Recently I was asked a question about election with regards to predestination. I suppose in part I did not answer this question aptly as it is such a large one to tackle. I will try to simplify this subject as much as possible (if at all possible). In addition I will reference men of whom I deeply respect. There are so many that came before me that are far more wise, discerning, and men who have know Christ far longer than I; men who have prayed through difficult scriptures, working out their salvation with fear and trembling. As you read, know many of these thoughts are what I have come to believe. I am pulling from several different theologians that I will reference at the end. Please have your Bible by you as some verses are referenced and not added to the text. In addition, how ridiculous would it be to talk about better understanding God’s Word and not have our sword with us?! We are to test what is said and discern if it is edifying and trustworthy that we would not be led astray. Galatians 1:6-10. I would ask before reading that you’d take some time in prayer that only that which is of the Lord would you retain, and anything else would quickly be forgotten. I pray that you would search the scriptures yourself and come to know our Lord and Savior Jesus better as you strive to understand the Word.
Often times as this subject comes up we think strictly of salvational election. However, I believe the Bible teaches several different types of election: theocratic, vocational, and salvational. We will look at them in that order as the texts will flow better from Genesis to Revelation.
Theocratic election is just as the name suggests, God elects a person or people group. This can be seen in Deuteronomy 7:6 “For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.” We see here that God specifically choose a people. There is no works based salvation here. It is simply God choosing Israel to be His people. In Romans 4:11 “He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well,” we see that it had nothing to do with the descendants of Abrahams work nor the covenant of circumcision. “But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but through Isaac shall your offspring be named” Romans 9:6-7 Indeed this argument is seen well in Genesis 17:12-14. There are foreigners that are allowed to partake in the circumcision! How glorious that early on in Genesis we see a veil lifted in the intentions of the coming Christ! This should move us to be so thankful that our Lord truly had a plan before the foundations of the world. I pray this leads you to pray deeply, thankfully, instilling desire to know Him more passionately!
The next election is vocational. I think of Hebrews chapter 7 here. (I recommend reading from chapter 4-7 to better understand 7 itself) We see this idea of a priest Melchizedek blessing Abraham prior to the Levitical priesthood being established. He blesses Abraham v.1 and Abraham gives him tithes v.6. Earlier in Hebrews the author establishes that the greater blesses the lesser and reiterates this point in v.7. We read in verse 9 that because of the lineage of Abraham it could be said Levi himself gave tithes to this priest. In Genesis 14:17-24 the greater story of Melchizedek takes place. It is seen to better comprehend the coming of Christ. Again, we should thank Jesus that He should so wisely orchestrate scriptures as to display Himself from the beginning. The point being that though the Levites were able to atone for sin through animal sacrifice it most certainly did not guarantee their salvation. There was one greater, Melchizedek and more importantly, Christ. I do not want to dismiss the Levites responsibility but only help to better understand there were vocationally elected to their position. A more familiar idea may be that of the disciples. Jesus elects twelve disciples but only eleven are granted the grace of salvation. After that Paul enters the Word and we come to a better comprehension of how God vocationally elects him to salvation Acts 9:15.
The final form of election is salvational. I would recommend reading Ephesians chapter 1 especially 3-14. In the original text these verses comprise on paragraph. It is one complete thought. In addition, it is the most comprehensive display of Father, Son, Holy Spirit displayed sequentially in the entirety of the Bible (in my opinion). “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” John 6:44a. In BlueletterBible it gives two definitions of the Greek word helkō 1.) to draw, drag off 2.) a metaphor; to draw by inward power, lead, impel. I still recall Him drawing me. The deepening of my desire to know Him. And my heart began to resonate well with the Psalmist:
Psalm 111
“Praise the LORD!
1I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
2 Great are the works of the LORD,
studied by all who delight in them.
3 Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures forever.
4 He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;
the LORD is gracious and merciful.
5 He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy;
8 they are established forever and ever,
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He sent redemption to his people;
he has commanded his covenant forever.
Holy and awesome is his name!
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding.
His praise endures forever!
As you come to know Christ deeper I pray your heart responds to Him in the same way. If your heart does not respond to the Lord in this way, begin to pray earnestly that He would change your heart, that you would begin to trust more fully, that passion would fill you to come to Him in prayer, and desire to seek Him in His Word.
He chose us in Him before the foundations of the world Ephesians 1:4. Many years have passed since the foundations of the world. Yet the Lord choose people not based on what they had done, to whom they had been born, how much wealth you’ve accumulated, or how frequently you read the Bible. Christ knew and chose those whom He desired. Some may now get excited over the idea of mans will, or rather lack thereof. Paul establishes quite well in Romans 7 that we have a will, a sin nature. Yes God in His sovereignty allows us to Choose Him because He made it possible to do so. Joshua 24:15, John 5:40, Revelation 22:17. There are numerous scriptures such as these were individuals are allowed to repent and turn to Christ. Jesus offers us to come to Him and desire that people would be saved 2Peter 3:9. What would seem contrary to this in scripture is that no person can receive Christ and thus salvation unless they have been chosen. Romans 8:29*, 9:11. Again, there are numerous scriptures with the same idea. The combination of these two truths can be seen in John 6:37.
*Note: Often Romans 8:29 is taken out of context to say God’s divine foreknowledge sees who will choose Christ and then He then ‘elects’ them. However they were already called according to His purpose. That particular view takes all the glory to self, thus turning oneself into an idol. It diminishes the very glory of God, directly impacting the purpose of salvation.
God made us in such a way that it would be extremely difficult to wrap our minds around these ideas. Another idea perhaps is that the ‘two become one’ or how ‘a thousand years is but a day’. All scripture is God breathed, as such we should not try to hinder one truth of scripture by only believing another. It may be another good time to pray thanking God that He has done something beyond our comprehension yet continuing to magnify His glory and display His grace.
Early in Deuteronomy we get an understating of the Lord’s heart in why He would do such a thing as choosing us “It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the LORD loves you” v.7-8a. 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 granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity” 2 Timothy 1:9. We should continue on in the great commission Matthew 28:16-20 and do as Paul did, preaching that those whom God has elected would hear the Gospel “For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory” 2 Timothy 2:10
“All Christians believe in divine sovereignty, but some are not aware they do, and mistakenly imagine and insist that they reject it. What causes this odd state of affairs? The root cause is the same as in most cases of error in the Church- the intruding of rationalistic speculations, the passion for systematic consistency, a reluctance to recognize the existence of mystery and to let God be wiser than men, and a consequent subjecting of Scripture to the supposed demands of Human logic. People see the Bible teaches man’s responsibility for his actions; they do not see (man, indeed, cannot see) how this is consistent with sovereign Lordship of god over those actions. They are not content to let the two truths live side by side, as they do in the Scriptures, but jump to the conclusion that, in order to uphold the biblical truth of human responsibility, they are bound to reject the equally biblical and equally true doctrine of divine sovereignty, and to explain away the great number of texts that teach it. The desire to over-simplify the Bible by cutting out the mysteries is natural to our perverse minds, and is not surprising that even godly men should fall victim to it. Hence this persistent and troublesome dispute. The irony of the situation, however, is that when we ask how the two sides pray, it becomes apparent that those who profess to deny God’s sovereignty really believe in it just as strongly as those who affirm it.” (J. I. Packer)
John MacArthur presents other situations in the Bible we find to be true yet seldom are they debated for their independent truths. “It is antinomous that Scripture itself is the work of human authors, yet the very words of God; that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man; that salvation is forever, yet saints must remain obedient and persevere to the end; that the Christian’s life is lived in total commitment and discipline to self, yet is all of Christ. Such inscrutable truths are an encouragement that the mind of god infinitely surpasses the mind of man and are a great proof of the divine authorships of Scripture. Humans writing a Bible on their own would have attempted to resolve such problems.” (John MacArthur, emphasis added)
This should give us more desire to read the Scriptures knowing that it truly was inspired, or there may well have been many more books devoted solely to harmonizing the two truths that we might fully understand. I pray this would strengthen you faith, you would pray with ferverancy, and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Come to know His desire for you, the magnificent plans He has for you, the deep love He has for you, and joy amidst time spent with Him.
Bibliography
1.) Bible, ESV, NASB
2.) J. I. Packer, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, Chicago, Inter-Varsity, 1961, pp.16-17
3.) John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Ephesians, Chicago, The Moody Bible Institute, 1986, p.10-13
4.) Blueletterbible.org
5.) Biblegateway.org
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
long awaited...
So I have been in Jinja for 4 months now without any posts. I apologize for taking so long. So without further a-due(sp) here is my first post:
As I sit here and read the book of Hosea I come across a couple verses that make me think especially in the midst of times when men proclaim God’s Word to their own advantages. In addition, it reminds me symbolically of proceedings in my own life. The way in which the Lord spoke to people in 753-687 B.C. can still be applicable today. Specifically, to me. And it puts me in a state of humility and repentance at how easy it is to think we can move in our own power, submitting to no other authority but our own.
In Hosea 4:6 the lord says ‘My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me.’ Now we are part of the royal priesthood. 1 Peter 2:5,9 ‘you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ’…’ But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.’ I wonder about all those whom think they hear a calling. I wonder of the wrath in store for them. I think of how later he continues on with the responsibility of men, as they are supposed to be leaders. “I will not punish your daughters when they play the whore, nor your brides when they commit adultery; for the men themselves go aside with prostitutes and sacrifice with cult prostitutes, and the people without understanding shall come to ruin.”Hosea 4:13d-f It is interesting to me when men think they are in charge but charge on in their own power using His name. Also how many often speak of some spirit making them do something and forget human responsibility like in Romans 7. We don’t want responsibility because then we don’t have to own up to our sin. It is as if we never sin. And thus many individuals fall into whoredom.
Men specifically will be held accountable for their own sins and that of their family. However it seems that a spirit of timidity finds them well in a comfy chair in front of the television. Not leading their wives, washing them in the water of the word presenting them holy and blameless without and spot, blemish, or wrinkle before the Lord. What happened to washing, though their sins are like scarlet they are washed white as snow? Where are the men who will rise for that occasion thanking the Lord that he should allow them such a position as aiding in the washing of sins…one whom has received a portion of the Spirit in union to the love of his life, save Christ. Oh to give an account before the Lord and explain why their ass was so soft and their hands so smooth, and mind so useless, their lukewarm complacency breeding sin, while their wife and children stumbled. That will not be an exciting time I can assure you. As such it is imperative that many of the boys here are led in such a way as to know Christ's desire for their life with respect to becoming a husband someday. We have a great many talks about this subject late at night and what responsibility looks like. More important yet is how their relationship with Christ will inevitably reflect all other relationships in their life. Thus with all things we being with the Alpha and end with Omega. Our focus continually on Christ.
I often think they read much into the gospels and believe Jesus to only ever display powers of love, grace and mercy. And then we move on within our own power. And in those times it would seem that the Lord leaves us momentarily. “I, even I, will tear and go away; I will carry off, and no one shall rescue. I will return again to my place, until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face, and in their distress earnestly seek me.” Hosea 5:15. It would appear there is a similar theme in much of God’s desire such as 2 Chronicles 7:14 “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” It is so simple sometimes just getting down on our knees and truly seeking him. But alas we turn it into a works based theology and begin to work for our salvation often times forgetting to pray and spend time in His Word but rather ‘doing things’ “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” Hosea 6:6 and how many times do people then return to Him in times of need, is it truly turning to Him or only that He might satisfy their desires? “They do not cry to me from their heart, but they wail upon their beds; for grain and wine they gash themselves’ they rebel against me. Although I trained and strengthened their arms, yet they devise evil against me.” Hosea 7:14-15.
And so we must begin to tear down these things from our very being and submit to His Spirit. “Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.” Hosea 10:12. The only way I can be righteous, right before Him, is by Him working through me, listening and submitting, thus obeying Him. One of my favorite Greek words is: υπακούστε which is to ‘obey’. I appreciate it in the Biblical context because it is the combination of two other Greek words; ακούστε(to hear), υποβάλτε (to submit). So for us to obey Christ, we must hear and submit. In my time here in Africa I have been in an ebb n’ flow of my time with Him. I have no excuse, only time to repent. I felt so built up at times prior to coming here, but feel as though I have squandered what He has given me. So much time to be built up in His Word, train other in righteousness and have not given as much as I feel I could give. But perhaps its not about how much I give, but how much I let go that His very Word would emanate from me, that true submission to Him will lead wherever He so desires. “It was I who knew you in the wilderness, in the land of drought; but when they had grazed, they had become full, they were filled, their heart was lifted up; therefore they forgot me. So I am to them like a lion; like a leopard I will lurk beside the way. I will fall upon them like a bear robbed of her cubs; I will tear open their breast, and there I will devour them like a lion, as a wild beast would rip them open.” Hosea 13:5-8
So I sit here with new strength, a desire for discipline. To fight the good fight, to run with endurance, that I should stand firm in the faith, be on my guard, act like a man, let all that I do be done in love. “Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.” Hosea 14:9 And am I truly listening to Him? I should be. “Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” John 8:47 He is the truth and more and more should my day reflect an obedience to Him. “…For this purpose I was born for this purpose I have come into the world-to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” John 18:37b
And to all this I think back to Daniel and feel as he may have felt and find it only befitting that I pray as he has prayed, for others, for myself:
“O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land…To us, o lord, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets…Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. Or Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. Or Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people called by your name.” Daniel 9:4b-5, 8-10, 17-19
As I sit here and read the book of Hosea I come across a couple verses that make me think especially in the midst of times when men proclaim God’s Word to their own advantages. In addition, it reminds me symbolically of proceedings in my own life. The way in which the Lord spoke to people in 753-687 B.C. can still be applicable today. Specifically, to me. And it puts me in a state of humility and repentance at how easy it is to think we can move in our own power, submitting to no other authority but our own.
In Hosea 4:6 the lord says ‘My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me.’ Now we are part of the royal priesthood. 1 Peter 2:5,9 ‘you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ’…’ But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.’ I wonder about all those whom think they hear a calling. I wonder of the wrath in store for them. I think of how later he continues on with the responsibility of men, as they are supposed to be leaders. “I will not punish your daughters when they play the whore, nor your brides when they commit adultery; for the men themselves go aside with prostitutes and sacrifice with cult prostitutes, and the people without understanding shall come to ruin.”Hosea 4:13d-f It is interesting to me when men think they are in charge but charge on in their own power using His name. Also how many often speak of some spirit making them do something and forget human responsibility like in Romans 7. We don’t want responsibility because then we don’t have to own up to our sin. It is as if we never sin. And thus many individuals fall into whoredom.
Men specifically will be held accountable for their own sins and that of their family. However it seems that a spirit of timidity finds them well in a comfy chair in front of the television. Not leading their wives, washing them in the water of the word presenting them holy and blameless without and spot, blemish, or wrinkle before the Lord. What happened to washing, though their sins are like scarlet they are washed white as snow? Where are the men who will rise for that occasion thanking the Lord that he should allow them such a position as aiding in the washing of sins…one whom has received a portion of the Spirit in union to the love of his life, save Christ. Oh to give an account before the Lord and explain why their ass was so soft and their hands so smooth, and mind so useless, their lukewarm complacency breeding sin, while their wife and children stumbled. That will not be an exciting time I can assure you. As such it is imperative that many of the boys here are led in such a way as to know Christ's desire for their life with respect to becoming a husband someday. We have a great many talks about this subject late at night and what responsibility looks like. More important yet is how their relationship with Christ will inevitably reflect all other relationships in their life. Thus with all things we being with the Alpha and end with Omega. Our focus continually on Christ.
I often think they read much into the gospels and believe Jesus to only ever display powers of love, grace and mercy. And then we move on within our own power. And in those times it would seem that the Lord leaves us momentarily. “I, even I, will tear and go away; I will carry off, and no one shall rescue. I will return again to my place, until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face, and in their distress earnestly seek me.” Hosea 5:15. It would appear there is a similar theme in much of God’s desire such as 2 Chronicles 7:14 “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” It is so simple sometimes just getting down on our knees and truly seeking him. But alas we turn it into a works based theology and begin to work for our salvation often times forgetting to pray and spend time in His Word but rather ‘doing things’ “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” Hosea 6:6 and how many times do people then return to Him in times of need, is it truly turning to Him or only that He might satisfy their desires? “They do not cry to me from their heart, but they wail upon their beds; for grain and wine they gash themselves’ they rebel against me. Although I trained and strengthened their arms, yet they devise evil against me.” Hosea 7:14-15.
And so we must begin to tear down these things from our very being and submit to His Spirit. “Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.” Hosea 10:12. The only way I can be righteous, right before Him, is by Him working through me, listening and submitting, thus obeying Him. One of my favorite Greek words is: υπακούστε which is to ‘obey’. I appreciate it in the Biblical context because it is the combination of two other Greek words; ακούστε(to hear), υποβάλτε (to submit). So for us to obey Christ, we must hear and submit. In my time here in Africa I have been in an ebb n’ flow of my time with Him. I have no excuse, only time to repent. I felt so built up at times prior to coming here, but feel as though I have squandered what He has given me. So much time to be built up in His Word, train other in righteousness and have not given as much as I feel I could give. But perhaps its not about how much I give, but how much I let go that His very Word would emanate from me, that true submission to Him will lead wherever He so desires. “It was I who knew you in the wilderness, in the land of drought; but when they had grazed, they had become full, they were filled, their heart was lifted up; therefore they forgot me. So I am to them like a lion; like a leopard I will lurk beside the way. I will fall upon them like a bear robbed of her cubs; I will tear open their breast, and there I will devour them like a lion, as a wild beast would rip them open.” Hosea 13:5-8
So I sit here with new strength, a desire for discipline. To fight the good fight, to run with endurance, that I should stand firm in the faith, be on my guard, act like a man, let all that I do be done in love. “Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.” Hosea 14:9 And am I truly listening to Him? I should be. “Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” John 8:47 He is the truth and more and more should my day reflect an obedience to Him. “…For this purpose I was born for this purpose I have come into the world-to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” John 18:37b
And to all this I think back to Daniel and feel as he may have felt and find it only befitting that I pray as he has prayed, for others, for myself:
“O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land…To us, o lord, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets…Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. Or Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. Or Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people called by your name.” Daniel 9:4b-5, 8-10, 17-19
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Off in June...
On june 26th I will be headed off to Jinja, Uganda for 6 months. I will be working at a refuge with children who have HIV/AIDS. I will try to keep you updated as much as possible. I was reading some scriptures and came to the decision of deferring from med school and taking time off to serve. Phillipians 3:8-11 as well as Colossians 1, were two scriptures that have been pressed on me lately. Remembering that all thing are made through Christ and for Christ, for Jesus's glory! So if you can remember please pray for me and those whom our Lord will allow me to interact with. Thanks!
In Christ,
Jakob
The organization I will be serving with is
In Christ,
Jakob
The organization I will be serving with is
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