What can the spiritually dead do with the offer of salvation?

 September 25, 2018

Simple biblical truth:
- God purposed eternal salvation for His chosen people,
- Christ accomplished that eternal salvation for the same,
- The Holy Spirit freely and sovereignly applies that eternal salvation to each of the chosen people in God's own appointed time when they were still in their native state of sin and death, and in enmity against God.

The preaching of the gospel is God's ordained means of calling out His redeemed people, those to whom He has freely bestowed the eternal salvation, calling them to believe the truth of their salvation in Jesus Christ, make disciples of them, gathering them into the churches of Jesus Christ, teaching them that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, they should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.

The free offer of salvation is just stupid (i.e. lacking common sense); in the offer, salvation is obviously and necessarily offered to those without salvation, even those dead in trespasses and sins; it is as superstitious as offering food to the dead.

There is no offer in the preaching of the gospel; there is the proclamation of the good news of what God HAS DONE to save His people in Jesus Christ, calling the hearers to believe the truth of their salvation. Those that ARE SAVED among the hearers perceive the gospel as the good news of God's mighty power in saving them. To the rest, the same gospel is foolishness.

1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God.

The preaching of the gospel is brought to them that are saved, that have been saved - to whom the Holy Spirit has freely and sovereignly applied that eternal salvation when they were still in their native state of sin and death, and in enmity against God - calling them to believe the truth of their salvation by the free and sovereign grace of God.

Eph 1:13
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.

Their salvation by God's free and sovereign grace is PRIOR and DISTINCT to their act of hearing and believing the truth of their salvation; otherwise, there would be no truth of their salvation to believe.  They are called to believe what is ALREADY TRUE, not in order to make something come true. That's Arminianism as well as Calvinism.

This is simple and plain to minds that have not been poisoned by lies and soundbytes.

The 'Effectual Call' is the First Divine Act in the Application of Redemption

 

September 25, 2010 
https://www.facebook.com/sing.f.lau/posts/pfbid021wBsQYXXWV47z6YL4JnjCTc9C4zYyGZG26YmxnqBPxd88WkwT6xEm7EUhEERMbBVl

An elect in his native state is under condemnation and death.
What is the first thing God does when He applies the redemption that Christ has secured for all His people?

The 'effectual call' is the first divine act in the application of redemption. But what is effectual calling?

Effectual calling is God calling an elect out of the state of sin and death to that of grace and salvation by Jesus Christ.

Sing F Lau
The effectual call is God calling an elect out of the state of sin and death to that of grace and salvation by Jesus Christ. This is what the theologians termed Definitive Sanctification: a definitive separation from the state of sin and death to that of grace and salvation, that is decisive, perfect and complete, once and for all.

To call a man out of the state of sin and death to that of grace and salvation would require these divine acts, in this number and LOGICAL [sic] order:

- justification of life by God's free grace (removal of the condemnation, righteousness applied personally)
- regeneration (eternal life bestowed, removal of spiritual death)
- adoption into God's family (removal of alienation).
- Bestowal of the Spirit of adoption to dwell within a child of God. (As a result of all these gracious acts in the effectual call, his elect is now as fit for heaven and eternal glory as many.)

Nothing else is needed for his ETERNAL salvation. All these are by the free grace of God... without the elect meeting any condition, for he simply can't meet any.

But many things are needed for his well-being as a child of God here on earth. That's where the ministry of the gospel is crucial for the well-being of God's children.

THEN and ONLY THEN, a man is capable of believing!

Faith cometh by hearing...

And in believing, his faith justifies him as one whom God has justified freely by His grace, regenerated freely by His grace, adopted freely by His grace, and indwelt by the Spirit of God.

Sing F Lau
18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to CONDEMNATION [OF DEATH]; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto JUSTIFICATION OF LIFE.
19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Sin brought the condemnation of death.
Righteousness alone secures justification of life

There is a justification that is by God's free grace, PRIOR to any ability to believe. God justifies the ungodly, condemned sinner, and such is incapable of believing.

And there is a justification by the believing act of a child of God. Believing justifies a child of God.

The former is forensic; the latter is evidential/experiential.

Failing to distinguish them is the root of much confusion.

A biblical distinction is the essence of sound theology.

May the Lord give you understanding.

But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

Sing F Lau
But many Calvinists understand the effectual call as the gospel call made effectual unto the CONVERSION of a sinner, the preaching of the gospel is blessed and used to regenerate someone dead in trespasses and sin, and enable him to believe... and in believing he is justified by God!

That is another subtle PERVERSION and TWISTING of the gospel truth.

Jerry Chapin
Brother Sing, Since Calvinists claim the TULIP, don't they contradict the first letter on the pole? T = total Depravity. If one is totally depraved, doesn't that mean they have no facilities as far as spiritual things go?

Scripture says, "But the NATURAL man receiveth NOT the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he KNOW [understand] them because they are spiritually discerned." [1 Cor. 2:14]

The NATURAL man is DEAD in trespasses and in sins. If DEAD to Spiritual things, then how are they able to respond to the gospel call to receive life???

Michael G. Morrow
London Baptist Confession 1644
"That Christ Jesus by his death did bring forth salvation and reconciliation only for the81 elect, which were those which82 God the Father gave him; and that the Gospel which is to be preached to all men as the ground of faith, is, that83 Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the ever blessed God, filled with the perfection of all heavenly and spiritual excellencies, and that salvation is only and alone to be had through the believing in his Name and that salvation is only and alone to be had through the believing in his Name.

That Faith is the84 gift of God wrought in the hearts of the elect by the Spirit of God, whereby they come to see, know, and believe the truth of85 the Scriptures, and not only so, but the excellency of them above all other writings and things in the world, as they hold forth the glory of God in his attributes, the excellency of Christ in his nature and offices, and the power of the fullness of the Spirit in its workings and operations; and thereupon are enabled to cast the weight of their souls upon this truth thus believed.

That faith is ordinarily87 begot by the preaching of the Gospel, or word of Christ, without respect to88 any power or capacity in the creature, but it is wholly89 passive, being dead in sins and trespasses, doth believe, and is converted by no less power,90 than that which raised Christ from the dead."

Dear brethren...I am afraid we look at something from our own perspective and forget that godly men disagree on many things. I believe the 1644 confession on these matters and the fact that they said "ordinarily" in the passage above doesn't bother me in the least. What does bother me is when men try to act like they have a corner on what the "old" Baptist taught. Love you all.

Sing F Lau
Brother Morrow, I agree completely with what you have quoted from 1644.
What bothers me is when "new" baptists like you fail to distinguish what the "old" baptists did state so clearly.

The eternal salvation bestowed upon an elect by God's free grace and the salvation that is obtained by a child of God through his acts of believing are TWO fundamentally distinct and separate salvation.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND the last paragraph. If not, please ask, and I will explain. I believe this is the greatest hurdle, and if you can understand this basic truth, then lots of confusion can be avoided.

The eternal salvation by God's free grace in Jesus Christ MUST BE RIGHTLY DIVIDED from the temporal salvation by the believing acts of God's children.

Because so many "new" baptists fail to distinguish these two distinct aspects of salvation, they IGNORANTLY and IRRATIONALLY insist that believing is a prerequisite for their eternal salvation. That is mixing grace and work together!

Believing is work! Read John 6:28 ¶ Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

I have always asked... and nobody cares to answer.

How does God save, and from what does He save His people from?

How does the believing act (of a child of God) save him, and save him from what?

Sing F Lau
Richy, faith is an EFFECT of salvation already bestowed; it is one of the graces worked in the heart by the indwelling Spirit of God.

That saving grace is manifested, drawn forth or BEGOTTEN through the gospel ministry. "Faith cometh by hearing." That faith worked in the heart by the Spirit is drawn forth through the preaching of the gospel.

All sane men will affirm that an effect of a Cause cannot possibly be at the same time the instrument to attain that same Cause!

That is just NONSENSE, rotten nonsense... but so many love such nonsense.

Might as well tell a dead man that if he breathes, he shall receive life.

Sing F Lau
Many do believe the sinner's prayer precedes new birth. There are just not here to rave and foam! <lol>

I love the rhyme of "cents... sense" and "bloat... gloat."
That's an apt observation.

The ministry of the word for the conversion

Pure grace excludes any works of man - 
whether the work of preaching
or the work of believing!

Which will you choose to believe:
- That God Himself applies directly the eternal salvation, secured by Jesus Christ for His own people, to the beneficiaries, or
- That God applies indirectly the eternal salvation to the beneficiaries through the activities of human preachers?

Which way is good news to you? Tell us why.

Is divine grace delivered through human hands still good news or not? 'G R A C E' in man's wobbly hands will be turned into something monstrous!

Take heed if you trust man's wobbly and filthy hands of handling divine grace in your eternal salvation!!! Take good heed.

Here is an article of faith of the XYZ Sovereign Grace Church.

"We believe the preaching of the Gospel to be the God-ordained means by which the God-ordained end is accomplished; that the Holy Spirit reveals Christ and all spiritual blessings in Him to God's elect and brings them to repentance and faith in Him through the preaching of Christ and Him crucified; that we must with every opportunity and means and in every place afforded us by the providence of God, proclaim the Gospel of God's free and sovereign grace in Christ; that in the Gospel, His sheep will by the Holy Spirit, hear His voice and follow Him."

What do you think of the article?

PJ Walters
I didn't read anything about regeneration in the article, but it seems to be ok.

Zhao Liang Wei
Too humanistic

Sing F Lau
Explain please, Teoh. Thanks.
(Teoh deleted his comment)

Sing F Lau
Pj, is this ok with you, "that in the Gospel, His sheep will by the Holy Spirit, hear His voice and follow Him." The whole article is about this!

Adam Wells
Bro Sing, I think the phrase "hear his voice and follow him" is subject to interpretation. One may read it and understand follow him in a sense like "hear the voice of the son of God and live," whereas someone else may understand it to mean to follow him in discipleship.

I would assume they are referring to regeneration in that they say the gospel is the "God-ordained means by which the God-ordained end is accomplished." I reckon a bit more explanation would be fitting.

PJ Walters
It does not explicitly state that "all His sheep will" but that "His sheep will." Further, maybe my understanding is tainted, but that seems to me to be about conversion, not regeneration.

Sing F Lau
"that in the Gospel, His sheep will by the Holy Spirit, hear His voice and follow Him."
====
Is the life-giving voice of Christ heard through the gospel ministry?
That's my question!

PJ Walters
No, that is not how I understand it; but the author of that statement may have.
"In the exercise of the authority which has been entrusted to Him, the Lord Jesus calls to Himself from out of the world, through the ministry of His Word, by His Spirit, those who are given to Him by His Father, so that they may walk before Him in all the ways of obedience which He prescribes to them in His Word. Those who are thus called, He commands to walk together in particular societies or churches, for their mutual edification, and for the due performance of that public worship, which He requires of them in the world." 1689.26.5

Sing F Lau
The new school fullerite RBs will take 1689.26.5 as concrete evidence that the old school baptists held to gospel regeneration. How would you respond to that claim?

PJ Walters
Firstly, that the effectual call is already previously addressed in that confession. Secondly, that this is for the regenerate elect to be called not effectually: for that is prerequisite to this; but by the outward ministry of the word.

Robert Cook Sr.
Sovereign Grace Baptists are Presbyterians who dunk basically in their theology:(

Robert Cook Sr.
Only the old Baptists teach and preach the truth about eternal salvation.

Sing F Lau
1689.26 is about gathering the effectually called elect into NT churches.

Besides, 1689.20.4 states categorically:
"Although the gospel be the only outward means of revealing Christ and saving grace, and is, as such, abundantly sufficient thereunto; yet that men who are dead in trespasses may be born again, quickened or regenerated, there is moreover necessary an effectual insuperable work of the Holy Spirit upon the whole soul, for the producing in them a new spiritual life;(😎 without which no other means will effect their conversion unto God.(9)"

"Without which no other means will effect their conversion unto God."

We must not let the new school fullerites hijack the confession of the old school baptists!!! Show them that they believe contrary to what the old school believed!

PJ Walters
***conversion unto God***

PJ Walters
Distinct from regeneration!

Sing F Lau
Yes, yes, yeeeeeeeeeees!

The ministry of the word has to do with the conversion of God's children unto God, not their quickening out of their native state of death!

The old school fathers were far more logical and sound than the bastards who claim to be their descendants!!!

Wresting Scriptures unto their own destruction!

Wresting Scriptures unto their own destruction!
Opposing themselves!
Turned aside unto vain jangling!

Wresting Scriptures unto their own destruction!
Opposing themselves!
Turned aside unto vain jangling!

2Pe 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

1. What are some things hard to be understood?

2. Who are they that are unlearned and unstable?

3. How do the unlearned and unstable wrest the Scriptures?

4. And what is the destruction spoken of?

2Ti 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.

Q5. Who are they who oppose themselves, refusing to acknowledge the truth?

1Timothy 1
5 ¶ Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: 
6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; 
7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

Q6. Who are those who have swerved, and turned aside unto vain jangling?

Are the apostles talking about those still dead in trespasses and sins, or are they talking about God's children?

If the latter, then we who claim to be God's children better take heed to ourselves;
- lest we bring destruction upon ourselves,
- lest we oppose ourselves by denying the truth, and
- lest we turn aside unto vain jangling!

What are you fed with?

 

#Feed_the_flock_of_God

#Play_not

#Entertain_not

1Peter 5
1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

SINCE the explicit command to the elders is to FEED the flock of God...
THEN the implicit command to the flock of God is the ATTEND to the feeding administered by the elders.

Ephesians 4
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Are you giving careful ATTENDANCE as well as ATTENTION to the feeding administered by your elders? That's a duty expected of the flock of God; if you consider yourself among the flock of God, then it is a duty you owe to the Lord, the head of the church.

Ecc 5:1
Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.

Matthew 13
8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

ALL THINGS were now accomplished

 

September 25, 2021 

#all_things

ALL THINGS... what are they?

John 19:28 "After this, Jesus knowing that ALL THINGS were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst."

Ro 8:32 "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us ALL THINGS?"

1Co 2:9 ¶But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, THE THINGS which God hath prepared for them that love him.

ALL THINGS accomplished by Jesus Christ for His people are the ALL THINGS given to each of God's elect personally - no more and no less.

'ALL THINGS' must be defined by the Scriptures itself; the Scriptures is its own interpreter.

"ALL THINGS" that were accomplished by Jesus Christ for His people shall ALL be given to His people; not a single thing that Jesus Christ has accomplished for His people shall be withheld from anyone of God's elect.

If this is true, many things that people IMAGINE to be among the "ALL THINGS" are just figments of their imaginations.

For example, the perseverance of the saints in a life of faith and holiness to the end of their lives - is this among the "ALL THINGS" that Christ accomplished for His people? If it is, then every elect will manifest this in their life.

However, this is obviously not true from the witness of the Holy Scriptures. There are God's children who do not even have the capability to hear and be converted, and there are others who do not have the opportunity to hear the gospel and be converted. How then can these persevere in a life of faith and holiness?

However, the biblical truth of perseverance of the saints is this: every one for whom Christ accomplished their salvation shall remain in the STATE OF GRACE. Jesus Christ did accomplish ALL THINGS necessary for this STATE OF GRACE for every elect who were, by nature, in the STATE OF CONDEMNATION.

Each elect, by the free and sovereign grace, is brought into the STATE OF GRACE, without a single exception, and immutably remains/perseveres in it, because Christ accomplished the requirements for each and every one of the elect.

But to remain in a life of faith and holiness is a SALVATION THAT a child of God must WORK OUT for himself with fear and trembling, through the grace of God working in him; it is not one among the ALL THINGS Christ did accomplish for him.

Philippians 2:12 KJV

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

What THINGS Christ has FINISHED, and freely applied to you personally, needs no working out by you. It's elementary.

What does faith, as an instrument, do?

Faith is simply the instrument through which
Christ's righteousness and merit
are applied to us.
OR
Faith is simply the instrument
which manifest that
Christ's righteousness and merit
have been applied to us.

September 25, 2021 

"Faith has never saved anyone. Jesus saves us. Faith is simply the instrument through which his righteousness and merit are applied to us. This is why Christ is our assurance, not our faith."

------

There are serious theological errors embedded in the bosom of the third sentence, which is needless to say, expresses popular Calvinistic notions.

1. It presupposes that a man to whom the righteousness and merit of Christ have NOT BEEN APPLIED is capable of exercising faith, therefore already regenerated. Do you see the plain error?

2. A man to whom the righteousness and merit of Christ have NOT been applied is a man still in his native state of sin, condemnation, and death, i.e. unjustified state. Do you understand this basic truth?

The Calvinists rightly believe that regeneration precedes faith. However, they wrongly, and ignorantly believe that regeneration by the Holy Spirit logically precedes the justification by God, i.e. before the application of Christ's righteousness and merit. It is stupidity, i.e. lacking common sense, to believe that regeneration unto life is possible without the prior application of the righteousness of life; it's a classic example of putting the cart before the horse.

The simple truth is: justification (i.e. the application of righteousness and merit of Christ to an elect personally) LOGICALLY PRECEDE regeneration.

Sins brought condemnation and death; righteousness secures justification and life. The application of Christ's righteousness and merit LOGICALLY PRECEDE regeneration.

Romans 5:18 KJV — Therefore as by the offence of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

Justification freely by God's grace, i.e. the application of Christ's righteousness and merit - is a justification of life. Have you ever noticed this simple and obvious truth???

The Calvinists openly repudiated the plain statement of the Scriptures that justification, i.e. the application of Christ's righteousness and merit to a sinner, is solely and wholly by the free grace of God alone, and not through the instrument of faith.

Romans 3:24 "... Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

Titus 3:7 "That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

The Calvinists, in their pride and ignorance, have perverted and twisted the justification APPLIED freely by God's grace into the justification applied on the condition of man's faith!

At the heart of the problem is the Calvinists' ignorance of the multifaceted nature of the Bible's teaching on justification. Therefore they confuse and confound the justification applied freely by divine grace with the justification evidenced/experienced through human faith.

Scriptures speak of distinct aspects of justification:

- there is the justification purposed/decreed for ALL the elect in eternity,

- there is the justification secured/accomplished for ALL the elect on the cross,

- there is the justification applied to EACH elect personally at his effectual call, and

- there is the justification experienced and evidenced through faith in Jesus Christ.

The righteousness and merit of Christ are freely applied by the grace of God when an elect is still in his native state of sin, death, and condemnation. This enables a child of God (a regenerated elect) to exercise the grace of faith worked in him by the indwelling Spirit; in believing the Lord Jesus Christ, his faith is evidence of his justified state.

All these distinct aspects or facets of justification are summarized and stated clearly in chapter 11 of the 1689CoF. Check them out yourself.

 

Take a peep here:

https://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-doctrine-of-justification-as.html

https://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2016/10/righteousness-imputed-legally-and.html

https://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2011/05/three-distinct-sets-of-contrast-in.htm

 

Membership and Churchmanship

September 23, 2019

#membership #churchmanship

Some brief thoughts on the two matters; I hope they are coherent; I'm a poor communicator.

1. I believe that resident membership is not a prerequisite for a believer's baptism.

Many, who were baptized and added to the church in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, soon after dispersed and returned to their homes in the various far-flung places throughout the vast Roman empire, Acts 2:5.

They, as devout Jews, would likely return to Jerusalem a few times a year initially until churches were established in their far-flung cities by the itinerant Apostles.

However, non-resident membership is not the normal or ideal state of discipleship.

 2. I believe that baptism and membership are co-extensive. The Apostles established the pattern in Acts 2. Everyone baptized on that day is added to the church as a member, regardless of whether they can be residents or non-residents. The Apostles certainly knew that many of them were non-residents.

3. I believe that members of a church MUST practice good churchmanship, regardless of whether they are residents or non-residents for the time being, just as good citizenry is expected of each citizen whether they are at home or abroad.

4. Good churchmanship is a duty each Christian - baptized member of a church - OWE to Christ the Lord and a reasonable duty and befitting adorning of our profession of Christ's blessed name, whether we are resident members or non-resident members.

Therefore, non-resident members, are to be a part of a church as much as their conviction and conscience permit them in their circumstances. Be regular, be punctual, be alert, sing well, hear well, minister to others when opportunities arise, practice hospitality, support appropriately, etc, etc.

This way, you bear a good testimony for your home church where you still maintain your membership.

5. More importantly,  you are doing all these unto the Lord and for His sake; these good works are owed to Him, wherever His providence has put you now. Do the same as if you are in your home church.

- And if and when you are *DOCTRINALLY* comfortable with that church, cast your lot with it.

However remember, "Buy the truth, and sell it not." Don't trade the truth for a morsel of convenience or a bowl of red bean soup. Don't be a red pottage, Esau.

6. If you still have a sense of belonging to the church of your membership because of the truth, at least keep in touch with home, pray for your home church, and come home whenever you can scheme (we are all good at that, aren't we?) an opportunity in the meanwhile.

Have a long-term plan... *plot and scheme* to return home... if the Lord so lead you. The location of your home church (Penang is a beautiful place...) is not too bad a place; any place is a lovely place where the Lord is loved and served.

7. If the gospel truth is of enough value to you, pray that the Lord will give you the opportunities to convert others (God's children), one by one, and gather them under your wings and start a church work; the Lord will raise you up to meet the herculean task. Perhaps that's the reason the Lord's providence directed you to your present place.

Surely, those at home will do their utmost to assist, unless they have become so self-obsessed and inward-looking.

p/s a Christian is one who has confessed faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God AND has been baptized upon a credible confession of faith in Christ Jesus.

 

Multifaceted Jewel - The Five Aspects of Justification.

September 22, 2010
https://www.facebook.com/sing.f.lau/posts/pfbid02uzQggZNTra54HSRsEE2sMEg1UzFBA1fxai2fUvS7fCX51tqeMUFcnzJKme5PYB42l  

The Five Aspects of Justification.

"In God's plan, I was saved before the foundation of the world; then, in God's sacrifice, I was saved when Christ died and was raised, and now, I am being saved by God's preserving and sanctifying grace." ~ Michael S. Horton, J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic ...Theology and Apologetics, Westminster Seminary California since 1998.

Sing F Lau
It was a pleasant surprise to read that statement in Mr Horton's post by another friend. Mr Horton recognizes that there are different and distinct aspects of salvation.

Many are ignorant of these distinct aspects of salvation. When you tell them that there is eternal salvation wholly by the free grace of God, and temporal salvation that is conditioned upon the faithful obedience of God, they jumped and raved and throw abusive names!

In the old school theology, it is standard to distinguish the various distinct aspects of salvation pointed out by Mr Horton and a few others.

However, It seems there is one very vital aspect missing:
- There is DECRETAL salvation in God's purpose
- There is LEGAL salvation at the cross
- There is VITAL/PERSONAL salvation at effectual calling out of the state of sin and death; what is LEGAL is applied to each individual personally, thus becoming VITAL/PERSONAL. This part in missing. [This aspect is entirely monergistic].
- There is EXPERIENTIAL salvation in God's preserving and sanctifying grace. What was made PERSONAL is capable of being experienced. [This aspect is synergistic]
- Then there is the FINAL salvation when we are glorified at Christ's return. This is a separate and distinct phase altogether.

All these parts/aspects are summarized plainly in the old school confessions, e.g 1689 LBCF - look at chapter 11 on justification.

Let us apply that simple truth to justification:
- There is DECRETAL justification in God's purpose.
- There is LEGAL justification at the cross.
- There is VITAL/PERSONAL justification by God's free grace at effectual calling out of the state of sin and death. What is LEGAL is now applied to each individual elect, by God's free and sovereign grace, thus making the legal justification PERSONAL. This part is ENTIRELY missing in new school Calvinism.
- There is EXPERIENTIAL justification when God's children are brought to faith in Christ. This is the justification spoken of in Gen 15:1-6. But new school Calvinists mistake and confuse this with the VITAL/PERSONAL justification by God's free grace.
- Then there is the FINAL justification when publicly vindicated before all the goats on the great judgment day.

These are five, and distinct aspects of justification taught in the Scriptures. They are the five fingers of a well-formed hand.

But the deformed theology so prevalent today is like a monstrous ONE-fingered hand... the ring-finger of experiential justification by faith as the sum total doctrine of justification.

Take a look here: A One-Fingered Hand is a Monstrous Deformity: https://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2009/08/one-fingered-hand-is-monstrous.html

The Five distinct aspects of salvation is beautifully stated in this short article found here: http://letgodbetrue.com/questions/when-was-paul-saved.htm

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When Was Paul Saved?

One of the most common questions unlearned Christians like to ask is: "When were you saved?" This question assumes a person's eternal salvation is dependent on a personal decision to accept Jesus Christ as Savior at some specific point in time.

However, the Bible knows nothing about this kind of salvation. The Apostle Paul never once mentioned such a personal decision to accept Jesus Christ as savior in order to obtain eternal salvation.

However, Paul many times wrote of his salvation from sin. If we were to ask him the same question, "When were you saved?" he would tell us his salvation from sin occurred at five different times. Yes, that's right; Paul was delivered from sin in five different ways and at five different times. How do we know this? Simply by reading what the Apostle wrote in his epistles. By comparing the epistles of Paul, we see five different phases or aspects of God's glorious salvation from sin through our Lord Jesus Christ.

First, Paul would tell us that he was saved from sin before the world began. This is salvation from the PLAN of sin.

"Who [God] hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." II Tim.1:9

Second, Paul would tell us that he was saved from sin when Christ Jesus died on the cross of Calvary. This is salvation from the PENALTY of sin.

"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." I Tim.1:15

Third, Paul would tell us that he was saved from sin when the Holy Spirit regenerated him and gave him a new nature. This is salvation from the POWER of sin.

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost." Titus 3:5

Fourth, Paul would tell us that he was saved from sin whenever he kept in memory the gospel that he had preached. This is salvation from the PRACTICE of sin.

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel … by which also ye are saved if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain." I Cor. 15:1-2

Finally, Paul would tell us that he wasn't saved yet, but that he would be completely saved from sin some day in the future. This is salvation from the PRESENCE of sin.

"And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed." Romans 13:11

These five passages from the epistles of Paul illustrate the work of salvation from five different perspectives. These are the five phases of God's glorious salvation from sin through Jesus Christ our Lord.

If you want to hear more about the Bible doctrine of salvation without man's contemporary inventions, check out the rest of this website, or contact us.

http://letgodbetrue.com/questions/when-was-paul-saved.html

Sing F Lau
Joel Beeke, professor of Systematic Theology, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids on the five DISTINCT aspects of justification:

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“Justification (a judicial term) takes place by the sovereign grace of a triune God in the courtroom of the conscience of God’s people when the Holy Spirit may lead them deeper into the further exercises of graces. It is something few children of God experience in our day, yet something all children of God are commanded to beg of the Lord. They can never be satisfied with less with respect to their state before God. They desire to hear from the Lord’s own mouth that their sins are forgiven eternally, to receive from the First Person of the Holy Trinity a receipt of such forgiveness as well as a right to eternal life, and to have personal justification sealed with the sevenfold seal of the heavenly Recorder – the Holy Spirit.

There is much confusion concerning this experience and justification in general, even among God’s people. Justification itself may be defined as the act of God’s sovereign grace whereby He imputes to the elect sinner, who is in himself guilty and condemned, the perfect righteousness of God in Christ, acquits him on the ground of Christ’s merit of all guilt and punishment, and gives him a right to eternal life.

This justification is FIVEFOLD:

(1) in and from eternity, for the Lamb was slain already from before the foundation of the world (with respect to God’s eternal decrees) on behalf of His elect.

(2) in the resurrection of Christ, for that resurrection was the Father’s judicial stamp of approval upon the work of Christ on Calvary’s cross, so that in His resurrection Christ was not only justified as Mediator by the Father in time, but His entire elect church was also justified in Him: “Christ Jesus was raised again for our justification.” (Rom 4:25)

(3) in the moment of regeneration, where justification becomes reality in time from God’s side, who transfers the elect sinner from the state of condemnation into the state of reconciliation with God in and through Christ;

(4) in the consciousness and assurance of this personal justification for the soul itself, which takes place when the soul is justified in the court of his own conscience, where the First Person of the Holy Trinity (acting on behalf of the injured divine essence) hands the elect sinner an acquittal of all his transgressions and an eternal life receipt on the basis of the Second Person who demands such acquittal as Mediator and Advocate, which is then sealed to the soul by the Holy Spirit (so that each of the Divine Persons has His own economy with respect to this type of justification also): and

(5) in the public justification when the Lord Jesus Christ comes again on the clouds of heaven to judge the living and the dead.

[End quote]

Joel Beeke, professor of Systematic Theology, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids.

Good news; alienated, but reconciled!

September 22, 2021 

#alienated_but_reconciled

Alienated and enemy... BUT reconciled and presented as holy and unblameable and unreproveable in God's sight.

That's the good news!

How is a man, alienated and in enmity against God, made holy, unblameable and unreproveable in the sight of God!

"And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight." Col 1:21,22.

By grace alone is a sinner reconciled, and presented as holy, unblameable and unreproveable before God!

How does a sinner become such?

Christ Jesus, by His redeeming work, Himself reconciled a sinner, who was alienated and an enemy, and presented him holy, unblameable and unreproveable before God!!!!!!!

Good news, good news... do you know it? Have you been made to understand the gospel of God by your preachers? Or have you been told lies all these while, that you have to do something to become such!

i. What you were by nature:
- 'alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works.' What can you do to assist or cooperate in such a state?

ii. What Christ did by Himself (i.e. without your aid in any sense):
- '... yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death.'

iii. What Christ Himself did for you: (i.e without your aid in any sense):
- 'to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight.'

Are you grounded and settled in these gospel truths?

"... man became a living soul."

A Brother asked:
Pastor Lau during the first sermon it was mentioned that man does not have a soul. Man is a living soul.

How can it be explained in the light of :
1 Thessalonians  5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole SPIRIT and SOUL  and BODY be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hebrews  4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of SOUL and SPIRIT, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

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Thanks for the excellent question.

While alive, the Lord preserves our whole soul - spirit and body united; while dead, the Lord preserves BOTH our whole body and spirit... that both may be united again into a glorified living soul. Blessed be our Lord God.

I'm not saying that the mortal body is preserved in the sense that it will not rot and decompose and return to the dust!

Nevertheless, the Scriptures plainly declare that the Lord preserves the body... in the SENSE that the SAME BODY that has decomposed and returned unto dust shall be resurrected and glorified! If the Lord does not preserve the body unto resurrection, would dust be left for the resurrection?

Of course, the glorified body is entirely different in the sense of its quality, immortal instead of mortal, spiritual instead of natural. However, it is still the same body that shall be resurrected!

1Co 15
¶42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in corruption:
43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

Now, concerning Hebrews 4:
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight : but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Some important things to note:
1. The "word of God" refers to a divine person - He is the discerner of the thoughts and intents of the hearts of men; the person indicated by the personal pronouns in verse 13 - his, him, and whom. Too many Christians are oblivious of this simple but momentous truth.

2. This Divine Person is a powerful discerner of the thoughts and intents of the deepest secrets in men's hearts. His is likened to a double-edged sword, able to pierce even to the dividing asunder THINGS MOST INTIMATELY UNITED TOGETHER - like a human's soul and spirit, human's joints and marrow.

A living soul has both spirit and body; the spirit and soul are intimately and mysteriously united. However, this Divine discerner is capable of dissecting and separating them. It is like water (hydrogen and oxygen); water and hydrogen in the water are so intimately related and united.

The text is about the Divine Discerner, not the essential constitution of man.
We are completely NAKED before this powerful and sharp Divine Discerner of the thoughts and intents of our hearts.

We need to stop fooling ourselves. The pastor can fool you, and you can fool your pastor, but none can fool this Divine Discerner; He is too powerful and too sharp to be fooled by any.

Genesis 2:7 KJV — And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Ecclesiastes 12:7 KJV — Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

1 Corinthians 6:20 KJV — For ye ( living souls ) are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

This is to refute/counter the pagan dualism that the spirit is good and the body is bad; the idea that what the body does is unimportant as long as the spirit is kept 'pure'.

Questions for BOTH the Calvinists and their close cousins Arminians.

 

September 19, 2018
https://www.facebook.com/sing.f.lau/posts/pfbid02vMV5pjUZfpPEiwUp6pJSxbjkoZCPvkgiwVEDxrhFq8AyJvQXSA49zVi2XowTjpwnl ·

Questions for BOTH the Calvinists and their close cousins Arminians.
They have a lot in common.

I saw the above meme with questions posed by those opposing Calvinism. The questions are rhetorical, and presuppose certain doctrinal beliefs that evidence wrongly dividing the word of truth.

If you are interested, please discern what beliefs/errors are assumed by each rhetorical question, and comment on them.

This exercise will help to set forth the biblical truth.

In case you don't already know, I have no sympathy for either Calvinism or Arminianism.  However, I do see Calvinists and Arminians who believe in Jesus Christ as brethren in Christ.

Needless to say, both systems have their share of inconsistencies and contradictions. Both are united in their fable of sola fide.

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Dellis
I'm glad I took the time to ask you the many questions I've asked in the past. It's been a while since I saw anything the Calvinist way.

There is so much scripture that opens up to you when you read it in the context of the Primitive Baptist way.

Still learning to stay grounded in the faith that was once delivered unto the saints. May God bless!

Btw, I have already saved this and I plan to study up a little more on the posted scripture in preparation for further discussion on these matters.

Charles Page
Questions in support of temporal salvation and nothing to do with eternal Salvation

Sing F Lau
1. Why does the devil fight to stop people from believing?
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Who are these people the devil needed to fight to stop them from believing?

Are they those already freely saved by God in Jesus Christ, i.e. effectually called out of their native state of condemnation, death, and alienation to that of grace and salvation in Christ - justified, regenerated and adopted? Or are they those still dead in trespasses and sins?

Does the latter need any stopping?

Some think the devil is as stupid as they imagine. That idea is no less stupid [lacking common sense] as the idea of fighting the blind from seeing or the more stupid idea of trying to feed the dead with food.

Dellis Layne
Satan wants to ruin your chance at being a Christian. He can do nothing about the new birth, but he can stop the light of the gospel from entering your mind and soul so that you might be converted.
[sing: wonderful understanding]

Dellis Layne
There is an excellency of power in the gospel of Christ, to enlighten the mind, to convince the conscience, to convert the soul, and to rejoice the heart; but all this power is from God the author. ~~ Matthew Henry

Steve Mcghee
I'll give you an AMEN on that.

Charles Page
So Faith Is The Gift Given To The Unregenerate accompanied by regeneration

Zhao Liang Wei
In a nutshell: All is done to glorify god. We are all part of this plan and act out our roles on the stage and God is the director of his "movie".
I believe this answers all your questions?

Charles Page
Zhao Liang Wei, now I'm really confused.

sing
Perhaps Zhao may want to explain to defuse Charles' confusion. I also don't know his deep statement.
I ALSO don't know what answers all of whose questions. Those questions in the meme are asked by those opposing Calvinism.

sing
So Faith Is The Gift Given To The Unregenerate accompanied by regeneration
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That's a popular fable.
A regenerated elect is ADOPTED and is given the Holy Spirit to dwell in him... this is the Spirit of adoption spoken of here:
Romans 8:15 KJV — For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

This indwelling Spirit works the multifaceted fruit of the Spirit in the child of God, of which faith is one of them.

Galatians 5:22 KJV — But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

The ministry of the word is ordained to draw out these graces that the Spirit of God has worked in His children.

A gift comes from WITHOUT; faith is spiritual grace, among many others, worked from WITHIN by the indwelling Spirit of God in a child of God.                      

sing
Zhao @ In a nutshell: All is done to glorify god. We are all part of this plan and act out our roles on the stage and God is the director of his "movie".I believe this answers all your questions?
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In a cockleshell, wrong doctrines injure God's name and rob Him of His glory. Man, even God's own children, has a great inclination to such evil.

It is true that many are embraced in the redemptive purpose of God. But God is the Star Actor, acting sovereignly on the people He had elected - who were by nature dead in trespasses and sins and were in enmity and rebellion against Him. In that native state, they CAN'T act out their roles on the stage.

God is both the Director and the Star Actor... He sovereignly and freely acted to save His chosen people out of their native state of condemnation, death and alienation through His Son Jesus Christ. This enables them to act out their roles are God's children in obedience to their Lord and Father.

Those whom God has saved are then directed on what they are to believe and how to conduct themselves.

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;
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Dellis Layne
Hi Sing, For the purpose of staying in context with a few thoughts I've had about the mention of the devil's work in hiding the gospel from the lost,

Am I on the right track when I assume that the lost mentioned in 2 Corinthians 4:4 are the same 'lost' mentioned by Christ in Matthew 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

John 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

sing
I'm not sure if I understand your question.
The lost sheep of the house of Israel would be God's elect among the Jews (Mt 15:24) Other sheep not of this fold would refer to the elect among the Gentiles. Christ came to seek and to save both.

The lost in 2Cor 4:3-4
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

The gospel is relevant only to the children of God, it is intended for them; it makes sense to speak of hiding it from them, that they remain ignorant of the truth of their salvation. It is nonsensical to speak of hiding the gospel from those dead in trespasses and sins; it is no less irrational speaking of the blinding of the same; such are already too blind to perceive the dazzling light of the gospel of Christ.

John the Baptist's ministry is described in these words, Luke 1:
77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

The gospel light failed to enlighten some of God's children... they remain lost in the temporal sense - remain in darkness, lost in ignorance of the truth of their glorious salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Dellis Layne
Yes, you understand correctly. I was just looking for an affirmation.
As the god of this world blinds the minds of the elect to prevent them from seeing the gospel light, lest they be converted.

sing
"Why does the Bible say salvation is available to all? (1Tim 2:4-6)
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Many Calvinists would insist the same, that salvation is available to all. It agrees with the popular idea of "salvation is sufficient for all," and the basis of their "free offer" doctrine.

Calvinists and the Arminians have much in common.

Even if salvation is available to all, how is it relevant to those who are dead in trespasses and sins, in enmity against God, incapable of discerning spiritual things? What good is the universal availability of salvation? What is the relevance of the availability of universal health care to the dead?

The truth is simple...
God purposed eternal salvation for a particular people;
Christ accomplished that eternal salvation for the same people;
The Spirit of God and Christ applies the eternal salvation to each individual of the same people.

1Tim 2:4-6 DOES NOT say salvation is available to all.