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.

Monday, June 12, 2017

Them which are sanctified by faith that is in me

To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light,
and from the power of Satan unto God,
 that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance
among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.


"... Them which are sanctified by faith that is in me."

Act 26
16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Q. To whom did the risen Lord Jesus Christ send Paul?
A. To them “which are sanctified by faith that is in Christ Jesus.”

Who are they which are sanctified by faith that is in Christ Jesus?
What is the sanctification spoken of here? Is it the definitive sanctification or the on-going sanctification?

The sanctification by the faith that is in Christ Jesus is the definitive sanctification, i.e. once for all, not requiring or admitting repetition. This happens at the effectual call, when the Triune God, freely and sovereignly call an elect out of his native state of sin and death to that state of grace and salvation by the faith that is in Christ Jesus, i.e. based solely on the faithfulness of Jesus Christ in His work of redemption for His people.

The Lord Jesus Christ sent Paul to those whom God has DEFINITIVELY sanctified, i.e. effectually called and separated from the state of sin and death to that state of grace and salvation based solely upon the faithfulness that is in Jesus Christ.

This is not speaking of the sanctification that is ongoing throughout life through the ministry of the word. A man is NOT sanctified by his faith in Jesus Christ. Only a man whom God has sanctified by the faith that is Christ Jesus is capable of believing.
An elect is DEFINITIVELY sanctified, i.e. once for all, not requiring or admitting repetition - by the faith that is in Christ Jesus, i.e. based solely on the faithfulness that is in Jesus Christ. ]

Only those that are definitively sanctified by the faith that is in Christ Jesus can receive an inheritance among the same!

Only the eyes of them which are sanctified by the faith that is in Christ Jesus can be opened by the gospel ministry. Only the mind of such can be enlightened by the gospel truth concerning their eternal salvation by the free and sovereign grace of God in Jesus Christ. When their eyes are opened to the truth of their salvation by God's free grace in Jesus Christ, they are turned from the darkness of ignorance into the light of knowledge; they are saved from the darkness of ignorance unto the light and knowledge of salvation and righteousness.

To be enlightened with the gospel truth of one’s salvation by God’s free grace in Jesus Christ is to experience the forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ.

Satan is the father of lies; when they that are sanctified by the faith of Christ are taught the truth of God, they are delivered from the power of Satan, and unto the power of God. Here is a classic passage that speaks of this truth:
Titus 2
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

To deny ungodliness and worldly lusts is to be turned from the power of Satan; to live soberly, righteously and godly is to be turned to the power of God.


Only the very misguided believe that Paul was sent forth to offer salvation to them that are without salvation, i.e. still dead in trespasses and sins! he dead in trespasses and sins can't be turned from darkness to light; their eyes are incapable of being opened to see the gospel truth.

Common sense tells us that such notion is just plain foolishness. But common sense is a rare virtue today. Divine activities alone can help the dead in trespasses and sins; the gospel ministry is intended for those that are, have been, definitively sanctified.

Food is for the living; Christ told the recommissioned Apostles that their ministry is to "... feed... feed... feed..." His lambs and His sheep. Feeding presupposes living creatures. The preaching of the gospel and the ministry of the word has to do with those that have been sanctified by the faith that is in Christ Jesus. 



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