TheosGuy

The wrath of God is definitely not something that one likes to think about. Thinking about the subject is one thing, teaching on the subject can be even more uncomfortable. Here I think that J.I. Packer does well in helping is think about this subject.

… God’s wrath in the Bible is something which people choose for themselves. Before hell is an experience inflicted by God, it is a state for which a person himself opts by retreating from the light which God shines in his heart to lead him to himself. When John writes, “Whoever does not believe [in Jesus] stands condemned [judged] already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son,” he goes on to explain himself as follows, “ This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil” (Jn 3:18-19). He means just what he says: The decisive act of judgment upon the lost is the judgment which they pass upon themselves, by rejecting the light that comes to them in and through Jesus Christ. In the last analysis, all that God does subsequently in judicial action toward the unbeliever, whether in this life or beyond it, is to show him, and lead him into, the full implications of the choice he has made.¹

1. Packer, J. I.. Knowing God, p. 172. InterVarsity Press, 1973. Kindle Edition.

Scripture clearly shows us that it is God who call us:

Even though God might effect such through a human agent.

All scriptures from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

R.L. Dabney in his Systematic Theology draws a distinction between limited atonement and unlimited expiation. As Dabney is a “Five-Point Calvinist” this is a rare distinction from that side of the theological debate.
And since he believes expiation is an unlimited work of Jesus Christ, it is also an intended unlimited work of Christ to provide such.

It seems plain that the vagueness and ambiguity of the modern term ‘atonement,’ has very much complicated the debate. This word, not classical in the Reformed theology, is used sometimes for satisfaction for guilt, sometimes for the reconciliation ensuing thereon; until men on both sides of the debate have forgotten the distinction. The one is cause; the other effect. The only New Testament sense the word atonement has is that of katallage, reconciliation. But expiation is another idea. Katallage is personal. Exilasmos is impersonal. Katallage is multiplied, being repeated as often as a sinner comes to the expiatory blood. Exilasmos is single, unique, complete; and, in itself considered, has no more relation to one man’s sins than another. As it is applied in effectual calling, it becomes personal, and receives a limitation. But in itself, limitation is irrelevant to it. Hence, when men use the word atonement, as they so often do, in the sense of expiation, the phrases, ‘limited atonement,’ ‘particular atonement,’ have no meaning. Redemption is limited, i.e., to true believers, and is particular. Expiation is not limited.¹

1. Dabney, Robert L., Systematic Theology. From chapter 35, Section 8. (2). “Christ’s Satisfaction Not Commercial.”

Tags: Dabney

John Frame writes the following in his book, The Doctrine of God:

If God desires people to repent of sin, then certainly he desires them to be saved, for salvation is the fruit of such repentance. Some Calvinists, however, have denied this conclusion, reasoning that God cannot possibly desire something that never takes place. But I have dealt with that objection already. Scripture often represents God as desiring things that never take place. As we have seen, he wants all people to repent of sin, yet we know that many people never repent. And there are many other examples. God desires all people to turn from false gods and idols, hold his name in reverence, remember the Sabbath, honor their parents, and so on. But those desires are not always fulfilled.^{1 2}

See the cited section of the book for a detailed explanation and analysis of God’s preceptive and decretive will.

1.  John Frame, The Doctrine of God (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing, 2002), 528-538.
2. A portion of the cited text is available online at the Theological Meditations website.

Tags: John Frame

The following passage from Archibald Alexander on stray thoughts causing trouble during the devotional life of a believer, was something to consider for a Monday morning staff devotional.

“The old writer before mentioned introduces a struggling soul mourning on this account: ‘Oh the perplexing trouble of my distracting thoughts! How do they continually disturb the quiet of my mind and make my holy duties become a weariness of my soul! They cool the heart, they damp the vigour, they deaden the comfort of my devotions. Even when I pray God to forgive my sins, I then sin whilst I am praying for forgiveness; yea, whether it be in the church or in the closet, so frequently and so violently do these thoughts withdraw my heart from God’s service that I cannot have confidence he hears my suit, because I know by experience I do not hear myself; surely therefore God must needs be far off from my prayer whilst my heart is so far out of his presence, hurried away with a crowd of vain imaginations.’ To which he applies the following consolations:

‘1. These vain thoughts, being thy burden, shall not be thy ruin; and though they do take from the sweetness, they shall not take from the sincerity of thy devotions.’

‘2. It is no little glory which we give to God in the acknowledgment of his omnipresence and omniscience that we acknowledge him to be privy to the first risings of our most inward thoughts.’

‘3. It is much the experience of God’s children, even the devoutest saints, that their thoughts of God and of Christ, of heaven and holiness, are very unsteady and fleeting. Like the sight of a star through an optic glass held by a palsied hand, such is our view of divine objects.’

‘4. Know thou hast the gracious mediation of an all- sufficient Saviour to supply thy defects and procure an acceptance of thy sincere though imperfect devotions.’

‘5. As thou hast the gracious mediation of an all- sufficient Saviour to supply thy defects, so hast thou the strengthening power of his Holy Spirit to help thy infirmities; which strength is made perfect in weakness. When thou art emptied it shall fill thee; when thou art stumbled, it shall raise thee. The experience of God’s saints will tell thee that they have long languished under this cross of vain thoughts , yet after long conflict have obtained a joyful conquest, and from mourning doves have become mounting eagles.'”

Thoughts on Religious Experience
Archibald Alexander
Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Publication. 1844

John Piper, in Episode 450 of the Ask Pastor John podcast,  gives the following Scripture as evidence of double predestination.  However, I thought it was interesting that prior to answering the question, Piper said that if thinking that God would double predestine makes you doubt His goodness, then don’t believe in double predestination.

• In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, – Eph 1:11 NKJV

• The LORD has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom. – Pro 16:4 NKJV

• Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” – 1Pe 2:7 NKJV

• For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. – Jde 1:4 NKJV

• By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. – 2Pe 2:3 NKJV

• (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), – Rom 9:11 NKJV

• “I have loved you,” says the LORD. “Yet you say, ‘In what way have You loved us?’ Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” Says the LORD. “Yet Jacob I have loved; But Esau I have hated, And laid waste his mountains and his heritage For the jackals of the wilderness.” – Mal 1:2-3 NKJV

Jonathan Edwards wrote this on Christ seeking the salvation of the wicked.

Ans 2. We ought now to seek and be concerned for the salvation of wicked men, because now they are capable subjects of it.  Wicked men, though they may be very wicked, yet are capable subjects of mercy.  It is yet a day of grace with them, and they have the offers of salvation. Christ is as yet seeking their salvation; he is calling upon them, inviting and wooing them, he stands at the door and knocks. He is using many means with them, is calling them, saying, Turn ye, turn ye, why will ye die? The day of his patience is yet continued to them; and if Christ is seeking their salvation, surely we ought to seek it.

God is wont now to make men the means of one another’s salvation; yea, it is his ordinary way so to do. He makes the concern and endeavors of his people the means of bringing home many to Christ. Therefore they ought to be concerned for and endeavor it. But it will not be so in another world; there wicked men will be no longer capable subjects of mercy. The saints will know, that it is the will of God the wicked should he miserable to all eternity. It will therefore cease to be their duty any more to seek their salvation, or to be concerned about their misery. On the other hand, it will be their duty to rejoice in the will and glory of God. It is not our duty to be sorry that God hath executed just vengeance on the devils, concerning whom the will of God in their eternal state is already known to us.

Jonathan Edwards, “The End of the Wicked Contemplated by the Righteous,” in The Works of Jonathan Edwards (Carlisle, Penn.: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1992), p. 210.

HT: Theological Meditations

Tags: Atonement, Jesus Christ, Jonathan Edwards, Salvation

Jonathan Edwards wrote this about Christ laying down His life for those that will be damned.

Jesus Christ, the Redeemer, will have no pity on you. Though he had so much love to sinners, as to be willing to lay down his life for them, and offers you the benefits of his blood, while you are in this world, and often calls upon you to accept them; yet then he will have no pity upon you. You never will hear any more instructions from him; he will utterly refuse to be your instructor: on the contrary, he will be your judge, to pronounce sentence against you.

Jonathan Edwards, “The End of the Wicked Contemplated by the Righteous,” in The Works of Jonathan Edwards (Carlisle, Penn.: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1992), p. 211.

HT: Theological Meditations

Tags: Atonement, Jesus Christ, Jonathan Edwards, Salvation

Charles Hodge believes that John 3:16 indicates that God has designed and rendered the salvation of all men possible

“2. It is here [in John 3:16], as well as elsewhere taught, that it was the design of God to render the salvation of all men possible, by the gift of his Son. There was nothing in the nature, or the value, or the design of his work to render it available for any one class of men only. Whosoever believeth, etc. This is not inconsistent with other representations that it entered into God’s design to render the salvation of his people certain by the death of his Son.”

Charles Hodge, Princeton Sermons (London: Thomas Nelson and Sons, 1879), 17.

HT: Theological Meditations

Tags: Atonement, Charles Hodge, Jesus Christ, Salvation

John Piper in his book When I Don’t Desire God provides an acronym for how he prays over the Word in his fight for joy. Or in another context, Piper suggested this method for a person who was wanting to know how to invigorate his desire for the Word. The acronymn for prayer follows the words of the Psalmist.

I — Incline

Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! [Psalm 119:36 ESV]

O – Open

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. [Psalm 119:18 ESV]

U – Unite

Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. [Psalm 86:11 ESV]

S – Satisfy

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. [Psalm 90:14 ESV]

Tags: Acronymns, Bible, Desire, Piper, Prayer, Word