The Privileges and Responsibilties of those Chosen by Christ.
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I Cant Worship a God Like That - The Danger of Understanding and Yet Rejecting the Text
I Cant Worship a God Like That - The Danger of Understanding and Yet Rejecting the Text
Certain Doctrines are difficult to reconcile with our fallen sensibilities
What is an antinomy?
What is an antinomy?
JI Paker - introduces the concept of antinomy in his classic work evangelism and the sovereignty of God.
An antimony exists when a pair of principles stand side by side, seemingly irreconcilable, yet both undeniable. There is solid evidence for believing each principle, but it is a mystery to understand how both principles can be true at the same time.
An antinomy is two factual statements that seemingly contradict one another yet they cannot be dismissed or explained.
When this happens theologically Packer says - “we are forced to reckon with our limited understanding and learn to think of reality in a way that provides for their peaceful coexistence.”
The antinomy before us this morning is between divine sovereignty and human responsibility.
Jesus says in vs. 16 - You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that should go and bear fruit…and then in vs. 19, I chose you out of the world.
Jesus is emphasizing his divine sovereignty in choosing his disciples both for their position and choosing to save them out the world.
When Jesus says that they did not choose him, he is emphasizing the fact that the first and decisive choice was his…its not that they didn’t exercise their wills to follow him…the point is that they would of never done so if Jesus had not Chosen them.
The Bible clearly teaches two absolute truths. 1) God is sovereign over all things, including the election of every sinner who is eventually converted. And 2) all of our choices are real, meaningful, and accountable.
In Romans 9:19-21 - Paul recognizes that his teaching on election will cause some to object on the grounds of this seeming contradiction...
“19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?”
Notice that Paul responds with a rebuke - because what right does a creature have to complain about their Creator?
20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?”
As we begin this morning, we need to understand that Scripture determines reality, not our experience.
How do we define the Doctrine of Election?
How do we define the Doctrine of Election?
One of the first major doctrinal battles after the Reformation took place in the Netherlands in 1618. The issue was the teaching of Jacob Arminius who rejected the idea of God’s Sovereignty in the salvation of sinners. The leaders of the church at the time believed he was taking the church several steps backward towards Catholicism.
Synod of Dort for an official meeting to decide on these doctrinal matters. It is from this Synod that what we now call the 5 points of Calvinism emerged. The impact of this Synod is still felt today as the theology many denominations and churches still rests upon the foundations of what was argued at Dort. Methodism, Pentecostalism, Free Will Baptists, Nazerene, Church of Christ, Christian Church…these are some of the main denominations that are considered Arminian in their theology - they all reject unconditional election and any notion of eternal security in Christ.
Historically most branches of Baptists agreed with the theology of the Reformers that God is Sovereign in all things, including in the Salvation of Sinners.
From the Canons of Dort
“Election is God's unchangeable purpose by which he did the following: Before the foundation of the world, by sheer grace, according to the good pleasure of his will, he chose in Christ to salvation a definite number of particular people out of the entire human race, which had fallen by its own fault from its original innocence into sin and ruin. Those chosen were neither better nor more deserving than the others, but lay with them in the common misery. He did this in Christ, whom he also appointed from eternity to be the mediator, the head of all those chosen, and the foundation of their salvation.”
Jesus expresses the doctrine of election in vs. 16 when he says very plainly. “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you.”
Now the Arminian thinker and theologian who rejects the doctrine of election will protest that this robs man of his will, that man has to have a choice, and for it to be a real choice it has to be a free choice. They will protest that God does not violate man’s free will. What should be our response?
Let me give you several responses as I stand with Spurgeon who said, “I could not preach like an Arminian…We may have fellowship with brethern who are under the influence of these errors but in the preaching and teaching of the church there can be no wavering on or in-distinctiveness on these issues.”
The human will is free only to choose what it is inclined and able to choose.
The human will, after the fall of Adam and Eve, is in such a state of bondage that the Scripture says that we are dead in our sins.
Before the fall - Adam and Eve were able not to sin, there wills were not yet wholly inclined towards sin and unrighteousness. They were not yet dead in their trespasses and sins. They were able not to sin - so in this sense their wills were not in bondage…their wills, as every creatures, were subservient to the eternal decrees of God, yet they were morally free to choose to obey.
After the Fall - all of mankind, born in original sin, and subject to sinful desires from our fallen nature - we are in bondage - we are not able not to sin. Romans 3:23 “23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” and Romans 3:18 “18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” and Romans 3:10 “10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;”
After Conversion - 2 Cor 5:17 “17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” This means there is a new life principle within and we are now able to choose righteousness, but still not able not to sin. So the will has been unshackled, yet we still have to wrestle with the flesh. Romans 7:14-25 “14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death!” So in this process of sanctification - Jesus says apart from me you can do nothing! Its still all of grace at work in our hearts.
After Glorification - We will not be able to sin. When will we have the most freedom of the will? Was it Adam and Eve when they were able not to sin, yet still able to sin? Or when we are glorified in heaven and not able to sin? HEAVEN - we will be the most free when our wills are totally inclined without any imperfection to walk in righteousness. We will be just like Jesus. Was Jesus a robot? NO Was Jesus really tempted? YES Was Jesus able to sin? - ABSOLUTELY NOT. He was IMPECCABLE - NOT ABLE TO SIN. But his choices were real and meaningful.
So the human will is free to do what it is inclined and capable of doing - and we are the most free when we are not in bondage to sin, but wholly inclined to righteousness.
Since the human will is in bondage to sin, the New Birth must come before Faith and Repentance. In other words, salvation is entirely the work of God. This is called Monergism.
Jesus taught this clearly in John 3:3 “3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Our salvation depends entirely upon the gracious disposition of God towards undeserving, hell bound sinners. This is precisely why Jesus came into the world - to rescue all those given to him, chosen for him, elected unto him by the Father.
37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
notice believing doesn't make someone a sheep, being a sheep is the reason someone believes.
Why is this important is regards to our mission and the preaching of the gospel? As Spurgeon said, “We hold that man is never so near grace as when he begins to feel he can do nothing at all.”
I could say a great deal more about election and probably should but times constrains me this morning…but I want us to see why Jesus asserts the doctrine in our text.
Election Comes with Privileges and Responsibilities.
Election Comes with Privileges and Responsibilities.
The Privileges of Election
If you have heard the gospel and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ you are of the company of the redeemed, you are friends of the King, you are servants in his households, you are citizens of a holy nation, you are a kingdom of priests to our God, you have an indestructible inheritance, you are partakers of eternal life, the 2nd death has no power over you, you have possession of the Holy Spirit, you now have brothers and sister from every tribe, tongue, nation, and people, you are no longer in bondage to sin and will one day be free from it completely, you have access to the throne of grace 24/7 to find mercy and help.
No one can say - this is what I earned, this is what I accomplished, all this is what i am entitled to....you were running towards hell and God told Jesus to snatch you out before you jumped into the flames…not because of anything good he saw in you…he just said i choose you!
This should be the most jaw dropping, humbling doctrine in the world - Arminians have to give themselves some credit - we take none!
A few years ago when I went to Burma, Adam and I went up the Sky Tower in Tokoyo Japan - in that little geographic area you could see the density of population - if you could understand the mass of humanity in this world and the number of people who will live and die without ever meeting a Christian…you shouldn't be arguing with God about your rights to choose - you should be asking why me....why was I made to hear thy voice and enter while theres room?
Jesus is reminding his disciples…the world is going to hate you, but I chose you, I chose you out of the world, out of this mass of god hating humanity to save you.....but not only to save but to send.
The Responsibilities of Election.
Appointment - Jesus is referring here directly to their appointment as his disciples and that special office. But our mission is in direct continuity with theirs. We are been appointed as ambassadors for Christ. We are chosen out of the world and sent into the world on mission. We are chosen not only to salvation but to this appointment.
Peculiar - we are to be a peculiar people. In the world, but not longer of the world. John17:9 “9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.” and John 17:14-18 “14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”
Persecution - if you were of the world the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world…therefore the world hates you. 1 Peter 4:12 “12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” 2 Tim 1:8 “8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,” 2 Tim 2:3 “3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” 1 Peter 2:21 “21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” Rev 2:10 “10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
Prayer - John 15:16 “16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”
You cant pray for the lost if you don’t accept the doctrine of election - how do we pray for the lost? Lord save them, Lord open their eyes, cause them to repent, give them belief - we pray because we know its the decisive work of God’s grace.
We pray for the lost, we pray for the world, we pray for workers, we pray for boldness....because God is working out in history what he has decreed in eternity1
All who have been given to jesus will come to him, and no on will come to him unless they hear the good news…how beautiful are the feet of those who bring the gospel…may we ask the Lord of the Harvest to send out workers into the Harvest field. And may we be the answer to our own prayers.
Trust the Power of God’s Free and Sovereign Election
Trust the Power of God’s Free and Sovereign Election
Spurgeon preached a sermon titled Revival in January of 1860
“Yes! there are some here who are laughing at salvation who can scoff at Christ, and mock at the gospel; but I tell you some of you shall come yet. "What!" you say, "can God make me become a Christian?' I tell you yes, for herein rests the power of the gospel. It does not ask your consent; but it gets it. It does not say, will you have it? but it makes you willing in the day of God's power. ... The gospel wants not your consent, it gets it. It knocks the enmity out of your heart You say "I do not want to be saved"; Christ says you shall be.
He makes your will turn round, and then you cry,
Lord save, or I perish!" Ah, might heaven exclaim, "I knew I would make you say that"; and then He rejoices over you because He has changed your will and made you willing in the day of His power. If Jesus Christ were to stand on this platform tonight, what would many people do with Him? If He were to come and say, "Here I am, I love you, will you be saved by me?" not one of you would consent if you were left to your will. He Himself said, "No man can come to me except the Father who hath sent me draw him." Ahl we want that; and here we have it. They shall come! They shall comel Ye may laugh, ye may despise us; but Jesus Christ shall not die for nothing. If some of you reject Him there are others" that will not. If there are some that are not saved, other will be!” - Spurgeon