Posted on Jan 18, 2018 in Uncategorized | Tags: predestination, predestined, salvation
“Having been predestined according to [God’s] purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will” (Eph. 1:11).
God took the initiative in salvation by choosing you and granting you saving faith.
In Ephesians 1:4 Paul says that God “chose us in [Christ] before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.” In verse 11 he reiterates that marvelous truth by affirming that believers have been predestined to salvation according to God’s own purpose and will.
Many reject the teaching that God chose (predestined) believers to salvation. They think believers chose God. In one sense they’re right: salvation involves an act of the will in turning from sin to embrace Christ. But the issue in predestination goes deeper than that. It’s a question of initiative. Did God choose you on the basis of your faith in Him or did He, by choosing you, enable you to respond in faith.
The answer is clear in Scripture. Read more…
|
Posted on Dec 13, 2017 in Uncategorized | Tags: faith, Grace, James, Paul, salvation, works
Paul and James
The Teaching of Both Compared
Paul and James did not contradict each other; but rather they complemented each other. What both men wrote was inspired by God (2 Tim. 3:16) and true. Paul’s focus was on the unsaved man and how he might get right with God. James’ focus was on the saved person and how he might show his faith and demonstrate the reality of his faith.
| Paul’s Teaching |
James’ Teaching |
| You cannot be saved by works(Ephesians 2:8-9) |
You cannot show that you are saved without works (James 2:14,18) |
| How can a person be saved?By faith alone (Rom. 3:28) |
How can a person show that he is saved? How can he “show his faith”?Only by works (James 2:18) |
| Faith without works saves (Romans 3:28)This is a living faith (saving faith) |
Faith without works does not save (James 2:14)This is a dead faith (James 2:17,20,26) |
| Faith alone saves |
The faith that saves is not alone |
| A person is not saved by works(“works” are rejected by Paul as the means of salvation:it is wrong to say that a person must do good works in order to be saved)These are meritorious works, that is, works done to try to merit or earn salvation |
A saved person will perform good works(“works” are understood by James to be the result of salvation: a person does good works because he is saved)These are faith works, that is, works that spring from a faith that is real and living. |
| Paul agreed with JamesHe taught that good works must accompany saving faith (Eph. 2:10; Tit. 3:8; Gal. 5:6; Phil. 2:11-12). |
James agreed with PaulHe taught that a person inherits the kingdom only by faith (James 2:5) and that Abraham was justified by faith (James 2:23) |
| Paul used the example of Abraham when he first believed in God (Rom. 4:3 and compare Genesis 15:6). |
James used the example of Abraham when his faith was tested by God, about 40 years later (James 2:21 and compare Genesis 22) |
| The error Paul corrected:Salvation is by the works of the law (the error of legalism) |
The error that James corrected:Works are unnecessary after a person is saved (the error of antinomianism) |
| Paul wrote about how a guilty sinner may be justified before God. |
James wrote about how a believer can show that his faith is genuine (justification or vindication before men) |
| At the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 the key issue was that salvation is by grace through faith and not by the works of the law. See the error in Acts 15:1 and Peter’s conclusion in Acts 15:9,11. James, who took a lead role in this discussion never voiced any disagreement with Peter or Paul over this crucial matter. |
| Paul’s perspective: He was viewing the guilty sinner who needed to be right with God. (The sinner is in view) |
James’ perspective: He was viewing the believer (or professing believer) who needed to demonstrate that his faith was real. (The believer is in view) |
THe above information may be downloaded in a single page
chart here.
Posted on Jun 19, 2017 in Devotions | Tags: God, gospel, John, salvation, sermon notes
The Christianity which I call fruit-bearing, that which shows its Divine origin by its blessed effects on mankind – the Christianity which you may safely defy unbelievers to explain away – that Christianity is a very different thing. Let me show you some of its leading marks and features.
(1) Fruit-bearing Christianity has always taught the inspiration, sufficiency, and supremacy of Holy Scripture. It has told people that God’s Word written is the only trustworthy rule of faith and practice in religion, that God requires nothing to be believed that is not in this Word, and that nothing is right which contradicts it. It has never allowed reason, a person’s mind, or the voice of the Church, to be placed above, or on a level with Scripture. It has steadily maintained that, however imperfectly we may understand it, the Old Book is meant to be the only standard of life and doctrine. Read more…
