Things New and Old

Ancient truths revealed in the Scriptures are often forgotten, disbelieved or distorted, and therefore lost in the passage of time. Such ancient truths when rediscovered and relearned are 'new' additions to the treasury of ancient truths.

Christ showed many new things to the disciples, things prophesied by the prophets of old but hijacked and perverted by the elders and their traditions, but which Christ reclaimed and returned to His people.

Many things taught by the Apostles of Christ have been perverted or substituted over the centuries. Such fundamental doctrines like salvation by grace and justification have been hijacked and perverted and repudiated by sincere Christians. These doctrines need to be reclaimed and restored to God's people.

There are things both new and old here. "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things"
2Ti 2:7.

Thursday, September 3, 2020

Effectual call is NOT the same as Regeneration



I stated:
Many carelessly equate the effectual call with regeneration.

Si Alex inquired:
Where do you see the distinction in scripture of the effectual vs the outward call? If God wants only the elect to be saved, why put out an outward call (why not just use the 'effectual call')? Why put out an outward call if only the effectual call can save a person? Why waste His time with the 'outward call'?

I offered an answer:
Alex, good questions, and reasoning.

Q. WHERE do you see the distinction in scripture of the effectual vs the outward call?
A: Rom 8:30 speaks of the divine activity of the effectual call among one of all those divine activities.
- Rom 10:14-17 speaks of the gospel/outward call through a human instrument.
- These two distinct calls are found throughout the Scriptures.
- The effectual call is God's activity of calling an elect out of his native state of sin and death to that state of grace and salvation.
- It is designated as effectual call because this divine call ALWAYS accomplishes its intended purpose, i.e. bringing an elect out of his native state of sin and death to that state of grace and salvation.

The outward or gospel call is administered through the ministry of gospel preaching, calling God's children (those whom God has effectually called) to believe the truth of their eternal salvation in Jesus Christ. 

Q. If God wants only the elect to be saved, why put out an outward call (why not just use the 'effectual call')?
- Inward/effectual call brings an elect out of his native state of sin and death to that of grace and salvation in Jesus Christ.
- outward/gospel call brings God's children out of their ignorance of the truth of their salvation by God's free grace in Jesus Christ to the knowledge of that salvation, and exhort them to live righteously in light of that truth.
- The effectual call MUST precede the outward call; without the effectual call, the outward call is completely useless and irrelevant, as useless as a Big Mac is to a dead man!

Each accomplishes its DISTINCT and DIFFERENT end. That's why.
One brings justification, regeneration, and adoption - the necessary activities that bring an elect out of his native state of condemnation and death and alienation to that of grace and salvation (justified, regenerated and adopted into the family of God, and the Spirit of adoption dwelling in them)

Q. Why put out an outward call if only the effectual call can save a person? Why waste His time with the 'outward call'?
- The effectually called to grace and salvation needs to be called to the knowledge of their salvation by God's free grace in Jesus Christ. That's why!

Why do parents teach their children since they have been conceived and born? Is it a waste of time? Is parenting the children that have been born a waste of time?

No! Begetting and parenting secure distinct and different ends. That's why!

Not wasting time at all. If it is, stop parenting your children.

Activities that bring you into BEING and activities that contribute to your WELL BEING are distinct; this is a SELF-EVIDENT truth; however, yet many preachers are blind to it.

Saturday, August 15, 2020

The Perseverance of the Saints

(Five Purple Joy in a row.... no, not tulips but Purple Joy
- a reminder that a biblical understanding of P in the T.U.L.I.P.
brings joy, assurance, confidence, and hope
as we sail through the rough and tumultuous seas
to our home. Amen.)

The Basis of the Certainty and Infallibility of the Saints Remaining or Continuing or Persevering in the State of Grace, into which God has effectually called them, is stated thus by the Old School Baptists:

1689.17.2 "This perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election,(4) flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father, upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ and union with him,5 the oath of God,6 the abiding of his Spirit, and the seed of God within them,7 and the nature of the covenant of grace;8 from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof.  4 Rom. 8:30, 9:11,16;  5 Rom. 5:9, 10; John 14:19;  6 Heb. 6:17,18; 7 1 John 3:9; 8 Jer. 32:402. 

The Basis of Perseverance (17:2)

a. The popular fable denied
- "This perseverance of the saints does not depend on them – that is, on their own free will..."

The truth is positively asserted; the perseverance is on these grounds, completely and wholly apart from man.

b. The immutability of God's decree of election
- "It rests upon the immutability of the decree of election which flows from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father."

c. The efficacy of the work of Christ
- "upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ..."
- "... and upon the union which true saints have with Him."

d. The unceasing intercession of Christ
- "... intercession of Jesus Christ."

e. The everlasting union with Christ
- "...union with him"

f. The solemn oath of God
- "It rests upon the oath of God..."

g. The abiding of the indwelling Spirit
- "... and the abiding of His Spirit... [and]

h. The presence of the divine seed with them
- "... the seed of God being within them..."

i. The nature of the covenant of grace
- "... and upon the very nature of the covenant of grace."

Perseverance/Continuance in the state of grace is decreed in the covenant of grace. Therefore, it cannot fail.

j. The certainty and immutability of saints perseverance of the saints in the state of grace and salvation.
- "... from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof."

All the above are grounded wholly and solely upon the three Persons of the Godhead; there isn't the slightest hint on man's part.

None of the above guarantees any perseverance in a life of faith and holiness; they do guarantee the perseverance of saints in the state of grace and salvation in Christ Jesus.

The former is a fiction and fable invented by the new school Calvinists; it requires the firm resolve and unceasing and active participation of God's children to persevere in a life of faith and holiness.

(Five Purple Joy in a row.... no, not tulips but Purple Joy - a reminder that a biblical understanding of P in the T.U.L.I.P. brings joy, assurance, confidence, and hope as we sail through the rough and tumultuous seas to our home. Amen.)


Sunday, July 26, 2020

The angels which left their own habitation

"The angels which... left their own habitation"
committed the sin of trespassing,
leaving their native spirit realm
and trespassed into the human realm. 


on July 26, 2010

Please help me - what does Jude 6 say.
"And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day."

Please answer some questions for me. Deal with Scriptures, please. Don't read private opinions into God's word. These are simple enough questions.

Sing F Lau
Here are some questions.
1. What is the first estate of the angels?
2. When did those angels, that kept not their first estate, leave their own habitation?
3. What happened when they left their own habitation? Where did they go having left their own habitation?
4. Where, in the Scriptures, is this departure from their first estate recorded, if is it indeed recorded at all?
5. Where did Jude get his information about those angels that kept not their first estate but left their own habitation?
6. Were all fallen angels involved in this departure?
7. Were all fallen angels reserved by God in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day?

Simple questions demand plain answers.
Now, please tell us what Jude 6 says.

(ALERT - Be careful. Answers have necessary implications that may discredit them as plain erroneous!)

Sing F Lau
Please do not forget what 2Pet 2:4-5 say:
4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

1. Are verses 4 and 5 related? How?
2. Are the angels sinning and the destruction of the old world related? How?
3. How did the angels sin?
4. Were all angels involved in this sin?
5. Did all the angels suffer the same fate?
6. Why did God destroy the old world?

Cheri Thomas
Define 'the great day'. that is key.

Sing F Lau
Please help us with a definition then.

Kate Richardson
I did the best I could--at least for now. It's in "notes".

Kate Richardson
3) of the last day of this present age, the day Christ will return from heaven, raise the dead, hold the final judgment, and perfect his kingdom

Cheri Thomas
Zephaniah 1
1 The word of the LORD which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.
2 I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the LORD.
3 I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumbling blocks with the wicked: and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the LORD.
4 I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests;
5 And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham;
6 And them that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him.
7Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.
8 And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD's sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.
9 In the same day also will I punish all those that leap on the threshold, which fill their masters' houses with violence and deceit.
10 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, that there shall be the noise of a cry from the fish gate, and an howling from the second, and a great crashing from the hills.
11 Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the merchant people are cut down; all they that bear silver are cut off.
12 And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.
13 Therefore their goods shall become a booty, and their houses a desolation: they shall also build houses, but not inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, but not drink the wine thereof.
14 *THE GREAT DAY* of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.
15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
16 A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.
17 And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.
18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD's wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.

Cheri Thomas
Mark defines *the great day* as the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. I suspect that is true, but I think it is also a type and shadow of the day of the return of Jesus Christ at the end of time.
In the context of the scriptures you present, how would the term 'angel' be properly defined? what are these 'angels' that are spoken of?

Sing F Lau
If 70AD is meant, then what happened to those angels God had "reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day"?

Jude 5
I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

Looks like angels are used in clear distinction from human beings. They are angelic beings who had sinned in the particular manner stated.

Cheri Thomas
I think so too, but my dh [dear husband] has additional thoughts. Let me ask you this, do you think there was 'warfare in heaven' at some time?

Sing F Lau
Tell us the warfare you have in mind?
When did that happen?
What happened in that warfare?
We are working toward a sound answer.

Cheri Thomas
the only Scriptural warfare that I know and believe exists is that which occurs in the regenerated child of God, as described by the Apostle Paul.
some folks believe that there was warfare in heaven between God and Lucifer and their respective followers. I believe that Milton presented this idea in Paradise Lost, but I don't think it originated w/him.

Sing F Lau
All angels were created good. Where did the bad angels come from?
Some angels, filled with pride and aspired to supreme authority, revolted against their Creator. This led to their downfall, falling from their original position of glory.

In their downfall, they continued in their own habitation - in the spirit/incorporeal estate. This fall from their original position of glory DID not result in their being "reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day."

Had ALL the fallen angels been "reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day" - the temptation in the garden of Eden would not have been possible.

Therefore, this SACKING and EXPULSION and FALL from glory is OBVIOUSLY very different from what is spoken of in Jude 6.
Jude 6 is not speaking of a sacking or expulsion or fall from glory because of pride. It speaks of their deliberate act of TRESPASSING - "the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation", and the judgment imposed upon those fallen angels involved.

The judgment in the former, and the judgment in the latter are very distinct and different.

Sing F Lau
Gen 6:1 ¶ And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,
2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
=========
In these verses, 'men' and "sons of God' are contrasted to each other. The 'men' in verses 1 and 2 are the same - human in general. The sons of God are separate and distinct from men. In ancient literature, the term 'sons of God' is used to refer to angelic beings, in contrast to human beings. See Job 1:6, 2:1, and 38:7.
'Men' in verse Gen 6:1 OBVIOUSLY refers to mankind in general - men were multiplying... "and begat sons and daughters" - the constant refrain in Gen 5.
If at all, the context of Gen 5 will demand that men in Gen 6:1 must refer to the Sethite line, in continuation from Gen 5. In which case the daughters of men in verse 2 must also necessarily be referring to the daughters of the line of Sethites.
But I believe 'men' in both cases are used in the general sense... i.e the ideas of holy men 'sethite line' and the heathen daughters of men are all imagined and read into the text.

Gen 6:1f describes that in the normal course of men multiplying themselves, something utterly perverse and extremely evil happened. The 'son of God' intruded and exploited this natural process in men. BUT why Satan instigated those sons of God to do such a thing is OBVIOUS, so OBVIOUS that the simple cannot see it. Satan is too subtle for them.
THINK a little... Satan has a terrifying threat over his head... and he had been actively scheming how to neutralize and nullify that threat since day 1.

Sing F Lau
"That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose."
=======
Sons of God... daughters of men.
Remember that 'ben ha-elohim' is nowhere used in the OT exactly as in Gen 6:2, except with reference to angels.
Concerning the daughters of men - HOW or WHY or in WHAT WAY were they fair to the sons of God?

What does the word 'fair' mean in Hebrew?
Those who say that 'daughters of men' refers to non-sethite women, instead of women of mankind in general, are they saying that only such women were 'fair' - but fair in what sense?

Were the women (women of mankind in general fair to the sons of God because they were appropriate, useful and suitable for their purpose and plot?

Sing F Lau
"There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown."
=========
Gen 6:1 we read of a general statement of men multiplying on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them. Sons are not mentioned. The attention was upon the daughters - of mankind in general. It is SILLY to think the daughters refer to the heathen women.

No, daughters are mentioned, because they became the object of attention to the 'sons of God.'

The 'sons of God' saw that the daughters of men were FAIR - appropriate, useful, and suitable for their purpose. What was that?
 Gen 6:4 read "There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown."
Who bear children to who? The daughters of men bear children to the 'sons of God'. Where they normal offspring? It is very evidence that the offspring between the 'sons of God' and the daughters of men were MONSTROUS - mighty men of renown for their perversity and wickedness and depravity that completely corrupted the whole world.

========

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God justifies the ungodly



God justifies the ungodly...

- God justifies, the PERSON who justifies.

- God justifies the UNGODLY; those in need of justification before God, and by God, EVEN those in the state of condemnation and death!

- God freely justifies the ungodly by grace; this is the MANNER God justifies those dead in trespasses and sins. This is the ONLY manner those in their native state of condemnation and death can ever be justified.

Therefore justification is by grace alone; it is NOT through ANYTHING found in man - not EVEN through man's faith... for there isn't one iota of faith found in the condemned dead man that needed justification before God. He is in an active enmity and rebellion again God in his native state of condemnation and death.

- God freely justifies the condemned and dead by grace, based wholly and solely upon the redemption accomplished by Jesus Christ. That is the BASIS or GROUND of justification.

The Holy Spirit regenerates the justified. Justification, the application of the righteousness of Christ to an elect personally is the BASIS and GROUND of his regeneration by the Spirit of God. Not one iota of man's effort or cooperation is involved in his justification or regeneration! It is by grace ALONE. Do you not understand, or are you just willfully unbelieving?

That blessed state of justification by God's free grace is EXPERIENCED (with regard to self) by faith in Jesus Christ; that state of justification is EVIDENCED (with regard to others) by BOTH works of righteousness and faith in Jesus Christ!

And oh, please don't quote Eph 2:8 and say, 'There I told you it is "through faith," it is through man's act of believing. Therefore man's faith is involved!'

You are misguided and deceived if you read Eph 2:8 like that! You are ignorant of the faith OF Christ!

Just compare Eph 2:5 and 2:8:
Eph 2:5 "Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved."
Eph 2:8 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."

It's really very simple; by grace, we were saved when we were still dead in trespasses and sins; therefore our faith plays NO role in your being saved by grace; we were INCAPABLE of faith, being still in the native state of death in trespasses and sins. Isn't this so plain and simple? So, "through faith" in v8 cannot possibly refer to our act of believing. It is something FAR MORE IMPORTANT, the heart of the gospel.

Also, read Rom 3 to find out whose faith (i.e faithfulness or fidelity) is spoken of!
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:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Please note carefully the phrases "by faith of Jesus Christ" and "through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." This passage explains Eph 2:8 correctly.

The righteousness of God's own provision needed for the justification of God's elect is by the faith (i.e. faithfulness/fidelity) of Jesus Christ, even through the redemption that is Christ Jesus! Please let this precious gem lodge in the inner recesses of your tender heart, and glory in God alone.

May our Lord grant you understanding. Amen. 

Saturday, July 25, 2020

I am pressed under you!

I am pressed under you!


'Is it not even thus...?' - the LORD complained against His people Israel in the days of Amos. Has it changed today?

Amos 2
10 Also I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and led you forty years through the wilderness, to possess the land of the Amorite.
11 And I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites. Is it not even thus, O ye children of Israel? saith the LORD.
12 But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink; and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not.
13 Behold, I am pressed under you, as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves. (Amos 2).

Who was the Lord addressing?
- those He brought up from the land of Egypt
- those He miraculous led through the wilderness
- those He brought into the promised land
- those whose sons He raised up for prophets
- those whose young men He raised up for Nazarites
- those who know mercies and blessings are all perfectly true.

What did they do? They corrupt the great blessings of God.
- They defiled the Nazarites, forcing them to drink.
- They muzzled the prophets, forbidding them to speak the truth of God.

Do you feel pressed under of the prevailing evils rampant in Christendom?

Or in your estimation, "All are well in Zion!"