Even I will carry, and will deliver you

... even to hoar hairs will I carry you.

"Hearken unto me... from the womb ... even to your old age... even to hoar hairs will I carry you."

Isaiah 46

3 Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb:

4 And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.

Hearken unto me...

I have made you,

I will bear you;

Even I will carry you,

I will deliver you.

What glorious and comforting words as we grow hoary and feeble. Bless the Lord for such assurance and tender mercies.

A statement of fact, not an offer

 "He that heareth my word,
 and believeth on him that sent me,
hath everlasting life"
is a STATEMENT OF FACT;
it is NOT an offer of anything. 

John 5:24 KJV —
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

Pay close attention, that's what "verily, verily" are there for.

"He that heareth... and believeth hath everlasting life" is a declaration, a statement of fact on the one who hears and believes, i.e., he POSSESSES everlasting life.

One who POSSESSES everlasting life IS (his present state) PASSED from death to life. That's the reason he is capable of hearing and believing the words of Christ.

It is like the statement of fact, "He that breathes has life." Possession of life explains his breathing.

One who has everlasting life has been bestowed eternal salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ; he has been justified, regenerated, adopted, and given the Holy Spirit to dwell within him; therefore, he shall not come into condemnation. God HAS freely justified him, based solely on the righteousness that He Himself had provided through this Son Jesus Christ; who is he that condemneth?

This is plain and simple. However, so many read the passage as Christ offering everlasting life to those who are dead in sins and trespasses, and this offer is conditioned upon their hearing and believing His words.

This is the madness of addiction to soundbytes. Not a few Christians are afflicted with this disease, soundbytitis.

Promise or Statement of fact?

1Cor 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.

Promise or Statement of fact?

Canon of Dort, Head 2 Article 5.

"Moreover, the promise of the gospel is that whosoever believeth in Christ crucified shall not perish, but have everlasting life. This promise, together with the command to repent and believe, ought to be declared and published to all nations, and to all persons promiscuously and without distinction, to whom God out of His good pleasure sends the gospel." 

=======

The above article stirs a few thoughts:

1. What is the promise of the gospel?

- "Whosoever believeth in Christ... but have everlasting life" is not a promise. It is a declaration, a plain and simple statement of fact about the "whosoever believeth"; such have/possess everlasting life. Believing is an evidence of everlasting life.

- It is a subtle deception to give an impression that everlasting life is promised to whosoever believeth in Christ crucified.

2. "This promise (which is no promise), TOGETHER with the command to repent and believe..."

- Let's assume that there is indeed this promise of everlasting life, it is now stated that the promise is conditioned upon man's preaching, and repentance and faith. The promise, without the togetherness with the preaching and the hearing with repentance and faith, would be void.

- There needs to be preaching and the hearing with repentance and faith in order to realize that promise of everlasting life.

In the nature of the case, in the public proclamation of the gospel, the preacher necessarily addresses the audience - promiscuously and without distinction - declare the good news of what God has done to save His people, calling them to believe the truth of their salvation. The believing ones, whosoever believeth, do so because they have everlasting life; they have been effectually called out of their native state of spiritual death to eternal life.

If I have read the article wrong, I tender my sincere apology.

Christ said, "Feed my lambs... feed my sheep... feed my sheep..." John 21:15-17. Feeding is a business dealing with the living, those who are capable of being feed. I know, I know, the superstitious Chinese offer roast pigs to the dead.

The gospel ministry is relevant to and deals with the children of God, elect whom God has regenerated, those who possess everlasting life by God's free and sovereign grace. Amen.

Take a look at it again - Eph 2:8-9

Take a close look!

This post on Facebook and the exchange took place 5 years ago (I was reminded by Facebook's "On This Day" - 04 September 2013.
I have written on Eph 2:8-9 (here: https://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2008/01/saved-by-grace-through-faith-whose.html ), it is the most read article on the blog. But Brother Dan has an interesting way of presenting it. That's the reason why I want to put it up here. He invites you to look at it AGAIN. Do it. 



Dan Hya wrote:
Try to take a look at it again

"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."

-Ephesians 2:8-9

Notice seven (7) things:

1. Salvation is by grace. (I believe you agree)

2. Salvation by grace is through faith. (I assume you still agree.)

3. This faith is not man's faith but the faith of Jesus Christ. (Now you don't.)

4. Paul was clear in v.1 that man is dead in sins - no faith. (You started to think.)

5. Faith is from "pistin" meaning fidelity. (You are thinking more deeply)

6. Fidelity means "faithfulness to a cause". (I hope it makes sense)

7. Salvation by grace, therefore, is through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ in the redemptive work for His people. Compare with Ephesians 3:12 "...boldness and access...through the faith of him (Jesus Christ).

(I pray you would consider this clear truth).

~~ by Dan Hya on September 4, 2013

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

sing

Very well stated, Brother Dan!!!

Christ's fidelity!!!! O blessed be the Lord!

what assurance...

what blessedness

what comfort...

what decisiveness...

what effectiveness...

what finality...

How stupid (not being rude, just being plain! stupid means lacking common sense!) of God's children to believe that the salvation by grace is through their FICKLE, FEEBLE, FRAIL, FLEETING faith! Probably they have never been taught otherwise!!!

Why would they substitute the faithfulness/fidelity of Christ with something so inferior???

sing

Another pivotal passage:

Rom 3:

21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

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

Prior to verse 21, Paul conclusively proved and demonstrated that all are justly condemned and have no righteousness whatsoever.

Verse 21 declares the provision of righteousness by God Himself for His people.

Righteousness comes by obedience to the law... either by man's own obedience or by the obedience of a substitute. By man's own obedience, there is only condemnation.

The righteousness by God's own provision is by the obedience of Jesus Christ... THAT IS 'by faith of Jesus Christ'.

This phrase 'by faith of Jesus Christ' refers to His faithfulness in rendering perfect obedience to the law in order to secure the righteousness necessary for the justification of His people. That is the context.

We are absolutely sure that that is the meaning because in verse 24 we read, "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus..."

The phrase 'by faith of Jesus Christ' by which God justifies condemned sinners is "the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

The two phrases refer to the same thing... and in the context of God's provision of righteousness in the context of justifying condemned sinners.

Nearly everybody is OBSESSED with their fickle and feeble faith IN Christ... hardly any knows and boasts of the faith OF OF OF Christ.... even though the Scriptures speaks of it so many times.

Of course, that truth is OBLITERATED in all the modern translations. KJ Bible alone preserves the truth of 'by the faith OF Jesus Christ... the FIDELITY/FAITHFULNESS of Christ.

May the Lord open the eyes of many

sing

"6. Fidelity means "faithfulness to a cause". (I hope it makes sense)"

=======

Lexicon : Strong's G4102 - pistis

πίστις

Transliteration, pistis

Pronunciation: pē'-stēs (Key)

Part of Speech: feminine noun

Root Word (Etymology): From πείθω (G3982)

I. conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it

II. fidelity, faithfulness

1. the character of one who can be relied on.

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G4102&t=KJV

sing

1. Salvation is by grace. (I believe you agree)

2. Salvation by grace is through faith. (I assume you still agree.)

3. This faith is not man's faith but the faith of Jesus Christ. (Now you don't.)

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

Statement 1 EXCLUDES the fable that faith is man's faith, otherwise, it is no longer grace! But many will say, it is not man's faith, but the faith given by God! So they insist, that grace is still maintained!

However, they must admit that the God-given faith must be UTILIZED/EXERCISED by man for salvation to take place... i.e. a man is saved THROUGH faith, i.e. his believing, his faith, his work of believing!!!

Statement 1 EXCLUDES man playing any part in his salvation. By grace means salvation is bestowed by God to a sinner, dead in trespasses and sins, without him doing anything. Anything that he can do is the EFFECT, CONSEQUENCE, and EVIDENCE of the salvation ALREADY freely bestowed... i.e. by grace!

Dan Hya

Very helpful contribution, bro. Sing!

sing

I'm just so delighted to hear another voice stating the wonderful truth... even from a PB. Few PBs understand faith in Eph 2;8 like that. Many are quite against it!

Dan Hya

Thanks for the encouragement, brother.

sing

Thank you, Sir. (I wrote this comment FIVE YEARS later... being reminded by Facebook about the exchanges 5 years ago. It sparked off the following...

Manuel

NO Typical PB as far as I know account that faith from sinners, we are aware of total depravity even inability of believers as in Jn 15:4-5, we are aware that He is the author & finisher of our faith, arising from Covenant of Grace, that believers' faith pertains their conversion & temporal saving. Indeed typical PBs have that view of consistent grace. Just why you said few PBs, there might be few Calvinist PBs who are not PB at all. As I know you're the only one from the Reformed Baptists who had that same view as ours,... just a plain analysis though...

Just wandering why...

sing
Sir, the context is Eph 2:8a. Ask the PBs, through whose faith?

Manuel

I am a PB, I have understood since I became a PB that "all men have not faith", & naturally that it is that faithfulness of Christ that effected that life in me, and in no sense that my faith in Him had caused this life I had in Him. And this understanding of the " faith of Christ" in Eph. 2:8 is the PB's distinctives, that is it makes PBs different from other denomination, not even the Strict Baptists nowadays, I may challenge to name any one denomination that account that faith in Eph 2:8 as the faith of Christ. All Calvinists, Protestants, Arminians believe otherwise, even you before you corresponded with some PBs in the US...

I may challenge any curious seeker...

sing

You may be assuming a whole lot of things. There are many PBs I know who DENY the faith OF Christ in Eph 2:8.
Speak for yourself, Sir.

You may want to show that your PB denomination holds to the faith of Christ view for Eph 2:8.

Manuel

Or you have misused the term " many PBs", I surely know Elders believing what the PBs believe in Eph.2:8, such Mike Gowens, David Pyles, Gus Harter, Jeff Winfrey, Dan Hall, Don Farris, Vernon Johnson, Joe Holder, Harold Hunt etc, How many is your many?

What I just want to point out is how come very few PBs believe that distinctive doctrines they had been adhering to since they were known as PB? I am speaking of typical PBs, I have been contending for that truth since then, I have been teaching/preaching that since then. But so sad to know of some "PBs" as you know who believe otherwise, that error may arise from the error of gospel regeneration, or of "saving faith scheme"...

sing

I repeat: You may want to show that your PB denomination holds to the faith of Christ view for Eph 2:8.

Manuel

Or can you name any other denomination that believe this same as PB? Where did you learn such truth from your Reformed View before?

Or where or from whom did you learn that PB view prior to your correspondents with Eld. Mark Thomas & company. I honestly would like to know if there are other groups adhering to such, Bro. Sing. I don't mean to argue, just anxious if there's any aside from PB.

sing

Where did I learn such truth from? I'll disappoint you; it wasn’t from the PBs in this case.

I learned from the King James Bible when I noticed its translation on the faith OF Christ Jesus in not a few passages.

I have noticed that not a few PB converts tend to be MORE PB than those that converted them.

sing

I'm surprised that you just conveniently assume that PB is a denomination and that as a denomination it believes Eph 2:8 speaks of the faith of Christ.

You are too denominational minded and appears to speak as its spokesman.

Speak for yourself would be better.

The popular view I heard from the PBs who care to interact with me is that the faith (Eph 2:8) is the gift given at regeneration. They are quite adamant with that.

Manuel

Thanks for disappointing me... having enlightened to that truth in KJV, for sure, you're not alone in believing such. There are Christians who believe the same as you have found prior to your enlightenment, and that truth you embraced was the more strengthened and confirmed to be biblical than what you previously believe, by further confirming such with whom?

sing

Got to go to a meeting.

Further confirming from individuals like Brother Dan.

Manuel

Thanks for the sharing of thoughts Bro Sing. So happy such exchange.

To whom does God, out of His good pleasure, send the gospel?

Don't mistake a carnation for a tulip!

Canon of Dort, Head 2 Article 5.
"Moreover, the promise of the gospel is that whosoever believeth in Christ crucified shall not perish, but have everlasting life. This promise, together with the command to repent and believe, ought to be declared and published to all nations, and to all persons promiscuously and without distinction, to whom God out of His good pleasure sends the gospel."
=======

Read the words above, and help answer this question:
To whom does God, out of His good pleasure, send the gospel?
Aim well, waste no bullet, please.

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

Charles
the regenerate!

sing 
Who told you that? Did the PRC teach you?

Charles
what is PRC?

sing 
Protestant Reformed Church! Not Princely Roman Catholick!

A PRC man insisted the REPROBATE are included... God has them in mind too.

Charles
The other day I went to the IPC (Independent Presbyterian Church, affiliated with the PCA) and inquired about their views of particular atonement.

I talked with Bill Hogan, assistant pastor and I got the gospel regeneration view and later checked their website and he previously had been a regional director of northeast Campus Crusade for Christ.

He chided me for my views.

Pj 
It is sent unto them that God hath chosen and given life.


Jerry
"For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and TO ALL THAT ARE AFAR OFF, EVEN AS MANY AS THE LORD OUR GOD SHALL CALL. Then they that GLADLY RECEIVED HIS WORD were baptized..." Acts 2:39, 41...The gospel will only settle into the heart that has been prepared of the Lord...

Johnny
the key would be the meaning of "pleasure" as God only, produces "good." Perhaps the word translated "pleasure" has meaning to the 1611 reader it does not have to us today, especially in America, where "pleasure," is associated with sexual stimulation, good food and drink, fast cars and the like. Probably not confusing at all. I'll check a modern translation.

It is God's Universe, God's creation, God's humanity creation. So, humanly speaking, it is reasonable to think that God will be the giver of grace to whomever ever He pleases. How he does that is meaningful to each person, in the circumstance they were given life, in time and place. We, having the Word, have been blessed to receive it, and by God's love, we have it, and thus know of God's perfection, man's sin, man's own sin, God's love and reconciliation of His creation back to him. Some do not have His word, and are blessed in other ways, as the scripture stated, without "distinction." So, I'm not about to second-quess the Creator, as to why, or even how, he extends His love to ME. I''m merely thankful, and faithful in believing He is the same with everyone. As to bullets, perhaps there is greater responsibility given by God to ME, than there is for the human living on the Amazon River, never having an opportunity to know of God, other than how God comes to them. I just believe He does, and without distinction, "Is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." For they will be found.
Manage

Robert
Isaiah 52:6 "my people"

McGeown
Canons II, 5 is clear enough: God sends the Gospel to many, many people, among whom are God's elect people. This article teaches the promiscuous proclamation of a particular promise. For example, I preached at a wedding. Most of the audience were unbelievers. I set forth the Gospel, and commanded everyone there to repent and believe in Christ. That is what we are commanded to do. This does not mean that God desires the salvation of all, or that Christ died for all (He did not), but the Lord causes the Gospel to be preached to more than the elect, and His purpose is to save the elect and to harden the reprobate.

sing
Martyn, Does God, out of his good pleasure, send the gospel to the reprobate?

Please note that this question is entirely different from whether the gospel is to be addressed indiscriminately at the hearers present. There is no other example of the public proclamation of the gospel any other way. No preacher can distinguish the elect from the non-elect among the sinners in his audience.

Though the gospel is to be addressed indiscriminately, the preacher is fully aware that the gospel is relevant and true only to God's children, and that such alone are bound to believe because God HAS SAVED them and they are duty bound to believe the truth of the gospel of their salvation by God's free grace.


Dellis
He plants the seed on all ground like the good sower,God giveth the increase.

sing
The parable of the sower is a parable about some reality in the kingdom of heaven... the different ways those ALREADY in the kingdom of heaven respond to the preaching of the word. It is a parable on DISCIPLESHIP... on fruit-bearing. It is not a parable on how to lost sinners saved.

McGeown
Yes, the Canons do teach that God sends the Gospel to the reprobate. God in His providence sends the Gospel to many more than the elect. That is His Good Pleasure. That does not mean that God desires the reprobate's salvation.

sing
Thanks, McGeown.
If God does not desire the salvation of the reprobate, to what purpose, God out of His good pleasure sent the gospel to the reprobate? Is it to mock at them? To tease them? To taunt them?

It is true that the reprobate may come under the preaching of the gospel intended to call out His children (those already saved by God), is that the same as saying that God, out of His good pleasure, send the gospel to them. Or their coming under the sound of the gospel is merely incidental?

Consider these:
Scriptures say that God, out of His good pleasure and for His own glory, foreknew a people, predestined them unto eternal glory in Christ Jesus.

Scriptures say that Jesus Christ, in perfect harmony with God's good pleasure, came to save as many as His Father has given Him... He came to do His Father's will, and redeemed them and no one else.

Scriptures say that the Holy Spirit, in perfect harmony with God's good pleasure, applies the same eternal redemption to the SAME people individually and personally - effectually calling them out of their native state sin and death to that of grace and salvation.

I understand that God, in perfect harmony with His own good pleasure, sends the gospel of Jesus Christ to the SAME group of people.

I understand that the gospel is the good news of what God has done to save Himself a people, and it is His good pleasure to ordain the gospel ministry to call such to believe the truth of their salvation by God's free and sovereign grace.

Why would God send the gospel to the reprobate and command the reprobate to repent and believe in Jesus Christ when He had plainly declared He didn't even give Jesus Christ to be their Saviour? Does God require them to believe a lie?

Well, confused and irrational men do think their god is as confused and irrational as themselves!

I would be pleased to hear your answers to my inquiries. Thanks.

Nelda
We are blessed to have Eld. Martin Onyoni from Kisee, Kenya in our home. He stated that I Cor. 2:14 would be very relevant to the subject at hand.

This verse says that the natural man cannot receive the things of the spirit. He is dead to spiritual things and has to be made alive by the power of God, Eph 2:1 before he can hear the gospel.

sing
Say hello to Elder Martin from turksland Malaysia.

So, to whom does God, out of His good pleasure, send the gospel?

Is it God's good pleasure to send His gospel to His children whom He has effectually called out of their native state of sin and death to that of grace and salvation, and in need of knowing the truth of the gospel of their salvation....

Or is it God's good pleasure to send His gospel to those who are still dead in trespasses and sins, and who not only are unable to receive the things of the Spirit, but also consider spiritual things as foolishness?

To whom does God, out of His good pleasure, send the gospel?

Charles 
"God in His providence sends the Gospel to many more than the elect. That is His Good Pleasure. That does not mean that God desires the reprobate's salvation." This sounds like John Piperism, two willed god

Why would God want to harden the reprobate, they already are "dead" with "hearts of stone" How do you make dead deader and stone harder?

sing
I sent lunch for my boy, and many of his friends enjoyed the sight and smell of the great pizza his mama made for him!

My son ALONE got to eat it. That was Mama and my good pleasure. The rest are all incidentals!

Charles 
so you didn't relish the thought that his friends couldn't enjoy the pizza also? I get the idea that the Moderated Calvinist relish the thought that the unelect are unelect and that the thought of teasing them just adds to their pleasure.

MarkT
To the dead alien sinner, the 'gospel food' is not seen or smelled with any degree of relish. It is to them, foolishness and the smell of death unto death. They cannot be teased or tempted by it.

Charles 
only the regenerate have the capacity to be teased or tempted!