My Particular beliefs is that Christ death on the cross is the sole difference maker between saved and not saved. By that I mean that either Christ died for one and so thereby won one's salvation or he did not.
The Bible talks about the blood of Christ. By it we are justified (Romans 5:9), we are accepted (Eph 1:7), with his own blood he purchased the congregation - Acts 20:28. We overcome the world by the blood (1 John 5, Revelation 12:11).
There are other verses. For me preaching a definite and accomplished redemption is what the gospel is. A man or woman (in keeping with the times) either accepts this or they do not. They either assent to the saving message of what Christ did or they believe something else is what saves.
Romans 6 I think is referring to the Gospel by which the elect were united to Christ death, burial, and resurrection which is the basis or motivation for the Apostle Paul to give us the law as a "Rule of Life" and not as a "Covenant of Works" to not continue in sin.
Now the question arises, what is the sin in which Paul here implores Christians not to continue in? I think Paul is talking about the sin of unbelief. Notice he does not say shall we continue in SINS plural but rather shall we continue in SIN singular. The sin in which he writes against is the sin of not reckoning, not knowing, and not believing the gospel truth. Of course, believers can only do this because of what Christ did for them.
Showing posts with label Atonement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Atonement. Show all posts
Sunday, October 22, 2023
Limited Atonement
Friday, October 4, 2019
Cannot Preach the Gospel Unless You Also Preach Unconditional Election
The gospel includes in it the doctrine of unconditional election. Christ tells his people that He has chosen them in John 6:70 "Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?"
John 15:16 "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you."
You cannot preach the free gospel without the doctrine.
Monday, May 7, 2018
What is the difference between the elect and the reprobate?
Some of the neo-preachers want to say that the difference between the elect and the reprobate remain to be works done by them. This is not so. The difference between the elect and the reprobate remains to be Christ and his works.
"Whence should it be, in respect of the event, that the elect and reprobate differ one from another? The difference lies in this, the elect shall be saved, and the reprobate shall be damned; the immediate cause is this, the reprobate bears his own sin, by reason of which he bears his ensuing damnation; the elect person bears not his own sin, and so there is nothing found against him, for which he should be damned." - Tobias Crisp, Christ Alone Exalted, vol 2, pg. 81
"Whence should it be, in respect of the event, that the elect and reprobate differ one from another? The difference lies in this, the elect shall be saved, and the reprobate shall be damned; the immediate cause is this, the reprobate bears his own sin, by reason of which he bears his ensuing damnation; the elect person bears not his own sin, and so there is nothing found against him, for which he should be damned." - Tobias Crisp, Christ Alone Exalted, vol 2, pg. 81
Sunday, March 25, 2018
God's motivation to saving His elect is Love for them only
"And the truth is, that God took up as vast a love unto us of himself at first as ever he hath borne us since, and all that Christ doth for us is but the expression of that love which was taken up originally in God's own heart. Thus we find that out of that love he gave Christ for us. So John 3:16, 'God so loved the world (of elect), that he gave his only begotten Son to die', etc. Yea, Christ's death was but a means to commend or set fortg that love of his unto us." -Thomas Goodwin, Christ Set Forth, Pg. 227
Thursday, November 2, 2017
Christ's death was for the elect alone those who believe
"Georgius imagines himself to argue very cleverly when he says, 'Christ is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world. Therefore, those who would exclude the reprobate from participation in the benefits of Christ, must, of necessity, place them somehwere out of the world.' Now we will not permit the common solution of this question to avail on the present occasion, which would have it that Christ suffered sufficiently for all men, but effectually for His elect alone. This great absurdity, by which our monk has procured for himself so much applause amongst his fraternity, has no weight whatever with me. Johm does indeed extens the benefits of the atonement of Christ, which was completed by His death, to all the elect of God throughout what climes of the world soever they may be scattered. But though the case be so, it by no meana alters the fact that the reprobate are mingled with the elect in the world. It is also a fact, without controversy, that Christ came to atone for the sins 'of the whole world.' But the solution of all difficulty is immediately at hand, in the truth and fact, that it is 'whosoever believeth in Him' that 'shall not perish, but shall have eternal life.'" - John Calvin, Eternal Predestination of God, pg. 165
Friday, December 9, 2016
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
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
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.
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.
Thursday, May 26, 2016
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.
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.
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Does Jesus have to say only for us to know that He only died for the elect alone?
Once debated some Arminians who, when quoted John 10 concerning Christ's effectual death on the cross limited to the elect alone, said that the passage at hand didn't say only.
John Gill responds: wer to this,
1. It is observed,[1] that “in none of these places it is said that Christ died only for his sheep, for hisfriends,or for his church;and, therefore, none of them say anything in contradiction to our assertion” of general redemption. I reply, this objection is much like... what the Papists make against the doctrine of justification by faith. They own the Scriptures say, that we are justified by faith, but not by faith only.Now it may with as much propriety be said, that other, besides those which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham, because the Scriptures do not say that they which be of faithonly are blessed with him, or that there are more gods and more mediators than one, because the text does not say, there is only one God, and only one Mediator; yea, it might be urged with equal strength, that men may love other women besides their own wives, in the same manner they love them, because it is not said, husbands love your wives only,as it may that Christ loved others, and gave himself for others, besides his church; because it is not said, he loved his church only and gave himself for his church only. But, though this restrictive word is not expressed, it is evidently implied; for, if Christ laid down his life, and gave himself for every individual man, these peculiar and discriminating characters would be utterly unnecessary. And, after all, it is owned by our opponents,[2] that “eventually Christ is the Savior of his body, and died only for his sheep and friends.”
John Gill responds: wer to this,
1. It is observed,[1] that “in none of these places it is said that Christ died only for his sheep, for hisfriends,or for his church;and, therefore, none of them say anything in contradiction to our assertion” of general redemption. I reply, this objection is much like... what the Papists make against the doctrine of justification by faith. They own the Scriptures say, that we are justified by faith, but not by faith only.Now it may with as much propriety be said, that other, besides those which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham, because the Scriptures do not say that they which be of faithonly are blessed with him, or that there are more gods and more mediators than one, because the text does not say, there is only one God, and only one Mediator; yea, it might be urged with equal strength, that men may love other women besides their own wives, in the same manner they love them, because it is not said, husbands love your wives only,as it may that Christ loved others, and gave himself for others, besides his church; because it is not said, he loved his church only and gave himself for his church only. But, though this restrictive word is not expressed, it is evidently implied; for, if Christ laid down his life, and gave himself for every individual man, these peculiar and discriminating characters would be utterly unnecessary. And, after all, it is owned by our opponents,[2] that “eventually Christ is the Savior of his body, and died only for his sheep and friends.”
2. The argument is retorted upon thus;[3] “He that died for his friends, and for his enemies, for the church of God, and for the unrighteous, that he might bring them to the church of God; for the sheep that heard his voice, and for the lost ones that did not hearken to his voice, died for all. But Christ died for his friends, etc., therefore he died for all.” The fallacy of this argument will easily appear, when it is observed, that they are, the same individual persons who are styled the enemies and friends of Christ, the unrighteous, and the church, the lost sheep, and such as hearken to Christ's voice; being the former as considered in their unregenerate estate, and the latter through the power of his grace upon them. - The Cause of God and Truth
My friend David Bishop also says,
In other words, the word "only" is unnecessary in view of the context; especially of verse 26. Shepherds shepherd sheep. They don't shepherd goats, cows, dogs and horses. Hence the title shep(sheep)herd. Therefore, He doesn't need to say the shepherd came to lay down his life ONLY for the sheep in order for his words to mean exactly that.
My friend David Bishop also says,
In other words, the word "only" is unnecessary in view of the context; especially of verse 26. Shepherds shepherd sheep. They don't shepherd goats, cows, dogs and horses. Hence the title shep(sheep)herd. Therefore, He doesn't need to say the shepherd came to lay down his life ONLY for the sheep in order for his words to mean exactly that.
Christ is our High Priest
Just reading through Leviticus. I am in chapter 8 and so far I am seeing the tedious tasks of the levitic priesthood to make atonement of sin on behalf of the people.
As the Hebrew writer makes this so clear. Christ is the great high priest who actually atoned once for all by his effectual death on the cross for the sins of the elect alone.
"If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 12For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.13For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 14For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. 15And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 16Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
17For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
18For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 19For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. 20And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:
21(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)
22By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
23And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: 24But thisman, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.25Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
26For such an high priest became us,who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 28For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore."
As the Hebrew writer makes this so clear. Christ is the great high priest who actually atoned once for all by his effectual death on the cross for the sins of the elect alone.
"If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 12For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.13For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 14For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. 15And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 16Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
17For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
18For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 19For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. 20And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:
21(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)
22By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
23And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: 24But thisman, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.25Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
26For such an high priest became us,who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 28For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore."
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Christ death for the elect alone and of their assurance
God does not love all sinners, nor did Jesus Christ die for all sinners.
by
Monty L. Collier
God loves some of the sinful humans in this world, but He does not love all of them. God loves some sinners, but He hates the rest. The Bible says: "As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated" Romans 9:13. Those persons loved by God are chosen in Christ to be saved. They are God's elect and He will save them all. Nothing in this universe can prevent God's love from saving us. The Bible says:
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord"
Romans 8:35-39
God's love is an omnipotent love that cannot fail to save His elect. Election is based on God's love, while reprobation is based upon God's hate. God is not merciful to reprobates. God does not desire to save reprobates. Jesus Christ did not die for any of the reprobates. All reprobates are left in in their sins and justly condemned to eternal damnation by God's Law. Election and reprobation are not based upon anything in men or done by men. Election and reprobation are based on God's sovereign judgment alone. The Bible says: "(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) It was said unto her, the elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated" Romans 9:11-13.
Election and reprobation took place in eternity, before the creation of the universe. In eternity, God the Father chose God the Son to be the federal head of the elect. The elect were predestined in Christ to be saved, while God chose not to be merciful to the rest of mankind. God did not choose the elect from a fallen mass of people. The Bible says: "Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?" Romans 9:21. God's decrees to elect and reprobate logically precede the decrees to create man and have Adam fall, plunging the human race into sin.
God loves the elect and Jesus Christ died for their sins alone, saving them. Jesus Christ did not die for the reprobates. The redemption of Christ is limited to the elect alone. Jesus does not pray for all men, does not intercede for all men, for Jesus is the Savior of His people, which are the elect alone. Jesus says: "I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine" John 17:9.
When men wrongly claim that God desires the salvation of every sinful human and that Jesus died for every sinner, they will appeal to a variety of verses for support. However, context and logic easily defeat these arguments for what is called "universal salvation." So, for example, in an attempt to refute Particular Redemption, a Roman Catholic may appeal to 1 Timothy 2:3-6, which reads: "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time."
Let's consider this passage. If God will have all men to be saved, that is, every fallen human, then all of them will be saved. Not a single one of them will be condemned, for God is omnipotent and accomplishes all of His desires. The Bible says: "But he is one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth" Job 23:13. However, it is clear that many will not be saved, but condemned (Matthew 7:21-23). Since there are no contradictions in Scripture, for God is logical, not insane, it therefore follows that God does not desire the salvation of all sinners. So, when 1 Timothy 2:4 speaks of "all men," then it is speaking of all elect persons. It is not speaking of reprobates. Likewise, when 1 Timothy 2:6 speaks of Christ giving himself a ransom for all, it is speaking of all of the elect. If Christ died for the reprobates and their sins, paying their ransom, freeing them from the demands of the Law, satisfying the Law for them, then none of them would be condemned. It would be unjust for God to condemn them for sins Christ has already expiated. But God is just, and the reprobates are condemned justly for their sins. It therefore follows that Christ did not die for their sins.
Let's now talk about you. How can you know if Christ died for your sins? That's easy, for the Bible says that all of those who believe the Gospel were elected unto salvation. The Bible says: "And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed" Acts 13:48.
Do you believe the Gospel?
Do you believe Christ died for your sins? If you do, then you are one of the elect, whom God loves, whom Christ died for. If you are afraid of going to hell, if you desire to be saved by Jesus Christ alone, then know you are justified before God. No reprobate desires to be saved by Jesus Christ alone. Reprobates trust in themselves, not in Christ alone. The one who believes the Gospel responds as Peter did:
"Then said Jesus unto the twelve, will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God" John 6:68-69.
Amen.
by
Monty L. Collier
God loves some of the sinful humans in this world, but He does not love all of them. God loves some sinners, but He hates the rest. The Bible says: "As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated" Romans 9:13. Those persons loved by God are chosen in Christ to be saved. They are God's elect and He will save them all. Nothing in this universe can prevent God's love from saving us. The Bible says:
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord"
Romans 8:35-39
God's love is an omnipotent love that cannot fail to save His elect. Election is based on God's love, while reprobation is based upon God's hate. God is not merciful to reprobates. God does not desire to save reprobates. Jesus Christ did not die for any of the reprobates. All reprobates are left in in their sins and justly condemned to eternal damnation by God's Law. Election and reprobation are not based upon anything in men or done by men. Election and reprobation are based on God's sovereign judgment alone. The Bible says: "(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) It was said unto her, the elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated" Romans 9:11-13.
Election and reprobation took place in eternity, before the creation of the universe. In eternity, God the Father chose God the Son to be the federal head of the elect. The elect were predestined in Christ to be saved, while God chose not to be merciful to the rest of mankind. God did not choose the elect from a fallen mass of people. The Bible says: "Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?" Romans 9:21. God's decrees to elect and reprobate logically precede the decrees to create man and have Adam fall, plunging the human race into sin.
God loves the elect and Jesus Christ died for their sins alone, saving them. Jesus Christ did not die for the reprobates. The redemption of Christ is limited to the elect alone. Jesus does not pray for all men, does not intercede for all men, for Jesus is the Savior of His people, which are the elect alone. Jesus says: "I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine" John 17:9.
When men wrongly claim that God desires the salvation of every sinful human and that Jesus died for every sinner, they will appeal to a variety of verses for support. However, context and logic easily defeat these arguments for what is called "universal salvation." So, for example, in an attempt to refute Particular Redemption, a Roman Catholic may appeal to 1 Timothy 2:3-6, which reads: "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time."
Let's consider this passage. If God will have all men to be saved, that is, every fallen human, then all of them will be saved. Not a single one of them will be condemned, for God is omnipotent and accomplishes all of His desires. The Bible says: "But he is one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth" Job 23:13. However, it is clear that many will not be saved, but condemned (Matthew 7:21-23). Since there are no contradictions in Scripture, for God is logical, not insane, it therefore follows that God does not desire the salvation of all sinners. So, when 1 Timothy 2:4 speaks of "all men," then it is speaking of all elect persons. It is not speaking of reprobates. Likewise, when 1 Timothy 2:6 speaks of Christ giving himself a ransom for all, it is speaking of all of the elect. If Christ died for the reprobates and their sins, paying their ransom, freeing them from the demands of the Law, satisfying the Law for them, then none of them would be condemned. It would be unjust for God to condemn them for sins Christ has already expiated. But God is just, and the reprobates are condemned justly for their sins. It therefore follows that Christ did not die for their sins.
Let's now talk about you. How can you know if Christ died for your sins? That's easy, for the Bible says that all of those who believe the Gospel were elected unto salvation. The Bible says: "And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed" Acts 13:48.
Do you believe the Gospel?
Do you believe Christ died for your sins? If you do, then you are one of the elect, whom God loves, whom Christ died for. If you are afraid of going to hell, if you desire to be saved by Jesus Christ alone, then know you are justified before God. No reprobate desires to be saved by Jesus Christ alone. Reprobates trust in themselves, not in Christ alone. The one who believes the Gospel responds as Peter did:
"Then said Jesus unto the twelve, will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God" John 6:68-69.
Amen.
Monday, October 12, 2015
The only grounds of acceptance before God is the death of Christ alone imputed to the elect alone
When the Bible says in 1 John 3 that believers in Christ does not commit sin it does not at all say that believers do not continue to sin either by habit or accident. But what it is saying is simple the Bible tells us how to please God. It also tells us that no one has pleased God and that God will one day judge the nations on account of their sins. Now it also tells us the only ground of acceptance before God which is in Christ alone. For after the sin of the first parents who were our representatives all of us also fell in them. Because of this the law demanded our death for lack of perfect obedience. No one is righteous but that one that gave his life on the cross for the sins of the elect alone. It is this death that is now imputed to the elect so that in Him they live.
Sunday, August 9, 2015
The Cross was only for the elect alone
"Let him hear this, who proudly preferred or perhaps still prefers nature to grace. That antiphon that you sing with due reverence concerning the holy cross: 'O admirable cross, removal of the wound, restoration of health,' overthrows more clearly than daylight and dispels the error that is fabricated as it were concerning the baptized reprobate having been redeemed by it. For since it is certain that this cross neither ever was nor ever is a 'removal of the wound' or 'restoration of health' for any of them, it is certainly clear that the redemption of none of them was brought about on it, but only of the elect who alone are believed and recognized ot be the world redeemed by Christ's passion, that is, as they as suppliants say to their redeemer: 'We adore you, O Christ, and bless you, for by your cross you have redeemed the world,' and they alone say: 'But we have to boast in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by which we have been saved and set free.' For no one can say that Jesus is Lord except in the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:3), that is, as explained by Saint Augustine: 'In heart, in mouth, in deed, in spirit, in words, and in action no one can say that Jesus is Lord except in the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:3).'" - Gottschalk of Orbais, Gottschalk and A Medieval Predestination Controversy, Pg. 108-9
If Christ died for the reprobate then they would be saved
If Christ had suffered for the reprobate, which is truly by no means so, then it would have been most truthfully known, most certainly held, and intrepidly asserted that none of them - I do not mean: Not all of them - would eternally perish, for whom, as it is known, such a high price has been shed. But as it is wholly evident that this is most false, the Lord God will rightly tell them: Depart, you accursed ones, into everlasting fire (Mt 25:41). -Gottschalk of Orbais, Gottschalk and A Medieval Predestination controversy, pg. 152
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
The merit of the life and death of Christ alone is the only saving difference
Not one elect sinner for whom Jesus Christ effectually died for will ever perish. Christ’s accomplishment of redemption insures their eternal salvation. The merit of the life and death of Christ ALONE is the only saving difference between saved and lost or heaven and hell. In other words the merit of His Person and work is BY ITSELF is what does the saving and His life and death is EFFECTUAL in and of itself. His precious blood and righteousness automatically excludes everything else as the ground of justification and acceptance to God. The Lord Jesus Christ’s whole work resulted in the justification of His people. Christ, as Mediator of the Everlasting Covenant of Grace, brought in and established an everlasting righteousness which is imputes to His people and makes them to be accepted by the Father on that very basis. - Scott Price
Monday, July 20, 2015
Romans 6 on the legal union
Romans 6 is about the elect legal union with Christ not the Spirit's regeneration or progressive work of sanctification (not that there is such thing of progressive sanctification). This means Christ's death on the cross is the elect's death who are legally joined to his death.
3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dea...d by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness ofhis resurrection: 6Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.7For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:9Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
- Romans 6
3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dea...d by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness ofhis resurrection: 6Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.7For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:9Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
- Romans 6
Monday, July 13, 2015
Christ death sanctifies us
Only the atonement of Christ sanctifies us and nothing else. It is his work on the cross which causes our salvation. Those who are not saved is due to this central aspect that Christ Jesus never became their saviour. Here we see that the gospel alone presupposes election and reprobation. It even presupposes total depravity for no one is saved apart from the righteousness of Christ alone.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Nothing in my hands I bring
"Perhaps it will be thought needful, that I should define, with greater precision than I have hitherto done, what I mean by the popular doctrine; especially as I have considered many as preachers thereof who differ remarkably from each other; and particularly as I have ranked amongst them Mr. Wesley, who may justly be reckoned one of the most virulent reproachers of that God, whose character is drawn by the apostles, that this island has produced. To remove all doubt concerning my meaning, I shall thus explain myself.
Throughout these letters, I consider all those as teachers of the popular doctrine, who seek to have credit and influence among the people, by resting our acceptance with God, not simply on what Christ hath done, but more or less on the use we make him, the advance we make toward him, or some secret desire, wish, or sigh to do so; or on something we feel or do concerning him, by the assistance of some kind of grace or spirit; or, lastly, on something we employ him to do, and suppose he is yet to do for us. In sum, all who would have us to be conscious of something else than the bare truth of the gospel; all who would have us to be conscious of some beginning of a change to the better, or some desire, however faint, toward such change, in order to our acceptance with God; these I call the popular preachers, however much they may differ from each other about faith, and grace, special or common, or about anything else. For I am disposed rather to reconcile than widen the various difference among them.
But my resentment is all along chiefly pointed against the capital branch of the popular doctrine, which, while it asserts almost all the articles belonging to the sacred truth, at the same time deceitfully clogs them with the opposite falsehoods. This I would compare to a chain having one link of gold and another of brass alternately: or, I would call it a two-fold cord, wherein one thread of truth and another of falsehood are all along entwisted together. If we think of its practical address to, and influence on the minds of the people, as contrasted with its formally avowed tenets, it resembles a whited sepulcher, inwardly full of rottenness." - Robert Sandeman, Letters on Theron and Aspasio
Throughout these letters, I consider all those as teachers of the popular doctrine, who seek to have credit and influence among the people, by resting our acceptance with God, not simply on what Christ hath done, but more or less on the use we make him, the advance we make toward him, or some secret desire, wish, or sigh to do so; or on something we feel or do concerning him, by the assistance of some kind of grace or spirit; or, lastly, on something we employ him to do, and suppose he is yet to do for us. In sum, all who would have us to be conscious of something else than the bare truth of the gospel; all who would have us to be conscious of some beginning of a change to the better, or some desire, however faint, toward such change, in order to our acceptance with God; these I call the popular preachers, however much they may differ from each other about faith, and grace, special or common, or about anything else. For I am disposed rather to reconcile than widen the various difference among them.
But my resentment is all along chiefly pointed against the capital branch of the popular doctrine, which, while it asserts almost all the articles belonging to the sacred truth, at the same time deceitfully clogs them with the opposite falsehoods. This I would compare to a chain having one link of gold and another of brass alternately: or, I would call it a two-fold cord, wherein one thread of truth and another of falsehood are all along entwisted together. If we think of its practical address to, and influence on the minds of the people, as contrasted with its formally avowed tenets, it resembles a whited sepulcher, inwardly full of rottenness." - Robert Sandeman, Letters on Theron and Aspasio
Only in and by Christ alone
"Here the gospel differs from all the devices of human wisdom. It shows us the living and true God coming down the whole of the infinite distance himself, not to meet returning man, but to overtake and prevent him, when hastening to utter ruin; to seek and to save them that were lost. It shows us God come down to men, Immanuel, God with us. The great truth for which we are indebted to the gospel is, that God was made manifest in the flesh. In the person of Jesus Christ, the distance betwixt God and man is entirely removed. There appeared man in his lowest misery that he can either feel or fear. There appeared the just god in his highest majesty of character: The fullness of the Divine good pleasure rests on him, who became exceeding sorrowful even unto death. There we see Divine vengeance executed against sin to the utmost, yet the eternal God became the refuge of the guilty. There God appears, not working deliverance by halves, not co-operating with sinful man, not restoring his depraved, faculties, and assisting him less or more to deliver himself; but working complete deliverance for man without his concurrence in the least." - Robert Sandeman, Letters on Theron and Aspasio
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Those who ultimately hold to Well-Meant Offer also hold to Universal Atonement
The well-meant offer necessarily implies universal atonement. Where the offer is taught and practiced, confession of universal atonement inevitably follows, if not at once in the official decisions of the church assemblies then in the preaching of the ministers and in the thinking of the members. - David J. Engelsma, The Hyper-Calvinism and the Call of the Gospel
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