We are dead in Christ so that we are no longer in bondage to the law

"Christ was not always kept in a state of humiliation, did not always suffer, and did not frequently die. Rather, all of that state of humiliation and suffering obedience fell on Him for a short time and for the days of His flesh. Psalm 8:6, 'And you made Him a little lower, for a short time,' because He also is called God (Heb. 2:7-8; 5:7; 7:27). And He could not be held by death (Acts 2:24), first because the covenant of works required that everyone subject to it for obedience, especially with labor, toil, and the sufferings of death, bring back the happy reward and glory. . . . Second, because the law does not require obedience for satisfaction and merit beyond death (which would be worthy of His excellence, that He could be received as the price, and ransom, and sacrifice of a good aroma, and means of expiation). For such death justifies from sin. Romans 6:7, . . . . And so in the death of Christ we died to the law and the law to us. Romans 7:1, 4, 6, 'The law rules over man as long as he lives. You have died to the law through the body of Christ. We have been set free from the law,' having died (or dead for a different reading) in Him for whom we are kept. Third, He could not be held by death, because neither the glory of the Son nor the righteousness acquired for us could be blotted out." - Johannes Cocceius, The Doctrine of the Covenant and Testament of God, Pg. 98 - 99

A New Commandment which is from Old

"Those that are indeed commandments from Christ are not new commandments that have been given by Christ that a condition of justification might be established in them. But they are old, restored by Christ, not only through the explication of the law not sufficiently explained and observed by the Pharisees, but also through its fulfillment. Certainly this fulfillment makes not only for the acquisition of Christ the true Mediator, to stir up our prayers, that we may more ardently entreat the Spirit who sanctifies from God, and finally that the understanding of the law may be the means of our sanctification (for the Spirit does not inscribe on our hearts that we may not understand that which He inscribes) and so our holiness may be more true and complete. Therefore, those commandments are old, because they have been restored in the example of Christ and engraved on the hearts of believers by the Holy Spirit (John 13:34). In 1 John 2:8 that is emphatic, 'Again a new commandment I write to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness,' not only of servitude to the shadows but also to hardening, which existed as long as God deserted the Gentiles, 'is passing away, and the true light,' in the word and example of Christ and in the regeneration of the Spirit, 'is already shining.' This pertains to the explanation of the first, second, third, and fifth good of the New Testament. From this it is clear that following Christ (which also comprehends denial of oneself and bearing the cross) is not a new commandment peculiar to Christ, as the Racovian Catechism (on the prophetic office of CHrist, ch. 2) wishes, because the obedience of Christ to be imitated by us is the observance and fulfillment of the Old commandment." - Johannes Cocceius, The Doctrine of the Covenant and Testament of God, Pg. 254

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. - John 13
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but... that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. 15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us. 20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. - 1 John 4

We love because he first loved us. A new command is really the old command given to the Israelites but now is fulfilled in Christ Jesus. Therefore, those in Christ are said to love the brethren. Further, transcribing the law as new doesn't have to mean this is a different law (though believers are not under the law in covenant form). The difference between the law in its covenant of works verses it being in the covenant of grace is basically that the law is formally different but not materially different. In other words the law (though the same as of the law in the ot) is no longer condemning for those in Christ, neither do believers keep the law for gaining salvation. We love because he has loved us and has given his life for us. He has not done this for everyone (though the Arminian falsely claims); for Gods love is effective and is powerful to achieve that which he wills.

We do not love as we ought therefore our assurance must be on better grounds

"It is surely amazing that our opponents are unmoved by the many passages in the Scriptures that clearly attribute justification to faith and specifically deny it to works. Do they suppose that this is repeated so often for no reason? Do they suppose that these words fell from the Holy Spirit unawares? But they have thought up a piece of sophistry to evade them. They should be interpreted, so they say, as referring to 'faith fashioned by love,' that is, they do not attribute justification to faith except on account of love. Indeed, they do not attribute justification to faith at all, but only to love, because they imagine that faith can exist with mortal sin. Where does this end but with the abolition of the promise and a return to the law? If faith receives the forgiveness of sins on account of love, the forgiveness of sins will always be unsure, for we never love as much as we should. In fact, we do not love at all unless our hearts are sure that the forgivness of sins has been granted to us. If our opponents require us to trust in our own love for the forgiviness of sins and justification, they completely abolish the Gospel of the free forgiveness of sins. For men can neither render nor understand this love unless they believe that the forgiveness of sins is received freely." - The Book of Concords, Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article 4. Justification, Pg. 122-123

Is it evil for God to cause a sinner to rape another sinner?

The Arminian says that Calvinist teach that God is evil because he causes a woman or a child to be raped by a perpetrator. Of course this is nothing but an emotional argument that seeks not the truth of the matter. The question is what is rape compared to other acts of God revealed in the Scripture alone? God destroys the whole earth by the flood, He also destroyed a whole nation by fire and brimstone. Whether God uses another sinner to do that which would be reprehensible to us or some other disaster is no different. The Assyrian king was an ax in the hand of the Lord against his people. God in the Scripture commands his people to destroy whole nations; in other words, genocide (1 Samuel 15:3, Numbers 31). They were to destroy the nations in order to blot out the remembrance of them (Deut. 25:19). Jesus says that likewise you will also perish if you do not repent either.

Arminians deny the Gospel

Neither let any deceive your wisdoms, by affirming that they are differences of an inferior nature that are at this day agitated between the Arminians and the orthodox divines of the reformed church. Be pleased but to cast an eye on the following instances, and you will find them hewing at the very root of Christianity. Consider seriously their denying of that fundamental article of original sin. Is this but a small escape in theology? - why, what need of the gospel, what need of Christ himself, if our nature be nor guilty, depraved, corrupted? Neither are many of the rest of less importance. Surely these are not things, as Austin speaks, - "about which we may differ without loss of peace or charity." One church cannot wrap in her communion Austin and Pelagius, Calvin and Arminius. I have here only given you a taste, whereby you may judge of the rest of their fruit, "mors in olla, mors in olla;" their doctrine of the final apostasy of the elect, of true believers, of a wavering hesitancy concerning our present grace and future glory, with divers others, I have wholly omitted: those I have produced are enough to make their abettors incapable of our church-communion. - John Owen, The Epistle Dedicatory in A Display of Arminianism, pg. 7

On the Law and the Gospel distinction

"All Scripture should be divided into these two chief doctrines, the law and the promises. In some places it presents the law. In others it presents the promise of Christ; this it does either when it promises that the Messiah will come and promises forgiveness of sins, justification, and eternal life for his sake, or when, in the New Testament, the Christ who came promises forgiveness of sins, justification, and eternal life. By 'law' in this discussion we mean the commandments of the Decalogue, wherever they appear in the Scriptures. For the present we are saying nothing about the ceremonial and civil laws of Moses." - The Book of Concords, Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article 4 on Justification, Pg. 108. The version I have is edited by Theodore G. Tappert.

Cannot believe the Gospel without believing that God is sovereign over all things

Grace in its whole progress must appear divine or sovereign; for when we lose sight of Sovereignty, we lose sight of Deity. It is of God that one man comes to the light, while another remains in darkness. It is of God that the love of one professor warms upon the trial and is accordingly crowned with consolation, while that of another waxes cold. - Robert Sandeman, An Epistolary Correspondence, pg. 89-90

Christ death was only for the elect alone

For the original grace that gave Christ to die for the elect, will as certainly have its full effect in bringing the whole redeemed Church to perfect holiness and happiness at last, as the word addressed to the first man and woman, which set in motion the course of nature (be fruitful and multiply) has been effectual to produce all the generations of men that have since inhabited the earth - If we enquire at the most highly favoured and best experienced Disciples, we shall find that their sense of things corresponds with this. - Robert Sandeman, An Epistolary Correspondence, pg. 90

Gospel believers cannot be said to be Antinomians no matter how one spends it.

Since I received your unexpected letter, my thoughts have been led upon various accounts diligently to enquire wherein the radical difference between us lies. As for those charges frequently alleged against the Doctrine I preach, that it is Antinomian, derogatory from the work of the spirit, destroys the comfort of believers, and sets aside the use of exhortations both to believers and unbelievers, &c. These are particulars too BAD to be easily credited by those who know my general character and principles. And when such things as these are objected to me, I feel or am intimately conscious that the sentiments I espouse are not in the least degree chargeable with any such consequences. Every one that rightly understands them will presently perceive, that they cannot be Antinomian, because the truth appears to be of such a nature, that a person who believes can have no enjoyment of himself, but in loving and obeying it from the heart according to the precepts of the gospel. They cannot be said to derogate from the spirit' work, because 'tis all along aver'd that the gospel can take no saving effect but by the necessary, efficacious Almighty and sovereign agency of the divine Spirit. Neither do they destroy the comforts of a believer, because they continually present to him a compleat and free Saviour, for his immediate relief, and assert that the Spirit of God witnesses to the genuine effects of the gospel appearing in his experience and conduct. - Samuel Pike, Free grace indeed! Set forth in a Scriptural view of the principle of grace wrought in the heart by the Spirit, pg. 2

Faith embraces the Gospel alone

Our Apostle speaks of faith. By this you are not to understand that historical faith, by which a man takes all to be true, firm and infallible, which God has revealed in His eternal word. A man can have that by a study of Divine truth which has a certain power of demonstration to the conscience, in convincing him that God alone is the Author of such revelation. The devils themselves believe in this sense and they tremble. Neither are you to understand the faith of miracles; for in the great and universal day shall Christ say unto some, who in His name have cast out devils: 'Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity, I know you not.' Neither understand here temporary faith; for that has no root, neither can it withstand the heat of adversity and persecution.
But understand with me that precious saving faith which is God's priceless gift; whereby the convinced, burdened and heavy-laden sinner goes out of himself and all his own righteousness, unto Jesus, embracing Him and clinging to Him; this is the faith by which the just do live, and receive a share in all the good things of the covenant, whereby we can be saved. Our Apostle says of this saving faith, that without it men cannot please God; this being the doctrine of God's precious word, that all which is not of faith, is sin; and hence, being displeasing to God, it speaks little comfort to those who rest upon their moral and respectable walk, or upon their profession and knowledge, without ever experiencing the heart-renewing grace of God. What do I say? It points out to them that all they do, since it issues not of faith, displeased God, yes angers Him. -Alexander Comrie, The ABC of Faith, in the introduction, pg. XVII-XVIII

By Faith do we do good works

Faith may result in action, and certainly true faith in Jesus always will result in action; but faith itself is not doing but receiving. - J. Gresham Machen

The Augsburg says something similar:
"It is also taught among us that such faith should produce good fruit and good works and that we must do all such good works as God has commanded, but we should do them for God's sake and nor place our trust in them as if thereby to merit favor before God." - Augsburg Confession, Article 6


The basic idea is that Faith causes good works. This is true.

Gill says,

"Doctrine has an influence upon practice, especially evangelical doctrine, spiritually understood, affectionately embraced, and powerfully and feelingly experienced; so true is what the Apostle asserts, that the Grace of God, that is, the Doctrine of the Grace of God, that bringeth Salvation, the good news, the glad tidings of salvation by Christ, which is peculiar to Gospel Doctrine, hath appeared to all men, Gentiles as well as Jews, in the external ministry of the word; teaching us, to whom it comes with power and efficacy in the demonstration of the Spirit, that denying ungodliness and worldly lust, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, Tit. ii. 11, 12." - John Gill, Introduction to the Body of Divinity, Pg. xxiii


I like what he says here. Doctrine has an influence upon practice. Of course we know that we may believe the truth and yet sometimes what is believed does not right away translate in what we practice. But the order is first doctrine and then practice. Not that we look to doctrine first and then second to our practice but rather it is the case that as we look to doctrine always that it SHOULD turn out to practice.

Has anyone seen God face to face?

Read Exodus 33 today, lets face it the skeptic/atheist, who does not wish for God to come near in truth, hates the word of God with such blatant passion that they are equally set against it and wants to destroy the consistent nature of Verbal Revelation. They use attacks such as Paradoxes, which Van Til so uses in his false presuppositions, to deny and cause doubt of the word of God. But, what is the meaning of these verses and how does one iron out the details to eliminate the charley horse?


11. And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face Moses will hereafter be dignified by this distinction, where God would declare the difference between him and other Prophets. (Numbers 12:8.) Familiar intercourse is therefore described in this phrase, as if it were said that God appeared to Moses by an extraordinary mode of revelation. If any object that there is a contradiction between this statement and what we shall presently see, "Thou canst not see my face," the solution is easy, viz., that although God revealed Himself to Moses in a peculiar manner, still He never appeared in the fullness of His glory, but only so far as man's infirmity could endure. For this expression contains an implied comparison, i.e., that no man was ever equal to Moses, or arrived at such a pitch of dignity. And this tends to magnify the Law, that Moses its minister reported what he had familiafly learnt, so that no ambiguity might be suspected. When it is said that Joshua departed not from the tabernacle, we gather that the dwelling-place of Moses was in the camp; and perhaps the fact of his being a young man is mentioned, [365] in order more highly to illustrate God's grace, in choosing that he should have the charge of the sanctuary. It is true that Joshua at this time was of mature age; but God's special blessing was manifested in him, in that God passed over many old men, and set him who was younger to be the keeper of His tabernacle. - John Calvin, Commentary on Exodus

Who are the true Christians?

"Here you ask, 'Who are the Christians and where does one find them?' Answer: There are not many of them, but they are everywhere, though they are spread thin and live far apart, under good and bad princes. Christendom must continue to the end, as the article of the creed says, 'I believe one holy Christian church.' So it must be possible to find them. Every pastor and preacher ought diligently to exhort his people to repentance and to prayer. They ought to drive men to repentance by showing our great and numberless sins and our ingratitude, by which we have earned God's wrath and disfavor, so that he justly gives us into the hands of the devil and the Turk. And so that this preaching may work the more strongly, they ought to cite examples and sayings from the Scriptures, such as the flood [Gen. 7:1-24], Sodom and Gomorrah [Gen. 19:24-28], and the children of Israel, and show how cruelly and how often God punished the world and its lands and peoples. And they ought to make it plain that it is no wonder, since we sin more grievously than they did, if we are punished worse than they.
This fight must be begun with repentance, and we must reform our lives, or we shall fight in vain; as the prophet Jeremiah says in chapter 18 [:7-8], 'If at anytime I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, and if that nation concerning which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will repent of the evil that I intended to do it.' And again, 'And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then  I will repent of the good which I had intended to do it. Now, therefore, say to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Behold  I am shaping evil against you and devising a plan against you. Return, every one of you and amend your ways and your doings [Jer. 18:9-11]. We may apply these words to ourselves, for God is devising evil against us because of our wickedness and is certainly preparing the Turk against us, as he says in Psalm 7[:12-13], 'If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and strung his bow; he has prepared his deadly weapons.'" - Martin Luther, Selected Writings volume 4, On War Against the Turks, Pg. 18 - 19

Luther tells us to be aware of the Turks

"The great need of our time should have moved us to this prayer against the Turk, for the Turk, as has been said, is the servant of the devil, who not only devastates land and people with the sword, as we shall hear later, but also lays waste the the Christ faith and our dear Lord Jesus Christ. For although some praise the Turk's government because he allows everyone to believe what he will so as he remains the temporal lord, yet this reputation is not true, for he does not allow Christians to come together in public, and no one can openly confess Christ or preach or teach against Mohammed. What kind of freedom of belief is it when no one is allowed to preach or confess Christ, and yet our salvation depends on that confession, as Paul says in Romans 10 [:9], 'To confess with the lips saves,' and Christ has strictly commanded us to confess and teach his gospel.
Since, therefore, faith must be stilled and held in secret among this wild and barbarous people and under this severe rule, how can it exist or remain alive in the long run, when it requires so much effort and labor in places where it is preached most faithfully and diligently? Therefore it happens, and must happen, that those Christians who are captured or otherwise get into Turkey fall away and become altogether Turkish, and it is very seldom that one remains true to his faith, for they lack the living bread of the soul and see the abandoned and carnal life of the Turks and are obliged to adapt themselves to it.
How can one injure Christ more than with these two things, namely, force and wiles? With force they prevent preaching, and suppress the word. With wiles they put wicked and dangerous examples before men's eyes every day and draw men to them. So in order not to lose our Lord Jesus Christ, his word and faith, we must pray against the Turks as against other enemies of our salvation and of all good, indeed, as we pray against the devil himself.
In this connection the people should be told about the Turk's dissolute life and ways so that they may the better feel the need of prayer. To be sure, it has often disgusted me, and still does, that neither our great lords nor our scholars have taken any pains to give us any certain knowledge about the life of the Turks in the two estates, spiritual and temporal; and yet the Turk has come so near to us. It is said that the Turks, too, have chapters and monasteries. Some, indeed, have invented outrageous lies about the Turks to incite us Germans against them, but there is no need for lies; there is enough truth, I will tell my dear Christians a few things, so far as I know the real truth, so that they may the better be moved and stirred to pray earnestly against the enemy of Christ our Lord." - Martin Luther, On War Against The Turks, SW Volume 4, Edited by Theodore G. Tappert, Pg. 22-24

I could not but help to notice how today the media and the governments of our time do not want to call out the Islamic faith. Today, if a man is a Muslim and is a terrorist killing countless lives and civilians he is labeled not a Islamic Terrorist but rather is labeled a Terrorist despite of his faith.

The work of Christ actually accomplishes redemption for His elect alone

The Bible through out presents to us the gospel, no doubt there is law in the Bible as well by which on condition of completing the commands a man may attain the promises, but the testimony of the Bible is that all are sinners and fall short of the glory of God; the gospel, revealed throughout the Bible is presented to us as the accomplished redemption of what Christ in fact got done on the cross for His elect people alone. This is the good news that by Christ's merit and righteousness alone, imputed to the elect sinner received by faith alone are justified and accepted by God. There is no works which God's people do or can do that either makes or breaks this acceptance.
The death of Christ and the His merits imputed to the elect are so intertwined that those whom he represented and died for are the very ones that in time do/will in fact believe. To teach that Christ's death is meant for everyone of Adam's children head for head and that this death is only received by so many of Adam's posterity is to teach basically that Christ's death is not itself what actually saves people but that those who are saved and those who are not saved owe their salvation to something else whether that be by the Spirit's power or ours.

Bring forth a new set of beliefs

Luke 3:8 says to bring forth fruits worthy of repentance. What does Luke mean? He clarifies it with an additional statement "and begin not to say within yourselves". Fruit doesn't mean works such as walking an old lady down the street. Fruit means the result of something; in this case the result of repentance is a set of new adopted beliefs that are believed. 

Scripture alone that changes our attitudes

Some might consider the idea's Joy, Anger, Love, Fear, or anything else as emotions. I do not think these things are emotions. My question would be to begin with what are emotions? And if we are commanded to 'love God without entire being' and our emotions are often swept to and fro then how can we control these 'emotions'? I do not consider these things as 'emotions' but rather attitudes of the mind. How do we change the attitude if not by the power of the Spirit who uses means of Scripture alone to change the disposition of our minds. Of course, some things still cause my attitude to think and do certain things and I pray those things do not hinder the race. I do not believe that my volition are to be lead by anything other than Scripture alone.

What Matthew 19 is really saying

Matthew 19, which Macarthur butchers, is not about making Christ lord. But is about the impossibility of becoming saved by human free will. Man is totally depraved from birth and therefore cannot come to the saviour until God changes the sinners disposition. With this it is impossible with man but with God all things are possible.

Christ professes to be God

In Matthew 4:7 it is said that Jesus is being tempted by Satan to fall off the cliff. The response of Jesus shows not only that he relied and correctly applied the word of God; but, that He Himself is God in the flesh - Emmanuel - God with us.

Utilitarianism is immoral

Utilitarianism teaches that what is right is what is good for the greatest number. Utilitarianism is not moralistic at all in any sense of the word. It is immoralistic. It teaches that what is right or wrong changes with the tide so how shall we say one thing is wrong and another right. Sure what is considered moral may be so now but in 10 or 100 or 1000 years down the road it may not be for we have "progressed". Utilitarianism therefore does not teach moral norms for people and is therefore harmful for society. How unfortunate that a philosophical view that teaches that what is good is what gives pleasure for the majority. I suppose we may never know what the good is. Maybe Hitler sought the good for his people by murdering several thousands or millions of Jews for his people. Today, we find religious people accepting this viewpoint also related with Christian Hedonism.

Jude 4 on the reprobates

Jude 4 says that there were certain men who crept in unawares, who were ordained of old to the condemnation, these men we are told turn the grace of God into lasciviousness.
The question is what does this mean? Those who, like Catholics, labeling themselves reformed, teach that we are saved by grace alone but this grace is infused unto us so that we work. Of course, this means according to them that if you are not working you have serious reasons to doubt whether you're saved.

However, the verse in question doesn't so much hint that these men lacked evangelical works. Another said set of verses used to attack the truth of free and unconditional grace is Matthew 7 but with clear study of the passage hardly speaks against such. But as far as this verse in Jude goes these men turn the grace of God into lasciviousness. They take the unadulterated gospel of Christ and they do not believe it but rather they disbelieve it. These men therefore disbelieve the truth and so therefore they turn the grace into lasciviousness. Other verses that present this is found in Romans 2:4-5. The mistake by the many so-called Calvinist today is that God is patient with both the elect and reprobate and so therefore wants both to be saved. This is far from the facts as say Proverbs 16:4 says that the reprobates are made for destruction and that they are like natural brute beast as 2 Peter 2:12 says.
For God he is patient with the elect alone not wanting any to perish but that all to come to the knowledge of the truth. For the sake of the elect is God longsuffering towards the reprobate.

Christ's ethics based on the Ten Commandments

The ethics of Jesus is based on the ten commandments. These commandments were broken all the time by the religious leaders of his day. No doubt they are in fact broken by all mankind everywhere, but the religious leaders had a pertinent zeal for God's word that said "because I don't do x, y, and z, I have favour with God." These men, as long as they didn't commit murder or adultery were assured of their heavenly state; so to not break the law they placed around about it certain institutions to keep from having to break them. Of course, Jesus calls them whitewashed tombs. Outside they look clean but inside they were far from it. Today, we might see this very same thing in the world and amongst the professing Christian Institutes. As long as they don't do x, y, and z they are fine. Perhaps they have a certain positive change as well. They even perhaps give on occasion. But, these men have missed it as the proverbial horse and cart goes. Instead, Jesus says even if you lusted in your mind you have committed adultery. Even if you hated someone in your mind you have committed murder. Many false churches further teach some sort of rule as long as you desire to do x, y, and z you're fine. But these churches seem to have missed the point of the law. The law commands what is supposed to be done and what is not to be done. We are commanded not to worship idols but to worship God alone. What is commanded is both in the negative and positive light. So desiring to do x has no bearing at all. Sin is law breaking. All have sinned and have fallen short of God's glory, therefore the only hope for salvation is found in Christ work on the cross alone on behalf of his chosen sheep alone.

William Perkins against the Lordshiper today

"Actual members of Christ are either living or dying members. An actual living member of Christ is every one elected, which being engrafted by faith and Spirit into Christ, doth feel and show forth the power of Christ in him.

An actual dying or decaying member is every one truly engrafted into Christ, and yet hath no feeling of the power and efficacy of the quickening Spirit in him. He is like unto a benumbed leg without sense, which indeed is a part of man's body, and yet receiveth no nourishment: such are those faithful ones, who for a time do faint and are overcome under the heavy burden of temptations and their sins: such are also those excommunicate persons, who in regard of their engrafting are true members, howsoever in regard of the external communion with the Church and efficacy of the Spirit, they are not members till such time as they, being touched with repentance, do begin as it were, to live again" - William Perkins, a golden chain, Pg. 170-171

William Perkins don't you know that Macarthur would have your hide if you said this in his church? He would say if a professing Christian is caught in sin he is no Christian at all.

William Perkins on the Law and the Gospel

Perkins spoke of the law and gospel distinction: "And first of all, the law, showing a man his sin and punishment thereof, which is eternal death: afterward the Gospel, showing salvation by Christ Jesus to such as believe." -William Perkins, A Golden Chain, pg. 171.

Christ's burden is knowledge of the truth

25At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 26Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. 27All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

 - Matthew 11

"Light" here is taken to mean knowledge and not some sort of weight. Christ is the radiance and glory of God and has revealed his truth to man. He is therefore said to be the light of the world. He is not dark but light and in him does the fullness of deity dwell. Of course in context 28 comes after 27.

God's sovereignty encompasses both in electing and reprobating

Many might be okay with the idea that God elects some people to save. That in one sense God has determined to make sure his grace works effectively for some men and women though he wants to save every single human being. BUT, what many people hate the most and would never ever consider as true for it goes against man's vain imagination is the God of the Bible who is sovereign, just, good, merciful, and changes not. It is the God of the Bible that people hate and rather than worshipping him in truth fashion some sort of weak idol. The Bible says not only has God determined to redeem and save only the elect people of God chosen in eternity past, but also has predestined others for the eternal fire. God not only saves the elect from their sins by dying for them, and justifying them, and sanctifying them, but also hardens the hearts and minds of the reprobate so that they will continue to believe the lie. If you don't believe me read Isaiah 29:9-10, 44:18, John 12:40 (quoting Isaiah 6), 2 Corinthians 4:4, and 2 Thessalonians 2:11.
God is sovereign in his purpose and does according to what he wills. In no sense is he trying to save every single human being if he were then everyone would be saved and there would be no end.

Discussion of the law and gospel

Kirk says, “Richard Bennett, My name is Kirk. I know Monty Collier and enjoy reading essays by Clark and Robbins from the trinity foundation website. I bought your book "Far from Rome, Near to God". I like it so far. I had a question. I am from the Dallas Fort Worth area in Texas and have not been able to find a church here to worship and fellowship. Quite frankly I may never find one. The churches around here are either Arminian or they are Reformed and succumb to the Lordship heresy of John Macarthur. Wondering if you knew of any good church located in this area?” Pastor Glen says, “Hi Kirk, It is good to hear from you. I am Pastor Glenn Diehl. I was raised up in Ft. Worth. I am presently living in the far northern part of California. It is my responsibility to answer Berean Beacon email. May I say, you are asking the wrong people about a church if you do not like Reform theology. ‘Far from Rome, Near to God’ is written by men who for the most part are reformed in faith. Reformed faith adherents believe in the Doctrines of Grace, and we also believe in the Lordship of Jesus Christ. I don't know where you ever got the idea that believing in the Lordship of Jesus Christ is heresy. It is taught throughout the Word of God, particularly in the writings of Paul. Kirk, I am sure you are aware that is the problem with too many Christians today; they want to live anyway they like and still think they are going to heaven "because they prayed a ‘sinner's’ prayer sometime in their past.’ There is nowhere in the entire Bible where we are told to pray a ‘sinner's prayer.’ Jesus and the writers of the NT told us to repent and believe in the ‘Lord’ Jesus Christ. I exhort you not to jump over the word ‘Lord.’ We also believe in the doctrine of election that is so clearly laid out by the apostle Paul in Romans. So, Kirk, if the Doctrines of Grace, the Doctrine of Election, and the Doctrine of the Lordship of Jesus Christ offends you, we will not be able to direct you to a "good" church. Nonetheless, it is our sincere prayer that the Lord will direct you to a church that will exalt His name and teach biblical truth. Kirk, I do not believe it was by chance you came into contact with our book. I believe the Lord is trying to tell you something is amiss about what you presently believe. After 56 years studying the Word of God, I am thoroughly convinced that the doctrines I have mentioned above are biblical. John MacArthur is not perfect, but he is more solid in the Word than those pastors today who teach a watered-down, no blood, no repentance, no Lordship, seeker sensitive, emergent church nonsense gospel. Remember this, ‘Many are called, but few are chosen.’ ‘For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it.’ Kirk, we are living in an era where there is much apostasy coming from our pulpits and supposedly ;Christian’ books. I encourage you to be like the Bereans and search the scriptures against anything you hear from others. Even from us. Richard Bennett and I both attend Reformed faith churches. He's in Yakima, WA, and I am in Redding, CA. I am an ordained Baptist minister. There are Reformed Baptist churches, though I have never attended one. But I would recommend you try one for a month or so and see if God would lead you to regularly attend. Kirk, you are in our thoughts and prayers. If you want to talk some more. please write again, or you can contact me on Skype. My contact information is: kittyhawk63@juno.com I look forward to hearing from you again. Remember, we are two hours behind your time. If it is 6pm your time, it is 4pm our time. The Lord bless you, brother, Pastor Glenn” My response, “I never said I did not like Reformed theology just wanted to clarify that. Perhaps I was not clear on that. I said that the Reformed churches in this area are more so catholic with their doctrine of Lordship salvation than anything else. In fact, I like to read guys like Gordon H. Clark, John Robbins. Monty Collier is currently teaching class over law and gospel distinction. I am a die hard five pointer - supralapsarian, Christ died only for the elect alone and no one else. Lordship salvation is the heresy that says that in order to be saved or keep ones salvation he must not only believe in Christ but also continue to do good works. You must not only believe that Christ is savior but also submit to his lordship. This is heresy in that it focus on one's works for assurance. Macarthur, who is not reformed at all, believes that a person cannot be justified if he does not have 'fruits'. This right here is not what the Bible says and I do ask that you would reexamine your stance on such things. Of course Christ is Lord, but this has nothing to do with whether I live rightly or continue in sin and the Reformers of old never said this as well. We are living in a day where people who do profess to be Christians are in fact not but are in fact legalist, and sadly John Piper, R.C. Sproul (Jr), and John Macarthur are leading this regime.” His response, “Yes, Kirk, I just read your message literally and it did not come across as you may have intended. We also agree that Christ died only for the elect even though salvation is genuinely offered to everyone. It is God the Holy Spirit's work to only quicken the elect that they may believe. I must again state we are in agreement with John MacArthur that true believers accept the Lordship of Jesus Christ. I state again the scriptures, and there are many in the NT, that we must ‘repent and believe in the ‘Lord’ Jesus Christ. It is not, ‘repent and believe in Jesus Christ.’ Jesus Christ is not a fireman who comes along and puts out the fires of hell for a particular individual without also demanding to be Lord of that person. In other words, true salvation comes when a person believes in the saving work of Christ on the cross and Jesus becomes Lord of that person's life. Kirk, I would agree with MacArthur. If a person who claims to be a Christian does not demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit and does not have any good works to show that they are saved, I would seriously question their salvation. I think that is the point MacArthur is making and definitely is the point the apostle James made. Read: http://www.faithstreet.com/onfaith/... Here you see this statement: ‘Broadly speaking, Calvinism encompasses the whole of Reformed theology and its doctrinal distinctives.’ John MacArthur is definitely Calvinist. Kirk, I think we may be at an impasse. One day all Christians will have their poor theology corrected and we will be of one mind. I look forward to that day. In closing, I say to you what I tell many others: Keep the Faith, share your faith. Pastor Glenn” My response, “Do you agree with John MacArthur's claim that the Gospel in its proper saving sense is ‘a call to obedience’?” His response, “Kirk, I am not a student of John MacArthur. My theology and beliefs are the result of my own Bible study. I do not deny that I have been taught many of the things which I have confirmed through my own study. I do not know what MacArthur teaches in many areas. I would say this to your question, if a person does not intend to obey the Lord Jesus Christ once saved, I would doubt that the person is truly saved. ‘Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.’ As you know from what is written, most of Jesus' words are commandments. The NIV says, ‘Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.’ Obedience is a sign of a changed heart. Pastor Glenn Diehl” My response, “You are familiar with the law and gospel distinction? Further how much is necessary before you know you are saved? How much sin is too much sin? I am sure you sin a lot.” His response, “Kirk, I have no desire, nor time, to continue this present conversation. Our ministry is solely focused on witnessing to Catholics who are enslaved by the false teachings of Catholicism and their four-fold requirement for salvation. We want Catholics to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We teach that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. If you want to discuss what John MacArthur teaches, which you consider heresy, I suggest you write to him and what you regard as heresy. We are not Grace to You nor are we pushing John MacArthur's theology. I have work waiting to do from Richard. I must go. If you want to know more what we teach, please avail yourself to our articles and videos on www.bereanbeacon.org. We try our best to be biblical in what we teach and yet we do not claim to be systematic theologians. When I told you that you could write, I was hoping you would focus on our ministry, not MacArthur's. Thank you for writing and may we end this interchange in good spirit. Good day, Pastor Glenn” My response, “I fail to understand why you think Macarthur is a good teacher, even when you have not read him and even when Catholics praise him?”

Saved by Christ's work alone

I'm saved by the blood of Jesus Christ alone so that I will live in eternity with him in heaven and not in hell. That is right I accepted Christ as my saviour because of what he has done for me for fire insurance.No one can accept Christ as saviour but by the power of the Spirit in regeneration. Accepting Christ therefore dependents not on man but on God and the results of Christ's death.Accepting Christ as saviour is the result of regeneration. No man can accept Christ as the alone Saviour unless he has been born again.

My sin is ever before me but I am saved by Grace alone in Christ alone

The lordshiper says if you're sinning then it must mean you are not actually saved. But, why such drastic assumptions? Why is it not because the Lordshiper has not himself submitted fully to his damnable doctrine? Why not say rather that a Christian is one who knows that they are sinners and because of that they turn to Christ in hope for salvation? Thereby why not address it at the heart of the matter, a Christian, one who accepts the gospel alone for life and sustenance, still sins the same sins that the non-elect sin and yet the cause of such horrible things is for us not to trust in ourselves but rather to turn to Christ and rest in him by faith aloneMy goal is to live honorably before the Lord. This might seem strange coming from someone who holds to the five points of grace and who is not a lordshiper. But, in reality I know I am a sinner and that I sin continually even when I am not thinking of it at the time my sinful thoughts are always before me but I know that the gospel only relieves me of the condemnation that my sins deserve. I try to stay out of trouble and try to live rightly and at peace with all men in so far as I can. Sometimes it doesn't help and so I say after I fall "glad that is over!"

The central difference between a believer and an unbeliever

The grand central difference, from whence arise all the others, may be thus express
He before thought, that there was a necessity for him to find some saving change or good disposition wrought in him, before he could have any peace in his conscience, or rest to his soul, from the perfect work of Christ presented in the gospel, and accordingly was distrest in his thoughts for want of perceiving it in himself, and therefore sought after it, and prayed for it, that he might obtain peace and hope towards God. And when he apprehended that he had found or obtained it, he laid the chief stress of his hope upon it. But now he finds relief to his conscience, not by discerning any favourable symptom about himself, but by understanding that blood of Christ is all sufficient and free, according to the divine testimony and this evangelical peace and rest thus obtained, becomes the root and spring of all that love and obedience, which distinguishes a believer from others. And so he now rejoices in Christ alone, having no confidence in the flesh. Phil 3.3. -Samuel Pike, Free Grace Indeed!, pg. 79

Absolute Predestination

Absolute Predestination is the truth that all things to the jot and tittle has been predestined beforehand by God; whether these things are great or small, from world wars to even a mans hair preceding. God has preordained all things whether good or evil. Evil by definition is including calamity to even the sinful action of wicked men. The Bible says a asparrow will not fall to the ground unless God wills it so - Matthew 10:29. It is said during the temptation of Jesus Christ that a man lives not by bread alone but by every word of God - Luke 4:4. Unless God will it and determines a thing to be done it will not happen - Lamentation 3:37, for the Bible says that whatever God wills he does (Psalm 115:3, 1 Samuel 12:22). So if God wanted to kill a man, that man would therefore die at the predetermined time God willed him to die as the wife of Manoah says in Judges 13:23.
The Bible says that there is a time for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Some men who do not know God say that God determines a thing t ocome to pass as it happens: as if God is changing with the times. I heard a pastor at a Baptist church say something wierd. He spoke in Ephesians 1:1-18; of course it is interesting to see people who want to dismiss the clear teachings of the Bible and hold to their positions of pride. This pastor taught that man was both predestined and yet had free will. Of course his response is that this was a mystery - we cannot even know it. But how does the mystery go? Did not God know how to reveal his truth to man so that there would be no mystery? The verses in Ephesians 1 does not teach that man has free will so where did he get that idea? Furthermore, this pastor said that God chooses people all the time and went through the various text where God is said to have chosen Abraham, Isaac, ect. But his position is that God is continously choosing people. He is always changing.
The Problem with his theory is that it makes God a part of time where he changes and makes his mind a subject of change. God is eternal and changes not therefore his knowledge and will is not based on anything in the created order. What God knows and wills he does by eternity. Who taught Him? Shall any man teach God? (Job 21:22) or as Isaiah 40:14 says who did God take counsel with? As Joshua 11:19-20 says there was not a city that made peace with Israel for God hardened their hearts. Rehoboam didn't listen to the old mens counsel because the Lord wanted to perform his saying (! Kings 12:12-15).
The Bible alone is the word of God. When considering any subject of the study of God one ought to have it as the goal to be Scriptural. The Bible alone being the word of God is made of law and gospel. One can know that the law does not produce the righteousness of God as (Romans 3:20 says). The Law brings death (Romans 4:15, 7:10, 8:3). The gospel alone is what saves and it is the news of what God has done in Christ alone for his people alone as Romans 5:1 says.
When considering the subject of absolute predestination one ought to start with the nature and character of God. What is God? The Bible says he is faithful, just, true, gracious, merciful, holy, and that he is a spirit and that is one. The Christian definition of God is that he is one in three eternal persons. God is his attributes. For God to be just means that he is not evil. So what God is implies what he is not. Since God is the creator he is not therefore the creature (Psalm 89:11). For God to be a person means he is not a chair. The Bible also says that God is powerful, that he reigns above his creation. He alone is Lord over all things (Psalm 97, 99, 103:19) God alone is God (Psalm 86:2).
For God to be God means that he alone is the sovereign one. God's sovereignty is that which he is the ultimate power and cause of all things. He alone rules and controls what happens in the world. He by his word created that which did not exist before; in fact, the Bible says he calls those things into existence that do not exist (Romans 4:17). He commands a thing to be and it is done, such as the feeding of Elijah (1 Kings 17:4). As the Lord Himself says a man lives not by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). In fact, it is the Lord who numbers and decrees the days of man (Job 14:5, Psalm 139:16). God alone is the Lord who reigns above all (Psalm 93:1) and he is God from everlasting to everlasting (Psalm 90:1-2). He has created everything and everything is his (Psalm 89:11). In Ezekiel 5:16-17, God says that whatever He speaks, the thing spoken of will come to pass (also see Ezekiel 12:25).
God is not only sovereignty, just, holy, ect. but he is also a God of knowledge (Job 28:23-28). He alone has wisdom and counsel and understanding (Job 12:12-16), therefore no man can teach God for he is of one mind and no man can turn him (Job 23:13-14). Only God therefore has perfect knokwledge - Job 37:16. The heavens were made by the wisdom of God (Psalm 104:24). The Lord knows the heart of man - 1 Chronicles 28:9-10. The wisdom and knowledge of God. God, as it has already been said is a God of knowledge. He knows all things that has, is, and will come to pass. The Bible says that God created all things for himself, even the wicked for the day of destruction (Proverbs 16:4). The Bible continues this line of thinking throughout. God by his knowledge and wisdome has absolutely predestined all things to work out for his glory even utno the extent that he has predestined certian men or the majority of man to destruction; for many are called but few are chosen (Matthew 20:16; 22:14). These men also known as the wicked, the non-elect, the vessels of wrath, are the reprobate whom God hands over to the lust of their minds to do the things that ought not to be done (Romans 1:18-32). Peter in his second epistle chapter two says that these men are like natural brute beast who are made to be taken and destroyed. In no sense did Christ die for these men, but rather were ordained to eternal destruction (Jude 4). These men according to John do not believe because they were predetermined not to believe (John 6:64). In fact, as Isaiah 6 says, John 12:37-41 says that these men are blinded by God so that they will not believe and be saved. In the gospel of John, Jesus also is said to know all things, specifically about man. He knows man is a sinner and that they love not God. Therefore, it is said that man is totally depraved (2:24-25 and 5:42 and 7:7).
It is God alone who determines when and what a person knows. God reveals his secret will to his chosen (Psalm 25:14, Amos 3:7) as he did reveal his plans to Abraham who was also God's elect (Genesis 18:17). But God not only reveals general aspects of his will, but even the gospel; bringing an elect sinner to saving knowledge and belief of the gsopel truth as he did to Peter (Matthew 16:13-17). But God not only determines what a person knows but also when a person knows it (1 Kings 3:9-12). A man may preach and teach the gsopel truth until he is blue in the face to his family and friends who are lost but unless God removes the stoney heart and gives them a heart of flesh to know and assent to the truth they will not believe nor understand the truth. This Paul makes clear that God's workers may seed and water but it is God who determines its growth (1 Corinthians 3:6) and he reveals his truth to his elect whom he has chosen since before the foundation of the world even without consideration of the fall and creation of them. In Joshua 11:20 God is said to hardened the hearts of his enemies to destroy them. But this verse is not the only one of its kind. For one can read Deut 2:30 as well where God hardened the spirit of Sihon to destroy him just like God did to Pharoah in Exodus.
God is the one who teaches truth to man. Jeremaiah in 33:3 says that God reveals truth. In Daniel 1:17 God gives knowledge to Daniel and his friends. A man may go through passages of time and not know a thing until the time God has allotted that person to know. God certainly does reveal knowledge in particular instances of time as He has eternally determined it (Daniel 2:18-21). Knowledge and understanding only come from God for God is omniscient. He knows all things.
God's knowledge is perfect (Job 37:16) for God is good. There is not one thing that God doesn't know that is under heaven. It is by his understanding alone that the heavens and earth was made (Jeremiah 51:5). Therefore, God is the teacher - Psalm 71:17. The Bible says doe not call anyone on earth father for you have one Father (Matthew 23:9).
God knows all the counsel of those who are against Him and his people (Jeremiah 18:23). Any knowledge of the truth that man has is given from God who alone causes a person to know (1 Kings 4:29; 2 Chronicles 9:23). Other verses include Job 32:8, 38:35-36, Psalm 39:4).
In Exodus 4:11, God tells Moses that He is sovereign or has absolute power over man's mouth, eyes, ears. This truth is clearly seen in Ezekiel 3:26-27, where God is said to make the prophet dumb and also is said to make him able to speak at the particular time God chose. Jesus enumerates this to his disciples that the Spirit will give them words to speak. God gives his people both knowledge and words as the apostle Paul confesses in 1 Corinthians 1:6-8.
Aside from the tautology of spirit, heart, and mind these verses demonstrate that God's purposes stand. He gets what he wants. He hardens people for a purpose. Now someone might say that this is not of salvation - which the response would be 'and so?' John 12:37-41 says some men do not believe the truth because God blinds their eyes and keeps them from seeing the truth - 2 Corinthians 3-4, Romans 9 also speaks of Pharaoh from Exodus 4 in which God hardens his heart ot kill him and to save his elect people alone. Peter in his second epistle says that these men are made for destruction. But, God is patient with his elect alone not wanting any to perish but all of them to come to salvation in Christ. Therefore we are not consumed (Lamentations 3:22) but God will save his people from his wrath 1 Thessalonians 5:9. All of God's acts are done without consideration of the creature therefore, he is not passive, nor is he reacting to the creature but he saves his people because he chose to do so. Anyone not in Christ will be eternally destroyed as God only saved Noah and his family and just Lot alone.
Just in the book of Isaiah alone one sees that God is sovereign and in control of all things. For instance the Lord uses and creates evil for his own prupose (Isaiah 10:5, 45:7). Everything happens because God purposes it (Isaiah 14:24-27). He knows from old and pruposes it according to the counsel of his will - Isaiah 46:10. Certianly, God is not only sovereign over kings whom he sets up and displaces (Isaiah 22). But he even sends evil spirits (Isaiah 19:14). He even controls the works of his people (Isaiah 26:12). He alone chose a particular people (Isaiah 41:9 and Isaiah 43:1-5) to save and redeem. All of this is the result of God's pleasure (Isaiah 40:14-19) doing all things according to his purpose (Isaiah 23:8-12) according to his counsel which is of old that is faithful and true (Isaiah 25:2).
God is a God of knowledge (Job 28:23-28) He alone has wisdom and counsel and understanding (Job 12:12-16), therefore no man can teach God for he is of one mind and no man can turn him (Job 23:13-14). Only God therefore has perfect knowledge - Job 37:16. The heavens were made by the wisdom of God (Psalm 104:24). The Lord knows the heart of man - 1 Chronicles 28:9-10. God not only reveals the truth to his people. He has also determined to keep many people of the human race in stupidity. These men are the reprobate. They are so called because God does not will to save them and he gives them up to a reprobated mind as the Bible says in Romans 1:24-28. What men do, whether apparent good or blatant evil, they do because God causes them to do so. As Job says, "Shall we accept only good at the hand of God, and not evil?" (Job 2:10). Nothing is outside of God's counsel and reign. Isaiah 45:7 says God creates both peace and evil. Other verses such as Micah 1:12, Jonah 1:7, Amos 3:6, 1 Samuel 16:14, 2 Samuel 12:11, 17:14, 1 Kings 9:9, 2 Kings 21:1, 22:16, and Job 42:11 all speak of God's control and sovereignty over evil. The reprobate are also the cause of God's hand as the elect are. The Bible says, that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God (1 Corinthians 1:21). 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 says "If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them who are perishiing in whom the God of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not. . . . Also John 12:40 says God has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts so that they will not believe and be saved.
But God not only keeps men from believing the truth but also in the elect alone has determined to cause them to believe in the truth. Peter says in Acts 5:29-33 that God raised Jesus for the purpose of giving repentance to Israel. In Acts 16:14 God opened the heart of Lydia to attend into the things Peter spoke, just like God did to the King of Assyria (Ezra 6:22). God alone is to be thanked for he causes his people to triumph in Christ alone (2 Corinthians 2:14-15) and changes them into the same image from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). Repentance and faith are both acts of God or are things that God causes in the mind of the elect alone. Accordingly, all who are ordained to eternal life will believe (Acts 13:48).
In the Bible God is the king eternal, He alone is immortal, invisible, the only wise God (1 Timothy 1:17). God simply knows everything (1 John 3:20). He knows what he will do before He does it (Acts 15:18). Certianly God knows whom He has chosen and He certianly knows those whom He will regenerate. God does not regenerate his people because there is some good thing in man that makes him worthy. The Bible is clear that all men are sinners and have fallen short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:10-19, 23). This is the testimony of Scripture against all humanity as it is said in John 2:24-25. David himself confesses he was brought forth from his mothers womb as a totally depraved sinner (Psalm 51:4-5); and Proverbs 20:9 says, "Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?" Indeed no one can.
God does not choose his people because they have done great things; for they have not. There is nothing they can do to please God. Everything on earth is God's nothing can be given to God but what he has already owns (Psalm 50). The Bible says that God did not choose on his people because they were more in number but rather because the Lord loved his people (Deut. 7:6-8). If anything the choice to save some and damn others was a choce caused by nothing found in the creature but purely of God's will alone as he chose Jacob above Esau (Romans 9:11-12). This is the Supralapsarian view and makes the choice of God the moving cause to create the world; which of course is for His glory alone. As the Bible says we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works (Eph. 2:10). Those who are not of his elect but are rather the non-elect are hardened more and more. Their light is vain (Proverbs 21:4). But for the elect, He predestined them in Christ, His people are accepted in Him. To them God plans and makes known his will in time. He not only predestined them, but also quickens them in Christ.
Peter in Acts 15:7 confesses that God make a choice among us, that the Gentiles by his mouth should hear the word of the Gospel, and believe. God not only chooses those whom he will save, but also chooses the way and the means by which they will be saved. As Paul in his epistles say he does everything for the sake of the elect alone (2 Timothy 2:10) and in Titus 1:1 he says that he is a servant of God according to the faith of God's elect . . . . God chose the elect to salvation through sanctification and belief of the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:13). Therefore, God did not appoint the elect to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:9). Unlike the non-elect, who were made for this distruction as Proverbs 16:4 and 2 Peter 2:12 says.
In Romans 9:19-24, the elect are considered vessels of mercy and the reprobate are considered vessels of wrath. The argument goes something like this that God cannot be merciful to vessels that are unfallen because mercy presupposes falleness. But is this true? When one considers the end to which God chose the elect and the non-elect one ought to see that it was God's grace and mercy to save some and to damn others before they had done anything good or bad.
Ultimately, God could have chosen to save person A rather than person B. But, he did not. Mercy and grace are undeserved favours from God because those who are chosen to be saved had nothing in themselves for why God decided to save them. Unlike, molinism and other forms of conditionalism that say their god knows all things whether what will happen or what could happen, God in Scripture knows all things before they happen and that he had also predestined these things to happen. For God to know something is for God to predestine it. Nothing happens outside of His knowledge whatever happens in this life happens because God knows it will happen. So those whom he did predstined, he called, justified, and glorified. Whereas mens counsel changes, and often is stopped, God's counsel never changes. God's counsel is not based on what man says or does (Romans 11:34; Isaiah 40:13). The Bible says clearly no man has counselled him in Isaiah 41:28. All of the time the kings and rulers take counsel with one another they often if not all stumble. God's counsel stands forever (Psalm 33:11) and just as he purposes it shall it come to pass (Isaiah 14:24). Nothing can thwart God's plan (Jeremiah 51:29). It is God who alone does what he pleases to do (Isaiah 48:14; Psalm 115:3). No one can stand against his counsel (Lamentations 3:37-42). Therefore, no one should say we will do this or that, but rather if the Lord wills we will do this or that (James 4:13; 1 Corinthians 4:19). It is God who alone directs the steps of man (Proverbs 16:9).

Definition of faith

We must then seek for some other method of distinguishing a false faith from a true, otherwise we shall be misled, as this to be feared many are, upon this way of stating it. What if after all these laboured complicated definitions of faith, it should appear, that the difference between one sort of faith and another, does not lie in any circumstances or consequences of it, but only in this, that what one believes is the truth, while what another believes is a falsehood, or some lie connected with the truth. - Samuel Pike, Free Grace Indeed!, pg. 41

Jesus is God in the flesh

In John 10,

22And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. 23And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. 24Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. 25Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. 26But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30I and my Father are one.

31Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. 34Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? 35If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; 36Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? 37If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. 39Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,

 Jesus was in fact calling himself God when he quoted Psalm 82. Jesus sits amongst the mighty and judges among them.

1 God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.

2How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.

3Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.

4Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.

5They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.

6I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

7But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.

8Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.

The Gospel alone is the principle or foundation of all true holiness

But I must nevertheless, preach and proclaim this freeness of grace to fellow sinners, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear. Firmly persuaded, that this is the true grace of God, and the only sort of grace that can suit their condition, and that can upon a right principle or foundation, either relieve their consciences, purify their hearts, comfort their souls or direct their conduct, under the influence of the blessed Spirit. Yea, and I must look upon the welcome reception of this grace, together with holy fruits thereof, to be the true and proper proof of genuine Christianity in heart and life. - Samuel Pike, Free Grace Indeed!, pg. 3

The Gospel is both absolute and immediate

The true grace of God as revealed openly in the word of the gospel is both absolute and immediate.
It is absolute, requiring nothing for the helpless sinner to their endeavor towards obtaining an interest in the divine favour for Paul says, if it be by grace, it is no more of works, otherwise grace is no more grace, Romans 11:6. And it is immediate, affording relief previous to the exertion of any act of ours for the apostle directly saying but if it be of works it is no more of grace, otherwise work is no more work. Nay, unless the grace manifested in the gospel by Jesus Christ has both these properties, it cannot be free indeed. For how should that be quite free, which leaves the poor sinner any thing to do to obtain it; or does not hold forth to him such information as is sufficient to afford him immediate hope of salvation by Christ. Upon the whole then, I cannot but apprehend that revealed grace has these properties so that a person no sooner understand and believes it, but he is enlightened and relieved thereby, and it becomes a principal of all holiness and consolation to him, being taught of God, by the Spirit of truth and grace. - Samuel Pike, Free Grace Indeed!, pg.2

God is either equally in control of all things or he is not

Winnen Russ says, First of all, Park, as u will see below, the concept of *equal* ultimacy demonstrates the absolute sovereignty of God. First of all, lest we be found talking to our selves, we will seek to define our terms. What is "ultimacy" anyway (before we get to equal or unequal adjectives). Ultimacy is the idea of what is *ultimately* the reason for everything being as it is. And Scripture says that ultimately speaking it is the will of almighty God. Why is your name Park rather than John? Well, your parents named you that. But ultimately speaking the *only* reason for your name is the will of God--God willed that it should be so. And if God is absolute ruler in His universe as Scripture always and in every place proclaims, the ultimate reason for *everything* being as it is is the will of God. Many Calvinists today believe in what they call "Unequal Ultimacy." This has to do with the Elect and reprobate. Ultimately speaking, these Calvinists admit, the reason a man goes to heaven is the will of God. But then they turn around and say that ultimately speaking the reason a man ends up in hell is *not* the will of God but something that the man himself *did*. Is the final destination of the reprobate the *one* thing in the entire universe over which God's will has *no* control? Scripture tells us that there is *nothing* over which God's will is not the ultimate deciding factor. And so the fact that the Calvinists (and RC $proul is a major player in this--read his classic best-seller Chosen by God and you will see this) insist that though the final destination of the Elect is ultimately owing to the will of God, the final destination of the reprobate is owing to their doing *bad stuff*. This is not only outrageous but it shows (and please somebody tell me where I'm wrong if I am here) clearly that these Calvinists really and truly believe that the reprobate ultimately do not end up in hell owing to the will of God *and* the Elect do not end up in heaven ultimately owing to the will of God. The reprobate end up in hell because they did bad stuff and the Elect end up in heaven because they did good stuff! Unequal ultimacy is works religion. There's no way around this. Or am I wrong?

Against Common Grace

Psalm 145:9 is often use as proof for God having common grace toward every single human being who has, is, and will be. But in Psalm 136 - the psalmist praises God's mercy when he destroyed the Egyptians and Israel's enemies. Perhaps it is time we start reading and believing what the Bible alone says rather than what the "scholars" have said?

Winnen Russ said, "Kirk, You don't even have to 'back up' to Ps 136. The Calvinists who use Ps 145:9 to say God 'in a cents' loves everybody, *never* go to verse 20 of the same psalm: 'The Lord preserveth all that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.' Some common grace! Calvinists don't believe in Antithesis. They read the Bible the same way they read Calvin--they read *into* the Bible--never 'out of' it."

Richard B. Gaffin and the Lordship salvationist teaches Justification by faith and works

"First of all, Dr. Gaffin is clear that works are not the ground or basis of a believer's justification. He also says that works are not, with faith, (co-) instrumental, in the appropriation of justification. He appears to be upholding the traditional Protestant understanding of the role of works in justification as being evidential when he quotes the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF) 16:2, which describes works as 'fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith.' These affirmations all appear to be in alignment with traditional Protestant teaching. So what is the problem?
Once again, Dr. Gaffin nullifies his orthodox denials and affirmations, by placing the word 'integral' before the phrase 'fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith.' The WCF 16:2 does not describe works as 'THE INTEGRAL fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith' [Emphasis added]. The word 'integral' modifies the language appropriated from the WCF 16:2. Also, it is important to keep in mind that Dr. Gaffin describes works as 'THE INTEGRAL fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith' within the context of a discussion about justification.
The primary definition of the word 'integral' is 'essential to completeness: constituent' or 'constituent, necessary to completeness of a whole.' In light of this definition, the meaning is that faith itself, apart from works produced through faith, is insufficient for justification. Works must be added to faith to complete a faith/works complex that is requisite for justification. Faith is only able to justify when it is part of this faith/works complex." - Stephen M. Cunha, The Emperor Has No Clothes: Dr. Richard B. Gaffin Jr.'s Doctrine of Justification, Pg. 28-29

The Gospel alone is the standard

To walk in the light is not something about the measure of or quality of our works but rather is about the minds conversion to reject the self-righteous way to gain acceptance with God and to accept that only way which God has declared or revealed in His word what gains the elect sinner's acceptance before God - the righteousness of Christ alone imputed. This is what it means to repent and believe.
To repent from dead works is to believe and confess the true gospel as the only grounds of acceptance before God. A sinner is made right with God by no other way than the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ alone. It is by his work alone the elect sinner lives. Christ died to save his people from their sins and that he will do because he died for them and has appeased the wrath of God on their behalf.
The gospel is the only means of the elect's salvation. To walk in Christ therefore is to accept the gospel as the truth and ground of salvation. This is what James means when he says faith without works is dead. We are to walk in the truth, to build our home on the rock of his word, to therefore believe in Him as the author and finisher of the faith.

Such thing as common grace?

I was thinking of Common Grace that a lot of Calvinist and Arminians like to espouse today. I know Wayne Grudem has a chapter on it but I couldn't find what I was looking for as to his view of Genesis 17:18-22 where God says he will bless Ishmael. Anyways, I will have to look for it and post it here. But, my question is does these set of verses display common grace? What was the reason for Ishmael receiving a gift from God? If God knew that He would destroy Ishmael in Hell then can we say that God gave him a gift out of love? Consider if you give someone a peanut who is allergic, I mean you might say that you did not know but over all you cannot say that the peanut was really good for him. God knows all things, he gave Ishmael a blessing and he also gave Pharaoh a blessing but over all he destroyed Pharaoh in the sea. Just thoughts to consider.

The Christian's rewards are the result of Christ's death burial and resurrection

20For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.21What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

-Romans 6

We assume that this is talking about our good works and not about the result of the legal union which is being set apart for salvation and being saved from the wrath to come.



Many people speak of "fruit" but never explain what they mean by it.

What does fruit mean?

The Bible says anyone believing in the gospel is saved. What else is there to do? The result of what Christ accomplished on the cross means life for the elect alone.

I'm surprise you are just now getting upset at this.

The problem with the rewards thing is that it doesn't clarify anything. The Christian hope is that Christ has set us free from bondage of sin and death so that in Him we live. What rewards are given is nothing but the result of Christ's imputed righteousness.

On the Bible alone gives us Knowledge

"This book [Without a Prayer] is a defense of Christianity against one secular philosophy. The author hopes the reader will not stop with these pages, but will proceed to check his premises and the premises of other thinkers. To aid the inquiring reader, this writer has edited and published dozens of books on philosophy and Christianity - books discussing science, historiography, language, logic, psychology, ethics, epistemology, education, and ancient, medieval, contemporary philosophies. The conclusion of those discussions is that the axiom of revelation - the proposition 'The Bible alone is the Word of God' - contains the only solution to man's epistemological problem, for it provides truth - metaphysical, epistemological, theological, ethical, and political truth - that cannot be deduced from any non-Christian axiom. Propositional revelation avoids the insuperable difficulties encountered in any form of empiricism, Revelation is not a shortcut to knowledge, as though there were other, longer routes; the history of philosophy shows that propositional revelation is the only way to knowledge. All other routes are dead ends." -John W. Robbins, Without a Prayer, Pg. 219

Common Grace denied

"The omnipresence of God may be argued from the distributions of his goodness to all; to angels and glorified saints, who partake of his special favours; to all men on earth, to whom he does not leave himself without a witness of his kindness to them, giving them food and raiment, and all things richly to enjoy; he is present among them, and opens his hand and plentifully and liberally communicates to them: as well as from his universal government of the world by his wisdom; for his kingdom rules over all, the kingdom of nature and providence is his, and 'he is the Governor among the nations.'" -John Gill, The Body of Divinity, Pg. 42

"Nor is God ever in such sense with wicked men, as with good men; namely, by his gracious presence: but this hinders not, but that he is with them by his omnipresence and power, supporting them in their being." -John Gill, The Body of Divinity, Pg. 45

Molinism has problems

If God did not know and decree all things and his knowledge and decree was not simple, but rather his decree is based on God's foreseen knowledge of contingent beings; so that what God knows about the creature is not certainly based on His decrees but rather on the free choices of the creatures; and if even his knowledge of the creatures action was not certain; but rather God's knowledge only meant he knew what creatures could do given a set of choices, then on what basis can we say God knows anything at all?

James teaches Justification by Assent alone

James 1:21-2:26 This passage of scripture has been misunderstood. The point is really quite simple. The hearer/doer dichotomy really works if you understand that knowledge/assent dichotomy. The point is simple, James is not saying that a man is not justified by Faith alone or Assent alone; however, what he is saying is quite simple if one understands the different usage of the word faith. In the Bible the word faith can mean the doctrines that are believed in or can also mean the act of believing.


But, someone might say in James 2:18 it says show me your faith without works and why will show you my faith by my works. What does this mean? For the Christian it is important to know that a man is justified by Faith alone. Faith is the minds act of assenting to the propositions understood and in this instance the gospel doctrines understood. Paul often speaks of the justification before God while James speaks of the justification before others. The question is how might someone know that I am a Christian? How might I show someone that I am a Christian? First, let me ask this how did you know what the Gospel was? Again going back to James 1 we are born again by the word of God. Simply speak one must be shown the truth before he can believe it, likewise, one must show someone what he believes before anyone might know he or she is a believer or what a Christian is.




Going further into this passage James continues and presents to us two examples of those who were Justified by faith and works. This passage is not about the justification before God (that is by faith alone) but this passage is about the justification before others. So Abraham and Rahab were shown to be vindicated by what they believed through their works. The question is what works are these? I am going to say that the works that James speaks of is the work of Faith not some sort of 'good deed' in which someone walks an old lady down the isle. How do you know this? What tips you off that this is so? Read Matthew 7:21-29. Notice anything similar? Remember the hearing and doing dichotomy from James? Well Jesus also has same dichotomy the only difference is that Jesus says anyone who hears His words and does them is a wise man. Just a few verses prior to this Jesus says to people who Had works that they were workers of iniquity and Jesus says those who do the will of God will be the one's who will enter heaven.

Now this leads to sever other words. What is the will of God and how might we do the Scriptures? In John 6:40 we see that Jesus says, "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." So we see here that the will of God is that we believe in Christ the one whom God has sent. This is very important to know this. But how do you know if you are not studying and reading God's word? Now to continue on to the next question how might we do the Scriptures? We do the Scriptures when we hear God's word and we believe what God has said concerning His son Jesus Christ. Christ is the redeemer who has alone atoned for the sins of His elect alone. It is these people whom Christ came to redeem and save by His righteousness alone. The elect hear his voice and they follow. John 6:28-29 tells us that this is the work of God that we believe in Him. There we have it folks. This is the connecting board showing us that what James is distinguishing by faith and works is really a set of doctrines which we have vs. the act of believing.

Scripture interprets Scripture

If you are a Congregationalist please note you are not alone:

"The Scripture is the best interpreter of Scripture, or the Spirit of God therein; nor are the church or its pastors, nor councils and popes, the infallible interpreters thereof; there is a private interpretation of Scripture, which every Christian may make, according to his ability and light; and there is a public one, by the preacher of the word; but both are subject to, and to be determined by the Scripture itself, which is the only certain and infallible rule of faith and practice." - John Gill, The Body of Divinity, Pg. 22-23

Stay congregational my friends.

Shedd's view presents changes in the Trinity?

"Shedd's material begins on page 278 of volume two. There he says, 'The God-man was a new person.' since Shedd will deny that the man Jesus was a person, this assertion implies certain changes and alterations in the Second Person of the Trinity. Indeed he is a very specific, for on page 281 he adds, 'The Trinity itself is not altered or modified by the Incarnation. Only the Second Person is modified.' Coming from an intelligent and well-educated Christian, this is amazing. The Second Person of the Trinity is as immutable as the other two. Furthermore, if the Second Person suffered alteration, it would modify the Trinity as whole. The Trinity, if I may use the language, is a complex of three Persons. Clearly if one changes, the complex changes. It will have different constituents. Certainly this violates the basic Christian doctrine and destroys all confidence in what may be said of the Incarnation." - Gordon H. Clark, Incarnation, Pg. 47


John Gill kind of reiterates this fact of the incarnation:


"Nor is the unchangeableness of the divine nature to be disproved by the incarnation of Christ; for though he, a divine Person, possessed of the divine nature, was made flesh, or became man; the divine nature in him was not changed into the human nature, nor the human nature into the divine, nor a third nature made out of them both; was this the case, the divine nature would have been changeable; but so it was not; for as it has been commonly said, 'Christ remained what he was, and assumed what he was not;' and what he assumed added nothing to his divine person; he was only manifested in the flesh; he neither received any perfection, nor imperfection, from the human nature; though that received dignity and honour by its union to him, and was adorned with the gifts and graces of the Spirit without measure, and is now advanced at the right hand of God." - John Gill, The Body of Divinity, Pg. 37

The incarnation did not change the Son of God. Nothing was added to Him when he assumed the nature of man.