THE SOVEREIGNTY AND GENEROSITY OF A JUST GOD

INTRODUCTION

The Commentary of Dr. Zacharias Ursinus on the Heidelberg Catechism Question 32. But Why Art Thou Called a Christian?

The name Christian is derived from Christ, and denotes one who is a disciple of Christ—one who follows his doctrine and life, and who, being engrafted into Christ, has communion with him. There are two kinds of Christians; some that are only apparently such; and others that are really and truly such. Those who are Christians merely in appearance, are those who have been baptized, and who are in the company of those who are called, and profess the Christian faith; but are without conversion, being nothing more than hypocrites and dissemblers, of whom it is said: “Many are called, but few are chosen.” “Not every one that saith, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven,” &c. (Matt. 20:16; 7:22.) Those are true christians who are not only baptized and profess the doctrine of Christ, but who are also possessed of a true faith, and declare this by the fruits of repentance; or, they are those who are members of Christ by a true faith, and are made partakers of his anointing. All true Christians are such also in appearance, because it is said, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good work, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” “Show me thy faith by thy works.” (Matt. 5:16. James 2:18.) But it is not true, on the other hand, that all who are apparently Christians are also such in reality; because it will be said of many, “I never knew you.” (Matt. 7:23.)

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The name Christian is derived from Christ, and denotes one who is a disciple of Christ—one who follows his doctrine and life, and who, being engrafted into Christ, has communion with him. There are two kinds of Christians; some that are only apparently such; and others that are really and truly such. Those who are Christians merely in appearance, are those who have been baptised, and who are in the company of those who are called, and profess the Christian faith; but are without conversion, being nothing more than hypocrites and dissemblers, of whom it is said: “Many are called, but few are chosen.” “Not every one that saith, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven,” &c. (; .).

Those are true christians who are not only baptised and profess the doctrine of Christ, but who are also possessed of a true faith, and declare this by the fruits of repentance; or, they are those who are members of Christ by a true faith, and are made partakers of his anointing. All true Christians are such also in appearance, because it is said, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good work, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” “Show me thy faith by thy works.” (. .) But it is not true, on the other hand, that all who are apparently Christians are also such in reality; because it will be said of many, “I never knew you.” (.)

It is important to ask yourself these questions today. How am I a Christian if (i) when the world designs their dress (revealing, short, exposing, flamboyant and provocative), I copy it and wear it? How am I a Christian if (ii) when they play a tune of their worldly music, with corrupting lyrics, I enjoy sing it? And am I you a Christian if (iii) when they devise a slang, a corrupting language, I speak it along with them?

A Christian must dress modestly, not exposing the parts of your body that are to be covered; not unnecessarily revealing contours of your body. As a christian you should not be accepting and listening to worldly music, filled with worldly wisdom and corrupt language; videos filled with suggestive images, unacceptable and, ungodly language. Listen what God commands you to do as a Christian ().

Ephesians 5:18–19 KJV 1900

18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Ursinus, Z., & Williard, G. W. (1888). The Commentary of Dr. Zacharias Ursinus on the Heidelberg Catechism (pp. 176–177). Cincinnati, OH: Elm Street Printing Company.

1. THE SOVEREIGN GENEROSITY OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER

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As in many parables of Jesus, this parable explains how God deals with people called into the Kingdom of Heaven. The Farmer represents God and the labourers are people called into God’s Kingdom (; ). We see this in the parable we just read. From this parable, we see:

(i) God’s Call (); The farmer hired all those labourers. Both those who were hired early and those who were hired late, must show gratitude to the farmer. If he didn't hire them, then they would not b hired at all. We can also see his generousity in hiring people at different hours of the day. He was not rigid with his time for hiring. God is calling the whole world to repentance and to obtain salvation in Christ ().

If you got saved as a young person praise God. You have been spared of all the terrible sins and mistakes that could have affected your soul, your life and your reputation. But praise God you have been spared all that. Continue to serve the Lord with all your heart like Timothy (; ). And if you are a young person, a teenager and you have not been saved, I call you to salvation today. Receive Christ as your Lord and Saviour, confessing your sin to Him right here, right now. It will save you a lot of shame and heart ache as an adult. If as an adult you are not yet saved, it is not too late. Maybe you have seen the dangers of sin and the damage it can do. You need to surrender your life to Christ today and be saved (; ; ). You do not know tomorrow; Today is the day accepted for salvation; and God cannot always be found!

(ii) God’s Compassion (; ; ; ). I don’t think any Christian will doubt the compassion of God through Christ. It is because of the mercies of God we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not (). Mercy is God’s compassion in action. As this householder generously hired everyone who was available to be hired for work and paid them their due wages, so the Lord calls us and blesses us with the blessing of heaven, with salvation, sanctification, the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Christ would never send his listeners away hungry or thirsty. This compassion brought about the miracle of multiplication of loves of bread and fish to feed first, 5000, and then 4000. This compassion makes God to forgive those who are undeserving ().

(iii) God’s Charity (). Where there is compassion, there must also be charity. The householder was so charitable that he paid a day’s wage to all regardless of the time they started. You get to go to heaven whether you are saved young or you get saved much later in life. The thief that was crucified along with Jesus received instant pardon and the same day went to paradise. Because of God compassion and charity he gives us what we don’t deserve and takes way the things we deserve! For instance God took away the punishment due to our sins and gave us new life in Christ.

2. THE SOVEREIGN PREROGATIVES OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER

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Divine Prerogative is the exclusive power belonging only to God by which He choses what, where, how and when He deals with His creation. This power belongs only to God and no one can question it.

Divine Prerogative is the exclusive power belonging only to God by which He choses what, where, how and when He deals with His creation. This power belongs only to God and no one can question it when God choses to exercise it.

The complaint of the people who were hired early was unfounded. Yes they did the most work of the day, but they agreed to the normal day’s wage. If he chose to give a day’s wage to someone who worked for only one hour, or who did not work at all, that would be his prerogative. Was he unfair to those who worked all day? Psychology Today Magazine of May 11, 2013 gave three definition of fairness.

1. SAMENESS: The fairness where everything is equal. So everyone pays the same price for a train ticket, whether a child, an adult or a senior citizen. No one has more than another. Everyone eats or no one does, for example. Logically, then, an infant and an adolescent will receive the same amount of food. It doesn’t matter that one needs more than the other. Fairness is finding the average and applying it across the board.

Take salvation for example, God chose to save us in Christ Jesus. He made both the choice and the provision for our salvation (; ). Our salvation was effected by the sovereign prerogative of God (; ).

2. DESERVEDNESS: In this notion of fairness you get what you deserve. If you work hard, you succeed and keep all that you earn. Fairness means keeping what you deserve and deserving nothing if it isn’t earned. The hardest working, most diligent, smartest and most talented should have more because of their attributes; the lazy, indifferent, stupid and inept deserve to have less. Fairness is a rational calculation. This is fairness as individual freedom.

3. NEED: The third idea of fairness is that those who have more to give should give a greater percentage of what they have to help others who are unable to contribute much, if anything at all. Fairness here takes into account the facts that humans have obligations to one another and the more one has the more is demanded of that person to contribute to the common good. Fairness and responsibility are linked. Compassion plays a role in the calculation of fairness. This is fairness as social justice.

All the above definitions have some truth in them, but that is as far as man is concerned. But do these apply to God?We cannot apply human standards to God. At best some of the elements of fairness are what we have extracted from God’s word and commands. Take salvation for example, God chose to save us in Christ Jesus. He made both the choice and the provision for our salvation (; ). Our salvation was effected by the sovereign prerogative of God (; ).

When God exercises His power as God, no one can question Him, regardless of how they feel about it (; ). Woe to him that striveth with his Maker!

This parable is not necessarily about salvation, for salvation is full and free for all who will answer the call. But many people do not respond to the call of salvation. Therefore many are called but few are chosen ().

Consider some of these passages (,; ; ; ; ; ; ).

Romans 9:11–22 KJV 1900

11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) 12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. 14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. 19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

2. DESERVEDNESS: In this notion of fairness you get what you deserve. If you work hard, you succeed and keep all that you earn. Fairness means keeping what you deserve and deserving nothing if it isn’t earned. The hardest working, most diligent, smartest and most talented should have more because of their attributes; the lazy, indifferent, stupid and inept deserve to have less. Fairness is a rational calculation. This is fairness as individual freedom.

3. NEED: The third idea of fairness is that those who have more to give should give a greater percentage of what they have to help others who are unable to contribute much, if anything at all. Fairness here takes into account the facts that humans have obligations to one another and the more one has the more is demanded of that person to contribute to the common good. Fairness and responsibility are linked. Compassion plays a role in the calculation of fairness. This is fairness as social justice.

Matthew 13:11 KJV 1900

11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

Jude 4 KJV 1900

4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 11:25 KJV 1900

25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

John 8:47 KJV 1900

47 He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

John 10:26 KJV 1900

26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

Proverbs 16:4 KJV 1900

4 The Lord hath made all things for himself: Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

Romans 9:22 KJV 1900

22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

Romans 9:13 KJV 1900

13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

Matthew 13:11 KJV 1900

11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

Jude 4 KJV 1900

4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 11:25 KJV 1900

25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

John 8:47 KJV 1900

47 He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

John 10:26 KJV 1900

26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

Proverbs 16:4 KJV 1900

4 The Lord hath made all things for himself: Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

SOVEREIGN PRIVILEGES FOR THE FAITHFUL BELIEVERS

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In our service to God, there are times when the wages will exceed the value of the service. In those cases, God’s grace , generosity and sovereignty are being manifested. For grace in unmerited favour of God to undeserving man.

No God cannot be accused of being unfair, becuase not only fairness a human concept that does not apply to God, God is Sovereign and Creator. And just as the car cannot ask the maker what he is making, and the phone cannot ask the owner it is being used in whatever way, we cannot question God. We cannot charge God. We cannot demand anything of Him. We are simply the work of His hands. We do not speak of any rights except what God has given us in His word; what He has made available to us through Christ. Those are our privileges in Christ. When we pray we can make use of our privileges. All the promises of God to those who believe are privileges we can lay claims in our prayers.