The Book of 1 Chronicles: Study 4 - The Genealogy points to the promised Messiah

 Study 4 - The Book of 1 Chronicles  
The Genealogy points them to the promised Messiah (1 Chronicles 3)

The previous chapter traced the genealogy of the “godly line” up to David, one of the eight sons of Jesse. This chapter continues the line from David all the way to the Son of David, the promised Messiah.

Mat 1:1 ¶ The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Mat 21:9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.”

Matthew 22
41 ¶ While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.
43 ¶ He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,
44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?
45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?
46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

1. Outline of Chapter 3
a. This chapter gives an account of the sons of David:
- 3:1-9: those born to him both in Hebron and in Jerusalem,
- 3:10-16: his successors in the kingdom, to the Babylonian captivity: David > Solomon > Rehoboam > Abia > Asa > Jehoshaphat > Joram > (Ahaziah > Joash > Amaziah) > Azariah > Jotham > Hezekiah > Manasseh > Amon > Josiah > Jeconiah exiled to Babylon

- 3:17-24 of his family, to the coming of the Messiah: Jeconiah > Salathiel > Zerubabel > Abuid > Eliakim > Azor > Zadok > Achim > Eliud > Eleazer > Matthan > Jacob > Joseph > Jesus the Christ.

b. Mat 1:17¶ So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.
- Abraham to David: 14 generations
- Solomon to Jeconiah (carried to Babylon): 14 generations
- Salathiel to Christ : 14 generations

2. The Sons of David (v1-9)
a. Six were born to him in Hebron, who are reckoned in the same order as in 2 Sam 3:2. 
- But here the second son is called Daniel; in 2 Sam goes by the name of Chileab. The reason is he had two names, see here 1 Sam 25:39.
- v4b gives an account of his reign both in Hebron and Jerusalem, in harmony with 2 Sam 5:5.

c. And these were born unto him in Jerusalem; four and nine – thirteen in all. 
- Bathshua is the same as Bethsheba. 

d. v9: these were all the sons of David by his wives
- besides the sons of the concubines, who are not reckoned, and how many they were is not known; he had ten concubines at least, 2 Sam 15:16 and 2 Sam 20:3.

e. And Tamar, their sister, of his son Absalom by the mother's side, of whom see  2 Sam 13:1.

3. The sons of Solomon (v10-16)
a. From Solomon to Josiah: from here to the end of the fourteenth verse, David's successors are named, according to the order of their reign, unto Josiah and his sons.
- Solomon, Rehoboam, Abia, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joram, Ahaziah, Joash, Amaziah, Azariah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, Josiah, in all sixteen.

b. From Josiah to Jeconiah (exiled to Babylon):
- And the sons of Josiah were, the firstborn Johanan; we don’t read of this son anywhere else; he probably died before his father Josiah. The other three were Jehoiakim, Zedekiah, and Shallum.
- And the sons of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah, his son, Zedekiah, his son. 

c. And the sons of Jeconiah: For though he was pronounced childless, Jeremiah 22:30, not because he had no children, but none to succeed him in the kingdom.
- Assir, which signifies bound, or a prisoner, because his father then was a captive in Babylon.

4. The sons of Jeconiah in Babylon to the promised Messiah (v17-24)
a. “The sons of Jeconiah the captive:
- Salathiel his son; the same that is called Shealtiel, Haggai 1:1 who was both the proper son of Jeconiah, and who succeeded him, as some think, in the honour and dignity the king of Babylon raised him to.
- Malchiram also, and so the rest that follows:
- Pedaiah, and Shenazar, Jecamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah. 

b. And the sons of Pedaiah were Zerubbabel and Shimei.
- And the sons of Zerubbabel; Meshullam and Hananiah, their sister Shelomith; and five sons, possibly by another wife - Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushabhesed. 
- And the sons of Hananiah: Peletiah and Jesaiah > Rephaiah, Arnan, Obadiah, Shecaniah; six in all.
- And the sons of Shecaniah: Shemaiah, and grandsons, Hattush, Igeal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat
- And the sons of Neariah: Elioenai, Hezekiah, Azrikam, three. 
- And the sons of Elioenai: Hodaiah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Dalaiah, and Anani, seven in all.

c. In Matthew, thus, "Zerubbabel, Abiud, Eliakim, Azor, Sadoc, Achim, Eliud, Eleazar, Matthan, Jacob, Joseph, Jesus."
- The difference in names may be accounted for by their having two names.
- It is remarkable that the Targum makes Anani the King Messiah, who was to be revealed. This plainly shows that the Jews expected the Messiah to come at the end of this genealogy, and about the time Jesus, the true Messiah, did. 
- Anani is reckoned by other Jews a name of the Messiah, who is said to come in the clouds of heaven, which Anani signifies. Dan 7:13.

 

The Book of 1 Chronicles: Study 3 - The Lord multiplied Israel (Jacob) exceedingly

Study 3 – The Lord multiplied Israel (Jacob) exceedingly (1 Chronicles 2)

Gen 47:27 ¶ And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly.

The LORD God, the faithful covenant-keeping God, will remain faithful to His covenant people. 

1. Outline of Chapter 2
a. v1-2: the 12 sons of Israel/Jacob, the father of Judah
- The 12 sons are here mentioned by name; 
- The first 4 according to their birth of Leah: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah.
- Then the two sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, Issachar, and Zebulun.
- And between Dan and Naphtali, the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid, are placed Joseph and Benjamin, the sons of Rachel.

b. v3-4: the sons of Judah, the fourth son of Jacob; Judah the father of Pharez and Zerah.

c. v5-8: the posterity of Pharez and Zerah, the sons of Judah; Pharez the father of Hezron. 

d. v9-12: the sons of Hezron, a son of Pharez, particularly the posterity of Ram, a son of Hezron, from whom sprung Jesse and his family. 

e. v13-17: sons of Jesse, the father of David, 7th sons.

f. v18-24 the sons of Caleb: another son of Hezron, the same son that is called Chelubai, v9.

g. v25-33 the posterity of Jerahmeel, the firstborn of Hezron, and particularly 

h. v34-41 the posterity of Sheshan, a descendant of his. 

i. v42-55 other sons of Caleb, with their posterity, and the chapter is closed with the families of the Scribes in Jabesh – the city of the learned. 

j. Summary of the holy line traced and covered in chapter 2: 
- Judah > Pharez > Hezron > Aram > Amminadab > Nahshon > Salmon > Boaz > Obed > Jesse > David.

Chapter 3 picks up with David, “Now these were the sons of David…” 

2. Some notes on the information attached to some names
a. v1: The LORD changed Jacob’s name to Israel, to honour him. See Gen 32:28. He wrestled with God. 

b. v3: The sons of Judah: the genealogy begins with him, though the fourth son of Jacob.
- Chronicles treat chiefly of the kings of Judah.
- Also, not only Jesse and David sprang from him, but also the promised Messiah.
- “daughter of Shua the Canaanites”
- “Er… was evil in the sight of the LORD”: he did that which is evil. Er was the husband of Tamar. Onan was slain, too; he despised the duty required of him as a brother. Gen 38:10. Shelah was spared – Num 26:20
- “Tamar, his daughter-in-law”: through incest, bore a twin to Judah. Gen 38:27

c. v7: “Achar, the troubler of Israel, who transgressed in the thing accursed”:
- Achar, who was the grandson of Zimri; his proper name was Achan, Joshua 7:1. Here he is called Achar by way of reproach. 
- Achar signifies: "who transgressed in the thing accursed"; devoted to the Lord, by taking it away for his own use, Jos 6:17. Thus, the valley in which he was put to death was called Achor, Joshua 6:26.

d. v10: “Nashon, prince of the children of Judah” only here, Nahshon the son of Amminadab, is called the prince of the children of Judah; is written for the honour of David, who descended from him; and Salmon, his son, is here called Salma.

e. v15: “the seventh” - Jesse had eight sons, 1 Sam 16:10. One is not counted here, for some reason. 

f. v16: “whose sisters were Zeruiah, and Abigail.” 
- the 3 sons of Zeruiah were all valiant men and captains in David’s army. 
- Though their fathers’ names are nowhere mentioned. 

g. v18: “Caleb the son of Hezron” – see verse 9, Chelubai, brother of Jerameel
- wives Azubah/Jerioth (18), Ephrath (v19), the 3rd was not named (v42), concubines Ephah (v46) and Maachah (v48)

h. v30: “… died without children.”

i. v31,34: “… the children of Sheshan; Ahlai… Sheshan had no sons, but daughters”
- plural children (daughters) but only one named, the one given to Jarha

j. v42: More sons of Caleb mentioned; these were by a third wife, Azubah, Ephrath being dead, 2:19. 

k. v49: “and the daughter of Caleb was Achsah”
- Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, had a daughter of this name, but neither he nor she is here meant, Joshua 15:16
- By whom Caleb, the son of Hezron, had this daughter, is not said; perhaps by Maachah, his concubine last mentioned.

l. v50: “These were the sons of Caleb, the son of Hur…”
- This is another Caleb, the grandson of Caleb, the son of Hezron, called after his name; he was the son of Hur, the firstborn of his wife Ephrath, 2:19

 

The Book of 1 Chronicles: Study 2 - Roots Are Important

Study 2 – The Root of the Tree of the Lord (1 Chronicles 1)

Introduction
a. The 1 Chronicles is divided into two major parts.
- Part 1: chapters 1-9 are genealogical or the Root; with one section given to the period from Adam to Jacob (1:1-2.2) and another given to the descendants of Jacob (2:3-9:44), extending well into the fifth century BC.
- Part 2: chapters 10-29 concentrates on King David’s reign and the temple plans. 

1 Outline of Chapter 1
This chapter gives us the genealogy of the patriarchs
a. v1-4 Adam to Noah: These first four verses exactly agree with the account of the antediluvian patriarchs in Gen 5:1

b. v5-27 of the sons of Noah, and their posterity, to Abraham. 
- Here begins the genealogy of the sons of Noah after the flood; of the sons of Japheth the elder, in this and the two following verses; next of the sons of Ham, the younger brother, 1Chro 1:8
- Then of Shem, whose posterity are mentioned last, because from him, in the line of Eber (Hebrew), sprang Abraham, the ancestor of the Jewish nation, of whom the Messiah was to come, for whose sake this genealogy is given, 1Chro 1:17
- The whole is the same as the account in Gen 10:1f

c. v28-34 of the sons of Abraham and their posterity: 
- The sons of Abraham: the famous and well-known ancestor of the Jews; of Ishmael his firstborn, and his posterity; of his sons by Keturah; and of Isaac and his sons, an account is given from hence to the end of verse 34; entirely agreeing with the account in Gen 25:1

d. v35-37 of the sons of Esau:
- The sons of Esau: The firstborn of Isaac; his posterity are named in this and the two following verses, as in Gen 36:1, only it should be observed that Timna, 1Chro 1:36, is not the name of a man, but was the concubine of Eliphaz, the eldest son of Esau, and the mother of Amalek, Genesis 36:12.

e.. v38-42 And the sons of Seir:*
- This man and his posterity were not of the race of Esau, but are mentioned because they were a family into which Esau, and a son of his, married, and whose possessions he and his obtained. The account is the same as Gen 36:20, with some minor variations of names.

f. v43-54 and of the kings and dukes that reigned in Edom:
- Now these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom,... Which had its name from Esau, who was so-called, Gen 25:30. The account is given of the kings and dukes of Edom, in the same order as in Gen 30:31. 

g. A list of family names (around 200 in chapter 1 alone) is boring to those who are disinterested in roots or are rootless, those whose lives are not anchored in nor guided by history and who are absorbed with present excitement and temporary impressions. 
- However, it is of great interest to those who want to know their roots, to establish their identity in life, and to have a clear direction in where they are going. 
- To the author of Chronicles, genealogy has great stories to tell and powerful lessons to teach. To grasp his message we need to come to grip with the significance of the genealogies.

In the genealogies, we have a series of family trees, and the ‘tree’ image is one picture by which God so often in Scripture illustrates His greatest truth with such simplicity that anyone can understand it. With the imagery of the tree, we are at once directed to the root from which the trunk, branches and leaves originated. Branches and leaves can’t afford to ignore the roots and trunk that hold them up. 

2. Roots are Important
a. In the first three chapters, we have a broad sweep from Adam to the contemporaries of Ezra
- Adam > Shem > Abraham > Isaac > Jacob (Israel) > Judah > David > Elioenai and his seven sons; the last are the most recently sprouted leaves at the top of this Lord’s Tree, perhaps men who are known to Ezra himself. 
- There are also lateral branches of this tree. At each of a dozen points, we are shown a group of brothers, the immediate families, for example, of Japheth (1:5-7) and Ham (1:8-16).  
- Also included with this genealogy are lists, not of family relationships, but of rulers – kings and their chiefs – of Edom (1:43-54).  
- Although the purpose is to ultimately focus upon the nation of Judah, the genealogy is actually the history of the human race, and also of the spiritual descendants of Abraham. 
- The whole human race descended from Adam to Noah. From one of the three sons of Noah came Abraham, and from him David, and finally, greater than David, the Lord Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah of God’s elect people. 
- The other lines that descended from Abraham are traced only to show forth their relationship to the narrow and godly line that terminated Jesus, the Son of David. 
- Godly ancestors do not guarantee godly descendants. From the spiritual point of view, it is through the supernatural spiritual birth that produces godly descendants. 

b. Adam was the federal head of the whole human race
- God entered into a covenant with him as the head of the human race. So, as a covenant of works, Adam's relationship to God entitled him as a son to all the blessings of life as long as his works were well-pleasing to God.
- But as soon as his works violated the command of God, those blessings would terminate. So Adam could not gain life through works; he had been given life. 
- But he could, through his works (disobedience), forfeit what he had and plunge himself and his posterity into a state of sin and misery. 
- That fall into sin became the occasion for God to unveil His gracious promise of the Saviour who will honour the covenant on behalf of all His people, all those given to Him by God. It is only the Last Adam, by His life and death, who could rescue us from the curse of sin, and restore us to God again.

c. Noah was the man from whom the world was populated afresh after the flood. 
- God’s covenant with him is a reminder that he is the Lord of the whole earth, not just one nation (Gen 9:8-17).
- Some names of those from whom nations were established are mentioned in the genealogies, to indicate that the human race descended from Noah has spread throughout the world.
- Javan was the father of the Greeks (1:5); Tarshish (Spain) and Kittim (Cyprus) are mentioned too. Cush (Ethiopia) is mentioned several times (1:8-10); Mizraim (Egypt) in v8,11.  
- Some individuals are singled out for special mention, eg Nimrod (v10), Peleg (v19) and Hadad (v50). But all these individuals (leaves of the tree) belong to larger communities, tribes, and nations, all with the common root which can be traced back to Noah and Adam, the head of the human race. 

d. The gracious Lord did not abandon the fallen race of Adam, but showed His great and abundant mercy and gave the promise of the Deliverer who will save His people from the curse and effects of the Fall.  
- Because of this grace and mercy, there is a story to tell, a story rooted solidly in the history of the human race. 

3. God’s Hand in History 
a. The true history is God’s story
- The record of God’s dealing with mankind. From the one common root, a genealogy of a specific line is traced. Along the way, the genealogical path passes many forks. 
- This is because God is working out His eternal purpose of redemption. The seed of the woman who was promised to Adam is the pursuit of the genealogical quest. Along the way, the wonders of God’s gracious dealing with His people are recorded and interpreted for us. 
- God has set His electing love on a multitude of the fallen race of Adam. He is sovereign, and His free grace determines who will be among His redeemed people. It is through these people that the Lord God worked out His purpose in the history of the human race. 
- In every age, God has His chosen people whom He will preserve for Himself. Through them, God is bringing His purpose to pass. God’s purpose is not worked out in a vacuum, but in real space-time history, involving the lives of real people like you and me, living real and down-to-earth lives. 
- History is not made up of spectacular events and great personalities, but the ordinary lives of ordinary men and women. 

How do we see our ‘ordinary life’ in these ordinary times? Are you making history, God’s story?

b. The genealogical records, v38-51, also remind us that the people of God were confronted with enemies. Nothing was smooth sailing.
- Abel was murdered by Cain. 
- Esau was resentful of losing his birthright to Jacob (Gen 25:29-34). Esau’s jealousy left a legacy of bitterness that was directed against Israel for generations to come.
- The Edomites, descendants of Esau, attacked the Israelites when they came; they proceeded to possess the promised land (Num 20.14-21). 
- They gloated when Nebuchadnezzar attacked and destroyed Jerusalem in 587BC, and even took advantage of the situation to attack and kill the escaping Israelites (Ob 10-14). 
- The descendants of Esau also became known as the people of Seir. Seir was a prominent descendant of Esau who established a well-organized kingdom long before a king ruled in Israel (v43). 

c. For all its strength, Seir, the enemy of God’s people, was fragile in God’s sight. Significantly, death is written all over this branch of the genealogy. “Died” is written seven times over the enemies of God’s people. Their kingdom shall certainly perish with them.
- All other earthly kingdoms will face the same fate, but God’s kingdom will last forever, and the author is out to remind the people of God of this great truth. Let us remember this as we face the hostility of the world.

 

The Book of 1 Chronicles: Study 1 - Introduction

Study 1 - The Book of Chronicles

Introduction

a. Beware of the first impression
- Beware of going by first impressions because they can be very misleading! This is particularly so in the case of the Book of Chronicles. The long list of names that confronts us, especially in 1 Chronicles, could easily dampen and/or deaden the enthusiasm of the keenest student of the word. Then the long description of the temple and its worship is certainly of antiquarian interest only! It should be remembered that the book (1 & 2 Chronicles, originally one book and still in the Hebrew Bible) was equally removed from the first readers of Chronicles. This will become plain later.

- But there are important indicators to the true nature of this seemingly dry and dead book (God forbids such thoughts of His inspired and holy word. See 2Tim. 3.16-17.)

b. Chronicles in the Hebrew OT
- In all the early manuscripts of the Hebrew OT, the two books of Chronicles were always on the same scroll.
-The Hebrew OT places the Chronicles at the very end of the OT canon. (There is great significance in this, as we will see.) In the Greek and Latin (and therefore, our English) translations it is placed immediately after 2 Kings, followed by the book of Ezra. This seems more natural since Chronicles covers much the same period as 2 Samuel and 1&2 Kings. Also, the last two verses of 2 Chronicles are repeated in Ezra 1:1-3, thus linking it with that book.

c. The audience and the purpose of Chronicles
- However, what seems at a casual glance to be a retelling of Samuel/Kings turns out to be something much more than a repeat of the old and dry history. It is much more than an alternative history.
- First, there are many additional materials. Ezra writes history in a broad sweep, going back to the very beginning of mankind. Many details (unnecessary for his purpose of writing Chronicles) were omitted.
- Second, the history was written at an entirely different period of Israel’s history, i.e. AFTER the 70-year exile, for the specific purpose to stir up the hearts of the remnant and discouraged people of God before they enter the 400+ years of inter-testament silence. The covenant of the LORD Jehovah with king David has not failed; it will be fulfilled. 

1. General Information of 1 and 2Chronicles

a. The author:
- No author for these books is mentioned. The accepted Jewish tradition is that Ezra wrote the books sometime after he returned from Babylon in 458BC. As a priest and skilled scribe who knew the law of Moses thoroughly, Ezra was well qualified to write the books, most likely between 450 and 425 BC.
- He had been empowered by King Artaxerxes to go from Persia to Jerusalem with funds to beautify the temple and also to be a religious leader of the Jewish people (Ezra 7). While in Jerusalem, he led the reading of the laws of Moses before the people gathered in the temple courtyard. He also supervised a reform of religious life and practice in the land (Neh 8).

b. The date:
It is significant to note that the Chronicles were written much later. Unlike the Samuels and the Kings that were written BEFORE the exile, Chronicles were written AFTER the exile.
- Chronologically, Chronicles is a much later book. For that reason, it is placed last in the Hebrew Bible of the OT.
- 1 and 2 Samuel and Kings concentrate on the wars and reigns of various kings of Israel and Judah, whereas Chronicles focuses on the temple and the reigns of the Davidic dynasty, with whom the covenant was made:
- The Chronicles focuses on the theological/covenantal and spiritual aspects, rather than the political and moral life of the nation of God’s covenant people.
- It is the book that closes the canon of the OT Hebrew Scriptures. What is the reason for this fact? Whatever the reason may be, it seems a fitting one. Ezra’s selectivity and the way he summarises God’s gracious dealings with His covenant people in broad sweeps is a fitting conclusion to the OT Scriptures.
- Like apostle John and the book of Revelation, Ezra rounds off the entire major section of Holy Scripture by describing to the OT covenant people the great and overall pattern of the Lord’s dealing with them.

c. The people addressed
- We do know something about them. There were subjects of the Persian Empire, descendants of those Israelites who had been restored to their homeland in Judah (456BC) after the series of deportations and exiles of the early sixth century (523, 515, and 505BC).
- Practically, therefore, everything in the book of the Chronicles was for these people part of an age gone by. The writings belonged to a world separated from theirs by the 70-year gulf of the Babylonian exile, and the people in those narratives were all past history – seemingly dry, dead, and irrelevant.
- But Ezra’s purpose is more than dry and dead history. It is to remind the covenant people of God’s great faithfulness despite their failure. The Chronicles records God’s faithfulness, emphasising hope for the future as they waited for the promised Messiah. The purpose of God shall not be frustrated.

- 1Chro 17
11 And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expire that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom.
12 He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever.
13 I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee:
14 But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore.

2. An Outline of  1 Chronicles

a. Part 1 – 1 Chronicles 1-9
- The Root (the genealogies): (1-3: Roots; 4-6: Branches; 8-9; Fruit).
- The kingly tribe of Judah and the priestly tribe of Levi occupy the most space, focusing attention on the redemptive function of priest and king.

b. Part 2 – 1 Chronicles 10-29
- King David reigns and the temple plans. In the period of safety and prosperity, the plan for the temple was put forward.
- 10-12: The unity and individuality of the people of God
- 13, 15-16: Changeless grace in changing circumstances.
- 14, 18-20: The fame and fear of the King
- 17, 21-22: The great gifts for the house of God
- 23-27: A people prepared
- 28-29: The great continuities

 c. Part 3 – 2 Chronicles 1-9
- Solomon's reign and the building of the temple. These chapters form the climax. The temple is built and dedicated. Solomon teaches the people, and his fame grows. The message is clear: when a nation honours God, God will bless it. Solomon is a token of what God has done for His people, and of what “One greater than Solomon” will yet do for them.
- 1-2: Solomon established himself
- 3-5: The building of the temple
- 6-7: The dedication prayer
- 8-9: The greatness of Solomon

d. Part 4 – 2 Chronicles 10-36
- The rest of the kings in the Davidic dynasty. Not one of the northern kings is good, and they are mentioned only as they affect Judah. Even among the kings of Judah, the decline is evident.
- Godly kings are blessed in their lifetime; ungodly kings are judged also in their lifetime. A succession of bad kings finally led the nation to exile in Babylon in 587BC.
- Finally, the Chronicles ended with an explicit acknowledgement of God’s signal mercy to His undeserving people, His faithfulness to His covenant for His own namesake. Even a pagan king like Cyrus is made an instrument for the good of God’s people.
- And so the Chronicles concludes with the momentous historical event – the imperial decree issued by King Cyrus, which restored God’s people to their land in Judah - of which all the returnees from the exile are vividly aware.

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Questions
1. How important is a sense of history to the life of Christians and that of the Church?
- What implications are there for us?

2. Ungodliness often leads to consequences affecting many generations (Ex 20.5)

   Which is preferable: the see the consequences of sin in this generation or in the future generations? (1Ch 21;1-13. cf. Is 39.8). What are some practical implications for us in the present generation?

 

Effectual Call and Gospel Call

 

#effectualcall #gospelcall

1689.10.3
"Elect infants dying in infancy are regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit; who works when, and where, and how He pleases; so also are all elect persons, who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the word."

"... so also are all elect persons, who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the word," THAT IS, there are elect souls who do not have the gospel sent to call them from darkness to light... EVEN THOUGH they are effectually called out of their native state of sin and death to that of grace and salvation.

The effectual call and the gospel call are distinct:
- The former is independent, both logically and chronologically, before the latter

- The former is monergistic; the latter is synergistic.

- The former is the free and sovereign application of the eternal salvation to each elect personally, the latter brings experiential knowledge of the former.

- The former makes the latter possible only.

- The former is absolutely certain and immutable; the latter involves human factors, thus involving variables.

 - an elect who is effectually called but without the gospel call and an elect who has both the effectual call and the gospel call - both are equally saved in the eternal sense; the gospel call brings a child of God varying degrees of practical/temporal salvation.

Thomas Paul Simmons' statement implies that every elect soul, without exception. shall have the gospel call out of darkness to light; that's a fable of many modern neo-Calvinistic Baptists. They believe that the gospel call and effectual call is a "package deal" - like McD's combo deal.

p/s
Yes, it is "elect infants" and not just "infants"; chapter 10 is on the effectual calling of the ELECT, therefore, the context demands "elect infants." Revisionists insist infants, even all the aborted and those infanticided. 

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Reggie Lee
Well said!

Mark Thomas
Powerful truth stated. Thank you, Bro. Sing.

Bill Taylor
Many have greatly erred from this truth by ignoring or denying the last statement in your response. "Revisionists insist infants." You are spot on that only elect infants are considered.

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