TheosGuy

God’s Greater Glory by Bruce A. Ware is one of my favorite theological books. Seemingly written as a response to Open Theism, I found it much more profound. I enjoyed very much the discussion on libertarian freedom versus freedom of inclination. In addition, the discussion of compatibilist middle knowledge versus libertarian middle knowledge was thought provoking.

I also enjoyed his discussion of spectrum texts (p. 69 ff) demonstrating God’s comprehensive sovereign control.

These are passages that indicate in sweeping language that God controls both sides of the spectrum of life’s occurrences, both those actions and events considered pleasant and good and those considered harmful and evil.

Here are some of the spectrum texts that Dr. Ware lists in the book.

“See now that I, even I, am he,
and there is no god besides me;
I kill and I make alive;
I wound and I heal;
and there is none that can deliver out of my hand”
(Deut. 32:39).

“The LORD kills and brings to life;
he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
The LORD makes poor and makes rich;
he brings low and he exalts” (1 Sam 2:6-7).

Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked? In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him (Eccles. 7:13-14).

“I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things.” (Isa. 45:5-7).

Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come? (Lam. 3:37-38).

Let all the earth fear the LORD;
let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!
For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.

The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
the plans of his heart to all generations.
Psalm 33:8-11

for his [God’s] dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the Inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, ‘What have you done’? (Dan. 4:34b-35).

“And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place” (Acts 17:26).

Tags: Books, Free Will, Sovereignty, Ware

Here are some verses that indicate that faith is a gift from God.

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, –The just shall live by faith.— (Romans 1:17 NKJV)

looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2 NKJV)

He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. (1 Peter 1:20-21 NKJV)

For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, (Phil 1:29 NKJV)

One of the most often quoted verses for support that faith is a gift is Ephesians 2:8-9.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; [it is] the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV)

However, there are some grammatical issues that for me make it a less than stellar support for the argument. The basic issue is that the gender for the word “it” (pronoun for the word “gift”) does not agree with the gender of the word “faith.” When you get down to it, the word “it” is referring to the overall concept of salvation, as opposed to the specific word “faith.”

Tags: Faith

Following are some Scriptures indicating the necessity of belief for salvation. I do not believe this applies to those individuals who for mental or physical reasons cannot exercise faith, for example, mentally incapable, infants, etc.

(Jhn 1:7 KJV) The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

(Jhn 1:12-13 KJV) 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: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

(Jhn 3:14-16 KJV) And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

(Jhn 3:18 KJV) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

(Jhn 3:36 KJV) He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

(Jhn 4:39-42 KJV) And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. And many more believed because of his own word; And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

(Jhn 4:48 KJV) Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

(Jhn 4:53 KJV) So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.

(Jhn 5:24 KJV) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

(Jhn 5:38-40 KJV) And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

(Jhn 5:43-47 KJV) I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

(Jhn 6:28-30 KJV) Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?

(Jhn 6:35 KJV) And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

(Jhn 6:40 KJV) And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

(Jhn 6:47 KJV) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

(Jhn 6:64-65 KJV) But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

(Jhn 6:66-71 KJV) From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.

Tags: Faith, Salvation

I was listening to John MacArthur’s sermons on The Certainty of Assurance (Part 1, Part 2) and he made a comment near the end of Part 1 that was thought provoking.

To know God, to know Christ is to be compelled on the inside to obey the Law that God wrote there. People have said actually to me, “I don’t go to your church, too legalistic.” My first concern is they’re not Christians because they see the Law of God as something imposed on them on the outside. I would be more prone to say, “Boy, I can’t go to your church because you don’t love the Law of God from the heart. I couldn’t be in a church like that.” You see, that’s where the law was written in the New Covenant, it was written in the heart.

He was referring to the Scriptural statement of what the New Covenant is.

But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more. (Jeremiah 31:33-34 NKJV)

The implication here is that if the Law of God is written by God upon our hearts and minds, then we should love the Law of God. Jesus said:

If you love Me, keep My commandments. (John 14:15 NKJV)

I do not believe that Jesus is referring here to the Mosaic Law, especially not the ceremonial and theocratic laws. For Jesus expounds on His words:

If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love…This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you…These things I command you, that you love one another. (John 15:10, 12, 17 NKJV)

Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ (Matthew 22:37 NKJV)

And Paul tells is of the law of Christ.

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2 NKJV)

So it would seem that the commandments of Christ relate to our loving of the LORD our God and our neighbors.

Tags: Assurance, Salvation

Four times we are told in scripture that “the just shall live by faith.” Faith on the finished work of Jesus Christ as our one and only true sacrifice.

Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith. (Hab 2:4 NKJV)

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith. (Rom 1:17 NKJV)

But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith. (Gal 3:11 NKJV)

Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him. (Heb 10:38 NKJV)

Tags: Assurance, Faith, Living

God as a Source of Delight

See all at once

His Word as a Source of Delight

See all at once

<!—

His Work as a Source of Delight

See all at once

—>

Tags: Living

Dr. James Montgomery Boice in his commentary on The Epistles of John, indicates three tests to know if we are Christians.

1. The Moral Test (1 John 2:3-6)
   A test of righteousness, but not sinlessness.
2. The Social Test (1 John 2:7-11)
   Do I follow Christ? For example, do I love others? The extent of our love, the length of our love, and the degree to which it is realized.
3. The Doctrinal Test (1 John 2:18-27)
   Who do I believe Christ is? A Christian believes in the deity of Jesus Christ!

Tags: Assurance

Following are the generally recognized systems that define the decretive work of God. The first two are generally considered to be Reformed.

Supralapsarian (Before the Fall)

1. God’s decree to glorify Himself through the election of some to salvation and some to reprobation.
2. God’s decision to create the universe.
3. God decrees the fall into sin.
4. God’s decision to provide a savior for the elect in the mediatorial work of Christ.

Note: in the supralapsarian system:

• The elective work is before the decree of the fall into sin.
• God’s decretive will begins with predestination.
• Election and reprobation are God’s primary work prior to creation.
• The 2nd-4th decrees are means toward realization of the 1st. Creation is for the sake of election and damnation. The fall serves God’s elective purpose.
• This decretive order seems to suggest that God is responsible for the fall since some humans are created expressly for damnation.

Much of the Reformed Church do not hold to this system of decrees developed by Theodore Beza. Generally, they hold to infralapsarianism.

Infralapsarian (After the Fall)

1. God’s decision to create the world.
2. God’s decision to allow man to fall into sin through his own self-determination.
3. God decrees to elect some to salvation in Jesus Christ.
4. God determines to pass by and leave the non-elect to their just fate and condemnation.

Note: in the inralapsarian system:

• The elective work is after the decision to allow the fall into sin.
• Follows the Scriptural order: creation, fall and salvation.

Sublapsarian

1. Creation of human beings
2. Permit the Fall
3. Provide salvation sufficient for all
4. Election to salvation and reprobation

Arminian Decretive Order

1. God’s decision to be gracious toward sinful human beings by providing a Savior in Jesus Christ.
2. God decrees to accept those who repent and believe in Christ, but to leave the unrepentant and unbelieving in their sin and to hold them responsible for the wrath of damnation.
3. Appointment of the proclamation of the Gospel as the means necessary to call people to salvation.
4. God decreed to save and damn particular persons based upon His prescience of their decision to repent and believe.

Tags: Election, God

1. The Crown Incorruptible—1 Cor 9:24-27
2. The Crown of Rejoicing—1 Thess 2:19
3. The Crown of Glory—1 Pet 5:4
4. The Crown of Life—James 1:12; Rev 2:9-10
5. The Crown of Righteousness—2 Tim 4:6-8
6. The Crown of Gold—Rev 4:4

Tags: End Times, Heaven, Teaching Ideas

Here are some everlastings in Scripture. Probably some teaching ideas in here.

1. The Everlasting Remembrance—Psa 112:5-6
2. The Everlasting Foundation—Pro 10:25
3. The Everlasting Sign—Isa 55:13
4. The Everlasting Possession—Gen 17:8
5. The Everlasting Way—Psa 139:23-24
6. The Everlasting Salvation—Isa 45:17; Heb 9:12
7. The Everlasting Life—John 3:16
8. The Everlasting Light—Isa 60:20
9. The Everlasting Love—Jer 31:3
10. The Everlasting Joy—Isa 35:10
11. The Everlasting Mercy—Psa 100:5
12. The Everlasting Righteousness—Psa 119:142
13. The Everlasting Strength—Isa 26:3-4
14. The Everlasting Kindness—Isa 54:7-8
15. The Everlasting Consolation—2 Thess 2:15-17
16. The Everlasting Dominion—Dan 4:34
17. The Everlasting Kingdom—Psa 145:13
18. The Everlasting Father—Isa 9:6

Tags: Teaching Ideas