Salvation that enables faith and faith that saves

 

Only a man whom God has freely justified (yes, freely, not by your faith, an unjustified man is impotent to exercise faith!) and regenerated and adopted and given the Spirit of adoption to dwell in him is capable of believing because of the faith worked in him by the indwelling Spirit.

Eternal salvation by the free grace of God makes believing the truth of his salvation possible, and believing manifests his justified state, freely by the grace of God. "The just shall live by faith" is vividly demonstrated.

And believing the truth of his salvation, freely by the grace of God based solely on the righteousness and blood of Jesus Christ, saves a child of God from a whole host of evils, lies, errors and superstition, and secures a whole host of spiritual blessings in this life - i.e. temporal salvation.

From what did God, in Jesus Christ and through His Spirit, save a man?

From what does believing in the truth of the gospel save a man?

The same gospel is perceived differently by two distinct groups of people

The same gospel is perceived differently 
by two distinct groups of people:
 - "them that perish" and
"us which are saved."

The same gospel is perceived differently by two distinct groups of people - "them that perish" and "us which are saved."

1 Cor 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 gospel ministry comes to two distinct groups of people. One group is designated as 'them that perish' (present participle, i.e. the perishing ones, a verbal noun).  To this group, the glorious gospel - the good news that declares God's power in saving condemned sinners - is perceived as foolishness.

The other group is described as 'us which are saved' (present participle, i.e. the saved ones, a verbal noun). To this group, the glorious gospel - the good news that declares God's power in saving condemned sinners - is perceived as what it is, the message declaring the power of God is saving them!

God HAS SAVED them (applied eternal salvation to them, i.e. effectually called them out of their native state of sin and death to that of grace and salvation) independent of, and apart from, the gospel ministry.

This passage repudiates the common fable of gospel regeneration, i.e. that the gospel ministry comes to those who are perishing, and through the preaching, and hearing of the gospel, the Holy Spirit regenerates those who are still dead in trespasses and sins, to enable them to believe the gospel in order to be saved.

The gospel comes to those that ARE SAVED, the SAVED ONES. Can anything be plainer? Only those who ARE SAVED are able to perceive the gospel for what it is, a message declaring the power of God in having saved His chosen ones.

The gospel is NOT the power of God; the gospel is the message declaring the power of God in saving His people. So many can't even distinguish the two!!!

Jesus is the power of God in salvation. The gospel is the good news which declares that power.

1Co 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Romans 3:11 "There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God" -- that's the condition of a man by nature, if they are not saved by God's free and sovereign grace!!!

=========
Sing F Lau
Ro 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. -- that's the condition of a man by nature, if they are not saved by God's free and sovereign grace first!!!

Bryan Choo
Does this mean we are picked by God to be Christians, much as the Jews were a favoured race? And if that is true, is free will completely out of the picture?

PJ Walters
1 Corinthians 1:20 "Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe."

Sing F Lau
Bryan, welcome here. I pray the Lord will help you to see the good green grass to nourish your inquisitive mind. I like your good questions already.

Q. Does this mean we are picked by God to be Christians much as the Jews were a favoured race?

Along the way, you will learn that precision, or rightly dividing the word of truth, is the essence of sound theology.

The Scriptures declare plainly that He elected and predestinated, before the foundation of the world, certain particular and specific people out of the fallen race of Adam to salvation and eternal glory. The rest he left them to their just destiny.

Those whom God elected and predestinated unto eternal glory, He effectually called them, individually, out of their native state of sin and death to that of grace and salvation, thus making them perfectly and completely fit for eternal glory. That effectual call by God's free and sovereign grace, WITHOUT any human aid or cooperation, turns a condemned dead rebel into a justified living son.

A son and a Christian are quite distinct terms. A son is the result of the divine work of regeneration. A Christian is a son of God (an elect who is regenerated already) who has been brought to faith in Jesus Christ.

The former is wholly monergistic, i.e. completely by God's free and sovereign grace. Man is completely passive.

The latter requires human instrumentality of preaching the gospel, and the human activity of hearing, understanding, believing the truth of the gospel, and resting in Christ... making a son of God a Christian.

All Christians are necessarily God's children, because only God's children has the eternal life to perform those spiritual activities. But not all God's children are Christians.

That's just a partial answer to your first question.

Election of individuals to eternal glory, and the election of the Jewish race for the outworking of His redemptive purpose are quite distinct.

Q2. And if that is true, is free will completely out of the picture?

This is an interesting subject. I will tell you what I do believe on the subject.

God created man in His image, a moral and rational creature that is capable of relating to his Creator.

Free will is part and parcel of the very constitution of man. A creature without free will ceases to be a man. Man before the fall has free will, and man after the fall still has free will. All his acts are never coerced from a force outside him, and he is wholly responsible for his actions. A man without free will cannot be held accountable for his actions; that is, God's moral government over man collapses. Man's free will is the foundation and basis of God's moral government over man.

Man's free will is determined by his nature. Before the fall, a man's free will is free to choose to obey God or disobey God. BUT ALAS, he chose to disobey God and chose to believe the lie of Satan. After the fall, man's free will can only freely choose sin and death... because that is all his fallen nature is capable of choosing.

For example, a fish has free will. His 'fishy' will freely choose to live in any part of the watery world. That's all his 'fishy' will is capable of choosing. His fully free 'fishy' will is utterly incapable of choosing to live outside of water. Such is contrary to his 'fishy' will.

Sinners have free will.... they freely choose to rebel against God; they freely will in enmity against God... their free will will never bring them to God... because their free will is hostile and in enmity against God. His free will freely chooses to remain in, and love sins. No man is ever coerced by some external force to sin against his conscience... He sins freely. Man's free will freely and voluntarily keep him in his condemned state.

In God's effectual call unto grace and salvation, regeneration brings a new nature to a child of God. He is commanded to choose to do that which is pleasing to God. His new nature has the capability of choosing that which is good... and God holds children responsible. So, free will still operate in God's children; their free will is now directed by their new nature of grace.

Free will is part and parcel of man's very constitution as man!

When so say that man has no free will, they actually mean that man in his native state of sin and death has no capability to choose God. Of course, incapability to choose God is not the same as having no free will. Incapability to choose God is having a free will that is incapable of choosing God... even though they freely will choose to sin and rebel against God very freely.

I hope I scratch your question a bit.

Robert Cook Sr.
Brother Lau gave a faithful explanation to Bryan - a very careful and complete, not overwhelming.

Canon of Dort 1.4 - truth or fable?

 

Take a careful look. Is this a gospel truth?

Do you agree with this statement?

"The wrath of God abides upon those who believe not this gospel. But such as receive it and embrace Jesus the Saviour by a true and living faith are by Him delivered from the wrath of God and from destruction, and have the gift of eternal life conferred upon them."  Canon of Dort 1.4

May I inquire:
1. Those who have not been delivered from the wrath of God - are they capable of receiving and embracing Jesus the Saviour by a true and living faith? 

2. Those who have not been conferred with the gift of eternal life - are they capable of receiving and embracing Jesus the Saviour by a true and living faith? 
- Those whom God has not conferred the gift of eternal life, are they capable of exercising a true and living faith? 
- Those whom God has not conferred the gift of eternal life, are they capable of receiving and embracing Jesus the Saviour? 

"Except a man be born again... (except a man be conferred eternal life), he CANNOT... CANNOT... CANNOT... "

======

Comments

Ronny 
This statement is to dispute the 5-point claim of the Arminians.

Sing
So what exactly is the Arminian error refuted by this article 4?

Ronny
#4 is just a statement of faith

Sing 
But you said, "This statement is to dispute the 5-point claim of the Arminians."

That's why I inquired, which particular point of the 5-point claim of the Arminians is disputed by Canon 1, Article 4.

OK. If #4 is just a statement of faith, do you agree with the statement? Why or why not?

Ronny
As a statement of faith... I must say that I do agree.

Sing
Do you agree that the statement teaches that eternal life is CONFERRED UPON THEM that receive the gospel and embrace the Savior by a true and living faith, that is, the conferral of eternal life is CONDITIONED upon some activities of man?

Do you agree that the statement teaches that deliverance from the wrath of God and from destruction (I assume that eternal destruction is meant) is CONDITIONED upon man's act of receiving the gospel and embracing Jesus the Savior by a true and living faith?

Do you agree that the statement teaches, by necessary implication, that a man not yet conferred with eternal life, therefore STILL dead in trespasses and sins, is able to receive the gospel, AND embrace Jesus the Savior?

Do you agree that the statement teaches, by necessary implication, that a man not yet conferred with eternal life, therefore STILL dead in trespasses and sins, is capable of a true and living faith?

Please correct me if I have read the statement incorrectly.

Thank you.

Ronny
It is now past midnight here; I'll read the questions tomorrow and comment.

Noel
Embracing the Lordship of Christ is not mentioned.... therefore, it is not a gospel.
Correct me if i'm wrong

(DanDel has deleted his comments)

Sing
DanDel, you have a good point there! Thanks.

'... ARE DELIVERED... HAVE .... CONFERRED UPON THEM...' >> HAVE BEEN DELIVERED... HAVE BEEN CONFERRED.

Ronny
All I need to do is correct my first comment: it should read, "the entire canon of Dort is to dispute the 5 points of the Arminians". Secondly, for me, regeneration is monergistic ( God alone) and never synergistic.

Sing
Ronny, does the Holy Spirit need the preaching of the gospel to regenerate those dead in trespasses and sins?

The LORD hath a controversy with his people

"Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice. Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD’S controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel. O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me." Micah 6:1-3

Sing F Lau
We went through Micah 6 for our Wednesday evening church bible study.

What a frightening reality - God's people are capable of great evils. "My people are bent on backsliding..."

Jason Sides
Aww but greater still is his mercy to bring his children out of the cess pool of sin.

Sing F Lau
I fear very often God leaves His children to wallow in the cesspool of sins they have chosen for themselves!

I read this in the latter part of Micah 6:
13 Therefore also will I make thee sick in smiting thee, in making thee desolate because of thy sins.
14 Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down shall be in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and that which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword.
15 Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine.
16 For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people.

Every sin has BOTH its eternal consequences and temporal consequences.

Christ's work of redemption has saved us from sins' eternal judgment and condemnation. His work of redemption DOES NOT save us from temporal judgment and condemnation. Our own work of salvation (Phil 2:12) will save us from the temporal consequences of our sins.

God will scourge and chastise His children - they shall suffer the temporal consequences for their sins.

Sing F Lau
Many of God's children lived and died like their cousin Lot. Few live and die like their father Abraham!

Jason Sides
You should do a commentary on children of God who backslide and how to reconcile it with 1st John would be very interested in your thoughts.

Sing F Lau
Have you not read, "My people are bent on backsliding"?
What is 1st John saying to you?

Jason Sides
It is not what it says to me but everyone.

Sing F Lau
Yes, I meant what does 1John say?

Jason Sides
1st John 2:18-27 Warning and assurance 3:6-10.
My question is your commentary on how to reconcile the text listed above with the children of God who backslide.

Sing F Lau
I think there may be some serious misunderstanding!
1Jn 2:18-27 DOES NOT SPEAK of backsliding!
It speaks of the denying and rejecting of Christ - "Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son."

Those who are backslidden, they still profess Christ, they are still practising Christians, like so many claim in America, and around the world.

Your theology would probably have no place for such people among God's children and would conveniently pronounce them as counterfeit and false believers! That's one possible explanation.

To say that God's children SHOULD be fruitful (which is biblical)...

Is very different from saying that each and every child of God WOULD be fruitful (just man's wishful and legalistic idea)...

And to conclude that those who are not fruitful can't possibly be God's children at all (this is VERY injurious and presumptuous, and ignorant).

Everywhere in the Scriptures, God deals with His people and children in their sins! - ALL over the Scriptures.

I have preached through 1John twice in my nearly 20 years in the ministry. I do know something about the teaching of 1John, if I am not deceived.

Hold fast!

#holdfast

to hold fast - to keep secure, keep firm possession of.

Are you holding fast to these things?

Job 27:6
My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.

1Th 5:21
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

2Ti 1:13
Hold fast, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Heb 3:6
But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

Heb 4:14
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

 Heb 10:23
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

Rev 2:25
But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

Rev 3:3
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

What do you see - grasshoppers or giants?

What do you see, grasshoppers or giants?

 

What do you see, grasshoppers or giants?

Twelve men were sent to scout out the land promised repeatedly to the nation of Israel. They saw exactly the same land, but came to vastly different conclusions! (Num 13:26 - 14:10)

Majority report:
- Surely it flows with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.
- BUT the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great.
- We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.
- The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eats up the inhabitants.
- They saw the inhabitants as giants, and themselves as grasshoppers.

The Majority view betrays unbelief and rebellion against their LORD!

They would rather return to Egypt or remain where they are, instead of moving forward into the blessing the Lord intended for them!

Minority report:
a. Caleb: Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
b. Joshua:
- If the LORD delight in us, then He will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.
- Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us.
- Their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.

Minority view reflects faith in, and submission to the LORD's will for them!

Joshua's perspective is LORD-centred, not man-centred:
- "if the LORD delight in us..." that's all that counts, and matters!
- "only rebel not ye against the LORD..." that's what it amounts to! Unbelief is rebellion!
- "and the LORD is with us..." thus we are those giants that shall eat up the grasshoppers! (they shall be bread for us!)

What a man perceives is to a great extent determined by his faith in the LORD, and His word, or lack of it.

He who has eyes to see, let him see rightly.

======

 

Sing F Lau
Unbelief speaks from both sides of the same mouth:
- "Surely it flows with milk and honey" from right side, and "the land... is a land that eats up the inhabitants."

Unbelief speaks from both sides of the same mouth:
- "BUT the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great"... how could such be found in "a land that eats up the inhabitants"?

Dellis Worsham Sr.
Faith is not a confirmation of what we already see, it is believing in, what we have not yet seen.

Jerry Chapin
One of my favourite passages of Scriptures...there is so much here that are lessons for us today...Thanks for posting, Bro. Sing...

Sing F Lau
Spying has to do with the things that are seen... they saw a land flowing with milk and honey... a land the LORD has promised to give them. What they saw confirmed the LORD's word about the land.
It is their unbelief that imagined up the worst: a land that eats up the inhabitants, people as fearsome giants!

Sing F Lau
Faith is taking the LORD at His word!

Jerry Chapin
Amen!!!

Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated - popularly misunderstood

"Two nations are in thy womb,
and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels;
and the one people shall be stronger than the other people;
and the elder shall serve the younger."

 

#loved_n_hated
#jacob_n_esau

Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated

Romans 9
11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
14 ¶ What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

Here is the historical event referred to in Genesis 25;
21 And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.
23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.

Q1. When did the election spoken of take place?

Q2. What was the election about, i.e. election unto what?

Q3. What did God do to Esau in that He "hated" Esau?

Q4. What did God do to Jacob in that He "loved" Jacob?

Note a few things stated in Romans 9:

i. "children not yet born":
- BUT ALREADY conceived in the womb when the said election took place... the preeminence of the younger over the elder!

ii. "... the purpose of God according to election might stand," even the election of Jacob over the firstborn Esau in the outworking of His redemptive purpose.
- divine purpose superseding the purpose of man, where the 1st born has the preeminence.
- This election has nothing to do with eternal salvation.

iii. "... the elder shall serve the younger"
- The end of that election is specifically stated: "the elder shall serve the younger"
- It is NOT that the elder was reprobated or bypassed in eternal salvation and the younger elected unto eternal salvation; the former is a popular fiction imagined by many.
- Those bypassed in the election unto eternal salvation were not hated in any sense.

iv. "Is there unrighteousness with God?"
- There is no unrighteousness with God in electing the younger to have preeminence over the firstborn!!!
- The purpose of God, according to election, might stand in spite of all the human scheming.

Three shepherds also I cut off in one month

A good knife keeps cutting,
It keeps asking apt questions.
Thus, it must be sharpened;
Sharpen it with sound Sense,
Soundbytes shall dull it fast.

 

An inquiring soul asked:

Zechariah 11 - NIV
8 In one month I got rid of the three shepherds. The flock detested me, and I grew weary of them 
9 and said, "I will not be your shepherd. Let the dying die, and the perishing perish. Let those who are left eat one another's flesh."

Q. What do these two verses mean?

========

Let me quote from the King James's translation:

Zechariah 11 KJT
8 Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul loathed them, and their soul also abhorred me.
9 Then said I, I will not feed you: that that dieth, let it die; and that that is to be cut off, let it be cut off; and let the rest eat every one the flesh of another.

KJT : 8 Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul loathed them, and their soul also abhorred me.

NIV : 8 In one month I got rid of the three shepherds. The flock detested me, and I grew weary of them 

Do you notice the vast difference in the translations?

Shepherds are guides and protectors of their flocks, those entrusted to their care.

The three shepherds refer to the three great institutions in Israel, represented by the three offices of prophets, priests, and kings.

The LORD God instituted these three offices in Israel for the spiritual good of His people. BUT all these three had become so corrupted at the time of Jesus; it explained their great opposition and animosity against Christ.
 "... their souls ALSO abhorred me."
Christ's "soul loathed them."

Christ LOATHED them! Why? They abused their offices and did harm to Christ's people.

Christ cut them off - those offices of OT ceased by Christ's redemptive work; He fulfilled all those three offices in Himself - He is the Prophet, the Priest, and the King - the fulfilment of what typified in the old covenant. The three great institutions of the OT converged in and were fulfilled by the promised Messiah.

Verse 9 describes the forsakenness of all represented by the three shepherds, and the horrendous desolation and utter destruction of the theocratic Israel in 70AD.

I hope the above helps.

-----

p/s
Can you spot the differences? How good is your eyesight?

KJT: 8 Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul loathed them, and their soul also abhorred me.

NIV: 8 In one month I got rid of the three shepherds. The flock detested me, and I grew weary of them.

1. The pronouns "them" and "their" in the KJT refer to the "three shepherds". 
- Where does the NIV's "flock" come from? 
 
2. KJT's "cut off" versus NIV's "got rid of":
- Do they convey the same meaning?

3. KJT "my soul loathed them" versus NIV's "I grew weary of them":
- Do they convey the same meaning?

--------

picture:

A good knife keeps cutting,

It keeps asking apt questions.

Thus, it must be sharpened;

Sharpen it with sound sense,

Soundbytes shall dull it fast.

SOME BASIC CHURCH ETIQUETTE

https://www.facebook.com/sing.f.lau/posts/pfbid02EaNprsKfmNTrmwDMT73PmV4zakWsCTDfGdXkJAozmeqA2ZP92CxeLVyPwtKAHEwVl 

SOME BASIC CHURCH ETIQUETTE

1. COME. Never miss church unless it is absolutely necessary. George Washington's pastor said of him, "No company ever kept him from church."

2. COME EARLY. Rushing into the church at the last minute is not conducive to true worship.

3. COME WITH YOUR WHOLE FAMILY. "The church service is not a convention that a family should merely send a delegate."

4. TAKE A PLACE TOWARD THE FRONT OF THE CHURCH. Leave the rear seats for those who may come late, and for backsliders, and mothers with children.

5. BE DEVOUT. The church is not a theatre or place of amusement. You come to worship God, not to whisper, lounge or sleep. God's house deserves our very utmost reverence.

6. HELP STRANGERS TO FIND AND FOLLOW THE SERVICE. If they have no book, share yours with them. Sing! Join in the worship! Don't just sit!

7. ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT STRANGERS ARE THE GUESTS OF THE CHURCH MEMBERS. Treat them with the same courtesy as you would if they should visit your home.

8. GIVE A GOOD OFFERING TO GOD. God loveth a cheerful giver. Freely ye have received.

9. NEVER RUSH FOR THE DOOR after the benediction as though the church were on fire. Speak and be spoken to. Be congenial.

10. NEVER STAY AWAY FROM CHURCH BECAUSE THE CHURCH IS NOT PERFECT. How lonesome you would feel in a perfect church.

Author Unknown

From faith to faith

 

Initially posted here
https://www.facebook.com/sing.f.lau/posts/pfbid0GHKf9i1eJMB6hYvRKfDNpoaWp52j1BFS8rDrxC3diAZ2v6u1Zfhbnsf3KjjQach8l

#fromfaithtofaith

Leon
Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Sir, how would you interpret "from faith to faith"?

Sing
Ask questions about the text... and the answer is obvious.
Questions like...
- what does "therein" refer to?
- what is the righteousness of God spoken of?
- how is the righteousness of God therein revealed?
- revealed from what/whose faith to what/whose faith?

The context is that Apostle Paul is not ashamed of the gospel and preaching it, v. 16.

Leon
From those who already have faith (ie the Elects) to those who have just been given faith (newbie converts)?

Sing
What is the context?
Who is not ashamed of the gospel?
Why is he not ashamed of the gospel?

Leon
The righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel. Paul is not ashamed of the gospel because Christ has revealed it to him as God's truth.

Sing
Romans 1:
15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
16 ¶For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

One who is not ashamed of the gospel is one who has faith in the gospel and is earnest to preach the gospel.

Why? In the gospel, the righteousness of God's own provision in Jesus Christ is revealed, made known,  proclaimed, heralded to the hearers in WHOM God has worked the grace of faith.

Thus, it is from faith to faith.

Deceived and deluded theologians and their gullible followers see the gospel preaching as "from faith to those dead in trespasses and sins."

1 Corinthians 1:18 KJV — 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 cross by the preachers who have faith in Jesus Christ is perceived by those in whom the Spirit of God has worked the grace of faith as declaring the power of God in saving them.

Thus, it is from faith to faith.

A Synergist who is revered as a Monergist

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMlv21zGARM
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜𝗦 𝗦𝗔𝗟𝗩𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡?
In two minutes, Paul Washer says what repentance is
and what is salvation?
Nothing is more important than having this correct.
Your eternity depends upon it.
=======

(If your eternity depends on getting something correct, 
then your eternity is conditioned on getting something correct?
BUT spiritual things are spiritually discerned.
ONLY those whom God HAS FREELY bestowed eternal salvation
are capable of discerning spiritual things,
and getting those spiritual things correct.
Isn't this elementary!!!
It's foolish to put the cart before the horse. 
==============

https://www.facebook.com/sing.f.lau/posts/pfbid0V4RSs1eGDPcDh1C7NDA1tb6b5oFUPpLvGdbcrWmBWVaDF4VAkEehXoLU95MysYChl

#typicalsynergist
#typicalRBs

Mr Paul Washer is a popular Reformed Baptist preacher, highly revered by his Calvinistic followers.

His message in the video clip is a typical repudiation of salvation by grace alone. It's a popular fable peddled as a gospel truth.

The salvation he preaches is NO LONGER by grace, NOR by grace ALONE.

Repentance is a fruit of the salvation ALREADY freely bestowed; it's not a condition of salvation.

Eph 2
1 ¶And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins...
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

We were saved by God, freely by His grace, i.e. WITHOUT us doing anything or meeting any condition; when we were dead in trespasses and sins, we were incapable of faith or repentance.

Salvation by God's free grace and salvation through man's repentance and faith are two distinct salvations:

- the former is eternal salvation from the lake of fire based solely on the redemptive work of Christ; the latter is temporal salvation from lies, falsehood, ungodliness, unrighteousness, etc. in this life.

- the former is monergistic, based solely upon the free and sovereign activities of the Triune God; the latter is synergistic, through the obedience of those already saved by grace to the Father's will.

The salvation accomplished by Christ and freely applied to you (i.e. by grace!) personally when you were dead in trespasses and sins is DISTINCT from the salvation you must work out for yourself with fear and trembling, through your obedience to the Father's will.

- The former is eternal salvation freely by grace alone, A.L.O.N.E.

- The latter is temporal salvation through your obedience to the Father's will.

- The former makes the latter possible.

A simple illustration:

The life you received from your parents and the life you must labour to get for yourself are two distinct lives.

- The former concerns your BEING, you were brought into being; the latter concerns your WELLBEING.

- The former was by the " monergistic" activities of your parents; the latter involves your "synergistic" obedience to your parents.

If you still don't understand, ask.

===========

Comments

Ruth Delmar
Paul Washer affirms the doctrine of grace, and it is essentially monergistic, so your claim is wrong. The preaching is a clip of him preaching to repent. Preaching to repent does not make it synergistic. John the Baptist and Jesus Himself preached about repentance. We do not know who God’s elect are, so that’s why we preach.

Sing F Lau
Ruth, he clearly conditions salvation upon man's act of repentance, thus repudiating salvation by grace ALONE.

So many, even the Arminians, boast salvation by grace, but in the next breath, they condition salvation by grace through some activities of man!

Lahry
Sing F Lau kind sir, I'm trying to get a grip on your position. Am I understanding you to say that your position is that when YAHSHUA died HE died for all men saving all of mankind? Or am I missing something?

Sing F Lau
Lahry, God elected a people and gave them to Christ to redeem; Christ came to redeem the same exact people, not one more and not one less.

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 KJT — As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

Lahry
Thank you.

Sing F Lau
Lahry, What's your understanding of the matter?

Lahry
I really do not think it would be fruitful to respond, sir. All HIS best to you.

The Book of 1 Chronicles: Study 8 - The Mighty Men of Valour

Study 8 The Mighty Men of Valour and the Rest of Israel (1Chro 7-9)

a. We noted in study 1 that the purpose of Ezra was to encourage the Jews who had returned to Jerusalem.

But Ezra’s purpose is to remind the covenant people of God’s great covenant faithfulness despite their failure. The Chronicles records God’s faithfulness, emphasizing hope for the future as they wait for the coming of the promised Messiah. The purpose of God shall not be frustrated. The recalling of the past was meant to give the people a sense of purpose and direction to the people.

- So far, six tribes have been listed. Next, the other six tribes are briefly mentioned – Issachar (7:1-5), Benjamin (7:6-12; 8:1-40; 9:35-44), Naphtali (7:13), Manasseh West (7:14-19), Ephraim (7:20-29), Asher (7:30-40

1. Tribes of Valiant and Mighty Men Valour (7:1-12)
a. The listing of Issachar and Benjamin harks back, as chapter 6 did, to the glorious days of David (v2). The day of David was a blessed time for all the tribes, but it seems to have been so for these two tribes especially on account of their military prowess.
- The men of Issachar were distinguished as “mighty men of valour in their generations, their number in the days of David was 22,600… All five of them were chief men – commanders…36,000 troops ready for war.”
- This was their glory: a tribe blessed with mighty men of valour to serve the king and his kingdom. They considered it their glory to serve in the army of King David. They were a great asset to the kingdom of Israel.|
## Where are mighty men of valour for this generation? Able serving men are assets to the kingdom of Christ.

b. Similar thing is said of the descendants of Benjamin: of Bela there 20,034 mighty men of valour, of Becher there were 20,200 mighty men of valour, and of Jediael there were 17,200 mighty men of valour fit to go out for war and battle. This was the glory of the tribe of Benjamin – they have numerous “mighty men of valour” at the service of the King
- The tribe of Benjamin will be listed again in 8:1-40 and 9:35-44. This is significant. Next to the tribe of Judah and Levi, it occupies the most space in the lists. Possible reasons for this are:
- Benjamin kept together with Judah and remained faithful to God for another 100 years before the exile. Benjamin, as it were, took refuge under the shadow of Judah, the royal tribe.
- The descendants of Benjamin were one of the major groups who returned from the exile in Babylon. Many others did not return but remained.
- The first king of Israel, Saul, was a Benjamite. Later Saul’s family is singled out for special mention in 8:24-40 and is repeated in 9:35-44 as a prologue to the account of the king’s death in chapter 10. In a real but lesser sense, Benjamin was the first fruit of kingship for Israel, and therefore called for this extra mention.

## The smallest because of their faithfulness to God is honoured accordingly. The least has no reason to despair. God does with His people righteously, not according to outward appearance.

2. The Rest of Israel (7:13-40)
a. 7:13: The tribe of Napthali: is given a brief one-line mention.

b. 7:14-19: The tribe of Manasseh (w): nothing significant is mentioned except for the case of Zelophehad, the central figure in a famous legal case described in Num 27:1-11; 36:1-12. Do read the account in Numbers and marvel at the justice and goodness of the Lord’s dealing with His people.

c. 7:20-29: The tribe of Ephraim: there is a tangled of relationship. Some sons suffered premature death because of presumption, who tried to conquer the promised land before God’s appointed time has arrived. The problem was disobedience to God and this explains the ‘tragedy’ that came upon his house, v23.
- Sheerah, a prominent daughter of Ephraim is mentioned. Cp Josh 16:3-5

d. 7:30-40: The tribe of Asher: the list has a note of the tribe’s warriors, chiefs, and ‘thousands’ of choice men and mighty men of valour fit for battle.

e. No mention is made of Dan and Zebulun. It appears that some tribes dwindled and were assimilated into others. These two missing tribes were compensated by the division of Joseph's descendants into two tribes Ephraim and Manasseh, and the further division of Manasseh into two sections.

- In all, ALL are accounted for.
- The complete number 12 is still preserved. The 12 tribes are symbolic of the full number of God’s people in the OT (9:1, cf. Rev 21:12), just as all the NT believers are represented by the twelve apostles (Rev 21:14).
- The northern tribes were punished for their rebellion against David and for their apostasy. The south tribes were punished for their unfaithfulness, yet God dealt mercifully with them. He kept His covenant with David.

3. The Restoration of worship in Jerusalem (9:1-44)
a. 9:1 might be taken as a conclusion and summary of the whole first section (chapter 1-9) of the book. But God’s faithfulness to His covenant with David saw the return of the Jews back to Jerusalem and Ezra was intent to record these few remaining lists before he embarks on the narratives that start with chapter 10.
- These remaining lists have to do with the temple worship in Jerusalem, something central to those who returned. Those who returned home and dwelt in the city of Jerusalem were carefully noted.

b. 9:2 – “the first inhabitants” are those who had returned from exile, and dwelt in Jerusalem.
- All of the returnees were grouped into four categories: Israelites is a general description of the whole nation, and “priests, Levites and the Nethinims” are the three classes of people associated with temple worship. Nethnims are the general workers of the temple service.
- 9:10-13 – of the priests
- 9:14-34 – of the Levites
- 9:35-44 - a repetition of the genealogy of the ancestors and posterity of Saul king of Israel

c. Among the returnees from exile, a large group from Benjamin’s tribe is recorded, (v4-8), apart from those from the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh (representatives of the northern kingdom’s ten tribes).
- These new groups which formed the ‘new Israel’ was made up of people from the northern kingdom as well as those from the southern kingdom.
- Though several tribes have ceased to exist, yet in essence, there is continuity between the ‘new Israel’ and the old Israel.
- God’s covenant faithfulness has preserved the remnant out of the old Israel. And the same covenant faithfulness shall preserve this insignificant, but a faithful remnant that devoted themselves to the service of the house of God (v13). They preferred Jerusalem rather than glamorous Babylon.
## Is the house of God the central focus of our life?

d. But Ezra’s focus is upon the priests and the Levites with dwelt in Jerusalem for the temple service. Of the priests, it was said, “[They were] very able men for the work of the service of the house of God” (v13).
- Verses 14-16 record those who carried the name ‘Levite’ as a special designation, probably instructors or teachers of the word of God in Jerusalem.
- Verses 17-34 record those who serve as gatekeepers, singers, and all the other ‘temple servants’.

e. Despite the great gulf caused by the exile to Babylon, yet by God’s faithfulness, there is continuity in the priestly ministry and temple worship for the people of God in Jerusalem.
- The restoration of God’s people to Jerusalem was most significant because Jerusalem was the unifying factor of all the tribes of Israel. It symbolized the presence of God with His people. The remnant’s restoration to Jerusalem speaks of the covenant faithfulness of God to His people. True worship was re-established for His people… pointing forward to the coming of the promised Messiah. The hope of His people was kept alive.

The Book of 1 Chronicles: Study 7 - The Priestly Tribe of Levite

 

The Priestly Tribe of Levite (1Chro. 6:1-81)

Introduction
a. In this chapter, our attention is turned to the priestly tribe of Levi. Though Joseph and Judah shared between them the forfeited honours of the birthright of Reuben, yet Levi was first of all the tribes, i.e. dignified and distinguished with honour more valuable than the double portion of Joseph, or the royalty of Judah, and that was the priesthood.
- The Levites are given the most attention in these introductory chapters (1-9) except the royal tribe of Judah. This tribe is mentioned in the middle of Israel’s genealogical list, just as the tabernacle and temple in which the Levites served lay at the centre of the spiritual life of the nation of Israel.
- The Lord set apart for Himself the tribe of Levi. It was Moses’ tribe, and perhaps for his sake that the tribe was thus favoured. The punishment for Levi’s sin (Gen 49.7) was that his descendants would be scattered throughout Israel.
- But God, in His grace and mercy turned this judgment into a blessing by appointing this tribe to the priesthood, such that their influence spread throughout Israel. Cp. Rm. 8:28.
- The Levites provide a religious leadership that acts as a unifying force throughout Israel’s history and the breadth of its territory.

b. The outline of the long chapter:
- The chapter is made up of three sections, v1-30, and v31-53, and v54-81.
- Section 1: v1-3 lists the patriarchs of the tribe; v4-15 lists the line of priests from Aaron Jehozadak, i.e. from the time of the exodus from Egypt to captivity in Babylon; v16-30 lists some other of their families.
- Section 2: v31-48 lists the work of the Levites, and v49-53 the works of the priests.
- Section 3: v54-81 lists the cities appointed for the Levites. Read Numbers 35 for details.

1. The Preservation of the Levi Tribe (v1-30)
a. The priests and Levites were more particular than any other Israelites to preserve their genealogy clear and to be able to prove it, because all the honours and privileges of their office depended strictly upon their descent from Aaron. Cp Ez 2:62-63.
- Of the three sons of Levi, the middle one, Kohath, is taken first; from him were descended Moses and Aaron. This is one of the rare occasions in Chronicles where Moses is mentioned, in spite of his very key role in the history of Israel. His brother Aaron, from whom sprang the line of the high priests, is of greater consequence for the author.
- The line of Aaron is anchored between two great events of Israel’s history, in the time of the exodus from Egypt (v3) and the exile to Babylon (v15).
- v16-30 gives equal importance to all the three of Levi’s sons, Gershon and Merari, as well as Kohath, with the horizontal line of the cousins of the first generation (16-19),followed by a vertical line for each family (20-30)
- Of all the tribes of Israel, only those of David and Aaron are traced all the way from the patriarchs to the exile to Babylon.
- Just as David gave the tribe of Judah great significance as the royal tribe, Aaron gave the tribe of Levi significance as the priestly tribe

b. The roles of prophet, priest, and king had been kept strictly apart throughout the OT (1Sam 13:8-12; 2Chr 26:16), however, after the exile, they began to be linked together. The list finished with Jehozadak (exiled to Babylon, 6:15), whose son Joshua, the high priest, was to work with governor Zerubbabel to restore true worship in the rebuilt temple after the exile (Hag 1:1-2; Zech 3:1-9; 6:11).
- Prophet Zechariah linked the kingly and priestly offices together in the coming Messiah Zech 6:12-13). Moses described the coming Messiah as the Prophet (Dt. 18:15-19).
- The preservation and the restoration of the priestly line had great theological significance for the remnant that returned from exile. It was a token of the promised redemption in the coming Saviour, in whom all the three offices of prophet, priest and king are united.
- Christ alone is the Prophet, Priest, and King; the three great institutions of the old covenant converged in the promised Messiah.

c. There were, however, great blemishes among the Levitical priests.
- 6:3 mentions Nadab and Abihu who were struck dead because they “offered strange fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them. So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord” (Lev 10:1-3). Worship of the Lord is to be strictly regulated by the revealed will of God. 
- Eli and his two wicked sons, Hophni and Phinehas are not mentioned (1Sam 2:29, 4:18).
- Uriah, who consented to the wicked command of King Ahaz to build a pagan altar in the temple, is also omitted (2Kg 16:10-16).
- The book of Ezekiel gives us a glimpse of the great wickedness of the priests ministering in the Temple. See 8:16; 22:26f;
## These priestly leaders were disgraced for their shameless conduct and are remembered no more.
# In Christ Jesus we have the perfect High Priest. Read the Epistle to the Hebrews; it’s a wonderful book, demonstrating the incomparable superiority of Christ’s priesthood over the Levitical priesthood.

2. The Works of the Levites and Priests (v31-53)
a. When the Levites were first ordained in the wilderness, much of the work then appointed to them consisted of carrying and taking care of the tabernacle and its utensils, while they were travelling through the wilderness.
- This section deals with the functions of Levites in the nation’s life. The focus is on the reigns of David and Solomon (v31,32), and on the function of the Levites as it was then established for the worship of first the tabernacle, and later the temple.
- In David’s time their number was increased. The greater part of them was dispersed throughout the nation, to teach the people the knowledge of the Lord. However those that attended to the house of God were still so numerous that David, by special commission and direction from God, remodelled their divisions of labour.

b. The singing work (v31f): When the service of the ark was superseded by its rest (after the temple was in service), they had this singing work cut for them. These singers kept up that service in the tabernacle till the temple was built, and then they “served in their office according to their order.” There were several groups rendering the same work, and they took turns.
- We are given the account of three great masters who were employed in the service of the sacred songs, with their respective families. They were Heman the Kohathite, Asaph the Gershonite, and Ethan the Merarite. Some of the psalms bear their names, cp Ps 73-85, 88, 89, etc. They train singers, led the people in worship

c The serving work (v33f): There was an abundance of service to be done in the tabernacle of the house of God  (v48). Water and fuel must be provided for; there are sacrifices to kill, flay and boil or burn; to maintain the cleanliness of the tabernacle, etc.; to all such services as they were appointed.
- Those who were not fit to be singers are not laid aside as good for nothing but are gainfully employed in the service of the Lord! Cp. 1Pet 4:10.

d. The sacrificing work (49f): This was to be done by the appointed priest alone (v49). They were only to sprinkle the blood and burn the incense, and as for the work of the most holy place, that was to be done by the high priest alone. Each had his work, and they both needed one another, and both helped one another in it. Concerning the work of the priests, we are told these things:
- They were to make atonement for Israel, to mediate between the people and God; not to magnify or enrich themselves, but to serve the people. They were ordained for the sake of their brethren.
- Though they presided in God’s house, yet they must do as they were bidden, according to all that God has commanded them. Even the greatest king is subject to that law. They who transgress it incur God’s displeasure, e.g. Saul, etc.
## This priestly ministry pointed to the atonement in the promised Saviour, by which sinners may draw near to God. Cp Heb 10:11-25.

3. The Cities Appointed for the Levites (v54-81)
a. The scattering of the Levites was originally a judgment (Gen 49:5-7). God turned it into a blessing for them and the nation of Israel.
- Under the monarchy, they exercised a unifying influence among the tribes that were often suspicious of royal authority. (2Sam 20;1-2; 1Kg 12:12:16-17). Their chief task was to preserve and instruct the revealed truth and the true worship appointed by God.
- The Levites did not receive an inheritance of land. They were supported by tithes from other tribes. Each tribe had to set aside cities for the Levites. This way, the Levites were evenly spread out throughout the nation.
- Numbers 35 gives the details
## Those called to engage in spiritual work ought to be supported adequately and cheerfully. (1Cor 9:13-14).

b. The cities of refuge: read Numbers 35:6,67. Some of the cities of the Levites functioned as cities of refuge.

Questions
1. Why is the priestly ministry in the OT so stringently protected against any intrusion? What is the message?

 2. God turned a judgment upon the Levites into a blessing for the nation of Israel. What lessons do we learn?

3. What accounts for the many different styles of worship seen in churches today? How do you determine which of these is acceptable?