Things New and Old: Consistency, thou art a Jewel

Things New and Old

Ancient truths revealed in the Scriptures are often forgotten, disbelieved or distorted, and therefore lost in the passage of time. Such ancient truths when rediscovered and relearned are 'new' additions to the treasury of ancient truths.

Christ showed many new things to the disciples, things prophesied by the prophets of old but hijacked and perverted by the elders and their traditions, but which Christ reclaimed and returned to His people.

Many things taught by the Apostles of Christ have been perverted or substituted over the centuries. Such fundamental doctrines like salvation by grace and justification have been hijacked and perverted and repudiated by sincere Christians. These doctrines need to be reclaimed and restored to God's people.

There are things both new and old here. "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things" 2Ti 2:7.

Sunday, April 16, 2017

Consistency, thou art a Jewel

Consistency, thou art a jewel.

Inconsistency, thou art a peddler of lies.

The Argument on the Well-meant Offer of Salvation

In a nutshell, as I understand it:
- God decreed and purposed salvation for His elect.
- Christ executed that purpose and secured salvation for the same.
- The Spirit applies that salvation to each elect, dead in trespasses and sins, in the effectual call out of his native state of sin and death.

God sends His preachers, either
- to well-meaningly offer the salvation to all, or
- to call all those whom He has already effectually called to salvation to believe the truth of their salvation by His free and sovereign grace in Jesus Christ.

The choice is simple; only one of the two choices is consistent with the Scriptures.

Many, even the reformed folks, believe that God's decretive will and His preceptive will are different! That's a fable at best, schizophrenic at worst. Man may be schizophrenic; God, never. To suggest so is blasphemous. I believe the prescriptive will of God is in perfect harmony with His decretive will.

Apostle Paul summarized his whole ministry thus, "Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes..." I conclude that the gospel ministry, consistent with the particular redemption, is intended for and relevant only to the effectually called elect.

Christ's recommissioning of the regathered Apostles spelled out the nature of the ministry of the word, "feed... feed... feed..." The simple question is, feed who? Many insist, "Feed the dead to give them life." Others believe, to feed those whom God has effectually called to eternal life. Feeding has to do with the living; many believe otherwise, feed to bring life to the dead.

Just my feeble thought.