TheosGuy

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