True and False Repentance Hosea Part IV

The prophet Hosea continues with the Words of God including further indictments, and a sincere urge to perserverance and repentance. Once again he covers the true doctrine of the knowledge of God and its’ criteria.

Hosea 6:1 contain two parallel passages “he has torn, and he will heal,” and “he has smitten, and he will bind us up.” For the backslidden in heart and consequently in lifestyle this expresses God’s true desire. We see illustrated here that as a result of sin, God tears down, and smotes the sinner. Today is no different. Many professors of the faith find grave difficulty that God would send affliction, but here it is crystal clear. John MacArthur once said, “He will do whatever it takes to make us holy.” His motive in so doing is to urge sinners to true, unfeingned, unadulterated repentance. In verse 2 we find a notable point; that God will revive them in two days. Knowing God is exemplified in perserversance of the saints, this is clear from verse 3. False repentance is clear when God states, “their goodness is like a morning cloud….early dew.” Thomas Watson in the Doctrine of Repentance states that some people in their repentance is like the April shower, it is soon here and gone. Jeremiah 2:20 states the plight and plea of the sinner, “I will not transgress, but under every green tree there you wander playing the harlot.”

Mercy and Knowledge of God are inseperable. In Hos. 6:6b God desires mercy more than sacrifice. Hebrews tells us that “To obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” God isn’t interested in false worship indicative by the putting off of obedience. According to the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, the knowledge of God appear in parallel with the fear of the LORD. Is 11:2, 58:2, Jer. 22:16, this is true religion. A sharp contrast of the false knowledge of God is found in Hos. 4:1-2. Knowledge of God can also stem from His historical works such as Abraham and Moses, but may we never fall short with mere intellectual acquiescence.

In Hos. 7:4 we learn “They are ALL alduterers…ALL have gone astray.” No one can claim exemption here. In v. 6 Total depravity is both magnified and made manifest, they sleep at night and upon morning their hearts burn like a fire. In v.7c “There is none among them that call unto me. How strikingly similar to Paul’s language in Romans…”None righteous, none that seek after God.” Reformed Theology is clear regarding the bondage of the Will in sin. According to Jonathan Edwards, we always choose what we most desire. For us God is NEVER that choice, in our fallen state we hate him, and always choose sin. In John 1:13 “Which were born, NOT of blood, NOR of the WILL of the fesh, NOR of the WILL OF MAN, but of God. Romans tells us that repentance is a gift from God. Thus we must ask God for new hearts to repent. True repentance always leads to perserverance, without either ingredient there is no conversion. In 7:8 Ephraim mixed himself among the people, “not turned.” John said in his epistle “If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” v.14 “And they have no cried unto me with their heart.” v. 16 along with 14 prove that repentance was counterfeit, ” They return, but NOT to the most High.”

Thomas Watson’s small work while weighty in matter at the same time list 6 attributes of True Repentance.

1. Sight of Sin, 2. Sorrow for sin, 3. Confession of Sin, 4. Shame for Sin, 5. Hatred for Sin, 6. Turning from Sin…”If anyone is left out it looses its virtue.” May God wrought out this work in us by his grace alone.

Judgement begins at the House of God, Hosea Part III

Hosea’s office of a prophet spanned approximately 28 years. While this minor prophetic book doesn’t directly allude to the fact of how long it took to pen, its’ content is stellar, and sobering at the same time. Chapter four opens with a serious indictment against God’s people. The LORD states that there is no truth, mercy, nor knowledge of the LORD. Just what exactly is knowledge of the LORD? Is it a mere intellectual assent to theological truth? Or is knowledge of God equivelant to the realm of emotion? What about the volitional (our will) quality of knowing God? Does this knowledge add up to an either/or equation or a both/and involving all the elements above.  May I suggest that it is not only the latter but knowledge of the LORD is equivelant to obedience.  Frequently throughout the Scriptures, knowledge involves LOVE to Christ, not in word only but in deed. Love is often used as knowing. The Bible states Adam knew his wife, referring to the sexual realm of marriage. Thus figuratively speaking, knowledge of the LORD is an intimate relationship qualified with obedience to him, nothing short of it, and nothing less!  There are myriads of professing Christians naming the name of the LORD, yet do not follow Him. After Christ lays down some terms of his qualifications to be a disciple, we read in John 6:66, “Many of his disciples turned their backs on him and followed him no more. Matthew 7:21 is shocking “Not every one that says unto me LORD, LORD shalll enter into the kingdom of heaven ; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, LORD  LORD, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I NEVER KNEW you: depart from me, you that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of mine, and DOES them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.” Mt. 7:21-24

Verse 2 in Hosea chapter 4 clearly indicates that obedience was the indicative factor that was indeed absent. H.A. Ironside once wrote in “Except you Repent,”  “…and so today we have myriads of glib tongued professors…” May we not be in that category, for to OBEY is better than sacrifice. Many believe that sin just involves them and God! What a false assumption, Hos. 4:3b “every one that dwells there shall languish…” Sin affects everyone, and the effects can be judgement, or worse yet damnable without saving faith.  In verse 6 God states, “My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you…” v.7 reads, “As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change there glory into shame.” Leonard Ravenhill once told me that we ought to exchange the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. If we do not posess an obedient heart to Christ repentance is mandatory. As the puritans were known to say, if you can’t go to God with a right heart, go to him for a new one.

In verse 10, “For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD. Verse 14 at the very end of the verse reads thus, “….therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.” Martin Luther the great reformer said, “Ignoratia non excusat!” Meaning Ignorance is no excuse. We must have and understanding of the Doctrine of the knowledge of God, it is of vital importance.  The worst judgement is issued in verse 17, “Epharaim is joined to idols: let him alone.” Here God gives them over to his desire. The worst form of judgement is when God gives someone over to sin. See Romans chapter 1:24 where God gives people up to their sinful desires. May it never be said of us.

This bent of the heart is illustrated in Hos. 5:4 “They will NOT frame their doings to turn unto their God…..and they have not known the LORD.” In verse 6 the end result is horrific at best, “They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the LORD, but they shall NOT find him; he hats withdrawn himself from them.”  Why did God hide himself, even though they went to seek after him? They wouldn’t repent. What is true Biblical Repentance? II Corinthians 7:10-11, “For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world works death. For behold this selfsame thing, that you sorrowed after a godly sort, WHAT CAREFULNESS IT WROUGHT IN YOU, YES, WHAT CLEARING OF YOURSELVES, YES WHAT INDIGNATION (against sin), YES WHAT FEAR, YES WHAT VEHEMENT DESIRE, YES WHAT ZEAL, YES, WHAT REVENGE! in all things you have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.” Do we manifest those attributes of repentance in our lives, if not our repentance is a wordly sorrow and a sham.

In chapter 5:15 Hosea closes with God speaking, “I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.” Knowing God involves the intellect, emotion, and the will. May we ask God for new hearts, and a repentant one.

finis

Hosea Part Two, The Backslider Blind to God.

In order to continue with the narrative found in Hosea, I find it essential to lay some groundwork which may prove itself beneficial in understanding The Book of Hosea. Hosea was called by God to marry a prostitute in order to illustrate to his elect (both Old and New Testament believers) of his faithfulness as well as a clear warning of the impending doom of unrepentant backsliders. This minor prophet truly grips the heart and soul of every believer regardless of their spiritual condition. Unfortunately today we have a myriad of glib tongued professors who do not know Christ apart from intellectual acquiescence. They are either backslidden, mere professors of the faith, or at best unconverted. It is quite common to have both backslidden Christians and unbelievers who have their intellect affected by the gospel. We also encounter emotional responses to the gospel that fall short of saving faith.  Rarely does volition (will) come into the picture under true Gospel Preaching. Instead we would rather have endless choruses of lilting songs, and thematic preaching dev0id of true Biblical expository preaching annoited with the Holy Spirit and power. When we rely on the former methods (appealing to the intellect and emotion alone in preaching) conversion seldom is the result. For those of us who are truly saved it is much easier to yield to so called ministers of the gospel who will appeal to emotion alone and rarely touching the intellect. It is Christ Alone who can affect the heart bringing about an effect on our life. This is why Hosea’s message is desperately needed today.

After God called Hosea to marry Gomer who was a prostitute it is only logical to find that she wandered off to her other lovers. How often we as Christians do the same thing making us guilty of spiritual adultery. In Hosea 3:2 we encounter an amazing picture of Hosea’s love for his wife. He buys her back. What a most excellent picture of redemption and restoration. This is precisely what Christ has done for His church and earnestly desires for the backslidden in heart. In Isaiah 1:21 we read “How the faithful city has become a whore.” Backsliding is likened to whoredom in this case. Hosea 3:3 speaking to his wife says “And I said to her,”You must dwell with me for many days. You shall not play the whore, or belong to another man; so I will belong to you.” This is God’s desire for us. What a beautiful illustration of God’s faithfulness illustrated through Hosea. In spite of Gomers’ unfaithfulness, He purchases her back. In verse 5 “Afterward the children of Israel SHALL return (this is a DIVINE GUARANTEE!)…”and they shall come in fear to the LORD and to his goodness in the latter days.”  Notice the text reads they shall come to fear the LORD. This is one of the ingredients of true biblical repentance and godly sorrow which Paul alludes to in II Corinthians 7:11

To no surprise to God, “There is NO faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land.” Once again this is similar to Paul’s words when he quotes the Septuagint in Romans 3:11 “No one understands; no one seeks for God.” Paul is equating understanding with knowledge of God. There is no dichotomy between these two principles. In relation to ignorance (deliberate and willful) Isaiah 6:9 reads “Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive. v.10 “Make the heart of this people dull, and their eyes heavy, and blind their eyes; lest thy see with their eyes, and hear with their ears; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and UNDERSTAND with their hearts and turn and be healed. If this is not a depiction of the depravity of man, I know not what is. Understanding of the Gospel only comes by divine initiative. It is utterly impossible to be initiated by mankind in any way, shape, or form. Salvation, Healing, and Restoration are all of grace. Listen to Christ’s words in John 15:13 “Every plant that my heavenly Father HAS NOT planted WILL BE rooted up.” Salvation is of the LORD. Regarding the Gospel message in Luke 9:45 Jesus said “But they did not understand this saying, as it was CONCEALED from them, so they mighnt NOT PERCEIVE it.” In Luke 18:34 the text reads, “But they understood NONE of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.”

The most provocative and schocking statement regarding the blindness of sinners is found in John 12:37 “Though he had done many signs before them thy still DID NOT believe in him.” Why not??? v.38 “So that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fufilled: LORD who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?v 39″Therefore they COULD NOT believe.” v 40″He (God) has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest thy see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.” Who is the primary cause of unbelief in this text, the sinner? No. It is God who is the primary cause, this is specifically why Christ taught in parables. This does not cast blame on Christ for unrepentant sinners, may it never be! According to Romans 1 the unbeliver supresses the truth in his wickedness. How radically different this is from preaching today. Regeneration (being quickened or made awake by the Holy Spirit) clearly precedes repentance and subsequently conversion.  Most gospel preaching today remains anthropocentric in nature contrary to Christ and His Prophets in Scripture.

Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge…” In the second half of the verse the charge is laid on Israel. Although God is completely Sovereign in his dealings with men this by no means excuses, dismisses, or makes accusation against the LORD permissable. The case against Israel is mournful in 4:17 “Ephraim is joined to her idols, leave her alone.” Abandonment to sin is horrific judgement. Paul in Romans 1:24 might have reflected on this verse in Hosea when he wrote “Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts, to impurity, to he dishonoring of their bodies among themselves. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.”

Backsliders, Sinners, and Saints alike all must beware against being  blind to the things of God and to the leading of His Spirit through His Word. Granted Hosea is primarily written concerning a backslidden Israel, but it is most certainly applicable to Sinners and especially to the Church. May we remember, Judgement begins in the House of the LORD.

Backsliding Hosea Part One

The message of Hosea to the Christ’s church today is needed now more than ever. It is Jehovah himself that issues charges against a backsliden Israel. It is rather quite prominent in the church, and more importantly Hosea’s message ought to be taken heed by the church. The prophet issues serious warnings to a languishing, backsliden Israel who has departed from God’s covenant and is applicable in our living as Christians.

In verse 2 we read “When the LORD began to speak by Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea: Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry (an adulteress woman) and the children of harlotry, For the land has committed great harlotry By departing from the LORD.” How has the church today done such a thing? By departing from Christ and exchanging Him for its’ own idols. Idols of the heart are far worse than actually setting up literal idols as the Romanists have done. In Jeremiah 3:12 God said…”Return backsliding Israel, says the LORD; I will not cause My anger to fall on you. For I am merciful, says the LORD; I will not remain angry forever. v 13 Only acknowledge your iniquity, That you have transgressed against the LORD your God, And have scattered your charms to alien deities under every green tree, And you have not obeyed My voice says the LORD. In verse 20 Jeremiah’s language is similar to Hosea’s “Surely as a wife treacherously departs from her husband, So you have dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, says the LORD. Perhaps one of the worst rebukes given by God through Jeremiah is in verse 2:20b “And you said, I will not transgress, When on every high hill and under every green tree You lay down, playing the harlot.” Finally in Jeremiah 4:14 “O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, That you may be saved. How long shall your evil THOUGHTS lodge within you, and in 5:3 God’s judgement is made recognizable in the clearest form, “O LORD, are not Your eyes on the truth? You have stricken them, but they have not grieved; You have consumed them But they have refused correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; They have refused to return. Thematically speaking Jeremiah and Hosea strike the same chord. Backsliding is likened to adultery between a husband and a wife. This is the main reason God takes His just stance in marriage on earth. A marriage between a husband and a wife is symbolic between Christ and his Church. How is it that they set up idols? Both literally and in their thoughts.

God called Hosea to marry a whore to illustrate what constitutes sinning against a holy God in thought and deed. A continual walk in this direction leads to a backsliden condition and ultimately God’s fierce judgement. When Hosea married Gomer v.3 “she conceived and bore him a son.” His name was Jezreel meaning God will scatter. God promises to break Israel’s military strength in verse 5. In Hosea 1:6 Gomer bore him a daughter named Lo-Ruhamah (literally not pitied). God said, “For I will no longer have mercy on the house of Israel, But I will utterly take them away.” This is God’s decree of judgement. Hosea’s message progresses from bad to worse in verses 8 and 9 when she has another son, “Then God said Call his name Lo-Ammi, (meaning not my people) For you are not My people, And I will not be your God.” The case here is dreadful. Redemption lays not far from sight. In verse 10 “And it shall come to pass In the place where it was said to them, You are not my people, There it shall said to them , You are sons of the living God.” Is God playing games with words here? By no means, judgement is always the result of impentince. When repentance which is a gift from God is breathed out of the heart of the backslider, God’s grace is able to restore. The most beautiful picture is painted in Hos. 2:14 “Therefore I will allure her, will bring her into the wilderness and speak comfort to her. I will give her her vineyards from there, And the Valley of Achor as a door of hope; she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, as in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt. The valley of Achor means valley of trouble where Achan’s sin was judged in Joshua. This clearly is indicative that the judgement of God would not last forever.

Christ’s chastisement is meant to restore the believer to His God. For those who refuse to repent God will cast them off forever. They will be the ones who shall in that great and final day and utter the words, “Lord, Lord open to us.” and He shall cast them away into everlasting torment, judgement, and eternal death in Hell. How mournful it is for those who remain unfaithful to the LORD. We must heed the words of Hosea the Prophet and remain righteous before a Holy God.

Several observations can be made from Hosea, namely what constitutes idolatry? In our day we are most inclined to set up idols of the heart which cloud a clear vision of Christ High and Lifted up who intercedes for the saints. We place emphasis on materialism and status. Christ’s words to the church of Laodicea to repent and do her first works over again need to be brought into fruition now more than ever. Idolatry also takes place when we set up systems of false doctrine that run contrary to the Word of God. When this is done, we place our reason above Christ. This is what Luther meant when he said, “Reason is the devils whore.” Discriminating preaching to differentiate between the sheep and the goats is frowned upon and termed as divisive. When Biblical Doctrines are upheld not only do we hear the charge of being divisive, but unloving.

May we all return to the Lord God in every way possible. Systematic reading of the Word, Worship in heeding the Word of God in expository preaching, and practical piety. Hosea’s words uttered under inspiration of the Holy Spirit ought to cut us to the heart and cause us to repent before him in order that he may have mercy upon us. The Puritans were known to say, “If you can’t go to God with a right heart, Go to Him for a New One.” Salvation is all of grace. Repentance is a gift from God, and may we endeavor to seek after Him.

Luther’s Bondage of the Will

With respect to theological discussions regarding free will, Martin Luther considered his Bondage of the Will his most important work.  In 1524 a theologian by the name of Erasmus wrote what a Diatribe on Free Will. One year later, Luther responded with this work. I will by no means attempt to discuss the entirety of the arguments laid out on both sides; however, at the same time will address some high points concerning this discussion of free will. Luther relied heavily on Augustine who first trod the path against the heretics, and consequently followed in his footsteps. In this article I will share what I feel are the most important parts of Luther’s stance against Erasmus, as well as the misunderstandings regarding free will in evangelical circles today.

Erasmus defined free will as man possessing the ability to apply himself to the Gospel (and turning away). He essentially stated that mankind is autonomous (self-governing) as many churches teach and preach today.  We have forgotten that in Church History that Pelagius was condemned as a heretic, yet so many professing evangelicals teach either pelagianism or some sort of semi-pelagianism.  Unfortunately this has led to the demise of the church and left it devoid of power in preaching.  We’ve exchanged Biblical truth on this matter for pragmatism which is so prominent in mega churches, seeker sensitive churches, and others who follow in the footsteps of post-modernism. We ought to heed Luther’s words on this essential truth.

Luther penned “There is nothing else that leads to the grace of God, or eternal salvation, but the word and the work of God-grace, or the Spirit, being that very life to which the word and work of God lead us.” (139)  Unfortunately for many this elementary truth has been rejected in exchange for a watered down gospel which is “no more Christianity than chalk is cheese.” (C.H. Spurgeon) We would rather count the numbers of what we believe are actual conversions when in fact God Alone stands the judge here. Instead of waiting for fruit to be evident, manifesting grace in the life of the believer we are left with myriads of professing Christians who like the April showers are here and gone, shortly after “making a decision for Christ.”  We forget that it is “God (who) hath revealed (these things) by his Spirit. I Cor. 2:10.

It is so much easier to ascribe to man a power which doesn’t belong to him at all, neglecting the fact that it is God Alone who is Sovereign in salvation. “For no man on earth, unless imdued with the Holy Ghost, ever in his heart knows of, or believes in, or longs for eternal salvation.” (140) Luther was dead on in his assesment. Instead we would rather rely on drama, theatrical presentations, endless choruses of lilting songs painting the picture of a pathetic saviour who is patiently waiting for the sinner and remains completly powerless, helpless, impotent and desperate for sinners to come to him on the basis of their decision. It is this decisional regenerationism that has plagued the church since the days of Charles Finney and will remain prominent until we return to the old paths. We forget that the altar call, (invitation system) didn’t come into the picture until the mid 1800’s. Since this is true, How were people saved before Finney’s “anxious bench” or altar calls? By the power of the HolySpirit through the power of preaching.  It is utterly essential that we return to expositional preaching, and the Reformer’s view of the Bondage of the Will, and mankind’s utter inability to come to Christ without Regeneration preceding the new birth. (John 3:1-16)

Lombard agrees with Augustine that “free will” of its own power has no power but to fall, nor avails but to sin.” (142) It is this proper understanding of free will that will lead to true followers of Christ instead of mere professors of the faith. Luther penned “If there were enough good in “free will” for it to apply itself to good it would have no need of grace.” (145) We are quite familiar with the Reformation truth of sola fide (faith alone) yet forget that it rests upon the emphasis of sola gratia (grace alone) that is strangely missing from our preaching today.

In The Bondage of the Will Luther fiercely attacks Erasmus inquiring how mankind maintains free will while yet at the same time remains a slave serving sin bound under Satan’s power. This truly is the heart of the matter. Either mankind is dead in trespasses and sin or he isn’t, and if he is dead he remains powerless to choose Christ as Saviour yet alone have Him as his Lord.

Much of the debate stemming from pelagians is that a Biblical command implies ability. Luther on the contrary proposed this, “That a command does not always imply ability to fufill it.” (151) He answers “God is trying us, that by His law He may bring us to a knowledge of our impotence…”(153) Luther continues, “But Scripture describes man as corrupted and led captive, and furthermore, as proudly disdaining this notice, and failing to recognise his own corruption and captivity; therfore, it uses these phrases (to choose Christ) to goad and rouse him, that he may know by sure experience how unable he is to do any of these things.”(153) What is humorous is at best Erasmus falsely assumes that man’s ability at best to do good is “probable.”  Martin’s reply to Erasmus was that the law was to bring knowledge of sin NOT ability, “not to display or confer any power.” (158) How is it that we ignore these truths? We would much rather dumb down God’s attributes of Sovereignty in attempt to deify mankind. This vain attempt somehow makes the sinner needed by God, as if God were infinitely lonely. We forget that before mankind was created the trinity was in perfect harmony and God was infinitely happy. God doesn’t need us, we need him. Salvation is by no means a divine entitlement. God owes man absolutely nothing. We are utterly powerless without Him.

Briefly returning to the pelagian view that the law implies ability Luther fired back this remark to Erasmus, “The words of the law man is admonished and taught, not what he can do, but what he ought to do; that is, that he may know his sin, not that he may believe that he has any strength.”(159) Assuming that mankind had the ability to obey God, Martin answers Erasmus “even grammarians and schoolboys at street corners know that nothing more is signified by verbs in the imperative mood than what OUGHT (emphasis mine) to be done…How is it that you theologians are twice as stupid as schoolboys, in that as soon as you get hold of a single imperative verb you infer an indicative meaning, as though the moment a thing is commanded it is done or can be done here.” (159) Once again Luther emphasises Grace alone is necessary for salvation to take place. It is my sincere hope that we may heed Luther’s words in spite of the fact they fly in the face of our easy believism gospel presentations that are so prominent today.

Total Depravity Part II or Moral Inability

It has  become quite common today to hear phrases such as ,”At the moment, He is seeking God, or They are searching for the truth.” In our day of post-modernism as Christians we don’t even question these statements. For those of us who are Christians we are even guilty of making statements like, “I made a decision for Christ, or I came to Christ on such and such date;.” surprisingly, this line of thinking is not only foreign to Scripture but anti-Scriptural. Granted we may have been saved on a given day, or felt that we had to make a decision to serve Christ (which are good things); however, the thought process behind this line of thinking is completely false.  What is quite shocking is that many of us actually believe and teach these things, and even share them with unbelievers. (Even I was guilty of this for years.) Both the Bible, and Church History have much to say regarding this.

In I Corinthians 2:14  Paul the Apostle wrote under inspiration of the Holy Spirit,”But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned.” Simply put, the sinner cannot comprehend ANY of the Bible because they are dead spiritually. How many times has an unbeliever said, I just cannot understand the Bible. They are telling you the absolute truth! According to this verse it is foolishness to them.  Early on in Genesis 6:5 we learn “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” It is here that we get to the crux of the matter on how we really are before we are regenerated by the Spirit of God. The scripture doesn’t read some of the intents were evil but that ALL of them were and are. How does this account for the “good” things that people do? Helping the elderly, poor, visiting the sick, being kind? All these things are done by the sinner whether consciously or not in an attempt to earn merit with a Holy God.  Somehow we think we can earn “brownie points” with Him.  Listen to the words of Christ to the religious leaders of his day, “Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to my Word.” John 8:43 The Unbeliever is under the power of sin since he is contrasted with the believer in Romans 6:14 “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. The unbeliever is bound by Satan “While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome by him also he is brought into bondage.” II Peter 2:18 (speaking of false teachers). We also learn that the sinner is at war with God in Romans 8:7 “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law, nor indeed can it be.” If we earnestly believed these verses we would believe that mankind doesn’t have the ability to come to Christ.

The basis of Total Depravity or Moral Inability is that the sinner is completely unable to come to Christ on his own (free will) unless first regenerated by the Spirit of God! This is precisely what Jesus meant when he said “Apart from me you can do nothing.” Moral inability destroys the pride of man and exalts the glory of God. allegedly, Mark Twain said, “God created man in his own image, but man returned the favor.” In other words we have created a god that is just like us. The doctrine of moral inability brings low the pride of man, and deifies Christ! How is it that we can claim that salvation is all of grace and yet take some of the credit for coming to Christ. This is utterly impossible.

According to the Bible man is not seeking God, nor desires him (Romans 3:9-18) By nature we are children of wrath, and are d ead in trespasses and sin according to God’s Word. So frequently we hear the Gospel presented in such a manner that God comes 99% of the way and man the other 1%. It has been illustrated with word pictures like God is standing on the shore and man lost in sin is going down for the third time and Christ throws out the life raft to the sinner if he only grab hold of it. This is false! Rather the Bible paints a picture that man is a dead corpse at the bottom of the ocean and needs to be brought back to life again.

Augustine in the midst of the same controversy shed light on this himself. Adam prior to the fall had the ability to sin (posse peccare). He went on to say that Adam had no ability not to sin (posse non peccare).  He continued that Adam didn’t have the inability to sin (non posse peccare), finally stating that Adam didn’t have the inability not to sin, (non posse non peccare).  This last statement may seem confusing since it uses a double negative. Simply put, the only ability we possess as sinners is to sin. We are not sinners because we sin, We sin because we are sinners. According to Jonathan Edwards we always choose what we most desire at that time, and that is sin. It is in this sense that we lost our freedom.

In our Gospel presentation we ought not to urge men to accept Christ or make a decision for Him, rather we should obey the Biblical command that “God commands all men everywhere to repent.” This is precisely why Paul didn’t rely on persuasive words of man’s wisdom, great oratory skills so that men might accuse him and say that’s why you get results! Yet so many pastors/teachers do just that.  We need to return to the elementary teaching of Christ, “Unless a man is born again he cannot SEE the kingdom of God.” He is unable to comprehend it! It is the Sprit’s responsibility to convict men of sin, The Father is the one who draws men to the Son, and Jesus Christ saves sinners. Any addition to this is a perversion of the Gospel Call.

Does Calvinism Mean We Are Robots?

Some have suggested that Calvinism suggests that we are merely robots. Shakespeare commented “all the world’s a stage and we are merely players.” Is this an accurate depiction of Calvinism, (or Reformed Theology)? This question hits a few points in Reformed doctrine, one being Total Depravity (or Moral Inability), God’s Sovereignty/Human Responsibility (or culpability), God’s Providence, and God’s Decrees. That is an awful lot of ground to cover theologically. It causes the human mind (especially the critics of Calvinism) to contemplate such questions as “Is man responsible for sin?,” “Is God the author of evil?,” “Aren’t we mere puppets on a string?,” “Does God drag people to heaven against their will?” These are all viable questions, and although the intent of this article is not to address all of the questions, I am certain it will clear up some of them.

One of the most elementary teachings of Scripture is that God is in Sovereign (in control), and that man is responsible for all of his actions (Culpability). Immediately the question arises, “Well if God is in Control of everything, how is man still responsible for sin?” Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility has received more than fair treatment by theologians such as J.I. Packer, D.A. Carson, and John Frame and others. I am firmly convinced that Scripture addresses this question. A familiar story to all of us is how Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. Joseph’s brothers clearly acted willfully, and sinfully when they mistreated Joseph. This is not in question, they meant to harm him, tried to cover their sin, and disobeyed God. They were acting out the evil intentions of their hearts. Notice Genesis 50:20, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant in for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” Here we witness evil intentions of men acting freely but “God meant it for good.” God was clearly orchestrating this whole plot here. This is termed as God’s Providence. Does this excuse the brothers’ sin? By no means, as Joseph cast blame on his brothers.” The emphasis is placed on God orchestrating the events! We see God using the evil intentions of men for HIS purposes. This is illustrated by a familiar passage ,Romans 8:28 “For God works all things together for them that LOVE him, and are CALLED according to his purpose.” This verse is only applicable to believers! And a mighty assurance that whatever a believer encounters, God looks after his own. Why? Paul continues in verse 29 “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son…” Here we see God’s intention in ALL believers lives, ultimately to conform us to the image of His Son, and He will do whatever it takes.

Paul doesn’t hesitate to use the word predestine here, and we ought not shrink back from it.

In the Westminster Confession of Faith under Chapter 3 under the heading “God’s Eternal Decree.” We read the following in paragraphs one and two: “God from all eternity did, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass: yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin, nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures, nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established. II “Although God knows whatsoever may or can come to pass upon all supposed conditions; yet hat he not decreed any thing because he foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions.” (emphasis mine). Here we notice God controls all things according to his good pleasure, nor does God force people into committing sin. We also read that His Control (predetermining) isn’t  based on God looking into the future and basing his predestination on foreknowledge.

Another excellent N.T. passage illustrating Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility is Peter’s sermon in Acts 2:23 “Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.” Here Peter clearly states that it was God’s intention that Christ die. John the Baptist declared, “Behold the lamb of God who was slain from the foundation of the world.” Christ death on the cross was predetermined, preordained by God the Father, but yet he cast all blame on them for their sin. This is almost identically parallel to the story of Joseph. Does this mean that Judas can stand up on the final day of judgement and declare that he was the one who made redemption for the church possible? Absolutely not, Christ Declared, “For the Son of man goes as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom hes is betrayed!”  Luke 22:22

John Calvin stated, “thieves and murderers and other evildoers are the instruments of divine providence, and the Lord himself uses these to carry out the judgements that he has determined with himself. Yet I deny that they can derive form this any excuse for their evil deeds. Why? Will they either involve God in the same iniquity with themselves, or will they cloak their own depravity with his justice? They can do neither.” Calvin’s Institutes 1:217

Many have come to false conclusions regarding Calvinism stating it makes God the author of sin. Calvin and the Reformers clearly denied this, and more importantly so does Scripture deny this teaching. Scripture affirms both God’s Sovereignty and Human Responsibility. J.I. Packer in Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God discusses this. He mentions that it is called an antinomy. An antinomy is where we find two principles lying side by side, both of them irreconcilable, yet both undeniable.

The Bible teaches both concepts, and neither one should be emphasized more than the other. We need to present them as Scripture does. We cannot reconcile them, and we cannot comprehend how both square up logically with our finite minds. Most importantly we do NOT need to reconcile these two truths. Scripture affirms them and so should we in obedience to His Word.

The Puritans

Unfortunately the Puritans have far to often received such negative caricatures from our society. In high schools across America they are portrayed only as people who burned witches at Salem. Unfortunately this is not the case.  As with any religious group there are extremes, and so it was with Salem. While at the same time there are literally a multitude of Puritans to read from to learn from theologically, practically, as well as securing the groundwork of reformed theology apart from the reformers.

Jonathan Edwards pictured here was “the greatest mind ever produced” according to the Encylopedia Brittanica. His written works are over 24 volumes currently in print by Yale University. (They can be purchased quite reasonably from Solid Ground Christian Books on the internet.) While he is most known for his sermon “Sinners in the hands of an Angry God,” there literally is a unbelieveable amount of sermons that are incredible for edification. “Pressing into the Kingdom” is just one of them. His “Religious Affections” distinguish between true and false conversion. John Gerstner was considered one of the best authorities on Edwards until his recent passing. He wrote a 3 volume set entitled “The Rational Biblical Theology of Jonathan Edwards.” Videotapes of his lectures from Ligonier Ministries regarding Edwards are also available. Next to Religious Affections, His second best work is “The Freedom of the Will” although difficult to trudge through, is very instrumental in illustrating man’s inability to choose God, and the power of sin in the unbeliever.

So what about the others? Numerous Puritans were major contributors to the greatest Reformed Document, The Westminster Confession of Faith. This has to be one of the best compilations on theology in existence (not to diminish the Canons of Dordt.) The Puritans that particularly stand out on the WCF are Edward Reynolds, Jeremiah Burroughs,  Thomas Case, Joseph Caryl, Thomas Goodwin, and Obadiah Sedgwick among others. Most of these theologians works are still in print today. Although many had more degrees than a thermometer, many simply wanted to be known as a “minister of the gospel.” C.H. Spurgeon is regarded by some to be the last of the Puritans, whose works are world known.

Many people ask where do I start, where do I begin? Banner of Truth Press has a series of Puritan Paperbacks that are an excellent place to begin your journey. The first book in this series I ever read was Thomas Watsons’ Doctrine of Repentance and I assure you that you will be reading it on your knees. Thomas Brooks has an incredible work entitled “Heaven on Earth” it is a treatise regarding assurance of salvation, and in my opinion the best work on the subject, his other work, “Precious Remedies against Satan’s Devices,” is of equal importance. In that work he has a chapter on false teachers which is more applicable today than it did when it was penned.

The Puritans adamantly defended the Reformed Doctrines and made them applicable to their congregations. They emphasized what has been termed as experiential Calvinism (practical Christianity or Day to Day living.) Many present day theologians and authors have gleaned and emphasized their impact on theology. Dr. Samuel Logan, (former President of Westminster Seminary in PA), John MacArthur, Alistair Begg, John Piper, Sinclair Ferguson, and J.I. Packer just to name a few.

As I have read, and continue to read their works, never before have I been more convicted of sin, and never have I been drawn to Christ. In my worst time as a Christian I read Thomas Hooker’s The Poor Doubting Christian Drawn to Christ and was truly revived and refreshed. Whatever you are looking for in respect to Biblical Theology I can with an unshakeable confidence refer you to the Puritans. John Owen’s works are amazing, William Bridge (if you can find them) Thomas Case, Thomas Goodwin and others.

In conclusion, the best thing you can do if you haven’t already is just dive in to their writings and bask in the knowledge that they had (led by the Spirit) and enhance your Christian life. You will not be disappointed.

Soli Deo Gloria (To the Glory of God Alone)

Faith and Works

Today I responded to another blogger who wrote an article entitled “Are Faith and Works Inseperable?”

This was my response to him. It is not meant to be exhaustive by any means;however, it does cover the groundwork of what believers in Reformed Circles do with these two topics. Here was my response.

Faith and Works haven’t been discarded in reformed circles as many have wrote concerning this. Your statement here is without suffficient ground or warrant. Dr. Norman Shepherd (formally from Westminster Seminary), John MacArthur in “The Gospel According to Jesus”, and his “Gospel According to the Apostles.” Earlier, J. Gresham Machen in “What is Faith?” Calvin himself dealt with this topic in his institutes;moreover, so did the Westminster Confession of Faith” Lastly Luther in his Commentary on Romans. This list is not meant to be exhaustive by any means, but to provide a starting point as the backbone of what Reformed Theology represents.

In the Westminster Confession of Faith (hereby referred to as WCF) The larger catechism in Q. 76 asks, “What is repentance unto life?” A. Repentance unto life is a saving grace wrought in the heart of the sinner by the Spirit and the Word of God, whereby, out of the sight and sense, not only of the danger, but also of the filthiness and odiousness of his sins, and upon the apprehension of God’s mercy in Christ to such as are penitent, he so grieves for and hates his sins…purposing and endeavouring constantly to walk with him in all the ways of new obedience.” See II Cor. 7:11

When you ask are works and faith inseperable, I believe you are contemplating the doctrines of Justification and Sanctification. See WCF Q.77 Wherin do justification and sanctification differ? A. Although sanctification be inseparably joined with justification, yet they differ, in that God in justification imputeth the righteousness of Christ; in sanctification his Spirit infuseth grace, and enableth to the exercise thereof; in the former sin is pardoned in the other it is subdued….”

Machen in What is Faith pg. 204 wrote “But if the faith regarded insufficient by James is different from the faith commended by Paul, so also the works commended by James are different from the works commended by James are different from the works regarded as inefficacious by Paul. Paul is speaking of the works of the law, he is speaking of works that are intended to acquire merit in order that God’s favor may be earned; James on the other hand is speaking of works like Abraham’s sacrifice of Issac that are the real result of faith and show that faith is real faith.”

The difference of works in reformed thinking is that they establish nor gain any merit in salvation. (This includes initial saving faith.) Pelagian, or semi-Pelagian thought emphasizes works as the basis for salvation. Consequently many falsely assume that the reformers tossed works altogether. Martin Luther flies in the face of this kind of thinking in his commentary of Romans in his introduction pg. 17
“Faith, however is a divine work in us…Oh it is a living busy, active, mighty thing, this faith and so it is impossible for it not to do good works incessantly. It does not ask whether there are good works to do, but before the question rises, it has already done them. He gropes and looks about after faith and good works and knows neither what faith is nor what good works are….it is impossible to seperate works from faith, quite as impossible as to separate heat and light fires. Beware therefore of your own false notions and of the idle talkers who would be wise enough to make decisions about faith and good works, and yet are the greatest fools. Pray God to work faith in yo; else you will remain forever without faith, whatever you think or do.”

Calvin discussing James 2:21-22 (see MacArthur Faith Works pg. 92) wrote this “It appears that he is speaking of the manifestation, not of the imputation of righteousness, as if he had said, Those who are justified by ture faith prove their justification by obedience and good works…And as Paul contends that men are justified without the aid of works, so James will not allow any to be regarded as justified who are destitute of good works. Due attention to the scope will thus disentangle every doubt; for the error of our opponents lies chiefly in this, that they think James is defining the mode of justification, whereas his only object is to destroy the depraved security of those who vainly pretended faith as an excuse for the contempt of good works.Therefore let them twist the words of James as they may, they will never extract out of them more than the two propositions: That an empty phantom of faith does not justify, and taht the believer, not contented with such an imagination, manifests his justification with good works.”

In addition it is absolutely essential to understand that justification is by faith alone. Works merely illustrate that truth. The WCF mentions that justification and sanctification are inseperable. I urge you kindly not to say this topic has been discarded by people of the Reformed Faith. This is a gross misunderstanding on your part. In response to it needing additional research, I can kindly assure you that a multitude of articles in Theological Journals like JETS, WTJ and practically every Puritan wrote on this topic. I hope you find this helpful.

Respectfully Tom Michnay

Election and Predestination

Election although a controversial and even hated doctrine of Christianity is definitely a Biblical truth. A casual reading of Scripture affirms it and church history backs it up. Election or Predestination (two doctrines which can be used interchangeableably)predate the reformers. Most credit Augustine, one of the early Church Fathers. At the same time it is important to realize before Augustine Paul taught this doctrine, and before Paul, Christ himself affirmed it.

What many have termed the Golden Chain of Redemption is found in Romans 8:30 “and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.” Many individuals falsely assume that ALL are called to be saved. While this is true in one sense (the General call of the Gospel that goes out to everyone,) it is quite the opposite in another as this text bears out. This “call” that Paul is speaking of here is a special one. Theologians draw a distinction between general revelation and special revelation.

In this Scripture if this “call” was for every single being of the human race then all would be saved? Why this conclusion? Paul states those “he called, he also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.” If this “call” was for everyone in THIS text, then all would be justified (declared righteous) and ultimately glorified (have their mortal bodies changed on that great and final day.) Then the only conclusion one could come to is that this scripture teaches universalism (that ALL will be saved), and Scripture doesn’t promote this in any way shape or form.

What this verse is clear on is that for those who God calls unto Salvation WILL come, and WILL ultimately be saved. John teaches this in John 6:44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.” v.65 “And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.” Similarily in John 6:39,40 “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”

You cannot come unless the Father draws (compells) you to come, you cannot come unless it is granted to you by the Father, when you do come you will not fall away, and He will raise you up on the last day. No one falls between the cracks, and no one escapes Him if they are genuinely saved.

Election or predestination is not based on forseen faith. In other words God doesn’t look into the future and see that a sinner will believe in Christ and Chooses them on their faith. On the contrary. Here are a few examples.

Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that NOT OF YOURSELVES, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD.” What is not of yourselves? Being saved through faith. And what is the gift? Faith. Faith is a gift (that too is not of yourselves.) The whole second half of the verse is an antecedent leading back to the first half of the verse. You didn’t excercise faith in Christ! You didn’t “accept Him, decide for Christ, make a decision for Christ, or believe in Him.” It wasn’t of your own volition, it wasn’t of you!

Romans 9:11,13,14 “for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice (election) would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls. v.13 Just as it is written Jacob I loved, But Esau I hated v. 14 What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there, May it never be!” For Paul to bring up the argument of injustice with God is an incredible point.

If predestination was based on God looking down through the corridors of time and seeing a sinner come to Christ (foreknowledge) Paul would have NEVER said this. He would never have asked There isn’t injustice with God is there? The argument of injustice would NEVER come up if predestination was based on foreknowledge. But how many people cry, “That’s not fair!” when the true doctrine of election is taught. When you truly teach that salvation is ALL of grace, and man had nothing to do with it, and cannot respond until the Holy Spirit regenerates Him first so he THEN can believe. As soon as the Biblical Doctrine of Election is expounded what is the first cry that comes forward? That’s not fair and God isn’t just! That is why Paul brings up his hypothetical argument in v.14 “What shall we say then?” You would never, ever accuse God of being unjust if you believe that God predestines people based on forseen faith (foreknowledge). In Rom. 9:16 “So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. v.19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will? v. 20 On the contrary, who are you, O man who answers back to God?….

Paul continues his discussion on election in Romans 10 and 11. Concerning the elect of Israel in 11:28b Paul writes “but form the standpoint of God’s CHOICE they are beloved for the sake of the fathers, and in 11:29 states “for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” In verse 33,34 he states “Oh, the depth of the rich both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgements and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became his counselor?”

One of the strongest verses in the New Testament is found in Acts 13:48 “When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; AND AS MANY AS HAD BEEN APPOINTED TO ETERNAL LIFE BELIEVED.”

Does this mean that we are merely human robots, or puppets on a string. No one thousand times no. The Bible teaches Divine Sovereignty (God’s Choice) and Human Responsibility. Sinners perish for only one reason, refusing to repent. God would be perfectly just in sending us all to hell for breaking the law. The fact that he only elects some to salvation is an act of His grace. He doesn’t have to save anybody! Salvation is not a Divine Entitlement. We think that it is. It would be perfectly just for God not to save anyone. The fact that he does is an act of His grace. This makes salvation Christocentric (Christ Centered) rather than Anthropocentric ( Man Centered).

We are to preach the Gospel to every single person as commanded. We are NOT to ask people to accept Christ. The Bible Commands “all men everywhere to repent.” We preach the Gospel, The Spirit convicts, The Father Draws, and the Son Saves. This is Biblical Christianity, nothing more and nothing short of it. Soli Deo Gloria (To the Glory of God Alone).