although he is very broken in his heart over the fact that his countrymen have rejected the Messiah, he knows that the word of God has not failed. He says this is because "not all Israel are descended from Israel." In other words, God's people are not God's people simply by physical descent. How are they made His people, then?

but: "THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED." That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants. For this is the word of promise: "AT THIS TIME I WILL COME, AND SARAH SHALL HAVE A SON." And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, it was said to her, "THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER." Just as it is written, "JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED."

Mankind is made God's people through God's sovereign election of individuals. The result of God's choosing was that Isaac and Jacob were God's people and Ishmael and Esau were excluded from God's blessings. Many make the argument from this text that the election is nations, not people; and the election is unto lands, not salvation. How one gets this interpretation is hard to understand, for the text is simply not speaking of nations, but of God's election of Isaac and Jacob as the people of God. Yes, the result of this election is that Israel came from Jacob and not Esau, but what IS Israel? Israel is the chosen people of God; and Paul says that the reason that this is so is because God chose Jacob as a child of promise, and passed over Esau. Thus, Jacob was chosen as a member of God's true people, while Esau was excluded from salvation. Salvation was not given to the Edomites because they are not the people of God even though they descended from Abraham; only the children of promise are the people of God--And they are determined not from a bloodline but from God's sovereign choice. We are made children of promise through faith in Abraham's seed, Christ, as Paul clearly sets forth in the rest of the context of Romans:

and he (Abraham) received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them, (4:11)

and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised. (4:12)

For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, (4:16)

And in Galatians:

Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. (3:7)

And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise. (4:28)

Does that phrase, "children of promise," sound familiar to you? It should, for Romans 9 is about God's sovereign choice of those who are children of promise (9:8).

This is the Biblical way to view Romans nine. By comparing scripture with scripture we see that in Paul's theology New Testament believers are the children of promise and heirs of Abraham's covenant through faith in Christ; and Romans nine teaches us that it is God's sovereign choice that determines who is included in that category. That Paul has this in view is evident from what follows from Romans nine.

What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! For He says to Moses, "I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION." So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH." So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.

God has mercy on some, and hardens some. He includes some into His fellowship and chooses some as His people, while passing over some. Paul gives an example that God restrains mercy from some by the example of Pharaoh, who was raised to power in Egypt for the very purpose that he would display God's power in that nation through the magnificent plagues and destruction of him and his army. Don't believe me? Read Exodus 14:16, 17:

As for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land. As for Me, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen.

How was God honored through Pharaoh and all his army? By God showing His wrath and making His power known (Romans 9:22) in their death when the waves crashed over them. Some say "Well, Pharaoh hardened his own heart." I agree. The traditional Calvinistic view of hardening is God restraining His common grace toward sinners (as seen in Romans 1 and elsewhere). Thus God was simply allowing Pharaoh to live in accordance with his sinful heart. Continuing on in our study:

You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?" On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, "Why did you make me like this," will it? Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use? What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory,

Paul anticipates the very objection that is still given against God's sovereignty. The argument Paul anticipates is, in essence, "Well, we're all just puppets if this is true, aren't we?" This same exact argument was given to me in a discussion yesterday about Romans nine! It seems that those who wish to deprive God of His rightful throne have not come up with better arguments over 2,000 years. Paul does not entertain these opponents nor does he apologize for dealing a death blow to their view of man's autonomy, but replies with a sobering rebuke; saying in effect "Who do you think you are?" (See Sproul's commentary on Romans).

Are we to believe, at this point in Paul's argument, that he is not speaking of election to personal salvation? How does one reconcile "vessels of mercy/wrath" with the previous argument that this passage speaks of nations? By Paul's own argument that theory is overthrown. Indeed, most who hold to that belief, when attempting to interpret this chapter, make a sudden switch from Paul speaking of nations in his arguments about Jacob and Esau to speaking of individuals in this portion. What in the context, though, warrants such a switch? Nothing of course. Isaac and Jacob were vessels of mercy; Esau, Ishmael and Pharaoh were vessels of wrath. This is the simple reading of the text. Paul now includes us in his argument.

even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.

Thus Paul shows us our place in the discourse. We are called, just like Jacob, as children of promise and vessels of mercy through God's sovereign choice. It astounds me that some would argue that the calling of Jacob in 9:11 would be completely disconnected from our calling in 9:24, saying that the former was a calling unto a nation while the latter is unto salvation. That view is 100% inconsistent and it butchers the text.

God is completely sovereign in His choice of who will be His people. Romans nine does not teach about nations and lands while every other chapter in Romans deals with salvation. As we have seen, Paul's own words shatter the arguments of those who would isolate the chapter from its greater context. We must not diminish any hard doctrine, and though the doctrine of God's sovereignty is detestable to our flesh we must learn to submit to God's rulership over the earth and acknowledge that God is the potter and we are the clay. We can not overrule God's plans with our puny wills, for His counsel will stand forever.

The faith of the Leper who was cleansed.

I was studying Matthew 8 last night for my class on Matthew for school. The first 4 verses outline the story of the leper.

"When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold, a leper came and worshipped Him, saying, 'Lord if you are willing, You can make me clean.' Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, 'I am willing; be cleansed.' Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, 'See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.'

First off you see the wonderful boldness of the leper here. He was not allowed to have any close contact with anyone because of his disease. He was instructed to yell out, "unclean, unclean" every time somwhere came near, so they would keep there distance. Obviously here in this passage, he ignored that and came boldy to Christ. He came worshipping Christ as the Holy Son of God. He knew who he worshipped, he knew he could come boldy to Him because he knew only Christ could have the power to cleanse him.

I love seeing how he put his faith in action here. He didn't dilly dally or doubt. He came knowing full well that Christ had the power to save him.

In verse 2 when the leper says "If you are willing", it is not to be mistaken and misinterpreted that this man doubted the power and authority of Christ. I honestly believe this man had a better grip on the power of Christ and the authority He holds than most others do.
For this man knew that just because he was in want of a healing and just because he asked in faith, it did not mean that Christ was willing to provide that healing. He knew Christ had the ultimate say in whether this man would walk away healed or not.

In the commentary that I must read for my class, the commentator said that, of course Jesus was willing to heal him. "God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." He argued that God would heal everyone who asked to be healed, His will is for all to be healed.
It's a shame, for the most part I've agreed with everything this commentator has said on passages thus far. On this though, I'd have to disagree.

First things first, where did the leper come up with the knowledge that Christ was really the Son of God? Where did he get the faith to come bodly before Christ, knowing that Christ COULD heal him? Where did this faith come from?? I believe firmly that it was by God's Holy Spirit! How else could he know with such certainty that this man could cleanse him? I believe it was faith given by God and God alone. This man was empowered by the Holy Spirit to come boldly to Christ. There, I must add also that just because God does the saving in a persons life, it doesn't mean we aren't given the responsibility to come. It's just that God saves, and empowers us to even come to Him. Make no mistake about it, we are accepted of Christ we don't accept Him.
The reason I tied salvation into this, is because leporasy is often a picture of sin and this entire passage is a wonderful picture of salvation. Ok.. back off the rabbit trail now.

Secondly, if the Lord was willing to heal everyone who has asked Him for healing, why hasn't He??? I mean really, if this God is so willing to do this, what's holding Him back? Are we so strong and He so weak that all is based on the amount of faith we have?? Does He only work if we have ENOUGH faith??
The leper understood very well that ONLY if the Lord was willing would he be cleansed by Him. He never doubted that the Lord could heal him, it was is the Lord willing to heal him?

Don't mistake it, this man's faith was amazing, his understanding of the Lord's power and complete sovereignty was astounding. But it was all the Lord, the Lord gave him this great faith and knowledge. And it was the Lord and the Lord alone that cleansed him, it wasn't anything the leper had done. Yes, the leper came to Christ to be healed, would he have been healed if not having come to Christ? NO! For that is how the Lord worked it out, His will was for the man to come to Him, but remember always that this leper and his coming on his free will was drawn by the Lord. And it was the Lord who was willing to cleanse from this disease.

The Lord has every right to not cleanse someone. And I've seen people who aren't cleansed, is God falling short? Is He not working because our faith is too small?? Absolutely not. Who are we, mere fallen men and women, the creatures, who are we to question our Lord and His plans? He's going to be glorified through it all.

Let us never forget that God is ABLE to save, heal, etc. He is ALL powerful. Nothing can stop Him! The point is, the Lord is not always WILLING to. Question not our Savior's ways, for you tread on dangerous grounds.