The salvation by God's grace through WHOSE faith?

"For by grace are ye saved through faith..." Eph 2:8.

The salvation that is by the grace of God, which is free and sovereign, must be the ETERNAL salvation, in contrast to the TIMELY salvation that God's children must work out for themselves with fear and trembling. This eternal salvation that is by the free and sovereign grace of God is THROUGH faith.

Pray tell, THROUGH whose faith? Faith exercised by you?

I hear your pious and humble disclaimer loud and clear... that the faith exercised by you is not your own, it is a saving grace worked in you... in that sense it is a gift of God; it is not your own. But is that the faith spoken of in Eph 2:8?

Is your eternal salvation through the faith that was worked in you and EXERCISED by you, then?

Did you exercise your faith as the result of the eternal salvation ALREADY bestowed upon you by God's free and sovereign grace; OR
Did you exercise your faith in order to have the eternal salvation bestowed to you, or something else?

If the former, then your faith plays NO role whatsoever in your eternal salvation.

If the latter, then eternal salvation is no more by free grace; it is conditioned upon your act of believing, WHICH IS ONLY POSSIBLE if the indwelling Spirit work that grace within the heart. But how is that possible, i.e with the Holy Spirit indwelling in the heart and working that grace of faith, if eternal salvation has not been bestowed by God's free and sovereign grace?

Whatever, could you please tell us exactly what the place or role is of your act of believing in your eternal salvation by God's free and sovereign grace?

Does your Bible still speak of the faith OF - OF - OF Jesus Christ in your eternal salvation? If it doesn't, throw that translation away! So many have perverted that glorious gospel truth and twisted it into faith IN - IN - IN Jesus Christ in your eternal salvation.

It is plain and easy to see that your faith IN - IN - IN Jesus Christ and the faith OF - OF - OF Jesus Christ are worlds apart. The former is the ground and foundation of eternal salvation, and the latter is the evidence and manifestation of that salvation.

Ro 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith OF - OF - OF Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Ga 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith OF - OF - OF Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith OF - OF - OF Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith OF - OF - OF Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

"Even the righteousness of God which is by faith OF - OF - OF Jesus Christ" - how is the provision of God's righteousness related to the faith OF - OF - OF Jesus Christ EXCEPT the faithfulness of Jesus Christ in rendering perfect obedience to all the laws of God.

Righteousness is secured SOLELY through the faithfulness of Christ's perfect and complete obedience to the laws of God.

And that righteousness is the sole ground of justification by God's free and sovereign grace.

All but a few have entirely forgotten about, and rejected the faith OF - OF - OF Jesus Christ for their eternal salvation. They revel in their own faith, their acts of faith..

Is this your understanding of your salvation?

A man illustrated and asked, "Do you agree?"

What's your understanding of your salvation?

A man illustrated and asked, "Do you agree?"
"I like the analogy I have heard credited to the Eastern Churches. A captain goes to sea to rescue shipwreck survivors. He searches back and forth for hours. He finds me; he throws me a rope. I grab it, put the loop around my body. He pulls me in. He gets me hot food and drink and wraps me in blankets and gets me to medical care. Did I save myself because I had to do one thing. Or does the captain get all the credit? Of course he does. That is how I see my salvation. Do you agree?"
-----------

He received this reply from a Bible teacher...

No, I disagree entirely with the man-made caricature of salvation.

First, the Bible describes the man in the water as hating the Captain and will have nothing to do with his stupid rope! And would rather drown in the sea at the will of the Sea Monster Satan that rules the waters, and in fact, he is a quadriplegic that cannot do anything with the rope. IN FACT, he is dead!

Read John 10:26; Rom 8:7; I Cor 2:14; Eph 2:1-3; etc., etc.

Second, if the sea is filled with thousands of drowning folks, and the Captain throws the rope to all of them, and only five use it as you described, did the five save themselves in comparison to the others, when the Captain tried his best to save all of them? Absolutely, they saved themselves by making the difference!

Read John 8:47; I Cor 1:29-31; Eph 5:25-27; etc., etc.

For the cause of God and truth...

================================

Fiction and fable blasted to shreds

"... the just shall live by faith."

"...the just shall live by faith" 
is a DESCRIPTION of the just;
it is NOT a PRESCRIPTION for how to be just.
TOO MANY carelessly see it as the latter. 

... the just shall live by faith."

Habakkuk 2:4 KJT
Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

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

Galatians 3:11 KJT
But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

Hebrews 10:38 KJT
Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

The words are repeated four times; there must be a good reason for the repetition.

"The just shall live by faith" is an indicative statement declaring a certain fact about the just, i.e. the justified ones; they shall live by faith.

"The just shall live by faith" is not, not, not a statement on how the unjustified condemned is justified, i.e. by faith, as it's commonly imagined - by both the Calvinists and their first cousins, the Arminians.

The living shall live by breath is a statement about the living; it is not what a dead man must do. i.e. breathes, to become alive!

How an unjustified condemned sinner is justified by God is plainly stated here:

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

This Scripture states two matters concerning justification:

- first, the GROUND or basis of the condemned is justified by God: it's "through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus," i.e. through the faith(fullness) of Christ Jesus in His redemptive work. It's NOT through your faith in Christ; this is a fable.

- second, the MANNER the condemned is justified by God; it's "FREELY by His grace."

A man's faith is a manifestation that he has been justified, even as the breath of a man is a demonstration that a dead man has been made alive; faith is a fruit of justification, even as breath is an effect of the life bestowed.

2 Timothy 2:7 KJT — Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

Time to move beyond shibboleths and soundbites. 

Save yourselves from this untoward generation

Acts 2 KJT
40 ¶And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

[18/02/2021, 14:01]
Sunnie
Sir, may I ask some questions, please?

Acts 2 KJT
[40] And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

Q: Was that generation more untoward or evil than our present generation?
Q: Was that generation more untoward because they plotted & murdered the Messiah?
Q: Is our present generation less untoward because we are not plotting or murdering our Savior? Or is there no Messiah presently because He has finished His work of redemption, therefore, today people are not warned at all of this untoward or evil generation.
Q: Or is our present generation more civilised and warning need not be that severe?
Q: Or those with beautiful feet now only preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Therefore, very unfitting to warn the modern generation?

Thank you, sir, for helping us to put more questions about verses we may be very familiar. Will ask further on the other verses and hope our brethren will give an opinion.

[18/02/2021, 18:19]
Sunnie
[41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.]

Q: A good 37 years ago, when I responded to the preached word John 15: 1-7 by so much fear & trembling as that night I was frightened by the loss of salvation and cast away & burned. (Only by the grace of God I now understand perfectly of eternal, legal & spiritual salvation). I noted verse 41, those that received the word gladly were added to the church by baptism n three thousands added to the church.

Q: However, why believers today in our present setting are dreading to consider baptism and be added to the church?

Q: Is it because these believers are frightened of the covenant commitment towards one & another? I don't know.

Q: Or the church members in the present SDC show poor churchmanship that put off people? I don't know the answer

Q: Is it because non-church members are of the opinions since it is the eternal heaven that counts, why bother? I don't know the answer either.

As all the questions helped me to ponder and hoping answers from above could be provided. Amen

[18/02/2021, 18:58]
Sunnie
[42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.]

Comment: They remained steadfast in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship. We have the right ingredients. A complete Bible compared to the time of the apostles. We have the revealed declaration of Heaven & eternal judgement of which we, as Christ's righteous imputation, should be thoroughly convinced we are indeed very blessed with assurance we will be one day in the eternal glory! Yet these earlier disciples continued with steadfastness. They were indeed blessed with minimal understanding but very definitely with gladness they are saved!

Q: If we are hardly steadfast in the doctrine and fellowship with each other, what is the matter? I wonder why? What's amiss?

Thank brethren for allowing me to share my thoughts forthrightly!

[19/02/2021, 01:51]
sing
Thank you for taking the time and exercising your mind on the subject. You have asked helpful questions on the passage.

Concerning [40] And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

Let's understand the word *untoward* - literally, it means crooked; metaphorically, it means morally perverse, wicked, froward (difficult to deal with).

With that in mind, let us give some thoughts to your questions.

Q: Was that generation more untoward or evil than our present generation?

An answer:
That was an untoward generation indeed, for several reasons:
- They were eyewitnesses of their Messiah but rejected and crucified him.
- They were waiting for their Messiah but when He has appeared, they rejected and crucified Him.
- They were shown the irrefutable signs and miracles performed by Jesus of Nazareth but refused to believe that He is their expected Messiah. Instead, they accused Him of performing those signs and miracles by the power of Beelzebub.
- They heard the astonishing teachings of Jesus but rejected them anyway.
- They were soundly reproved of their errors and hypocrisy but they hardened themselves further.

So, that generation was untoward INDEED. Brother Jonathan has a saying, "that generation was devil-possessed." Morally perverse, wicked, froward, unfair, and unreasonable in their treatment of Christ - speaking specifically of the religious establishment, and not the common people, generally.

That untoward generation had been destined to be destroyed in AD 70; Apostle Peter was appealing to the hearers to save themselves by separating themselves from that untoward generation - by believing that Jesus Christ was indeed the promised Messiah they had been waiting for.

Please remember that most of Peter's hearers were Jews and Gentile proselytes who had come from distant nations (Acts 2:5 ) to Jerusalem to observe the Pentecost.

Your question: Was that generation more untoward or evil than our present generation?

It would be yes for the reasons given.

As your question necessarily implies, God's children in this generation are untoward too, just in different ways. These shall be considered in your other questions.

[19/02/2021, 10:03]
sing
Q: Was that generation more untoward because they plotted & murdered the Messiah?
An answer:
- Yes, they are one of many reasons. It went beyond plotting and murdering their Messiah.
-Jesus told them many times that He would rise from the dead, and they did everything to ensure He remained dead in the tomb. But when He had risen from the dead, instead of shame and repentance, they concocted lies to deceive others further!

[19/02/2021, 10:04]
sing
Q: Is our present generation less untoward because we are not plotting or murdering our Savior. Or is there no Messiah presently because He has finished His work of redemption therefore today people are not warned at all of this untoward or evil generation.

An answer:
- The present generation of God's children is untoward too in their own ways.  The untowardness takes more forms than the literal plotting and murdering the Son of God. In that literal sense, it is no longer possible to be untoward.
- Please note that only God's children can be justly charged as being untoward in their conduct, words, and thoughts towards their Father, and Elder Brother Jesus Christ, their Lord, and Saviour.
- "Without excuse" has reference to God's children. Acting and believing contrary to what is revealed and shown to them manifested their untowardness.
- With all the EXTRA light and truth from the completed Scriptures and the easy access to all the tools to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, Christians are acting untowardly indeed if they are not growing as expected.

[19/02/2021, 10:04]
sing
Q: Or is our present generation more civilised and warning need not be that severe?

An answer:
The present generation of religious leaders and their followers are no more enlightened than that untoward generation in different ways.

- When they believe the Devil's lie that there is *NO* hell for them after they leave this world, no warning is severe enough. Untoward children of God will find themselves in hell after they depart from this world. Christ did not save His people from hell; Christ solemnly warned them to take drastic measures against their sins to avoid hell. The Devil seduced them to turn that warning to non-children of God - O, how subtle. Gen 3:1.

- Christ did most assuredly save His people from the eternal misery in the lake of fire. Whosoever's name is found in the Lamb's Book of Life - and Christ, the Lamb of God, came to redeem every one of them, from the lake of fire. Rev 20:15.
- Sorry, I digressed.

[19/02/2021, 10:07]
sing
Q: Or those with beautiful feet now only preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Therefore, very unfitting to warn the modern generation?

An answer:
Unfortunately, few preachers have the gospel of peace to preach, bringing the glad tidings of good things in the eternal salvation by the free and sovereign grace of God, and warning them to "work out their *own salvation* with fear and trembling" and the dire consequences for neglecting such reasonable duties.

May my Lord assist me to discharge my duty better.

Also, enjoying the grace of God in vain is a harsh reality among God's children, 2Cor 6:1.

[Thank you Pastor for helping us to put more questions to verses we may be very familiar. Will ask further on the other verses and hopeful our brethren will give an opinion.]

Comment: Passages that seem very familiar become not familiar when we begin to ask apt questions. Try that on your Christian friends. Try John 3:16! Overfamiliarity is often an indication of a common but dreadful sickness called soundbytitis. I fear this dreadful disease more than Covid-19.

Continue to ask, and we will learn together.

[19/02/2021, 12:51]
sing

[40] And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, *Save yourselves from this untoward generation.*
-----------

My comments:
- they were exhorted to save themselves,
- they must do something to save themselves,
- they are to save themselves from something particular, that untoward generation.

What did Peter testify about?

What is the salvation spoken of?

What must the hearers do to be saved?

What will they save themselves from?

Many don't have a clue.

The moment they see the word 'save', they go off tangent to hell (lake of fire) and heaven. 😢😢😢

[19/02/2021, 13:50]
sing
[41] Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Q: A good 37 years ago, when I responded to the preached word John 15: 1-7 by so much fear & trembling as that night I was frightened by the loss of salvation and cast away & burn. (Only by the grace of God I now understand perfectly of eternal, legal & spiritual salvation). I noted verse 41, the brethren received gladly added to the church by baptism n three thousands added to the church. However, why are believers today in our present setting are dreading to feet to consider baptism and be added to the church?

------------

Thank you for sharing your experience with us.

Yes, only those who gladly received the preached word of Peter – testifying that Jesus is indeed the promised Messiah, and exhorted God’s children to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (they were God-fearing devout men from all nations – Acts 2:5), and the fearsome temporal judgment of 70AD.

- Those who gladly received the gospel of Jesus Christ were baptized. No begging, no cajoling, no emotional appeal to accept Christ, no saying the sinner’s prayers.
- Those who gladly received the word gladly complied with what they were told to do.
- Yes, all those baptized that day were also ADDED to the Jerusalem church that day. Most of those baptized that day were from distant lands who would soon return to their homes far away from Jerusalem.
- The Apostles were busy visiting them in the far-flung places and planted local churches in those places wherever possible.

Q. *Why do believers today in our present setting dread considering baptism and being added to the church?*

An answer: this may sound simplistic – little love for Christ is at the heart; other things are just incidental peripherals.

<Q: Is it because these believers are frightened of the covenant commitment towards one & another? I don't know?>

An answer: That’s probably one of the several reasons.

<Q: Or the church members in the present SDC show poor churchmanship that put off people? I don't know the answer.

An answer: That’s possible; sincere and good people are stumbled and put off.

- Poor preaching, don’t have the activities for their children, no crèche, closed communion, doctrines, etc.

<Q: Is it because non-church members are of the opinions since it is the eternal heaven that counts, why bother? I don't know the answer either.>

An answer: that’s likely but probably rare. I’m of the opinion that those who know that it is the eternal heaven that matters would also understand the necessity of their obedience for their temporal salvation.

<As all the questions helped me to ponder, and hoping answers from above could be provided. Amen.>

My little experience:
I grew up in the Methodist setting; I was sprinkled in my early teens. Then I was converted while a student at Sydney University. Later, when I had learned that the biblical mode of baptism is immersion, I readily submitted myself to be immersed, and was added to the membership of Newtown Baptist Church… no bitching and whining that I had been baptized in the Methodist Church. It is easy when we keep our conscience clear before the Lord.

[20/02/2021, 13:53]
sing
Some comments:
a. We are indeed far more fortunate than the believers in the Apostles' time.
- The Apostles may not be with us today; we may no longer witness the marvellous signs and miracles performed by them, BUT we have the full revelation of God, the complete inspired Scriptures, readily available at our fingertips. This is such a great blessing.
- Even the Apostles themselves knew in part only. 1Cor 13:9-10.

- Imagine for one moment if we don't have the Holy Scriptures, or we are illiterate (unable to read or write). Would you feel any poorer? How many of us grumble and whine when we have to miss a meal for our belly! Do our souls feel famished when we miss feeding upon the word of God?

- We are blessed indeed with so much more for our discipleship. Are we faring better than they?

- Christ's just and equitable principle, "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required." Luke 12:48.

b. "they continued steadfastly":
- steadfast: an adjective, resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering.
- steadfastly: an adverb, describing the manner they continued. 
- They continued steadfastly attentive unto, giving unremitting care to those things.
- To continue in those things requires effort and discipline; to continue steadfastly implies that they have to fight off lawful things that may distract and supplant their attention to those noble things: the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
- The apostles' doctrine here means the preaching of the apostles, not the apostolic doctrinal principles.

What explained their steadfast continuance in those excellent spiritual exercises?

What do you think?

Were they less busy with life?

Were their circumstances favourable?

What would we do to cultivate that steadfast continuance in those spiritual exercises also?

What's distracting each one of us?

A Beatitude, A Tribute, and A Rebuke - Luke 7:18-35 KJT

Luke 7:18-35 KJT
A Beatitude, A Tribute, and A Rebuke

A Beatitude on the Non-Doubters
- Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

18 And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things.
19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
20 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.
22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.
23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

A Tribute to John the Baptist
- Behold, I send my messenger before thy face

24 And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
25 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts.
26 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.
27 This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
29 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.

A Rebuke to the Religious Leaders
- But wisdom is justified of all her children

30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.
31 And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?
32 They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.
33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.
34 The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!
35 But wisdom is justified of all her children. 

Old School PBs versus New School RBs

Stop regurgitating reformed shibboleths;
Study the Scriptures and think for yourself. 

#questiontime

#oldschoolnewschool

Leongsy
But did you really depart from the Reformed faith? Or were you just analysing it correctly? Coz u r still teaching the 1689 LBCF in your church, not only once, but 3 times. If you have departed from the Reformed Baptist faith, why did u teach the 1689 LBCF 3 times over the last 30 years?

sing
I went back to the faith held by the old-school Baptists who gave us the 1689 CoF.

The new-school Baptists, like the Reformed Baptists, have departed from what is faithfully summarised in the 1689 CoF.

I have studied and written extensively on the 1689 CoF... pointing out the glaring errors of the RBs.

Here is an example of how the new is so different from the old:

The new: you believe in order to be justified by God;

The old: you believe because you have been justified by God.

Here is a classic example:

On Faith and Justification

Dr John Gill (1697-1771) was an old-school particular-baptist theologian, universally esteemed by his contemporaries of various denominations, and also by Dr Robert L Reymond (1932-2013), who was a renowned reformed theologian.

Dr Reymond said of John Gill:
"Gill (1697-1771), a Baptist Puritan pastor, writes a thorough defence of Calvinistic theology."
- the above is listed under "Selected General Theological Bibliography" on page 1137 of Dr Robert L Reymond's "A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith" Nelson, 1998.

Dr John Gill on faith and justification:
"Faith is not the cause, but an effect of justification; it is not the cause of it in any sense; it is not the moving cause, that is the free grace of God... nor even the instrumental cause... it is not in any class of causes whatever; but it is the effect of justification... Now if faith is not the cause, but the effect of justification; then as every cause is before its effect, and every effect follows its cause, justification must be before faith, and faith must follow justification."

- A Body of Doctrinal Divinity Book II, Chapter V, section II. (1769)

Dr Robert L Reymond on faith and justification:
"The New Testament everywhere makes it plain that faith in Jesus Christ is the instrumental 'precondition' [in italics] of justification before God... Therefore, faith in Jesus Christ... must precede justification as its logical (not chronological) prius... Thus we have the order: effectual calling... and faith in Jesus Christ, justification, and glorification."

- A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith, page 707. (1998, Nelson)

How vast is the difference between the old-school and the new-school theology - it is a gulf unbridgeable!

If the words of Mr Luther - "the doctrine of justification is the article of a standing or falling church" - were true, then how many of the reformed churches are standing churches today?

Is your church standing?

Everlasting fire or the lake of fire in Mt 25:41

Brethren, find a few quiet minutes to peruse the short exchanges below.
(*peruse: read (something), typically thoroughly or carefully.)
-----------------

Leongsy
Matthew 25 KJT
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:   
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

Sir. I am listening to Elder Yanathan's Landmarks sermon 6; around the 17th min, I definitely heard him say Matthew 25:41 is referring to the Lake of Fire.

What do you think?

sing
I think that's a popular fable.
May the Lord bless you to use a bit of common sense.
Please consider these few things:

ONE:
"everlasting" is carelessly understood as eternal. Everlasting hell lasts as long as time lasts; it shall be ended (emptied and become irrelevant) at the end of time. The lake of fire is eternal - it shall be ushered in after the end of time, THAT IS, after the general resurrection and the final judgment.

TWO:
Please ask and think through.
- Of whom does the righteous Judge require to show those kind deeds to His people? Does He require those good works from those dead in trespasses and sins? Or does He require such good works from His redeemed people?

THREE:
Read the response in verse 25.
To whom will you attribute the response to the righteous Judge's charges/censures? Is it a response from those dead in trespasses and sins or from those who own the Judge as their Lord?

FOUR:
The three parables in Mt 25 have one, same theme:
- The ONE Bridegroom with BOTH wise and foolish virgins; BOTH are waiting for Him
- The ONE Master with BOTH the good/faithful servants, and the wicked/slothful servants. BOTH are his OWN servants.
- ONE Shepherd who has BOTH sheep and goats in His ONE Flock. BOTH are in His one flock - He separates them.

FIVE:
v46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Do a search on the  usage of "life eternal." You will discover the hard truth - life eternal is entered CONDITIONALLY through man's works of righteousness. Take a look here: https://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2023/08/life-eternal-and-eternal-life.html

Heaven is accessed solely and wholly on the basis of Christ and His works alone.

And life eternal is not eternal life; and entering life eternal is NOT entering heaven.

CONCLUSION
All the parables describe some harsh realities ABOUT the kingdom of God...
- There are BOTH the wise and the foolish virgins waiting for the Groom in the kingdom of God.
- There are BOTH the good/faithful servants and the wicked/slothful servants of the Master in the kingdom of God
- There are BOTH the disciples who show kindness to the least of the Judge's redeemed, and there are disciples who don't, in the kingdom of God.

The immediate CONTEXT of the Mt 25  is the coming of the Bridegroom/ Master/Shepherd (the descriptions of the same Person, the Lord Jesus Christ) in 70AD to judge earthly theocratic Israel.

May the Lord help you understand. Amen.

Leongsy
Good. You should write a book on the History of the Particular Baptists vs the Reformed Baptists and also include all those incorrect interpretations of the Scriptures by the Deformed Reformed guys into it, and then u give your correct interpretations, so that everyone may know the truth.

sing
2 Timothy 2:15 KJT — Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Rightly dividing the word of truth is a WORK with these great purposes:
- THYSELF be approved unto God,
- THYSELF needn't to be ashamed.
- THYSELF to be found faithful.

Rightly dividing the word of truth is NOT to parade oneself; it's not to show the errors of others, unless they inquire or dispute.

If anyone wants to know the truth, they just need to have some common sense and be honest with what the text says.

Consider the above, and may our blessed Lord grant you understanding.

Amen. 

A Peculiar People, Zealous of Good Works

A Summary by the Old School Baptists on the Bible's  teaching on Good Works

1. Good works are only such as God has commanded in his Holy Word, and not such as without the warrant thereof are devised by men out of blind zeal, or upon any pretence of good intentions.

2. These good works, done in obedience to God’s commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith; and by them believers manifest their thankfulness, strengthen their assurance, edify their brethren, adorn the profession of the gospel, stop the mouths of the adversaries, and glory God, whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto, that having their fruit unto holiness they may have the end eternal life.

3. Their ability to do good works is not all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ;10 and that they may be enabled thereunto, besides the graces they have already received, there is necessary an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit, to work in them and to will and to do of his good pleasure;11 yet they are not bound to perform any duty, unless upon a special motion of the Spirit, but they ought to be diligent in stirring up the grace of God that is in them.

4.  They who in their obedience attain to the greatest height which is possible in this life, are so far from being able to supererogate, and to do more than God requires, as that they fall short of much which in duty they are bound to do.

5. We cannot by our best works merit pardon of sin or eternal life at the hand of God, by reason of the great disproportion that is between them and the glory to come, and the infinite distance that is between us and God, whom by them we can neither profit nor satisfy for the debt of our former sins; but when we have done all we can, we have done but our duty, and are unprofitable servants; and because they are good they proceed from his Spirit, and as they are wrought by us they are defiled and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection, that they cannot endure the severity of God’s punishment.

6. Yet notwithstanding the persons of believers being accepted through Christ, their good works also are accepted in him; not as though they were in this life wholly unblamable and unreprovable in God’s sight, but that he, looking upon them in his Son, is pleased to accept and reward that which is sincere, although accompanied with many weaknesses and imperfections.

7. Works done by unregenerate men, although for the matter of them they may things which God commands, and of good use both to themselves and to others; yet because they proceed not from a heart purified by faith, nor are done in a right manner according to the Word, nor to a right end, the glory of God, they are therefore sinful, and cannot please God, nor make a man meet to receive the grace from God, and yet their neglect of them is more sinful and displeasing to God.

(Chapter 16 of the 1689 CoF)

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Good works are first and foremost owed to the LORD our God; then to those of the household of faith, and fellow men.

Matthew 22:

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Galatians 6

10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

The furnace of affliction

The furnace of affliction is indeed a good place for a child of God; it will purify by purging out much dross. However, it's a gouty fable to imagine that it's in any way fitting anyone in any way for heaven.

The only thing that HAS FITTED - perfectly and completely - anyone for heaven is the finished work of Christ alone.

The Macedonian who called

"And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us."

The Macedonian who called upon Apostle Paul to come and preach the gospel to them, was he already regenerated, or was he still dead in trespasses and sins, and needed the gospel preaching to be regenerated?

"And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul."

Was Lydia ALREADY regenerated before Apostle Paul met her, or was she regenerated through the preaching of Apostle Paul?

Is the Lord's opening her heart to understand the things which were spoken to her the same a the Lord regenerating her from her state of death?

Preaching the gospel is very necessary, but it is necessary ONLY for the purpose for which it was divinely ordained.

What did Paul's evangelism accomplish in Lydia?

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Constanzia ·
I always felt like he WAS regenerated.. why else would he care enough to listen to Paul or call for him in the first place?

Is the Lord's opening her heart to understand the things which were spoken to her the same a the Lord regenerating her from her state of death?

YES

The Lord is the only one who has the power to change someone. I think opening her heart is the same as regenerating her. He didnt need Paul " but it is necessary ONLY for the purpose for which it was divinely ordained."

Regeneration happens when God wants it to.. Pharoah was ready to cave several times but God harden his heart because (I think) God wanted people to witness 'more of' his awesome power. Not only to prove a point but to seal, stamp it and send it home HARD.

Saul on the road to Damascus saw the vision.. there is no mention of someone preaching to him before hand.. He was really bad.. persecuting Christians and all.. His heart was open because God wanted him... His own agenda didnt matter, he stopped dead in his tracks lol literally. God is the one with the power to open even the most unlikely of hearts// regenerate them.

I hope all that made sense, it did in my head lol

Constanzia
As I said in my earlier post and forgot to mention it to tie it into what I was just saying.. I think regeneration has a lot to do with being open hearing and understanding. If a person is not regenerated they can not/will not 'hear'..

Constanzia
Ironically enough I was reading tonight and I came across some scripture that said what I was trying to 🙂

15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

**16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.***

17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

Romans 9:15-18

Sing
"Is the Lord's opening her heart to understand the things which were spoken to her the same as the Lord regenerating her from her state of death?"
YES
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Does that mean that regeneration took place by the aid of Paul's preaching?

Constanzia
Does that mean that regeneration took place by the aid of Paul's preaching?

In my opinion, NO. God is the only one with the power to regenerate (I consider regeneration='Holy Ghost') someone. He does not need human aid at all. He is Almighty.

Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

"So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy."

"For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy ghost, even from his mother's womb" Luke 1:15

Who preached to him?

"With God ALL things are possible" -Jesus 🙂

Sing
You answered my question,

"Is the Lord's opening her heart to understand the things which were spoken to her the same a the Lord regenerating her from her state of death?"

in the affirmative... therefore indicating that the Lord opened Lydia's heart because of hearing the preached word.

Constanzia
Now I am confused..
"Therefore indicating that the Lord opened Lydia's heart because of hearing the preached word."

Ok.. if this what I said it is not what I meant. I believe the Lord opens hearts BEFORE hearing the preached word.. How else would one receive the word?

After more consideration, I am more confused about regeneration.. I am not sure if is the same thing as open heart.

I think I may have misunderstood the question or I put worded wrong. Sorry for the confusion lol.

Sing
There is a great distinction between regenerating a dead person, and opening the heart of a living person to understand something.

The former is quickening, the latter enlightening.

Many confuse enlightening a living person as regenerating a dead person... thus ending with the common error of gospel regeneration.

Constanzia 
See now.. My husband has been trying to explain that to me, and I just did not get it.. The way you put it makes sense.

I get the difference now.. I think so many people use them interchangeably.. so that is how I was thinking.

Thank you for making it easier for me to grasp, brother Sing 🙂 and taking the time to help me understand when some people would just argue 🙂

"The last state of that man is worse than the first."

"The last state of that man is worse than the first."
"Even so, shall it be also unto this wicked generation."

A frightening warning but few take heed.

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Luke 11
24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.    
25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.    
26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

Leongsy
Sir, how would you interpret these verses?

sing
The parallel passage in Matthew reads thus.

Matt 12
43 ¶When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

Take careful note of the last sentence; it tells us what Jesus is saying.

Leongsy
But why can the house which has been swept clean of the Evil spirits be reoccupied with 7 other more wicked spirits? And this wicked generation is limited to the Pharisees and Sadducees and Scribes?

sing
It's cleansed of ONE evil spirit; not plural spirits.

The house which had been swept clean of the evil spirit was left EMPTY... it's an open invitation to be reoccupied. That's why!

The cleansed house did not receive the gospel of the kingdom of heaven -  preached by Christ and His Apostles - to dwell in it.

In context, the house speaks of Israel of that generation. Christ's ministry "cleansed" the house of the evil spirit of lies, traditions and errors, etc... but the house did not receive the truths taught by Christ, i.e. it's left EMPTY; it is not filled with and occupied by the truths taught by Christ.

Possessed by one evil spirit is fearful enough; their rejection of the Messiah made it far far worse, likened as possessed by an ADDITIONAL 7 other more wicked spirits.

The context is about that devil-possessed generation which rejected the Messiah... and ended up far worse than before... making it ripe for the 70 AD judgement - the end of the so-called everlasting theocratic Israel. God obliterated it at His appointed time.

An application/lesson:

It's dangerous to hear the truths but don't let them dwell in us and renew and transform our life.

Matthew 13:12 KJT — For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

Hearing the truth and not embracing it makes a man worse off.

God's truth demands reception and allegiance.

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LeongsyNoted with many thanks.