TheosGuy

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

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

A quote from Marin Luther from one of his earliest published works:

God receives none but those who are forsaken, restores health to none but those who are sick, gives sight to none but the blind, and life to none but the dead…He has mercy on none but the wretched and gives grace to none but those who are in disgrace.¹

1. Martin Luther, The Seven Penitential Psalms, 1515, quoted in On the Grace of God (Wheaton: Crossway, 2013), 25.

Tags: Grace, Mercy

A sermon by Martin Luther on Law and Grace.

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The People of Law and of Grace
Sermon for the Sunday after Christmas; Galatians 4:1-7

By Martin Luther

This text is very characteristic of the apostle Paul. It is not generally understood. Not because of any obscurity in itself, but because the doctrine of faith, a doctrine it is very necessary to understand if we are to comprehend Paul, for his energetic and zealous mind is, in all his epistles, occupied with the subject of faith–because, I say, this doctrine is almost obsolete in the world today. A lengthy exposition is necessary to make it plain. To gain space to treat the subject clearly, we will let this suffice for the introduction.

MAN’S JUSTIFICATION.

We must know it is one thing to handle the subject of good works and another that of justification; just as the nature or personality of an individual is one thing and his actions or works another. Justification has reference to the person and not to the works. It is the former, not the latter, which is justified and saved, or is sentenced and punished.

There is more to read!

Tags: Grace, Justification

Here are some thoughts on God’s grace towards us. I had these written down from somewhere and do not remember their source. They do not originate with me.

• Believe and expect to be graciously loved and blessed by God. We should expect to be blessed by God though we do not deserve in any way to be blessed by God. No one deserves God’s grace; but everyone can expect God’s grace (Psa. 56:9; 84:11-12; 103:9-10).
• Grace is God working in you for His pleasure, not you working to gain God’s pleasure (Zechariah 12:10; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 2:13). Receive His grace in you.
• See trials not as God’s judgment, but as God’s gracious loving means to build Godly character and spiritual maturity in you (Romans 5:3-5; 8:28-29; Hebrews 12:3-11)
• The hope to be better is a failure to see yourself as complete in christ (Romans 6:14; Colossians 2:10; Philippians 1:6; 2:13; 2 Peter 3:18). Disappointment in myself means I am trusting in myself, my flesh, not God.
• Discouragement is the product of unbelief (Num. 13 and 14; Acts 18:27; 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17). Discouragement means I don’t believe God will fulfill His word and promise.
• To be proud is to be blind (Proverbs 16:18; 1 Peter 5:5-6). The proud think they are the reason for their blessing, that is spiritual blindness.
• The lack of blessing comes from unbelief (Joshua 1; Romans 4). We to simply believe and receive God’s grace, not trust in ourselves.
• God’s blessings are not contingent on our devotions. The reverse is true – God’s blessings produce our devotions (Romans 2:4; 3:24; 4:4; 11:6).
• True praise rises spontaneously from my recognition of God’s grace in my life (Romans 11:34-35;Hebrews 13:15).
• God’s grace produces loving appreciation. Effort/work for God should be motivated purely by loving appreciation for His gracious provisions (2 Corinthians 5:14-15; Romans 5:5; 12:1-2; 1 John 3 and 4).

Pray it deep down into your heart. And then receive from the Lord. God’s grace is something we need to receive and it is something we need to share (Ephesians 4:29). We need to be agents of God’s grace (Colossians 4:1-6).

Praise God for the Gospel of Grace

(Acts 20:24 NKJV) But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

By grace:

• We have been called—2 Tim 1:9
• We believe—Acts 18:27; 1 Tim 1:14
• We have been justified – Eph 2:8; Rom 3:24; Tts 3:7
• We are forgiven—Eph 1:7
• We will be glorified—Act 15:11; Rom 5:9-10
• We are saved—Eph 2:8-9; Act 15:11
• We do good works—2 Cor 9:8; Eph 2:10
• We bear affliction—2 Cor 12:9
• We can work harder than we otherwise could—1 Cor 15:10
• We have help in the time of need—Heb 4:16
• We have eternal life and good hope—2 Thess 2:16
• We glorify our LORD—2 Thess 1:12
• We receive the gift of His vicarious substitution—Rom 8:32