Theologicus: The Complete Works in Progress
The Thought
No pen, no words, no image can express to you the loveliness of my only, only Lord Jesus.
- Samuel Rutherford
The Introduction
Once upon a time, my kids were curious about the books in my office, and asked, "Papa, what are all these books about." I told them, "Mostly, they all say the same thing--that Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so."
Theologicus is my humble attempt to be a part of those same set of books.
No pen, no words, no image...
I know that is absolutely true. I know I don't have enough time left on this earth to write all the words. Still, I must try. I must spend all of my breaths, all of my life, and write all of my words express my Christ's love and beauty because I love him so much. He is my Lord and my God. I am my Beloved's and he is mine forever.
In a way, if the Bible is a love letter from God to me, then Theologicus is my love letter right back at God. This is my little way of telling my Christ, "When I finally see you, I will hold your face and kiss your face with a thousand kisses because you are so beautiful to me and you have loved me the best."
The Text
In essence, Theologicus--all of my completed works, sermons, commentaries and study notes--is my exposition of Psalms 17:15.
Psalms 17:15 (CSB) But I will see your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied with your presence.
Corem Deo. I will live before the face of my God. And I know that one day, I will behold my God.
The Apostles' Creed
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.Amen.
The Apostles' Creed: An Introduction & Resources
The Introduction
Why exposit the Apostles' Creed or any creed whatsoever?
Simply put, the Apostles' Creed is a summary of the Christian faith. Full stop. If you believe these words to be true (as with any historical creed), you are saved.
Now I know, in today's modern evangelicalism world, this is all old and passé. Don't you have anything new? Don't you have any fresh revelation?
In Acts 17, when Paul preaches the good news of Christ to the Greeks upon the Areopagus (also known as Mars Hill), he quotes their own poets and philosophers. He meets them where they are at and reveals who is behind what they think is the Unknown God. That is the true and only God who created the heavens and hell. And this God sent his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, Son of God who is God, to take on flesh, live a perfect life, die a sinner's death, and rise again on the third day. And this Jesus is the only way to the Father.
Acts 17:21 (CSB) Now all the Athenians and the foreigners residing there spent their time on nothing else but telling or hearing something new.
Some were interested but that could have been because they have never heard such a thing before. Some believed and followed.
But some mocked and scoffed--because to them it was old news. They have heard it all before. They dismissed it because it didn't give them what they wanted: more of themselves and more of the world. They rejected it because it didn't answer their questions because they were asking the wrong questions.
Acts 17:32 (CSB) When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some began to ridicule him, but others said, “We’d like to hear from you again about this.”
There is no new revelation. There is no new thing. There is no new prophecy. There is no new gospel. New good news is old heresy--every single time. And to declare that there is no new theology and no gospel fights against our modern mind. We have grown up thinking that we always have to be on the cutting edge of everything. We have to be the first to know. We have to be the first to see. We have to be the first to experience. We have to always be discovering everything. And in areas of science, medicine and technology, praise God for his revealed common grace.
But what God has revealed about himself is as old as Genesis 1:1. And his great gospel is this:
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Of all the religions, myths, fables, philosophies, and idealisms, there is only one that is true. And that is the gospel of Jesus Christ--that he live, died, rose again, and ascended to the right hand of the Father. And apart from all the other cults, sects, and religions, we know this to be true because it is an historical fact that happened over 2,000 years ago.
Disbelieve God all you want. Call yourself an atheist or agnostic. But to deny the historical fact of Jesus Christ is foolish to say the least.
For us Christians, there is nothing new under the sun. And I am convinced that we, Christians, don't really know what we believe about Christ.
So start with beginning of the first century church. Learn as they learned. Hear as they heard. Believe as they believed. And confess as they confessed.
And with this creed, declare what they declared: that Jesus Christ is Lord.
The Text
Ephesians 4:10–16 (CSB)
10 The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, to fill all things.11 And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,
12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,
13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.
14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit.
15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ.
16 From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.
Amen.
The Word
Matthew 24:24-25 (CSB) For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Take note: I have told you in advance.
The Belief
Matthew 23:1–7 (CSB)
1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples:2 “The scribes and the Pharisees are seated in the chair of Moses.
3 Therefore do whatever they tell you, and observe it. But don’t do what they do, because they don’t practice what they teach.
4 They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry and put them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves aren’t willing to lift a finger to move them.
5 They do everything to be seen by others: They enlarge their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
6 They love the place of honor at banquets, the front seats in the synagogues,
7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by people.
What we believe is historical
What we believe is accurate
What we believe is Biblical
Matthew 4:4 (CSB) He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
The Response
Genesis 2:16-17 (CSB) And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”
Genesis 3:2-5 (CSB) The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’ ” “No! You will certainly not die,” the serpent said to the woman. “In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Hosea 4:6 (CSB) My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will reject you from serving as my priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your sons.
The Resources
Books
Institutes of the Christian Religion: Calvin's Own 'Essentials' Edition.
John Calvin. Robert White (Translator).
Banner of Truth. 2014.
Goodreads
So I wrap up my Bible Study with my son over Apostles' Creed. And while reading Calvin's 1541 Edition of his Institutes, I get to Chapter 4 and voila:v Faith, with an Explanation of the Apostles’ Creed
I love the provision of God!
As I am reading through it, I will fold in some Calvin into these notes here.
All That Is in God: Evangelical Theology and the Challenge of Classical Christian Theism.
James E. Dolezal.
Reformation Heritage Books. 2017.
Goodreads
The Creedal Imperative.
Carl R. Trueman
Crossway, 2012.
Goodreads
Study Bibles
Christian Standard Bible
Holmon Publishing. 2020.
Goodreads
Many times, many teachers, preachers, and small group leaders (myself included) will "cut straight to the chase" and engage the commentary instead of engaging the Word of God. Remember, the commentaries are not without error—they are the observations of the author.
Slow down, pray, read, chew and meditate.
Note: I use the Christian Standard Bible version on this blog default. Other translations, such as the ESV or the NIV1984, will be noted as such.
ESV Reformation Study Bible
Commentary & Edited by R.C. Sproul.
Ligonier Ministries. March 16, 2015.
Goodreads
I don't have much to say except this: if I was restricted to one Study Bible, this would be the one. Even if they never make one for the CSB. That is how much I love R.C. Sproul's notes--they will always refer back to historical creeds and confessions.
ESV Study Bible
Crossway. 2016.
Goodreads
Incredible resource.
If I had to pick just one format (hardcover vs. leather vs. paperback vs. digital), I use it way more in my Olive Tree Study Bible than anything else.
Hebrew Greek Key Word Study Bible.
New American Standard Bible 1977.
AMG International. 2008.
Goodreads
Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible.
NIV 1984.
Zondervan. 2003.
Goodreads
Life Application Study Bible.
NIV 2011.
Zondervan. 2011.
Goodreads
The Apostles' Creed: I Believe in God the Father Almighty
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty ,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.Amen.
The Word
Genesis 49:22–26 (CSB)
22 Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine beside a spring; its branches climb over the wall.23 The archers attacked him, shot at him, and were hostile toward him.
24 Yet his bow remained steady, and his strong arms were made agile by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, by the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,
25 by the God of your father who helps you, and by the Almighty who blesses you with blessings of the heavens above, blessings of the deep that lies below, and blessings of the breasts and the womb.
26 The blessings of your father excel the blessings of my ancestors and the bounty of the ancient hills. May they rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince of his brothers.
The Belief
The Apostles' Creed. This is the earliest statement of faith. The earliest written form of this creed is found in a letter that Marcellus of Ancyra wrote in Greek to Julius, the bishop of Rome, about AD 341. Fifty years later, around 390, it started showing up in commentaries and books. This became the creed, the statement of faith, and was recited in church and before water baptisms of new believers.
This creed is not just something to recite. For you to recite it means you must believe. We might be able to recite it and not give it a second thought. But back in those days, if you said this with your lips, that might mean you are accepting the most brutal persecution by the Roman government--the same government who crucified our Christ were persecuting Christians and throwing them to lions to be devoured or taking their corpses, dipping in tar, placing them on a pole to to be the source of light for nighttime parties.
1 Corinthians 12:1–3 (CSB) Now concerning spiritual gifts: brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be unaware. You know that when you were pagans, you used to be enticed and led astray by mute idols. Therefore I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
If you believe this, know what you are believing. You are believing in Christ for your life.
What does that look like? Let us who this ancient statement of faith and examine it.
I believe
Hebrews 11:6 (CSB) Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
In around 400AD, there was a new teaching from the Bible circling around the church from a man named Pelagius. He started to spread the teaching that mankind was not in fact infected, broken, and corrupted by sin of Adam but in fact, we were born free from sin and we only sin due to ongoing bad habits.
To that end, if we can break the bad habits, we can live in freedom from sin.
That sounds amazing accept for one thing: humans cannot break from sin. We can do things that appears good and wholesome on the outside, but inside, in our hearts, will, and minds, we are jacked up as ever.
This is why Christ preached:
Matthew 23:25–28 (CSB)
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside of it may also become clean.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of the bones of the dead and every kind of impurity.
28 In the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
And
Matthew 5:21-22 (CSB) “You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, Do not murder, and whoever murders will be subject to judgment. But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Whoever insults his brother or sister will be subject to the court. Whoever says, ‘You fool! ’ will be subject to hellfire.
What we do on the outside--self-discipline and devotion and abstinence--matter not if the heart has not been swapped out by God himself.
What mankind cannot see--our hearts, wills, minds, souls--must be cleansed by God himself.
The end of Pelagius' teaching was this: if a man could be taught 2+2=4, then man could be taught the gospel and believed and be saved.
But what does the Bible say?
John 6:43-46 (CSB) Jesus answered them, “Stop grumbling among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets: And they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father comes to me — not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God. He has seen the Father.
For you to believe, God has to draw you to him first. For:
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
And this calling is a work of the Spirit, for:
John 3:3-5 (CSB) Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”“How can anyone be born when he is old? ” Nicodemus asked him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born? ”Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
You must be born again to believe and enter into the kingdom of God.
All the Sunday school. All the conferences. All the Christian private school. All the catechism. All the Bible colleges. All the seminaries. All the books. No matter how many times you read the Bible. It matters not until the Spirit opens your eyes to see the glory of God, for:
1 Corinthians 2:12 (CSB) Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.
You know what is the real spectacular amazing truth? If you ask for God, you will get God.
Luke 11:9-13 (CSB) “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? ”
Who gives faith in God? Who gives belief in God? Who gives understanding God? Who gives repentance to God?
If you are reading the Scriptures and cannot understand or you are hearing this and cannot believe, I double dog dare you to ask God for God. Try it. I dare you.
Because Christ himself said that if you ask the Father, he will give you the Holy Spirit.
But check this out: because of what Christ has done, God does not visit for a little while. If you ask God, you get God forever.
If you want to believe, you must ask him.
But can I tell you something? If you have the will to ask God for God, that is a good and holy thing. And not to believe is unholy. If you can ask God for God, rest assure that the Triune God dwells in you.
in God
I love the show Ted Lasso. The premise of the show is simple, "If you want something, you must believe in something." What you believe in has to be something substantial and worthwhile.
I wish that could apply to anything we want to do or achieve. The opposite is quite true: if you don't believe in what you are doing, more than likely, you will not accomplish it. You will more than likely fail.
But just to believe in something won't necessarily make it true. Like I can believe in being a ga-zillionaire but I still have the same provision of God that I have always have. (That is a study for another time.)
But when it comes to absolute things, eternal things, who you do believe does matter because it matters forever.
For the Christian, we believe in God and most importantly, we take him at his word.
Some people do believe in God but pressed on whether or not they will go to heaven, they will usually reply, "Oh, I think I am pretty good person." as if to say, "Why wouldn't God let me in?" But to believe in God is to take him at his word. And to take him at his word means we believe what he has said in the Scriptures. And if we study the Scriptures, we can easily conclude that God does not save you because you were pretty good or not as bad as a mass murderer or this other guy who cheats on his taxes. For:
Romans 3:10–12 (CSB) as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one.
And
Romans 3:23 (CSB) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;
Who we believe is of dire and utmost importance.
If all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, what hope is there for us?
Romans 3:21–24 (CSB) But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets. The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, since there is no distinction. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
the Father
Our Father in heaven has sent our only true and real hope, his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God forever and ever.
Everything comes the Father.
The Father sent the Son:
John 5:22-23 (CSB) The Father, in fact, judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, so that all people may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
And you believe and trust the Son, this is what the Father will give to you:
The Father Gives You: the Holy Spirit
John 14:15-17 (CSB) “If you love me, you will keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you.
And
John 14:26 (CSB) But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.
The Father Gives You: the Son
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
The Father Gives You: Adoption as His Child
Romans 8:14–17 (CSB) For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
The Father Gives You: Himself
John 14:23-24 (CSB) Jesus answered, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. The one who doesn’t love me will not keep my words. The word that you hear is not mine but is from the Father who sent me.
Keep in mind that "the Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding" 1. That just means he is not of anything or being sent by someone. He is just simply God and we all come from him and we exist for him.
John 14:11 (CSB) Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Otherwise, believe because of the works themselves.
1 Corinthians 8:6 (CSB) yet for us there is one God, the Father. All things are from him, and we exist for him. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things are through him, and we exist through him.
Almighty
The Apostles' Creed, of all the things that it says God is, it simply calls him Almighty. Almighty simply means all might or or all strength.
We tend to thing of the strong or even the strongest in the world as being someone of immense strength. But speak to those men and women and they will only tell you how weak they are when they cannot lift a certain weight at the weight they want to lift.
But the Father, with all things proceeding from him, has all the strength. He is Almighty. For:
Psalm 24:1–2 (CSB) The earth and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants, belong to the LORD; for he laid its foundation on the seas and established it on the rivers.
Isaiah 50:2–3 (CSB) Why was no one there when I came? Why was there no one to answer when I called? Is my arm too weak to redeem? Or do I have no power to rescue? Look, I dry up the sea by my rebuke; I turn the rivers into a wilderness; their fish rot because of lack of water and die of thirst. I dress the heavens in black and make sackcloth their covering.
If he has all the power and might, then he alone is completely free to do, for:
Psalm 115:3 (CSB) Our God is in heaven and does whatever he pleases.
God has the freedom to do as his will dictates. He is God. In comparison, we, mankind, as his creation who belongs to him, have a will that is free to do what we want but limited. We cannot be 9 feet tall. We cannot sprout wings and fly. We cannot do all things perfectly. And in our brokenness and sin, we cannot ascend to God.
But God knew this. He already knew this. And the Almighty God, maker of heaven, earth, and hell, sent his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, Son of God who is God to us.
When our original parents, Adam and Eve, disobeyed God and sin broken the cosmos, the world, and their hearts, they were ashamed and filled with guilt. They wanted to so badly to cover up their sin. They hid because they did not want God to find them. And they covered themselves with mud and leaves in case God did find them they would be covered.
We do not have the ability, in our flesh, to cover up with our righteousness. Our righteousness is filthy rags in his sight. But God knew that. He sent his Son, in his perfect righteousness, to take on our flesh, so that he could cover us in his righteousness. For:
Isaiah 1:18–19 (CSB) “Come, let’s settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are crimson red, they will be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land.
And
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
We are weak. We cannot cover up ourselves enough to be holy unto God. Yet, God is almighty. He alone was strong enough to come down from glory to take us on in order to save us from our sins.
That is the Almighty God.
The Apostles' Creed: The Creator of Heaven and Earth
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth ,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.Amen.
The Word
Psalm 90:1–3 (CSB)
1 Lord, you have been our refuge in every generation.2 Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, you are God.
3 You return mankind to the dust, saying, “Return, descendants of Adam.”
The Belief
That the only true God is the Creator of heaven and earth
Right from the get go
Page 1, Book 1, Chapter 1, Verse 1:
Genesis 1:1 (CSB) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
God the Father, Creator
- Genesis
- Exodus
- Leviticus
- Numbers
- Deuteronomy
- Joshua
- Judges
- etc.
God did it with nothing
Hebrews 11:1-3 (CSB) Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. For by this our ancestors were approved. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
Since God is Creator is before all things
Psalms 90:2 Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, you are God.
Christ is God and therefore, is before all things
Colossians 1:15–17 (CSB)
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.16 For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him.
17 He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.
John 1:1–5 (CSB)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.
4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men.
5 That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.
That God made us in his image
Genesis 1:26–27 (CSB)
26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”27 So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.
That Christ has made his people in a new creation
John 3:3 (CSB)
3 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
2 Corinthians 5:17–21 (CSB)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!18 Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.
19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.”
21 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
The Apostles' Creed: Jesus Christ, His Only Son, Our Lord
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord :
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.Amen.
The Word
1 Corinthians 12:3 (CSB) Therefore I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
John 3:3 (CSB) Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Matthew 6:33 (CSB) But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.
The Belief
We believe in Jesus Christ
A person with reasonable intelligence can be taught written and reading language. They can be taught math. They can be taught many things.
But I don't care how brilliant you are: you cannot be taught to believe in God.
It does not matter how often you went to church, how many Sunday Schools, Bible colleges, and seminaries you've attended. I don't care how many churches you pastored. I don't care how much you have given to the poor. I don't care what you do.
The fact is for you to believe in God you must be born again.
Here is the greatest news that you will ever receive:
Luke 11:13 (CSB) If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”
You know why this is bonafide guarantee? Because if you ask the Father for the Holy Spirit, surprise, you have the Holy Spirit. Why? Because of what Christ has done for you and what the Spirit has done in you.
Now that the Triune God has done his work, you now righteously and perfectly desire the things of God. Your heart wants God and you quote Scripture asking God for God. That's because God has put his word in you and sealed you with the Holy Spirit.
Rejoice on this day.
His only Son
The 1689 confesses:
the Son is eternally begotten of the Father
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
John 1:14 (CSB) The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 8:28-29 (CSB) So Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own. But just as the Father taught me, I say these things. The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what pleases him.”
The Gospel of John drips with the the most complete, thorough description of the only begotten Son of God the Father.
The Apostle Paul wraps up the Gospel of John in this way:
Colossians 1:15–20 (CSB)
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.16 For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him.
17 He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.
18 He is also the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.
19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,
20 and through him to reconcile everything to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
When we speak of mankind, then a husband and a wife beget a child. You see this in older Bible translations: "Abraham begets Isaac begets Jacob begets Joseph". But reminder that humans are created beings and therefore, by the definition of creation, they have a definite start date. In other words, we are not from eternal past.
When you speak of the Triune God and the word begotten, it is the same yet different. Christ is begotten from the Father. The Father brought about the Son. But Son is always eternal past. So you must say: the Son is eternally begotten from the Father. The Father eternally brought about the Son. That means there was never a time when he was not begotten. He has always been with the Father, living in distinct, perfect, loving, abiding, complete community.
Our Lord
Deuteronomy 6:4–6 (CSB) “Listen, Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart.
The Historic Baptist Confession starts the chapter on God with this: The Lord our God. From his book, Baptist Symbolics Volume 2., Dr. Renihan starts with this sweetest truth,
the paragraph begins with a personalized assertion about God—He is ours.
Renihan. Baptist Symbolics Volume 2. 167
Whatever God wants to reveal about himself to us, it will not be everything about God but it will be truly about God and we, as his people, know him truly. Let the world say what they want about our God. But the maker of the heavens and the earth, the Almighty God, from everlasting to everlasting, belongs to his people. God belongs to me and God belongs to you.
Song of Songs 2:16 For I am my Beloved's and He is mine forever.
God personally belongs to me and I personally belong to him. For:
Exodus 19:5-6 (CSB) Now if you will carefully listen to me and keep my covenant, you will be my own possession out of all the peoples, although the whole earth is mine, and you will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to say to the Israelites.”
And
Titus 2:11-14 (CSB) For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works.
The Apostles' Creed: Jesus Christ, Fully Man
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit ,
born of the Virgin Mary ,
suffered under Pontius Pilate ,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.Amen.
The Word
John 12:32-33 (CSB) As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to myself.” He said this to indicate what kind of death he was about to die.
The Belief
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit
Matthew 1:18–25 (CSB)
18 The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit.19 So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.
20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.”
24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her
25 but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And he named him Jesus.
Big facts:
- it was the will of the Father and the power of the Spirit that conceived Jesus Christ within Mary
- the Roman Catholic Church will still teach that Mary is and will forever be a virgin. However, we know from the Bible that Joseph and Mary had at least 6 more children after Jesus:
Mark 6:3 (CSB) Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And aren’t his sisters here with us? ” So they were offended by him.
born of the Virgin Mary
Why is this so important? Why was it so important for Mary to be a virgin when she conceived Christ?
It was one of the many Messianic prophecies from Isaiah some 400 years before the birth of the Messiah:
Isaiah 7:14 (CSB) Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.
There have been times in church history where it was important that Mary was a virgin or not. One pastor exclaimed, "If we scientifically proved that Mary was not a virgin, then my faith in Christ would not waiver."
To which another pastor replied, "If Mary was not a virgin, that would make God a liar. Which he is not."
This supernatural, Godly, out-of-this-world, almost fantasy-fiction yet absolute, theological fact is a base, primary tenet of the Christian faith.
Believe everything else but this? Congrats, you are not a Christian. You are some historical cult or sect (and not a new disbelief) but you cannot call yourself a Christian.
suffered under Pontius Pilate
So why this is important?
This makes the life and death of Jesus Christ--apart from any other myth or story in history--and historical fact.
The Roman-Greco empire, the greatest empire in history and for all the gods they loved to worship, was a godless, God-hating nation.
Yet, in their history books, state this one fact: Jesus Christ, King of the Jews, suffered under Pontius Pilate.
There will be some hivemind atheists and agnostics who will try to deny the historical Jesus. But to do that would make you look foolish to not only the world but to other sensible atheist.
Attack the Christ from every angle just reinforces Romans 1:18-25. To attack Christ from an historical angle makes you look dumb and stupid.
The Apostles' Creed: Jesus Christ, Crucified
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried .
He descended into hell .The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.Amen.
The Word
1 Corinthians 1:21–25 (CSB) For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of what is preached. For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
The Belief
was crucified, died, and was buried.
Here is the summation of what it means for the crucified, death, and burial of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:1–11 (CSB)
1 What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply?2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection.
6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin,
7 since a person who has died is freed from sin.
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him,
9 because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over him.
10 For the death he died, he died to sin once for all time; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
11 So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Or to put it in one line:
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Not when Christ lived on the earth. Not when he was resurrected. But Christ, Son of God, who is God, died on that cross in Golgotha, that was the precise moment that the sins for his people--past, present, and future--were all taken away forever. And therefore his people, that's you and me, were made righteous in the sight of God.
Hebrews 9:22 (CSB) According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Make no mistake. God doesn't forgive sin because he says, "Your sins are forgiven--go and sin no more" like some kind of magic spell hocus pocus.
For the forgiveness of sins, there must be the shedding of blood. Without the shedding of blood--without a death for the punishment of sins--there is no forgiveness of sin.
But here's the thing. If I died then I am still not forgiven. My death means nothing towards my holiness and righteousness before God because my life is marked with sin, wickedness and iniquity. I know this because I have broken at least one of God's commands. God's law is holy. We don't get to pick and choose which commands to follow because his law is wholly holy or not holy at all.
James 2:10 (CSB) For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all.
But because I am in him and he is in me, my sins were placed on the cross more than 2,000 years ago.
Romans 5:8 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
I am saved by Christ. I was saved 2,000 years ago. And if Ephesians 1, Romans 8, and the Gospel of John stands correct, then I was saved before Genesis 1:1:
Ephesians 1:4-6 (CSB) For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
Upon the cross, where Jesus died, I am made alive, forgiven of all my sins, my the debt and my obligations stripped away, and every single opposition that kept me from God died on that day and brought me into the family of God forever.
Colossians 2:13-15 (CSB) And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.
Let Charles Spurgeon exposit this text:
Let us muse upon the fact that Jesus was conducted without the gates of the city. It was the common place of death. That little rising ground, which perhaps was called Golgotha, the place of a skull, from its somewhat resembling the crown of a man's skull, was the common place of execution. It was one of Death's castles; here he stored his gloomiest trophies; he was the grim lord of that stronghold. Our great hero, the destroyer of Death, bearded the lion in his den, slew the monster in his own castle, and dragged the dragon captive from his own den. Methinks Death thought it a splendid triumph when he saw the Master impaled and bleeding in the dominions of destruction; little did he know that the grave was to be rifled, and himself destroyed, by that crucified Son of man.
Charles Spurgeon. The Procession of Sorrow. Sermon 497. March 1, 1863.
For my sake, I belong to Christ because he died for me:
Galatians 2:20 (CSB) I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
He descended into hell.
To save his people, Christ on the cross was done. But to redeem all of creation aside those who would not trust and obey including Satan and his demons. One last step must take place.
Hosea 13:14 (CSB) I will ransom them from the power of Sheol. I will redeem them from death. Death, where are your barbs? Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion is hidden from my eyes.
Psalms 24:7-10 (CSB)
Lift up your heads, you gates!
Rise up, ancient doors!
Then the King of glory will come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, you gates!
Rise up, ancient doors!
Then the King of glory will come in.
Who is he, this King of glory?
The LORD of Armies,
he is the King of glory. Selah
Acts 2:24 (CSB) God raised him up, ending the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by death.
Ephesians 4:9-10 (CSB) But what does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower parts of the earth? The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, to fill all things.
Revelation 1:17-18 (CSB) When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid. I am the First and the Last, and the Living One. I was dead, but look — I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades.
Shall what beheld Christ since he has done everything--fixed everything once broken by the first Adam?
Daniel 7:9-14 (CSB) “As I kept watching,
thrones were set in place,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
His clothing was white like snow,
and the hair of his head like whitest wool.
His throne was flaming fire;
its wheels were blazing fire.
A river of fire was flowing,
coming out from his presence.
Thousands upon thousands served him;
ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court was convened,
and the books were opened.“I watched, then, because of the sound of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued watching, the beast was killed and its body destroyed and given over to the burning fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was removed, but an extension of life was granted to them for a certain period of time. I continued watching in the night visions,
and suddenly one like a son of man
was coming with the clouds of heaven.He approached the Ancient of Days
and was escorted before him.
He was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
so that those of every people,
nation, and language
should serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that will not pass away,
and his kingdom is one
that will not be destroyed.
From the decree and the sovereign grace of the Father by the power of the Almighty Spirit, all authority and dominion and power and honor has been given to Christ our Savior. That is why we call him King of kings and Lord of lords.
Philippians 2:5-11 (CSB)
Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,
who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
as something to be exploited.
Instead he emptied himself
by assuming the form of a servant,
taking on the likeness of humanity.
And when he had come as a man,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death —
even to death on a cross.
For this reason God highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow —
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth —
and every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Amen
The Apostles' Creed: Jesus Christ, Resurrected
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.Amen.
The Word
1 Corinthians 15:1-8 (CSB) Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel I preached to you, which you received, on which you have taken your stand and by which you are being saved, if you hold to the message I preached to you — unless you believed in vain. For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one born at the wrong time, he also appeared to me.
The Belief
The third day He arose again from the dead
John 20:1–18 (CSB)
1 On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark. She saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb.2 So she went running to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said to them, “They’ve taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they’ve put him!”
3 At that, Peter and the other disciple went out, heading for the tomb.
4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and got to the tomb first.
5 Stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.
6 Then, following him, Simon Peter also came. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there.
7 The wrapping that had been on his head was not lying with the linen cloths but was folded up in a separate place by itself.
8 The other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, then also went in, saw, and believed.
9 For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he must rise from the dead.
10 Then the disciples returned to the place where they were staying.
11 But Mary stood outside the tomb, crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb.
12 She saw two angels in white sitting where Jesus’s body had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet.
13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “Because they’ve taken away my Lord,” she told them, “and I don’t know where they’ve put him.”
14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know it was Jesus.
15 “Woman,” Jesus said to her, “why are you crying? Who is it that you’re seeking?” Supposing he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you’ve carried him away, tell me where you’ve put him, and I will take him away.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” Turning around, she said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!”—which means “Teacher.”
17 “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus told her, “since I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”
18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what he had said to her.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty
Acts 2:29-39 (CSB) “Brothers and sisters, I can confidently speak to you about the patriarch David: He is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn an oath to him to seat one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was to come, he spoke concerning the resurrection of the Messiah: He was not abandoned in Hades, and his flesh did not experience decay.
“God has raised this Jesus; we are all witnesses of this. Therefore, since he has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, he has poured out what you both see and hear. For it was not David who ascended into the heavens, but he himself says:
The Lord declared to my Lord,
‘Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies your footstool.’“Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what should we do? ” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
And:
Hebrews 10:11-14 (CSB) Every priest stands day after day ministering and offering the same sacrifices time after time, which can never take away sins. But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. He is now waiting until his enemies are made his footstool. For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified.
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead
Revelation 20:11 - 21:8 (CSB) Then I saw a great white throne and one seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books. Then the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them; each one was judged according to their works. Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.
Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.
Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life. The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son. But the cowards, faithless, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars — their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Our Response
What has Christ commissioned us to do?
2 Timothy 4:1-5 (CSB) I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom: Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear. They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths. But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
The Apostles' Creed: The Holy Spirit, Fully God
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit , the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.Amen.
The Word
John 16:7-15 (CSB) Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment: About sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; and about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
“I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything the Father has is mine. This is why I told you that he takes from what is mine and will declare it to you.
The Belief
Believe in the Holy Spirit: He is Fully God
- He shares the same attributes of the Father and of the Son
The Lord our God is but one only living and true God; whose subsistence is in and of himself, infinite in being and perfection; whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but himself; a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; who is immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, every way infinite, most holy, most wise, most free, most absolute; working all things according to the counsel of his own immutable and most righteous will for his own glory; most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek him, and withal most just and terrible in his judgments, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty.
Believe in the Holy Spirit: He is Self-Sufficient
God, having all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of himself, is alone in and unto himself all- sufficient, not standing in need of any creature which he hath made, nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting his own glory in, by, unto, and upon them; he is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things, and he hath most sovereign dominion over all creatures, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever himself pleaseth; in his sight all things are open and manifest, his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature, so as nothing is to him contingent or uncertain; he is most holy in all his counsels, in all his works, and in all his commands; to him is due from angels and men, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience, as creatures they owe unto the Creator, and whatever he is further pleased to require of them.
Believe in the Holy Spirit: Yet, he is not the Father nor the Son
In this divine and infinite Being there are three subsistences, the Father, the Word or Son, and Holy Spirit, of one substance, power, and eternity, each having the whole divine essence, yet the essence undivided: the Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son; all infinite, without beginning, therefore but one God, who is not to be divided in nature and being, but distinguished by several peculiar relative properties and personal relations; which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our communion with God, and comfortable dependence on him.
The Apostles' Creed: The Holy Spirit as Christ Revealed
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit , the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.Amen.
The Word
Romans 8:9-11 (CSB) You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.
The Belief
Believe in the Holy Spirit: What Christ has said
John 3:3–9 (CSB) Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” “How can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” “How can these things be?” asked Nicodemus.
On Christ: The Spirit births us into the Kingdom of God
When Christ said, "You must be born again," make no mistake: you must be born again but you, yourself, cannot born yourself again. Our salvation, seeing the kingdom of God, the understanding of his word--everything--is completely 100% supernatural. No exceptions.
"You must be born again" - treat this like a command and you will fall into despair because this is a command that you and I cannot obey. The unbeliever can fool themselves into thinking that they are obeying God because it seems, on the surface, that they can do the same thing we do: read our Bible, pray, give to the poor, don't kill, steal, destroy. But there is difference that is everything: believers are born of the Spirit of God while unbelievers are born of the flesh. One is in God, the other is in himself. One believes in Christ and lives, the other has the wrath of God abiding on him. One is in the Second Adam; the other is still in the First Adam. There is no muddling between the two.
On Christ: Christ sent to the Spirit to us
John 16:7 (CSB) Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you.
Acts 1:4-8 (CSB) While he was with them, he commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “Which,” he said, “you have heard me speak about; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time? ” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
On Christ: The Spirit will convict the world of three things
John 16:8 (CSB) When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment:
On Christ: Only the Spirit can convict of sin
John 16:9 (CSB) About sin, because they do not believe in me;
- Preaching against sin versus conviction of sin
On Christ: Only the Spirit gives us the righteousness of Christ
John 16:10 (CSB) about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me;
Romans 1:17 (CSB) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.
On Christ: Only the Spirit has the power to judge the Satan and his demons
John 16:11 (CSB) and about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
On Christ: Only the Spirit guides into all truth
John 16:12-13 (CSB) “I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come.
1 Corinthians 2:12 (CSB) Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.
our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth, and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts.
1689.1.5 Inward Work of the Holy Spirit Concerning the Scriptures
On Christ: The Spirit glorifies Christ
John 16:14 (CSB) He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
On Christ: The Spirit gives us everything the Father has given to Christ
John 16:15 (CSB) Everything the Father has is mine. This is why I told you that he takes from what is mine and will declare it to you.
Adoption
Romans 8:14-17 (CSB) For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father! ” The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs — heirs of God and coheirs with Christ — if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
Ministry
John 3:34-35 (CSB) For the one whom God sent speaks God’s words, since he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hands.
Intercesssion
Romans 8:26-27 (CSB) In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
The Apostles' Creed: The Holy Catholic Church
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church ,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.Amen.
The Word
Hebrews 12:23 (CSB) to the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written in heaven, to a Judge, who is God of all, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect,
The Belief
The catholic or universal church, which (with respect to the internal work of the Spirit and truth of grace) may be called invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ, the head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
The Holy Catholic Church is invisible
Hebrews 12:23 (CSB) to the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written in heaven, to a Judge, who is God of all, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect,
The Holy Catholic Church is headed by Christ--full stop
Colossians 1:18 (CSB) He is also the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.
The Holy Catholic Church is the sermon preached to the angels, Satan and demons
Ephesians 3:8-10 (CSB) This grace was given to me — the least of all the saints — to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of Christ, and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things. This is so that God’s multi-faceted wisdom may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens.
The Holy Catholic Church is the bride of Christ
Ephesians 5:23–32 (CSB) because the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of the body. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives are to submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word. He did this to present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless. In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hates his own flesh but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, since we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is profound, but I am talking about Christ and the church.
Revelation 19:6-9 (CSB) Then I heard something like the voice of a vast multitude, like the sound of cascading waters, and like the rumbling of loud thunder, saying,
Hallelujah, because our Lord God, the Almighty,
reigns!
Let us be glad, rejoice, and give him glory,
because the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has prepared herself.
She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure.
For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints.
Then he said to me, “Write: Blessed are those invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb! ” He also said to me, “These words of God are true.”
Revelation 21:9-11 (CSB) Then one of the seven angels, who had held the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues, came and spoke with me: “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” He then carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, arrayed with God’s glory. Her radiance was like a precious jewel, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
Revelation 22:16-17 (CSB) “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to attest these things to you for the churches. I am the Root and descendant of David, the bright morning star.” Both the Spirit and the bride say, “Come! ” Let anyone who hears, say, “Come! ” Let the one who is thirsty come. Let the one who desires take the water of life freely.
The Apostles' Creed: The Communion of Saints
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints , the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.Amen.
The Word
Hebrews 10:24-25 (CSB) And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.
The Belief
We Belong to One Another: We are One Body
1 Corinthians 12:26 (CSB) So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
Ephesians 1:22-23 (CSB) And he subjected everything under his feet and appointed him as head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.
- American individualism vs. Biblical community
- Does it mean people get to tell me what to do?
- Does it mean that people get to stay up to all hours of the night at your place?
- What does that mean?
We Belong to One Another: Love One Another
John 13:34–35 (CSB) “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Matthew 22:34–40 (CSB) When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a question to test him: “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”
Look at this passage: Christ equates loving God with loving your neighbor. The two are inseparable.
If we are called to love one another, then we belong to one another. The world might do its best to love each other but that is where the similarities begin and end there. The world does not belong to one another. We, as the church, belong to one another. And out of the belonging, because of what Christ has done, we get to not only love each other but love our neighbors in the world.
In our ministry and love in that, think of the grace of God and think of us belonging to one another. From there, love each other.
We Belong to One Another: Sit Under the Proclamation of the Word of God
Hebrews 10:24-25 (CSB) And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.
Acts 2:42 (CSB) They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.
Acts 20:7 (CSB) On the first day of the week, we assembled to break bread. Paul spoke to them, and since he was about to depart the next day, he kept on talking until midnight.
1 Corinthians 14:26 (CSB) What then, brothers and sisters? Whenever you come together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Everything is to be done for building up.
Colossians 3:16 (CSB) Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
The Apostles' Creed: The Forgiveness of Sins
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,the forgiveness of sins ,
the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.Amen.
The Word
1 John 1:9 (CSB) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The Belief
We Are Forgiven: Christ Has Promised Us
Matthew 9:2 (CSB) Just then some men brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Have courage, son, your sins are forgiven.”
John 8:10-11 (CSB) When Jesus stood up, he said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? ”
“No one, Lord,” she answered.
“Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”
He declares it to be true and so it is. Because he made this promise before the foundation of the world.
Ephesians 1:4-6 (CSB) For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
But God is not a being like you or me that will say one thing and never do it. God is the opposite of us in that when he says he will do something, it is done.
When it comes to saving his people from their sins, he has already done it. He sent his Son to us to live and die for us so that we would die and live with him forever.
God is not a God who just speaks. God is the God of Action. He says he will do something by making a covenant of redemption between the Father and the Son and sealed by the Holy Spirit to redeem his people.
Romans 4:20-22 (CSB) He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, because he was fully convinced that what God had promised, he was also able to do. Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness.
We Are Forgiven: Christ Has Died for Us
Make no mistake
Hebrews 9:22-28 (CSB) According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Therefore, it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves to be purified with better sacrifices than these. For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model of the true one) but into heaven itself, so that he might now appear in the presence of God for us. He did not do this to offer himself many times, as the high priest enters the sanctuary yearly with the blood of another. Otherwise, he would have had to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared one time, at the end of the ages, for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for people to die once — and after this, judgment — so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Christ has died for our sin because in order to cleanse the sin away, their must be a sacrifice.
That is where even some Christians will balk at the law of God. "Why does someone have to die for one little mistake." But we forget that all have sinned and fallen way, way short of the glory of God. God is holy and pure and untouched by sin and we are infected by sin. He cannot permit sin in his presence.
Yet, at the same time, he must rescue his people.
Since his people have no chance in heaven to get to him on their own, the Father sent his Son to dwell in the flesh, to be the Second Adam, perfectly obeying the covenant of works so that we will all be saved.
We Are Forgiven: Christ Has Saved Us
Romans 10:8-13 (CSB) On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. This is the message of faith that we proclaim: If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame, since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all richly blesses all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
The Apostles' Creed: The Resurrection of the Body
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body , and life everlasting.Amen.
The Word
John 11:25-26 (CSB) Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this? ”
The Belief
Resurrection of the Body: Essential to the Gospel
1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (CSB) For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one born at the wrong time, he also appeared to me.
Resurrection of the Body: Essential to the Faith
1 Corinthians 15:12-19 (CSB) Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say, “There is no resurrection of the dead”? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is in vain, and so is your faith. Moreover, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified wrongly about God that he raised up Christ — whom he did not raise up, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Those, then, who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished. If we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone.
Resurrection of the Body: Essential to Life
John 11:38-44 (CSB) Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. “Remove the stone,” Jesus said.
Martha, the dead man’s sister, told him, “Lord, there is already a stench because he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God? ” So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you heard me. I know that you always hear me, but because of the crowd standing here I said this, so that they may believe you sent me.” After he said this, he shouted with a loud voice,
“Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out bound hand and foot with linen strips and with his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and let him go.”
Romans 8:10-11 (CSB) Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.
John 12:9-11 (CSB) Then a large crowd of the Jews learned he was there. They came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, the one he had raised from the dead. But the chief priests had decided to kill Lazarus also, because he was the reason many of the Jews were deserting them and believing in Jesus.
Resurrection of the Body: No Fear
Matthew 10:28 (CSB) Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Resurrection of the Body: Rejoice
Luke 10:20 (CSB) However, don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
The Apostles' Creed: Life Everlasting
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, andlife everlasting .Amen.
The Word
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
The Belief
From the beginning, we were created to live forever
Genesis 1:26 (CSB) Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”
Sin broke all of that
Genesis 3:7 (CSB) Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Sin separated us from God
Genesis 3:10 (CSB) And he said, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.”
We are dead in our trespasses and sins
Ephesians 2:1-2 (CSB) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient.
John 11:11-13 (CSB) He said this, and then he told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I’m on my way to wake him up.” Then the disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will get well.” Jesus, however, was speaking about his death, but they thought he was speaking about natural sleep.
But God, being rich in mercy, made us alive in Christ
Ephesians 2:4-9 (CSB) But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift — not from works, so that no one can boast.
Forever
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
Romans 8:38–39 (CSB) For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Psalm 17:15 (CSB) But I will see your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied with your presence.
Psalm 16:11 (CSB) You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures.
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
John 11:25-26 (CSB) Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this? ”
The Apostles' Creed: Amen
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.
Amen .
The Word
Luke 24:44-49 (CSB) He told them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you — that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. He also said to them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead the third day, and repentance for forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. As for you, stay in the city until you are empowered from on high.”
The Belief
Taken from the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 1.2 The Old and New Testaments of Holy Scripture, let us examine the promises of God.
All of which are given by the inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (CSB) All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Luke 16:29-31 (CSB) But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said. ‘But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ “But he told him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’”
But there is one who returned from the dead, who breathed out the words of God by the power of the Holy Spirit from the sovereign grace and mercy of God our Father--that is, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Christ has returned from the dead. Will you repent of your sins? Will you trust and believe and live by the words of God? Will you obey the Son of God who is God for your life!
The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God (who is truth itself), the author thereof; therefore it is to be received because it is the Word of God.
2 Peter 1:19 (CSB) We also have the prophetic word strongly confirmed, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
John 1:4–5 (CSB) In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.
yet notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth, and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts
But it is only dependent on God who wills us to understanding and maturity:
Hebrews 5:11–6:3 (CSB)
11 We have a great deal to say about this, and it is difficult to explain, since you have become too lazy to understand.12 Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation again. You need milk, not solid food.
13 Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant.
14 But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.
1 Therefore, let us leave the elementary teaching about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, faith in God,
2 teaching about ritual washings, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
3 And we will do this if God permits.
Everything that God has said in his word is true
2 Corinthians 1:20 (CSB) For every one of God’s promises is “Yes” in him. Therefore, through him we also say “Amen” to the glory of God.
The Nicene Creed
I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
The Chalcedonian Creed
We, then, following the holy fathers,
all with one consent teach men to confess one and the same Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ,
the same perfect in Godhead
and also perfect in manhood;
truly God and truly man,
of a rational soul and body;
coessential with the Father according to the Godhead,
and consubstantial with us according to the manhood;
in all things like unto us,
without sin;
begotten before all ages of the Father according to the Godhead,
and in these latter days,
for us and for our salvation,
born of the Virgin Mary, the mother of God, according to the manhood; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten,
to be acknowledged in two natures,
without confusion,
without change,
without division,
without separation;
the distinction of natures being by no means taken away by the union, but rather the property of each nature being preserved,
and concurring in one person and one subsistence,
not parted or divided into two persons,
but one and the same Son,
and only begotten,
God the Word,
the Lord Jesus Christ;
as the prophets from the beginning have declared concerning Him,
and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself has taught us,
and the creed of the holy fathers has handed down to us.
The Athanasian Creed
Whoever desires to be saved should above all hold to the catholic faith.
Anyone who does not keep it whole and unbroken will doubtless perish eternally.
Now this is the catholic faith:
That we worship one God in trinity and the trinity in unity,
neither blending their persons
nor dividing their essence.
For the person of the Father is a distinct person,
the person of the Son is another,
and that of the Holy Spirit still another.
But the divinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is one,
their glory equal, their majesty coeternal.
What quality the Father has, the Son has, and the Holy Spirit has.
The Father is uncreated,
the Son is uncreated,
the Holy Spirit is uncreated.
The Father is immeasurable,
the Son is immeasurable,
the Holy Spirit is immeasurable.
The Father is eternal,
the Son is eternal,
the Holy Spirit is eternal.
And yet there are not three eternal beings;
there is but one eternal being.
So too there are not three uncreated or immeasurable beings;
there is but one uncreated and immeasurable being.
Similarly, the Father is almighty,
the Son is almighty,
the Holy Spirit is almighty.
Yet there are not three almighty beings;
there is but one almighty being.
Thus the Father is God,
the Son is God,
the Holy Spirit is God.
Yet there are not three gods;
there is but one God.
Thus the Father is Lord,
the Son is Lord,
the Holy Spirit is Lord.
Yet there are not three lords;
there is but one Lord.
Just as Christian truth compels us
to confess each person individually
as both God and Lord,
so catholic religion forbids us
to say that there are three gods or lords.
The Father was neither made nor created nor begotten from anyone.
The Son was neither made nor created;
he was begotten from the Father alone.
The Holy Spirit was neither made nor created nor begotten;
he proceeds from the Father and the Son.
Accordingly there is one Father, not three fathers;
there is one Son, not three sons;
there is one Holy Spirit, not three holy spirits.
Nothing in this trinity is before or after,
nothing is greater or smaller;
in their entirety the three persons
are coeternal and coequal with each other.
So in everything, as was said earlier,
we must worship their trinity in their unity
and their unity in their trinity.
Anyone then who desires to be saved
should think thus about the trinity.
But it is necessary for eternal salvation
that one also believe in the incarnation
of our Lord Jesus Christ faithfully.
Now this is the true faith:
That we believe and confess
that our Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son,
is both God and human, equally.
He is God from the essence of the Father,
begotten before time;
and he is human from the essence of his mother,
born in time;
completely God, completely human,
with a rational soul and human flesh;
equal to the Father as regards divinity,
less than the Father as regards humanity.
Although he is God and human,
yet Christ is not two, but one.
He is one, however,
not by his divinity being turned into flesh,
but by God's taking humanity to himself.
He is one,
certainly not by the blending of his essence,
but by the unity of his person.
For just as one human is both rational soul and flesh,
so too the one Christ is both God and human.
He suffered for our salvation;
he descended to hell;
he arose from the dead;
he ascended to heaven;
he is seated at the Father's right hand;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
At his coming all people will arise bodily
and give an accounting of their own deeds.
Those who have done good will enter eternal life,
and those who have done evil will enter eternal fire.
This is the catholic faith:
one cannot be saved without believing it firmly and faithfully.
1689 Second London Baptist Confession of Faith With Scripture Proofs
Table of Contents
- Prelude
- Chapter 1: Of the Holy Scriptures
- 1.1 The Holy Scriptures
- 1.2 The Old and New Testaments of Holy Scripture
- 1.3 The Apocrypha of Holy Scripture
- 1.4 The Authority of Holy Scripture
- 1.5 The Inward Work of the Holy Spirit Concerning Holy Scripture
- 1.6 The Whole Counsel of God Within Holy Scripture
- 1.7 The Clarity of Scripture for Salvation
- 1.8 The Inspiration of God on Holy Scripture
- 1.9 The Interpretation of Holy Scripture
- 1.10 The Infallibility of Holy Scripture
- Chapter 2: Of God and of the Holy Trinity
- Chapter 3: Of God's Decree
- Chapter 4: Of Creation
- Chapter 5: Of Divine Providence
- Chapter 6: Of the Fall of Man, Of Sin, And of the Punishment Thereof
- Chapter 7: Of God's Covenant
- Chapter 8: Of Christ the Mediator
- Chapter 9: Of Free Will
- Chapter 10: Of Effectual Calling
- Chapter 11: Of Justification
- 11.1 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Gives Righteousness
- 11.2 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Gives Faith
- 11.3 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Gives His Son
- 11.4 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Gives His Spirit
- 11.5 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Gives Eternity
- 11.6 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Saves All
- Chapter 12: Of Adoption
- Chapter 13: Of Sanctification
- Chapter 14: Of Saving Faith
- Chapter 15: Of Repentance Unto Life and Salvation
- Chapter 16: Of Good Works
- Chapter 17: Of The Perseverance of the Saints
- Chapter 18: Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation
- Chapter 19: Of the Law of God
- Chapter 20: Of the Gospel, and of the Extent of the Grace Thereof
- Chapter 21: Of Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience
- Chapter 22: Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day
- Chapter 23: Of Lawful Oaths and Vows
- Chapter 24: Of the Civil Magistrate
- Chapter 25: Of Marriage
- Chapter 26: Of the Church
- Chapter 27: Of the Communion of Saints
- Chapter 28: Of Baptism and the Lord's Supper
- Chapter 29: Of Baptism
- Chapter 30: Of the Lord's Supper
- Chapter 31: Of the State of Man after Death and Of the Resurrection of the Dead
- Chapter 32: Of the Last Judgment
- Closing Statement & Signatories
Prelude
Adopted by the Ministers and Messengers of the general assembly which met in London in 1689
Chapter 1: Of the Holy Scriptures
1.1 The Holy Scriptures
The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience, although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and his will which is necessary unto salvation. Therefore it pleased the Lord at sundry times and in divers manners to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto his church; and afterward for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan, and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing; which maketh the Holy Scriptures to be most necessary, those former ways of God's revealing his will unto his people being now ceased.
2 Timothy 3:15–17 (CSB) and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Isaiah 8:20 (CSB) Go to God’s instruction and testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, there will be no dawn for them.
Luke 16:29 (CSB) “But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’
Luke 16:31 (CSB) “But he told him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’ ”
Ephesians 2:20 (CSB) built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.
Romans 1:19–21 (CSB) since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse. For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened.
Romans 2:14 (CSB) So, when Gentiles, who do not by nature have the law, do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law.
Romans 2:15 (CSB) They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts. Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts either accuse or even excuse them
Psalm 19:1–3 (CSB) The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands. Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge. There is no speech; there are no words; their voice is not heard.
Hebrews 1:1 (CSB) Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways.
Proverbs 22:19–21 (CSB) I have instructed you today—even you— so that your confidence may be in the LORD.Haven’t I written for you thirty sayings about counsel and knowledge,in order to teach you true and reliable words, so that you may give a dependable report to those who sent you?
Romans 15:4 (CSB) For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures.
2 Peter 1:19–20 (CSB) We also have the prophetic word strongly confirmed, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation,
1.2 The Old and New Testaments of Holy Scripture
Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testaments, which are these:
OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I Samuel, II Samuel, I Kings, II Kings, I Chronicles, II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, The Song of Solomen, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations,Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
OF THE NEW TESTAMENT: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, The Acts of the Apostles, Paul's Epistle to the Romans, I Corinthians, II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I Thessalonians, II Thessalonians, I Timothy, II Timothy, To Titus, To Philemon, The Epistle to the Hebrews, Epistle of James, The first and second Epistles of Peter, The first, second, and third Epistles of John, The Epistle of Jude, The Revelation
All of which are given by the inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life.
2 Timothy 3:16 (CSB) All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,
1.3 The Apocrypha of Holy Scripture
The books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the canon or rule of the Scripture, and, therefore, are of no authority to the church of God, nor to be any otherwise approved or made use of than other human writings.
Luke 24:27–44 (CSB) Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures. They came near the village where they were going, and he gave the impression that he was going farther. But they urged him, “Stay with us, because it’s almost evening, and now the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. It was as he reclined at the table with them that he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight. They said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts burning within us while he was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us?” That very hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and those with them gathered together, who said, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then they began to describe what had happened on the road and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. As they were saying these things, he himself stood in their midst. He said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and terrified and thought they were seeing a ghost. “Why are you troubled?” he asked them. “And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself! Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” Having said this, he showed them his hands and feet. But while they still were amazed and in disbelief because of their joy, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” So they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence. He told them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
Romans 3:2 (CSB) Considerable in every way. First, they were entrusted with the very words of God.
1.4 The Authority of Holy Scripture
The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God (who is truth itself), the author thereof; therefore it is to be received because it is the Word of God.
2 Peter 1:19–21 (CSB) We also have the prophetic word strongly confirmed, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
2 Timothy 3:16 (CSB) All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,
2 Thessalonians 2:13 (CSB) But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God has chosen you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
1 John 5:9 (CSB) If we accept human testimony, God’s testimony is greater, because it is God’s testimony that he has given about his Son.
1.5 The Inward Work of the Holy Spirit Concerning Holy Scripture
We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the church of God to an high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scriptures; and the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, and the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes of the only way of man's salvation, and many other incomparable excellencies, and entire perfections thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God; yet notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth, and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts.
John 16:13–14 (CSB) When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
1 Corinthians 2:10–12 (CSB) Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, since the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except his spirit within him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.
1 John 2:20–27 (CSB) But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. I have not written to you because you don’t know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie comes from the truth. Who is the liar, if not the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This one is the antichrist: the one who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; he who confesses the Son has the Father as well. What you have heard from the beginning is to remain in you. If what you have heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he himself made to us: eternal life. I have written these things to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you don’t need anyone to teach you. Instead, his anointing teaches you about all things and is true and is not a lie; just as it has taught you, remain in him.
1.6 The Whole Counsel of God Within Holy Scripture
The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down or necessarily contained in the Holy Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelation of the Spirit, or traditions of men. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word, and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.
2 Timothy 3:14-17 (CSB) But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you, and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Galatians 1:8–9 (CSB) But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, a curse be on him! As we have said before, I now say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, a curse be on him!
John 6:45 (CSB) It is written in the Prophets: And they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father comes to me—
1 Corinthians 2:9–12 (CSB) But as it is written, What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived— God has prepared these things for those who love him. Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, since the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except his spirit within him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.
1 Corinthians 11:13–14 (CSB) Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair it is a disgrace to him,
1 Corinthians 14:26–40 (CSB) What then, brothers and sisters? Whenever you come together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Everything is to be done for building up. If anyone speaks in a tongue, there are to be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no interpreter, that person is to keep silent in the church and speak to himself and God. Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should evaluate. But if something has been revealed to another person sitting there, the first prophet should be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged. And the prophets’ spirits are subject to the prophets, since God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but are to submit themselves, as the law also says. If they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home, since it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. Or did the word of God originate from you, or did it come to you only? If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, he should recognize that what I write to you is the Lord’s command. If anyone ignores this, he will be ignored. So then, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything is to be done decently and in order.
1.7 The Clarity of Scripture for Salvation
All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all; yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of ordinary means, may attain to a sufficient understanding of them.
2 Peter 3:16 (CSB) He speaks about these things in all his letters. There are some things hard to understand in them. The untaught and unstable will twist them to their own destruction, as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures.
Psalm 19:7 (CSB) The instruction of the LORD is perfect, renewing one’s life; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise.
Psalm 119:130 (CSB) The revelation of your words brings light and gives understanding to the inexperienced.
1.8 The Inspiration of God on Holy Scripture
The Old Testament in Hebrew (which was the native language of the people of God of old), and the New Testament in Greek (which at the time of the writing of it was most generally known to the nations), being immediately inspired by God, and by his singular care and providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentic; so as in all controversies of religion, the church is finally to appeal to them. But because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God, who have a right unto, and interest in the Scriptures, and are commanded in the fear of God to read and search them, therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come, that the Word of God dwelling plentifully in all, they may worship him in an acceptable manner, and through patience and comfort of the Scriptures may have hope.
Romans 3:2 (CSB) Considerable in every way. First, they were entrusted with the very words of God.
Isaiah 8:20 (CSB) Go to God’s instruction and testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, there will be no dawn for them.
Acts 15:15 (CSB) And the words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written:
John 5:39 (CSB) You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, and yet they testify about me.
1 Corinthians 14:6–28 (CSB) So now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you with a revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? Even lifeless instruments that produce sounds—whether flute or harp—if they don’t make a distinction in the notes, how will what is played on the flute or harp be recognized? In fact, if the bugle makes an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle? In the same way, unless you use your tongue for intelligible speech, how will what is spoken be known? For you will be speaking into the air. There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, none is without meaning. Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me. So also you—since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in building up the church. Therefore the person who speaks in a tongue should pray that he can interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with my understanding. I will sing praise with the spirit, and I will also sing praise with my understanding. Otherwise, if you praise with the spirit, how will the outsider say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? For you may very well be giving thanks, but the other person is not being built up. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you; yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, in order to teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. Brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your thinking, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking. It is written in the law, I will speak to this people by people of other tongues and by the lips of foreigners, and even then, they will not listen to me, says the Lord. Speaking in tongues, then, is intended as a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers. If, therefore, the whole church assembles together and all are speaking in tongues and people who are outsiders or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds? But if all are prophesying and some unbeliever or outsider comes in, he is convicted by all and is called to account by all. The secrets of his heart will be revealed, and as a result he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is really among you.” What then, brothers and sisters? Whenever you come together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Everything is to be done for building up. If anyone speaks in a tongue, there are to be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no interpreter, that person is to keep silent in the church and speak to himself and God.
Colossians 3:16 (CSB) Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
1.9 The Interpretation of Holy Scripture
The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself; and therefore when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture (which is not manifold, but one), it must be searched by other places that speak more clearly.
2 Peter 1:20–21 (CSB) Above all, you know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Acts 15:15–16 (CSB) And the words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written: After these things I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. I will rebuild its ruins and set it up again,
1.10 The Infallibility of Holy Scripture
The supreme judge, by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Scripture delivered by the Spirit, into which Scripture so delivered, our faith is finally resolved.
Matthew 22:29–32 (CSB) Jesus answered them, “You are mistaken, because you don’t know the Scriptures or the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels in heaven. Now concerning the resurrection of the dead, haven’t you read what was spoken to you by God: I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”
Ephesians 2:20 (CSB) built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.
Acts 28:23 (CSB) After arranging a day with him, many came to him at his lodging. From dawn to dusk he expounded and testified about the kingdom of God. He tried to persuade them about Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets.
Chapter 2: Of God and of the Holy Trinity
2.1 The Attributes of God
The Lord our God is but one only living and true God; whose subsistence is in and of himself, infinite in being and perfection; whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but himself; a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; who is immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, every way infinite, most holy, most wise, most free, most absolute; working all things according to the counsel of his own immutable and most righteous will for his own glory; most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek him, and withal most just and terrible in his judgments, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty.
1 Corinthians 8:4–6 (CSB) About eating food sacrificed to idols, then, we know that “an idol is nothing in the world,” and that “there is no God but one.” For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth—as there are many “gods” and many “lords”—yet for us there is one God, the Father. All things are from him, and we exist for him. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things are through him, and we exist through him.
Deuteronomy 6:4 (CSB) “Listen, Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
Jeremiah 10:10 (CSB) But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and eternal King. The earth quakes at his wrath, and the nations cannot endure his fury.
Isaiah 48:12 (CSB) “Listen to me, Jacob, and Israel, the one called by me: I am he; I am the first, I am also the last.
Exodus 3:14 (CSB) God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.”
John 4:24 (CSB) God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and in truth.”
1 Timothy 1:17 (CSB) Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Deuteronomy 4:15–16 (CSB) “Diligently watch yourselves—because you did not see any form on the day the LORD spoke to you out of the fire at Horeb—so you don’t act corruptly and make an idol for yourselves in the shape of any figure: a male or female form,
Malachi 3:6 (CSB) “Because I, the LORD, have not changed, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed.
1 Kings 8:27 (CSB) But will God indeed live on earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain you, much less this temple I have built.
Jeremiah 23:23 (CSB) “Am I a God who is only near”—this is the LORD’s declaration—“and not a God who is far away?
Psalm 90:2 (CSB) Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, you are God.
Genesis 17:1 (CSB) When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him, saying, “I am God Almighty. Live in my presence and be blameless.
Isaiah 6:3 (CSB) And one called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Armies; his glory fills the whole earth.
Psalm 115:3 (CSB) Our God is in heaven and does whatever he pleases.
Isaiah 46:10 (CSB) I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will.
Proverbs 16:4 (CSB) The LORD has prepared everything for his purpose— even the wicked for the day of disaster.
Romans 11:36 (CSB) For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.
Exodus 34:6–7 (CSB) The LORD passed in front of him and proclaimed: The LORD—the LORD is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But he will not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation.
Hebrews 11:6 (CSB) Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Nehemiah 9:32 (CSB) So now, our God—the great, mighty, and awe-inspiring God who keeps his gracious covenant— do not view lightly all the hardships that have afflicted us, our kings and leaders, our priests and prophets, our ancestors and all your people, from the days of the Assyrian kings until today.
Nehemiah 9:33 (CSB) You are righteous concerning all that has happened to us, because you have acted faithfully, while we have acted wickedly.
Psalm 5:5 (CSB) The boastful cannot stand in your sight; you hate all evildoers.
Psalm 5:6 (CSB) You destroy those who tell lies; the LORD abhors violent and treacherous people.
Exodus 34:7 (CSB) maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But he will not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation.
Nahum 1:2–3 (CSB) The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD takes vengeance and is fierce in wrath. The LORD takes vengeance against his foes; he is furious with his enemies. The LORD is slow to anger but great in power; the LORD will never leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath his feet.
2.2 The Sufficiency of God
God, having all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of himself, is alone in and unto himself all- sufficient, not standing in need of any creature which he hath made, nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting his own glory in, by, unto, and upon them; he is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things, and he hath most sovereign dominion over all creatures, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever himself pleaseth; in his sight all things are open and manifest, his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature, so as nothing is to him contingent or uncertain; he is most holy in all his counsels, in all his works, and in all his commands; to him is due from angels and men, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience, as creatures they owe unto the Creator, and whatever he is further pleased to require of them.
John 5:26 (CSB) For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he has granted to the Son to have life in himself.
Psalm 148:13 (CSB) Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted. His majesty covers heaven and earth.
Psalm 119:68 (CSB) You are good, and you do what is good; teach me your statutes.
Job 22:2 (CSB) Can a man be of any use to God? Can even a wise man be of use to him?
Job 22:3 (CSB) Does it delight the Almighty if you are righteous? Does he profit if you perfect your behavior?
Romans 11:34–36 (CSB) For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? And who has ever given to God, that he should be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.
Daniel 4:25 (CSB) You will be driven away from people to live with the wild animals. You will feed on grass like cattle and be drenched with dew from the sky for seven periods of time, until you acknowledge that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms, and he gives them to anyone he wants.
Daniel 4:34 (CSB) But at the end of those days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity returned to me. Then I praised the Most High and honored and glorified him who lives forever: For his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation.
Daniel 4:35 (CSB) All the inhabitants of the earth are counted as nothing, and he does what he wants with the army of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. There is no one who can block his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”
Hebrews 4:13 (CSB) No creature is hidden from him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.
Ezekiel 11:5 (CSB) Then the Spirit of the LORD came on me, and he told me, “You are to say, ‘This is what the LORD says: That is what you are thinking, house of Israel; and I know the thoughts that arise in your mind.
Acts 15:15–18 (CSB) And the words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written: After these things I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. I will rebuild its ruins and set it up again, so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord— even all the Gentiles who are called by my name— declares the Lord who makes these things known from long ago.
Psalm 145:17 (CSB) The LORD is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all his acts.
Revelation 5:12–14 (CSB) They said with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing! I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say, Blessing and honor and glory and power be to the one seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever! The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
2.3 The Triune God
In this divine and infinite Being there are three subsistences, the Father, the Word or Son, and Holy Spirit, of one substance, power, and eternity, each having the whole divine essence, yet the essence undivided: the Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son; all infinite, without beginning, therefore but one God, who is not to be divided in nature and being, but distinguished by several peculiar relative properties and personal relations; which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our communion with God, and comfortable dependence on him.
1 John 5:7–10 (CSB) For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and these three are in agreement. If we accept human testimony, God’s testimony is greater, because it is God’s testimony that he has given about his Son. The one who believes in the Son of God has this testimony within himself. The one who does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony God has given about his Son.
Matthew 28:19 (CSB) Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
2 Corinthians 13:13 (CSB) The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Exodus 3:14 (CSB) God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.”
John 14:11 (CSB) Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Otherwise, believe because of the works themselves.
1 Corinthians 8:6 (CSB) yet for us there is one God, the Father. All things are from him, and we exist for him. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things are through him, and we exist through him.
John 1:14–18 (CSB) The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John testified concerning him and exclaimed, “This was the one of whom I said, ‘The one coming after me ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.’ ”) Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.
John 15:26 (CSB) “When the Counselor comes, the one I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—he will testify about me.
Galatians 4:6 (CSB) And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”
Chapter 3: Of God's Decree
3.1 The Sovereignty of God
God hath decreed in himself, from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably, all things, whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin nor hath fellowship with any therein; nor is violence offered to the will of the creature, nor yet is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established; in which appears his wisdom in disposing all things, and power and faithfulness in accomplishing his decree.
Isaiah 46:10 (CSB) I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will.
Ephesians 1:11 (CSB) In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will,
Hebrews 6:17 (CSB) Because God wanted to show his unchangeable purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, he guaranteed it with an oath,
Romans 9:15–18 (CSB) For he tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy. For the Scripture tells Pharaoh, I raised you up for this reason so that I may display my power in you and that my name may be proclaimed in the whole earth. So then, he has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
James 1:13 (CSB) No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God,” since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone.
1 John 1:5 (CSB) This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him.
Acts 4:27–28 (CSB) “For, in fact, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, to do whatever your hand and your will had predestined to take place.
John 19:11 (CSB) “You would have no authority over me at all,” Jesus answered him, “if it hadn’t been given you from above. This is why the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”
Numbers 23:19 (CSB) God is not a man, that he might lie, or a son of man, that he might change his mind. Does he speak and not act, or promise and not fulfill?
Ephesians 1:3–5 (CSB) Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
3.2 The Decretive Will of God
Although God knoweth whatsoever may or can come to pass, upon all supposed conditions, yet hath he not decreed anything, because he foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions.
Acts 15:15–18 (CSB) And the words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written: After these things I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. I will rebuild its ruins and set it up again, so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord— even all the Gentiles who are called by my name— declares the Lord who makes these things known from long ago.
Romans 9:11–18 (CSB) For though her sons had not been born yet or done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to election might stand—not from works but from the one who calls—she was told, The older will serve the younger. As it is written: I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau. What should we say then? Is there injustice with God? Absolutely not! For he tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy. For the Scripture tells Pharaoh, I raised you up for this reason so that I may display my power in you and that my name may be proclaimed in the whole earth. So then, he has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
3.3 The Predestination & Foreordination of God
By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated, or foreordained to eternal life through Jesus Christ, to the praise of his glorious grace; others being left to act in their sin to their just condemnation, to the praise of his glorious justice.
1 Timothy 5:21 (CSB) I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism.
Matthew 25:34 (CSB) Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Ephesians 1:5 (CSB) He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Ephesians 1:6 (CSB) to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
Romans 9:22 (CSB) And what if God, wanting to display his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience objects of wrath prepared for destruction?
Romans 9:23 (CSB) And what if he did this to make known the riches of his glory on objects of mercy that he prepared beforehand for glory—
Jude 4 (CSB) For some people, who were designated for this judgment long ago, have come in by stealth; they are ungodly, turning the grace of our God into sensuality and denying Jesus Christ, our only Master and Lord.
3.4 The Certainty of God When It Comes To His People
These angels and men thus predestinated and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed, and their number so certain and definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished.
2 Timothy 2:19 (CSB) Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, bearing this inscription: The Lord knows those who are his, and let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness.
John 13:18 (CSB) “I’m not speaking about all of you; I know those I have chosen. But the Scripture must be fulfilled: The one who eats my bread has raised his heel against me.
3.5 The Election of God
Those of mankind that are predestinated to life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to his eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of his will, hath chosen in Christ unto everlasting glory, out of his mere free grace and love, without any other thing in the creature as a condition or cause moving him thereunto.
Ephesians 1:4–11 (CSB) For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding. He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him. In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will,
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
2 Timothy 1:9 (CSB) He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
1 Thessalonians 5:9 (CSB) For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Romans 9:13 (CSB) As it is written: I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau.
Romans 9:16 (CSB) So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy.
Ephesians 2:5–12 (CSB) made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do. So, then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,” which is done in the flesh by human hands. At that time you were without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world.
3.6 The Free Purpose of the Will of God
As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so he hath, by the eternal and most free purpose of his will, foreordained all the means thereunto; wherefore they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ, are effectually called unto faith in Christ, by his Spirit working in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified, and kept by his power through faith unto salvation; neither are any other redeemed by Christ, or effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.
1 Peter 1:2 (CSB) according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 (CSB) But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God has chosen you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
1 Thessalonians 5:9–10 (CSB) For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 (CSB) But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God has chosen you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
1 Peter 1:5 (CSB) You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
John 10:26 (CSB) But you don’t believe because you are not of my sheep.
John 17:9 (CSB) “I pray for them. I am not praying for the world but for those you have given me, because they are yours.
John 6:64 (CSB) But there are some among you who don’t believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning those who did not believe and the one who would betray him.)
3.7 The Mercies of God
The doctrine of the high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care, that men attending the will of God revealed in his Word, and yielding obedience thereunto, may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured of their eternal election; so shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reverence, and admiration of God, and of humility, diligence, and abundant consolation to all that sincerely obey the gospel.
1 Thessalonians 1:4 (CSB) For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you,
1 Thessalonians 1:5 (CSB) because our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with full assurance. You know how we lived among you for your benefit,
2 Peter 1:10 (CSB) Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble.
Ephesians 1:6 (CSB) to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
Romans 11:33 (CSB) Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and untraceable his ways!
Romans 11:5–20 (CSB) In the same way, then, there is also at the present time a remnant chosen by grace. Now if by grace, then it is not by works; otherwise grace ceases to be grace. What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for, but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened, as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that cannot see and ears that cannot hear, to this day. And David says, Let their table become a snare and a trap, a pitfall and a retribution to them. Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and their backs be bent continually. I ask, then, have they stumbled so as to fall? Absolutely not! On the contrary, by their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous. Now if their transgression brings riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness bring! Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Insofar as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if I might somehow make my own people jealous and save some of them. For if their rejection brings reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? Now if the firstfruits are holy, so is the whole batch. And if the root is holy, so are the branches. Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, though a wild olive branch, were grafted in among them and have come to share in the rich root of the cultivated olive tree, do not boast that you are better than those branches. But if you do boast—you do not sustain the root, but the root sustains you. Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” True enough; they were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but beware,
Luke 10:20 (CSB) However, don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Chapter 4: Of Creation
4.1 The Manifestation of the Glory of God
In the beginning it pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for the manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness, to create or make the world, and all things therein, whether visible or invisible, in the space of six days, and all very good.
John 1:2–3 (CSB) He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.
Hebrews 1:2 (CSB) In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him.
Job 26:13 (CSB) By his breath the heavens gained their beauty; his hand pierced the fleeing serpent.
Romans 1:20 (CSB) For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse.
Colossians 1:16 (CSB) For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him.
Genesis 1:31 (CSB) God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed. Evening came and then morning: the sixth day.
4.2 The Imagebearers of God
After God had made all other creatures, he created man, male and female, with reasonable and immortal souls, rendering them fit unto that life to God for which they were created; being made after the image of God, in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness; having the law of God written in their hearts, and power to fulfil it, and yet under a possibility of transgressing, being left to the liberty of their own will, which was subject to change.
Genesis 1:27 (CSB) So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.
Genesis 2:7 (CSB) Then the LORD God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.
Ecclesiastes 7:29 (CSB) Only see this: I have discovered that God made people upright, but they pursued many schemes.”
Genesis 1:26 (CSB) Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”
Romans 2:14–15 (CSB) So, when Gentiles, who do not by nature have the law, do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts. Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts either accuse or even excuse them
Genesis 3:6 (CSB) The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
4.3 The Law of God
Besides the law written in their hearts, they received a command not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which whilst they kept, they were happy in their communion with God, and had dominion over the creatures.
Genesis 2:17 (CSB) but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”
Genesis 1:26–28 (CSB) Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.” So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female. God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.”
Chapter 5: Of Divine Providence
5.1 The Governance of All Things
God the good Creator of all things, in His infinite power and wisdom does uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures and things, from the greatest even to the least, by His most wise and holy providence, to the end for the which they were created, according unto His infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of His own will; to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, infinite goodness, and mercy.
Hebrews 1:3 (CSB) The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
Job 38:11 (CSB) when I declared, “You may come this far, but no farther; your proud waves stop here”?
Isaiah 46:10–11 (CSB) I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will. I call a bird of prey from the east, a man for my purpose from a far country. Yes, I have spoken; so I will also bring it about. I have planned it; I will also do it.
Psalm 135:6 (CSB) The LORD does whatever he pleases in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all the depths.
Matthew 10:29–31 (CSB) Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s consent. But even the hairs of your head have all been counted. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Ephesians 1:11 (CSB) In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will,
5.2 The Causes of All Things
Although in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first cause, all things come to pass immutably and infallibly; so that there is not anything befalls any by chance, or without his providence; yet by the same providence he ordereth them to fall out according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently.
Acts 2:23 (CSB) Though he was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail him to a cross and kill him.
Proverbs 16:33 (CSB) The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
Genesis 8:22 (CSB) As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.”
5.3 The Freedom of God
God, in his ordinary providence maketh use of means, yet is free to work without, above, and against them at his pleasure.
Acts 27:31–44 (CSB) Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” Then the soldiers cut the ropes holding the skiff and let it drop away. When it was about daylight, Paul urged them all to take food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have been waiting and going without food, having eaten nothing. So I urge you to take some food. For this is for your survival, since none of you will lose a hair from your head.” After he said these things and had taken some bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all of them, and after he broke it, he began to eat. They all were encouraged and took food themselves. In all there were 276 of us on the ship. When they had eaten enough, they began to lighten the ship by throwing the grain overboard into the sea. When daylight came, they did not recognize the land but sighted a bay with a beach. They planned to run the ship ashore if they could. After cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and headed for the beach. But they struck a sandbar and ran the ship aground. The bow jammed fast and remained immovable, while the stern began to break up by the pounding of the waves. The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners so that no one could swim away and escape. But the centurion kept them from carrying out their plan because he wanted to save Paul, and so he ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. The rest were to follow, some on planks and some on debris from the ship. In this way, everyone safely reached the shore.
Isaiah 55:10–11 (CSB) For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return there without saturating the earth and making it germinate and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do.”
Hosea 1:7 (CSB) But I will have compassion on the house of Judah, and I will deliver them by the LORD their God. I will not deliver them by bow, sword, or war, or by horses and cavalry.
Romans 4:19–21 (CSB) He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body to be already dead (since he was about a hundred years old) and also the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, because he was fully convinced that what God had promised, he was also able to do.
Daniel 3:27 (CSB) When the satraps, prefects, governors, and the king’s advisers gathered around, they saw that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men: not a hair of their heads was singed, their robes were unaffected, and there was no smell of fire on them.
5.4 The Goodness of God
The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God, so far manifest themselves in his providence, that his determinate counsel extendeth itself even to the first fall, and all other sinful actions both of angels and men; and that not by a bare permission, which also he most wisely and powerfully boundeth, and otherwise ordereth and governeth, in a manifold dispensation to his most holy ends; yet so, as the sinfulness of their acts proceedeth only from the creatures, and not from God, who, being most holy and righteous, neither is nor can be the author or approver of sin.
Romans 11:32–34 (CSB) For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and untraceable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?
2 Samuel 24:1 (CSB) The LORD’s anger burned against Israel again, and he stirred up David against them to say, “Go, count the people of Israel and Judah.”
1 Chronicles 21:1 (CSB) Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to count the people of Israel.
2 Kings 19:28 (CSB) Because your raging against me and your arrogance have reached my ears, I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth; I will make you go back the way you came.
Psalm 76 (CSB) For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph. A song. God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel. His tent is in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion. There he shatters the bow’s flaming arrows, the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. Selah You are resplendent and majestic coming down from the mountains of prey. The brave-hearted have been plundered; they have slipped into their final sleep. None of the warriors was able to lift a hand. At your rebuke, God of Jacob, both chariot and horse lay still. And you—you are to be feared. When you are angry, who can stand before you? From heaven you pronounced judgment. The earth feared and grew quiet when God rose up to judge and to save all the lowly of the earth. Selah Even human wrath will praise you; you will clothe yourself with the wrath that remains. Make and keep your vows to the LORD your God; let all who are around him bring tribute to the awe-inspiring one. He humbles the spirit of leaders; he is feared by the kings of the earth.
Psalm 10 (CSB) LORD, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide in times of trouble? In arrogance the wicked relentlessly pursue their victims; let them be caught in the schemes they have devised. For the wicked one boasts about his own cravings; the one who is greedy curses and despises the LORD. In all his scheming, the wicked person arrogantly thinks, “There’s no accountability, since there’s no God.” His ways are always secure; your lofty judgments have no effect on him; he scoffs at all his adversaries. He says to himself, “I will never be moved— from generation to generation I will be without calamity.” Cursing, deceit, and violence fill his mouth; trouble and malice are under his tongue. He waits in ambush near settlements; he kills the innocent in secret places. His eyes are on the lookout for the helpless; he lurks in secret like a lion in a thicket. He lurks in order to seize a victim; he seizes a victim and drags him in his net. So he is oppressed and beaten down; helpless people fall because of the wicked one’s strength. He says to himself, “God has forgotten; he hides his face and will never see.” Rise up, LORD God! Lift up your hand. Do not forget the oppressed. Why has the wicked person despised God? He says to himself, “You will not demand an account.” But you yourself have seen trouble and grief, observing it in order to take the matter into your hands. The helpless one entrusts himself to you; you are a helper of the fatherless. Break the arm of the wicked, evil person, until you look for his wickedness, but it can’t be found. The LORD is King forever and ever; the nations will perish from his land. LORD, you have heard the desire of the humble; you will strengthen their hearts. You will listen carefully, doing justice for the fatherless and the oppressed so that mere humans from the earth may terrify them no more.
Genesis 1:20 (CSB) Then God said, “Let the water swarm with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.”
Isaiah 10:6–12 (CSB) I will send him against a godless nation; I will command him to go against a people destined for my rage, to take spoils, to plunder, and to trample them down like clay in the streets. But this is not what he intends; this is not what he plans. It is his intent to destroy and to cut off many nations. For he says, “Aren’t all my commanders kings? Isn’t Calno like Carchemish? Isn’t Hamath like Arpad? Isn’t Samaria like Damascus? As my hand seized the kingdoms of worthless images, kingdoms whose idols exceeded those of Jerusalem and Samaria, and as I did to Samaria and its worthless images will I not also do to Jerusalem and its idols?” But when the Lord finishes all his work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, he will say, “I will punish the king of Assyria for his arrogant acts and the proud look in his eyes.”
Psalm 1:6 (CSB) For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.
1 John 2:16 (CSB) For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions—is not from the Father, but is from the world.
5.5 The Discipline of God
The most wise, righteous, and gracious God doth oftentimes leave for a season his own children to manifold temptations and the corruptions of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled; and to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support upon himself; and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for other just and holy ends. So that whatsoever befalls any of his elect is by his appointment, for his glory, and their good.
2 Chronicles 32:25–31 (CSB) However, because his heart was proud, Hezekiah didn’t respond according to the benefit that had come to him. So there was wrath on him, Judah, and Jerusalem. Then Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart—he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem—so the LORD’s wrath didn’t come on them during Hezekiah’s lifetime. Hezekiah had abundant riches and glory, and he made himself treasuries for silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and every desirable item. He made warehouses for the harvest of grain, new wine, and fresh oil, and stalls for all kinds of cattle, and pens for flocks. He made cities for himself, and he acquired vast numbers of flocks and herds, for God gave him abundant possessions. This same Hezekiah blocked the upper outlet of the water from the Gihon Spring and channeled it smoothly downward and westward to the city of David. Hezekiah succeeded in everything he did. When the ambassadors of Babylon’s rulers were sent to him to inquire about the miraculous sign that happened in the land, God left him to test him and discover what was in his heart.
2 Corinthians 12:7–9 (CSB) especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so that I would not exalt myself. Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.
Romans 8:28 (CSB) We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
5.6 The Rendering of God
As for those wicked and ungodly men whom God, as the righteous judge, for former sin doth blind and harden; from them he not only withholdeth his grace, whereby they might have been enlightened in their understanding, and wrought upon their hearts; but sometimes also withdraweth the gifts which they had, and exposeth them to such objects as their corruption makes occasion of sin; and withal, gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the power of Satan, whereby it comes to pass that they harden themselves, under those means which God useth for the softening of others.
Romans 1:24–28 (CSB) Therefore God delivered them over in the desires of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen. For this reason God delivered them over to disgraceful passions. Their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. The men in the same way also left natural relations with women and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the appropriate penalty of their error. And because they did not think it worthwhile to acknowledge God, God delivered them over to a corrupt mind so that they do what is not right.
Romans 11:7–8 (CSB) What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for, but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened, as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that cannot see and ears that cannot hear, to this day.
Deuteronomy 29:4 (CSB) Yet to this day the LORD has not given you a mind to understand, eyes to see, or ears to hear.
Matthew 13:12 (CSB) For whoever has, more will be given to him, and he will have more than enough; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
Deuteronomy 2:30 (CSB) But King Sihon of Heshbon would not let us travel through his land, for the LORD your God had made his spirit stubborn and his heart obstinate in order to hand him over to you, as has now taken place.
2 Kings 8:12–13 (CSB) and Hazael asked, “Why is my lord weeping?” He replied, “Because I know the evil you will do to the people of Israel. You will set their fortresses on fire. You will kill their young men with the sword. You will dash their children to pieces. You will rip open their pregnant women.” Hazael said, “How could your servant, a mere dog, do such a mighty deed?” Elisha answered, “The LORD has shown me that you will be king over Aram.”
Psalm 81:11–12 (CSB) “But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel did not obey me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own plans.
2 Thessalonians 2:10–12 (CSB) and with every wicked deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe the lie, so that all will be condemned—those who did not believe the truth but delighted in unrighteousness.
Exodus 8:15–32 (CSB) But when Pharaoh saw there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as the LORD had said. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron: Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the land, and it will become gnats throughout the land of Egypt.” And they did this. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff, and when he struck the dust of the land, gnats were on people and animals. All the dust of the land became gnats throughout the land of Egypt. The magicians tried to produce gnats using their occult practices, but they could not. The gnats remained on people and animals. “This is the finger of God,” the magicians said to Pharaoh. But Pharaoh’s heart was hard, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said. The LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh when you see him going out to the water. Tell him: This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me. But if you will not let my people go, then I will send swarms of flies against you, your officials, your people, and your houses. The Egyptians’ houses will swarm with flies, and so will the land where they live. But on that day I will give special treatment to the land of Goshen, where my people are living; no flies will be there. This way you will know that I, the LORD, am in the land. I will make a distinction between my people and your people. This sign will take place tomorrow.” And the LORD did this. Thick swarms of flies went into Pharaoh’s palace and his officials’ houses. Throughout Egypt the land was ruined because of the swarms of flies. Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Go sacrifice to your God within the country.” But Moses said, “It would not be right to do that, because what we will sacrifice to the LORD our God is detestable to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice what the Egyptians detest in front of them, won’t they stone us? We must go a distance of three days into the wilderness and sacrifice to the LORD our God as he instructs us.” Pharaoh responded, “I will let you go and sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness, but don’t go very far. Make an appeal for me.” “As soon as I leave you,” Moses said, “I will appeal to the LORD, and tomorrow the swarms of flies will depart from Pharaoh, his officials, and his people. But Pharaoh must not act deceptively again by refusing to let the people go and sacrifice to the LORD.” Then Moses left Pharaoh’s presence and appealed to the LORD. The LORD did as Moses had said: He removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, his officials, and his people; not one was left. But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also and did not let the people go.
Isaiah 6:9–10 (CSB) And he replied: Go! Say to these people: Keep listening, but do not understand; keep looking, but do not perceive. Make the minds of these people dull; deafen their ears and blind their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their minds, turn back, and be healed.
1 Peter 2:7–8 (CSB) So honor will come to you who believe; but for the unbelieving, The stone that the builders rejected— this one has become the cornerstone, and A stone to stumble over, and a rock to trip over. They stumble because they disobey the word; they were destined for this.
5.7 The Latitude of God
As the providence of God doth in general reach to all creatures, so after a more special manner it taketh care of his church, and disposeth of all things to the good thereof.
1 Timothy 4:10 (CSB) For this reason we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
Amos 9:8–9 (CSB) Look, the eyes of the Lord GOD are on the sinful kingdom, and I will obliterate it from the face of the earth. However, I will not totally destroy the house of Jacob— this is the LORD’s declaration— for I am about to give the command, and I will shake the house of Israel among all the nations, as one shakes a sieve, but not a pebble will fall to the ground.
Isaiah 43:3–5 (CSB) For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, and your Savior. I have given Egypt as a ransom for you, Cush and Seba in your place. Because you are precious in my sight and honored, and I love you, I will give people in exchange for you and nations instead of your life. Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west.
Chapter 6: Of the Fall of Man, Of Sin, And of the Punishment Thereof
6.1 The Fall of Mankind
Although God created man upright and perfect, and gave him a righteous law, which had been unto life had he kept it, and threatened death upon the breach thereof, yet he did not long abide in this honour; Satan using the subtlety of the serpent to subdue Eve, then by her seducing Adam, who, without any compulsion, did willfully transgress the law of their creation, and the command given unto them, in eating the forbidden fruit, which God was pleased, according to his wise and holy counsel to permit, having purposed to order it to his own glory.
Genesis 2:16–17 (CSB) And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”
Genesis 3:12–13 (CSB) The man replied, “The woman you gave to be with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate.” So the LORD God asked the woman, “What have you done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
2 Corinthians 11:3 (CSB) But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
6.2 The Death of Mankind
Our first parents, by this sin, fell from their original righteousness and communion with God, and we in them whereby death came upon all: all becoming dead in sin, and wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of soul and body.
Romans 3:23 (CSB) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;
Romans 5:12 (CSB) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned.
Titus 1:15 (CSB) To the pure, everything is pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; in fact, both their mind and conscience are defiled.
Genesis 6:5 (CSB) When the LORD saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time,
Jeremiah 17:9 (CSB) The heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable—who can understand it?
Romans 3:10–19 (CSB) as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one. Their throat is an open grave; they deceive with their tongues. Vipers’ venom is under their lips. Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and wretchedness are in their paths, and the path of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes. Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are subject to the law, so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God’s judgment.
6.3 The Corruption of Mankind
They being the root, and by God's appointment, standing in the room and stead of all mankind, the guilt of the sin was imputed, and corrupted nature conveyed, to all their posterity descending from them by ordinary generation, being now conceived in sin, and by nature children of wrath, the servants of sin, the subjects of death, and all other miseries, spiritual, temporal, and eternal, unless the Lord Jesus set them free.
Romans 5:12–19 (CSB) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned. In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to a person’s account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam’s transgression. He is a type of the Coming One. But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by the one man’s trespass the many died, how much more have the grace of God and the gift which comes through the grace of the one man Jesus Christ overflowed to the many. And the gift is not like the one man’s sin, because from one sin came the judgment, resulting in condemnation, but from many trespasses came the gift, resulting in justification. If by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is justification leading to life for everyone. For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
1 Corinthians 15:21–49 (CSB) For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; afterward, at his coming, those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he abolishes all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign until he puts all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be abolished is death. For God has put everything under his feet. Now when it says “everything” is put under him, it is obvious that he who puts everything under him is the exception. When everything is subject to Christ, then the Son himself will also be subject to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all. Otherwise what will they do who are being baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are people baptized for them? Why are we in danger every hour? I face death every day, as surely as I may boast about you, brothers and sisters, in Christ Jesus our Lord. If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus as a mere man, what good did that do me? If the dead are not raised, Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” Come to your senses and stop sinning; for some people are ignorant about God. I say this to your shame. But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? What kind of body will they have when they come?” You fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And as for what you sow—you are not sowing the body that will be, but only a seed, perhaps of wheat or another grain. But God gives it a body as he wants, and to each of the seeds its own body. Not all flesh is the same flesh; there is one flesh for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is different from that of the earthly ones. There is a splendor of the sun, another of the moon, and another of the stars; in fact, one star differs from another star in splendor. So it is with the resurrection of the dead: Sown in corruption, raised in incorruption; sown in dishonor, raised in glory; sown in weakness, raised in power; sown a natural body, raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So it is written, The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. Like the man of dust, so are those who are of the dust; like the man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we will also bear the image of the man of heaven.
Psalm 51:5 (CSB) Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
Job 14:4 (CSB) Who can produce something pure from what is impure? No one!
Ephesians 2:3 (CSB) We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.
Romans 6:20 (CSB) For when you were slaves of sin, you were free with regard to righteousness.
Romans 5:12 (CSB) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned.
Hebrews 2:14–15 (CSB) Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through his death he might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.
1 Thessalonians 1:10 (CSB) and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
6.4 The Inclination of Mankind
From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil, do proceed all actual transgressions.
Romans 8:7 (CSB) The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so.
Colossians 1:21 (CSB) Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions.
James 1:14–15 (CSB) But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.
Matthew 15:19 (CSB) For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slander.
6.5 The Nature of Mankind
The corruption of nature, during this life, doth remain in those that are regenerated; and although it be through Christ pardoned and mortified, yet both itself, and the first motions thereof, are truly and properly sin.
Romans 7:18 (CSB) For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it.
Romans 7:23 (CSB) but I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body.
Ecclesiastes 7:20 (CSB) There is certainly no one righteous on the earth who does good and never sins.
1 John 1:8 (CSB) If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
Romans 7:23–25 (CSB) but I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am serving the law of God, but with my flesh, the law of sin.
Galatians 5:17 (CSB) For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want.
Chapter 7: Of God's Covenant
7.1 The Infiniteness of Righteousness
The distance between God and the creature is so great, that although reasonable creatures do owe obedience to him as their creator, yet they could never have attained the reward of life but by some voluntary condescension on God's part, which he hath been pleased to express by way of covenant.
Luke 17:10 (CSB) In the same way, when you have done all that you were commanded, you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we’ve only done our duty.’ ”
Job 35:7–8 (CSB) If you are righteous, what do you give him, or what does he receive from your hand? Your wickedness affects a person like yourself, and your righteousness, a son of man.
7.2 The Covenant of Grace
Moreover, man having brought himself under the curse of the law by his fall, it pleased the Lord to make a covenant of grace, wherein he freely offereth unto sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ, requiring of them faith in him, that they may be saved; and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto eternal life, his Holy Spirit, to make them willing and able to believe.
Genesis 2:17 (CSB) but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”
Galatians 3:10 (CSB) For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, Everyone who does not do everything written in the book of the law is cursed.
Romans 3:20–21 (CSB) For no one will be justified in his sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law. But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets.
Romans 8:3 (CSB) For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering,
Mark 16:15–16 (CSB) Then he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Ezekiel 36:26–27 (CSB) I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances.
John 6:44–45 (CSB) No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets: And they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father comes to me—
Psalm 110:3 (CSB) Your people will volunteer on your day of battle. In holy splendor, from the womb of the dawn, the dew of your youth belongs to you.
7.3 The Preaching of the First Gospel
This covenant is revealed in the gospel; first of all to Adam in the promise of salvation by the seed of the woman, and afterwards by farther steps, until the full discovery thereof was completed in the New Testament; and it is founded in that eternal covenant transaction that was between the Father and the Son about the redemption of the elect; and it is alone by the grace of this covenant that all the posterity of fallen Adam that ever were saved did obtain life and blessed immortality, man being now utterly incapable of acceptance with God upon those terms on which Adam stood in his state of innocency.
Genesis 3:15 (CSB) I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
Hebrews 1:1 (CSB) Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways.
2 Timothy 1:9 (CSB) He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
Titus 1:2 (CSB) in the hope of eternal life that God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.
Hebrews 11:6 (CSB) Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Hebrews 11:13 (CSB) These all died in faith, although they had not received the things that were promised. But they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth.
Romans 4:1–2 (CSB) What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about—but not before God.
Acts 4:12 (CSB) There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”
John 8:56 (CSB) Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.”
Chapter 8: Of Christ the Mediator
8.1 The Pleasure of God
It pleased God, in His eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, his only begotten Son, according to the covenant made between them both, to be the mediator between God and man; the prophet, priest, and king; head and saviour of the church, the heir of all things, and judge of the world; unto whom he did from all eternity give a people to be his seed and to be by him in time redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified.
Isaiah 42:1 (CSB) “This is my servant; I strengthen him, this is my chosen one; I delight in him. I have put my Spirit on him; he will bring justice to the nations.
1 Peter 1:19–20 (CSB) but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for you.
Acts 3:22 (CSB) Moses said: The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to everything he tells you.
Hebrews 5:5–6 (CSB) In the same way, Christ did not exalt himself to become a high priest, but God who said to him, You are my Son; today I have become your Father, also says in another place, You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Psalm 2:6 (CSB) “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.”
Luke 1:33 (CSB) He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”
Ephesians 1:22–23 (CSB) And he subjected everything under his feet and appointed him as head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.
Hebrews 1:2 (CSB) In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him.
Acts 17:31 (CSB) because he has set a day when he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man he has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
Isaiah 53:10 (CSB) Yet the LORD was pleased to crush him severely. When you make him a guilt offering, he will see his seed, he will prolong his days, and by his hand, the LORD’s pleasure will be accomplished.
John 17:6 (CSB) “I have revealed your name to the people you gave me from the world. They were yours, you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
8.2 The Son of God
The Son of God, the second person in the Holy Trinity, being very and eternal God, the brightness of the Father's glory, of one substance and equal with him who made the world, who upholdeth and governeth all things he hath made, did, when the fullness of time was come, take upon him man's nature, with all the essential properties and common infirmities thereof, yet without sin; being conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary, the Holy Spirit coming down upon her: and the power of the Most High overshadowing her; and so was made of a woman of the tribe of Judah, of the seed of Abraham and David according to the Scriptures; so that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion; which person is very God and very man, yet one Christ, the only mediator between God and man.
John 1:14 (CSB) The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Galatians 4:4 (CSB) When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
Romans 8:3 (CSB) For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering,
Hebrews 2:14–17 (CSB) Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through his death he might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death. For it is clear that he does not reach out to help angels, but to help Abraham’s offspring. Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.
Hebrews 4:15 (CSB) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.
Matthew 1:22–23 (CSB) Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.”
Luke 1:27–35 (CSB) to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. Then the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.” Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
Romans 9:5 (CSB) The ancestors are theirs, and from them, by physical descent, came the Christ, who is God over all, praised forever. Amen.
1 Timothy 2:5 (CSB) For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,
8.3 The Son of Man
The Lord Jesus, in his human nature thus united to the divine, in the person of the Son, was sanctified and anointed with the Holy Spirit above measure, having in Him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; in whom it pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell, to the end that being holy, harmless, undefiled, and full of grace and truth, he might be throughly furnished to execute the office of mediator and surety; which office he took not upon himself, but was thereunto called by his Father; who also put all power and judgement in his hand, and gave him commandment to execute the same.
Psalm 45:7 (CSB) You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy more than your companions.
Acts 10:38 (CSB) how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how he went about doing good and healing all who were under the tyranny of the devil, because God was with him.
John 3:34 (CSB) For the one whom God sent speaks God’s words, since he gives the Spirit without measure.
Colossians 2:3 (CSB) In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Colossians 1:19 (CSB) For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,
Hebrews 7:26 (CSB) For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
John 1:14 (CSB) The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Hebrews 7:22 (CSB) Because of this oath, Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant.
Hebrews 5:5 (CSB) In the same way, Christ did not exalt himself to become a high priest, but God who said to him, You are my Son; today I have become your Father,
John 5:22–27 (CSB) The Father, in fact, judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, so that all people may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. “Truly I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life. “Truly I tell you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he has granted to the Son to have life in himself. And he has granted him the right to pass judgment, because he is the Son of Man.
Matthew 28:18 (CSB) Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
Acts 2:36 (CSB) “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
8.4 The Cross of Christ
This office the Lord Jesus did most willingly undertake, which that he might discharge he was made under the law, and did perfectly fulfil it, and underwent the punishment due to us, which we should have borne and suffered, being made sin and a curse for us; enduring most grievous sorrows in his soul, and most painful sufferings in his body; was crucified, and died, and remained in the state of the dead, yet saw no corruption: on the third day he arose from the dead with the same body in which he suffered, with which he also ascended into heaven, and there sitteth at the right hand of his Father making intercession, and shall return to judge men and angels at the end of the world.
Psalm 40:7–8 (CSB) Then I said, “See, I have come; in the scroll it is written about me. I delight to do your will, my God, and your instruction is deep within me.”
Hebrews 10:5–10 (CSB) Therefore, as he was coming into the world, he said: You did not desire sacrifice and offering, but you prepared a body for me. You did not delight in whole burnt offerings and sin offerings. Then I said, “See— it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, God.” After he says above, You did not desire or delight in sacrifices and offerings, whole burnt offerings and sin offerings (which are offered according to the law), he then says, See, I have come to do your will. He takes away the first to establish the second. By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.
John 10:18 (CSB) No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
Galatians 4:4 (CSB) When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
Matthew 3:15 (CSB) Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John allowed him to be baptized.
Galatians 3:13 (CSB) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.
Isaiah 53:6 (CSB) We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the LORD has punished him for the iniquity of us all.
1 Peter 3:18 (CSB) For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Matthew 26:37–38 (CSB) Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. He said to them, “I am deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me.”
Luke 22:44 (CSB) Being in anguish, he prayed more fervently, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.
Matthew 27:46 (CSB) About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Elí, Elí, lemá sabachtháni?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
Acts 13:37 (CSB) but the one God raised up did not decay.
1 Corinthians 15:3–4 (CSB) For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
John 20:25–27 (CSB) So the other disciples were telling him, “We’ve seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “If I don’t see the mark of the nails in his hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe.” A week later his disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Don’t be faithless, but believe.”
Mark 16:19 (CSB) So the Lord Jesus, after speaking to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
Acts 1:9–11 (CSB) After he had said this, he was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven.”
Romans 8:34 (CSB) Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.
Hebrews 9:24 (CSB) For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model of the true one) but into heaven itself, so that he might now appear in the presence of God for us.
Acts 10:42 (CSB) He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be the judge of the living and the dead.
Romans 14:9–10 (CSB) Christ died and returned to life for this: that he might be Lord over both the dead and the living. But you, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
Acts 1:11 (CSB) They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven.”
2 Peter 2:4 (CSB) For if God didn’t spare the angels who sinned but cast them into hell and delivered them in chains of utter darkness to be kept for judgment;
8.5 The Slaying of the Lamb
The Lord Jesus, by his perfect obedience and sacrifice of himself, which he through the eternal Spirit once offered up unto God, hath fully satisfied the justice of God, procured reconciliation, and purchased an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, for all those whom the Father hath given unto Him.
Hebrews 9:14 (CSB) how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works so that we can serve the living God?
Hebrews 10:14 (CSB) For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified.
Romans 3:25–26 (CSB) God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
John 17:2 (CSB) since you gave him authority over all people, so that he may give eternal life to everyone you have given him.
Hebrews 9:15 (CSB) Therefore, he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance, because a death has taken place for redemption from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
8.6 The Eternalness of the Messiah
Although the price of redemption was not actually paid by Christ till after his incarnation, yet the virtue, efficacy, and benefit thereof were communicated to the elect in all ages, successively from the beginning of the world, in and by those promises, types, and sacrifices wherein he was revealed, and signified to be the seed which should bruise the serpent's head; and the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, being the same yesterday, and to-day and for ever.
1 Corinthians 4:10 (CSB) We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!
Hebrews 4:2 (CSB) For we also have received the good news just as they did. But the message they heard did not benefit them, since they were not united with those who heard it in faith.
1 Peter 1:10–11 (CSB) Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who prophesied about the grace that would come to you, searched and carefully investigated. They inquired into what time or what circumstances the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified in advance to the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.
Revelation 13:8 (CSB) All those who live on the earth will worship it, everyone whose name was not written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slaughtered.
Hebrews 13:8 (CSB) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
8.7 The Two Natures of Jesus
Christ, in the work of mediation, acteth according to both natures, by each nature doing that which is proper to itself; yet by reason of the unity of the person, that which is proper to one nature is sometimes in Scripture, attributed to the person denominated by the other nature.
John 3:13 (CSB) No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven—the Son of Man.
Acts 20:28 (CSB) Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood.
8.8 The Work of the Lord
To all those for whom Christ hath obtained eternal redemption, he doth certainly and effectually apply and communicate the same, making intercession for them; uniting them to himself by his Spirit, revealing unto them, in and by his Word, the mystery of salvation, persuading them to believe and obey, governing their hearts by his Word and Spirit, and overcoming all their enemies by his almighty power and wisdom, in such manner and ways as are most consonant to his wonderful and unsearchable dispensation; and all of free and absolute grace, without any condition foreseen in them to procure it.
John 6:37 (CSB) Everyone the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never cast out.
John 10:15–16 (CSB) just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. But I have other sheep that are not from this sheep pen; I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd.
John 17:9 (CSB) “I pray for them. I am not praying for the world but for those you have given me, because they are yours.
Romans 5:10 (CSB) For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.
John 17:6 (CSB) “I have revealed your name to the people you gave me from the world. They were yours, you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.
Ephesians 1:9 (CSB) He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ
1 John 5:20 (CSB) And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know the true one. We are in the true one—that is, in his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
Romans 8:9–14 (CSB) You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you. So then, brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons.
Psalm 110:1 (CSB) This is the declaration of the LORD to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.”
1 Corinthians 15:25–26 (CSB) For he must reign until he puts all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be abolished is death.
John 3:8 (CSB) The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
Ephesians 1:8 (CSB) that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.
8.9 The Office of the Mediator
This office of mediator between God and man is proper only to Christ, who is the prophet, priest, and king of the church of God; and may not be either in whole, or any part thereof, transferred from him to any other.
1 Timothy 2:5 (CSB) For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,
8.10 The Prophet, Priest and King
This number and order of offices is necessary; for in respect of our ignorance, we stand in need of his prophetical office; and in respect of our alienation from God, and imperfection of the best of our services, we need his priestly office to reconcile us and present us acceptable unto God; and in respect to our averseness and utter inability to return to God, and for our rescue and security from our spiritual adversaries, we need his kingly office to convince, subdue, draw, uphold, deliver, and preserve us to his heavenly kingdom.
John 1:18 (CSB) No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.
Colossians 1:21 (CSB) Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions.
Galatians 5:17 (CSB) For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want.
John 16:8 (CSB) When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment:
Psalm 110:3 (CSB) Your people will volunteer on your day of battle. In holy splendor, from the womb of the dawn, the dew of your youth belongs to you.
Luke 1:74–75 (CSB) since we have been rescued from the hand of our enemies, to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness in his presence all our days.
Chapter 9: Of Free Will
9.1 The Freedom of the Will
God hath endued the will of man with that natural liberty and power of acting upon choice, that it is neither forced, nor by any necessity of nature determined to do good or evil.
Matthew 17:12 (CSB) “But I tell you: Elijah has already come, and they didn’t recognize him. On the contrary, they did whatever they pleased to him. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.”
James 1:14 (CSB) But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire.
Deuteronomy 30:19 (CSB) I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live,
9.2 The Power of the Will
Man, in his state of innocency, had freedom and power to will and to do that which was good and well- pleasing to God, but yet was unstable, so that he might fall from it.
Ecclesiastes 7:29 (CSB) Only see this: I have discovered that God made people upright, but they pursued many schemes.”
Genesis 3:6 (CSB) The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
9.3 The Bondage of the Will
Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation; so as a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, and dead in sin, is not able by his own strength to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto.
Romans 5:6 (CSB) For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.
Romans 8:7 (CSB) The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so.
Ephesians 2:1–5 (CSB) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!
Titus 3:3–5 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
John 6:44 (CSB) No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.
9.4 The Rescue of the Will
When God converts a sinner, and translates him into the state of grace, he freeth him from his natural bondage under sin, and by his grace alone enables him freely to will and to do that which is spiritually good; yet so as that by reason of his remaining corruptions, he doth not perfectly, nor only will, that which is good, but doth also will that which is evil.
Colossians 1:13 (CSB) He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.
John 8:36 (CSB) So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.
Philippians 2:13 (CSB) For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.
Romans 7:15–23 (CSB) For I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate. Now if I do what I do not want to do, I agree with the law that it is good. So now I am no longer the one doing it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it. For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do. Now if I do what I do not want, I am no longer the one that does it, but it is the sin that lives in me. So I discover this law: When I want to do what is good, evil is present with me. For in my inner self I delight in God’s law, but I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body.
9.5 The Glorification of the Will
This will of man is made perfectly and immutably free to good alone in the state of glory only.
Ephesians 4:13 (CSB) until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.
Chapter 10: Of Effectual Calling
10.1 The Calling of God: At Us
Those whom God hath predestinated unto life, he is pleased in his appointed, and accepted time, effectually to call, by his Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ; enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God; taking away their heart of stone, and giving unto them a heart of flesh; renewing their wills, and by his almighty power determining them to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ; yet so as they come most freely, being made willing by his grace.
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
Romans 11:7 (CSB) What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for, but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened,
Ephesians 1:10–11 (CSB) as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him. In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will,
2 Thessalonians 2:13–14 (CSB) But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God has chosen you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:1–6 (CSB) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,
Acts 26:18 (CSB) to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
Ephesians 1:17–18 (CSB) I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
Ezekiel 36:26 (CSB) I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
Deuteronomy 30:6 (CSB) The LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the hearts of your descendants, and you will love him with all your heart and all your soul so that you will live.
Ezekiel 36:27 (CSB) I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances.
Ephesians 1:19 (CSB) and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength.
Psalm 110:3 (CSB) Your people will volunteer on your day of battle. In holy splendor, from the womb of the dawn, the dew of your youth belongs to you.
Song of Solomon 1:4 (CSB) Take me with you—let’s hurry. Oh, that the king would bring me to his chambers. We will rejoice and be glad in you; we will celebrate your caresses more than wine. It is only right that they adore you.
10.2 The Calling of God: Independent of Us
This effectual call is of God's free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man, nor from any power or agency in the creature, being wholly passive therein, being dead in sins and trespasses, until being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit; he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it, and that by no less power than that which raised up Christ from the dead.
2 Timothy 1:9 (CSB) He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
Ephesians 2:8 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—
1 Corinthians 2:14 (CSB) But the person without the Spirit does not receive what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually.
Ephesians 2:5 (CSB) made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!
John 5:25 (CSB) “Truly I tell you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
Ephesians 1:19–20 (CSB) and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength. He exercised this power in Christ by raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens—
10.3 The Calling of God: Outside of Us
Elect infants dying in infancy are regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit; who worketh when, and where, and how he pleases; so also are all elect persons, who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word.
John 3:3–8 (CSB) Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” “How can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
10.4 The Calling of God: Not By Us
Others not elected, although they may be called by the ministry of the Word, and may have some common operations of the Spirit, yet not being effectually drawn by the Father, they neither will nor can truly come to Christ, and therefore cannot be saved: much less can men that receive not the Christian religion be saved; be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature and the law of that religion they do profess.
Matthew 22:14 (CSB) “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
Matthew 13:20–21 (CSB) And the one sown on rocky ground—this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. But he has no root and is short-lived. When distress or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away.
Hebrews 6:4–5 (CSB) For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, who shared in the Holy Spirit, who tasted God’s good word and the powers of the coming age,
John 6:44–65 (CSB) No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets: And they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father comes to me—not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God. He has seen the Father. “Truly I tell you, anyone who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven so that anyone may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever. The bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” At that, the Jews argued among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life in yourselves. The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day, because my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven; it is not like the manna your ancestors ate—and they died. The one who eats this bread will live forever.” He said these things while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. Therefore, when many of his disciples heard this, they said, “This teaching is hard. Who can accept it?” Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, asked them, “Does this offend you? Then what if you were to observe the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? The Spirit is the one who gives life. The flesh doesn’t help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. But there are some among you who don’t believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning those who did not believe and the one who would betray him.) He said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted to him by the Father.”
1 John 2:24–25 (CSB) What you have heard from the beginning is to remain in you. If what you have heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he himself made to us: eternal life.
Acts 4:12 (CSB) There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”
John 4:22 (CSB) You Samaritans worship what you do not know. We worship what we do know, because salvation is from the Jews.
John 17:3 (CSB) This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and the one you have sent—Jesus Christ.
Chapter 11: Of Justification
11.1 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Gives Righteousness
Those whom God effectually calleth, he also freely justifieth, not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins, and by accounting and accepting their persons as righteous; not for anything wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ's sake alone; not by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other evangelical obedience to them, as their righteousness; but by imputing Christ's active obedience unto the whole law, and passive obedience in his death for their whole and sole righteousness by faith, which faith they have not of themselves; it is the gift of God.
Romans 3:24 (CSB) they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
Romans 4:5–8 (CSB) But to the one who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness. Likewise, David also speaks of the blessing of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: Blessed are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the person the Lord will never charge with sin.
Ephesians 1:7 (CSB) In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace
1 Corinthians 1:30–31 (CSB) It is from him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom from God for us—our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption —in order that, as it is written: Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.
Romans 5:17–19 (CSB) If by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is justification leading to life for everyone. For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
Philippians 3:8–9 (CSB) More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God based on faith.
Ephesians 2:8–10 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
John 1:12 (CSB) But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name,
Romans 5:17 (CSB) If by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
11.2 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Gives Faith
Faith thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification; yet it is not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but worketh by love.
Romans 3:28 (CSB) For we conclude that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
Galatians 5:6 (CSB) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith working through love.
James 2:17–26 (CSB) In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by my works. You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe—and they shudder. Senseless person! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless? Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works in offering Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was made complete, and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works in receiving the messengers and sending them out by a different route? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
11.3 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Gives His Son
Christ, by his obedience and death, did fully discharge the debt of all those that are justified; and did, by the sacrifice of himself in the blood of his cross, undergoing in their stead the penalty due unto them, make a proper, real, and full satisfaction to God's justice in their behalf; yet, inasmuch as he was given by the Father for them, and his obedience and satisfaction accepted in their stead, and both freely, not for anything in them, their justification is only of free grace, that both the exact justice and rich grace of God might be glorified in the justification of sinners.
Hebrews 10:14 (CSB) For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified.
1 Peter 1:18–19 (CSB) For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb.
Isaiah 53:5–6 (CSB) But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds. We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the LORD has punished him for the iniquity of us all.
Romans 8:32 (CSB) He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything?
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB) He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Romans 3:26 (CSB) God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
Ephesians 1:6 (CSB) to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
Ephesians 1:7 (CSB) In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace
Ephesians 2:7 (CSB) so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
11.4 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Gives His Spirit
God did from all eternity decree to justify all the elect, and Christ did in the fullness of time die for their sins, and rise again for their justification; nevertheless, they are not justified personally, until the Holy Spirit doth in time due actually apply Christ unto them.
Galatians 3:8 (CSB) Now the Scripture saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and proclaimed the gospel ahead of time to Abraham, saying, All the nations will be blessed through you.
1 Peter 1:2 (CSB) according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
1 Timothy 2:6 (CSB) who gave himself as a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time.
Romans 4:25 (CSB) He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
Colossians 1:21 (CSB) Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions.
Colossians 1:22 (CSB) But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before him—
Titus 3:4–7 (CSB) But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
11.5 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Gives Eternity
God doth continue to forgive the sins of those that are justified, and although they can never fall from the state of justification, yet they may, by their sins, fall under God's fatherly displeasure; and in that condition they have not usually the light of his countenance restored unto them, until they humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith and repentance.
Matthew 6:12 (CSB) And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
1 John 1:7–9 (CSB) If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
John 10:28 (CSB) I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.
Psalm 89:31–33 (CSB) if they dishonor my statutes and do not keep my commands, then I will call their rebellion to account with the rod, their iniquity with blows. But I will not withdraw my faithful love from him or betray my faithfulness.
Psalm 32:5 (CSB) Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not conceal my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
Psalm 51 (CSB) For the choir director. A psalm of David, when the prophet Nathan came to him after he had gone to Bathsheba. Be gracious to me, God, according to your faithful love; according to your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion. Completely wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin. For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me. Against you—you alone—I have sinned and done this evil in your sight. So you are right when you pass sentence; you are blameless when you judge. Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me. Surely you desire integrity in the inner self, and you teach me wisdom deep within. Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Turn your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt. God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit. Then I will teach the rebellious your ways, and sinners will return to you. Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God— God of my salvation— and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it; you are not pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God. In your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will delight in righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Matthew 26:75 (CSB) and Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
11.6 How Does God Justify Sinners? God Saves All
The justification of believers under the Old Testament was, in all these respects, one and the same with the justification of believers under the New Testament.
Galatians 3:9 (CSB) Consequently, those who have faith are blessed with Abraham, who had faith.
Romans 4:22–24 (CSB) Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness. Now it was credited to him was not written for Abraham alone, but also for us. It will be credited to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
Chapter 12: Of Adoption
All those that are justified, God vouchsafed, in and for the sake of his only Son Jesus Christ, to make partakers of the grace of adoption, by which they are taken into the number, and enjoy the liberties and privileges of the children of God, have his name put upon them, receive the spirit of adoption, have access to the throne of grace with boldness, are enabled to cry Abba, Father, are pitied, protected, provided for, and chastened by him as by a Father, yet never cast off, but sealed to the day of redemption, and inherit the promises as heirs of everlasting salvation.
Ephesians 1:5 (CSB) He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Galatians 4:4–5 (CSB) When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
John 1:12 (CSB) But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name,
Romans 8:17 (CSB) and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
2 Corinthians 6:18 (CSB) And I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.
Revelation 3:12 (CSB) “The one who conquers I will make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never go out again. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God—the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God—and my new name.
Romans 8:15 (CSB) For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!”
Galatians 4:6 (CSB) And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”
Ephesians 2:18 (CSB) For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
Psalm 103:13 (CSB) As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
Proverbs 14:26 (CSB) In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence and his children have a refuge.
1 Peter 5:7 (CSB) casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.
Hebrews 12:6 (CSB) for the Lord disciplines the one he loves and punishes every son he receives.
Isaiah 54:8–9 (CSB) In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but I will have compassion on you with everlasting love,” says the LORD your Redeemer. “For this is like the days of Noah to me: when I swore that the water of Noah would never flood the earth again, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you or rebuke you.
Lamentations 3:31 (CSB) For the Lord will not reject us forever.
Ephesians 4:30 (CSB) And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by him for the day of redemption.
Hebrews 1:14 (CSB) Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve those who are going to inherit salvation?
Hebrews 6:12 (CSB) so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance.
Chapter 13: Of Sanctification
13.1 What God Does: The Father Conforms Us
They who are united to Christ, effectually called, and regenerated, having a new heart and a new spirit created in them through the virtue of Christ's death and resurrection, are also farther sanctified, really and personally, through the same virtue, by his Word and Spirit dwelling in them; the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed, and the several lusts of it are more and more weakened and mortified, and they more and more quickened and strengthened in all saving graces, to the practice of all true holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
Acts 20:32 (CSB) “And now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified.
Romans 6:5–6 (CSB) For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin,
John 17:17 (CSB) Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
Ephesians 3:16–19 (CSB) I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
1 Thessalonians 5:21–23 (CSB) but test all things. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. And may your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:14 (CSB) For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under the law but under grace.
Galatians 5:24 (CSB) Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
2 Corinthians 7:1 (CSB) So then, dear friends, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
Hebrews 12:14 (CSB) Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—without it no one will see the Lord.
Colossians 1:11 (CSB) being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully
13.2 What God Does: The Christ Lived and Died for Us
This sanctification is throughout the whole man, yet imperfect in this life; there abides still some remnants of corruption in every part, wherefrom arises a continual and irreconcilable war; the flesh lusting against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 (CSB) Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. And may your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 7:18 (CSB) For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it.
Romans 7:23 (CSB) but I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body.
Galatians 5:17 (CSB) For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want.
1 Peter 2:11 (CSB) Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul.
13.3 What God Does: The Spirit Makes Us Fully Alive
In which war, although the remaining corruption for a time may much prevail, yet, through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part does overcome; and so the saints grow in grace, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, pressing after an heavenly life, in evangelical obedience to all the commands which Christ as Head and King, in his Word has prescribed to them.
Romans 7:23 (CSB) but I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body.
Romans 6:14 (CSB) For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under the law but under grace.
Ephesians 4:15–16 (CSB) But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ. From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.
2 Corinthians 3:18 (CSB) We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 7:1 (CSB) So then, dear friends, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
Chapter 14: Of Saving Faith
The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts, and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word; by which also, and by the administration of baptism and the Lord's supper, prayer, and other means appointed of God, it is increased and strengthened. ( 2 Corinthians 4:13; Ephesians 2:8; Romans 10:14-17; Luke 17:5; 1 Peter 2:2; Acts 20:32
By this faith a Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word for the authority of God himself, and also apprehendeth an excellency therein above all other writings and all things in the world, as it bears forth the glory of God in his attributes, the excellency of Christ in his nature and offices, and the power and fullness of the Holy Spirit in his workings and operations: and so is enabled to cast his soul upon the truth thus believed; and also acteth differently upon that which each particular passage thereof containeth; yielding obedience to the commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises of God for this life and that which is to come; but the principal acts of saving faith have immediate relation to Christ, accepting, receiving, and resting upon him alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace.
Acts 24:14; Psalms 27:7-10; Psalms 119:72; 2 Timothy 1:12; John 14:14; Isaiah 66:2; Hebrews 11:13; John 1:12; Acts 16:31; Galatians 2:20; Acts 15:11
This faith, although it be different in degrees, and may be weak or strong, yet it is in the least degree of it different in the kind or nature of it, as is all other saving grace, from the faith and common grace of temporary believers; and therefore, though it may be many times assailed and weakened, yet it gets the victory, growing up in many to the attainment of a full assurance through Christ, who is both the author and finisher of our faith.
Hebrews 5:13-14; Matthew 6:30; Romans 4:19-20; 2 Peter 1:1; Ephesians 6:16; 1 John 5:4-5; Hebrews 6:11-12; Colossians 2:2; Hebrews 12:2
Chapter 15: Of Repentance Unto Life and Salvation
Such of the elect as are converted at riper years, having sometime lived in the state of nature, and therein served divers lusts and pleasures, God in their effectual calling giveth them repentance unto life.
Titus 3:2-5
Whereas there is none that doth good and sinneth not, and the best of men may, through the power and deceitfulness of their corruption dwelling in them, with the prevalency of temptation, fall into great sins and provocations; God hath, in the covenant of grace, mercifully provided that believers so sinning and falling be renewed through repentance unto salvation.
Ecclesiastes 7:20; Luke 22:31-32
This saving repentance is an evangelical grace, whereby a person, being by the Holy Spirit made sensible of the manifold evils of his sin, doth, by faith in Christ, humble himself for it with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self-abhorrency, praying for pardon and strength of grace, with a purpose and endeavour, by supplies of the Spirit, to walk before God unto all well-pleasing in all things.
Zechariah 12:10; Acts 11:18; Ezekiel 36:31; 2 Corinthians 7:11; Psalms 119:6; Psalms 119:128
As repentance is to be continued through the whole course of our lives, upon the account of the body of death, and the motions thereof, so it is every man's duty to repent of his particular known sins particularly.
Luke 19:8; 1 Timothy 1:13-15
Such is the provision which God hath made through Christ in the covenant of grace for the preservation of believers unto salvation; that although there is no sin so small but it deserves damnation; yet there is no sin so great that it shall bring damnation on them that repent; which makes the constant preaching of repentance necessary.
Romans 6:23; Isaiah 1:16-18 Isaiah 55:7
Chapter 16: Of Good Works
Good works are only such as God hath commanded in his Holy Word, and not such as without the warrant thereof are devised by men out of blind zeal, or upon any pretence of good intentions.
Micah 6:8; Hebrews 13:21; Matthew 15:9; Isaiah 29:13
These good works, done in obedience to God's commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith; and by them believers manifest their thankfulness, strengthen their assurance, edify their brethren, adorn the profession of the gospel, stop the mouths of the adversaries, and glorify God, whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto, that having their fruit unto holiness they may have the end eternal life.
James 2:18-22; Psalms 116:12-13; 1 John 2:3-5; 2 Peter 1:5-11; Matthew 5:16; 1 Timothy 6:1; 1 Peter 2:15; Philippians 1:11; Ephesians 2:10; Romans 6:22
Their ability to do good works is not at all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ; and that they may be enabled thereunto, besides the graces they have already received, there is necessary an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit, to work in them to will and to do of his good pleasure; yet they are not hereupon to grow negligent, as if they were not bound to perform any duty, unless upon a special motion of the Spirit, but they ought to be diligent in stirring up the grace of God that is in them.
John 15:4-5; 2 Corinthians 3:5; Philippians 2:13; Philippians 2:12; Hebrews 6:11-12; Isaiah 64:7
They who in their obedience attain to the greatest height which is possible in this life, are so far from being able to supererogate, and to do more than God requires, as that they fall short of much which in duty they are bound to do.
Job 9:2-3; Galatians 5:17; Luke 17:10
We cannot by our best works merit pardon of sin or eternal life at the hand of God, by reason of the great disproportion that is between them and the glory to come, and the infinite distance that is between us and God, whom by them we can neither profit nor satisfy for the debt of our former sins; but when we have done all we can, we have done but our duty, and are unprofitable servants; and because as they are good they proceed from his Spirit, and as they are wrought by us they are defiled and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection, that they cannot endure the severity of God's punishment.
Romans 3:20; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 4:6; Galatians 5:22-23; Isaiah 64:6; Psalms 143:2
Yet notwithstanding the persons of believers being accepted through Christ, their good works also are accepted in him; not as though they were in this life wholly unblameable and unreprovable in God's sight, but that he, looking upon them in his Son, is pleased to accept and reward that which is sincere, although accompanied with many weaknesses and imperfections.
Ephesians 1:6; 1 Peter 2:5; Matthew 25:21-23; Hebrews 6:10
Works done by unregenerate men, although for the matter of them they may be things which God commands, and of good use both to themselves and others; yet because they proceed not from a heart purified by faith, nor are done in a right manner according to the word, nor to a right end, the glory of God, they are therefore sinful, and cannot please God, nor make a man meet to receive grace from God, and yet their neglect of them is more sinful and displeasing to God.
2 Kings 10:30; 1 Kings 21:27-29; Genesis 4:5; Hebrews 11:4-6; 1 Corinthians 13:1; Matthew 6:2-5; Amos 5:21,
22; Romans 9:16; Titus 3:5; Job 21:14-15; Matthew 25:41-43
Chapter 17: Of The Perseverance of the Saints
Those whom God hath accepted in the beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, and given the precious faith of his elect unto, can neither totally nor finally fall from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved, seeing the gifts and callings of God are without repentance, whence he still begets and nourisheth in them faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the Spirit unto immortality; and though many storms and floods arise and beat against them, yet they shall never be able to take them off that foundation and rock which by faith they are fastened upon; notwithstanding, through unbelief and the temptations of Satan, the sensible sight of the light and love of God may for a time be clouded and obscured from them, yet he is still the same, and they shall be sure to be kept by the power of God unto salvation, where they shall enjoy their purchased possession, they being engraven upon the palm of his hands, and their names having been written in the book of life from all eternity.
John 10:28-29; Philippians 1:6; 2 Timothy 2:19; 1 John 2:19; Psalms 89:31-32; 1 Corinthians 11:32; Malachi 3:6
This perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father, upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ and union with him, the oath of God, the abiding of his Spirit, and the seed of God within them, and the nature of the covenant of grace; from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof.
Romans 8:30 Romans 9:11-16; Romans 5:9-10; John 14:19; Hebrews 6:17-18; 1 John 3:9; Jeremiah 32:40
And though they may, through the temptation of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of means of their preservation, fall into grievous sins, and for a time continue therein, whereby they incur God's displeasure and grieve his Holy Spirit, come to have their graces and comforts impaired, have their hearts hardened, and their consciences wounded, hurt and scandalize others, and bring temporal judgments upon themselves, yet shall they renew their repentance and be preserved through faith in Christ Jesus to the end.
Matthew 26:70-74; Isaiah 64:5-9; Ephesians 4:30; Psalms 51:10-12; Psalms 32:3-4; 2 Samuel 12:14; Luke 22:32-62
Chapter 18: Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation
Although temporary believers, and other unregenerate men, may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favour of God and state of salvation, which hope of theirs shall perish; yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love him in sincerity, endeavouring to walk in all good conscience before him, may in this life be certainly assured that they are in the state of grace, and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, which hope shall never make them ashamed.
Job 8:13-14; Matthew 7:22-23; 1 John 2:3; 1 John 3:14-24; 1 John 5:13; Romans 5:2-5
This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion grounded upon a fallible hope, but an infallible assurance of faith founded on the blood and righteousness of Christ revealed in the Gospel; and also upon the inward evidence of those graces of the Spirit unto which promises are made, and on the testimony of the Spirit of adoption, witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God; and, as a fruit thereof, keeping the heart both humble and holy.
Hebrews 6:11-19; Hebrews 6:17-18; 2 Peter 1:4-11; Romans 8:15-16; 1 John 3:1-3
This infallible assurance doth not so belong to the essence of faith, but that a true believer may wait long, and conflict with many difficulties before he be partaker of it; yet being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him of God, he may, without extraordinary revelation, in the right use of means, attain thereunto: and therefore it is the duty of every one to give all diligence to make his calling and election sure, that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, in love and thankfulness to God, and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience, the proper fruits of this assurance; -so far is it from inclining men to looseness.
Isaiah 50:10; Psalms 88; Psalms 77:1-12; 1 John 4:13; Hebrews 6:11-12; Romans 5:1-5; Romans 14:17; Psalms 119:32; Romans 6:1,2; Titus 2:11-14
True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special sin which woundeth the conscience and grieveth the Spirit; by some sudden or vehement temptation, by God's withdrawing the light of his countenance, and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness and to have no light, yet are they never destitute of the seed of God and life of faith, that love of Christ and the brethren, that sincerity of heart and conscience of duty out of which, by the operation of the Spirit, this assurance may in due time be revived, and by the which, in the meantime, they are preserved from utter despair.
Canticles 5:2-6; Psalms 51:8-14; Psalms 116:11; Psalms 77:7-8; Psalms 31:22; Psalms 30:7; 1 John 3:9; Luke 22:32; Psalms 42:5-11; Lamentations 3:26-31
Chapter 19: Of the Law of God
God gave to Adam a law of universal obedience written in his heart, and a particular precept of not eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil; by which he bound him and all his posterity to personal, entire, exact, and perpetual obedience; promised life upon the fulfilling, and threatened death upon the breach of it, and endued him with power and ability to keep it.
Genesis 1:27; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Romans 10:5; Galatians 3:10-12
The same law that was first written in the heart of man continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness after the fall, and was delivered by God upon Mount Sinai, in ten commandments, and written in two tables, the four first containing our duty towards God, and the other six, our duty to man.
Romans 2:14-15; Deuteronomy 10:4
Besides this law, commonly called moral, God was pleased to give to the people of Israel ceremonial laws, containing several typical ordinances, partly of worship, prefiguring Christ, his graces, actions, sufferings, and benefits; and partly holding forth divers instructions of moral duties, all which ceremonial laws being appointed only to the time of reformation, are, by Jesus Christ the true Messiah and only law-giver, who was furnished with power from the Father for that end abrogated and taken away.
Hebrews 10:1; Colossians 2:17; 1 Corinthians 5:7; Colossians 2:14-17; Ephesians 2:14-16
To them also he gave sundry judicial laws, which expired together with the state of that people, not obliging any now by virtue of that institution; their general equity only being of moral use.
1 Corinthians 9:8-10
The moral law doth for ever bind all, as well justified persons as others, to the obedience thereof, and that not only in regard of the matter contained in it, but also in respect of the authority of God the Creator, who gave it; neither doth Christ in the Gospel any way dissolve, but much strengthen this obligation.
Romans 13:8-10; James 2:8-12; James 2:10-11; Matthew 5:17-19; Romans 3:31
Although true believers be not under the law as a covenant of works, to be thereby justified or condemned, yet it is of great use to them as well as to others, in that as a rule of life, informing them of the will of God and their duty, it directs and binds them to walk accordingly; discovering also the sinful pollutions of their natures, hearts, and lives, so as examining themselves thereby, they may come to further conviction of, humiliation for, and hatred against, sin; together with a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ and the perfection of his obedience; it is likewise of use to the regenerate to restrain their corruptions, in that it forbids sin; and the threatenings of it serve to shew what even their sins deserve, and what afflictions in this life they may expect for them, although freed from the curse and unallayed rigour thereof. The promises of it likewise shew them God's approbation of obedience, and what blessings they may expect upon the performance thereof, though not as due to them by the law as a covenant of works; so as man's doing good and refraining from evil, because the law encourageth to the one and deterreth from the other, is no evidence of his being under the law and not under grace.
Romans 6:14; Galatians 2:16; Romans 8:1; Romans 10:4; Romans 3:20; Romans 7:7-25; Romans 6:12-14; 1 Peter 3:8-13
Neither are the aforementioned uses of the law contrary to the grace of the Gospel, but do sweetly comply with it, the Spirit of Christ subduing and enabling the will of man to do that freely and cheerfully which the will of God, revealed in the law, requireth to be done.
Galatians 3:21; Ezekiel 36:27
Chapter 20: Of the Gospel, and of the Extent of the Grace Thereof
The covenant of works being broken by sin, and made unprofitable unto life, God was pleased to give forth the promise of Christ, the seed of the woman, as the means of calling the elect, and begetting in them faith and repentance; in this promise the gospel, as to the substance of it, was revealed, and is therein effectual for the conversion and salvation of sinners.
Genesis 3:15; Revelation 13:8
This promise of Christ, and salvation by him, is revealed only by the Word of God; neither do the works of creation or providence, with the light of nature, make discovery of Christ, or of grace by him, so much as in a general or obscure way; much less that men destitute of the revelation of Him by the promise or gospel, should be enabled thereby to attain saving faith or repentance.
Romans 1:17; Romans 10:14,15,17; Proverbs 29:18; Isaiah 25:7; Isaiah 60:2-3
The revelation of the gospel unto sinners, made in divers times and by sundry parts, with the addition of promises and precepts for the obedience required therein, as to the nations and persons to whom it is granted, is merely of the sovereign will and good pleasure of God; not being annexed by virtue of any promise to the due improvement of men's natural abilities, by virtue of common light received without it, which none ever did make, or can do so; and therefore in all ages, the preaching of the gospel has been granted unto persons and nations, as to the extent or straitening of it, in great variety, according to the counsel of the will of God.
Psalms 147:20; Acts 16:7; Romans 1:18-32
Although the gospel be the only outward means of revealing Christ and saving grace, and is, as such, abundantly sufficient thereunto; yet that men who are dead in trespasses may be born again, quickened or regenerated, there is moreover necessary an effectual insuperable work of the Holy Spirit upon the whole soul, for the producing in them a new spiritual life; without which no other means will effect their conversion unto God.
Psalms 110:3; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 1:19-20; John 6:44; 2 Corinthians 4:4-6
Chapter 21: Of Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience
The liberty which Christ hath purchased for believers under the gospel, consists in their freedom from the guilt of sin, the condemning wrath of God, the rigour and curse of the law, and in their being delivered from this present evil world, bondage to Satan, and dominion of sin, from the evil of afflictions, the fear and sting of death, the victory of the grave, and ever- lasting damnation: as also in their free access to God, and their yielding obedience unto Him, not out of slavish fear, but a child-like love and willing mind. All which were common also to believers under the law for the substance of them; but under the New Testament the liberty of Christians is further enlarged, in their freedom from the yoke of a ceremonial law, to which the Jewish church was subjected, and in greater boldness of access to the throne of grace, and in fuller communications of the free Spirit of God, than believers under the law did ordinarily partake of.
Galatians 3:13; Galatians 1:4; Acts 26:18; Romans 8:3; Romans 8:28; 1 Corinthians 15:54-57; 2 Thessalonians 1:10; Romans 8:15; Luke 1:73-75; 1 John 4:18; Galatians 3:9-14; John 7:38-39; Hebrews 10:19-21
God alone is Lord of the conscience, and hath left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are in any thing contrary to his word, or not contained in it. So that to believe such doctrines, or obey such commands out of conscience, is to betray true liberty of conscience; and the requiring of an implicit faith, an absolute and blind obedience, is to destroy liberty of conscience and reason also.
James 4:12; Romans 14:4; Acts 4:19-29; 1 Corinthians 7:23; Matthew 15:9; Colossians 2:20-23; 1 Corinthians 3:5; 2 Corinthians 1:24
They who upon pretence of Christian liberty do practice any sin, or cherish any sinful lust, as they do thereby pervert the main design of the grace of the gospel to their own destruction, so they wholly destroy the end of Christian liberty, which is, that being delivered out of the hands of all our enemies, we might serve the Lord without fear, in holiness and righeousness before Him, all the days of our lives.
Romans 6:1-2; Galatians 5:13; 2 Peter 2:18-21
Chapter 22: Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day
The light of nature shews that there is a God, who hath lordship and sovereignty over all; is just, good and doth good unto all; and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served, with all the heart and all the soul, and with all the might. But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God, is instituted by himself, and so limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be worshipped according to the imagination and devices of men, nor the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representations, or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scriptures.
Jeremiah 10:7; Mark 12:33; Deuteronomy 12:32; Exodus 20:4-6
Religious worship is to be given to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to him alone; not to angels, saints, or any other creatures; and since the fall, not without a mediator, nor in the mediation of any other but Christ alone.
Matthew 4:9-10; John 6:23; Matthew 28:19; Romans 1:25; Colossians 2:18; Revelation 19:10; John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5
Prayer, with thanksgiving, being one part of natural worship, is by God required of all men. But that it may be accepted, it is to be made in the name of the Son, by the help of the Spirit, according to his will; with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love, and perseverance; and when with others, in a known tongue.
Psalms 95:1-7; Psalms 65:2; John 14:13-14; Romans 8:26; 1 John 5:14; 1 Corinthians 14:16-17
Prayer is to be made for things lawful, and for all sorts of men living, or that shall live hereafter; but not for the dead, nor for those of whom it may be known that they have sinned the sin unto death.
1 Timothy 2:1-2; 2 Samuel 7:29; 2 Samuel 12:21-23; 1 John 5:16
The reading of the Scriptures, preaching, and hearing the Word of God, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord; as also the administration of baptism, and the Lord's supper, are all parts of religious worship of God, to be performed in obedience to him, with understanding, faith, reverence, and godly fear; moreover, solemn humiliation, with fastings, and thanksgivings, upon special occasions, ought to be used in an holy and religious manner.
1 Timothy 4:13; 2 Timothy 4:2; Luke 8:18; Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19; Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:26; Esther 4:16; Joel 2:12; Exodus 15:1-19; Psalms 107
Neither prayer nor any other part of religious worship, is now under the gospel, tied unto, or made more acceptable by any place in which it is performed, or towards which it is directed; but God is to be worshipped everywhere in spirit and in truth; as in private families daily, and in secret each one by himself; so more solemnly in the public assemblies, which are not carelessly nor wilfully to be neglected or forsaken, when God by his word or providence calleth thereunto.
John 4:21; Malachi 1:11; 1 Timothy 2:8; Acts 10:2; Matthew 6:11; Psalms 55:17; Matthew 6:6; Hebrews 10:25; Acts 2:42
As it is the law of nature, that in general a proportion of time, by God's appointment, be set apart for the worship of God, so by his Word, in a positive moral, and perpetual commandment, binding all men, in all ages, he hath particularly appointed one day in seven for a sabbath to be kept holy unto him, which from the beginning of the
world to the resurrection of Christ was the last day of the week, and from the resurrection of Christ was changed into the first day of the week, which is called the Lord's day: and is to be continued to the end of the world as the Christian Sabbath, the observation of the last day of the week being abolished.
Exodus 20:8; 1 Corinthians 16:1,-2; Acts 20:7; Revelation 1:10
The sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering their common affairs aforehand, do not only observe an holy rest all day, from their own works, words and thoughts, about their worldly employment and recreations, but are also taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy.
Isaiah 58:13; Nehemiah 13:15-22; Matthew 12:1-13
Chapter 23: Of Lawful Oaths and Vows
A lawful oath is a part of religious worship, wherein the person swearing in truth, righteousness, and judgement, solemnly calleth God to witness what he sweareth, and to judge him according to the truth or falseness thereof.
Exodus 20:7; Deuteronomy 10:20; Jeremiah 4:2; 2 Chronicles 6:22-23
The name of God only is that by which men ought to swear; and therein it is to be used, with all holy fear and reverence; therefore to swear vainly or rashly by that glorious and dreadful name, or to swear at all by any other thing, is sinful, and to be abhorred; yet as in matter of weight and moment, for confirmation of truth, and ending all strife, an oath is warranted by the word of God; so a lawful oath being imposed by lawful authority in such matters, ought to be taken.
Matthew 5:34-37; James 5:12; Hebrews 6:16; 2 Corinthians 1:23; Nehemiah 13:25
Whosoever taketh an oath warranted by the Word of God, ought duly to consider the weightiness of so solemn an act, and therein to avouch nothing but what he knoweth to be truth; for that by rash, false, and vain oaths, the Lord is provoked, and for them this land mourns.
Leviticus 19:12; Jeremiah 23:10
An oath is to be taken in the plain and common sense of the words, without equivocation or mental reservation.
Psalms 24:4
A vow, which is not to be made to any creature, but to God alone, is to be made and performed with all religious care and faithfulness; but popish monastical vows of perpetual single life, professed poverty, and regular obedience, are so far from being degrees of higher perfection, that they are superstitious and sinful snares, in which no Christian may entangle himself.
Psalms 76:11; Genesis 28:20-22; 1 Corinthians 7:2-9; Ephesians 4:28; Matthew 19:11
Chapter 24: Of the Civil Magistrate
God, the supreme Lord and King of all the world, hath ordained civil magistrates to be under him, over the people, for his own glory and the public good; and to this end hath armed them with the power of the sword, for defence and encouragement of them that do good, and for the punishment of evil doers.
Romans 13:1-4
It is lawful for Christians to accept and execute the office of a magistrate when called there unto; in the management whereof, as they ought especially to maintain justice and peace, according to the wholesome laws of each kingdom and commonwealth, so for that end they may lawfully now, under the New Testament wage war upon just and necessary occasions.
2 Samuel 23:3; Psalms 82:3-4; Luke 3:14
Civil magistrates being set up by God for the ends aforesaid; subjection, in all lawful things commanded by them, ought to be yielded by us in the Lord, not only for wrath, but for conscience sake; and we ought to make supplications and prayers for kings and all that are in authority, that under them we may live a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty.
Romans 13:5-7; 1 Peter 2:17; 1 Timothy 2:1-2
Chapter 25: Of Marriage
Marriage is to be between one man and one woman; neither is it lawful for any man to have more than one wife, nor for any woman to have more than one husband at the same time.
Genesis 2:24; Malachi 2:15; Matthew 19:5,6
Marriage was ordained for the mutual help of husband and wife, for the increase of mankind with a legitimate issue, and the preventing of uncleanness.
Genesis 2:18; Genesis 1:28; 1 Corinthians 7:2-9
It is lawful for all sorts of people to marry, who are able with judgment to give their consent; yet it is the duty of Christians to marry in the Lord; and therefore such as profess the true religion, should not marry with infidels, or idolaters; neither should such as are godly, be unequally yoked, by marrying with such as are wicked in their life, or maintain damnable heresy.
Hebrews 13:4; 1 Timothy 4:3; 1 Corinthians 7:39; Nehemiah 13:25-27
Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of consanguinity or affinity, forbidden in the Word; nor can such incestuous marriages ever be made lawful, by any law of man or consent of parties, so as those persons may live together as man and wife.
Leviticus 18; Mark 6:18; 1 Corinthians 5:1
Chapter 26: Of the Church
The catholic or universal church, which (with respect to the internal work of the Spirit and truth of grace) may be called invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ, the head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Hebrews 12:23; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:10-23; Ephesians 5:23-32
All persons throughout the world, professing the faith of the gospel, and obedience unto God by Christ according unto it, not destroying their own profession by any errors everting the foundation, or unholiness of conversation, are and may be called visible saints; and of such ought all particular congregations to be constituted. ( 1 Corinthians 1:2; Acts 11:26; Romans 1:7; Ephesians 1:20-22
The purest churches under heaven are subject to mixture and error; and some have so degenerated as to become no churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan; nevertheless Christ always hath had, and ever shall have a kingdom in this world, to the end thereof, of such as believe in him, and make profession of his name.
1 Corinthians 5; Revelation 2; Revelation 3; Revelation 18:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12; Matthew 16:18; Psalms 72:17; Psalm 102:28; Revelation 12:17
The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of the church, in whom, by the appointment of the Father, all power for the calling, institution, order or government of the church, is invested in a supreme and sovereign manner; neither can the Pope of Rome in any sense be head thereof, but is that antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition, that exalteth himself in the church against Christ, and all that is called God; whom the Lord shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.
Colossians 1:18; Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 4:11-12; 2 Thessalonians 2:2-9
In the execution of this power wherewith he is so intrusted, the Lord Jesus calleth out of the world unto himself, through the ministry of his word, by his Spirit, those that are given unto him by his Father, that they may walk before him in all the ways of obedience, which he prescribeth to them in his word. Those thus called, he commandeth to walk together in particular societies, or churches, for their mutual edification, and the due performance of that public worship, which he requireth of them in the world.
John 10:16; John 12:32; Matthew 28:20; Matthew 18:15-20
The members of these churches are saints by calling, visibly manifesting and evidencing (in and by their profession and walking) their obedience unto that call of Christ; and do willingly consent to walk together, according to the appointment of Christ; giving up themselves to the Lord, and one to another, by the will of God, in professed subjection to the ordinances of the Gospel.
Romans. 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Acts 2:41-42; Acts 5:13-14; 2 Corinthians 9:13
To each of these churches thus gathered, according to his mind declared in his word, he hath given all that power and authority, which is in any way needful for their carrying on that order in worship and discipline, which he hath instituted for them to observe; with commands and rules for the due and right exerting, and executing of that power.
Matthew 18:17-18; 1 Corinthians 5:4-5; 1 Corinthians 5:13; 2 Corinthians 2:6-8
A particular church, gathered and completely organized according to the mind of Christ, consists of officers
and members; and the officers appointed by Christ to be chosen and set apart by the church (so called and gathered), for the peculiar administration of ordinances, and execution of power or duty, which he intrusts them with, or calls them to, to be continued to the end of the world, are bishops or elders, and deacons.
Acts 20:17-28; Philippians 1:1
The way appointed by Christ for the calling of any person, fitted and gifted by the Holy Spirit, unto the office of bishop or elder in a church, is, that he be chosen thereunto by the common suffrage of the church itself; and solemnly set apart by fasting and prayer, with imposition of hands of the eldership of the church, if there be any before constituted therein; and of a deacon that he be chosen by the like suffrage, and set apart by prayer, and the like imposition of hands.
Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 4:14; Acts 6:3-6
The work of pastors being constantly to attend the service of Christ, in his churches, in the ministry of the word and prayer, with watching for their souls, as they that must give an account to Him; it is incumbent on the churches to whom they minister, not only to give them all due respect, but also to communicate to them of all their good things according to their ability, so as they may have a comfortable supply, without being themselves entangled in secular affairs; and may also be capable of exercising hospitality towards others; and this is required by the law of nature, and by the express order of our Lord Jesus, who hath ordained that they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel.
Acts 6:4; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Timothy 5:17-18; Galatians 6:6-7; 2 Timothy 2:4; 1 Timothy 3:2; 1 Corinthians 9:6-14
Although it be incumbent on the bishops or pastors of the churches, to be instant in preaching the word, by way of office, yet the work of preaching the word is not so peculiarly confined to them but that others also gifted and fitted by the Holy Spirit for it, and approved and called by the church, may and ought to perform it.
Acts 11:19-21; 1 Peter 4:10-11
As all believers are bound to join themselves to particular churches, when and where they have opportunity so to do; so all that are admitted unto the privileges of a church, are also under the censures and government thereof, according to the rule of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:14; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15
No church members, upon any offence taken by them, having performed their duty required of them towards the person they are offended at, ought to disturb any church-order, or absent themselves from the assemblies of the church, or administration of any ordinances, upon the account of such offence at any of their fellow members, but to wait upon Christ, in the further proceeding of the church.
Matthew 18:15-17; Ephesians 4:2-3
As each church, and all the members of it, are bound to pray continually for the good and prosperity of all the churches of Christ, in all places, and upon all occasions to further every one within the bounds of their places and callings, in the exercise of their gifts and graces, so the churches, when planted by the providence of God, so as they may enjoy opportunity and advantage for it, ought to hold communion among themselves, for their peace, increase of love, and mutual edification.
Ephesians 6:18; Psalms 122:6; Romans 16:1-2; 3 John 8-10
In cases of difficulties or differences, either in point of doctrine or administration, wherein either the churches in general are concerned, or any one church, in their peace, union, and edification; or any member or members of any church are injured, in or by any proceedings in censures not agreeable to truth and order: it is according to the mind of Christ, that many churches holding communion together, do, by their messengers, meet to consider, and give their advice in or about that matter in difference, to be reported to all the churches concerned; howbeit these messengers assembled, are not intrusted with any church-power properly so called; or with any jurisdiction over the churches themselves, to exercise any censures either over any churches or persons; or to impose their determination on the churches or officers.
Acts 15:2-25; 2 Corinthians 1:24; 1 John 4:1
Chapter 27: Of the Communion of Saints
All saints that are united to Jesus Christ, their head, by his Spirit, and faith, although they are not made thereby one person with him, have fellowship in his graces, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory; and, being united to one another in love, they have communion in each others gifts and graces, and are obliged to the performance of such duties, public and private, in an orderly way, as do conduce to their mutual good, both in the inward and outward man.
1 John 1:3; John 1:16; Philippians 3:10; Romans 6:5-6; Ephesians 4:15-16; 1 Corinthians 12:7; 1 Corinthians 3:21-23; 1 Thessalonians 5:11-14; Romans 1:12; 1 John 3:17-18; Galatians 6:10
Saints by profession are bound to maintain an holy fellowship and communion in the worship of God, and in performing such other spiritual services as tend to their mutual edification; as also in relieving each other in outward things according to their several abilities, and necessities; which communion, according to the rule of the gospel, though especially to be exercised by them, in the relation wherein they stand, whether in families, or churches, yet, as God offereth opportunity, is to be extended to all the household of faith, even all those who in every place call upon the name of the Lord Jesus; nevertheless their communion one with another as saints, doth not take away or infringe the title or propriety which each man hath in his goods and possessions.
Hebrews 10:24-25; Hebrews 3:12-13; Acts 11:29-30; Ephesians 6:4; 1 Corinthians 12:14-27; Acts 5:4; Ephesians 4:28
Chapter 28: Of Baptism and the Lord's Supper
Baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances of positive and sovereign institution, appointed by the Lord Jesus, the only lawgiver, to be continued in his church to the end of the world.
Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:26
These holy appointments are to be administered by those only who are qualified and thereunto called, according to the commission of Christ.
Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 4:1
Chapter 29: Of Baptism
Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, to be unto the party baptized, a sign of his fellowship with him, in his death and resurrection; of his being engrafted into him; of remission of sins; and of giving up into God, through Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life.
Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2;12; Galatians 3:27; Mark 1:4; Acts 22:16; Romans 6:4
Those who do actually profess repentance towards God, faith in, and obedience to, our Lord Jesus Christ, are the only proper subjects of this ordinance.
Mark 16:16; Acts 8:36-37; Acts 2:41; Acts 8:12; Acts 18:8
The outward element to be used in this ordinance is water, wherein the party is to be baptized, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 8:38
Immersion, or dipping of the person in water, is necessary to the due administration of this ordinance.
Matthew 3:16; John 3:23
Chapter 30: Of the Lord's Supper
The supper of the Lord Jesus was instituted by him the same night wherein he was betrayed, to be observed in his churches, unto the end of the world, for the perpetual remembrance, and shewing forth the sacrifice of himself in his death, confirmation of the faith of believers in all the benefits thereof, their spiritual nourishment, and growth in him, their further engagement in, and to all duties which they owe to him; and to be a bond and pledge of their communion with him, and with each other.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26; 1 Corinthians 10:16-21
In this ordinance Christ is not offered up to his Father, nor any real sacrifice made at all for remission of sin of the quick or dead, but only a memorial of that one offering up of himself by himself upon the cross, once for all; and a spiritual oblation of all possible praise unto God for the same. So that the popish sacrifice of the mass, as they call it, is most abominable, injurious to Christ's own sacrifice the alone propitiation for all the sins of the elect.
Hebrews 9:25-28; 1 Corinthians 11:24; Matthew 26:26-27
The Lord Jesus hath, in this ordinance, appointed his ministers to pray, and bless the elements of bread and wine, and thereby to set them apart from a common to a holy use, and to take and break the bread; to take the cup, and, they communicating also themselves, to give both to the communicants.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
The denial of the cup to the people, worshipping the elements, the lifting them up, or carrying them about for adoration, and reserving them for any pretended religious use, are all contrary to the nature of this ordinance, and to the institution of Christ.
Matthew 26:26-28; Matthew 15:9; Exodus 20:4-5
The outward elements in this ordinance, duly set apart to the use ordained by Christ, have such relation to him crucified, as that truly, although in terms used figuratively, they are sometimes called by the names of the things they represent, to wit, the body and blood of Christ, albeit, in substance and nature, they still remain truly and only bread and wine, as they were before.
1 Corinthians 11:27; 1 Corinthians 11:26-28
That doctrine which maintains a change of the substance of bread and wine, into the substance of Christ's body and blood, commonly called transubstantiation, by consecration of a priest, or by any other way, is repugnant not to Scripture alone, but even to common sense and reason, overthroweth the nature of the ordinance, and hath been, and is, the cause of manifold superstitions, yea, of gross idolatries.
Acts 3:21; Luke 14:6-39; 1 Corinthians 11:24-25
Worthy receivers, outwardly partaking of the visible elements in this ordinance, do then also inwardly by faith, really and indeed, yet not carnally and corporally, but spiritually receive, and feed upon Christ crucified, and all the benefits of his death; the body and blood of Christ being then not corporally or carnally, but spiritually present to the faith of believers in that ordinance, as the elements themselves are to their outward senses.
1 Corinthians 10:16; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
All ignorant and ungodly persons, as they are unfit to enjoy communion with Christ, so are they unworthy of the Lord's table, and cannot, without great sin against him, while they remain such, partake of these holy
mysteries, or be admitted thereunto; yea, whosoever shall receive unworthily, are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, eating and drinking judgment to themselves.
2 Corinthians 6:14-15; 1 Corinthians 11:29; Matthew 7:6
Chapter 31: Of the State of Man after Death and Of the Resurrection of the Dead
The bodies of men after death return to dust, and see corruption; but their souls, which neither die nor sleep, having an immortal subsistence, immediately return to God who gave them. The souls of the righteous being then made perfect in holiness, are received into paradise, where they are with Christ, and behold the face of God in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies; and the souls of the wicked are cast into hell; where they remain in torment and utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great day; besides these two places, for souls separated from their bodies, the Scripture acknowledgeth none.
Genesis 3:19; Acts 13:36; Ecclesiastes 12:7; Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:1-8; Philippians 1:23; Hebrews 12:23; Jude 6-7; 1 Peter 3:19; Luke 16:23-24
At the last day, such of the saints as are found alive, shall not sleep, but be changed; and all the dead shall be raised up with the selfsame bodies, and none other; although with different qualities, which shall be united again to their souls forever.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Job 19:26-27; 1 Corinthians 15:42-43
The bodies of the unjust shall, by the power of Christ, be raised to dishonour; the bodies of the just, by his Spirit, unto honour, and be made conformable to his own glorious body.
Acts 24:15; John 5:28-29; Philippians 3:21
Chapter 32: Of the Last Judgment
God hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in righteousness, by Jesus Christ; to whom all power and judgment is given of the Father; in which day, not only the apostate angels shall be judged, but likewise all persons that have lived upon the earth shall appear before the tribunal of Christ, to give an account of their thoughts, words, and deeds, and to receive according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil.
Acts 17:31; John 5:22-27; 1 Corinthians 6:3; Jude 6; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Ecclesiastes 12:14; Matthew 12:36; Romans 14:10-12; Matthew 25:32-46
The end of God's appointing this day, is for the manifestation of the glory of his mercy, in the eternal salvation of the elect; and of his justice, in the eternal damnation of the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient; for then shall the righteous go into everlasting life, and receive that fulness of joy and glory with everlasting rewards, in the presence of the Lord; but the wicked, who know not God, and obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast aside into everlasting torments, and punished with everlasting destruction, from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.
Romans 9:22-23; Matthew 25:21-34; 2 Timothy 4:8; Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:48; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10
As Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded that there shall be a day of judgment, both to deter all men from sin, and for the greater consolation of the godly in their adversity, so will he have the day unknown to men, that they may shake off all carnal security, and be always watchful, because they know not at what hour the Lord will come, and may ever be prepared to say, Come Lord Jesus; come quickly. Amen.
2 Corinthians 5:10-11; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-7; Mark 13:35-37; Luke 12:35-40; Revelation 22:20
Closing Statement & Signatories
We the MINISTERS, and MESSENGERS of, and concerned for upwards of, one hundred BAPTIZED CHURCHES, in England and Wales (denying Arminianisim), being met together in London, from the third of the seventh month to the eleventh of the same, 1689, to consider of some things that might be for the glory of God, and the good of these congregations, have thought meet (for the satisfaction of all other Christians that differ from us in the point of Baptism) to recommend to their perusal the confession of our faith, which confession we own, as containing the doctrine of our faith and practice, and do desire that the members of our churches respectively do furnish themselves therewith.
Hansard Knollys, Pastor, Broken Wharf, London
William Kiffin, Pastor, Devonshire-square, London
John Harris, Pastor, Joiner's Hall, London
William Collins, Pastor, Petty France, London
Hurcules Collins, Pastor, Wapping, London
Robert Steed, Pastor, Broken Wharf, London
Leonard Harrison, Pastor, Limehouse, London
George Barret, Pastor, Mile End Green, London
Isaac Lamb, Pastor, Pennington-street, London
Richard Adams, Minister, Shad Thames, Southwark
Benjamin Keach, Pastor, Horse-lie-down, Southwark
Andrew Gifford, Pastor, Bristol, Frvars, Som. & Glouc.
Thomas Vaux, Pastor, Broadmead, Som. & Glouc.
Thomas Winnel, Pastor, Taunton, Som. & Glouc.
James Hitt, Preacher, Dalwood, Dorset
Richard Tidmarsh, Minister, Oxford City, Oxon
William Facey, Pastor, Reading, Berks
Samuel Buttall, Minister, Plymouth,
Devon Christopher Price, Minister, Abergayenny, Monmouth
Daniel Finch, Minister, Kingsworth, Herts
John Ball, Tiverton, Devon
Edmond White, Pastor, Evershall, Bedford
William Prichard, Pastor, Blaenau, Monmouth
Paul Fruin, Minister, Warwick, Warwick
Richard Ring, Pastor, Southhampton, Hants
John Tomkins, Minister, Abingdon, Berks
Toby Willes, Pastor, Bridgewater, Somerset
John Carter, Steventon, Bedford
James Webb, Devizes, Wilts
Richard Sutton, Pastor, Tring, Herts
Robert Knight, Pastor, Stukeley, Bucks
Edward Price, Pastor, Hereford City, Hereford
William Phipps, Pastor, Exon, Devon
William Hawkins, Pastor, Dimmock, Gloucester
Samuel Ewer, Pastor, Hemstead, Herts
Edward Man, Pastor, Houndsditch, London
Charles Archer, Pastor, Hock-Norton, Oxon
In the name of and on the behalf of the whole assembly.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith: An Introduction & Resources
The Introduction
I am brand new to Historical Christian Confessions. So why Confessional and why the Westminster Confession of Faith before settling on the 1689? To answer that is to give the long answer.
I was born into a family with some of the most depraved men you'll ever met married to some of the most Godly women you have ever met.
My grandfather up and left my grandma to be with some other chick in Arizona. While adultery and abandonment within covenant vows before the Holy God is a dime a dozen in our day and age, in the 50s & 60s, it was pretty shocking. My grandma ended up packing up the station wagon and snatching his butt back to Texas, you can only guess how much that impacted his impressionable young sons, who were just coming of age in the midst of what we now call the Sexual Revolution.
Adultery? Abandonment? Followed up with pornography, multiple partners, and legalized abortions. My dad, Baby Boomer, became a man in a time when the world so desperately tried to re-write the rules for sex--because if sex is a good thing, why not get as much as you can while you can. And our society has been on a greased slippery slide to hell ever since.
Addicted to Porn? Try working in porn so you can get more porn. That is my story and testimony.
God, in his perfect timing, would snatch the hearts of all three men--and I have no doubt it was on the praying knees of my faithful grandmother, Frances. My mom was a devout Christian but she ended up abandoning me and my brother to leave my violent, abusive, sexual addicted, perverse husband.
2 Timothy 1:5 (CSB) I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and now, I am convinced, is in you also.
Fast-forward my life some time later, through marriages, divorces, porn addictions, working in porn and all of that, God saved me. In the midst of my sorrow, sin, and depravity, God saved me. And by God's grace and in his provision of the internet, I got to meet so many other Christians outside of AoG. Oh my heart. Oh what joy.
I feel like I became Calvinist before I met any other Calvinist or Reformed. But once I went all in the doctrines of grace, I got to meet my Confessional brothers and sisters: Presbyterian, Reformed Baptist, and Anglican among others. In public, there wasn't a lot of talk about confessional but amongst themselves, the often referred to the Westminster, 1689, Three Forms of Unity and Thirty-Nine Articles were constantly mentioned. And I am over here going, "wut?"
I didn't grow up liturgical or in high church. I didn't grow up reciting creeds or catechism. But every time I did, my heart jump with joy because I got to do the same thing that the people of God got to do for centuries. Those are my brothers and sisters. I wanna see what they do because we are both family.
So, for no other reason, I picked the Westminster because of my wonderful friends in the Presbyterian Church of America. And I may not baptize babies, I understand what they are doing and why they do it and could go as far to defend their doctrinal position when it came to sprinkling water on infants.
I started this exposition right before moving to Kentucky. When the KY move was being planned, I thought, "Perhaps this is God's grace for me to move into another denomination?" because there were no Acts 29 churches in Lexington.
And if I had my druthers, I don't see why I would go to a non-denomination generic evangelical church. Why would I not start out with Reformed.
So I did.
An Anglican, Presbyterian, and oddly enough, a church that started as Calvary Chapel.
The Anglican and the Presbyterian churches were nice. But this "Calvary Chapel" church called themselves, "Creedal, Confessional, and adhering to the Five Solas". That doesn't sound like typical Calvary Chapel.
And they were not. Turns out, they were moving away from their Calvary Chapel connection and heading towards 1689 Confessional.
And this is the church we landed. And it is so wonderful. The best part: they don't need me. I get to sit under the preaching of God's word. And they do Bible Study--like I didn't have to start a Bible Study. We study the Bible together and not on our own.
So now, I am attempting, as a layperson, to exposit the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession.
The Resources
Usually when I give resources recommendations, I would say, one or twice a month, I would refer to those resources just to see what other teachers say on the matter and to make sure I am not going off the rails.
When it comes to studying not in my wheelhouse, I will confess to you today, I am going to lean on these resources hard. Like, almost like a crutch. I will unapologetically borrow (aka copy) from these resources.
Of course, I am not a heathen: where I copy word for word, I will footnote it with the quickness.
(Including in each post within the WCF series will be a listing of these resources. Just assume I will be using them with every single post and episode.)
But I do have to divvy these resources up into two categories--which is not split up in the way you think it will be.
It Goes Without Saying
Specifically
ESV Reformation Study Bible
Commentary & Edited by R.C. Sproul.
Ligonier Ministries. March 16, 2015.
Goodreads
I am starting to lean towards this particular Study Bible because RC Sproul teaches and references historical creeds, confessions, and catechisms in his study notes. Truly succinct and helpful.
Generally
Christian Standard Bible
Holmon Publishing. 2020.
Goodreads
Many times, many teachers, preachers, and small group leaders (myself included) will "cut straight to the chase" and engage the commentary instead of engaging the Word of God. Remember, the commentaries are not without error—they are the observations of the author.
Slow down, pray, read, chew and meditate.
Note: I use the Christian Standard Bible version on this blog default. Other translations, such as the ESV or the NIV1984, will be noted as such.
ESV Study Bible
Crossway. 2016.
Goodreads
Incredible resource.
If I had to pick just one format (hardcover vs. leather vs. paperback vs. digital), I use it way more in my Olive Tree Study Bible than anything else.
Hebrew Greek Key Word Study Bible.
New American Standard Bible 1977.
AMG International. 2008.
Goodreads
Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible.
NIV 1984.
Zondervan. 2003.
Goodreads
Life Application Study Bible.
NIV 2011.
Zondervan. 2011.
Goodreads
Books
The Creedal Imperative
by Carl Trueman.
Crossway. 2012.
Goodreads
At the time of this post, I have yet to read through this. But when I popped on r/Reformed and asked for a few good resources, this book was overwhelmingly recommended.
I will read this through as we are going through the series.
All That Is in God: Evangelical Theology and the Challenge of Classical Christian Theism.
James E. Dolezal.
Reformation Heritage Books. 2017.
Goodreads
Sources
Site: Doctrine & Devotion
The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith
with Scriptural References
Commentaries
Calvin's Commentaries.
John Calvin.
Baker. 2009.
Olive Tree
Expositions
The truth that there isn't a lot out there. First, get this little book as a handout for your congregation:
The Baptist Confession of Faith 1689: Or the Second London Confession with Scripture Proofs
by Peter Masters.
Wakeman Trust. January 1, 1981.
Goodreads
By God's great provision, within the next few months, two will be dropping. One from James Renihan:
To the Judicious and Impartial Reader: Baptist Symbolics Volume 2.
by James Renihan.
Founders Press. 2022.
Goodreads
And then a new exposition on the 1689 dropping in January from Rob Ventura:
A New Exposition of the London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689
by Rob Ventura.
Mentor. January 17, 2023.
Amazon
In the meantime, this Modern Exposition from Samuel Waldron was used as a textbook for his class in seminary:
Modern Exposition of the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith.
by Samuel E. Waldron.
Evangelical Press. 2013.
Goodreads
Annnnnnnd that's it. One book hard to get, one on the 1644 (for Particular Baptists--which I am not one) and two books that have not dropped.
What do you do?
I will then take the Westminster Exposition from R.C. Sproul and the WCF from Banner of Truth and let the good times roll. Also, the Creedal Imperative is a must have.
Truths We Confess: A Systematic Exposition of the Westminster Confession of Faith
by R.C. Sproul.
Reformation Trust Publishing. 2019.
Goodreads
Do you know me? Have you been on this website for longer than a second? Will I always use an R.C. Sproul book if possible? Absolutely yes.
In my humble opinion, Dr. Sproul was one of the greatest Bible teachers of my generation. I have read his commentaries cover to cover. I have studied through his Philosophy courses at Ligonier. When he spoke, I did my best to listen.
His ministry has had the greatest impact on my Christian life. What I love is that he is a Presbyterian and I am a Reformed Baptist. We don't agree on everything but at a distance, I am certainly mentored and shaped by him.
And in God's great grace, this book was released shortly after his death. This book all but confirmed my unction that I should study the Confessions. I would not have this series without his work and his influence on my life.
The Westminster Confession: The Confession of Faith, The Larger and Shorter Catechism
The Westminster Divines.
Banner of Truth. 2018.
Goodreads
How I did come to discover this book? My wife would say I do spend a lot of money and time on the Banner of Trust website. To which I would confess, "I haven't bought every book. I still have thousands left to purchase." One day. Oh, one fine day.
This particular book caught my attention for nothing else but the description, "Biblical References are given in full."
Oh, when it comes to books, I have more than a few hot takes. Number one, endnotes are of the devil and end all be all proof the total depravity of man. Seriously, book publishers, you want more of my money? I would happily spend $5 more on the same book for footnotes instead of endnotes. And if you stick a gun to my head and made me choose, I rather have no notes than endnotes. They suck my soul dry.
Number two hot take: why on earth would you not just list the full Biblical reference. Not just in book but in church's websites, wherever. I remember landing at my last wonderful church, Frontline Church in Oklahoma City. Since I wanted to be a member, I pull down all the resources and materials, including their Doctrine of Statement.
"Beautiful", I thought, "I know where they stand on any statement." Open that PDF up and... complete deflation. They mention the Bible passages but just the location.
So I took the time to redesign and added full Biblical references. To make it work, I had to use three columns of text.
So when I saw the full Biblical references on this resource for the Westminster Confession, I instantly handed over some cash and got this wonderful resource in my hands. Sit and read it with me. You will not be disappointed.
Theology
The Cross of Christ.
John R.W. Stott. 2006.
Goodreads
The Death of Death in the Death of Christ.
John Owen.
Banner of Truth. 2007.
Goodreads
No Condemnation in Christ Jesus: As Unfolded in the Eighth Chapter of the Epistle to the Romans.
Octavius Winslow.
Banner of Trust. 1991.
Goodreads
On the Incarnation.
Athanasius of Alexandria.
St. Vladimir's Seminary Press. 1977.
Goodreads
All That Is in God: Evangelical Theology and the Challenge of Classical Christian Theism.
James E. Dolezal.
Reformation Heritage Books. 2017.
Goodreads
Institutes of the Christian Religion: Calvin's Own 'Essentials' Edition.
John Calvin. Robert White (Translator).
Banner of Truth. 2014.
Goodreads
Reformed Dogmatics.
Herman Bavinck, John Bolt (Editor), John Vriend (Translator).
Baker Academic. 2003.
Goodreads
The Wonderful Works of God.
Herman Bavinck.
Westminster Seminary Press. 2019.
Goodreads
Systematic Theology.
Louis Berkhof.
Eerdmans. 1996.
Goodreads
God is Love.
Gerald L. Bray.
Crossway. 2012.
Goodreads
The Existence and Attributes of God, Volume 1-2.
Stephen Charnock, Mark Jones (Editor).
Crossway. 2022.
Goodreads
Systematic Theology.
Charles Hodge.
Hendrickson Academic. 1999.
Goodreads
The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on the Way.
Michael S. Horton.
Zondervan. 2011.
Goodreads
The Complete Works.
John Owen, Lee Gatiss (Series Editor), Shawn D. Wright (Series Editor).
Crossway. 2022.
Goodreads
Knowing God.
J.I. Packer.
Crossway. 2023.
Goodreads
The Works of John Wesley.
John Wesley.
Beacon Hill Press. 1978.
Goodreads
Chapter 1 Of the Holy Scriptures
1.1 The Holy Scriptures
The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience, although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and his will which is necessary unto salvation. Therefore it pleased the Lord at sundry times and in divers manners to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto his church; and afterward for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan, and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing; which maketh the Holy Scriptures to be most necessary, those former ways of God's revealing his will unto his people being now ceased.
1.2 The Old and New Testaments of Holy Scripture
Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testaments, which are these:
OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I Samuel, II Samuel, I Kings, II Kings, I Chronicles, II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, The Song of Solomen, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations,Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
OF THE NEW TESTAMENT: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, The Acts of the Apostles, Paul's Epistle to the Romans, I Corinthians, II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I Thessalonians, II Thessalonians, I Timothy, II Timothy, To Titus, To Philemon, The Epistle to the Hebrews, Epistle of James, The first and second Epistles of Peter, The first, second, and third Epistles of John, The Epistle of Jude, The Revelation
All of which are given by the inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life.
1.3 The Apocrypha of Holy Scripture
The books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the canon or rule of the Scripture, and, therefore, are of no authority to the church of God, nor to be any otherwise approved or made use of than other human writings.
1.4 The Authority of Holy Scripture
The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God (who is truth itself), the author thereof; therefore it is to be received because it is the Word of God.
1.5 The Inward Work of the Holy Spirit Concerning Holy Scripture
We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the church of God to an high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scriptures; and the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, and the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes of the only way of man's salvation, and many other incomparable excellencies, and entire perfections thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God; yet notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth, and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts.
1.6 The Whole Counsel of God Within Holy Scripture
The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down or necessarily contained in the Holy Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelation of the Spirit, or traditions of men. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word, and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.
1.7 The Clarity of Scripture for Salvation
All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all; yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of ordinary means, may attain to a sufficient understanding of them.
1.8 The Inspiration of God on Holy Scripture
The Old Testament in Hebrew (which was the native language of the people of God of old), and the New Testament in Greek (which at the time of the writing of it was most generally known to the nations), being immediately inspired by God, and by his singular care and providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentic; so as in all controversies of religion, the church is finally to appeal to them. But because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God, who have a right unto, and interest in the Scriptures, and are commanded in the fear of God to read and search them, therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come, that the Word of God dwelling plentifully in all, they may worship him in an acceptable manner, and through patience and comfort of the Scriptures may have hope.
1.9 The Interpretation of Holy Scripture
The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself; and therefore when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture (which is not manifold, but one), it must be searched by other places that speak more clearly.
1.10 The Infallibility of Holy Scripture
The supreme judge, by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Scripture delivered by the Spirit, into which Scripture so delivered, our faith is finally resolved.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 1.1 The Holy Scriptures
The Text
1 Corinthians 2:12-16 (CSB) Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God. We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. But the person without the Spirit does not receive what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually. The spiritual person, however, can evaluate everything, and yet he himself cannot be evaluated by anyone. For
who has known the Lord’s mind, that he may instruct him?But we have the mind of Christ.
The Chapter
The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience, although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and his will which is necessary unto salvation. Therefore it pleased the Lord at sundry times and in divers manners to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto his church; and afterward for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan, and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing; which maketh the Holy Scriptures to be most necessary, those former ways of God's revealing his will unto his people being now ceased.
The Confession
I am coming into the study with a few expectations. One of which is that I am 99.999999% sure I am not going to disagree with any article. And right out the gate, none of these points really grinds my gears.
Lets walk through the points:
The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience, although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable
Romans 2:14–15 (CSB) So, when Gentiles, who do not by nature have the law, do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts. Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts either accuse or even excuse them
Romans 1:18-20 (CSB) For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse.
Psalm 19:1–3 (CSB) The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands. Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge. There is no speech; there are no words; their voice is not heard.
Romans 1:32 (CSB) Although they know God’s just sentence—that those who practice such things deserve to die—they not only do them, but even applaud others who practice them.
Romans 2:1 (CSB) Therefore, every one of you who judges is without excuse. For when you judge another, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things.
In an CNN Red Chair Interview, Richard Dawkins was asked what would he say if he met God after his death:
What's going to happen when I die, if I met god in the unlikely event after I died, I think the first thing I would say is well, which one are you? Are you Zeus? Are you Thor? Are you Baal? Are you Mithras? Are you Yahweh? Which god are you?
Which is a bit peculiar, to say the least. But that bit of banter with the Holy Almighty God is leading up to what Dawkins really wants to ask:
And why did you take such great pains to conceal yourself and to hide away from us?
Richard Dawkins. CNN Red Chair Interview. September 5, 2012. CNN
But God didn't. Not even close. I would even give Mr. Dawkins a fair shake if Christ came in as a nobody and left as a nobody and then all of sudden myth after myths started coming up about some son of a carpenter in Palestinian Middle East some 2000 years ago.
Christ came in as a nobody yet, the entire basis of the Jewish faith prophesied that this was to be start. Starting with Genesis and ending with Malachi. Over 200 prophecies about the upcoming Messiah.
Christ, born of a virgin, into a know-nothing family, in a know-nothing back-country town of Bethlehem.
Isaiah 53:1-2 (CSB) Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up before him like a young plant and like a root out of dry ground. He didn’t have an impressive form or majesty that we should look at him, no appearance that we should desire him.
Before he began his ministry, no one knew who he was. And you say, "What about his family? Mary, Joseph, and his siblings?" And in the midst of Christ's preaching ministry, his own flesh and blood try to shush him away for saying "crazy things" because He was the Son of God.
Don't believe God. Sure. Don't believe Jesus is the Son of God? Okay. But no one, semi-educated, semi-read, could deny the historical Jesus.
Since Jesus is real, then what he said, documented by his followers and the Greco-Roman Empire, is what you have to deal with.
How we deal with what Christ said is sin indwelling in each of us--all of the children of Adam. God has made it plainly known but in each of our unrighteousness, we suppress the plain and general knowledge of God.
John 1:18 (CSB) No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.
We are without excuse
yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and his will which is necessary unto salvation
1 Corinthians 1:21 (CSB) For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of what is preached.
1 Corinthians 2:12–14 (CSB) Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God. We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. But the person without the Spirit does not receive what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually.
Think of all the things that God has freely given us: life, provision, his word, his Son, his Spirit.
But think on this:
Ephesians 2:8-9 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast.
What is the free gift? Grace? Faith? Salvation? Yes. Then answer is yes.
For you to know and embrace the salvation of God, God must first give you a new heart and His Spirit and not a moment before:
Ezekiel 36:26-27 (CSB) I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances.
Therefore it pleased the Lord at sundry times and in divers manners to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto his church
Hebrews 1:1 (CSB) Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways.
Don't be put off by the old-school word, 'sundry'. The CSB translates it as 'different'.
It is hard to imagine this for some but when God spoke to the prophets, he didn't do so continuously nor did he do it all in one setting.
Take the prophet, Jeremiah, and look at the verse ones of every chapter:
- "The word of the LORD came to me"
- "The Lord says"
- "The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah..."
Jeremiah went about his business. Living his life. Waited on the Lord to speak. Not all at one time but when God chose to speak so that Jeremiah could preach to Judah and the nations surrounding Israel.
It was never on our time. When things are quiet, chill, when we are not that busy, when it is convenient for us, when we are in dire straights, in a full out panic, when we are in a pickle and we need God to say something.
God speaks when he wants to speak. Maybe it will be day after day. Or it might be hundreds of years. That is his prerogative.
And you might think that stinks. But hold on. Keep your britches on. I got some good news.
and afterward for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan, and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing
Proverbs 22:19–21 (CSB) I have instructed you today—even you— so that your confidence may be in the LORD. Haven’t I written for you thirty sayings about counsel and knowledge, in order to teach you true and reliable words, so that you may give a dependable report to those who sent you?
Luke 1:3–4 (CSB) So it also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed.
Romans 15:4 (CSB) For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures.
Matthew 4:4–10 (CSB) He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Then the devil took him to the holy city, had him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will give his angels orders concerning you, and they will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Jesus told him, “It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. And he said to him, “I will give you all these things if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus told him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.”
Isaiah 8:19–20 (CSB) When they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the spiritists who chirp and mutter,” shouldn’t a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living? Go to God’s instruction and testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, there will be no dawn for them.
You want to know something that should blow your mind?
Romans 1:16 (CSB) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.
Look at the verse carefully. Does it say "the information about the gospel is the power of God for salvation" or does it say, "the gospel is the power of God for salvation?"
God was going to save his people from their sins. The people were too weak to save themselves. But God himself will come to save him. That is when the Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary, to live and die as we ought but failed to do so. If you believe what Christ says, repent your sins to him, and trust in Him, you shall be saved. End of the story. Nothing more. Nothing less. That is the gospel.
And yet the gospel was not an object that was to be held and pass down for generations. It was not like the royal family that Christ had to marry a woman and his wife birth a child and that child begat a child where the gospel must continue on like a king and would die if the king had no heir. Surely, Christ is the son of David but when Christ was born, that was it. End of the line. The Perfect King has come. The throne of the kingdom of God is now perfectly filled by the Son of Man who perfectly lived.
The gospel was given to one another by preaching it. The gospel was given to one another by writing it down and passing it on. The gospel, however imperfectly we share it with our words, is the power of God in salvation for those who believe, to the Jew first and also the Greek. For in the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith!"
And the word of God lives forever. Burn all the Bible and destroy all of the Internet and it will live forever. But the Bible is not of this world. It is the breathed out words of the Almighty Creator God of the Universe.
which maketh the Holy Scriptures to be most necessary
2 Timothy 3:15 (CSB) and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
2 Peter 1:19 (CSB) We also have the prophetic word strongly confirmed, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
People keep thinking that the Bible is not necessary. Christians, especially today in the age of information, take it for granted. But the Bible is most necessary for faith. You can scour the internet and find people who came to faith by a dream by God. And I am not here to argue against that. But why is true and why people come to Christ is the power of God in the gospel that is written down and kept in our hearts throughout the history of mankind.
To have and preserve faith in Christ makes the holy Scriptures most necessary.
Christian, want to debate on this. Try living your life for a week, completely stripped of the Holy Scriptures, and tell me where your mind and heart is at.
Some of you can tell me that because most of us don't engage in the word of God outside a pretty instagram post for months. I am not here to condemn you nor shame you. But without the Bread of Life, how do you expect to live?
those former ways of God's revealing his will unto his people being now ceased
Hebrews 1:1–2 (CSB) Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him.
I grew up Charismatic and with that, I grew up knowing that the gifts of the Spirit were infinite and given to each believer so that we would minister to others and love our neighbor as ourselves. This command is like loving God with our hearts.
Matthew 22:37–40 (CSB) He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”
Here is the thing: I have accepted a lot of Charismatic doctrine as belief. Granted, I was not born again when I was in Charismatic churches--I was not saved and did not have the Triune God dwelling in me--therefore, I could not understand nor believe any doctrine that I heard or read.
It was not until several years ago, I started to take my common beliefs about Charismatic doctrine and press that up against the Bible because we are instructed to do. Most known spiritual gifts I could teach from the Bible. All spiritual gifts are not of us but of the Spirit. Gifts of healing and miracles are not of us but of God alone. 1 So that is easily taught from the Bible.
There is one gift that irked me: prophecy. In most Charismatic circles is taught as either an word of encouragement all the way into soothsaying and fortune telling. But what does the word of God say about prophecy?
1 Corinthians 14:3 (CSB) But the person who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and consolation.
1 Corinthians 14:31 (CSB) For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged.
And
1 Corinthians 13:8–10 (CSB) Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will come to an end.
Any Charismatic could quote you 1 Corinthians chapters 12 to 14. But the following passage is what captured my attention:
1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 (CSB) Don’t stifle the Spirit. Don’t despise prophecies, but test all things. Hold on to what is good.
I have heard this used by Charismatic don't stifle the Spirit and don't despise prophecies. But in all the years I have seen prophecy done, I have never seen a prophecy given that was tested against the word of God.
Old Testament prophecy is easy to test. If the prophecy does not come true, then the prophet is a false prophet. But remember, ultimately, all of the Old Testament was prophesying about the coming Messiah.
Since Christ has come to save his people from their sins, what of prophecy now?
Prophecy in the Old Testament was literally the preaching of the word given to man by God. That prophetic word is now written in the Bible. Since Christ has come, all prophecy and prophesying is now the preaching of the word of God. It is literally preaching what Christ has done for us.
In other words, in the absolute sense of the word, prophesying is the preaching of the gospel of God.
Go back and read every NT passage about prophecy and prophesying and see if it still stands up to the test.
1 Corinthians 14:3 (CSB) But the person who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and consolation.
Preaching of the word of God and the preaching of the gospel done right is this! It is the strengthening, encouragement, and consolation of the saints.
1 Corinthians 14:31 (CSB) For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged.
Preaching of the word of God and the preaching of the gospel done right is this! It is the learning and encouragement of the saints.
1 Corinthians 13:8–10 (CSB) Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will come to an end.
Preaching of the word of God and the preaching of the gospel done right is this! There will be a day when preaching will come to an end because we will behold the face of our sweet Savior!
1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 (CSB) Don’t stifle the Spirit. Don’t despise prophecies, but test all things. Hold on to what is good.
Preaching of the word of God and the preaching of the gospel done right is this! Preach the word of God and proclaim the gospel rightly and your people can easily test your preaching against the word. In other words, you are not out here giving sport analogies, life coaching tips, business wisdom, some kind of TED talk or how to live your best life. No! We are to preach Christ crucified! (1 Corinthians 1:23)
And surely, I am not the only one who discovered this. I stand on the shoulders of the giants before me. Because, this is how the Church defined prophecy since the Apostles. For them prophecy in the NT church was always preaching. It does not make sense otherwise.
And just how important is preaching? For we know that:
Romans 10:17 (CSB) So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.
Just how important is preaching the word of God, the full counsel of God, and the gospel of our risen Christ.
Christ, in his preaching at Satan, said this:
Matthew 4:4 (CSB) He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
In other words, the word of God--the Bible--is the mouth of God. God has spoken and has done so in his word. Are we listening?
I do hate this seemingly strawman argument from Cessationists against the Charismatics because no Charismatic would claim that they are the ones who healed the sick or performed miracles. If they did make that claim, they would be false shepherds. But I digress.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 1.2 The Old and New Testaments of Holy Scripture
The Text
2 Timothy 3:16 - 4:5 (CSB) All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom: Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear. They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths. But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
The Chapter
Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testaments, which are these:
OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I Samuel, II Samuel, I Kings, II Kings, I Chronicles, II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, The Song of Solomen, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations,Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
OF THE NEW TESTAMENT: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, The Acts of the Apostles, Paul's Epistle to the Romans, I Corinthians, II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I Thessalonians, II Thessalonians, I Timothy, II Timothy, To Titus, To Philemon, The Epistle to the Hebrews, Epistle of James, The first and second Epistles of Peter, The first, second, and third Epistles of John, The Epistle of Jude, The Revelation
All of which are given by the inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life.
The Confession
Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testaments
How did the canonization of the sixty-six books of the Bible come to being?
Without going into a lengthy, detailed history lesson, let me put it simply: what did the ministers in the first few centuries of the church preach from? They preached from the sixty-six books of the Bible. If you take a stroll through a large bookstore chain, in around the Christian book section, you might find some book catch your eye like "The Lost Gospel of Thomas" or some such.
Let me encourage if you got the time and energy: go and read these suppose lost gospels or lost books of the Bible. But you better know your Bible well. If you know your Bible, what you will find is that these lost books will start to contradict and contrast the Bible, the minstry of Christ and the gospel of Christ. You will quickly see that they don't belong there.
If you don't know your Bible well, you might be tempted to think that there is better good news than the good news that Christ has: "repent of your sin, give it over to him because it is killing you, Christ will give you his righteousness, so you might live". All you are going to get outside the Bible is do a bunch of back-breaking things, know the super secret so that you know you can really be saved. And that salvation is more dependent upon you rather that Christ--that is damnable.
And if you don't know your Bible well, you might be tempted to dismiss this altogether by saying, "Well, the Bible contradict itself so what does it matter." Let me consider that you, probably not a Biblical scholar, little to no knowledge of the ancient Biblical languages, are going to make such baseless claims not because you know (which you don't) but rather, is it, are you afraid of what is in this Bible might be true. Because if it is true, then you have to decide--do you want to live or do you want to die?
John 6:63-69 (CSB) The Spirit is the one who gives life. The flesh doesn’t help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. But there are some among you who don’t believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning those who did not believe and the one who would betray him.) He said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted to him by the Father.”
From that moment many of his disciples turned back and no longer accompanied him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, “You don’t want to go away too, do you?”
Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
All of which are given by the inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (CSB) All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Luke 16:29-31 (CSB) But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said. ‘But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ “But he told him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’”
But there is one who returned from the dead, who breathed out the words of God by the power of the Holy Spirit from the sovereign grace and mercy of God our Father--that is, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Christ has returned from the dead. Will you repent of your sins? Will you trust and believe and live by the words of God? Will you obey the Son of God who is God for your life!
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 1.3 The Apocrypha of Holy Scripture
The Text
Luke 24:25-27 (CSB) He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Wasn’t it necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.
The Chapter
The books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the canon or rule of the Scripture, and, therefore, are of no authority to the church of God, nor to be any otherwise approved or made use of than other human writings.
The Confession
The Apocrypha consisting of the following:
- 1 Esdras (Vulgate 3 Esdras)
- 2 Esdras (Vulgate 4 Esdras)
- Tobit
- Judith ("Judeth" in Geneva)
- Rest of Esther (Vulgate Esther 10:4 – 16:24)
- Wisdom
- Ecclesiasticus (also known as Sirach)
- Baruch and the Epistle of Jeremy ("Jeremiah" in Geneva) (all part of Vulgate Baruch)
- Song of the Three Children (Vulgate Daniel 3:24–90)
- Story of Susanna (Vulgate Daniel 13)
- The Idol Bel and the Dragon (Vulgate Daniel 14)
- Prayer of Manasseh (Daniel)
- 1 Maccabees
- 2 Maccabees
These books are not canon because they are not wholly inspired by God in their writings. Despite them being not canon, we don't reject them wholesale. They are literature of great historical importance. R.C. Sproul says it this way:
Although the Apocrypha are not part of the canon of the Scripture, these books need not be completely ignored or discarded. We do not throw away the letters of Clement, Ignatius, or other church fathers, which are of historical interest. The confession makes the point only that the books of the Apocrypha are not inspired and therefore do not belong in the canon.
R.C. Sproul. Truths We Confess. 12.
To believe that the Bible is inspired--breathed out--by God himself through the mind, education, and hand of human authors is one thing. (2 Timothy 3:16) To believe that all sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation, contains all that there is revealed nature of Triune God--out of the sovereign grace of the Father through the atoning sacrifice and death-killing resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, by the Almighty power of the Spirit--is a belief that has to be completely supernatural from God on high. Yet, we look at all of history, from the creation of Adam through various prophecies, through all of Church history, the thought that the Bible contains all that there is revealed about God is a difficult concept to comprehend. If it were easy, then heresies, sects, and cults, and false teachings wouldn't be a thing. Reformations would not be necessarily sovereignly course corrected by God himself.
Yet, time and time again, God will say one thing and mankind will take it upon themselves to add on or to take away from what God has said. If the preaching ministry of Jesus did nothing else, he came to preach the good news that belief and trust in God was not as back-breaking as man will make it out to be.
What was Christ's response to the weight of sin? It wasn't to do more, better, faster. No.
Matthew 11:28-30 (CSB) “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
We don't need to seek out other good news outside the revelation of God in Christ Jesus because there is nowhere else. If you don't believe the word of God, that is one thing. And I pray that you believe and obey Christ. But don't say you are a Christian and then keep looking for something other than the simple gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Repent, for the kingdom of God is now.
Galatians 1:6-10 (CSB) I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from him who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are troubling you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, a curse be on him! As we have said before, I now say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, a curse be on him! For am I now trying to persuade people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 1.4 The Authority of Holy Scripture
The Text
Psalm 19 (CSB)
1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands.2 Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge.
3 There is no speech; there are no words; their voice is not heard.
4 Their message has gone out to the whole earth, and their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun.
5 It is like a bridegroom coming from his home; it rejoices like an athlete running a course.
6 It rises from one end of the heavens and circles to their other end; nothing is hidden from its heat.
7 The instruction of the LORD is perfect, renewing one’s life; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right, making the heart glad; the command of the LORD is radiant, making the eyes light up.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the LORD are reliable and altogether righteous.
10 They are more desirable than gold— than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey dripping from a honeycomb.
11 In addition, your servant is warned by them, and in keeping them there is an abundant reward.
12 Who perceives his unintentional sins? Cleanse me from my hidden faults.
13 Moreover, keep your servant from willful sins; do not let them rule me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed from blatant rebellion.
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.
The Chapter
The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God (who is truth itself), the author thereof; therefore it is to be received because it is the Word of God.
The Confession
2 Peter 1:19 (CSB) We also have the prophetic word strongly confirmed, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
John 1:4–5 (CSB) In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.
In reading John Stott's Between Two Worlds, I was moved by his compassion towards the theological liberal. Stott suggested that they were trying to make sense of the rational world in which they lived and what the Bible said. In other words, does an ancient text like the Bible, or for that matter, the religion of Christianity, have any place in today's modern world.
But this is where we see and receive the authority given by God to us for us. God did not give supreme authority to kings and rulers of this age (although he did give governing authority as stated in Romans 13). God did not give supreme authority to the philosophical thought of this age. (It must be noted that Paul warns us to guard against philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, which is based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ. Colossians 2:8)
But rather, God himself has spoken. And his words were not merely touch upon the ears of man for one time. But those words were instructed by the same great God to be written down for his people in the ages to come.
2 Timothy 3:16 (CSB) All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,
Because the Bible is the word of God, the Bible is supreme authority because it wholly depends on God (who is truth itself)
John 1:1 (CSB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
This is why the Apostle John, in writing to the Greeks of his age, which would have a firm grasp on what is truth, rightly declares the Son of God, Jesus Christ, is the Logos, the Truth, the Word. And now, because of the appearance of Christ, the Truth is now revealed.
John 1:18 (CSB) No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.
We could say that the Bible is about anything. And for the most part, we would be right but in part. The word of God is about Jesus Christ, which this word did not originate with mankind but with God.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 (CSB) This is why we constantly thank God, because when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message, but as it truly is, the word of God, which also works effectively in you who believe.
1 John 5:9 (CSB) If we accept human testimony, God’s testimony is greater, because it is God’s testimony that he has given about his Son.
Or let David sing of these truths:
7 The instruction of the LORD is perfect, renewing one’s life; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right, making the heart glad; the command of the LORD is radiant, making the eyes light up.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the LORD are reliable and altogether righteous.
10 They are more desirable than gold— than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey dripping from a honeycomb.
Let me speak to one thing: acknowledging the authority of Scripture is one thing. But receiving and believing it is another. In the day and age where we can look back in history all the way to Adam, where Satan continuously makes war against the word of God and will continue to send false teachers and false prophets to keep twisting the Bible for their own ill-gotten gains.
Genesis 3:1 (CSB) Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?”
In the Old Testament, false teachers and false prophets were to be executed on site by the people of God as decreed by God himself.
Where we live in, the New Testament church, we cannot execute false teachers and preachers. And I would suspect that everyone who reads these words has been hurt and abused by those who claimed they were right with God but proven themselves to be children of the Devil by twisting His word and preying on the weak. I get that. Whether we acknowledge the authority of the Bible or not, does not bestow or remove that authority. Even when it is wrongly twisted for the end of man. God is good and right and he alone will make all things right with him.
God has spoken. He command each ones of us to trust in Him alone. Trust in him. Sit under the preaching of the word. Test the Scriptures. This is the calling of the people of God for all of their days.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 1.5 The Inward Work of the Holy Spirit Concerning the Scriptures
The Text
John 16:13 (CSB) When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come.
And
1 Corinthians 2:10–12 (CSB) Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, since the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except his spirit within him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.
And
John 14:26 (CSB) But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.
The Chapter
We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the church of God to an high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scriptures; and the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, and the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes of the only way of man's salvation, and many other incomparable excellencies, and entire perfections thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God; yet notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth, and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts.
The Confession
About ten years ago, around 2010, pop-neo-atheism really became popular. Names like Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris may have not been household names but their books were hitting best seller lists. And because of the content of their books, that is, "There is no God", where did you think they were prominently displayed at your local bookstore? Yep, right next to Joel Osteen's Your Best Life Now and whatever Christian-lite self-help books were rolling out at the time.
I remember that this graphic made its way into Evangelical blogosphere and some discussion was generated from it:
Without taking the painstaking task of diffusing and unraveling each of these apparent contradictions, I was struck at this one thought:
You would study the Bible to find proof that the Bible is just a human-created piece of literature but completely miss the fact that the Bible speaks about Jesus.
John 5:39 (CSB) You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, and yet they testify about me.
... and we cannot understand the Bible unless the Spirit of God reveals it.
1 Corinthians 2:12 (CSB) Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.
John Calvin succinctly puts it:
God's word is like the sun: it sheds its light on all to whom it is proclaimed, but it has no effect on the blind. 1
Jesus, Son of God who is God, declared that the Scriptures were about him:
Luke 24:25–27 (CSB) He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Wasn’t it necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.
But say you miss that whole point. Fair enough. The 1 Corinthians 2:12 passage should have given pause for thought. That there has to be something outside of us, alien in a sense, that would allow us to understand what this book is about.
Alas, it is difficult for the modern mind to accept the notion that we, humans, are in fact, limited. Most of us believe that if we can put "more" behind our efforts--more science, more technology, more work effort, more study, more emotion--then the possibilities should be limitless.
But there are a couple problems with that, the body, mind, soul, and spirit of the human is not bifurcated nor compartmentalize nor separated but intrinsically and intricately and inseparably woven and connected and overlapping together. What affects the mind affects the heart affects the body that affects the emotions that affects... etc..
Psalms 139:13 (CSB) For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
We can strive and push. But in the end, we are limited. We will never run a one second mile. We will never know everything. We will not have all wisdom. We will not be full-hearted. We might get close but not to its infinite.
Two, all of mankind are sons of Adam. That means that we are fallen. A better way of saying that--we are broken. We are broken and we know it and we feel it to our core. What proves this fact that, unless something or someone, outside of us does something, we are truly destined to die. If we were not broken, we would live forever because life was not designed to perish.
If life was broken, then it serves to show that we have broken minds and intellects and hearts and soul. Therefore, we cannot know the depths of our broken. "How deep the rabbit hole goes."
Two, if we need something or someone outside of us in order to not die but live, then logic dictates that we need something or someone outside of us to give us the ability to know what is outside of us.
The outside of us is the supernatural. It is not natural but beyond the natural.
When you, as a mortal man, even arming yourself with your grasp on logic and reason approach something supernatural as natural, you are going to fall short of understanding it.
A pretty graph of Biblical contradictions is task in vanity. It doesn't accomplish anything and it will fall away into obscurity. What we, as a society, in the Age of Information, is that, in fact, more information is not solving all of our problems--the chief problem is the brokenness of ourselves.
In order for us to understand and live by the word of God, we are wholly dependent on the One whom the Scriptures testify about by the power of the Spirit that the One has sent.
In other words, you will need the Holy Spirit to understand the Bible. Without Him, at his discretion and his good will, the Bible is going to be filled to the brim with stuff that doesn't make sense. It doesn't make sense to one who is perishing but only to those who are living:
2 Corinthians 2:15-16 (CSB) For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To some we are an aroma of death leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life leading to life. Who is adequate for these things?
We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the church of God to an high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scriptures; and the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine
Wherever we might be in our theology and doctrine and the sheer academic study of the Scriptures, we stand on the giants of the faith before us. That is the church of Christ before us. Going back to the Christ and his ministry and then going back further to the work of Moses, we know nothing outside the testimony of the Church. All the pastors, all the Apostles, all the Prophets, the Kings, the Priests under the sovereign grace of Christ, who is the head of the church.
We get to know or discover nothing new outside all of our brothers and sisters before us have done.
the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes of the only way of man's salvation
Throw your best arguments and pushbacks against the Bible. Let us say you don't believe it is supernatural, it is not from God because there is no God. One thing that cannot be denied is the Bible has withstood the test of time.
You might say, "But look at the controversies and the heresies and the abuse running throughout the Church. They are using the same Bible to justify their wicked behavior." Yet, God, in his same word, has already condemned these wolves and weeds in their place if they choose not to rest in his Son:
Jeremiah 23:1–4 (CSB) “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” This is the LORD’s declaration “Therefore, this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who tend my people: You have scattered my flock, banished them, and have not attended to them. I am about to attend to you because of your evil acts”—this is the LORD’s declaration. “I will gather the remnant of my flock from all the lands where I have banished them, and I will return them to their grazing land. They will become fruitful and numerous. I will raise up shepherds over them who will tend them. They will no longer be afraid or discouraged, nor will any be missing.” This is the LORD’s declaration.
Matthew 23:13–16 (CSB) “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you don’t go in, and you don’t allow those entering to go in. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to make one convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a child of hell as you are! “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever takes an oath by the temple, it means nothing. But whoever takes an oath by the gold of the temple is bound by his oath.’
And for those controversies and heresies and abuse? They did not win. They did not overcome. They did not conquer. They did not shut down the Church. All the world and hell and Satan and demons could not begin to build their best assault against the kingdom of God. Why? Jesus already brought the kingdom of God here to earth. And it is finished and complete. Now, we, you and me who belong to him, are charged as gospel heralds to proclaim that the good news that Jesus Christ is Lord of all.
and many other incomparable excellencies, and entire perfections thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God
To the living word of God, there is nothing that compares to it. And it bears witness that Jesus Christ is Lord and God. It is the holder of the gospel--the absolutely power of God in salvation for you and me who believe.
yet notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth, and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts
But it is only dependent on God who wills us to understanding and maturity:
Hebrews 5:11–6:3 (CSB)
11 We have a great deal to say about this, and it is difficult to explain, since you have become too lazy to understand.12 Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation again. You need milk, not solid food.
13 Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant.
14 But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.
1 Therefore, let us leave the elementary teaching about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, faith in God,
2 teaching about ritual washings, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
3 And we will do this if God permits.
What can we do? Pray and ask God to mature us and conform us to the image of His Son so that we might see him clearer and clearer every day.
John Calvin. Institutes of the Christian Religion: Calvin's Own 'Essentials' Edition. 199.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 1.6 The Whole Counsel of God Within Scripture
The Text
John 6:30–46 (CSB)
30 “What sign, then, are you going to do so that we may see and believe you?” they asked. “What are you going to perform?31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”
32 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, Moses didn’t give you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
33 For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 Then they said, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
35 “I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in me will ever be thirsty again.
36 But as I told you, you’ve seen me, and yet you do not believe.
37 Everyone the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never cast out.
38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.
39 This is the will of him who sent me: that I should lose none of those he has given me but should raise them up on the last day.
40 For this is the will of my Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him will have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
41 Therefore the Jews started grumbling about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”
42 They were saying, “Isn’t this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”
43 Jesus answered them, “Stop grumbling among yourselves.
44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.
45 It is written in the Prophets: And they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father comes to me—
46 not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God. He has seen the Father.
The Chapter
The whole counsel of God, concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man’s salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men. Nevertheless we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word; and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and the government of the church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.
The Confession
The whole counsel of God, concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man’s salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture
There is, in fact, some mysteries and some hard to understand things in the Bible. For:
Proverbs 25:2 (CSB) It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to investigate a matter.
And
2 Peter 3:15-16 (CSB) Also, regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him. He speaks about these things in all his letters. There are some things hard to understand in them. The untaught and unstable will twist them to their own destruction, as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures.
But when it comes to the matters of His own glory, man’s salvation, faith, and life, it is expressly set down in Scripture according to the whole counsel of God.
John 6:44–46 (CSB) No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets: And they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father comes to me—46 not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God. He has seen the Father.
Debates on how God saves us is as old as Genesis itself and we can argue until Christ returns. But where Christ is clear on who and how he saves, we should take that as the gospel. Because He is clear and and what He says is the good news.
The Puritans called this clear and understanding of Scripture in as it pertains to matters of salvation: the perspicuity of Scripture. Let us reason and debate on matters of secondary importance. Let us unified as sons of God on matters of primary importance.
God's glory is according to Scripture alone.
Our blessed salvation, faith and life? According to Scripture alone.
or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture
This is call reason and logic. Plain and simple. It might be a frightful thing because some Christians read this as to read the Bible with nothing but reason and logic. That is modern thought--where we can approach a supernatural text with modern reasoning and make sense out of it. That is not going to work out well for you at all.
The Scriptures are clear: to understand God and things from God is going to take God dwelling in you and revealing these things to you.
That said, we don't have flush reason and logic down the toilet when approaching scripture. In R.C. Sproul's Truths We Confess, he uses the example of the 5th commandment: "Honor your father and mother." If that is a command from God, we can deduct that if we were to dishonor our parents, there would be consequences to that action. Going opposite of God's commands is called a sin and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
I have even a better example that I heard from Sproul many years ago and involves the most famous verse in all of Scripture:
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Read that once more.
Apply reason and logic to it. We can deduct that the John 3:16 certainly does not mean this:
"For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes and does not believe in him will not perish but have eternal life."
You might think, "That is so silly--we know it doesn't say that." But then, if it is so silly and obvious, why do we say that Christ died for the whole world to be saved? Because of 1 John 2:2?
1 John 2:2 (CSB) He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.
But 1 John 2:2 does not stand alone. Continue on to verse 3:
1 John 2:3 (CSB) This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commands.
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
God did not save the whole world. That might be a harsh truth. The good news is that the invitation to come be in Christ is open to all. And as we read in John 6, those whom the Father brings to the Christ is saved.
And if God saves you, it is a done deal forever:
John 10:28–29 (CSB) I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
The whole counsel of God, expressed plainly in Scriptures or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture is sufficient and basic and complete for our salvation, faith, and life.
unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men
I wanted to add some clarification to Sproul's example of using Charismatics. Some Charismatics believe that they can receive a new revelation by the Holy Spirit and it does not have to be tested or tried by the Bible. Most Charismatics could pass the orthodoxy pop quiz by asking them this question, "Do you believe you could receive revelation by the Holy Spirit that would add to the Scriptures?" and they would say, "Of course not." I would add on, "Because are not Mormons or Jehovah Witnesses."
Yet, we are called by God not to despise prophecies but to test them against Scripture. For:
1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 (CSB) Don’t stifle the Spirit. Don’t despise prophecies, but test all things. Hold on to what is good.
And
Acts 17:10-11 (CSB) As soon as it was night, the brothers and sisters sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. Upon arrival, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. The people here were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, since they received the word with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
Now, herein lies the rub: we know we are to test everything that we hear from ministers against the word of God. But, and I say this as a Charismatic, we just don't want to. Mainly because that type of work is hard--and I am not just talking mentally but emotionally. What if you received good preaching that lit your heart and soul and you felt good but then the Holy Spirit led you into the reading of the word and it says the complete opposite. What do you do? Feel happy and go against Scripture? Or feel disappointed and abide in the word of God?
Don't be afraid of disappointment of learning the truth. All truth is ours because truth comes from the Source of Truth which is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3). Rejoice that Christ is yours, the Father is yours and the Spirit is yours. Rejoice that you have not been led astray and that the Father never loses his children. Rejoice that you are enough in Christ alone. Rejoice that you have not missed one blessing from God because you are in Christ alone. Rejoice that you cannot do it right or good or perfect because God sent his Son to live and and die for you so you can be his co-heir to his inheritance of all things (Hebrews 1:1-2 cf. Romans 8:14-17)
Don't despise preaching but test all things with other Christians and rejoice that all truth belongs to us.
Nevertheless we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word
1 Corinthians 2:9–12 (CSB)
9 But as it is written, What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived— God has prepared these things for those who love him.10 Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, since the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except his spirit within him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.
I am going to post 1 Corinthians 2 as much as I need to so that we are thoroughly convinced that we cannot know anything from God unless God dwells in us. Full stop.
For:
John 1:1–5 (CSB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.
Christ came into the world to save sinners. He is the light that illuminates his gospel and his word and his life and his death and his resurrection. All of it.
Consider this:
Luke 11:5–13 (CSB) He also said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I don’t have anything to offer him.’Then he will answer from inside and say, ‘Don’t bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I have gone to bed. I can’t get up to give you anything.’I tell you, even though he won’t get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his friend’s shameless boldness, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish?Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”
Does this passage says that God is our magical genie in heaven? No. That is so little and small. Why think so small?
Do you know what Christ is saying to us?
If you turn from your sin, turn towards God, run to God, approach God, ask God for God, you are going to get...
God.
100% of the time. Perfectly. Instantaneously. Satisfactorily.
I don't know why this doesn't blow our minds more. If I go to God, ask for God, and I always going to get God.
"But I need God to do this for me!" Sure. But do you know you ask for the Almighty Triune God, maker of heaven, earth, and hell, who is Sovereign and rules and reigns for all of time? The Alpha and the Omega? The Beginning and the End? The Worthy Lamb who was Slain? The Lion of Judah? The Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace? The God who is far above our worthless idols?
That God? I get to behold the face of God that gives me complete satisfaction and endless joy?
If I go to God, ask for God, then I will always get God.
I am not saying circumstances and my own sin will not impact nor crush me. Regrets, I have a million. But I count it all as crap compared to the absolute fact that I belong to my Beloved and he is mine forever and ever. (Songs 2:16)
Oh, when I see the face of my Savior, I will kiss his face with a million kisses because he loved me and saved me to himself.
and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and the government of the church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed
From the Scriptures, we know how to worship of God--not just in church but with all of our lives. For:
1 Corinthians 10:31 (CSB) So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.
And even overseeing the church. How do we even start there?
How do we do these things? By what God has revealed in Scriptures, by His revealed order (think nature) and with Christian wisdom.
He has not left us alone to figure out how we should worship to him. We are not like the prophet Aaron that was bullied and peer-pressured into making idols that we can form with our hands. God has shown us the way because he knows we are from dust and he knows the inclination of hearts. He knows that we will go play in our own vomit like dogs if left alone. God has shown us how to live and how to worship. He is a good Father like that.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 1.7 The Clarity of Holy Scripture for Salvation
The Text
Luke 23:32–43 (CSB)
32 Two others—criminals—were also led away to be executed with him.33 When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left.
34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided his clothes and cast lots.
35 The people stood watching, and even the leaders were scoffing: “He saved others; let him save himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One!”
36 The soldiers also mocked him. They came offering him sour wine
37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!”
38 An inscription was above him: This Is the King of the Jews.
39 Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40 But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment?
41 We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
43 And he said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The Chapter
All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all; yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed, for salvation, are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.
The Confession
All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all
Different translations have differing reading grade levels. I pulled this list from ChristianBook.com
- KJV — 12
- RSV — 12
- NRSV — 11
- NASB — 11
- ESV — 10
- HCSB — 7-8
- NIV — 7-8
- CEB — 7
- CSB — 7
- NKJV — 7
- NLT — 6
- GW — 5
- Message — 4-5
- NCV — 3
- NIrV — 3
You can brag about reading a more challenging translation to understand. You could argue about this list. But the facts are, differing translations take different comprehension.
But even if we were to take the Jesus Storybook Bible (Grade K), there are some stuff that is hard to understand. Jesus walking on water? Really? Without a supernatural, alien, outside-of-ourselves, there is no way we can comprehend that.
Look at what Peter says about Paul's letters to the churches:
2 Peter 3:16 (CSB) He speaks about these things in all his letters. There are some things hard to understand in them. The untaught and unstable will twist them to their own destruction, as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures.
I can list a few things off the top of my mind. Paul's account of a man caught up in the "third heaven". What is this? What does Paul say about it?
I don't know. God knows.
And I cannot tell you how many times throughout history people miss that and make the third heaven like a primary doctrine. Spoiler alert: it ain't.
Or how about this:
1 Corinthians 15:29 (CSB) Otherwise what will they do who are being baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are people baptized for them?
Out of context, it sounds like the Bible teaches that we are to be baptized for the dead. In context of the Bible, we can clearly see that this is a rhetorical question because the Bible teaches no such thing.
Trying to make doctrine out of rhetorical questions in the Bible and you can make your own religion like the Mormans. (Baptizing for the dead is doctrine for the Mormons.)
The whole point of this is that difficult to understand things must be difficult to understand. Let the mystery of God stay the mystery of God.
It does say:
Proverbs 25:2 (CSB) It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to investigate a matter.
But it also says:
Hebrews 5:11–6:3 (CSB) We have a great deal to say about this, and it is difficult to explain, since you have become too lazy to understand. Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation again. You need milk, not solid food. Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil. Therefore, let us leave the elementary teaching about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, faith in God, teaching about ritual washings, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And we will do this if God permits.
We assume that we are mature and that can we demystified the mysteries of God. I am not saying don't study. Do study. But do so with your brothers and sisters. Dig deep into the salvation of God and his great grace and mercy and love for us.
yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed, for salvation are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned
Learned, unlearned. Some schooling, no schooling. Can read, can't read. 99% of the people in the Bible could not read nor write. But they could receive the word of God. They could sit under the preaching of the word by the priest or the preacher. They could have someone translate if they were deaf.
And what God has made crystal, undeniably, basic, rudimentary, elementary, abundantly clear: that God saves sinners through His Son, Jesus Christ, who is God, our Lord and King, who rules and reigns forever and ever.
in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.
Go back and read Luke 23 again:
32 Two others—criminals—were also led away to be executed with him.
33 When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left.
34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided his clothes and cast lots.
35 The people stood watching, and even the leaders were scoffing: “He saved others; let him save himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One!”
36 The soldiers also mocked him. They came offering him sour wine
37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!”
38 An inscription was above him: This Is the King of the Jews.
39 Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
Jesus was scorned. Beaten. Suffering. Excruciating agonzing pain and torment. In the midst of that anguish, Jesus prays and preaches again:
Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.”
There are two people will look upon the undeniably historical life, death, resurrection and ascension of the Jesus of Nazareth and it will provoke two responses:
Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
Those of the world are so desperate to hang onto this life because this is the best it's going to get. I might be speculating here but the criminal did not believe Christ could save him. All he cared about was not dying in this life. All he cared about was getting down off that cross so he could go back to the world. The world which torments and mocks and spits and crucifies the innocent Son of Man. They want nothing from God other than more in this life.
The other response belongs only to those who believe on Christ for eternal life. They see the world and then they see their own sin that hung Jesus upon that tree. They made a decision. The criminal says, "Give me Jesus who was cursed for me!" and then they die to this life.
Then they call out on His name so that they can be saved.
“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
The criminal called upon Christ. And Christ saved him.
The criminal had nowhere else to go. No baptism. No conference. No church service. No ministry. No tithing. No offering. No seminary. No bible study.
Saved by faith and faith alone in Christ who is the author and finisher of our faith.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 1.8 The Inspiration of God on Holy Scripture
The Text
Psalms 119:72 (CSB) Instruction from your lips is better for me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
The Chapter
The Old Testament in Hebrew (which was the native language of the people of God of old), and the New Testament in Greek (which at the time of the writing of it was most generally known to the nations), being immediately inspired by God, and by his singular care and providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentic; so as in all controversies of religion, the church is finally to appeal to them. But because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God, who have a right unto, and interest in the Scriptures, and are commanded in the fear of God to read and search them, therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come, that the Word of God dwelling plentifully in all, they may worship him in an acceptable manner, and through patience and comfort of the Scriptures may have hope.
The Confession
The Old Testament in Hebrew (which was the native language of the people of God of old), and the New Testament in Greek (which at the time of the writing of it was most generally known to the nations), being immediately inspired by God, and by his singular care and providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentic
The 1689 teaches that only the original manuscripts can be declared to be inerrant and infallible. In other words, the words written down from the hand of the author from the inspiration of the Holy Spirit can only be called inerrant and infallible.
Copies and translations will have minor differences and errors in them. Are we to worry? Are we missing out? Have we gotten the gospel wrong?
No. Not even in the least bit.
What is mind boggling about the Hebrew and the Greek manuscripts is that despite the minor differences and errors, no, none, zero primary and secondary doctrines were changed and affected. The gospel is always the gospel. Christ is still Christ. The Triune God is still Triune. Creeds are still the Creeds. Confessions (that came 1200 years after the Creeds) are still Confessional.
You and I don't have to worry that we have missed something. We have God. We haven't missed a thing.
Or you can be like every single human in history who overthought this point went searching the Scriptures for some other kind of life when the Scriptures testify about Jesus Christ:
John 5:39 (CSB) You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, and yet they testify about me.
so as in all controversies of religion, the church is finally to appeal to them
John 1:1 (New World Translation) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.
vs.
John 1:1 (CSB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
This is a quote from the Bible translation used from cult known as Jehovah's Witnesses. The Jehovah's Witnesses uses all the same terminology that Christians do: Jesus, God, Spirit. But their version means something completely different. The prime example is that, to them, Jesus is not god.
John 8:58 (New World Translation) Jesus said to them: “Most truly I say to you, before Abraham came into existence, I have been.”
vs.
John 8:58 (CSB) Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.”
Through scholastic dishonesty, they have twisted the translation to make their Bible deny that Jesus is God. No reputable Greek scholar will support that claim.
This is where Christians can make their appeal to: the original ancient languages of Hebrew for the Old Testament and Greek and some Aramaic for the New Testament.
For the English language, we are incredibly blessed to have multiple translations. Not only can we find one we prefer to read and will read but any major errors in translation will automatically be spotlighted because it will go off sideways versus the other major English translations.
From that, minor differences are just minor differences and again, they do not affect any primary or secondary doctrines of our faith. Even doctrines like baptism: who gets baptized and how they are baptized. Consider the differences between the paedo- and credobaptists. I know many Presbyterians and Baptists use the same translation. There isn't a translation that slants against one mode of baptism over the other.
Where translations go wrong, they go wrong all the way.
And this is what the orthodox, catholic church appeals to: the original languages for all matters and all controversies.
But because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God, who have a right unto, and interest in the Scriptures, and are commanded in the fear of God to read and search them, therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come, that the Word of God dwelling plentifully in all, they may worship him in an acceptable manner, and through patience and comfort of the Scriptures may have hope
Knowing ancient language is a gift, blessing and privilege by God. 1% of the population know it. Here is the real blessing: because ancient language knowledge is such a privilege, God has sought it right and good through his blessing and provision to translate the Bible into every language of the world. In many times, when a language did not have a written language, the Bible was translated to provide a written language for those people. Why?
they may worship him in an acceptable manner, and through patience and comfort of the Scriptures may have hope
God sought it to gospel of his Son that his word would be preserved through out all time--even prior to the invention of the printing press or the Internet--to bring it to every person in the world today and unto the future until Christ returns. That is such an extraordinary feat that it must be of God. Look at church history--mankind will always disagree. But God preserves. Blessed be his name.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 1.9 The Interpretation of Holy Scripture
The Text
1 John 2:2 (CSB) He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.
The Chapter
The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself; and therefore when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture (which is not manifold, but one), it must be searched by other places that speak more clearly.
The Confession
Let's take a verse from the Bible:
1 Corinthians 15:29 (CSB) Otherwise what will they do who are being baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are people baptized for them?
In and by itself, it is easy to think that God commands his followers to baptize for their dead. But anybody who has attended a Christian church within the last 2000 years knows that this is not a thing. We see living and breathing people being baptized but never not once have I heard of someone being baptized for the dead.
Using reading comprehension, and using not only the context of 1st Corinthians and even in particular, chapter 15, we know that the author is clearly asking this question rhetorically. We know that Paul was not teaching a new doctrine of baptism for the dead because it is never mentioned anywhere else in the Bible. In all of the sermons, commentaries, teachings from the Christian church throughout the 2000 years and with in the Jewish faith, we know that baptizing for the dead is not a thing. It is not doctrine. It is not what the Bible teaches.
You and I know this because we have never sat in a church that taught this. You and I know this because we can use basic reading comprehension and clearly see that this is asking rhetorical.
In 1840, a man by the name of Joseph Smith chose to read this verse and take it out of context and create an entire doctrine. This and many other Scriptures out of context were used to form what is now the Mormon Church or the Church of the Latter-Day Saints. Joseph Smith would go on to write Mormon scriptures that will contradict or add on to what was already taught in the 66 books of canon.
To take standalone Scriptures, out of context, and try to teach or preach for that lack of understanding is called biblicism.
Now biblicism might sound awesome. Here is one definition:
adherence to the letter of the Bible.
Man, I want to do that. But when we do that, without consider what the Bible teaches as whole, we will always go off in error, if not heresy, if not creating cults and sects that twist the Scriptures concerning the grace of our God.
500 years ago, the Reformers saw this abuse widespread through out the church. They taught and defended that we must use Scripture to interpret Scripture. All the commentaries we write, the sermons we teach, the classes we teach are not the authority of interpreting the meaning of Scripture. Only Scripture interprets Scripture.
The Reformers would call this tenet, sola Scriptura, in Latin, meaning, "according to Scriptures alone." Not prooftexting or taking out of context, but all 66 books, every word, every jot, every tittle perfectly and completely explaining what God has said to us.
Now, what if, we do our homework, and we cannot find the meaning of something that is "hard to understand" (as Peter describes some of Paul's writing in 2 Peter 3:16)?
Guess what? It remains a mystery to us by God.
And that thought that some things remain a mystery might rail against our modern sensibilities. But there are certain things that belong to our God. For:
Deuteronomy 29:29 (CSB) The hidden things belong to the LORD our God, but the revealed things belong to us and our children forever, so that we may follow all the words of this law.
And
Proverbs 25:2-3 (CSB) It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to investigate a matter. As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be investigated.
Calvin says this:
The finite mind cannot fully comprehend the infinite.
Watch what he says: the limit of our minds cannot fully wrap around the infinite God. We may not be able to fully know God because He is infinite but because he has given us his Son, Christ Jesus, we are able to truly know God. For:
John 1:18 (CSB) No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.
And
1 Timothy 1:15–17 (CSB) This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them. But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
So lets take the passage I originally gave at the beginning of this exposition:
1 John 2:2 (CSB) He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.
Some pastors and teachers will remark, "Ah ha!," as their finger drills down on this passage, "it says so right there. No debate needed. Case closed. End of argument. I win!"
Reply with this question, "So if Christ sacrifice atoned the sins for the whole world, that means the whole world is saved and that means no one is in hell."
Two responses you might get:
One, "No wait, that is not what I mean." This response will always lead into a more fruitful engagement.
Two, the person insistent on always being right / never being wrong, will double down and die on this hill. "Yep! That is what that means." Well, that would be silly because we know for a fact that unbelievers sit under the continuous wrath of Christ for all of eternity. For:
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
And
Matthew 8:11-12 (CSB) I tell you that many will come from east and west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
You don't think Christ talked about hell? There are five more passages like that in the gospel of Matthew.
But someone will come back with the "sin of disbelief". "Well, the only sin that Christ did not atone for was the sin of disbelief."
My good friend, lets go back to the Johannine passage once more:
1 John 2:2 (CSB) He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.
I don't see the Scripture mentioning Christ only atoning for some sins and not all sins.
The dangers of biblicism is that without check, will have you teaching something that the Bible does not teach.
To adhere to sola Scripture is grand and lofty idea. Because it requires us to know the word of God. And if we are being honest with ourselves, in the midst of the age of information is hard and difficult work. All Christians want to be faithful to the Scriptures. We do not want to teach in error or heresy. We do not want to led others astray. That is why James says, "Only some should be teachers" and Christ said, "It be better for you to have a millstone tied around your next and thrown in the ocean than to lead one of my little ones astray." Teachers are held to a stricter judgment.
But let me encourage each one of us: for us to understand the Scriptures--a document that was supernatural composed from the very breath of God--will be an supernatural act of the Triune God. Not your IQ. Not your EQ. Not your Christian school nor your home school. Not your Bible college nor seminary degrees. Not all the books that you could possibly read would grant you understanding of what the Lord is saying unless the Holy Spirit reveals it to you first.
Sola Scriptura, like the other four Doctrines of Grace, reveals that we are as utterly dependent on God for God. Fortunately, if we ask for wisdom, God gives. We ask for salvation, God gives. We ask for Christ, God gives. We turn to God, run to God, ask God for God, we will get God. All the time with no delay.
Praise be to God.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 1.10 The Infallibility of Holy Scripture
The Text
Galatians 1:6–10 (CSB) I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from him who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are troubling you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, a curse be on him! As we have said before, I now say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, a curse be on him! For am I now trying to persuade people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
The Chapter
The supreme judge, by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Scripture delivered by the Spirit, into which Scripture so delivered, our faith is finally resolved.
The Confession
I think Spurgeon said it best:
The Word of God is the anvil upon which the opinions of men are smashed. None are more unjust in their judgments of others than those who have a high opinion of themselves.
Spurgeon.
In the Reformed doctrine of sola Scriptura, one key teaching remains primary: that the Scripture remains infallible in all matters. Faith and practice to be sure. What about the areas of science, philosophy, and history and the like?
This reminds me of Luther and Calvin's hard counter to the Nicolaus Copernicus' theory of heliocentric (that is our system revolves around the sun). Luther and Calvin's view held to a widely accepted common belief that our system revolved around the earth.1 Calvin and Luther held staunchly to this and defended it because of the account in Joshua 10:
Joshua 10:13 (CSB) And the sun stood still and the moon stopped until the nation took vengeance on its enemies. Isn’t this written in the Book of Jashar? So the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed its setting almost a full day.
The Bible said. "The sun and the moon stood still. Obviously, that means they rotate around the earth." Which we now know, thanks to the works of Galileo Galilei, among many others, that indeed, our system revolves around the sun.
Wny do I say all of that? I have long told others, "The Bible is not a science book primarily but a theology book." That is not to say, when it does speak on matters outside of theology, like science or history, that it can be ignored because it does not have to be infallible on those subjects.
Yet, the author of the Bible is the Creator of all things. All things include historical events and scientific facts. For all events are by his sovereignty, for:
Job 42:2 (CSB) I know that you can do anything and no plan of yours can be thwarted.
And all science and knowledge come from him, for:
1 Corinthians 3:21-23 (CSB) So let no one boast in human leaders, for everything is yours — whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come — everything is yours, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
That is all fine and good, but what about the theory of evolution?
We should be mindful, with all the advancements that mankind has been able to accomplished, this is at the sovereign kindness and mercy of God our Father and of the Lord Jesus Christ. In that end, we will always have theories. Yet, the truth, in due time, will come to light and we will have a better grasp on how our universe came into existence.
Christians know, without a shadow of a doubt, theologically that God created the heavens and the earth in six days. Someone has come along and said, "wait that is impossible--it must have taken billions of years." Interested theory. Let us depend on God to figure out how did God create the universe scientifically. It seems lofty to think that we will know that information on this side of heaven. But just in my lifetime, I am stand in amazement and awe over the advancements in science and technology. Because, as Paul said, everything that God provided is ours because we belong to Christ and Christ belongs to God.
A much better explanation of this whole ordeal can be found at Luther, Calvin, and Copernicus — A Reformed Approach to Science and Scripture by Keith Mathison. Jun 1, 2012
Chapter 2 Of God and of the Holy Trinity
2.1 The Attributes of God
The Lord our God is but one only living and true God; whose subsistence is in and of himself, infinite in being and perfection; whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but himself; a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; who is immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, every way infinite, most holy, most wise, most free, most absolute; working all things according to the counsel of his own immutable and most righteous will for his own glory; most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek him, and withal most just and terrible in his judgments, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty.
2.2 The Sufficiency of God
God, having all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of himself, is alone in and unto himself all- sufficient, not standing in need of any creature which he hath made, nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting his own glory in, by, unto, and upon them; he is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things, and he hath most sovereign dominion over all creatures, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever himself pleaseth; in his sight all things are open and manifest, his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature, so as nothing is to him contingent or uncertain; he is most holy in all his counsels, in all his works, and in all his commands; to him is due from angels and men, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience, as creatures they owe unto the Creator, and whatever he is further pleased to require of them.
2.3 The Triune God
In this divine and infinite Being there are three subsistences, the Father, the Word or Son, and Holy Spirit, of one substance, power, and eternity, each having the whole divine essence, yet the essence undivided: the Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son; all infinite, without beginning, therefore but one God, who is not to be divided in nature and being, but distinguished by several peculiar relative properties and personal relations; which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our communion with God, and comfortable dependence on him.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 2.1 The Attributes of God
The Text
Psalm 97:9 (CSB) For you, LORD, are the Most High over the whole earth; you are exalted above all the gods.
The Chapter
The Lord our God is but one only living and true God; whose subsistence is in and of himself, infinite in being and perfection; whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but himself; a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; who is immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, every way infinite, most holy, most wise, most free, most absolute; working all things according to the counsel of his own immutable and most righteous will for his own glory; most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek him, and withal most just and terrible in his judgments, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty.
The Confession
This is loaded chapter. Because right out out the gate, after solidifying the confessions on the Scriptures, we go right into answering the question:
Who is God?
And the Historical Confessions (Westminster, Savoy Declaration, and London Baptist) front loads Chapter 2 on Theology with the attributes of God. Systematically speaking, it starts with the incommunicable attributes--the attributes that belong to God alone, while finishing it off with the communicable attributes of God--namely, those attributes that are shared with the imagebearers of God, that is, mankind.
Another way of seeing these attributes organized is Richard Muller defined it. In To the Judicious and Impartial Reader: Baptist Symbolics Volume 2, Dr. Renihan attributes the following terms from Richard Muller's Dictionary of Latin and Greek Theological Terms (2nd edition):
“Archetypal theology is “the infinite knowledge of God known only to God himself” while ectypal theology is “all true finite theology, defined as a reflection of the divine archetype.”
Renihan. Baptist Symbolics Volume 2. 162.
To learn these attributes, we must examine them bit by bit and connect them with the appropriate declaration from Scripture.
The Lord our God
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (CSB) “Listen, Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates.
From his book, Baptist Symbolics Volume 2., Dr. Renihan spots something that I missed, "the paragraph begins with a personalized assertion about God—He is ours.”1 Whatever God wants to reveal about himself to us, it will not be everything about God but it will be truly about God and we, as his people, know him truly. Let the world say what they want about our God. But the maker of the heavens and the earth, the Almighty God, from everlasting to everlasting, belongs to his people. God belongs to me. For I am my Beloved's and He is mine forever. 2 God personally belongs to me and I personally belong to him. For:
Exodus 19:5-6 (CSB) Now if you will carefully listen to me and keep my covenant, you will be my own possession out of all the peoples, although the whole earth is mine, and you will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to say to the Israelites.”
And
Exodus 34:8-9 (CSB) Moses immediately knelt low on the ground and worshiped. Then he said, “My Lord, if I have indeed found favor with you, my Lord, please go with us (even though this is a stiff-necked people), forgive our iniquity and our sin, and accept us as your own possession.”
And
Deuteronomy 26:16-19 (CSB) “The LORD your God is commanding you this day to follow these statutes and ordinances. Follow them carefully with all your heart and all your soul. Today you have affirmed that the LORD is your God and that you will walk in his ways, keep his statutes, commands, and ordinances, and obey him. And today the LORD has affirmed that you are his own possession as he promised you, that you are to keep all his commands, that he will elevate you to praise, fame, and glory above all the nations he has made, and that you will be a holy people to the LORD your God as he promised.”
And
Titus 2:11-14 (CSB) For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works.
There is only one response to this absolute and blessed truth: praise be to God! We get to worship the the Lord our God all because of what his Son has done for us. Today is the day we give thanks to him for he alone is good and his steadfast love endures forever.
is but one
1 Corinthians 8:4–6 (CSB) About eating food sacrificed to idols, then, we know that “an idol is nothing in the world,” and that “there is no God but one.” For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth—as there are many “gods” and many “lords”—yet for us there is one God, the Father. All things are from him, and we exist for him. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things are through him, and we exist through him.
John Calvin said it succinctly:
Man's nature is a perpetual factory of idols
Certainly, Satan rules the air. Demons, or principalities, rule regions. From the fall of humanity, we certainly will conjure up and put our trust in a little god who we hoped will make this life a little bit easier. Sadly, Satan, demons, and our idols have zero power. They can only kill, deceive, twist, oppress, and when it comes to our idols, do absolutely nothing for our lives.
Deuteronomy 6:4 (CSB) “Listen, Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
In terms of power, holiness, righteousness, sinlessness, perfection, merciful, kind, gracious, patience, deliver, savior, and of course, love, there is only one and he is the Triune God--Father, Son, and Spirit--who reigns forever and ever. Amen
only living true God
Jeremiah 10:10 (CSB) But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and eternal King. The earth quakes at his wrath, and the nations cannot endure his fury.
Isaiah 48:12 (CSB) “Listen to me, Jacob, and Israel, the one called by me: I am he; I am the first, I am also the last.
Exodus 3:14 (CSB) God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.”
God is not idle. God does not cease. He is not dormant. God is living. That he moves and speaks and is quite personal with his creation.
God is not a figment of mankind's imagination. God was not conjured up by man. Mankind will certainly make God out to be something he is not. But that does not make it true. God is true. He is the source of truth. Whatever he says or does is truth and absolute. We can only see semblances of the truth unless our eyes and ears and hearts and minds fall on the one true living God.
whose subsistence is in and of himself, infinite in being and perfection; whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but himself; a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts
John 4:24 (CSB) God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and in truth.”
Deuteronomy 4:15–16 (CSB) “Diligently watch yourselves—because you did not see any form on the day the LORD spoke to you out of the fire at Horeb—so you don’t act corruptly and make an idol for yourselves in the shape of any figure: a male or female form,
The best word to describe the simplicity of God is aseity. Webster's properly defines this:
the quality or state of being self-derived or self-originated specifically : the absolute self-sufficiency, independence, and autonomy of God
God is not like anything in all creation in that one, he is not made up of complex parts and two, he is not created. God is simply one essence. He in of himself is God. He has no beginning nor end. No one made him. He is the maker of all things and all people. The Mormon religion states that their god existed as a mortal man in another universe and when he came to our universe, that's when he became god. The gods of other religions, cults, and sects--even the gods of other so-called Christian groups who fall outside of Christian orthodoxy--are built up in the minds of man and incredibly more complex than the one true living God. God sustains himself. God is joy and love unto and from himself. God did not need to make mankind. The Triune God was in perfect harmony, unity, community within himself because God is love. From all things and all truth overflows out from God.
or passions
This is the divine impassibility of God--God does not suffer or feels pain. You see in the Bible that in dealing with our trespasses and treason, God would describe himself as "jealous" or "wrathful" but these are not feelings born out of passion or feelings nor a reaction. These are words to describe how sin is an affront--an abomination--to his very simple nature.
Malachi 3:6 (CSB) “Because I, the LORD, have not changed, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed.
Could you imagine if God could suffer or feel pain? Who wants to feel pain? When you feel pain, don't you want the pain to quickly stop? When you suffer, do you want the suffering to keep going a little or stop? You would want it to stop now right. If God felt suffering and pain, he would make it instantly right. He would have justly terminated all of mankind and started all over.
We love our little gods because they are made in our own image. When we change, our idols can change with us. When we suffer or feel pain, they change with us yet we worship these idols like they are going to save us--how can they save us when they are like us?
God is not like us. God is not moved by his personal suffering. You cannot pain or hurt God. God is love and he moves base on himself. I wouldn't want to make the mistake, in our day and age, to say, "God is moved by love" because mankind is desperately trying to redefine and reimage and twist the word "love", make it ultimate law, and then have God submit himself and work through our new definition of love.
God is love. We have our definition of love. And only one is correct.
who only hath immortality
1 Timothy 1:17 (CSB) Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
If God the one true living God, within the immortality of God, not only will he live forever but he has always lived from eternity past.
dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto
John 1:1-5 (CSB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.
Because we have been born into and choose to sin, we cannot approach God. We cannot come to him on our own. John Stott in his book, The Cross of Christ, gave five descriptions on how God is far from our sin. One of those descriptions: God is light. God shines brightest and in our wickedness and sin, we cannot dare approach him just in the light of his glory and goodness.3
I am in sweet communion with Christ as a poor sinner can be; and am only pained that he hath much beauty and fairness, and I little love; he great power and mercy, and I little faith; he much light and I bleared eyes.
Samuel Rutherford. The Loveliness of Christ.
Because of our present state, if we looked upon God, we would die. We could not approach God. Therefore, God must come to us. Immanuel--God is with us. In order for us to be with God, God must come to us. This is the only way. Christ is the only way.
who is immutable
Impassibility and immutability are words we don't often use and they can be a bit confusing. Think about it like this:
God is not changed by anything that can happen to him--impassibility.
God is not changed from the inside out--immutability.
Here is the real kick: humans are always changed from the outside in. When something devastatingly tragic happens to a human, that person is changed forever unless they go and get real help. That is called trauma.
I experienced painful trauma as a kid. While those around me thought I was okay, inside I was messed up and jacked up. And that brokenness never surfaced until I went through not one but two divorces. You think God hates divorce? I went it through it twice over. Twice the pain. Twice the loss. Twice the torment. Twice the agony. Twice the shame. I would never wish divorce on my worst enemy.
I was changed from the outside in.
God is not like me at all. All the sin and anger and hate that God has to deal with, he is not traumatize from that and changed from the outside in.
Likewise, there is nothing in God that makes him dwell on his own thoughts, feelings, emotions, beliefs, philosophies of the day and changes himself from the inside out.
God is not whimsical nor capricious. He does not do things that he does just because he feels like it. He has and will forever will be God.
In other words, the gospel is forever the gospel. God changes us from the inside out by making his home in us and dwelling in us forever. That good news was there when sin first broke all of creation and in a million years, it will always be the good news--that God saves sinners.
I find it fascinating when humans want something else not the word of God to give them a free pass on a sin that they want to keep doing. "I want to be prideful--God look the other way please!" and then twist Scriptures accordingly. Or the world want us to approve of their behavior and have us look the other way on their sin. Who are we? We are nobody. We are just his Bride. We are not the Bridegroom. Christ is God. You might say, "But I struggle with sin and I cannot escape it." God knew that. I sin everyday. God already knew that. That is why he sent his Son to live and die for me. You want in on this good news? It is there for the taking. Ask for Christ, you are going to get Christ.
immense
1 Kings 8:27 (CSB) But will God indeed live on earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain you, much less this temple I have built.
Numbers 14:21 (CSB) Yet as I live and as the whole earth is filled with the LORD’s glory,
The immensity of God speaks to the omnipresence of God--God is everywhere at all times. That is not say God is in everything--that is would be pantheism. And we know that not be the case because nothing of God dwells or resides in the unbelievers.
I think it will be reasonable to comprehend the Father and the Spirit to be everywhere at all times because they are spirit. But what about the Second Person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ, who took on flesh and dwelled among us? The Apostle Paul states it perfectly:
Colossians 1:15–20 (CSB) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and by him all things hold together. He is also the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile everything to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
In terms of what Christ did, as fully God and fully man, the Apostle John states:
John 21:25 (CSB) And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if every one of them were written down, I suppose not even the world itself could contain the books that would be written.
To sum up immenseness of God, God is not just everywhere at all times but where you are at right now, God is with you right now. He is Jehovah-Shammah--God is there.
Ezekiel 48:35 (CSB) The perimeter of the city will be six miles, and the name of the city from that day on will be The LORD Is There.”
eternal
Psalm 90:2 (CSB) Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, you are God.
Revelation 22:12-13 (CSB) “Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me to repay each person according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
John Calvin wrote:
finitum non capax infiniti
In other words, "the finite mind cannot comprehend the infinite." If there is one attribute of God that is the hardest for us to grasp, I suggest it would be the eternality of God.
It is easy for us to quote Moses in Psalm 90, "from eternity to eternity, you are God." But to state that absolute fact and believe that absolute fact has implication.
For one, God is the Creator of all creation and he is before all things.
Genesis 1:1 (CSB) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
John 1:1-3 (CSB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.
Nothing created him and he is before all created things. There wasn't a moment in time that God was not there. What is true for any point in the past is absolutely true for the future. Any moment in the future, God is already there. And when he relates to us, he always uses temporal terms despite being outside of time.
What is even more amazing, within those temporal terms, when the Son of God took on flesh, he subjected himself not only to his material plane and the effects of the corruption of sin but he subjected himself to the constraints of time like we are.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God, "grew in stature and wisdom"4 and preached the gospel 5 and minister to others with the same constraints of time and space as we do. In other words, Christ did not commission us with something he did not do himself.
incomprehensible
In continuing with the Calvin's statement, eternality of God is one thing but the fact that we cannot comprehend him in our natural state is something humbling.
Those who contend for the free will of man in their own salvation will, after much consideration, will have to conclude that if the mortal man can learn 2+2=4, then God is a fact that can be learned.
But God is not a school subject. He is not an academic course. He is not a science project. He is not an undiscovered element. The modern mind wants to so desperately treat God as if he is just another major study at the local college. But the Scripture make it crystal clear:
1 Corinthians 2:7–16 (CSB)
7 On the contrary, we speak God’s hidden wisdom in a mystery, a wisdom God predestined before the ages for our glory.8 None of the rulers of this age knew this wisdom, because if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written, What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived— God has prepared these things for those who love him.
10 Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, since the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except his spirit within him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.
13 We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people.
14 But the person without the Spirit does not receive what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually.
15 The spiritual person, however, can evaluate everything, and yet he himself cannot be evaluated by anyone.
16 For who has known the Lord’s mind, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
In other words, knowledge of God is supernatural and not natural. Something outside of us must reveal God to us. And throughout the Scriptures, we know that it must be God that reveals himself to us for us to know, believe, trust, and obey Him. No exceptions.
Let me take it one step further: do you believe that the Scriptures are another literary work or are the inspired by God?
2 Timothy 3:14-17 (CSB) But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you, and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
If it is inspired by God, then the word of God comes from God alone. If it comes from God alone, it is supernatural. If it is supernatural, then how are we to even comprehend the word of God?
Only if God reveals it to us. In other words, only if God opens our eyes. For:
Hebrews 6:1-3 (CSB) Therefore, let us leave the elementary teaching about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, faith in God, teaching about ritual washings, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And we will do this if God permits.
And
Mark 8:22-25 (CSB) They came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and brought him out of the village. Spitting on his eyes and laying his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything? ” He looked up and said, “I see people — they look like trees walking.” Again Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes. The man looked intently and his sight was restored and he saw everything clearly.
You might say, "Are you saying we cannot know God at all?"
Can we fully know God? No. But can we truly know him? Absolutely. How do I know this? He sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to live and die for us.
John 1:18 (CSB) No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.
almighty
Genesis 17:1 (CSB) When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him, saying, “I am God Almighty. Live in my presence and be blameless.
Revelation 4:8 (CSB) Each of the four living creatures had six wings; they were covered with eyes around and inside. Day and night they never stop, saying,
Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God, the Almighty,
who was, who is, and who is to come.
In the most simplistic way, almighty is a contraction of two words, "all" and "mighty". That is too say, all-might. If we have a hard time grasping the ever-existence of God, I think we really do no fathom what it means for God to be omnipotent. And the reason why is throughout all of history, man, in his frailty and weakness, has strived and fought for power.
Genesis 6:4 (CSB) The Nephilim were on the earth both in those days and afterward, when the sons of God came to the daughters of mankind, who bore children to them. They were the powerful men of old, the famous men.
Yet God says:
Proverbs 16:5 (CSB) Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished.
In my Genesis commentary, I wrote this about verse 4:
We live in a culture that celebrates the powerful and the famous. If we are not too careful we might look at that line and think nothing of it. But God declares prideful men and women “detestable”.
We power grab everything. We even will construct entire theologies over power structures.
A fellow church member remarked how much he liked my shoes and that they look like "weight lifting shoes--do you lift weights?" To which I replied, "I like to pretend that I lift weights." Nearly every time I step into a gym or my hand folds over and grips iron, I humbling reminded that the atoms of this weight plate is being actively held together by the crucified Son of Man.
Colossians 1:17 (CSB) He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.
What is my mere weight lifting compared to the Almighty King who holds the universe in his hands? I cannot comprehend.
But who alone can swap my heart of stone, give me his own loving soft tender heart and places his Spirit within me so that God and His Son can make their home in me? This is too astounding to embrace.
That is true strength.
Ephesians 6:10 (CSB) Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength.
This Almighty God now has given us his strength and grace to do his will. Blessed be his name.
every way infinite
Take these attributes of God--immensity, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty--and to measure them is without end. You cannot measure them. And the attributes of God are not infinite with a contained area (like our universe) but rather, he is infinite and we, in our place, world, and galaxy, is quite, quite limited in comparison.
most holy
Isaiah 6:2-3 (CSB) Seraphim were standing above him; they each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another:
Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Armies;
his glory fills the whole earth.
R.C. Sproul is famous for correctly stating:
The Bible doesn't say God is "love, love, love," or "grace, grace, grace." The Bible says He is "holy, holy, holy."
Holiness of God is revealed by God in one of two ways. One, our sinfulness and far from Him we really are. Two, his absolute moral perfection. Sproul sums up nicely in this way:
“That attribution of greatness and goodness to God can be summed up as “He is holy,” because holiness incorporates both greatness and goodness.” 6
It is the infinite, perfect greatness and goodness that God revealed to Isaiah and caused him to cry out, "Woe is me, for I am a man of unclean lips!" It is this holiness that cause the persecutor Saul declare Christ as Lord. It is this perfection that the heavenly beings continue to sing, "Holy, holy, holy."
It is this same holiness that caused the tax collector to stand in the back of the tabernacle, who would not dare lift his eyes towards heavens, but instead shout out, "Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner!"
It is this same holiness that keeps sons of Adam far from the presence of God.
It is this same holiness that marks the entire life of Jesus Christ.
It is this same holiness that is now given to the people of God. All because God alone is holy.
most wise
Proverbs 8:22–31 (CSB)
22 “The LORD acquired me at the beginning of his creation, before his works of long ago.23 I was formed before ancient times, from the beginning, before the earth began.
24 I was born when there were no watery depths and no springs filled with water.
25 Before the mountains were established, prior to the hills, I was given birth—
26 before he made the land, the fields, or the first soil on earth.
27 I was there when he established the heavens, when he laid out the horizon on the surface of the ocean,
28 when he placed the skies above, when the fountains of the ocean gushed out,
29 when he set a limit for the sea so that the waters would not violate his command, when he laid out the foundations of the earth.
30 I was a skilled craftsman beside him. I was his delight every day, always rejoicing before him.
31 I was rejoicing in his inhabited world, delighting in the children of Adam.
In this, the Age of Information, the modern man has fallen for the trap of "more information means our intelligence will increase." What we have witness is the fallout of this folly:
- Access to more information has not increased our comprehension - What has run rampart is people taking in the all the information and not considering the sources of that information or whether or not that information is reliable and true. Which leads into...
- More knowledge has nothing to do with wisdom - I do know that people struggle with the fear of not knowing enough and they fall prey to "if I only knew more, then I can remain safer/richer/happier/insert-your-vice-here." What we have seen is that mankind does not possess the wisdom to handle the critical massive amount of knowledge that we are consuming.
In God's great mercy, he has bestowed some of his infinite wisdom upon us in limited quantities along with these blessings of knowledge.
James 1:5 (CSB) Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.
In the godliness of God, God knows everything. He cannot learn anything. He isn't surprised by anything. He is infinite in all things--from the infinite reaches of the galaxy to the depths of your heart and the recesses of your mind. It knows it all perfectly and the reasons why.
More so than that, he has the infinite wisdom to handle it and discern it all. This is where we are unlike God. We know very little and he knows all.
most free
Psalm 115:3 (CSB) Our God is in heaven and does whatever he pleases.
In his three volume Systematic Theology, theologian Charles Hodge explained that there were two attributes that worked out of the omnipotence or the almighty of God: his sovereignty and his freedom.
The popularity and the rise of Calvinism has given way to the acceptance of God's sovereignty without the wisdom nor the emotional maturity to handle it. When something bad happens, I have heard too many new Calvinists simply shrug their shoulders and sigh, "whelp, God is sovereign." Which it is not an untrue statement but are we not going grieve this moment? Are we not going "weep with those who weep?" 7
But that is another chapter for another book.
God's sovereignty--his rule and reigning over all creation--stems from his omnipotence.
On the flipside of the same coin, for all of the debates about the free will of man, we must always compare our will towards the one who has actual free will.
Consider this: Can add a foot to our height? Can we sprout wings and fly? Humans cannot do that.
So also consider this: can we simple come to God? Man in his natural state would instinctively answer, "Of course," because either we think our will is really free or we think of God of some sort of man--but holier and better than we--but just another man, nonetheless.
But the Bible states that God is so far from us--he is infinitely far from us. We think we can take a step towards him or build a tower to reach the heavens without taken in who God is.
Infinite distance minus a step is still infinite.
God knew that. He knew that you would never make it to him even if you tried.
That is why, in God's perfect power--his sovereignty and his freedom--he came to us. God walked the infinite gap. God bridged the infinite chasm between us and him. That is Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God.
most absolute
Romans 8:1-4 (CSB) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
With that almightiness power comes that God is not outside of his law nor is subjected to his own law. But in fact, that God is law and the law, standard, morality, plumb line, righteousness comes from him. He alone has the absoluteness to give the law but in our sin and wickedness, God made himself to be the Son of Man so that he alone could fulfill the same law in our stead.
working all things according to the counsel of his own immutable and most righteous will for his own glory
Isaiah 46:10 (CSB) I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will.
Proverbs 16:4 (CSB) The LORD has prepared everything for his purpose— even the wicked for the day of disaster.
Romans 11:36 (CSB) For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.
most loving
Song of Songs 2:4 (ESV) He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
Song of Songs 2:16a (ESV) My beloved is mine, and I am his;
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
For here is love, God proclaims the good news that He will make all things right:
>Genesis 3:15 (CSB) I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
And here is love, God is faithful:
>Psalm 103:15–18 (CSB) As for man, his days are like grass— he blooms like a flower of the field; when the wind passes over it, it vanishes, and its place is no longer known. But from eternity to eternity the LORD’s faithful love is toward those who fear him, and his righteousness toward the grandchildren of those who keep his covenant, who remember to observe his precepts.
And here is love, God's faithful love and mercies will never come to an end:
>Lamentations 3:22–23 (CSB) Because of the LORD’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!
And here is love, God does everything for you to be with Him:
>Ezekiel 36:25–28 (CSB) I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances. You will live in the land that I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.
And here is love, God saves us from our sins:
>Matthew 1:21 (CSB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
And here is love:
>John 1:16–18 (CSB) Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.
And here is love, God sent his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ:
>John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
And here is love, God adopts us into his family:
>Romans 9:25–26 (CSB) As it also says in Hosea, I will call Not my People, My People, and she who is Unloved, Beloved. And it will be in the place where they were told, you are not my people, there they will be called sons of the living God.
And here is love, Christ loved me and lived and died for me:
>Galatians 2:20 (CSB) I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
And here is love, we have no condemnation and no separate from God:
>Romans 8:1; 38-39 (CSB) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus... and nothing will every separate us from the love of God that is in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Simply put:
1 John 4:7-10 (ESV) Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
gracious
Exodus 34:6–7 (CSB) The LORD passed in front of him and proclaimed: The LORD—the LORD is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But he will not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation.
It would never be grace to let us go of our sin and not remove our sins and the path before us in sin. Some people want grace because they got caught in their sin but they have no intention of abstaining from sin. Oh they will not sin again if all of their circumstances were good and their spouse acts right and work is easy and whatever. But the moment life gets a little tough, let me go back to my own wickedness.
God is most gracious in that to free us from sin, he takes care of it all:
- the punishment for sin
- a new heart to love him
- His Spirit to guide us to him
- a new will to obey him
- a renewed mind to know him
- a soul alive to him
We know he does this because we have Christ our God!
merciful
Lamentations 3:22–23 (CSB) Because of the LORD’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!
Romans 9:15–16 (CSB) For he tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy.
By default, we know that there is a God but in our righteousness, we suppress the truth of God despite it being plainly obvious.
Romans 1:18–19 (CSB) For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them.
Now, you and I know we are not all born complete atheists. So the passage in Romans 1 doesn't speak as an all out suppression. In the sons of Adam--all unbelievers--we suppress the truth of the existence of God in various way.
We want a God that gives me an easy life and a good life and a lavish life but then there cannot be a God if I have to suffer a little bit.
We depend on God if we desire a safe, free from harm life. But the moment the world, sin, and Satan looks our way, we immediately think that God has abandoned us.
If those stages of unbelief don't resonant with you, then consider this: when I sin, I want God to be completely merciful to me. When people sin against me, I do not want God to be merciful to them but to pour his wrath out on them.
Right now, think of the person who has hurt you the most. What is your most immediate thought? That God would spare their lives and bring them to himself or do you wish that God would cast them down into the depths of hell to being under his never-ending wrath?
Oh, let me push once more: when God doesn't instantly eradicate them from the face of the earth, do you think that God is somehow not God and he lacks the power to punish sin against you.
Our Christ, the Son of God who is fully God and fully man, was illegally arrested, wrongfully accused, and unjustifiably condemned to death. He was then beaten, whipped with metal shards, mocked, slapped, blasphemed, battered, stripped naked, beard pulled from his face, crown of thorns shoved upon his head, made to carry his execution device, railroad spikes through his wrists and feet into a tree and then hung up for the Roman Empire and the Jewish people to see.
There was a word invented to describe all of that pain. We call it excruciating.
In this new found type of pain and torment and torture discovered by Christ upon that cross, who, let me remind you, is the Great I Am, the Alpha and the Omega, Who Was, Who Is, and Who is, and the Judge of the Quick and the Dead said with his lips?
Luke 23:34a (CSB) Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.”
Christ has all power. He alone is the Almighty God. He could have cast everyone in attendance straight to hell and he would be right in doing so.
But He alone has mercy upon whom he will have mercy. And he alone has compassion on those whom he will have compassion.
And in that very place where they were not the people of God, it exactly the same place in the excruciating mercies of Christ that we are now called sons of the living God!
long-suffering
Romans 3:23–26 (CSB) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
Romans 2:3–4 (CSB) Do you think—anyone of you who judges those who do such things yet do the same—that you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
2 Peter 3:9 (CSB) The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.
You could argue that God is infinitely patient since he is operates out of time or God is love and he will forever put up with sin and corruption.
But what we have seen in his word and in the history of creation, that, while God is long-suffering, he does come to an end of his grace and mercy.
I am reminded of a great Paul Washer quote:
Right at this exact moment, the arms of the steadfast love of God are extending out towards us. His Almighty arms of grace and mercy remain outstretched towards to the wicked and depraved. Then one day, he drops his hands.
There is no time like right now to fall into the arms of Jesus Christ. There is no day like today to look upon him, call his name and he will save you. That is a guarantee fact.
2 Corinthians 6:1–2 (CSB) Working together with him, we also appeal to you, “Don’t receive the grace of God in vain.” For he says: At an acceptable time I listened to you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. See, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation!
Now is the acceptable time! Today is the day of salvation.
God is long-suffering. But why would you waste a second not being in the blessings and love of the Almighty God? Make it make sense to me.
abundant in goodness and truth
John 1:16–18 (CSB) Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.
There is only one source of goodness. And there is only one source of truth. That is God. And God has revealed him fully in the man, Jesus Christ, Son of God, who is God, who came to live, die, resurrected and ascended so that God would save his people from their sins.
We cannot ascend to the truth as though it was some mountain to climb or some scientific fact yet to be discovered. God, in is goodness, grace, and mercy, must reveal himself to the sinner for the sinner to receive and believe.
We have no goodness within us that would put us in the same realm of God. On our best days, we have broken the law of God. We have all sinned against God and fallen way short of his glory.
And God knew. God knew. The Father and the Son knew this before they spent one ounce of energy creating the heavens and the earth. They knew you and me and all of his people and always loved them. And because God never began to love you, he will never stop loving you.
Matthew 11:28–30 (CSB) “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
This is the rest that Christ has given to his people. We never have to earn his love. We have it in full. We have it in full because we have Christ forever.
forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin
Psalm 103 (CSB)
1 My soul, bless the LORD, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 My soul, bless the LORD, and do not forget all his benefits.
3 He forgives all your iniquity; he heals all your diseases.
4 He redeems your life from the Pit; he crowns you with faithful love and compassion.
5 He satisfies you with good things; your youth is renewed like the eagle.
6 The LORD executes acts of righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He revealed his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel.
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love.
9 He will not always accuse us or be angry forever.
10 He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve or repaid us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his faithful love toward those who fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
14 For he knows what we are made of, remembering that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass— he blooms like a flower of the field;
16 when the wind passes over it, it vanishes, and its place is no longer known.
17 But from eternity to eternity the LORD’s faithful love is toward those who fear him, and his righteousness toward the grandchildren
18 of those who keep his covenant, who remember to observe his precepts.
19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the LORD, all his angels of great strength, who do his word, obedient to his command.
21 Bless the LORD, all his armies, his servants who do his will.
22 Bless the LORD, all his works in all the places where he rules. My soul, bless the LORD!
Who is like the Lord? Who can compare to Him? He is full of grace, merciful everyday, and steadfast in loving-kindness. He is the fairest of all time. There is no one who can match his power, awe, beauty, honor, majesty, and glory.
He alone is God forever.
the rewarder of them that diligently seek him
Hebrews 11:6 (CSB) Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Luke 11:5–13 (CSB) He also said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I don’t have anything to offer him.’ Then he will answer from inside and say, ‘Don’t bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I have gone to bed. I can’t get up to give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he won’t get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his friend’s shameless boldness, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”
Let me some this up: turn to God, run to God, look up to God, ask God for God you will get God.
There are no other guarantees in life. Just God. You seek him you will find him. For:
Deuteronomy 4:29 (CSB) But from there, you will search for the LORD your God, and you will find him when you seek him with all your heart and all your soul.
We know this to be a fact because it is a historical fact. Jesus Christ came into this world a little over 2,000 years ago to save sinners.
and withal, most just and terrible in his judgments
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
Matthew 8:12 (CSB) But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 13:42-43 (CSB) They will throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Let anyone who has ears listen.
Matthew 13:49-50 (CSB) So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out, separate the evil people from the righteous, and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 22:13-14 (CSB) Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him up hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
Matthew 24:51 (CSB) He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 25:29-30 (CSB) For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. And throw this good-for-nothing servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Way too many times, I have heard believers and non-believers alike give this statement, "Christ never speaks of hell in the gospels."
Don't let your lack of keyword search prowess and the lack of your knowledge on the Bible to send you straight to hell. If you can't see that Christ speaks of hell in the Bible, I would cry out to God and ask him, "Why can't I see it!" Pray now to the Holy Spirit that he will open your eyes and renew your mind and give you a soft-tender heart to receive what God has to say.
hating all sin
Nehemiah 9:32 (CSB) So now, our God—the great, mighty, and awe-inspiring God who keeps his gracious covenant— do not view lightly all the hardships that have afflicted us, our kings and leaders, our priests and prophets, our ancestors and all your people, from the days of the Assyrian kings until today.
Nehemiah 9:33 (CSB) You are righteous concerning all that has happened to us, because you have acted faithfully, while we have acted wickedly.
Psalm 5:5 (CSB) The boastful cannot stand in your sight; you hate all evildoers.
Psalm 5:6 (CSB) You destroy those who tell lies; the LORD abhors violent and treacherous people.
For:
Romans 9:13 (CSB) As it is written: I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau.
Hebrews 9:27 (CSB) And just as it is appointed for people to die once — and after this, judgment —
In continue in the holiness of God in comparison to our sin, John Stott gives these additional descriptors in addition to God being most glorious and shines the brightest: 8
- God is high above our sin and idolatry
- God is far from our wickedness and depravity
- He is all-consuming - In other words, he will perfectly eradicate all sin from everywhere
- He is rejects all sin from his presence - He has no toleration for sin, God does not have to live with sin; God vomits it out of his being 9
These are metaphors--uses of the English language to try to get us to simply realize that one fact that God hates sin.
We, as sons of Adam, hates sin in so much as when it effects us but not necessarily when we commit it. Then, much like our original father, Adam, will make excuses for it and/or blame others for our sin.
As sons of God, we are not perfect. We cannot be perfect, on this side of heaven. I don't care what the Wesleyans or the Church of Christ denomination states. Anybody who states we can go without sin fully are putting a soul crushing weight upon the heart-breaking sin that you are dealing with right now.
But the fantastic good news of a vengeful, sin-hating God is the same God who is the only solution to our sin.
John 14:6-7 (CSB) Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Christ is the only way. You want to be set from and sin free, look no further than Christ who your sin upon himself and welcomed the wrath of God to fall on him so that we would never bear that wrath.
and who will by no means clear the guilty.
Exodus 34:7b (CSB) But he will not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation.
Nahum 1:2–3 (CSB) The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD takes vengeance and is fierce in wrath. The LORD takes vengeance against his foes; he is furious with his enemies. The LORD is slow to anger but great in power; the LORD will never leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath his feet.
2 Timothy 4:1–5 (CSB) I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom: Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear. They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths. But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Sin must be dealt with. Life must be paid for the consequences of sin. Sin gives death.
Christ takes our sin upon himself and pays the price of death so that we might live.
Those who do not believe and trust in him will pay for their sin--they will eternally and continuously be crushed and burned under the holy wrath of Christ forever and ever.
But for his people--just his people--he will take them under his protective almighty arm and protect us and keep us to himself not just during judgment but forever.
Matthew 23:37-39 (CSB) “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’! ”
Choose on this day whom you will serve.
Renihan. Baptist Symbolics Volume 2. 167 2: Song of Songs 2:16 3: John Stott. The Cross of Christ. 109. 4: Luke 2:40 5: Mark 1:14 6: R.C. Sproul. Truths We Confess. 46. 7: Romans 12:15 8: Stott. 109. 9: Stott. 104-111.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 2.2 The Sufficiency of God
The Text
Romans 11:33–36 (CSB)
33 Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and untraceable his ways!34 For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?
35 And who has ever given to God, that he should be repaid?
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.
The Chapter
God, having all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of himself, is alone in and unto himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creature which he hath made, nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting his own glory in, by, unto, and upon them; he is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things, and he hath most sovereign dominion over all creatures, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever himself pleaseth; in his sight all things are open and manifest, his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature, so as nothing is to him contingent or uncertain; he is most holy in all his counsels, in all his works, and in all his commands; to him is due from angels and men, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience, as creatures they owe unto the Creator, and whatever he is further pleased to require of them.
The Confession
God, having all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of himself, is alone in and unto himself
I am not sure if we, Christians, still believe this or not. But for the sake of covering my bases, let me state this.
God does not need anything.
And just so we are clear:
God does not need us.
I could try to paint a picture of a perfectly content Father and a perfectly content Son in perfect harmonious community joined by the Holy Spirit. To be honest, it would be a feeble attempt. Because we cannot imagine such a relationship on this side of heaven.
I could walk into any room with any amount of people and ask for a show of hands who here has known anybody who has gotten divorced. The raised hands would be 100%. Yet, when God gave marriage to mankind, his intention and design was always forever. Never broken. Never fractured.
We cannot not imagine unbroken marriage. Sinless relationships. Complete joy-filled unions. We can't but this is all God knew forever. There was no other reality for him.
And why is that. To speak about God is that we cannot simply stop at "he is good" which he is. And he is blessedness or glory or life which he is all these things. But what sets him apart from his creation is that he is the fullness of these things. And if he is truly filled to the max, perfectly with these things, then he does not need anything.
And if is filled with these things--all life, glory, goodness, blessedness--then what else does he need. He certainly did not need us. R.C. Sproul says it this way:
“God is alone in and unto himself all-sufficient. God is all-sufficient not only in Himself, but also for Himself, in the absolute sense, needing nothing from any creature. Christians often use expressions that are well meaning but that, if analyzed carefully, approach blasphemy. For example, “I’m so glad that so-and-so allowed God to work through him,” or “Thank you for letting God work through you.” Does this mean that God cannot work through me unless I allow Him? God does not need our permission to do anything, any more than He needed Paul’s permission to appear to him on the Damascus road, or Judas’ to use him for His greater glory, or that of Balaam’s ass to speak prophetically. God is self-sufficient, both in Himself and for Himself.”
R. C. Sproul. Truths We Confess. 55-57.
all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creature which he hath made, nor deriving any glory from them
Often times, I have shared the story of the loss of my brother who passed away in 2020 from Stage 4 Colon Cancer. And after so much loss, you would think I would be comfortable with grieving. And been on this earth for nearly 50 years, I don't automatically grieve loss and sin and betrayal. And the reason why is because instead of grieving and sitting in that sadness and feeling the sadness, I avoid it. I avoid it like that the plague. But I turn my heart instead of the one God who can comfort me and instead turn to a much darker plague: porn.
Summer of 2022, the perfect storm for Satan to release his barrage of temptations would come my way. My wife was going on an international trip for work. And I was at home by myself. But during this, I started experiencing a physical pain and ailment that immediately took me back to my dying brother in his pain and agony. And helping the nurse lift and turn his lifeless cancer ridden body. This little bit of physical grief struck me with fear that I, too, had cancer like my brother.
And I turned to porn like I had nearly all of my life.
Five minutes into fulfilling my temptation, God quickened me. He brought me back to life. My mind and heart got powered on and I was made alive. I quickly dismissed my sin and repented to my God and my wife and my friends as fast as I could.
I sinned against God knowing full well that he alone is life, goodness, blessedness and glory. He is holy, kind, and merciful, righteousness.
I chose to sin against the Almighty God.
In all of his glory and his power and his might, how did God respond to my treasonous sin?
The Father, who has sent his Son to live and die for me, who has sent his Spirit to give me his heart secure me to him forever decided that it would be this year he would save my oldest son.
And then he would save my other son--fully saving the men in my generations from my grandfather to my youngest son. He waited, in his good pleasure and grace, waited until my grandfather was 40 and my dad was 56 and myself when I was 32 to save us. But then he saves my 20 year old son and my 9 year son in a blink of an eye.
He gave me mercy.
Oh. Because my God is good and he alone is good and he overflows with goodness, he granted me the one desire I had in my heart for the entire time I have known and loved him--
He allowed me to preach his gospel for the first time ever.
I sinned. And God responded with ultimate goodness and mercy.
This is my God.
but only manifesting his own glory in, by, unto, and upon them
And through my life, he has chosen to reveal his glory. Through ministering to others, he has shown to be tender in heart and full of compassion. By his preached word and the power of the Spirit through His Son, he has rescued his people from their sins.
We have no other source for life, glory, goodness, and blessedness but God alone.
he is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things, and he hath most sovereign dominion over all creatures, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever himself pleaseth
We are never to be the source of anything good because we are not.
Romans 3:10–12 (CSB) as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one.
When we need to be good, we must run to the source of all good.
Paul states it bluntly:
Romans 9:14-18 (CSB) What should we say then? Is there injustice with God? Absolutely not! For he tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy. For the Scripture tells Pharaoh, I raised you up for this reason so that I may display my power in you and that my name may be proclaimed in the whole earth. So then, he has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
God alone gives us mercy.
So if God didn't need us, why did he create us?
1 John 4:7-10 (CSB) Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Ephesians 2:1-5 (CSB) nd you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Because God is love. And he was mindful of us before Genesis 1:1. For:
Ephesians 1:3-6 (CSB) Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
He made up his mind that he was going to create us, save us, and keep us forever.
in his sight all things are open and manifest, his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature
When I was freshly saved by God and deeply interested in theology. How I got to the Doctrines of Grace is another story (it involves Wikipedia). But it was clear to people who were close to me that my leanings were becoming Calvinistic day after day. One particular mentor, who did not lean that way but didn't try to buffer my understanding. But on occasionally, he would give me books just to see if it would "grind my gears" as he would say it.
One particular book he threw at me was God of the Possible: A Biblical Introduction to the Open View of God by Greg Boyd. This was an introduction to Open Theism.
ChatGPT defines Open Theism as:
Open Theism is a theological viewpoint that emphasizes the belief that God is omniscient, but that the future is not fully determined. This means that God is aware of all possible futures, but that the actions and decisions of human beings can ultimately determine which future comes to pass. This view contrasts with traditional theism, which holds that God has a specific plan for the future that will inevitably come to pass. Open Theism is also sometimes referred to as "free will theism."
ChatGPT. "Could you explain to me Open Theism, please?". https://chat.openai.com/chat. January 9, 2023 version.
Mr. Boyd introduces the concept of Open Theism by reciting the story of King Hezekiah. The Lord appeared to King Hezekiah and simply stated:
2 Kings 20:1 (CSB) In those days Hezekiah became terminally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came and said to him, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Set your house in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.’ ”
Hezekiah, in response, prays and weep bitterly for the Lord to extend his life.
What doe the Lord do? He extends his life.
Instead of expounding the love, and the mercy, and the grace of the Almighty God to save the lives of his people, Mr. Boyd takes this passage and begins to defend his belief that, in fact, God does not know know what the future holds. And that God can be swayed and persuaded by the prayers of his people.
What cannot be missed when you keep reading 2 Kings is simply how sinful and foolish King Hezekiah really was. In his pride, arrogance, folly, and stupidity, he gives the envoys of the King of Babylon all the treasures of the his palace.
The Lord our God, throught the prophet Isaiah, responds in kind:
2 Kings 20:16-18 (CSB) Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the LORD: ‘Look, the days are coming when everything in your palace and all that your predecessors have stored up until today will be carried off to Babylon; nothing will be left,’ says the LORD. ‘Some of your descendants — who come from you, whom you father — will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’ ”
What is shocking and disturbing is Hezekiah's response to God's cursing and declaration of the consequences of his sin:
2 Kings 20:19 (CSB) Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good,” for he thought, “Why not, if there will be peace and security during my lifetime? ” 1
So why rehash King Hezekiah's folly? This historical account from 2nd Kings is not a prooftext for the heresy of open theism. This does not prove that God changes his mind and that God does change and he can change. But we have learn thus far in the 1689 that God is the fullness of goodness, blessedness, mercy, glory and life. He extended the life of Hezekiah knowing full well that Hezekiah will sin more.
We know this because Paul wraps up the sins of all the Old Testament saints in this one passage:
Romans 3:21–26 (CSB) But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets. The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, since there is no distinction. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
Interested enough, this passage is not mentioned at all in Greg Boyd's book.
The truth is that God sees our hearts. All of our hearts. When God saw the hearts of his people were desperately sick and will flee far from him (Jeremiah 17:9), before the foundations of the world were formed, he set his affections on us and made a covenant with his Son that he would save us.
Ephesians 1:3–10 (CSB) Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding. He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him.
God is not like us who are sometimes whimsical--whose mind can be changed at a whim. God is not capricious--someone who changes their mind just because they can.
God is steadfast in his love. God gives mercy day after day. God is so gracious, that one can only describe it as grace layered upon grace.
God saw the wickedness of hearts. He knew what was going on in our hearts and in the heart of King Hezekiah. That is why He sent his Son to live and die for King Hezekiah, for you and for me.
Praise be to our God!
so as nothing is to him contingent or uncertain
6th-century Jesuit theologian Luis de Molina attempted a way to balance the supposed free will of man with the sovereign grace of God. He proposal is that God looks down the corridors of time and selects the correct timeline where you and I believe and trust in him.
I could entertain this notion except the word of God says otherwise:
Romans 8:29 (CSB) For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
God never foresaw us. The word says God foreknew us. God foreknew our deceit and sinfulness and treasonous acts. God knew us and in his mercy, saved us.
The world and philosophies of this world and certain theologies like Open Theism, Molinism, and cult and sects like Mormonism and Jehoviah Witness and heresies like Arianism and Gnosticism have one thread in common: it is the feeble and wicked attempted to either lower God to be like created man or elevate created man to be like God.
But true, historical, orthodox, right, and proper Christian theology is this:
The Son of God became man so that men might become sons of God. 2
God is clearly not like us in so many ways. Because by the grace of God for all of mankind, we can do some of the things he does: love, and create, and give. But only because of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God, it is his people alone who are saved to Him and can truly worship and obey him.
he is most holy in all his counsels, in all his works, and in all his commands
Leviticus 11:45(CSB) For I am the LORD, who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God, so you must be holy because I am holy.
In this, what rails against the minds, hearts, and wills of mankind is that we are utterly dependent on Someone else for everything.
In my Philosophy 101 course, the last page of Chapter 1 states something like this: "the ultimate goal of each human is autonomy."
Which is in the opposition of God and his creation. To that philosophical statement, the Westminster says that our actual ultimate goal is to "glorify God and enjoy him forever." For:
Psalm 86:9 (CSB) All the nations you have made will come and bow down before you, Lord, and will honor your name.
Isaiah 60:21 (CSB) All your people will be righteous; they will possess the land forever; they are the branch I planted, the work of my hands, so that I may be glorified.
Romans 11:36 (CSB) For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.
1 Corinthians 6:20 (CSB) for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.
1 Corinthians 10:31 (CSB) So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.
Revelation 4:11 (CSB) Our Lord and God, you are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because you have created all things, and by your will they exist and were created.
And
Psalm 16:5–11 (CSB) LORD, you are my portion and my cup of blessing; you hold my future. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I will bless the LORD who counsels me— even at night when my thoughts trouble me. I always let the LORD guide me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices; my body also rests securely. For you will not abandon me to Sheol; you will not allow your faithful one to see decay. You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures.
Psalm 144:15 (CSB) Happy are the people with such blessings. Happy are the people whose God is the LORD.
Isaiah 12:2 (CSB) Indeed, God is my salvation; I will trust him and not be afraid, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my song. He has become my salvation.”
Luke 2:10 (CSB) But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:
Philippians 4:4 (CSB) Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Revelation 21:3–4 (CSB) Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.
Our dependance on God is not more succinctly explained then in Romans 9:
Romans 9:18–21 (CSB) So then, he has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy and he hardens whom he wants to harden. You will say to me, therefore, “Why then does he still find fault? For who resists his will?” On the contrary, who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? Will what is formed say to the one who formed it, “Why did you make me like this?” Or has the potter no right over the clay, to make from the same lump one piece of pottery for honor and another for dishonor?
Our God is personal. He is kind and loving. He is gentle and altogether lovely. And the Creator has sovereign rights over his creation.
And when we are in sin, we think that we wish that God was the divine watchmaker, who created the heavens and the earth, "winds it up" like watch, lets it all go, and departs from his creation. In our rebellion, we want a God who will let us do want we want and leave us alone.
But for the people of God, that can never be. Continue on in Romans 9:
Romans 9:22–24 (CSB) And what if God, wanting to display his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience objects of wrath prepared for destruction? And what if he did this to make known the riches of his glory on objects of mercy that he prepared beforehand for glory—on us, the ones he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?
Christ alone is the Holy One of God. For his life, he has ransomed us and we were purchased with a price. For all of creation, we owe our life, existence, and breath to him. And we have failed to worship him, to obey him, to serve him, and to love him. Not only that we have failed to love others as he has loved us.
But here is the good news:
Romans 9:25–26 (CSB) As it also says in Hosea, I will call Not my People, My People, and she who is Unloved, Beloved. And it will be in the place where they were told, you are not my people, there they will be called sons of the living God.
to him is due from angels and men, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience, as creatures they owe unto the Creator, and whatever he is further pleased to require of them
Psalms 97:9 (CSB) For you, LORD, are the Most High over the whole earth; you are exalted above all the gods.
In all of the accounts of the kings of Israel and Judah, there is not a better, clearer, more explicit example of the saving power and full-out love of the Almighty God than in the account of King Manasseh.
If you read just the 2 Kings account, you will read of wicked and depraved king and the author of 2 Kings describes his reign as:
2 Kings 21:16 (CSB) Manasseh also shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem with it from one end to another. This was in addition to his sin that he caused Judah to commit, so that they did what was evil in the LORD’s sight.
But continue reading, and when you get to 2 Chronicles, you have a few more gory details:
2 Chronicles 33:6 (CSB) He passed his sons through the fire in Ben Hinnom Valley. He practiced witchcraft, divination, and sorcery, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did a huge amount of evil in the LORD’s sight, angering him.
This king was so wicked, that he sacrificed not one but two of his sons to a demon.
Yet, what does God declare? "Is my saving arm too short?" Is there no one that God cannot save?
2 Chronicles 33:10-11 (CSB) The LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they didn’t listen. So he brought against them the military commanders of the king of Assyria. They captured Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon.
This might seem extreme. Why would God go to such lengths to break someone? Because this passage, right here, is the precise and most accurately description of the unbeliever. Without God, we are prisoners of war. We are imprisoned by our wickedness, Satan, demons, and the world.
God could have easily raised up King Manasseh as a vessel of wrath like he did with Pharaoh during the days of Moses. He could have left Manasseh to rot in prison, die, and be under the vengeful wrath and fury of Christ for all time. And there is not a person on this earth who would think that was wrong. Manasseh was wicked. Evil. Grotesque. Abomination in the sight of God and man.
Titus 3:3 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.
And I am just as wicked as Manasseh. In my first marriage, my first wife went to get an abortion because she could not stand the thought of having another child with me. To confirm her disgust of my presence, what do I do in response? Exactly like my original father, Adam, I stood by and did nothing. Continued in my porn addiction, slothfulness and laziness and apathy.
But what happens when God appears?
2 Chronicles 33:12-13 When he was in distress, he sought the favor of the LORD his God and earnestly humbled himself before the God of his ancestors. He prayed to him, and the LORD was receptive to his prayer. He granted his request and brought him back to Jerusalem, to his kingdom. So Manasseh came to know that the LORD is God.
God granted Manasseh his heart and his Spirit:
Ezekiel 36:25–28 (CSB) I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances. You will live in the land that I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.
And then and only then, could Manasseh repent and obey the Lord our God.
I always assumed for most of my life that I was saved simply because I said a prayer to rescue me from hell. But an unrepentant lifetime of working in and producing pornography is sufficient evidence if I had died at any point prior to the age of 32, I would rightfully be in the bowels of hell under the continuous vengeful wrath and fury of Christ for all time in punishment for my wickedness.
But on a rainy Monday in April of 2007, this is exactly what happened:
Titus 3:4–7 (CSB) But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
Nothing I have done or was or ever could be should have warranted God to even look my way. But not only see me, but to take pity on me, reached out to my rotting corpse of life, and grant me life? That is a grace that I cannot fathom. Make it make sense to me! The Almighty God, who created the heavens, earth, and hell, who is without equal. Who alone has honor and praise and power and might. Who along is holy, blameless, sinless, perfection, righteous, and just. Whose steadfast love never ceases and his mercies never come to and end. Who is abounding in grace...
... for me, the chief of sinners. The vilest of who walks among us.
He saved me.
In his holiness and loveliness, he saved me.
Therefore, I will forever praise his holy name. Amen.
The quintessential difference between peacekeeping and peacemaking. See Matthew 5:9. But I digress. 2: J.I. Packer. Essay, Introduction to John Owen's The Death of Death in the Death of Christ.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 2.3 The Triune God
The Text
Matthew 28:16–20 (CSB) The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted. Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
The Chapter
In this divine and infinite Being there are three subsistences, the Father, the Word or Son, and Holy Spirit, of one substance, power, and eternity, each having the whole divine essence, yet the essence undivided: the Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son; all infinite, without beginning, therefore but one God, who is not to be divided in nature and being, but distinguished by several peculiar relative properties and personal relations; which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our communion with God, and comfortable dependence on him.
The Confession
In this divine and infinite Being there are three subsistences
1 John 5:7–10 (CSB) For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and these three are in agreement. If we accept human testimony, God’s testimony is greater, because it is God’s testimony that he has given about his Son. The one who believes in the Son of God has this testimony within himself. The one who does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony God has given about his Son.
I am in full appreciation of theologians in the past, that have crafted and wrote the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Savoy Declaration. The Baptists, with the 1st and 2nd London Confessions, only added a few clarifying words here and there but in every sense, blatantly plagiarize the WCF/Savoy. "If it aint broke, don't fix it" is an apropos saying from my childhood.
But another way to state this: the early church theologians have already done the heavy lifting in fine tuning and carefully crafting the right words in order to protect believers from heresy.
Here, a word that is not used often, subsistences. (This word is so less know that my writing application, Microsoft Visual Studio Code, is marking it as misspelled.) But even using words like persons or persona might pull a believer into tritheism or even monotheism.
The definition for subsistence is real being. God, not a figment of anyone's imagination, not a mode, not a mask, not a god with three different names who switches out these names, masks, personalities when the time is right. God is three real beings.
the Father, the Word or Son, and Holy Spirit
Matthew 28:19 (CSB) Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
And it was when Jesus Christ began his ministry on the earth that he massively unveils one of the greatest mysteries of the Old Testament, second only to how will God finally rescue his people. The answer to greatest mystery of the gospel of God in the OT is the Lord Jesus Christ. And with the revealing of the Lord Jesus Christ and the proclamation from his mouth, he reveals that God is three subsistences or three hypostases or three real beings: God the Father, God the Holy Spirit and himself, the Word, that is, God the Son.
Now think of the preaching ministry of Christ. God with us, taking on flesh, fully God and fully man makes the declaration to believers and non-believers alike:
John 10:29-30 (CSB) My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
How do you think that the most religious of the day responded? Took it all in? Pondered the points? Consider the memorized Scriptures?
No! They responded in violence!
John 10:33 (CSB) “We aren’t stoning you for a good work,” the Jews answered, “but for blasphemy, because you — being a man — make yourself God.”
Christ himself God and equal with the Father because why? Christ is God. In the same way, I am Joseph Louthan. I could state all the things that are used to identify myself according the world and to history and to philosophy: male, tall, son of Joseph and Sue, Technical Project Manager, writer, wife of Sarah, father of three kids, heterosexual.
But the only identity that actually matters is: am I in Christ or not in Christ. The fact is I am an adopted child of the living God. That is an absolute fact.
Christ stating his actual existence, his subsistence, his real being--that is an absolute fact.
So many people don't want to know or can't stand knowing. Don't be ignorant of the facts: we are saved by sovereign grace of the Father by the power of the Almighty Spirit through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God.
of one substance, power, and eternity
2 Corinthians 13:13 (CSB) The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
However and whatever means you use to preach and teach the doctrine of the Trinity, you must not forget the attributes of God 1
We know that God is eternal:
Psalm 90:2 (CSB) Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, you are God.
Revelation 22:12-13 (CSB) “Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me to repay each person according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
And we know he is almighty:
Genesis 17:1 (CSB) When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him, saying, “I am God Almighty. Live in my presence and be blameless.
Revelation 4:8 (CSB) Each of the four living creatures had six wings; they were covered with eyes around and inside. Day and night they never stop, saying,
Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God, the Almighty,
who was, who is, and who is to come.
What about one substance?
Deuteronomy 6:4 (CSB) “Listen, Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
John 10:29-30 (CSB) My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
each having the whole divine essence, yet the essence undivided
Exodus 3:14 (CSB) God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.”
John 8:57-58 (CSB) The Jews replied, “You aren’t fifty years old yet, and you’ve seen Abraham? ”Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.
I think the best way of describing this is loosely quoting Augustine:
With three people in a room, you have three minds, souls, hearts, spirits and wills. With the Triune God in the room, you still have three persons but you would only have one mind, one soul, one heart, one Spirit, and one will.
That description alone transcends God from us. God is so unlike us--that even when we are like God in that we love, give, serve, and create and we can do all of these things that reflects his image, what makes God apart from everything else in all of creation is the fact that God is three persons yet with one undivided essence.
The Doctrine of the Trinity is such a mystery. The moment we try to demystify it is the moment we are declaring outright historical heresy. 2
the Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding
John 14:11 (CSB) Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Otherwise, believe because of the works themselves.
1 Corinthians 8:6 (CSB) yet for us there is one God, the Father. All things are from him, and we exist for him. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things are through him, and we exist through him.
Every Lord's Day, in my church, Reforming Truth Church (Lexington, KY) will conclude our Communion with this utterly Triune declaration:
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen.
After singing praises, the hearing of God's law, the Confession of our Sins, the Assurance of Pardon, the Catechism, the Prayers, with the preaching of the Gospel and to take the wine and the bread--our little church boldly and loudly declares this fact: that God is Triune and He is Glorious and He is Eternal! Amen!
the Son is eternally begotten of the Father
John 1:14–18 (CSB) The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John testified concerning him and exclaimed, “This was the one of whom I said, ‘The one coming after me ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.’ ”) Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
The Father, the Son, and the Spirit are three distinct subsistences yet are of one substance.
The Nicene Creed states it as this:
true God from true God
And look at Scripture to explain this:
John 1:1 (CSB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Colossians 1:15 (CSB) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
John 1:14 (CSB) The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Christ is eternally begotten from the Father. That means there was never a time when he was not begotten. He has always been with the Father, living in distinct perfect community.
the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son
John 15:26 (CSB) “When the Counselor comes, the one I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—he will testify about me.
It is so tempting to give an entire treatise on the Holy Spirit right here and right now. Mostly because of two reasons:
- I grew up Charismatic. There is some baggage for sure but in the grace of God, I grew up the opposite of my Baptist brothers and sisters--namely, the Holy Spirit was not foreign to me but rather, he is my Comforter, my Witness, my Wisdom, my Truth and my Joy. More so than that, he is my God!
- I just finished Holy Spirit--The Helper by John Owen This was a real complete joy to read this and only solidify my pneumatology and be strengthen in declaring what he does.
But what the Holy Spirit does will be laid out here in the entire exposition.
But I want to call your attention to this one passage in John:
John 16:7-14 (CSB) Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment: About sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; and about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
“I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
We tried to wrap our heads around the perfect community of the Triune God. Here is a prime example that I have always loved.
Christ glorifies the Spirit - I could speculate all the live long day on why Christ said this. But the fact is: Christ is not going to do what the Spirit will be sent to do. Christ has taken on flesh to be fully God and fully man, to live and die so that he will save his people from their sins. The Holy Spirit does not do that. However, what the Spirit does that Christ does not: convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment.
Christ, by being man during his ministry, was indeed limited by time and space (and I could give some arguments for and against this). Christ glorifies the Spirit by what the Spirit will do when Christ ascends to the Father.
The Spirit glorifies the Christ - "He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you." How does the Spirit glorifies the Son? By pointing everything, including the word of God, back to the Word of God.
We have not seen glory like this in our lives. We do get a tiny glimpse of the glory of God in Christ Jesus because the Father has revealed the Son to us.3
all infinite, without beginning, therefore but one God
You might suggest, "Oh since Christ took on flesh, he had made himself limited like us." He was limited like us in certain ways--especially when it comes to the limits of time and space. But this is where the Covenants of Works and Redemption meet. Christ perfectly born of woman and perfectly obeyed and fulfilled the law. Because Christ has done this and then died, he was perfectly glorified by the Father.
Christ was always fully God. He is the Alpha and Omega and the Beginning and End. He is eternally begotten of the Father and the Sender of the Spirit. When Christ was glorified by God, he was no longer limited by time and space and within brokenness of sin but rather he is above sin and death because he has conquered it.
I don't know what our glorification will completely look like except for one thing: it has already been done. Since the Father has glorified the Son, we are already glorified because all of what the Son has done.
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
So what can we say about these things? Indeed.
who is not to be divided in nature and being but distinguished by several peculiar relative properties and personal relations
There is a new-old heresy being circulated around that fired up about ten years ago then sort of fizzled like a fart in church, called the Eternal Submission of the Son (ESS). Those who are spouting out such nonsense are always those who fall so far into hard Complementarianism camp (those who believe genders of mankind are different but equal) that they are indistinguishable from Patriarchy (men are always right and women need to shut up and stay quiet.) There one verse that they have built their house of cards upon is:
1 Corinthians 11:3 (CSB) But I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of the woman, and God is the head of Christ.
Now, I hope you can tell from reading the last paragraph, that I have zero grace towards people who keep teaching ESS like it is a real and Biblical thing. Those are false teachers and I will not stand for it. Come into my church shooting that nonsense and you will be handled promptly and according. (Not a threat but a fact.)
Selah
Call it Western thinking. Call it whatever you want: just because the Father is usually mentioned first does not give him more ranking than the Son nor Spirit. I know, I know mankind has been so futilely obsessed with power and influence and we have been so since the Fall of Mankind. 4
So, because of being born of Adam, indwelling of sin, and the fact we cannot help but be nurtured by the philosophies of our time, we read into passages like 1 Corinthians 11:3 and we put our own spin and interpretation on it. Go back to all of chapter in the context of 1 Corinthians and look me dead in the eye and tell me that is how you would interpret verse 3? Nah, I didn't think so.
Protip: Don't take verses out of context. Now what does that mean? Don't take a standalone verse or passage out of the Bible and try to make it mean what you want it to mean and ignore the text before and after and all of Scripture. Cherry picking verses is how sects, cults, and false religions get started. See Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Restoration Movement, and a whole lot of fruit from the Second Great Awakening.
God the Father is God. The Son is eternally begotten with the Father. And the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and Son.
One interesting tidbit and I will step down from my soapbox.
Jesus declares "I cannot do anything unless I see my Father doing likewise":
John 5:19-20 (CSB) Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, the Son is not able to do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son likewise does these things. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing, and he will show him greater works than these so that you will be amazed.
Yet, because Christ perfectly saved his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21), by perfectly fulfilling the law (Matthew 5:17-20), died the death we should have died for our sins (Romans 6:1-14), look how the Father glorifies the Son:
Daniel 7:13–14 (CSB)
13 I continued watching in the night visions, and suddenly one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him.14 He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.
Christ perfectly glorifies the Father. The Father perfectly and rightfully glorifies the Son. And they do so in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Glory be his name. Amen!
which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our communion with God and comfortable dependence on him
Especially in today's culture, we struggle with a lust for power--mostly because we don't want to be hurt or forgotten or abused. And I get that. But because of how we would run the world around us cannot be put on the perfection of the Triune God. God is the source of all good, all wisdom, and is holy and righteous. And God is love. And God is perfect in love and in all things good. That is the glory of God.
And upon that glory, we can rest assure that our salvation permanently and eternally secure--not because we can hope to do anything worthwhile. No. It is all rested upon the Triune God, who steadfast love towards will never come to an end because it never started. And his mercies towards will never come to an end--they are new and fresh every single morning.
To the great and mighty God, his promises are yes and amen. Our promises are easily broken. We are faithless, he remains faithful. Great is his faithfulness!
Romans 8:14–17 (CSB) For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
For the record, there are no new heresy. All heresies are historical. In other words, the church before us have already done the heavy lifting of hearing the false teaching, examining the Scriptures by the power of the Spirit, and put that heresy to death. There are no new errors and heresies. If you hear a false teacher or a Christian who says something in error, 100% of the time, it was already declared heresy--and more than millennium ago. Like the words says in Ecclesiastes 1:9, "What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun." Sometimes, the modern mind will war against, not the idea we cannot come up with new heresies, but the fact that we cannot come up with new theologies and doctrines. But mankind will always try to come up with new ways to lower God to man or elevate man to God. And filed under "fact is sometimes stranger than fiction", when man comes up with a new theology and therefore a new religion, they never give their followers more license to sin but more laws and rules to follow. Imagine that.
John 1:18; Titus 3:3-7
Read Genesis 6:1-7. Stay put on verse 4. For my own exposition on this passage, see Genesis 6:1-7 The Gospel Certainty: The Wickedness of Man
Chapter 3 Of God's Decree
3.1 The Sovereignty of God
God hath decreed in himself, from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably, all things, whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin nor hath fellowship with any therein; nor is violence offered to the will of the creature, nor yet is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established; in which appears his wisdom in disposing all things, and power and faithfulness in accomplishing his decree.
3.2 The Decretive Will of God
Although God knoweth whatsoever may or can come to pass, upon all supposed conditions, yet hath he not decreed anything, because he foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions.
3.3 The Predestination & Foreordination of God
By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated, or foreordained to eternal life through Jesus Christ, to the praise of his glorious grace; others being left to act in their sin to their just condemnation, to the praise of his glorious justice.
3.4 The Certainty of God When It Comes To His People
These angels and men thus predestinated and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed, and their number so certain and definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished.
3.5 The Election of God
Those of mankind that are predestinated to life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to his eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of his will, hath chosen in Christ unto everlasting glory, out of his mere free grace and love, without any other thing in the creature as a condition or cause moving him thereunto.
3.6 The Free Purpose of the Will of God
As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so he hath, by the eternal and most free purpose of his will, foreordained all the means thereunto; wherefore they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ, are effectually called unto faith in Christ, by his Spirit working in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified, and kept by his power through faith unto salvation; neither are any other redeemed by Christ, or effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.
3.7 The Mercies of God
The doctrine of the high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care, that men attending the will of God revealed in his Word, and yielding obedience thereunto, may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured of their eternal election; so shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reverence, and admiration of God, and of humility, diligence, and abundant consolation to all that sincerely obey the gospel.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 3.1 The Sovereignty of God
The Text
Ephesians 1:3–6 (CSB) Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
The Chapter
God hath decreed in himself, from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably, all things, whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin nor hath fellowship with any therein; nor is violence offered to the will of the creature, nor yet is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established; in which appears his wisdom in disposing all things, and power and faithfulness in accomplishing his decree.
The Confession
God hath decreed in himself from all eternity
Isaiah 46:10 (CSB) I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will.
It is one thing to read and observe the attributes of God which are just found in the previous chapter of the 1689 confession. And not to make little of who God is, the question begs, "So what?" In other words, God is a being of all power, all knowing and wisdom, and ever present everywhere.
What does a being like that do?
Throughout the history of mankind, we have told stories: legends, folklore, mythos, tall tales, comics, video games and literature. Some are historical. Some are dramatized. Some are exaggerated in order to tell the tale.
You could, with unopened eyes and unrenewed mind, read the Bible and read about God and chalk it up as though it as another grand work of fiction, not unlike The Illiad, The Lord of the Rings or the X-Men. God of the Bible seems so fantastic that then how could the Bible be real. How could God of the Bible be so real?
When you know of the Bible, the descriptions of who God is written and communicated by himself, then you know not only who God is but what he does.
From the jump, we know that God hath decreed in himself from all eternity.
In himself is to simply state that God has not sought the counsel of another being, another time, another space, and another existence. From eternity to eternity, he has always been God and whatever he decrees to do, he has made the decision from within himself.
Romans 5:8 (CSB) But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
When I have preached and taught this text, I have often said, "God has looked down the corridors and time and space, saw that you were not obeying him, you were sinning against him, that you were trespassing against him and you were running away from him. He saw that and sent his Son Jesus Christ to save you."
That is absolutely and wonderfully true. But I want to be a tad more careful. I don't want to give the impression that something that mankind does makes God do something. That is borders on paganism. But the fact is that we are created by God and we have fallen away from God. God is not a reactionary god as though he is the ambulance that comes and rescues us. But before we could sin, God had already determined he was going to create you, love you, and rescue you through his only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will
Ephesians 1:11 (CSB) In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will,
From within God, there is not nothing. Where as we are made up of parts of our personality, will, intelligence, wisdom, knowledge, and emotions, God is simply all things that he is include all holy and all wisdom. For:
Job 9:4 (CSB) God is wise and all-powerful. Who has opposed him and come out unharmed?
And:
Isaiah 6:3 (CSB) And one called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Armies; his glory fills the whole earth.
One thing that is remarkable through out the Bible is the will of God.
The hardest choices require the strongest wills.
Thanos
It is one thing for any being--mythological or otherwise--having the power and the ability to do what they want to do but do they possess the will to do so.
From his most holy and most wise counsel, God is not just powerful enough to do and able to do, he wants to do. God is the only being in the world that has the freedom to do as he will.
Ephesians 1:5 (CSB) He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
all things
Romans 8:28–30 (CSB) We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
For all of mankind's accomplishments, what makes us so unremarkable in this way--even if we wanted to save ourselves, we cannot. The argument for the freedom of will in mankind is invalid and lost because mankind is tinctured, fractured, broken and marred with sin. Even in trying to understand our sinful selves is broken--we can never see just how sinful we really are because we are sinful. Sin has broken not only minds, hearts, souls, and bodies but also our wills.
We might want to save ourselves but for what reason? In of ourselves, if we could save ourselves, we would not want to save ourselves to God but rather to our own selves. And because we are fractured by sin, we would un-save ourselves just as quickly.
But God, in everything he has and will do, he has the will to do it because he is sinless and perfect and holy.
freely and unchangeably
Hebrews 6:17 (CSB) Because God wanted to show his unchangeable purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, he guaranteed it with an oath,
For all of mankind's accomplishments, what makes us so unremarkable in this way--even if we wanted to save ourselves, we cannot. The argument for the freedom of will in mankind is invalid and lost because mankind is tinctured, fractured, broken and marred with sin. Even in trying to understand our sinful selves is broken--we can never see just how sinful we really are because we are sinful. Sin has broken not only minds, hearts, souls, and bodies but also our wills.
We might want to save ourselves but for what reason? In of ourselves, if we could save ourselves, we would not want to save ourselves to God but rather to our own selves. And because we are fractured by sin, we would un-save ourselves just as quickly.
But God, in everything he has and will do, he has the will to do it because he is sinless and perfect and holy.
whatsoever comes to pass
Romans 9:15–18 (CSB) For he tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy. For the Scripture tells Pharaoh, I raised you up for this reason so that I may display my power in you and that my name may be proclaimed in the whole earth. So then, he has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
And herein lies the rub: we are not free to do as we please. And when the Almighty God, who possesses all power and strength, does something that we don't want to do or one step further, does something that interferes with our little lives, we become upset. We become upset that we can't do as we please and we are limited by sin at all times.
God, in his compassion and mercy, willfully saved us from our sins. The book of Exodus summed up in the 9th chapter of Romans demonstrates one thing clear: God is not above building up an empire and a king and bringing it low unto death so that his people are saved to the glory of his name.
What did these particular set of people of do?
yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin nor hath fellowship with any therein nor is violence offered to the will of the creature
James 1:13 (CSB) No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God,” since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone.
1 John 1:5 (CSB) This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him.
Only the sin to crucify the Son of Man.
God, in his perfection and holiness and might, did what he wanted to do and did so without sinning, helping sin, or disrupting our own wills.
Even when we lose a love one, you might be tempted to feel that God has done you wrong. But he has not because he is the source of all good. Our own sin and the sins of others is what took the life of your loved one. We were never met to die--when mankind was created, we were made in the image of God and we were to enjoy his presence forever and never to die.
We were never met to die. God knows that. That is why he sent his Son to live and to die in our place for our sin so that we can enjoy him forever. For:
Psalm 16:11 (CSB) You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures.
nor yet is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away
Acts 4:27–28 (CSB) “For, in fact, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, to do whatever your hand and your will had predestined to take place.
John 19:11 (CSB) “You would have no authority over me at all,” Jesus answered him, “if it hadn’t been given you from above. This is why the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”
And whatever freedoms and rights we possessed as humans were never violated.
Romans 1:21–25 (CSB) For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles. Therefore God delivered them over in the desires of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen.
God does not violate our sinful selfs nor our sinful wills that longs to suppress the truth that is a God. He simply gives some over to what exactly what we want.
That is what he did with Pharaoh. That is what he did with Esau. That is what he did with Judas Iscariot. That is what he does for every child of destruction.
but rather established; in which appears his wisdom in disposing all things
Numbers 23:19 (CSB) God is not a man, that he might lie, or a son of man, that he might change his mind. Does he speak and not act, or promise and not fulfill?
With no violation of mankind's will, he sets the foundations and boundaries and the motion of all things by his most wisdom, intelligence and knowledge.
And if you think He is not considerate of the most mundane details of your life, consider:
Acts 17:24-28 (CSB) The God who made the world and everything in it — he is Lord of heaven and earth — does not live in shrines made by hands. Neither is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives everyone life and breath and all things. From one man he has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live. He did this so that they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’
The year and place of where you were born? That lease or mortgage you signed? That is not only the provision of God but the decree of God. Why? So that we seek him, might reach out and find him because the earth is filled with his glory.
It is in him that we live, move and have our being.
and power and faithfulness in accomplishing his decree.
Ephesians 1:3–6 (CSB) Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
We have spoken about the power and ability of God in his decree. We have spoken about the will of God in his decree. But what about his faithfulness?
2 Corinthians 1:20 (CSB) For every one of God’s promises is “Yes” in him. Therefore, through him we also say “Amen” to the glory of God.
God does not reveal all of what he will do to us. That is the right of the Creator over his creation. But if God has told us, his creation, that he will do something, then because of who he is, it is as good as done.
God cannot lie. He lacks the ability to lie because he is the source of all truth.
And it started when we broke our promise to God that we would obey him so we could enjoy him forever.
Genesis 3:15 (CSB) I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
God's response was not death or un-create and start over. But rather a promise that he alone will make all things right.
And the Bible through the Old Testament was a unveiling of this great good promise that he will redeem what we broke.
And the fulfillment of that promise was Jesus Christ our Lord.
Consider that God is the only being ever in existence that will state what he intends to do and has the power, ability, will, and faithfulness to see it to completion.
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
Paul's use of the past tense, "glorified", was not a grammatical mistake. Because Christ has died, we ere saved unto him. Our salvation happened on Golgotha over 2,000 years ago.
Let us muse upon the fact that Jesus was conducted without the gates of the city. It was the common place of death. That little rising ground, which perhaps was called Golgotha, the place of a skull, from its somewhat resembling the crown of a man's skull, was the common place of execution. It was one of Death's castles; here he stored his gloomiest trophies; he was the grim lord of that stronghold. Our great hero, the destroyer of Death, bearded the lion in his den, slew the monster in his own castle, and dragged the dragon captive from his own den. Methinks Death thought it a splendid triumph when he saw the Master impaled and bleeding in the dominions of destruction; little did he know that the grave was to be rifled, and himself destroyed, by that crucified Son of man.
Charles Spurgeon. The Procession of Sorrow. Sermon 497. March 1, 1863.
My beloved, we were saved on Good Friday.
Therefore, we will be glorified because of all that Christ has done.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 3.2 The Decretive Will of God
The Text
Romans 3:25–26 (CSB) God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
The Chapter
Although God knows whatsoever may or can come to pass, upon all supposed conditions, yet had he not decreed anything, because he foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions.
The Confession
Although God knows whatsoever may or can come to pass, upon all supposed conditions
Acts 15:15–18 (CSB) And the words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written: After these things I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. I will rebuild its ruins and set it up again, so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord— even all the Gentiles who are called by my name— declares the Lord who makes these things known from long ago.
God knows the end from the beginning because the Lord is in the end, the present as well as the beginning:
Ezekiel 48:35 (CSB) The perimeter of the city will be six miles, and the name of the city from that day on will be The LORD Is There.”
And:
Hebrews 1:1–2 (CSB) Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him.
Consider this.
One of the Doctrines of Grace that is perhaps the most controversial and yet the least understood is the Doctrine of Limited Atonement. Limited in this use is to describe not the limitation of the God's atoning work for his people but the perfection, defining, and complete atone work for his people.
If Christ died on the cross for our sins prior to the fall of mankind, then one could state that Christ's death on the cross was to make salvation possible for mankind. Proponents of this view will simply state that since Christ has made it possible, all the person has to do is believe and trust him within their own ability and will and power.
But we know that mankind's ability is lacking; our will marred and our power weak because of sin. And to choose God is a good and righteous choice. But since "There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one." (Romans 3:10–12 (CSB)), we cannot choose God.
Ephesians 2:1 says, "We are dead in our trespasses." Dead men do not make choices because they are dead.
This is true for us and true for the Old Testament saints who were in the grave when Christ died. Did Christ make it possible for the dead saints of old to believe and trust in him?
Romans 3:25–26 (CSB) God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
What looks like God passing over former sins was in fact God giving over his only begotten Son to live and die for his people.
yet had he not decreed anything, because he foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions.
Romans 9:11–18 (CSB) For though her sons had not been born yet or done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to election might stand—not from works but from the one who calls—she was told, The older will serve the younger. As it is written: I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau. What should we say then? Is there injustice with God? Absolutely not! For he tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy. For the Scripture tells Pharaoh, I raised you up for this reason so that I may display my power in you and that my name may be proclaimed in the whole earth. So then, he has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
Before you could have sinned and before you could have done any good work, God had determine that he would save you through his Son by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 5:12 (CSB) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned.
All of our works, good or not, were infected by sin. They were not good because we had no good in us.
To put it another way: if God had not elected us and had not predestined us then we would have not been saved. No one would have chosen Christ because no one does good--no not even one.
Since our salvation was decreed by God before the foundations of the world, then it came to past because he decreed it so and not because the conditions were just right or our wicked, stone cold hearts were just soft enough or we were brought to the end of our rope. God does all that of that because he decreed it to be so. But he saves us because he decreed it to be so.
Praise be to his glorious name!
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 3.3 The Predestination & Foreordination of God
The Text
1 Timothy 1:17 (CSB) Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
The Chapter
By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated, or foreordained to eternal life through Jesus Christ, to the praise of his glorious grace; others being left to act in their sin to their just condemnation, to the praise of his glorious justice.
The Confession
By the decree of God
1 Timothy 5:21 (CSB) I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism.
So it was in this decree--by his holiness, his most wisdom, his power, his ability, his will, and his faithfulness that some are declared to be his people and some beings are turned over to their sin and wickedness.
for the manifestation of his glory
Matthew 25:34 (CSB) Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Just as God has a prepared a place for his people:
Hebrews 11:16 (CSB) But they now desire a better place — a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
So too has he prepared a place for demons and the wicked:
Matthew 25:41 (CSB) “Then he will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels!
some men and angels are predestinated, or foreordained to eternal life through Jesus Christ, to the praise of his glorious grace
Ephesians 1:5-6 (CSB) He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
We were saved for one thing: to the praise of the God's glorious grace upon grace that he gives us all we need and want through his Son, Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 2:4-10 (CSB) For if God didn’t spare the angels who sinned but cast them into hell and delivered them in chains of utter darkness to be kept for judgment; and if he didn’t spare the ancient world, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others, when he brought the flood on the world of the ungodly; and if he reduced the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes and condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is coming to the ungodly; and if he rescued righteous Lot, distressed by the depraved behavior of the immoral (for as that righteous man lived among them day by day, his righteous soul was tormented by the lawless deeds he saw and heard) — then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, especially those who follow the polluting desires of the flesh and despise authority.
But the judgment and the punishment and the everlasting wrath of the Son upon the wicked and the cursed and the damn is still to the praise of the glorious grace of God.
Sin is what broke God's good creation. And in the end, it will be eradicated with extreme prejudice, for:
Revelation 21:4 (CSB) He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.
This was accomplished by Christ because he was hung upon that tree, who bleed and died for me:
Colossians 2:15 (CSB) He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.
others being left to act in their sin to their just condemnation, to the praise of his glorious justice
Romans 9:22-23 (CSB) And what if God, wanting to display his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience objects of wrath prepared for destruction? And what if he did this to make known the riches of his glory on objects of mercy that he prepared beforehand for glory—
Jude 4 (CSB) For some people, who were designated for this judgment long ago, have come in by stealth; they are ungodly, turning the grace of our God into sensuality and denying Jesus Christ, our only Master and Lord.
The will of God is a powerful thing. We are made in the image of God and we have a will that is made in the image of God. Because of sin, our wills want nothing to do with God--only if God can give us what our wicked hearts desire.
There are two ways in this existence: continue to follow your heart unto death and wrath by the Lord Jesus Christ or God will have to give you his own heart so that you will come into life, joy, and pleasures evermore by our only, only Lord Jesus Christ.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 3.4 The Certainty of God
The Text
Luke 12:7 (CSB) Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
The Chapter
These angels and men thus predestinated and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed, and their number so certain and definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished.
The Confession
These angels and men thus predestinated and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed
2 Timothy 2:19 (CSB) Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, bearing this inscription: The Lord knows those who are his, and let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness.
We know that salvation is of the Lord. That means every facet of salvation--from election to calling to atonement to justification to adoption to sanctification to glorification is on the Lord alone.
and their number so certain and definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished
John 13:18 (CSB) “I’m not speaking about all of you; I know those I have chosen. But the Scripture must be fulfilled: The one who eats my bread has raised his heel against me.
The Jehovah's Witness, a sect out and apart from the Christian orthodox faith, was founded and established by the notion that we, as mankind, should know this set number and work towards being apart of that set number. The Jehovah's Witnesses has that number and within their religion, they know the right things to do to be within that set number. But there are no guarantees that you will be saved.
And in a way, they are correct but not in the way you think. Jehovah's Witnesses know the right thing to do and will strive with all of their might to do the right thing. But the right thing does not guarantee their salvation.
But we know that salvation is of God because of his Son, we know that we have full assurance that we are saved. We know this because has nothing to do with our will, our sincerity, our baptisms, our filling of the Holy Spirit, our gifts or our perfect attendance but rather on the God who alone saves.
John 1:12–13 (CSB) But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
You might be curious, "Well, what is that number?" If God told you that set number, would that increase or decrease your anxiety? Would that increase or decrease your love for God. Truth be know: only God knows that set number. But thank God we are not mere numbers to him--we are his beloved children whom he adores and cares for all of our days.
Now, because we are finite beings with tiny perspectives, it would seem that God is increasing those numbers:
Acts 2:46-47 (CSB) Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
But that is just it, we are not like God in that we know the end from the beginning. We can't see it. But we do see the work of the Holy Spirit after he has wielded his incredible, almighty power:
John 3:8 (CSB) The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 3.5 The Election of God
The Text
Isaiah 42:6–9 (CSB) “I am the LORD. I have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will hold you by your hand. I will watch over you, and I will appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations, in order to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon, and those sitting in darkness from the prison house. I am the LORD. That is my name, and I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. The past events have indeed happened. Now I declare new events; I announce them to you before they occur.”
The Chapter
Those of mankind that are predestinated to life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to his eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of his will, hath chosen in Christ unto everlasting glory, out of his mere free grace and love, without any other thing in the creature as a condition or cause moving him thereunto.
The Confession
Those of mankind that are predestinated to life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid
Ephesians 1:3–12 (CSB) Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding. He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him. In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory.
Before time and space began, before he created the heavens and the earth, before Genesis 1:1, God had already set his affections and love and mercies upon his precious people.
Psalms 90:1-2 (CSB) Lord, you have been our refuge in every generation. Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, you are God.
I have heard so many weird explanations from well-intended Christians try to do their best to explain away words like predestination and foreknew when it comes to God. We don’t have a frame for knowing before existing. We don’t have a mindset of loving before we were alive. But for the God was is from everlasting to everlasting, this is who he is and nothing more nor less.
There is one thought called Molinism that attempts to bridge the omniscience and omnipotence of God and the supposed free will of Mankind. Molinism explains it this way: “God sees throughout all of time and in every timeline and see where individuals would choose Him and makes that timeline happen.” But there is a couple problems with that:
First, the Bible states that we were dead in our trespasses (Ephesians 2:1). So how does a dead person able to choose God unless there is something outside of that dead person to give them life? Have you ever met a dead person who brought himself back to life? Christ did so by the Holy Spirit. How can any one else do more than that? And in this, Romans 5:8 is such a comfort:
Romans 5:6-8 (CSB) For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
The Bible rightly states that we were helpless and ungodly. But God proved his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Think about this: when did the crucifixion of Christ occurred? A little over two thousand years ago. When did you start sinning against God? Before or after that? Christ never looked down the corridors of time and saw that we were choosing God but rather, he looked down the corridors of time, saw that were running hard into sin and death. Titus 3 says it best:
Titus 3:3 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.
Christ saw all of that and with great joy descended into death upon the cross so that we would live!
Titus 3:4-7 (CSB) But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
Second, the Scriptures never says “foresaw” as in “God looked into time and foresaw those who would choose him.” No, God foreknew his people.
Don’t overthink it. God loved his people before time began.
God is eternal like that.
and the secret counsel and good pleasure of his will
2 Timothy 1:9 (CSB) He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
In every instance that we could possibly fathom when it comes to God saving us, it is not because of what we have done but what God has done. Nothing we have done. Not softening our hearts. Not praying the right prayer. Not having a broken heart. Not having the right parents. Going to the right church. Not being born in a certain country. None of that. God loved you from before time began. And why? For his own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
If you asked God why did you love me before time began, he told you. For his own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
We could romanticize it and try to make a feel good movie about it. But what about God has said. Is that answer good enough for you, Christian? I hope so. I hope it is balm to your wounds. I hope repairs in your broken heart. I hope that knowing God can't stop loving you due to something you did or did not do is because he never started loving you due to something you did or did not do. He loves you because he loves you.
hath chosen in Christ unto everlasting glory
1 Thessalonians 5:9 (CSB) For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
We could sit and argue about single and double predestination all the live long day. But predestination is not of us. That is the secret good and wise counsel and glory of God.
Do you know what we know? That he has not appointed us to wrath. All that wrath for all of our sins--past, present, and future--was poured out on Christ.
1 Peter 2:24 (CSB) He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
1 John 4:10 (ESV) In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Justice has been served. Death has been defeated. Sin has been paid for. And God has chosen us in Christ to be his forever.
out of his mere free grace and love
Romans 9:10-16 (ESV) And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.
without any other thing in the creature as a condition or cause moving him thereunto.
John 1:12-13 (ESV) But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
If none of us our good, no not even one, and yet, we love God, how is that possible? Because God loved us first. He is good and the only source of good, love, mercy and compassionate. He pours out lavishly and excessively and abundantly and perfectly on us.
Moreso, we cannot put God into our debt. Let me explain.
There is was a teaching that roared about when I was a kid and it infected many of my brothers and sisters in Christ. It was the false teaching that if you do good things, and do them right, then God will bless you. If you do them wrong, then God will curse you.
No one is denying there is blessing in the obeying God and curse when we sin against God. But this level of thinking was trying to "discern" the will of God and do exactly what he says. Or take the holy law of God and twist it to what it doesn't mean. "If I save myself and keep my virginity, then God will bless me with a godly spouse and we will live happily ever happy."
They do the work but the spouse turns out to be wicked and worthless. Addicted to porn, infidelity, anger, abuse, and eventually, divorce. They look around and know it was not suppose to be this way. But here is the folly that follows: "I did everything right."
But don't you know that God causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matthew 5:45) Do you know he blesses and curses according to his most wise counsel and goodness?
Romans 9:19 (CSB) You will say to me, therefore, “Why then does he still find fault? For who resists his will? ”
But the Creator has absolute rights over the creation.
Romans 9:20-24 (CSB) On the contrary, who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? Will what is formed say to the one who formed it, “Why did you make me like this? ” Or has the potter no right over the clay, to make from the same lump one piece of pottery for honor and another for dishonor? And what if God, wanting to display his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience objects of wrath prepared for destruction? And what if he did this to make known the riches of his glory on objects of mercy that he prepared beforehand for glory--on us, the ones he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?
The Response
cause moving him thereunto.
In other words, we cannot put God into our debt. We don't do the right thing and move God to do our bidding. That is Paganism and God is above idolatries. For:
Psalms 97:9 (CSB) For you, LORD,
are the Most High over the whole earth;
you are exalted above all the gods.
We do not move God or put in our debt. God does not and will never owe anybody anything ever for ever. He is the Creator of the heavens and earth.
Romans 4:1-5 (CSB) What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about — but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness. Now to the one who works, pay is not credited as a gift, but as something owed. But to the one who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness.
Abraham placed his faith in God and it was credited to Abraham as the righteousness of Christ.
From that moment, Abraham set out to do the good works that God has prepared for him to do.
This life, this world, others, sin, Satan, demons are out to kick you upside your head and heart. And you cannot do anything except one thing:
Know that God knows all of that. He knew that you were too weak. He knows life is about that beat-down. And he knows that your faith will be tested. And you will fail. And you will sin. And you will try to depart from his grace. But my glorious God will never let you go! This guarantee is absolute because he sent his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, Son of God is God Eternal to come live and die for you so you will die and live for him with him in his maxed joy and pleasures forevermore.
Ephesians 2:1-13 (CSB) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift — not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do. So, then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh — called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,” which is done in the flesh by human hands. At that time you were without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
This is complete conjuncture because the Scriptures are not explicit and I certainly was not there. But I always thought that before anything, the Father and the Son were in perfection expressing their love for one another and then the conversation took a turn: 1
Father: I love you
Son: I love you
Father: I love you so much
Son: I love you so much
Father: I had a thought
Son: Oh yea!
Father: Do you know who I love so much?
Son: Alex? What about Kim?
Father: Yes. What about Dieter?
Son: Oh snap… and how about Dwayne
Father: and Lori
Son: and Jessica
Father: and Natsuko
Son: and what about…
Father: and what about…
Son: laughs
Father: laughs
Son: You know what I am thinking
Father: I had the same thought. with tears in his eyes But you know what is going to happen?
Son: Yea, I know. tears welling up But don’t you worry, I will go get them.
Father: This is hard and I will send you to save them all… but you are going to need all the help in the world.
Son: I wouldn’t do it with him. Spirit, you ready?
Spirit: deeply exhales Ready!
Father: I love you.
Son: I love you.
Father: I love you so much.
Son: I love you so much.
Father: Here we go!
Son: Let’s do this!
Genesis 1:1 (CSB) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Beloved, you were always loved by God and he will never stop loving you. Praise be to his glorious grace forever.
Let me acknowledge that God does not have passions. But tapping into the times when he grieved, disappointed, jealous and sad because of the sins of his people, I took some literary liberties here.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 3.6 The Free Purpose of the Will of God
The Text
Romans 5:12 (CSB) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned.
The Chapter
As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so he hath, by the eternal and most free purpose of his will, foreordained all the means thereunto; wherefore they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ, are effectually called unto faith in Christ, by his Spirit working in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified, and kept by his power through faith unto salvation; neither are any other redeemed by Christ, or effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.
The Confession
As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so he hath, by the eternal and most free purpose of his will
1 Peter 1:2 (CSB) according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
It is this point, I want to jump on a table and yell, "Have you not known!"
No! We have not known because we don't know who is elect! Who all has God chosen? We don't know. Who has God chosen thus far? Ah, it is you and me because we believe in the Holy One of God.
Spurgeon said it definitively:
If God would have painted a yellow stripe on the backs of the elect I would go around lifting shirts. But since He didn’t I must preach “whosoever will” and when “whatsoever” believes I know that he is one of the elect.
Charles Spurgeon. The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit. Volume 1. London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1855.
We don't know whom has he elected. I believe in Christ and that faith that God has given me has been counted to me as righteousness of Christ. Therefore, logic dictates that I am his elected.
What about you? Don't you believe in the One who has bled and died for you? That your most grievous, most wicked, most vile, most monstrous sins were all lavished upon the Perfect Spotless Lamb? Don't you know, the entire Roman kingdom bear witness that God's only begotten Son was slain in your place? Don't you know that Jesus Christ, the son of Mary and Joseph from Nazarene, perfectly sinless and perfectly obeyed his Father. Because he was blameless, good, and holy, by the sovereign grace of the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit, he was raised from the dead and ascended into heaven. He is seated at the right hand of the Father.
And because all of that, you have not your filthy self-righteousness but rather the righteousness of Christ alone.
Your most grievous sins? Cleansed.
Isaiah 1:18 (CSB) Come, let’s settle this,”
says the LORD.
“Though your sins are scarlet,
they will be as white as snow;
though they are crimson red,
they will be like wool.
Your most wicked sins? Covered.
Psalms 85:2 (CSB) You forgave your people’s guilt;you covered all their sin. Selah
Your most vile sins? Removed.
Psalms 103:12 (CSB) As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Your most monstrous sins? Forgiven.
Psalms 103:3 (CSB) He forgives all your iniquity;he heals all your diseases.
And because of what God has done through Jesus Christ his Son by the power of the Holy Spirit alone, you are his elect.
foreordained all the means thereunto
2 Thessalonians 2:13 (CSB) But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God has chosen you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
Acts 17:26-27 (CSB) From one man he has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live. He did this so that they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
From the preaching of the gospel to Adam and Eve, through the Law and the Prophets and through the birth of the Church through the Protestant Reformation to the churches you have attended and under the preached word of God, God has foreordained from the beginning all the means so that you would look upon his Son and be saved. Salvation is of the Lord and his sanctifying work in your life is of the Lord.
wherefore they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ
1 Thessalonians 5:9–10 (CSB) For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.
And:
Romans 5:12-16 (CSB) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned. In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to a person’s account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam’s transgression. He is a type of the Coming One.
But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by the one man’s trespass the many died, how much more have the grace of God and the gift which comes through the grace of the one man Jesus Christ overflowed to the many. And the gift is not like the one man’s sin, because from one sin came the judgment, resulting in condemnation, but from many trespasses came the gift, resulting in justification.
Because of Adam, we were all born into sin and we choose to sin. We were born to die.
But because of Christ, the Second Adam, we are now born again not to die but to live forever with him.
Adam broke creation. Christ restored creation.
Adam broke covenant. Christ fulfilled the covenant.
Adam died. Christ rose from the dead.
Adam was cursed. Christ was blessed.
Adam sinned. Christ redeems.
are effectually called unto faith in Christ
Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
So God predestines. From there, God calls. When He actually calls, He actually saves. Salvation includes and new heart that springs forth new desires for God and His Spirit dwells within us.
If God charged a prophet to a call out to the valley of dry bones and they live, how much more powerful is the calling of God on those who are far from Him.
Consider the ultimate calling of God from death unto life.
John 11:38–44 (CSB) Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. “Remove the stone,” Jesus said. Martha, the dead man’s sister, told him, “Lord, there is already a stench because he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you heard me. I know that you always hear me, but because of the crowd standing here I said this, so that they may believe you sent me.” After he said this, he shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out bound hand and foot with linen strips and with his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and let him go.”
We know Jesus has raised those who were extremely ill to the point of being thought of as death. But Jesus quickly corrects with, “She’s just asleep”. But Lazarus was someone who was dead for four days. His body was wrapped and laid in the tomb.
This is the first time we’ve seen Christ step before not just His friend’s dead body but at Death itself. Through the deepest and darkest grief and pain of losing his friend, even for a moment, Christ looked upon His Father and with tears running down his cheeks, he simply prays, “Father, I thank you that you hear me and have heard me. I knew that you always heard me but I want everybody around here to know that as well so that they believe in me.”
It is Jesus Christ—the Lord ruling over heaven, earth, and hell; the upcoming victor over Satan and his demons—faced death and with His own voice cut through Death’s power and call his friend back to life: “Lazarus, come out!”
When God calls us to himself, he saves us to himself. It is a 1:1 ratio. Romans 8:30 doesn't say, "For those whom he predestined, some were called..." No!
Let us theorized that we know the number of the elect. That number is 92,203,292,301. If 92,203,292,301 people have been predestined, then 92,203,292,301 people have been called, and then 92,203,292,301 have been justified and then 92,203,292,301 have been glorified. That means 92,203,292,301 have elected and that means 92,203,292,301 have been saved.
have been saved - I didn't make a mistake on the past tense of that statement. It is past tense because Christ died over 2,000 years ago. It's already done because of what he has done for us.
by his Spirit working in due season
John 3:5-8 (CSB) Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
It is the work of the Spirit that brings us to faith in Christ. We don't know when the Spirit starts or just how he does it. But the moment you first believe, that is evident of the work of the Spirit.
Let me take this moment to assure some of my brothers and sisters in Christ. If you ever been taught that you need to be filled with the Spirit, or you need to be baptized in the Spirit after you have been saved, then praise be to God, that has already happened when you first believed. You don't need more of God because you already have the Infinite God! That hole of eternity in your heart is already filled with the Eternal God! (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
There is no second baptism. There is no second or third or forth baptism of the Spirit. There is no higher life Christianity. There is no varsity level of Christianity. The moment you believed, the Triune God dwells in you. You already have everything you need to live a life that is pleasing to God because God has laid out those good works for you. Go and do in the name of Christ.
are justified, adopted, sanctified
Romans 8:14–17 (CSB) For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
Philippians 1:6 (CSB) I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 12:1–2 (CSB) Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
What God has started in you, God will finish in you. It is a done deal. We start things all the time and not finish them. God is not like us. What he starts, he completes it. If he started this work in you, he will bring it to completion. For:
Psalm 17:15 (CSB) But I will see your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied with your presence.
God will bring us all the way home. That is the gospel.
Our Response
kept by his power through faith unto salvation
1 Peter 1:5 (CSB) You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
Ephesians 2:8–9 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.
Pop quiz: What is God's gift to us in Ephesians 2:8-9? Is it:
A) Salvation
B) Grace
C) Faith
The answer is yes! It's D) All of the above.
Salvation is the gift of God to you. Grace is the gift of God to you.
Did that faith come from within you or is it because God gave you a new heart and his Spirit and now you believe?
Because God gives the gifts to his children to save them unto himself and it's not dependent on us at all to keep ourselves to God, we are locked in forever.
John 10:25-30 (CSB) “I did tell you and you don’t believe,” Jesus answered them. “The works that I do in my Father’s name testify about me. But you don’t believe because you are not of my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
This is the double snatch almighty grip of Almighty God the Father and the Almighty Lord Jesus Christ sealed by the Almighty Holy Spirit.
More math. How much strength is in infinite mighty times three? Answer: all of the strength.
God has three times infinite grip on you. God is the perfect Father who does not lose his kids.
neither are any other redeemed by Christ, or effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.
John 10:26 (CSB) But you don’t believe because you are not of my sheep.
John 17:9 (CSB) “I pray for them. I am not praying for the world but for those you have given me, because they are yours.
John 6:64 (CSB) But there are some among you who don’t believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning those who did not believe and the one who would betray him.)
Remember, election is not of us. It is not dependent on us. This is the secret counsel of God in his most holy and most wise.
The oft pushback I have heard of other Christians is, "Why would God violate my free will like that? That sounds like a tyrant."
God did not violate your will. You were dead in your trespasses and sins. Your will was imprisoned and wanted sin and death. Your will was in bondage to sin and death.
If God did any bit less than what he did to save you, my friend you would not be saved. It takes all of God to save all of his people.
Consider this.
Romans 8:34 (CSB) Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.
Whom is Christ intercedes for the elect and non-elect? No, he intercedes for his people alone.
Does Romans 1:16 says that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to all who believe and don't believe? No, the gospel has no power to save those who do not believe. The gospel only has power to save those believe and trust in Christ.
Does John 3:16 states that God so loved the world in this way that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes and does not believe in him should not perish but have everlasting life?
Only those who are elect are saved by God. Election is of God and we are the people of God. And the blessing of salvation belong to the people of God alone.
My question to you, the reader and to any of my neighbors who would listen: What do you want? Do you want your own way? Do you want to figure out your own life? Do you hope that there isn't a God or if he exists, then you hope he grades on a curve because you are not as bad as Adolf Hitler?
You are going to take your destiny based on your comparison to someone like Adolf Hitler? Make that make sense.
Do you want God? Do you want to believe? Do you trust and believe that God has done it all to save you from yourself and unto him?
2 Corinthians 6:2 (CSB) For he says:
At an acceptable time I listened to you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.
See, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation!
Today, you can believe, Today, you can trust in Christ. Today marks your day of salvation. I don't care what your life was like before. Believe and trust in the one who has done it all for you.
Ask God for God and you will have God. Why? Because you have God.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 3.7 The Mercies of God
The Text
John 21:17 (CSB) He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved that he asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” “Feed my sheep,” Jesus said.
The Chapter
The doctrine of the high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care, that men attending the will of God revealed in his Word, and yielding obedience thereunto, may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured of their eternal election; so shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reverence, and admiration of God, and of humility, diligence, and abundant consolation to all that sincerely obey the gospel.
The Confession
The doctrine of the high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care
1 Thessalonians 1:4-5 (CSB) For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with full assurance. You know how we lived among you for your benefit,
So, what now?
Historical, orthodox Christianity has this wonderful, blessed doctrine of assurance for the Church since the Law was penned by Moses. The hubris of the modern age has a host of Christians assume that the predestination of God does not actually mean what God said it means. We have had to soften the edges a bit because predestination does not fit within our humanistic, secular, rationalist, experiential worldview, culture and defacto mindset. Somehow, someway we have to make it more palatable to the modern mind because our minds cannot fathom a God that has the absolute freedom of choice and we do not. It is inconceivable and a bit offensive if we are honest with ourselves.
But as clear and perspicuous that the Bible's teaching on predestination is, herein the task of the preacher, teacher, minister, pastor, and saint in handling such a doctrine.
The Bible calls us to handle such teaching with special wisdom and care. For:
1 Timothy 4:16 (CSB) Pay close attention to your life and your teaching; persevere in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.
2 Timothy 2:15 (CSB) Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.
Matthew 18:6 (CSB) “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea.
And:
James 3:1 (CSB) Not many should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we will receive a stricter judgment.
It is unhelpful, unwise, and foolish to proclaim to someone that they are elect on the basis on election alone. To teach election without the facets of the gospel and atonement is foolishness. We cannot, in good conscience, proclaim someone is elect when there is no human who is privy to such information. There is one man who had such knowledge and his name is Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God, who has saved his people from their sins. Of course, Christ knew the people whom he was saving--that is why he came to live and die--to fulfill the law for us.
"Frozen Chosen" is not a thing. Nothing to celebrate. If you ever been told that you are elect on the basis outside the gospel of Christ, then just ignore. You, however, believe and trust in Christ. Call upon his name and you shall be saved. Because you had the wherewithal and the gumption and the will to ask for God, you have God. You couldn't call upon his name without having a new heart with new desires.
that men attending the will of God revealed in his Word
Psalm 19:7–10 (CSB)
7 The instruction of the LORD is perfect, renewing one’s life; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise.8 The precepts of the LORD are right, making the heart glad; the command of the LORD is radiant, making the eyes light up.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the LORD are reliable and altogether righteous.
10 They are more desirable than gold— than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey dripping from a honeycomb.
And:
2 Timothy 3:16–17 (CSB) All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Let Christ simplify this all the way:
Matthew 4:4 (CSB) He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
Christ has said: "The Scriptures are the mouth of God."
Want to know the will of God for your life? Picks up the Bible There you go. You have the mouth of God speaking to you through his pages. Praise be to God that he would speak to us.
In one particular Bible Study years ago, one elder who was leading the study confessed, "I don't have a inner monologue. Some people say they hear from God but I don't hear anything."
Then a few discussions later, seemingly unrelated to hearing God, he responds to a question with, "The Bible says..." I told him, "Stop right there, Pastor. You do hear the voice of God. You have it right there in the palm of your hand."
I know a lot of Christians, especially who grew up Charismatic, will come under great despair because they feel like they don't hear from God or they have to pretend that they hear from him.
My child, listen to me. You do hear from God. It is contained in his precious Scriptures. If you read or hear his word, you have heard from God.
Charismatic brother and sisters, what I am proposing may not seem supernatural enough for you. But this book, compromising of books, collected from over eons between the Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, penned by over 40 authors of God, inspired by the Spirit of God, which not only does not contradict itself but rather collectively and perfectly bears witness about the one, Jesus Christ. Give me something more supernatural than that. You cannot.
and yielding obedience thereunto, may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured of their eternal election
2 Peter 1:10 (CSB) Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble.
1 John 5:13 (CSB) I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
Now that God has saved us, we get to do good works. We get to please God because we are in the Son, with whom the Father is well-pleased.
We cannot obey enough. We keep failing to do the good thigns that we should have done. We keep doing the bad things that we should not have done. We keep falling short of the glory of God. We are not sincere enough in our repentance. We keep falling into sin even through we have been cleansed. We struggle. We are weak. We are frail. We are sinful. We are dust. We are nothing. We are worms.
But God knows. God already knew that about you. God already knew that about me. He knew we couldn't do it. We would have failed and be apart from him forever.
He knew that. He knew that already. That's why he sent his Son, who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)
Now, as his child, go and sin no more. You are in Christ. Go and rest in Christ.
so shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reverence, and admiration of God
Ephesians 1:6 (CSB) to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
Romans 11:33–36 (CSB) Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and untraceable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? And who has ever given to God, that he should be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.
Some with certain personalities and dispositions and proclivities will be more prone to try hard. God knows that. Still, praise his name for what all he has done.
Some, because of the brokenness of the cosmos will fall into addiction. Certain sins will come to haunt you for what will seem like the rest of your life. God knows that and he has you. Still, praise his name for what all he has done.
Some will base the realness of God on their experience and feelings at the moment. But when they are in the valley of the shadow of death, they will question God's existence. God knows that and it is in those valleys where God will sit and dwell with you.
Some, still, will believe and doubt at the same time. They are the little boys's father who cries out, "I do believe; help me with my unbelief." Did you know, my child, that God is real and good and holy and loving and kind whether you doubt it or not. He is still for you. Still, praise his name for what all he has done.
And my beloved, if you have never sat in a church where the gospel was preached faithfully, where you were exhorted to rest in Christ because he has done it all and you have been taught and live as though sanctification is on you somehow. That is okay. God knows. And you are still his child. And you still get to rest in his Son. Praise his wonderful name.
and of humility, diligence, and abundant consolation
Romans 11:2-5 (CSB) God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Or don’t you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah — how he pleads with God against Israel? Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and they are trying to take my life! But what was God’s answer to him? I have left seven thousand for myself who have not bowed down to Baal. In the same way, then, there is also at the present time a remnant chosen by grace.
1 Chronicles 29:14-15 (CSB) But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your own hand. For we are aliens and temporary residents in your presence as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.
Psalms 22:6 (CSB) But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by people.
Or in the words of the Apostle Paul be our ever declaration:
1 Timothy 1:12-17 (CSB) I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry — even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” — and I am the worst of them. But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
to all that sincerely obey the gospel
Luke 10:20 (CSB) However, don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
This is why we will praise his name forever. Amen.
Chapter 4 Of Creation
4.1 The Manifestation of the Glory of God
In the beginning it pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for the manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness, to create or make the world, and all things therein, whether visible or invisible, in the space of six days, and all very good.
4.2 The Imagebearers of God
After God had made all other creatures, he created man, male and female, with reasonable and immortal souls, rendering them fit unto that life to God for which they were created; being made after the image of God, in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness; having the law of God written in their hearts, and power to fulfil it, and yet under a possibility of transgressing, being left to the liberty of their own will, which was subject to change.
4.3 The Law of God
Besides the law written in their hearts, they received a command not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which whilst they kept, they were happy in their communion with God, and had dominion over the creatures.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 4.1 Creation--The Manifestation of the Glory of God
The Text
Genesis 1:1-2 (CSB) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.
The Chapter
In the beginning it pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for the manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness, to create or make the world, and all things therein, whether visible or invisible, in the space of six days, and all very good.
The Confession
In the beginning it pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
John 1:2–3 (CSB) He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.
When we arrive to the creation of the Bible, we have to had done the work on the attributes of the Creator before we can understand his creation--to lest we attribute something on the why God created the world that is not in his word.
Let us remind ourselves on the two particular attributes: his impassibility and immutability.
- impassibility - God is not changed by anything that can happen to him
- immutability - God is not changed from the inside out
Now why is that so important. It is often said that God created the world out of the overflow of his love. There is an "yes and" moment there. God is simply love, and holiness, goodness, righteousness, and omniscient and almighty. Love is just a part of him but he is wholly and simply all of his attributes.
To say God created the world or us out of the overflow of his love is selling God short. It is here that the 1689 rightfully says that it pleased the Triune God to speak the creation into existence. Why did the Father, Son, and Spirit created the heavens and earth? Because it pleased him. It was his will. It was his desire. It was his pleasure.
Why for?
for the manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness
Hebrews 1:2 (CSB) In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him.
Much ink has been spilled trying to help wrap our minds around the glory of God. We could say that the glory of God is the sum of all his attributes. But keeping in mind that God is simply all of his attributes perfectly and the glory is the sum of his attributes perfectly maxed.
It is it any wonder why God is jealous for his people?
Isaiah 42:8–9 (CSB) I am the LORD. That is my name, and I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. The past events have indeed happened. Now I declare new events; I announce them to you before they occur.”
Is it any wonder why God wouldn't let Moses see the full splendor of his glory?
Exodus 33:18–23 (CSB) Then Moses said, “Please, let me see your glory.” He said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim the name ‘the LORD’ before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” But he added, “You cannot see my face, for humans cannot see me and live.” The LORD said, “Here is a place near me. You are to stand on the rock, and when my glory passes by, I will put you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will take my hand away, and you will see my back, but my face will not be seen.”
Yet, is it any wonder when God became His very good creation--that is when Jesus took on flesh--that we all now see his glory?
John 1:14 (CSB) The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Prior to the incarnation, we could only see ths semblances of his glory and sometimes in creation. But because of Christ, we see the fullness of his glory.
And you might say, "But we are not in heaven with him? How can we see him now?" But remember you were once blind but because of Christ, he has opened your eyes to see his beauty, majesty, and his great glory. When you were dead, there is no way you can see him. Now that you can see, you do see his glory.
to create or make the world
Job 26:13 (CSB) By his breath the heavens gained their beauty; his hand pierced the fleeing serpent.
In the manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness, God could easily elected to do infinite other things besides create the heavens and the earth. What those things are? I lack the creativity and the intellect to even begin. God could have done anything he wanted to do but he chose to create the world.
and all things therein
Romans 1:20 (CSB) For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse.
God did not just make the spiritual realm as a big vast empty dwelling place. God did not just make a big world as a finite empty dwelling place. God made the heavens and the earth and all the things within.
He made the sun, moon, stars, the day sky and the night sky. He made the land masses and the waters. And he populated the earth from the humpback whales to the tardigrades and smaller. All the atoms. All the existence. All the dwelling places. All the things. God made it all.
whether visible or invisible
Colossians 1:16 (CSB) For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him.
What we can see is the material plane: the visible creation including the depths of the ocean we have yet to the explore and the vastness of the cosmos that we have yet to reach. But there is also the invisible creation: the spiritual realm that we cannot see with our eyes--namely, the angels and the heavens, the demons and the hells and all points in between.
in the space of six days, and all very good
Genesis 1:31 (CSB) God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed. Evening came and then morning: the sixth day.
In this point, I am not hear to debate the finer points of creation. Does six days means six days? Is our world older or younger? That is another debate for another day. In whatever your stance might be, it is the Lord's command that we rest on the seventh day because God rested on the seventh day after creating the heavens and the earth for the first six days. The six days of work? Not set apart. The seventh day? Set apart and called holy.
Our Sabbath observance bears witness to the world that our God did create the heavens and the earth in six days and all very good.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 4.2 The Imagebearers of God
The Text
Romans 1:20 (CSB) For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse.
The Chapter
After God had made all other creatures, he created man, male and female, with reasonable and immortal souls, rendering them fit unto that life to God for which they were created; being made after the image of God, in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness; having the law of God written in their hearts, and power to fulfil it, and yet under a possibility of transgressing, being left to the liberty of their own will, which was subject to change.
The Confession
After God had made all other creatures, he created man, male and female
Genesis 1:27 (CSB) So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.
Mankind. Human. These are the only creation of God that carries the title, "imagebearers of God". In other words, we are made to look like him.
And it pleased the Father, Son, and Spirit for the manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness to create mankind in his image and from the start, created us two genders, male and female.
In the year of this writing, 2023, the term gender has been a bit of a controversial topic in the Western world. In our sinful brokenness, we have been so desperate in our strive for autonomy, we have taken upon ourselves to choose what are gender should be. Let me not mince words: to choose your own gender is sin against God. For:
Psalms 139:13-14 (CSB)
For it was you who created my inward parts;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I will praise you
because I have been remarkably and wondrously made.
Your works are wondrous,
and I know this very well.
It was God that formed you in your mother's womb. He stitched you and fashioned you together. He is the one who granted you your intelligence, your soul, you body, your mind and your gender.
Your life was a blessing from God on this earth to us. Every part of you. The brokenness does not lie in your body parts but rather, what is going on in your soul and the empty, infinite void in your heart.
Transgenders seek a world where they are not discriminated against, never hated, and accepted as they are. So this also the world I want as well--not just for me but for transgender people as well. Yet, let us use our imagination: imagine a world where we had the technology to change who you are on the outside. But what about on the inside? What in your heart? Would you be happy? Are you happy and satisified?
Matthew 23:27-28 (CSB) “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of the bones of the dead and every kind of impurity. In the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
We are always so quick to read this passage and thinks that this does not apply to any about other than legalistic ministers. But that just it: a careful examination of word and letting his law cross-examine our hearts will reveal that each of these Christ declarations in Matthew 23 are about us. We want to appear a certain way on the outside: our mask, our proxy, our own normative based on the gender we have chosen. But inside, we are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
If you are reading this and think this is a bit personal, because it is. I have more than a few loved ones who have declared themselves transgendered. But my friends, this is not the identity you are seeking because it only changes you on the outside. It still doesn't satisfy your heart. It still doesn't fill the void in your soul. It still doesn't give you the peace that you are seeking.
The identity, the fulfillment, and the rest you are seeking is Christ alone.
Apart from Christ, our identity is so wrapped up in what we think we are or what we do. But in Christ, then our identity because about who he is and what he has done for us.
Apart from Christ, we seek fulfillment in pleasure, safety, comfort, or provision. Yet, God is the provider of all those things. You are not in control. We are not sovereign. God is absolutely sovereign.
Apart from Christ, we strive and work hard for something that will give us nothing in return. Not in our idols, not in our self-identity nothing. You might call yourself _______ Christian but you have just double the work and the labor to make yourself look a certain way on the outside.
Matthew 11:28–30 (CSB) “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Christ holds the offer freely to you. Give him your self-identity and he will give you rest for your weary souls. Give him your despair and he will give you hope. Give him your sin and he will give you his righteousness. Take your pains and put them on him. Let the Almighty God carry your burdens. He is the only one who can.
with reasonable and immortal souls
Genesis 2:7 (CSB) Then the LORD God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.
In our reasonableness, he did not make us chaotic beings with no sense and no purpose. We are reasonable creatures with sense as the conscience written on our hearts and the purpose to glorify God and enjoy him forever. Even in our sin and fallen short of the glory of God, we are not so utter depraved where there is absolutely no hope for our souls. For:
Isaiah 50:2a (CSB) Why was no one there when I came? Why was there no one to answer when I called? Is my arm too weak to redeem?
No, our God alone is mighty to save.
In the immortality of our souls, that comes from the fact we bear the image of God. Other creatures, do not bear the image of God and therefore do not have immortal souls like we do.
When God created Adam and Eve, he created mankind to live forever and ever and not die. But the wages of sin is death. When sin was committed, that was not a simple mistake but a trespass that had catastrophic consequences. You might say, "Why would God bring down such harsh judgement over one disobedience? That does not seem merciful."
When God gave mankind the one commandment, "do not disobey or you will die", that was a commandment that bore truthful consequences.
Adam and Eve did sin. But noticed that they didn't drop dead to the ground. But what did die? Their spirit. The spirit that was of God departed because God does not dwell in sin. Sin has no place with the Holy One.
With that, without the mercies of God, our immortal soul be under the wrath of Christ when our physical bodies expire.
But as soon as sin entered into his creation, the mercies of God were given to us in the his first gospel sermon:
Genesis 3:15 (CSB) I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
That mercy is in Christ alone. Our souls were made to always live forever, never to be undone or uncreated or destroy. That forever must live somewhere: either in hell under wrath or with God with pleasures evermore.
rendering them fit unto that life to God for which they were created
Ecclesiastes 7:29 (CSB) Only see this: I have discovered that God made people upright, but they pursued many schemes.”
We often say that we are created by God to worship God. What boggles my mind is that God created us to worship him but gave us bodies, minds, wills, and hearts that can worship him.
being made after the image of God, in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness
And because Adam and Eve were created in the image of God, they were born righteous unto God. They were created holy because he is holy. They had the fullness of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control because they had the Spirit of God dwelling in them.
They could worship God and they did worship God perfectly because they were perfect in God from the start.
Genesis 1:26 (CSB) Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”
having the law of God written in their hearts, and power to fulfil it
Romans 2:14–15 (CSB) So, when Gentiles, who do not by nature have the law, do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts. Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts either accuse or even excuse them
The commandment of God to Adam:
Genesis 2:16-17 (CSB) And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”
Was a law of God. But the law of God that we know today that could be summarized in the Greatest Commandments, love the Lord your God and love your neighbor as yourself, were written upon the hearts of Adam and Eve. Mankind in Genesis 1 and 2 had no need for the Ten Commandments because God etched it into their consciences. They were born already righteous unto God and were born perfectly obeying him.
and yet under a possibility of transgressing, being left to the liberty of their own will, which was subject to change
Genesis 3:6 (CSB) The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
We speak of the devastating consequences of sin. One of the most damage outcomes of sin that some Christians tend to forget or ignore is that because of sin, we do not worship God. We were not born to worship God from the womb--no matter what family we were born into. We were created to worship but because of sin, we tend to worship other things including ourselves.
Romans 1:25 (CSB) They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen.
With sin fracturing everything from the cosmos down to our hearts, it would be naive of us to think that somehow our free wills were impervious to the effects of sin. Our free will is as free as a prisoner in a prison cell. What ever a prisoner does in the midst of their cell is the limits of the freedom they have.
Acts 16:25-28 (CSB) About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains came loose. When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison standing open, he drew his sword and was going to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Don’t harm yourself, because we’re all here!”
For our imprisoned wills to choose God, believe God, trust God, and worship God, our wills must be set free by God.
Romans 8:20-21 (CSB) For the creation was subjected to futility — not willingly, but because of him who subjected it — in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children.
Unless your have been set free by God, you are not a child of God and have not been set from the bondage of sin and death. You cannot enjoy the glorious freedom of God because you are not his child.
John 1:12-13 (CSB) But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 4.3 The Law of God
The Text
Romans 2:14-16 (CSB) So, when Gentiles, who do not by nature have the law, do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts. Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts either accuse or even excuse them on the day when God judges what people have kept secret, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus.
The Chapter
Besides the law written in their hearts, they received a command not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which whilst they kept, they were happy in their communion with God, and had dominion over the creatures.
The Confession
Besides the law written in their hearts, they received a command not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil
Genesis 2:17 (CSB) but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”
I know sometimes when we think of sin entering into the world, we can laugh and think, "Adam had one job! Why did he eat the fruit?" Truth be told, Adam and Eve's existence was to worship God and enjoy him. The one commandment was not the totality of the law of God for he had written all of the law on their hearts so that they would not sin against him.
which whilst they kept, they were happy in their communion with God, and had dominion over the creatures
Genesis 1:26–28 (CSB) Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.” So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female. God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.”
This is what we call the Covenant of Works. The covenant of God to Adam, "do this and you shall live" was in perpetuity. So long as both God and Adam held up the covenant, we would enjoy the benefits of the covenant forever: live in perfection, righteousness, holiness, love, worship--in perfect community--unto God forever. And in addition, we would hold complete dominion over all the creatures of the earth.
Romans 5:12-13 (CSB) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned. In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to a person’s account when there is no law.
Adam did not succeed. He failed in upholding his end of the covenant. And thus, he died. And all of his descendants, including you and me, will die.
Where is our hope? Only found in the one we call the Second Adam, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
Romans 5:14 (CSB) Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam’s transgression. He is a type of the Coming One.
Chapter 5 Of Divine Providence
5.1 The Governance of All Things
God the good Creator of all things, in His infinite power and wisdom does uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures and things, from the greatest even to the least, by His most wise and holy providence, to the end for the which they were created, according unto His infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of His own will; to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, infinite goodness, and mercy.
5.2 The Causes of All Things
Although in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first cause, all things come to pass immutably and infallibly; so that there is not anything befalls any by chance, or without his providence; yet by the same providence he ordereth them to fall out according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently.
5.3 The Freedom of God
God, in his ordinary providence maketh use of means, yet is free to work without, above, and against them at his pleasure.
5.4 The Goodness of God
The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God, so far manifest themselves in his providence, that his determinate counsel extendeth itself even to the first fall, and all other sinful actions both of angels and men; and that not by a bare permission, which also he most wisely and powerfully boundeth, and otherwise ordereth and governeth, in a manifold dispensation to his most holy ends; yet so, as the sinfulness of their acts proceedeth only from the creatures, and not from God, who, being most holy and righteous, neither is nor can be the author or approver of sin.
5.5 The Discipline of God
The most wise, righteous, and gracious God doth oftentimes leave for a season his own children to manifold temptations and the corruptions of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled; and to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support upon himself; and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for other just and holy ends. So that whatsoever befalls any of his elect is by his appointment, for his glory, and their good.
5.6 The Rendering of God
As for those wicked and ungodly men whom God, as the righteous judge, for former sin doth blind and harden; from them he not only withholdeth his grace, whereby they might have been enlightened in their understanding, and wrought upon their hearts; but sometimes also withdraweth the gifts which they had, and exposeth them to such objects as their corruption makes occasion of sin; and withal, gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the power of Satan, whereby it comes to pass that they harden themselves, under those means which God useth for the softening of others.
5.7 The Latitude of God
As the providence of God doth in general reach to all creatures, so after a more special manner it taketh care of his church, and disposeth of all things to the good thereof.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 5.1 The Governance of All Things
The Text
Revelation 1:8 (CSB) “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the one who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
The Chapter
God the good Creator of all things, in His infinite power and wisdom does uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures and things, from the greatest even to the least, by His most wise and holy providence, to the end for the which they were created, according unto His infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of His own will; to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, infinite goodness, and mercy.
The Confession
God the good Creator of all things, in His infinite power and wisdom does uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures and things
Hebrews 1:3 (CSB) The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
Job 38:11 (CSB) when I declared, “You may come this far, but no farther; your proud waves stop here”?
Isaiah 46:10–11 (CSB) I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will. I call a bird of prey from the east, a man for my purpose from a far country. Yes, I have spoken; so I will also bring it about. I have planned it; I will also do it.
Psalm 135:6 (CSB) The LORD does whatever he pleases in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all the depths.
God created the heavens and the earth. There is no contesting this among Christians.
But what is might be contested is the idea that God is actively involved in the day to day affairs of the world. It is the oft debate of the neo-atheists that, if God exists, then surely he just created the world and let it go on its own as thought God is some sort of divine watchmaker who wound up the world like a clock.
But the Bible is clear about God and his relationship to his creation. Aside from creating the material plane, God is actively and intrinsically involved in every minute detail and all the events of the world in a grand scale.
Colossians 1:17 (CSB) He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.
In other words, Christ, with his mind, actively and perfectly holding every single atom of creation together. That is the opposite of the Divine Watchmaker caricature of God.
from the greatest even to the least
Matthew 10:29–31 (CSB) Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s consent. But even the hairs of your head have all been counted. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Matthew 6:26 (CSB) Consider the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?
Watch a National Geographic documentary. What you see, captured on film, is God providing for the life and death of his creation.
Then compare your own life and see how God has provided for you. To the good and evil and the just and unjust (Matthew 5:45), he whom all the animals belong to and the owner of all the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10) is actively holding everything together and is actively providing your life and well-being--whether you acknowledge or not.
by His most wise and holy providence, to the end for the which they were created, according unto His infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of His own will; to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, infinite goodness, and mercy.
Ephesians 1:11 (CSB) In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will,
What the Christian must realize and embrace is why is God so involved in the details of the world. More so, why my life? Why would I be interesting enough to garner attention of the Creator of the universe?
God sees you and knows you. If the God who knows the number of hairs of on your head, would it stand to reason that he might just see your heart and your thoughts and your will. He knows that with every waking moment of your life, your thought, and your heart, you do not love God has much as you should and you don't love your neighbor as you out.
God sees the details of your heart and knows every single detail. He knows. How do I know? Because he sent his Son to live because you and I could not live perfectly and to die the death we should have died so that we would gain the righteousness of Christ and be made right with God and be with God forever.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 5.2 The Causes of All Things
The Text
Romans 11:36 (CSB) For from him and through him
and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever. Amen.
The Chapter
Although in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first cause, all things come to pass immutably and infallibly; so that there is not anything befalls any by chance, or without his providence; yet by the same providence he ordereth them to fall out according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently.
The Confession
Although in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first cause, all things come to pass immutably and infallibly
Acts 2:23 (CSB) Though he was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail him to a cross and kill him.
God is the first cause of all things. What does that mean? From his most wise and most holy council, he is the first cause of all things to be. And whatever he wants them to be, it will happened without being altered or changed in anyway (immutably). And whatever he wants them to be, it will happen without fail (infallibly).
We have seen this His bringing about all of Creation. But what happens when sin breaks the world? Is the God still the first cause? Yes. Does everything he wants to happen, happen? Yes. Does everything he wants to happen, happen without fail? Yes. Does it happen without being altered or changed in anyway or failing in anyway? Yes.
so that there is not anything befalls any by chance or without his providence
Proverbs 16:33 (CSB) The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
Every dice roll result is has been provided and determined by God. Every lottery number drawn. Or the stack of the card deck in poker. Everything that appears to be chance is determined by God. He is the first cause of all things.
Let me address this one thought that you might be thinking: now do you see why Paganism is incompatible with Christianity. Humans invented idols that they could control by doing a set of things to please their idols in order to get something in return.
Throughout all of human history including the Bible, I could easily speculate that mankind enjoys the thought of an Almighty God. But the moment he doesn't do nor gives what we want--even if it is a very good thing--that thought wear us down and pushes against our harden hearts.
Romans 4:3–5 (CSB) For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness. Now to the one who works, pay is not credited as a gift, but as something owed. But to the one who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness.
In other words, Paganism is putting God in our debt. And I know, that every Christian reading this would not willing fall for Paganism. "Come join us at Pagan Church." Christians be like, "Nope." But another term for Paganism is Legalism. Another, Works-Based Salvation. Another, Word of Faith aka Name it and Claim it aka Prosperity Gospel aka "You have to make sure you do the right things in order to step into the blessings of God." In other words, "let me do the right things that please God so that God will bless me with the life that I want and when that fails and my life falls apart, I will blame God for not doing what I wanted him to do." The term Paganism is not outright in American Christianity. It just takes on other forms and fully infect most of the evangelical churches in the world.
yet by the same providence he ordereth them to fall out according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently
Genesis 8:22 (CSB) As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.”
Matthew 5:45b (CSB) For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
What if something he does and all down the line, sin happens? Answer the direct question: If God made Satan and Adam, and Satan rebelled against God and Satan tempted Adam and Adam sinned against God, is God still the first cause? Yes. Is the first cause of all sin? Absolutely not.
What is really going to blow your mind is that it is the God of the Universe who created not just the material but the situation and the circumstance that crucified our beloved Messiah:
So completely was Jesus bent upon saving sinners by the sacrifice of himself, he created the tree upon which he was to die, and nurtured from infancy the men who were to nail him to the accursed wood.
Octavius Winslow. The Life of Christ. 1855.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 5.3 The Freedom of God
The Text
Ephesians 1:9-10 (CSB) He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ as a plan for the right time — to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him.
The Chapter
God, in his ordinary providence maketh use of means, yet is free to work without, above, and against them at his pleasure.
The Confession
God
Acts 27:31–44 (CSB) Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” Then the soldiers cut the ropes holding the skiff and let it drop away. When it was about daylight, Paul urged them all to take food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have been waiting and going without food, having eaten nothing. So I urge you to take some food. For this is for your survival, since none of you will lose a hair from your head.” After he said these things and had taken some bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all of them, and after he broke it, he began to eat. They all were encouraged and took food themselves. In all there were 276 of us on the ship. When they had eaten enough, they began to lighten the ship by throwing the grain overboard into the sea. When daylight came, they did not recognize the land but sighted a bay with a beach. They planned to run the ship ashore if they could. After cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and headed for the beach. But they struck a sandbar and ran the ship aground. The bow jammed fast and remained immovable, while the stern began to break up by the pounding of the waves. The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners so that no one could swim away and escape. But the centurion kept them from carrying out their plan because he wanted to save Paul, and so he ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. The rest were to follow, some on planks and some on debris from the ship. In this way, everyone safely reached the shore.
The God of details of all logistics of the providence. But what about the actions and events. We know that God is the first cause of all things and even when we sin against him, his first cause still caused the good and evil without being responsible for the sinful action of the rebels of God.
Genesis 50:20 (CSB) You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people.
The death of the firstborn of Egypt? God.
The shipwreck of Paul's ship? God.
The fact that God created my dad to take part in creating me but this same dad abused me and introduced to pornography at a young age? Yet, my dad and stepmom and mom and grandma planned evil against me but God planned it for my good to bring about my born-again life.
I promise you: if I have gone through the trauma that I had not went through, I would not be in love with God as much as I am now. I would not desire to see his lovely face. I already know that I will kiss the face of my Savior with a thousand kisses because he has called me his own and saved me from his wrath. And I am here to praise him with my life and to do his will.
I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages.
Charles Spurgeon.
Listen to what I am saying. Never did I say that deep love for God came easy nor cheap nor fast. God took all of eternity and over 2000 years and my lifetime to do what he wanted to do in order for me to be with him forever.
I have no formula for you. I have no to-do list for you. Just know that God loves you and whatever you are going through, watch and believe what God has in store for you for your good and the love of others.
in his ordinary providence maketh use of means
Isaiah 55:10–11 (CSB) For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return there without saturating the earth and making it germinate and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do.”
What makes the gospel even more amazing is that it is just a series of words. A few sentences. A small paragraph. A defining statement.
God saves sinners.
Romans 1:16–17 (CSB) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.
We know that the salvation of God is amazing thing. But look how God chose to convey that good news: a few words.
Not miracles. Not healings. Not signs and wonders. Not visions. Not dreams. Not angels. Not demons. Not the dead rising. Not the blind seeing. Not the lame walking. Not the deaf hearing. Not good works. Not loving your neighbor. Not a worship song. Not a big revival event. Not a charismatic leader. Not a big church. Not a small church. Not any of that but a few words.
The gospel is the power of God in salvation for those who believe. Those words about the gospel that is the power of God in salvation for those who believe.
When you or I ever share the good news, that is the Almighty power of God who says, "so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do."
Couple that with Matthew 4:4 where Christ called the Scriptures "the mouth of God" and what you hold is the ordinary words being proclaimed. When we do this, God does the work. He does the work and executes the power and the gospel will never come back empty.
yet is free to work without
Hosea 1:7 (CSB) But I will have compassion on the house of Judah, and I will deliver them by the LORD their God. I will not deliver them by bow, sword, or war, or by horses and cavalry.
I think what is even more fantastic that anything else is that if God chose to not use anything he has ever created, he can still bring it about. For:
Hebrews 11:3 (CSB) By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
God, who is Almighty and all-knowing and ever-present, created everything by speaking into existence. He didn't need raw material. He created the raw material. He didn't need blueprints or detailed instructions for he knows all things and he cannot know more nor nor less no learn anything because he knows everything. He did not have to shift or find the perfect time or place to create Creation for he just determine what was the right time and place for what he wanted to do.
Out of nothing.
What God wants to do, he can do it without or with anything or anybody.
above
Romans 4:19–21 (CSB) He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body to be already dead (since he was about a hundred years old) and also the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, because he was fully convinced that what God had promised, he was also able to do.
Whatever God does in and through us, he does from above our sins and our understanding. For:
Psalm 97:9 (CSB) For you, LORD, are the Most High over the whole earth; you are exalted above all the gods.
His perspective on all things is above all things and from all angles and all times. He does not miss a thing and what he does is always right and good and perfect.
and against them at his pleasure.
Daniel 3:27 (CSB) When the satraps, prefects, governors, and the king’s advisers gathered around, they saw that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men: not a hair of their heads was singed, their robes were unaffected, and there was no smell of fire on them.
We see a description of the fantastic things that God has done: signs, wonders, and miracles. They do not happen often--they are done "at his pleasure." But our faith is not in the signs, wonders, and miracles. Our faith is in the God of the signs, wonders, and miracles.
There is going to be a time where you and I face certain death. And at God's good pleasure, he might spare our life or let us die. If he does either from means or does not, he is still entirely good. Even if we don't understand all the way or at all, he is still kind and loving towards us.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 5.4 The Goodness of God
The Text
Ephesians 3:14-21 (CSB) For this reason I kneel before the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us — to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
The Chapter
The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God, so far manifest themselves in his providence, that his determinate counsel extendeth itself even to the first fall, and all other sinful actions both of angels and men; and that not by a bare permission, which also he most wisely and powerfully boundeth, and otherwise ordereth and governeth, in a manifold dispensation to his most holy ends; yet so, as the sinfulness of their acts proceedeth only from the creatures, and not from God, who, being most holy and righteous, neither is nor can be the author or approver of sin.
The Confession
The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God
Romans 11:32–34 (CSB) For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and untraceable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?
In this section of Chapter 5, we are finally dealing with the question that some have dared to ask:
"Is God the author of sin?"
But let us not be quick to forget and we need to be oft reminded: God is all powerful, all knowing, and holy, holy, holy.
God is perfectly might, fullest of wisdom, and the only source of good.
God is almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness.
To engage with such a titillating question of "God as author of sin?" to be aptly and forever reminder of who God is. There is no exception.
so far manifest themselves in his providence
2 Samuel 24:1 (CSB) The LORD’s anger burned against Israel again, and he stirred up David against them to say, “Go, count the people of Israel and Judah.”
In all that he does, in whatever he does, however he provides, he does from himself who is the source of goodness.
that his determinate counsel extendeth itself even to the first fall
1 Chronicles 21:1 (CSB) Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to count the people of Israel.
God himself ordained the actions of Satan:
Job 1:12 (CSB) “Very well,” the LORD told Satan, “everything he owns is in your power. However, do not lay a hand on Job himself.” So Satan left the LORD’s presence.
God himself knew and ordained the actions of Adam and Eve. He could have stopped their actions. He could have not created them. He could have not created the angels and thus, not created Lucifer. He could have prevented all the pain, and sin, and brokenness, and iniquity.
and all other sinful actions both of angels and men
2 Kings 19:28 (CSB) Because your raging against me and your arrogance have reached my ears, I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth; I will make you go back the way you came.
He could have prevented my dad abusing me. He could have prevented my mom from leaving me when I was 6 never to return. He could have protected me from my stepmom. He could have protected me where my grandmother failed to do so. He could have stopped my previous failed marriages.
and that not by a bare permission
Psalm 76 (CSB)
For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph. A song.1 God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.
2 His tent is in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion.
3 There he shatters the bow’s flaming arrows, the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. Selah
4 You are resplendent and majestic coming down from the mountains of prey.
5 The brave-hearted have been plundered; they have slipped into their final sleep. None of the warriors was able to lift a hand.
6 At your rebuke, God of Jacob, both chariot and horse lay still.
7 And you—you are to be feared. When you are angry, who can stand before you?
8 From heaven you pronounced judgment. The earth feared and grew quiet
9 when God rose up to judge and to save all the lowly of the earth. Selah
10 Even human wrath will praise you; you will clothe yourself with the wrath that remains.
11 Make and keep your vows to the LORD your God; let all who are around him bring tribute to the awe-inspiring one.
12 He humbles the spirit of leaders; he is feared by the kings of the earth.
He could have. But what everybody, including myself, meant for evil, God, in his almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and the source of all good, did not only stop the evil but ordained it for his glory and my good and the good of others.
God is not above ordaining the worst kinds of evil if it means that his people are saved unto himself forever.
which also he most wisely and powerfully boundeth, and otherwise ordereth and governeth
Psalm 10 (CSB)
1 LORD, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide in times of trouble?2 In arrogance the wicked relentlessly pursue their victims; let them be caught in the schemes they have devised.
3 For the wicked one boasts about his own cravings; the one who is greedy curses and despises the LORD.
4 In all his scheming, the wicked person arrogantly thinks, “There’s no accountability, since there’s no God.”
5 His ways are always secure; your lofty judgments have no effect on him; he scoffs at all his adversaries.
6 He says to himself, “I will never be moved— from generation to generation I will be without calamity.”
7 Cursing, deceit, and violence fill his mouth; trouble and malice are under his tongue.
8 He waits in ambush near settlements; he kills the innocent in secret places. His eyes are on the lookout for the helpless;
9 he lurks in secret like a lion in a thicket. He lurks in order to seize a victim; he seizes a victim and drags him in his net.
10 So he is oppressed and beaten down; helpless people fall because of the wicked one’s strength.
11 He says to himself, “God has forgotten; he hides his face and will never see.”
12 Rise up, LORD God! Lift up your hand. Do not forget the oppressed.
13 Why has the wicked person despised God? He says to himself, “You will not demand an account.”
14 But you yourself have seen trouble and grief, observing it in order to take the matter into your hands. The helpless one entrusts himself to you; you are a helper of the fatherless.
15 Break the arm of the wicked, evil person, until you look for his wickedness, but it can’t be found.
16 The LORD is King forever and ever; the nations will perish from his land.
17 LORD, you have heard the desire of the humble; you will strengthen their hearts. You will listen carefully,
18 doing justice for the fatherless and the oppressed so that mere humans from the earth may terrify them no more.
in a manifold dispensation to his most holy ends
Genesis 1:20 (CSB) Then God said, “Let the water swarm with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.”
yet so, as the sinfulness of their acts proceedeth only from the creatures
Isaiah 10:6–12 (CSB) I will send him against a godless nation; I will command him to go against a people destined for my rage, to take spoils, to plunder, and to trample them down like clay in the streets. But this is not what he intends; this is not what he plans. It is his intent to destroy and to cut off many nations. For he says, “Aren’t all my commanders kings? Isn’t Calno like Carchemish? Isn’t Hamath like Arpad? Isn’t Samaria like Damascus? As my hand seized the kingdoms of worthless images, kingdoms whose idols exceeded those of Jerusalem and Samaria, and as I did to Samaria and its worthless images will I not also do to Jerusalem and its idols?” But when the Lord finishes all his work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, he will say, “I will punish the king of Assyria for his arrogant acts and the proud look in his eyes.”
and not from God, who, being most holy and righteous
Psalm 1:6 (CSB) For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.
neither is nor can be the author or approver of sin
1 John 2:16 (CSB) For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions—is not from the Father, but is from the world.
Ecclesiastes 7:29 (CSB) Only see this: I have discovered that God made people upright, but they pursued many schemes.”
And if any of this does not make sense for your life or my life, consider this.
It pleased God to ordain the sins of Judas Iscariot to betray his perfect and only begotten Jesus Christ who is always perfect innocent. Just as he rose the Pharaoh to power and crushed in order to save Moses and his people, so to he rose his son and was pleased to crush him in order all who looked upon his Son would be saved.
God does not wink at sin. God does not turn away from our sinful thoughts and actions. God does not play both sides of the board. Yet, God ordains the sin of angels and men. God presents the objects of temptation to expose the sin that is still within our hearts.
Evil is still evil. Good is good. Our sin is still sin against God. God is the only source of good. And in his ordination, we are here. We are here, born and broken in sin, but rescued and redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be his glorious name forever.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 5.5 The Discipline of God
The Text
2 Chronicles 7:14 (CSB) and my people, who bear my name, humble themselves, pray and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
The Chapter
The most wise, righteous, and gracious God doth oftentimes leave for a season his own children to manifold temptations and the corruptions of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled; and to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support upon himself; and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for other just and holy ends. So that whatsoever befalls any of his elect is by his appointment, for his glory, and their good.
The Confession
The most wise, righteous, and gracious God doth oftentimes leave for a season his own children to manifold temptations and the corruptions of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled
2 Chronicles 32:25–31 (CSB) However, because his heart was proud, Hezekiah didn’t respond according to the benefit that had come to him. So there was wrath on him, Judah, and Jerusalem. Then Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart—he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem—so the LORD’s wrath didn’t come on them during Hezekiah’s lifetime. Hezekiah had abundant riches and glory, and he made himself treasuries for silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and every desirable item. He made warehouses for the harvest of grain, new wine, and fresh oil, and stalls for all kinds of cattle, and pens for flocks. He made cities for himself, and he acquired vast numbers of flocks and herds, for God gave him abundant possessions. This same Hezekiah blocked the upper outlet of the water from the Gihon Spring and channeled it smoothly downward and westward to the city of David. Hezekiah succeeded in everything he did. When the ambassadors of Babylon’s rulers were sent to him to inquire about the miraculous sign that happened in the land, God left him to test him and discover what was in his heart.
The mystery of iniquity sometimes intertwines with the mystery of providence and of God's discipline. It is sometimes difficult to imagine that God would almost put us in harm's way when it comes to sin and danger in order to what? To test us? To discover what is in our hearts? To humble us? To make us more watchful against all future occasions of sin? To withdraw hidden sin in our hearts. Upon the examining of the Scriptures, the answer is clearly yes.
And that is where we cannot fathom a good Father doing such a thing even though he has absolutely promises that we will be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. It is hard for us to imagine because some of us who are parents could not fathom putting our kids in harm's way in order to shape and mold them.
And we would not. Why? The real reason is because we cannot control everything. We cannot control sin against our little ones. We cannot control sin against ourselves. And we cannot ordain the outcome. Only God who is perfect in every way and powerful in every way can do such a thing.
When we read in 2 Kings chapter 21, we read of a certain king of Judah named Manasseh, the son of the aforementioned Hezekiah. There is no doubt that Manasseh witness firsthand God's dealing with his dad while he was on the throne. Manasseh saw the mercy of God he had for both the repentance of and foolishness and fear of man that Hezekiah struggled with, to his own end. Within that home life, Manasseh ascended to the throne at the age of 12 years old. 2 Kings 21 accounts Manasseh's terrible and wicked ways which included witchcraft, sorcery, and sacrificing his own sons because of Manasseh's unrepentant idol worship. 2 Kings ends with this statement of Manasseh's reign:
2 Kings 21:16 (CSB) Manasseh also shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem with it from one end to another. This was in addition to his sin that he caused Judah to commit, so that they did what was evil in the LORD’s sight.
King Manasseh was vile, depraved, cruel, and wicked. The best and most epic novels could not fathom such an evil man. Ask yourself this, "Could God even save such a wicked man?"
And if we went by the Kings account, that is all we would know of him--he should be perishing under the wrath of Christ.
But where 2 Kings stops, 2 Chronicles gives another ending:
2 Chronicles 33:10-13 (CSB) The LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they didn’t listen. So he brought against them the military commanders of the king of Assyria. They captured Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon. When he was in distress, he sought the favor of the LORD his God and earnestly humbled himself before the God of his ancestors. He prayed to him, and the LORD was receptive to his prayer. He granted his request and brought him back to Jerusalem, to his kingdom. So Manasseh came to know that the LORD is God.
Don't you see that God will stop at nothing to save his people? Don't see that God will use whatever means he has to turn you away from your sin and back to him? God is willing, able, and wise enough and good enough to use all of Genesis 3 to conform you so that you would like his Son.
and to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support upon himself
2 Corinthians 12:7–9 (CSB) especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so that I would not exalt myself. Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.
This is why Christ preached to us: count the cost!
Luke 14:26-30 (CSB) “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters — yes, and even his own life — he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
“For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, after he has laid the foundation and cannot finish it, all the onlookers will begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This man started to build and wasn’t able to finish.’
You want to follow Christ? This is what life will look like for you. The road is narrow. The path is not easy. The cost is high. But the reward is beholding the glory of the Triune God forever.
Some of us might not see it now. It might be hard through bleared eyes. But one day, even on this side of heaven, we will see the pain and anguish and the despair and the darkness of our lives and know that God was with us in the valley of the shadow of death, he was closer than a whisper, and he had never forgot us nor forsaken us to praise and glory of his name.
and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for other just and holy ends. So that whatsoever befalls any of his elect is by his appointment, for his glory, and their good
Romans 8:28 (CSB) We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
Could God, in any other way, not allowing sin and temptation to befall us and to hurt us? There had to be another way. There has got to be a slightly less painful way.
Your eldest brother asked that same question.
Luke 22:42 (CSB) “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me — nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
Christ asked. But what Christ wanted and what the Father wanted and what the Spirit empoweres was to do one thing: save the people of God from their sins. And there was only way to do that:
Hebrews 9:22 (CSB) According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
The law was broken by all. The order and good of all things was in chaos and disarray. Everything must be restored and made right. And the only way we are going to be made right was through the washing of the blood of Jesus Christ who quick to forgive sins and mighty to save.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 5.6 The Rendering of God
The Text
Hebrews 6:4-6 (CSB) For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, who shared in the Holy Spirit, who tasted God’s good word and the powers of the coming age, and who have fallen away. This is because, to their own harm, they are recrucifying the Son of God and holding him up to contempt.
The Chapter
As for those wicked and ungodly men whom God, as the righteous judge, for former sin doth blind and harden; from them he not only withholdeth his grace, whereby they might have been enlightened in their understanding, and wrought upon their hearts; but sometimes also withdraweth the gifts which they had, and exposeth them to such objects as their corruption makes occasion of sin; and withal, gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the power of Satan, whereby it comes to pass that they harden themselves, under those means which God useth for the softening of others.
The Confession
As for those wicked and ungodly men whom God, as the righteous judge
Romans 1:24–28 (CSB) Therefore God delivered them over in the desires of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen. For this reason God delivered them over to disgraceful passions. Their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. The men in the same way also left natural relations with women and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the appropriate penalty of their error. And because they did not think it worthwhile to acknowledge God, God delivered them over to a corrupt mind so that they do what is not right.
We have firmly established that God is the first cause all things and by that, he is the creator of angels and men. Although his creation will sin and do evil and he is not the author of their sin, nevertheless, in certain times, by his almighty power, his unsearchable wisdom, and his infinite goodness, he will allow sin to happen.
We clearly see this when the Adam's fall, Judas' betrayal, and the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ. These are events in history that God allowed to happen and in a sense of the word, ordained to happened. He, himself, is not responsible for the sin of mankind. He can do no evil and he is the source of all good.
All that established, that should suffice for those who ponder and ask, "What of personal responsibility?" If God allowed it to happen, can we be held responsible for our sins? If we were robots, then I suppose so. But since we are not robots, the answer is undoubtedly no.
If God is not the author of sin, then who is the author of sin? That is an incomplete question. The more precise question is, who is the author of your sin?
Your first instinct might be to blameshift to someone else whether that be someone who has caused you great pain or the environment you grew up in or take it all the way, blame Satan for that. Your instincts might suggest that because that is exactly what Adam and Eve did when God confronted them about their sin.
Genesis 3:11–13 (CSB) Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” The man replied, “The woman you gave to be with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate.” So the LORD God asked the woman, “What have you done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
Adam blamed Eve. Eve blamed Satan. But who is at fault for their sin?
We are to blame for we are the author of our sin.
For your sin, you are that author. It is your heart, born in the depravity and wickedness of sin, because of the fall of our first parents, Adam and Eve, that just continually sins endlessly. For:
Genesis 6:5 (CSB) When the LORD saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time,
for former sin doth blind and harden
Romans 11:7–8 (CSB) What then? Israel did not find what it was looKing for, but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened, as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that cannot see and ears that cannot hear, to this day.
One of the greatest mysteries is the mystery of sin. The foremost reason why, because of sin and because we are not God, we cannot fully understand and comprehend the depth of destruction that sin has or will caused. Sometimes, we know after it happens. In some sin, like in traumatic sin against you, it will blind you in such a way you will not see the sin that was even committed against you. And in the worst cases, you will commit sin against others because of the sin that has blinded you and hardened your heart.
It is like you dig into a manure pit and the more you dig, all you find is more crap.
from them he not only withholdeth his grace
Deuteronomy 29:4 (CSB) Yet to this day the LORD has not given you a mind to understand, eyes to see, or ears to hear.
Isaiah 6:9–10 (CSB) And he replied: Go! Say to these people: Keep listening, but do not understand; keep looKing, but do not perceive. Make the minds of these people dull; deafen their ears and blind their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their minds, turn back, and be healed.
If God alone has to exchange your heart, deposit his Spirit, give you his only begotten Son, give you faith to believe, repentance of sin, a renewed mind, opened eyes, new soul, and ears to hear just for your to be saved, then by the Scriptures alone, for the wicked and ungodly, God will not only not give them his grace and not unveil his glory but rather, give them over to their own sin.
whereby they might have been enlightened in their understanding
Matthew 13:12 (CSB) For whoever has, more will be given to him, and he will have more than enough; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
And you might think to yourself, "Just how wicked must someone be for God to do that?!" In the previous subchapter, I mentioned of King Manasseh of his unadulterated wicked against the only good God for God not to turn him over to his sins but that save him from his sins. 1
I think is question is not "how much can we sin before God will turn us over to our sin?" but rather, "Who is like our God and who can compare to him?" For:
Isaiah 55:8–9 (CSB) “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways.” This is the LORD’s declaration. “For as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
And:
Isaiah 40:28 (CSB) Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth. He never becomes faint or weary; there is no limit to his understanding.
Even still:
Isaiah 46:9–10 (CSB) Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and no one is like me. I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will.
and wrought upon their hearts
Deuteronomy 2:30 (CSB) But King Sihon of Heshbon would not let us travel through his land, for the LORD your God had made his spirit stubborn and his heart obstinate in order to hand him over to you, as has now taken place.
What we have seen time and time again is that what we can surmise is God has chosen to give the wicked and ungodly over to exactly what they want. For:
Psalm 81:12 (CSB) So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own plans.
Psalm 106:15 (CSB) He gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease among them.
It is the same God who shines the sun on the good and evil, and rains on just and unjust. It is the same God who saves his people from their sins and gives those not his people over to their sins.
but sometimes also withdraweth the gifts which they had
2 Kings 8:12–13 (CSB) and Hazael asked, “Why is my lord weeping?” He replied, “Because I know the evil you will do to the people of Israel. You will set their fortresses on fire. You will kill their young men with the sword. You will dash their children to pieces. You will rip open their pregnant women.” Hazael said, “How could your servant, a mere dog, do such a mighty deed?” Elisha answered, “The LORD has shown me that you will be King over Aram.”
This doctrine is not to be confused with:
Romans 11:28–29 (CSB) Regarding the gospel, they are enemies for your advantage, but regarding election, they are loved because of the patriarchs, since God’s gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable.
but rather is to be understood as:
Hebrews 6:4-6 (CSB) For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, who shared in the Holy Spirit, who tasted God’s good word and the powers of the coming age, and who have fallen away. This is because, to their own harm, they are recrucifying the Son of God and holding him up to contempt.
There are some of us, within our churches in the past, present, and future, will inevitably be attracted to the power of the Holy Spirit. They might see a little, taste a little and see that God is undeniably good, might participate in the works of the Holy Spirit, who sit under the preaching of the word, and in the powers of the age to come, only to fall away.
This should not be a mystery to any of us. Our Lord Jesus Christ already taught on this:
Matthew 13:18-23 (CSB) “So listen to the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word about the Kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one sown along the path. And the one sown on rocky ground — this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. But he has no root and is short-lived. When distress or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away. Now the one sown among the thorns — this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But the one sown on the good ground — this is one who hears and understands the word, who does produce fruit and yields: some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty times what was sown.”
Christ already taught that just because of preached word of God by the power of the Holy Spirit, some will hear and either don't understand it; think it is fantastic but tap out when life gets too difficult; or circumstances of this life are too good and they haven't figured out how to make God for them--so they fall away.
This happens all the time. And I imagine to guess you know someone who has fallen away. I know I do.
What should we do in these times?
Keep in mind that where people are at now is not where they will be at in the end. Know that God is the perfect Father in heaven who has never lost one of kids, and the Lord Jesus who has not lost one of his sheep. And lastly and mostly importantly, pray that God would rescue them.
and exposeth them to such objects as their corruption makes occasion of sin
Psalm 81:11–12 (CSB) “But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel did not obey me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own plans.
God does not tempt anyone but again, in the power, wisdom, and goodness of God, he does allow temptations to come upon us. For:
James 1:13-14 (CSB) No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God,” since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone. But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire.
And:
1 Corinthians 10:13 (CSB) No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it.
The giving over to our sins is a powerful damning of the Lord. You might wonder if this can happen to you.
Let me contend to you if you wonder this, take heart: God is with you. If you desire the presence of God, then be blessed, you are with God. Let the Spirit of God give you peace that belongs to you in Christ Jesus. Do not let the Satan and the world cause you to despair.
This is where instead of fleeing in isolation, we flee to the God of grace. Instead of wallowing in confusion, we pray to God for clarity and understanding. And if we doubt, God's promises are still yes and amen.
My child, it is not based on your the strength of your faith. You and I are weak and feeble. But our faith, given to us by God, is upon God who alone is Almighty. He has you. Christ has you. Spirit has sealed you. If you doubt and your faith is little, Christ still has you close to his bosom.
and withal
2 Thessalonians 2:10–12 (CSB) and with every wicked deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe the lie, so that all will be condemned—those who did not believe the truth but delighted in unrighteousness.
For his people, he has never forgotten nor forsaken. For those whom he has hated, he flees from them.
Psalm 11:5 (CSB) The LORD examines the righteous, but he hates the wicked and those who love violence.
Psalm 5:5 (CSB) The boastful cannot stand in your sight; you hate all evildoers.
It is the mercies of God that holds his arms wide open until the day he does not.
gives them over to their own lusts
Exodus 8:15–32 (CSB) But when Pharaoh saw there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as the LORD had said. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron: Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the land, and it will become gnats throughout the land of Egypt.” And they did this. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff, and when he struck the dust of the land, gnats were on people and animals. All the dust of the land became gnats throughout the land of Egypt. The magicians tried to produce gnats using their occult practices, but they could not. The gnats remained on people and animals. “This is the finger of God,” the magicians said to Pharaoh. But Pharaoh’s heart was hard, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said. The LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh when you see him going out to the water. Tell him: This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me. But if you will not let my people go, then I will send swarms of flies against you, your officials, your people, and your houses. The Egyptians’ houses will swarm with flies, and so will the land where they live. But on that day I will give special treatment to the land of Goshen, where my people are living; no flies will be there. This way you will know that I, the LORD, am in the land. I will make a distinction between my people and your people. This sign will take place tomorrow.” And the LORD did this. Thick swarms of flies went into Pharaoh’s palace and his officials’ houses. Throughout Egypt the land was ruined because of the swarms of flies. Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Go sacrifice to your God within the country.” But Moses said, “It would not be right to do that, because what we will sacrifice to the LORD our God is detestable to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice what the Egyptians detest in front of them, won’t they stone us? We must go a distance of three days into the wilderness and sacrifice to the LORD our God as he instructs us.” Pharaoh responded, “I will let you go and sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness, but don’t go very far. Make an appeal for me.” “As soon as I leave you,” Moses said, “I will appeal to the LORD, and tomorrow the swarms of flies will depart from Pharaoh, his officials, and his people. But Pharaoh must not act deceptively again by refusing to let the people go and sacrifice to the LORD.” Then Moses left Pharaoh’s presence and appealed to the LORD. The LORD did as Moses had said: He removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, his officials, and his people; not one was left. But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also and did not let the people go.
God sent Moses and Aaron to preach the gospel, "You are not a god but I am. And I have heard the cries of my people and I will save them."
Romans 9:17 (CSB) For the Scripture tells Pharaoh, I raised you up for this reason so that I may display my power in you and that my name may be proclaimed in the whole earth.
the temptations of the world, and the power of Satan
Isaiah 6:9–10 (CSB) And he replied: Go! Say to these people: Keep listening, but do not understand; keep looKing, but do not perceive. Make the minds of these people dull; deafen their ears and blind their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their minds, turn back, and be healed.
And it is God who hardened the heart of Pharaoh and Pharaoh, driven with madness from sin, caused the death of his firstborn son, his army, and himself.
God turned him over to his own lusts for power.
whereby it comes to pass that they harden themselves, under those means which God useth for the softening of others
1 Peter 2:7–8 (CSB) So honor will come to you who believe; but for the unbelieving, The stone that the builders rejected— this one has become the cornerstone, and A stone to stumble over, and a rock to trip over. They stumble because they disobey the word; they were destined for this.
Romans 9:22-26 (CSB) And what if God, wanting to display his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience objects of wrath prepared for destruction? And what if he did this to make known the riches of his glory on objects of mercy that he prepared beforehand for glory — on us, the ones he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? As it also says in Hosea,
I will call Not My People, My People,
and she who is Unloved, Beloved.
And it will be in the place where they were told,
you are not my people,
there they will be called sons of the living God.
Paul in Romans 9 pulls back the curtain a little bit on the sovereignty of God in salvation. Evangelicals, especially those decidedly non-Calvinist, have interpreted Romans 9, 10 & 11, in that it pertains only to Israel and not to the Church--as though God is not the same God yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Romans 9:16-19 (CSB) So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy. For the Scripture tells Pharaoh, I raised you up for this reason so that I may display my power in you and that my name may be proclaimed in the whole earth. So then, he has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy and he hardens whom he wants to harden. You will say to me, therefore, “Why then does he still find fault? For who resists his will? ”
In other words, God is not above raising and lowering and even marKing someone as an object of wrath in order to save his people who were marked as objects of mercy.
God alone gives mercy. God alone gives grace. God alone is compassionate. God alone saves.
Pharaoh in his own sin turned over to the deepest desires of his heart. To the people of God, he saved them for nothing they have done but rather everything he is--good, glory, and grace.
Do you not think that the hardening of Pharaoh's heart was on full display not only to Moses and his people but to the people of Egypt as well? God was aptly proclaiming, "Choose on this day whom you will serve!" The God of the greatest power is the same God who is the greatest redeemer. He had stopped at nothing in order to rescue his people from the bondage of sin and death.
The rising and lower of another King happened again in the Bible. But this King was not wicked nor cruel nor narcissistic. This King loved the Lord his God and he loved his people with all of his might. His people were wicked and not did love God. They have turned away from God and they worshipped their own gods. But this King was not moved by the sins of his people but rather mercies and compassion and the steadfast love he had for them. For they were his and he was theirs.
And this King was not made to lower after being in glory forever past but rather "for the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame". (Hebrews 12:2)
And at the same time, the King was being lowered unto death on the cross, God raised him up, for:
John 3:14-15 (CSB) Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
And:
John 12:32 (CSB) As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to myself.”
The Pharaoh was a king who was low as a baby, brought high by God and then brought low unto for his own sins in order the name of God would be glorified and the salvation of his people would be made known.
Jesus is the Son of God who is God was always in glory with the Father and the Spirit. He was low as a baby, lived the perfect life that the people of God should have lived. But he too was brought low unto death on the cross not for his own sins but rather the sins of his people in order the name of God would be glorified and the salvation of his people not only be made known but also be perfectly, eternally, completely, and fully accomplished. And now Jesus is glorified by the Father as King of kings and Lord of lords forever and ever. Amen.
Aforementioned in 1689 5.5 The Discipline of God
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 5.7 The Goodness of God
The Text
Numbers 11:21-23 (CSB) But Moses replied, “I’m in the middle of a people with six hundred thousand foot soldiers, yet you say, ‘I will give them meat, and they will eat for a month.’ If flocks and herds were slaughtered for them, would they have enough? Or if all the fish in the sea were caught for them, would they have enough? ”
The LORD answered Moses, “Is the LORD’s arm weak? Now you will see whether or not what I have promised will happen to you.”
The Chapter
As the providence of God doth in general reach to all creatures, so after a more special manner it taketh care of his church, and disposeth of all things to the good thereof.
The Confession
As the providence of God doth in general reach to all creatures
1 Timothy 4:10 (CSB) For this reason we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
For:
Acts 1:7–8 (CSB) He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
And
Mark 16:15 (CSB) Then he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
And
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
It is not based on our faithfulness of preaching the word or sharing the gospel. My beloved, please give that anxiety over to the Lord. The goodness of God will reach all people and all creatures. For some of us, whom the Lord has called, to carry his gospel to the ends of the earth. These people know who they are for they want to do the will of God.
And you do too! You have the Triune God dwelling in you. Christ has saved you. The Father has adopted you. The Spirit has lead you. It is not dependent you to reach every creature. Don't you know that where God has given the commandment, he has given the predestined work, the grace, and power to do his will?
The salvation of his people is completely in the sovereignty and will and love of God. Depend on him. And when he calls you to carry his gospel, do as a child would go to work with his Papa: with joy and excitement.
so after a more special manner it taketh care of his church
Amos 9:8–9 (CSB) Look, the eyes of the Lord GOD are on the sinful kingdom, and I will obliterate it from the face of the earth. However, I will not totally destroy the house of Jacob— this is the LORD’s declaration— for I am about to give the command, and I will shake the house of Israel among all the nations, as one shakes a sieve, but not a pebble will fall to the ground.
For:
Ephesians 3:4-13 (CSB) By reading this you are able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ. This was not made known to people in other generations as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and partners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I was made a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of his power.
This grace was given to me — the least of all the saints — to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of Christ, and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things. This is so that God’s multi-faceted wisdom may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens. This is according to his eternal purpose accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him we have boldness and confident access through faith in him. So, then, I ask you not to be discouraged over my afflictions on your behalf, for they are your glory.
The Church is the manifold wisdom that is put on display--the preaching of God--to the rulers and authorities in the heavens. God vehemently declares to the angels, Satan and the demons: "Look at my People! Look at my Church! See what my Son has done!"
And you might say, "But the people of God have always failed and will continue fail. We are so weak and feeble? How can he possibly be proud of us?"
Zephaniah 3:17 (CSB) The LORD your God is among you,
a warrior who saves.
He will rejoice over you with gladness.
He will be quiet in his love.
He will delight in you with singing.””
And:
Proverbs 24:16 (CSB) Though a righteous person falls seven times,
he will get up,
but the wicked will stumble into ruin.
Don't you see! Our God brags on us! Some in the heavenly realm might doubt the power of God in such weak and feeble people. But God puts us on full display. He did that a show to the throne and people of Egypt. He does that continuously to the world and to the heavenly realm.
Why? Because he alone is glorious and majestic. Because his Son has all dominion and power and glory.
Daniel 7:13-14 (CSB) I continued watching in the night visions,
and suddenly one like a son of man
was coming with the clouds of heaven.
He approached the Ancient of Days
and was escorted before him.
He was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
so that those of every people,
nation, and language
should serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that will not pass away,
and his kingdom is one
that will not be destroyed.
Praise his glorious name!
and disposeth of all things to the good thereof
Isaiah 43:3–5 (CSB) For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, and your Savior. I have given Egypt as a ransom for you, Cush and Seba in your place. Because you are precious in my sight and honored, and I love you, I will give people in exchange for you and nations instead of your life. Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west.
All I will do is say no more but praise his glorious name forever.
Psalm 113 (CSB)
1 Hallelujah! Give praise, servants of the LORD; praise the name of the LORD.2 Let the name of the LORD be blessed both now and forever.
3 From the rising of the sun to its setting, let the name of the LORD be praised.
4 The LORD is exalted above all the nations, his glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like the LORD our God— the one enthroned on high,
6 who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the trash heap
8 in order to seat them with nobles— with the nobles of his people.
9 He gives the childless woman a household, making her the joyful mother of children. Hallelujah!
Chapter 6 Of the Fall of Man, Of Sin, And of the Punishment Thereof
6.1 The Fall of Mankind
Although God created man upright and perfect, and gave him a righteous law, which had been unto life had he kept it, and threatened death upon the breach thereof, yet he did not long abide in this honour; Satan using the subtlety of the serpent to subdue Eve, then by her seducing Adam, who, without any compulsion, did willfully transgress the law of their creation, and the command given unto them, in eating the forbidden fruit, which God was pleased, according to his wise and holy counsel to permit, having purposed to order it to his own glory.
6.2 The Death of Mankind
Our first parents, by this sin, fell from their original righteousness and communion with God, and we in them whereby death came upon all: all becoming dead in sin, and wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of soul and body.
6.3 The Corruption of Mankind
They being the root, and by God's appointment, standing in the room and stead of all mankind, the guilt of the sin was imputed, and corrupted nature conveyed, to all their posterity descending from them by ordinary generation, being now conceived in sin, and by nature children of wrath, the servants of sin, the subjects of death, and all other miseries, spiritual, temporal, and eternal, unless the Lord Jesus set them free.
6.4 The Inclination of Mankind
From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil, do proceed all actual transgressions.
6.5 The Nature of Mankind
The corruption of nature, during this life, doth remain in those that are regenerated; and although it be through Christ pardoned and mortified, yet both itself, and the first motions thereof, are truly and properly sin.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 6.1 The Fall of Mankind
The Text
Matthew 4:8-10 (CSB) Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. And he said to him, “I will give you all these things if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus told him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.”
The Chapter
Although God created man upright and perfect, and gave him a righteous law, which had been unto life had he kept it, and threatened death upon the breach thereof, yet he did not long abide in this honor; Satan using the subtlety of the serpent to subdue Eve, then by her seducing Adam, who, without any compulsion, did willfully transgress the law of their creation, and the command given to them, in eating the forbidden fruit, which God was pleased, according to His wise and holy counsel to permit, having purposed to order it to His own glory.
The Confession
Although God created man upright and perfect, and gave him a righteous law, which had been unto life had he kept it, and threatened death upon the breach thereof
Genesis 2:16–17 (CSB) And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”
The law of God is the measurement, the standard of the holiness of God. For:
Leviticus 7:1 (CSB) “Now this is the law of the guilt offering; it is especially holy.
Romans 7:12 (CSB) So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good.
What God is and does and says is holy. And this commandment was given to and the law was written on the hearts of Adam and Eve.
Romans 2:14-16 (CSB) So, when Gentiles, who do not by nature have the law, do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts. Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts either accuse or even excuse them on the day when God judges what people have kept secret, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus.
From the start, the breaking of the law of God was sin and death was the consequence.
Romans 3:23 (CSB) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;
One might read the Bible and think that God is giving the law and then adding stipulations and addendum to the law. But the law of God was set in the beginning and proceeds from the Eternal God.
Let me contend to you that God is giving the consequences of breaking his holy law because those are the consequences. In other words, God didn't make up a law and then randomly assigned a consequence to breaking said law. The breaking of his law is disobedience of the Holy and Eternal God. This is not a random, arbitrary consequence. God was telling us about sin and death from the beginning.
And I must think that in their righteousness, did Adam and Eve have a grasp on the concept of death?
yet he did not long abide in this honor; Satan using the subtlety of the serpent to subdue Eve, then by her seducing Adam, who, without any compulsion, did willfully transgress the law of their creation, and the command given to them, in eating the forbidden fruit
Genesis 3:12–13 (CSB) The man replied, “The woman you gave to be with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate.” So the LORD God asked the woman, “What have you done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
The beginning and ending of the complete free will of mankind was right here. Because Adam and Eve were perfectly righteous unto God, they have freely choose to worship and obey God--which they sure did. But they could have freely choose to disobey God and sin against him. And they did.
For some reason, most Christians think that the will of man that Adam and Eve enjoyed in Genesis 1 & 2 was unaffected when sin entered into the world from Genesis 3 until now. Make that make sense to me.
It is clear as day that sin has broken our bodies, our minds, our judgment, our spirits, our emotions, our desires, our work, our relationships and everything else in all of creation but oh, our wills are perfectly sin-free and clean. That is illogical.
The moment Adam and Eve sinned against God, there was no going back. We are created creatures. We do not exist in eternal past and future. We only live in the present. We could not go back and undo the the decision we just made. If we could traverse time and space like that, I don't think we would be created creatures. That is the one of things that makes us different from God and not God.
Romans 5:12 (CSB) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned.
which God was pleased, according to His wise and holy counsel to permit, having purposed to order it to His own glory
2 Corinthians 11:3 (CSB) But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
We have firmly established that God is the first cause, the source of all good, and not the author of sin despite what his creation does. And yet, because he is all powerful, endless wisdom, and all good, he alone ordains and allows all things to come to past--this includes sin and death starting with Adam's trespass.
Isaiah 45:7 (CSB) I form light and create darkness, I make success and create disaster; I am the LORD, who does all these things.
Isaiah 46:10 (CSB) I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will.
Whatever and why-ever God did what he did in the beginning is the mystery that God alone knows. But since day and time we are living is not in fact Genesis 3 but rather, according to Christ, we are in the last days:
Matthew 24:22 (CSB) Unless those days were cut short, no one would be saved. But those days will be cut short because of the elect.
In other words, because we hold the entirety of Scriptures in the palm of our hands, one mystery has been solved for us on why God allowed Adam and Eve to be tempted by Satan and fall into sin:
Romans 5:17 (CSB) If by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
God allowed Adam and Eve to sin so that he could show his grace and mercy to all of mankind. And he did. We know he did because he gave his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, Son of God, who is God, to take on the sins of Adam and Eve and every single person who believed on him for eternal life.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 6.2 The Death of Mankind
The Text
Romans 7:24 (CSB) What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
The Chapter
Our first parents, by this sin, fell from their original righteousness and communion with God, and we in them whereby death came upon all: all becoming dead in sin, and wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of soul and body.
The Confession
Our first parents, by this sin, fell from their original righteousness and communion with God, and we in them whereby death came upon all
Romans 3:23 (CSB) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;
Despite the clear warning from God on the consequences of sin, no one could have been prepared for the chaos and destruction and the breaking of the chaos.
I wonder what around Adam and Eve unfolded, unraveled, and even disintegrated around them. Events like disintegration, destruction, and chaos were not even in their vernacular.
all becoming dead in sin
Romans 5:12 (CSB) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned.
God warned of death but not what they have experience. Their spirits departed them because of sin. For:
1 Samuel 16:14 (CSB) Now the Spirit of the LORD had left Saul, and an evil spirit sent from the LORD began to torment him,
Just as the Spirit of God left Adam--the one who held dominion over the earth--so too did the Spirit of God leave Saul--who held dominion over all of Israel. But in the same sense, when the King of kings, who now holds dominion all over creation,took on all of our sins upon the cross, his spirit left him.
Matthew 27:50 (CSB) But Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit.
What did Adam and Eve felt, who were perfectly righteous in the sight of God, as sin entered in? I imagine the pain and torment and death was in a similar vein as the perfectly righteous Christ being crucified on the cross.
and wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of soul and body
Titus 1:15 (CSB) To the pure, everything is pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; in fact, both their mind and conscience are defiled.
Genesis 6:5 (CSB) When the LORD saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time,
Jeremiah 17:9 (CSB) The heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable—who can understand it?
Romans 3:10–19 (CSB) as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one. Their throat is an open grave; they deceive with their tongues. Vipers’ venom is under their lips. Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and wretchedness are in their paths, and the path of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes. Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are subject to the law, so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God’s judgment.
The reckoning. For all of mankind's glorious, it is marred and stained and defiled by sin and death. It is always a zero-sum game with mankind. For the good we do in our own power, there has to be something taken away from somewhere else. Exploitation for profits. Oppression for power. Death for a supposed life. These are just some of the effects of sin.
And here is another layer of sin: most of humanity accepts it as normal. This is completely fine. There is no need to question anything. But then trauma and tragedy strikes. And we are awaken to the death and destruction and sin of our existence.
Romans 7:24 (CSB) What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 6.3 The Corruption of Mankind
The Text
Titus 3:3 (CSB) For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.
The Chapter
They being the root, and by God's appointment, standing in the room and stead of all mankind, the guilt of the sin was imputed, and corrupted nature conveyed, to all their posterity descending from them by ordinary generation, being now conceived in sin, and by nature children of wrath, the servants of sin, the subjects of death, and all other miseries, spiritual, temporal, and eternal, unless the Lord Jesus set them free.
The Confession
They being the root, and by God's appointment, standing in the room and stead of all mankind, the guilt of the sin was imputed, and corrupted nature conveyed, to all their posterity descending from them by ordinary generation
Romans 5:12–19 (CSB) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned. In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to a person’s account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam’s transgression. He is a type of the Coming One. But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by the one man’s trespass the many died, how much more have the grace of God and the gift which comes through the grace of the one man Jesus Christ overflowed to the many. And the gift is not like the one man’s sin, because from one sin came the judgment, resulting in condemnation, but from many trespasses came the gift, resulting in justification. If by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is justification leading to life for everyone. For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
1 Corinthians 15:21–49 (CSB) For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; afterward, at his coming, those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he abolishes all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign until he puts all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be abolished is death. For God has put everything under his feet. Now when it says “everything” is put under him, it is obvious that he who puts everything under him is the exception. When everything is subject to Christ, then the Son himself will also be subject to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all. Otherwise what will they do who are being baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are people baptized for them? Why are we in danger every hour? I face death every day, as surely as I may boast about you, brothers and sisters, in Christ Jesus our Lord. If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus as a mere man, what good did that do me? If the dead are not raised, Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” Come to your senses and stop sinning; for some people are ignorant about God. I say this to your shame. But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? What kind of body will they have when they come?” You fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And as for what you sow—you are not sowing the body that will be, but only a seed, perhaps of wheat or another grain. But God gives it a body as he wants, and to each of the seeds its own body. Not all flesh is the same flesh; there is one flesh for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is different from that of the earthly ones. There is a splendor of the sun, another of the moon, and another of the stars; in fact, one star differs from another star in splendor. So it is with the resurrection of the dead: Sown in corruption, raised in incorruption; sown in dishonor, raised in glory; sown in weakness, raised in power; sown a natural body, raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So it is written, The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. Like the man of dust, so are those who are of the dust; like the man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we will also bear the image of the man of heaven.
In all of the theological terms that are used in church, the term, Federal headship, is rarely used and probably get more confused looks from even the more theological astute members of your church. It is not a term that we use often.
But in the Reformed tradition, it is oft-famous passage of the comparison of the First and Second Adams in Romans 5:12-21.
When God made the covenant with Adam:
Genesis 2:15-17 (CSB) The LORD God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it. And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”
And:
Genesis 1:26 (CSB) Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”
... it was contingent on if Adam did what God said, he would be live with God and rule over the earth and do so forever.
So in this, God had marked Adam, his first image-bearing creation, as the federal head of all of mankind. He was the representative of all of mankind. Think that about that weight of responsibility. Yet, whatever tasks that God has for us, he gives the grace to do his will.
Ligonier Ministries quotes Dr. James M. Boice. He:
argues that it was because the people of the pre-law age had sinned “in Adam.” Because he was the God-appointed representative for all humanity, God counted his sin as their sin and imposed on them the guilt and penalty he incurred.1
Furthermore:
Federalism, Boice says, is “a proof of God’s grace,” for while the failure of our first federalhead brought terrible results, federalism “was the only way it would later be possible forGod to save us once we had sinned.” This is a difficult subject, and we must pray for graceto trust God’s wisdom and the testimony of His Word as we study it. 2
being now conceived in sin
Psalm 51:5 (CSB) Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
Job 14:4 (CSB) Who can produce something pure from what is impure? No one!
There are too paths for mankind to proceed after sin entered the world: reproduce or die. There is no third option. Despite the brokenness of the world, there are some couples who have been blessed by God to have babies. But these babies born, since we are all born sons and daughters of Adam, have been conceived with indwelling sin.
and by nature children of wrath
Ephesians 2:3 (CSB) We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.
In John's Gospel, chapter 3, Jesus tells Nicodemus that for one to see the kingdom of God, you must be born again. This leads into the defining and the most famous verse of all time:
John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
With all the brokenness of our born selves, there is hope--God has to rebirth you. But what if you are not born again?
John 3:36 (CSB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
How do you believe in the Son? You must be born again! Why? Because if you are not born again, then the wrath of God remains on you because you have inherited sin from Adam. Are you human? Then you are a descendant of Adam. If you are a descendant of Adam, the you were conceived with sin and by nature a child of wrath.