Salvation, cont
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 6 viewsNotes
Transcript
Man’s Responsibility in Salvation
Man’s Responsibility in Salvation
Even though God is sovereign in choosing those who are to be saved, man is still responsible for his sin and rejection of Christ. These are two truths that create tension within us. Namely, that in light of God’s sovereign choice of some for salvation.
Let’s review.
God offers an open call
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Man is responsible for his unbelief
18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Man is held responsible for not obeying the gospel
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,
Man is not saved because he is unwilling to come
37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!
39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.
God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility are seen side by side in Luke 22:22. God determined that Judas would betray Christ and yet Judas is held responsible
22 For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!”
23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
From eternity past, God’s Word invariably has accomplished His divine goal, which has always included His loving and gracious desire that no human being would perish but that “all should come to repentance.”
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
This wonderful truth is a balance to the great emphasis Paul has been placing on God’s sovereignty (Rom 9:6-26). Although the two truths seem mutually exclusive to our finite minds, God’s sovereign choice of every person who is saved is, in His infinite mind, perfectly consistent with His promis that whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed — John MacArthur.
Consider two people who hear the gospel but only one responds positively. No Christian would say that the one who chooses Jesus is more righteous than the other, but if both are equally able to make the right choice, logical consistency means that the one is saved because he did something good in his decision-making. But if sinners are unable to love God, faith must be a gift and not something we initiate to get God to love us. This is the importance of sola gratia.
I like to look at things systematically. So bear with me here. I find that this has helped me wrestle with these biblical truths.
Ordo Salutis
Election
Before the foundations of the world, because of his sovereign good pleasure, God chooses some people to be saved.
Romans 8:28-29, condensed version
Scripture proofs
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
Calling
God summons people to himself through the human proclamation of the Gospel so that they might respond in faith.
Outward call vs inward call.
Consider two people who hear the gospel but only one responds positively. No Christian would say that the one who chooses Jesus is more righteous than the other, but if both are equally able to make the right choice, logical consistency means that the one is saved because he did something good in his decision-making. But if sinners are unable to love God, faith must be a gift and not something we initiate to get God to love us. This is the importance of sola gratia.
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.
30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Regeneration
God secretly and sovereignly imparts spiritual life to those who have been called.
3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
γεννάω ἄνωθεν genooow anothen (literally conceived from above)
Conversion
Justification
Adoption
Sanctification
Perseverance
Glorification
We willing respond to the gospel call, repenting of sin and placing our faith in Christ for salvation.
Conversion begins when God initiates the calling or drawing of one unto Himself. (John 6:44). This drawing is similar to that of a net as one is drawn by inward power and divin impulse.
ἑλκύω hell-kyu-o (attract powerfully, haul, drag
God reaches out and draws men to Himself according to His good pleasure. He does this, of course, through the preaching of the gospel or the reading of His Word and the conviction of sin through the Holy Spirit.
Consider two people who hear the gospel but only one responds positively. No Christian would say that the one who chooses Jesus is more righteous than the other, but if both are equally able to make the right choice, logical consistency means that the one is saved because he did something good in his decision-making. But if sinners are unable to love God, faith must be a gift and not something we initiate to get God to love us. This is the importance of sola gratia.
This is an inward call, to those whom God has elected, not the outward call of repentance to all people.
Conviction of sin and repentance
God has given the law to provide us knowledge of sin.
20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
b. Here is the dilemma, though, many people would disagree with the law
19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
c. When God calls us, his calling produces Godly grief, which changes our desire, leading to repentance
9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. 10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
This is regeneration.
The Holy Spirit changes our desire. The heart will always choose the strongest desire at the moment. Jonathan Edwards, Freedom of the Will.
2. The Nature of true saving faith, turning to Christ
13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
Romans 10:8–10 (ESV)
8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
3. The results of true conversion
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
For the believer, What is the penalty for sin according to Rom 8:1? condemnation
From what is the believer free? law of sin and death.
When freed from sin, what does a believer become?
18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
Evidence of Salvation
Evidence of Salvation
True faith will always be marked by good works and will be tested by trials
18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
God prepared us for good works.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.