Initially posted here:
https://www.facebook.com/sing.f.lau/posts/10210090636477914
Mr. Spurgeon is loved by many and his words
are often taken as the gospel truth. However, in the meme, his idea is
erroneous and misleading.
All the activities by the mighty, efficacious
and irresistible grace of God ALONE are apart from human activities, and they
always accomplish their purposes perfectly, based on the exact same ground, and
having the exact same effect upon each and every elect.
Let me explain.
When God justifies a condemned sinner, He
does it freely by His mighty, efficacious and irresistible grace alone; each
one is perfectly justified, based solely upon the righteousness of Christ, and
with the exact same effect. No one is more, or less justified among the
justified.
When the Spirit of God regenerates, He does
it freely by His mighty, efficacious and irresistible grace alone; each one is
perfectly regenerated, based solely upon the righteousness of Christ freely
applied by God, and with the exact same effect. No one is more, or less
regenerated among the born again.
Even so, in adoption. No one is more or less
adopted than any other.
Also, in the definitive sanctification; all
are equally set apart from their native state of sin and death to that of grace
and salvation, by the exact same grace of God, based on the exact same ground,
and with the exact same effect upon those acted upon.
And in glorification too.
However, these are not true once human
activities are involved...
- In conversion, the human work of believing is
involved. No believing, no conversion! More than that, the human activity of
preaching is involved! God's children are converted to vastly different
degrees; some strong, others weak, some even unbelieving; this can hardly be
disputed. Why? Human works are involved.
- In practical sanctification, man's
activities of working out his own temporal salvation (i.e. involving his
spiritual well-being) are involved in his own sanctification.
It is the mighty, efficacious and irresistible
grace of God ALONE that makes it possible for a man to do those things but
doing those things REQUIRES the free will (already renewed by the saving
activities of God) of God's children in performing them.
"Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."
Work requires exertion and time.
