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.

Saturday, April 26, 2025

Sufficiency and Efficiency


#sufficiency #efficiency #intentandpurpose

A brother insisted:
"God's work of Salvation is sufficient for all, but its EFFICACY is applied only to those who will believe... this is the simple explanation of the verse without going the "MERRY go ROUND".

[The passage referred to is 1 John 2.2]

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What's the irrelevant woolly talk about sufficiency for all when it was NOT EVEN INTENDED for all!!! It is just silly jibberish nonsense! Likely, he is just repeating nice-sounding shibboleths without engaging his mind.

The issue of sufficiency does not arise; whether Christ stood as the substitute for just one human being or for the whole human race, He would still have to do the same, i.e. live the perfect and sinless life of obedience to the complete laws of God, and offer Himself a perfect sinless sacrifice for the atonement of sins. It's the divine intention of His redemptive works alone that matters.

God purposed to save a specific people. He gave them to Christ.

Christ lived and died to save the same specific people... i.e. AS MANY AS the Father had given to Him, not one more and not one less. The 'sufficient for all" notion contradicts the plain declaration of the Lord Jesus Christ... a repudiation of the very meaning of His name, "He shall save HIS people from their sins." Why the fiction of sufficient-for-all when it is not even intended for all, nor provided for all!!!

The Holy Spirit applies the same eternal salvation to AS MANY AS the Father has given to Christ, and whom Christ has redeemed!

The Three Persons of the Godhead work in PERFECT UNITY and HARMONY!

John 6:39 KJT "And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day."

John 17:2 "As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him".

Matthew 1:21 KJT "
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins."

Many silly, misguided preachers do not work in harmony with the revealed truth of God!!! They preach their own notions, i.e. fables! The popular concept of sufficient-for-all is just a human concept read into the Scriptures... that Christ secured salvation for more than intended!!!

p/s picture:
The truckload of onions is more than sufficient for the whole village, but it was only INTENDED by the Benefactor for the specific villagers whose names are in His Register. I can hear someone screaming, "But that's not fair!" It would still be more than fair if the gracious and sovereign Benefactor did not send any onions to any villagers! No? (A poor illustration, no doubt.)
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Dans
"irrelevant woolly talk" - Amen! Well said, brother Sing.
 On this matter, I have often said, "No one is saved apart from God's purpose in saving them. It follows that the atonement of Christ is INSUFFICIENT for all for want of purpose." Simply put, an atonement that lacks God's purpose to save is insufficient to save, for no one is saved apart from God's purpose in saving them.

Tom
Maybe a "poor" illustration, but still a good point.