Sunday, February 22, 2009

Election

That single word brings up thousands of years of debate, arguments, and bitterness. You have most likely encountered this word, whether it be in the Bible, a "Calvinist", or if you have been around America that past year or so. What I ask is that you leave your preconceived notions, grudges, and bitterness towards this topic at the door. Allow the scriptures to shape your thinking on this issue, as much as you can fight the urge to allow your human logic to creep into your thinking. The Bible is the Bible, read it and believe it. I will grab a few scriptures from around the New Testament and bring them to your attention. If you have questions or comments, please voice your opinion.


John 6:37-"All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out."

-This is Jesus speaking. He is saying here that God will give us to Jesus. When God gives us to Jesus, we can not and will not resist that calling on our life.

John 17:9 "I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours."

Acts 13:48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

-Again and again we see this idea that God has given those He chose to Jesus and those that are given to Jesus, believe because they can not and will not resist that calling. This idea is called irresistible grace.

Romans 8:29-30 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Galatians 1:15-17 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

2 Peter 1:10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;


These verses are the tip of the iceberg. There are so many verses in the Bible that speak on this subject. I urge you to get a good translation of the scriptures and seek this out. I say a good translation because there are translations and paraphrases out there now that are watering down the original Greek. It is not pleasant to hear that God has chosen some for salvation and not others, due to this translators of versions such as the NLT and TNIV water down the strong language that is used in the Bible.

Election is a glorious doctrine. Let me walk you through the salvation story.

You were dead in your sins, dead, dead, dead. Not living, not able to make a choice one way or another. Also you were a slave, to your sinful flesh, sinful desires, which in affect makes you an enemy of God. In court you would be guilty, sentenced to death, you would be sent right from court to the chair. Breaking even one command of the law makes us a sinner and all of the above applies to us. Thankfully a man died 2,000 years ago to pay the penalty for that sin. God saw that we needed saved, that we had a sentence of death on our heads and gave us the payment for the punishment we should have taken. God than called us from our death state, He pulled us out from the grave and breathed into us life, eternal life, Holy Spirit filled life. From that calling we believe in this book, we believe in a gracious God that gave His Son for us, we believe in the whole Bible, we love Jesus. This is election, to many people get caught up in the numbers and in our human logic. God did not have to save anyone, why should He? But He does save many and if you are a believer in Christ, be thankful for the grace that was shown to you, be humble at the fact that the God of the universe chose you out of all humanity to save!!! If you are not a believer, you can be. Repent of your sins, seek forgiveness, and trust in Jesus. Give your life to Him. That is it. There are no hoops to jump through. Jesus loves you.

I hope this has enlightened the topic. I pray that this was more helpful than offensive and again if you have any comments or questions speak out or get a hold of me through email.

Grace and Peace

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Sanctification


Sanctification, a process, lifelong, a hard road, but one that is blessed by our Lord and Savior. The transliterated word, hagiasmos, means consecrated or purified. As I stated before, I find that the 3cu view on this aspect of the christian life is incorrect. Sanctification is a process, not an event that occurs later in life as I quoted from the belief section of the 3cu website.

Romans 12:1-2
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may know what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Paul's urgent plea is that the Romans die daily to there flesh, renew themselves in scripture and live pleasing to the Lord. Paul uses many key words that I believe reveal the doctrine of sanctification, conformed, transformed, renewal and testing. All of these words indicate a period of time, not a single event. Sanctification therefore is a process, a walk with God, a striving for our true love, our Savior and Lord. We all go through periods of time when we are tested by temptation, put through trials, and fall victim to the luster of sin and our fleshly desires. Often times we fall, turn away, and indulge in those sinful desires. However, there are times when the Holy Spirit grips our heart, drives us from the temptation, points our eyes to God and makes the love of Jesus more lovely than anything this earth would have to offer. This is the sanctification process, God purifying us more and more each day. Yes, there will be rough days, sometimes we can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, but God is still working, He is still there, loving us and working together all things for our good.

This process is hard, we must die to our flesh daily, we must be most satisfied in Christ. We have to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us and gives us the strength and power to live in a way pleasing to Christ. The important thing to remember is that God is gracious with us, His mercies are never ceasing, His work on the cross paid our sins, past, present, and future. In the hard times we must keep our eyes focused on the cross, the prize, Jesus. We must be most satisfied in Him, not the temporary pleasures that we so often put Jesus aside for. Sanctification is a beautiful process that every christian goes through. What a honor to live day by day for the God of the universe!!!!