January 14, 2008

• Bible Reading: Things To Look for in a Church: What We Find in Solomon's Temple, #2

  GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY IN SALVATION
  

  
  

  I have chosen Jerusalem...I have chosen this place...
  II Chronicles 6:6; 7:12
  

  God's Church is comprised of all those God has chosen and redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you (John 15:6b). The Church is a chosen generation...(I Peter 2:9). God has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world...Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace (see Ephesians 1:3-7).

  [God] saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,..(II Timothy 1:9-10, ESV).

  
  All of us have sinned and come short of God's glory; our sin has separated us from God (Romans 3:23, Isaiah 59:2a). The Bible tells us the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23, ESV). Salvation is God's free gift. No one deserves it and no one can do anything to earn it.[1]
  
  Just as a dead man cannot bring himself back to life, a man who is dead in sin is powerless to bring himself to life in Christ. Yet when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:6-8).

  And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:1-10, ESV).

  The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. This is the good news, the Gospel of Jesus Christ! In Christ, God has provided the way for sinful man to be reconciled to Himself. Salvation has come to man by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. ...You were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:12-13, ESV)!
  
  Salvation comes through no other name but the name of Jesus (see Acts 4:10-12).
  

  
  For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit (I Peter 3:18).
  
  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6).
  
   But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:21-26, ESV).

  
  

  The members of God's Church cannot boast in anything but Christ (Romans 3:27; Eph. 2:8-9; Gal. 6:14-15). The Church cannot be proud or condescending but can only be profoundly humbled by our redemption for it is the gift of God's sovereign grace lavished on us in and through Jesus Christ. We can only ascribe praise and thanksgiving to God alone for our salvation. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. Salvation is all of him, and through him, and to him, as are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. To the praise of the glory of His grace!

  
  

  God's Sovereignty in Salvation
  and the Role of the Church

  Because salvation is a work of God's sovereign grace, in our own strength we cannot persuade someone to become a believer through human argument or emotional appeals. Apart from the movement of God, man has no power to enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus told us that unless we are born again we cannot even see the Kingdom of God, much less enter it. People come into the Church through the operation of the sovereign purpose and grace of God through the Spirit of God who works and moves as He wills.[2] The Lord is the One who continues to add to the church daily such as should be saved (Acts 2:47b).
  

  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God (John 1:12).
  

  
  If we attempt to manipulate and press people into making decisions for Christ, we may end up with many decisions and corresponding numerical growth in our congregations, but we might wonder how many of those decisions are genuine–how many are a result of the breath of life imparted by the life-giving Holy Spirit. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God (Romans 8:14). The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit (John 3:8).

  To accomplish His sovereign plan and purposes, in conjunction with the work of His Holy Spirit, God uses the proclamation of His Word through preaching, teaching, witnessing to implant the incorruptible seed of faith within men, women, boys and girls so they might come to faith in Christ.[3] Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures (James 1:18).

  
  

  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! ... 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:13-15, 17).
  
  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation...(Ephesians 1:11-13).
  

  
  Salvation is a work wrought in the heart of man through the Spirit of God, yet the Church is not to sit back passively. God has entrusted the Church with the Gospel; we are to be responsible stewards of it, to be evangels bringing the Gospel of Christ to an unsaved world.

  All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (II Cor. 5:18-21, ESV)
  

  
  Do we rely on the pure teaching of the Word of God to draw people into the Kingdom of God? Do we seek to proclaim the Word of God to make disciples? Is the Gospel preached and taught clearly and faithfully in our churches? Are our people being equipped to spread the good news of the Kingdom? Or are we trusting in human effort and ingenuity? Have we become ashamed of the gospel of Christ..the power of God unto salvation? Have many of our congregations jettisoned the Gospel in an effort to be user friendly and appeal to a wider audience? Have catchy slogans, trendy programs and slick multimedia presentations supplanted the Gospel?[4]

  Have we become more focused on boosting attendance than on planting, watering and cultivating Gospel seeds and patiently trusting God to give the increase (I Cor. 3:5-17) and grow His Church in His way and His time? Jesus' method of primarily investing Himself in twelve men for three years certainly cuts against the 21st century grain of efficiency.[5] Is our goal to grow our congregations or is it to grow God's Kingdom? Are we more interested in making membership rolls swell or in making Kingdom disciples? Are we striving to keep our infrastructure intact or are we striving to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus?

  Has fluffy, airy white bread replaced whole grain filling Gospel bread?[6] Do we tantalize people with eye and ear candy to get them in the door and then continue to bombard them with the same to make sure they keep coming? Or do we nourish young believers with the pure milk of the Word and provide meat for the more mature believers?
  
  
  The gospel of Christ...is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.

  Let us resolve with the apostle Paul to determine not to know any thing among [our people], save Jesus Christ, and him crucified (I Cor. 2:2).
  

  * * *
  

  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God (John 1:12-13).
  
  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever (I Peter 1:23).

  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ (Ephesians 1:3-12).
  

  
  

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  Scripture quotations unless otherwise indicated are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

  Scripture quotations marked "ESV" are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

  [1] Gene Simmons, of Kiss fame, said something like this [on "Celebrity Apprentice"]: "It really matters who is knocking on the door if the door will be opened." In other words, in the business world, if you carry some weight, wield power, influence and clout with the person behind the door, the door will open. But in the spiritual realm, as sinners coming before a holy God, we carry no weight, wield no power, influence or clout. In and of ourselves we are poor, needy and unworthy. We are spiritually bankrupt. We are no different than the publican who cried out, "God be merciful to me a sinner." Sinful man in and of himself carries no weight and wields no influence before a holy God because in us dwells no good thing and to God all our righteousness is as filthy rags. By the manifold mercies of God, Christ alone makes us worthy and only through His shed blood does the door open for us to come into the presence of Almighty God.

  Charisma is the Greek word for "gift" as used in Romans 6:23 (the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord) and Ephesians 2:8 (For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God): "a favour with which one receives without any merit of his own
  1) a favour with which one receives without any merit of his own,
  2) the gift of divine grace." (From Thayer's Lexicon).
  
  Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words describes the word charisma as "a gift of grace, a gift involving grace" (charis) on the part of God as the donor, is used (a) of His free bestowments upon sinners..."

  Information on charisma from: Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for charisma (Strong's 5486)". Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2008. 13 Jan 2008. http://cf.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G5486&Version=kjv

  [2] For more on God's sovereignty in salvation, please see Romans 9:14-29. The sovereignty of God is mysterious and baffling and disconcerting to our human minds but it is truly a wondrous and glorious thing. Romans 11:34-36.

  [3] The proclamation of the Word would also include teaching that accompanies the ordinances/sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

  [4] Granted, we should be all things to all people and attempt to reach the culture around us, yet we need to be careful that we do not lose focus on the centrality of the Word of God in our churches. Modern-day technology and contemporary methods can be good and helpful so long as they do not distract from the Gospel message or displace the Gospel. When considering decisions about such matters, we might ask : "Does this thing we are considering keep Christ central and does it edify the Body?" We cannot discard the Word of God or water down the Gospel in any way. Paul was all things to all people, yet he continued to insist adamantly that the preaching of Gospel must be kept pure and not be distorted, compromised or hindered in any way (e.g.-see I Corinthians 9; Galatians 1:6-10; Philippians 1:18). See Lloyd-Jones' "Christ and Him Crucified" (Banner of Truth Trust).

  If you have been paying attention to the U.S. Presidential race, you may have observed that several of the candidates are talking about "change"–how they plan to change things to improve them, to make them better. In the Church we must remember that the Gospel message needs no changing–there is no way we can ever improve on it. We may change the means we use to communicate the Gospel but we must never change the Gospel message itself.
  
  [5] To read more on this, please see "Transforming Discipleship" by Greg Ogden (IVP).

  [6] Thanks to one of my friends for this analogy. She had lived in Europe for many years before returning to the U.S. and made the contrast between European and U.S. breads. While in Europe, she had regularly enjoyed an abundance of good, wholesome bread at a reasonable price and upon her return she was quite disappointed to find supplies of such bread lacking. Then she explained that much of the U.S. church is being fed white bread but most church goers don't know any better since they've never tasted the good, wholesome bread. So week after week people are content to come and eat the white bread–superficial and shallow teaching--because they've never tasted anything different.

  
  

  • 4:29 PM
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