Limted Atonement

Jesus Teaches Limited Atonement

An excellent message by Jim McClarty.

Catching Up

Well, it's been a while. Since last I blogged much has happened, so I thought I'd better get it written down.
I turned 50 in July, and as such, it was time to get the 'ole baseline colonoscopy. That occurred on Oct 2. On Oct 7 Roger underwent surgery to repair an umbilical hernia. Naturally - as has been the case almost every time he's had surgery - he experienced complications. In the late afternoon on the day of the procedure, he had to be taken back to the OR to drain a hematoma that had formed. That required going back under anesthesia and basically opening him up again. He spent a total of eight nights in the hospital.

In the meantime, on Monday Oct 12 I received a call from the doctor - yes, the DOCTOR - who performed my colonoscopy. My heart wasted no time in leaping to my throat because as we all know, it ain't good when the doctor calls. Turns out the polyp he removed wasn't your run-of-the-mill colon polyp at all. It was actually something called a 'carcinoid tumor.' Thank God it was benign, but these buggers can become malignant if left alone. So again, thank God I had the procedure done in the first place, even though it meant drinking nearly a gallon of that horrid concoction that 'cleans you out,' and eventually throwing it up after not being able to gag down another drop. It was all worth it. The other reason for the doctor's call was to tell me he wanted to go back in and more thoroughly cauterize around the tumor site in order to get all the cells anywhere near it. You know, just to be on the safe side. And he wanted to do this sooner rather than later so he'd be able to find the original site easier. "How about Wednesday?" he asks. I explain that my husband's still in the hospital, hoping to be released on Wednesday and can we schedule for Friday. Fine with him.

Well, Roger actually didn't get released until Thursday, just in the nick of time. I had previously scrambled to find someone to take me to the endoscopy center on Friday - thank you, Aunt Darlene. :) So we're all set. I get there on Friday, and after a teeny, tiny complication from also having two...'ahem'...hemorrhoids banded and having to be put under anesthesia twice, I finally got to go home. So, to make a short story long, all the biopsies taken from the samples of the 2nd procedure were benign and I'm good to go for another five years. It was a little unnerving, however, to say the least.

Back to Roger. After about a week or so of being home, his approximately 10-inch long incision wasn't healing. It continued to drain and he had (has) two actual holes in his gut. His surgeon cultured the 'gunk' and lo and behold, Roger has two bacterial infections. He was then sent to an infectious disease doctor who put him on home IV antibiotic therapy for at least three weeks. We are one week and two days into this regimen. He had to go to the hospital on Friday, Oct 30 to have a PICC line inserted, then back to the infusion center to get the meds (2 different antibiotics) and learn how to do this infusion thing at home. We are both becoming quite the home health experts.
So that's where we are right now. Oh yeah, back in September we started the process of moving our membership to a new church. In fact, our acceptance letter arrived in the mail during Roger's hospital stay. So we are brand new. I cannot say enough wonderful things about the people in our home fellowship group and about the pastor and staff of Countryside Bible Church. These folks have been the epitome of the body of Christ. They have ministered to us in more ways than I can count during this difficult time.

Not only are we dealing with Roger's infection but also with the financial concerns that accompany his not having worked for five weeks - and right now we don't know when he'll return. So...we head into the Christmas season a bit apprehensive about finances. HOWEVER....we know that God is faithful. We know that these circumstances come to us by the very hand of the Sovereign of the universe and that His will is being accomplished. We are His, bought with a price and He has promised to never leave nor forsake us. So we trust Him. We are utterly dependent on Him to move in our lives to do what He deems good and right, ultimately for the renown and glory of His Name. Soli deo gloria.

Everlasting God

Mighty To Save

Our God is NOT a weak, dependent-on-man God. He is the AUTHOR and Initiator of salvation. Before the foundation of the world, He wrote down in the Lamb's Book of Life those whom He would seek and save - He is gathering a people for Himself, to the praise and glory of His Name. Jesus did not make salvation possible, He actually saves. Indeed, He is mighty to save.

The Irrestible God

The Puppet Argument

People absolutely rail against God's sovereignty in salvation, and HIS right to choose a people for Himself. They elevate man's 'rights' and 'free will,' while all but eliminating God's right to do as He wills. I used to do the same, but then the truth of Scripture won out, and I had to bow to its authority. Why are we so stubborn? We have no problem with God being sovereign in every other aspect of life - in fact, we beg Him to intervene - but we fight hard against His sovereignty in salvation. We are indeed a prideful people, who think we are the pinnacle of all God has done, instead of His supreme glory.

First off, there isn't such a thing as free will, as man is not truly "free" to choose and do as he pleases. The depraved human race is NOT unencumbered to choose between right and wrong; we always choose according to our nature and that nature is corrupted by sin (the hearts is deceitful above all else - Jer 17:9). We are only able to choose righteousness or "choose" God if He divinely intervenes in our lives and changes our nature, enabling us to do so. God is the initiator in salvation, and when He wants to save someone, He will do it. God WILL accomplish His purposes and He is not thwarted by any mere creature, including man. Scripture certainly bears this out.

But then when you argue from the pages of Holy Writ God's irresistible grace in saving people and that it is not their choice but His, people employ the 'puppet' argument, adamantly insisting that, "We're not puppets!!" Interesting. While the Bible does not implement 'puppet' language, it certainly does 'slave' language. We are either: 1) slaves to Christ or, 2) slaves to satan.

Jesus said to them (the crowd of Jews), "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me. "Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:42-44)

Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. (Romans 6:16-18)

For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord's freedman; likewise he who was called while free, is Christ's slave. You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. (1 Cor 7:22-23)

Additionally, throughout the New Testament, Paul, James, Peter, Jude and John referred to themselves as 'bond servants' of Christ. Likewise Moses in Rev 15:3 was referred to as such. By extension, all those who are in Christ are indeed His bond servants. And, of course, there are a great number of New Testament references to Christ as Master.

These are but a few passages of Scripture from which we can glean an understanding of the master/slave metaphor. So as slaves of our Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, we are not 'free' to do as we will, but we do the will of the Father - just as Christ came to do not His will but the will of the Father who sent Him. If that makes me a 'puppet,' then I'll gladly take it.

On Suffering and Sickness

May I offer this? Is it possible that this is exactly how it’s supposed to be? That sickness, suffering and death are, in fact, all ordained by a sovereign God? I submit that, as painful as these things can be for us, none fall outside the sovereign ordained plans and purposes of Almighty God, sole Creator and Sustainer of the universe. God is about the glory and renown of His name, and though we may not fully comprehend it, He IS glorified through everything that occurs on this earth, including suffering and death. The Scriptures bear this out, and if it were not so, then our suffering and pain in this life would be for naught.

I have to ask…from where does the idea come that God never created us to experience sickness or death? Where is the biblical support for this? I ask this because I’ve not found any such account in Scripture; in fact, just the opposite. Suffering, sickness and death are running themes throughout biblical history. God’s plan for Christ to suffer and die to satisfy the wrath of God was not an “afterthought” of Adam’s sin. Evil (i.e. sin, and by extension suffering/sickness/death) did not enter the world apart from God’s sovereign design and ordination. Before the foundation of the world, God’s plan was in place, and He then set about carrying it out.

As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. (John 9:1-3)

Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. (Heb 5:8)

And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, (Heb 9:27)

Just a small sampling of Scripture but, yes, it is indeed part and parcel of God’s ordained design that we suffer and die. Die a physical death, yes, but praise God as His blood-bought, redeemed chosen ones, we do not experience spiritual death. So, to live is Christ and to die is gain! (Phil 1:21)

I say all this to provoke thought and to encourage. As you know, I’ve lost a lot of loved ones during this decade of the 2000’s. With the exception of my dad, everyone suffered with fairly lengthy illnesses, accompanied by varying degrees of suffering. Lots of stories, but suffice it to say that God was so gracious, so merciful and so kind to our family as we walked through each illness and death. He gave us the grace for each day to put one foot in front of the other, enabling us to carry on with everything that needed to be done. He also allowed us sweet moments of ministry to others. In the midst of the pain and sorrow, the uncertainty, and the ups and downs of terminal illness, God was glorified and we were transformed a little more fully into the image of Christ. We were privileged to partake in the sufferings of Christ. (See 1 Cor 1:5-7, and a host of other passages)

I also say this as a reminder to myself because because of a husband who suffers greatly each and every day of his life. He is well-acquainted with pain, with chronic disease and with suffering. Unless God chooses to intervene, the disease will only get worse over time. But I can attest to this: God’s grace IS sufficient. “And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” I know that Roger has said many times over the years that if this is the place God wants to keep him so that he is humbled, so that he is utterly dependent on God, then that’s the place where he wants to be. I can say that Roger has learned to suffer well, and his life is a testament to the great mercy and grace of God.

One more thing, maybe two…We would do well to keep in mind that Christ has conquered the grave. The Son completely absorbed the wrath of the Father and He paid, in full, the due penalty of that wrath. We are not under God’s judgment…the things that happen to us in this life are not a result of God’s judgment or anger, but are all of His great love and mercy for us.

As a famous pastor always says, "God’s people are not offended by God’s word," so I trust that He will continue to illuminate His truths to us, as we seek Him and align our thinking with His.

Mixed Feelings

My son is 20 today. Twenty? Where have the years gone? It just wasn't that long ago that he was crawling around on the floor. *They* are indeed correct...blink, and the years are behind you. Scott has indeed made his parents proud. Happy Birthday, son! We love you beyond measure.

From day one, we set about raising him to be a man. In so doing, there comes that day when it's time to leave the nest and become a (for now, semi) independent member of society. August 19 will be that day. Since he graduated from high school in 2007, Scott's been living at home attending college (and working). But come August 19, he's off to Florida to attend art school. I know it's time...really I do. Doesn't make it any less emotionally traumatic, though. Our household will indeed change. Honestly, I'm happy that he's finally got some direction! He's an artist, with an artist's mentality. His creative self has needed a little prodding to help him realize that he MUST get a college degree in something so he can support himself and a family someday. I think his decision to pursue a degree in illustration is a wise one. He can become a famous artist AFTER he graduates. :)

Then on Saturday, there's that whole me-turning-50 thing. I've discovered that there's really nothing like actually aging to make you think about your own mortality. I'm not trying to be morbid, just realistic. Aging is inevitable, death is inevitable; and you don't much ponder these things when you're young and invincible. ;) But after having lived the bulk of your life, you do. What else can I say, but THANK GOD! He saw fit to put into my heart a desire to think on the weighty and eternal things of life. HIS things - which in the end, are all that matters. Thankfully, in His eternal love for me, He relentlessly pursued me to subdue my stubborn will. He mercifully rescued me from His wrath and the sin that was determined to keep me bound. He began the good work of sanctifying me and transforming me into the image of his Son, and He will be faithful to complete it. And that's Good News!

Sovereign Grace Conference

Facing Fifty

Brace yourself. Well, I mean brace myself. The countdown has begun. In a mere 17 days from now, I'll turn the BIG 5-0. I'm thinking if I talk about it a lot, I'll have fully embraced the new decade by the time July 18 rolls around! Yeah.

I know, I know...it's just a number. But that's easier to say when you're 40. It's an odd feeling to pretty well know you've lived more than half your life already.

Plus I have this extremely vivid memory of my dad turning 50. At 21, I teased him relentlessly about reaching the half-century mark. Back then, age 50 seemed ANCIENT to me. One-foot-in-the-grave old. AARP card-carrying old. Arthritis old. Grey-hair old. You get the picture...

And now here I stand, knocking on fifty's door. I'm not sure what I'm *supposed* to feel like, but I don't think I feel fifty. Been told I don't look it, either, so THAT'S a plus. :) Can't let that go to my head, though, because it's EASY to do. But I know the grey hairs are ever present, peeking through the blonde highlights. I see gravity in action. And it's a little disconcerting to see new facial lines develop that weren't there yesterday. The times, they are a-changin.'

Kidding aside, here's one change for the better: A few years back... God interrupted my life, revealed Himself to me, showed me who *I* was, and set about changing the very core of my being. If you've read my blog at all in the past four years, then you know where I've been and where I am now. Praise God that He is who He says He is and that He is utterly, completely sovereign and IN CONTROL over HIS universe, HIS creation. As God illuminated that truth to me, I view the things of this life very differently.

So...God willing, in the next 17 days He will have seen fit to have me attain the age of fifty. And I will thank Him for however many more birthdays He allows me to see. I also know that "in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them." (Psalm 139:16) This truth brings me much comfort, as I continue to trust His sovereign providence over my life.

Limited Atonement

Part 1



Part 2




Part 3

More On the Prosperity Gospel

This is a short, but good commentary from The White Horse Inn.

Smooth Talk and Flattery

Related stories:

Joel Osteen and the Glory Story

Your Own Personal Jesus

YOM

Look at us - Yard of the Month. :-)

And it only took five and a half years.

God Of Wonders

Practice The Truth

I'm participating in an online Bible study of 1 John. (We just started so if anyone is interested, go to Everyday Theology and send Kristine an email.)

In chapter one, verse 6, John tells us, "If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth." It was this 'do not practice the truth' part that pierced my heart. If I'm to stay in the Light, my life must involve practicing the truth. And where is the truth found? Within the God-inspired pages of Holy Writ. And 'how' do I continue on in the Truth? By the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit.

I've really been pondering this the last few days. I desperately want to live in the truth, be a 'doer' of the Word, not just a hearer. But I also know I won't be a perfect doer, as long as sin remains in this mortal body of mine. But I have a NEW nature - a heart of flesh replacing the heart of stone. I am ultimately under the control of God's Spirit. Praise Him for that!!!!

As I told a friend, I am desperately dependent on God to not leave me to my own devices. It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that I am able to practice the truth so that I don't fall prey to myself or to the sin that so easily entangles me.

I pray, God, please do not remove Your hand from me.

Exposing The Word Of Faith Prosperity 'Gospel'

You've heard me talk about Justin Peters before. I had the honor of meeting and spending a little time with him back in February, when I attended a portion of the Call For Discernment seminar. He's quite the gifted and bold speaker. Bold in a very grace-filled manner. I highly recommend either getting the seminar DVD's or better yet, attend in person. :) Here's a sample.

Justin Peters Ministries

Definition

To 'seek God' means to orient one's life toward Him in active faith and obedience.

I like this working definition of what it means for me to seek God. Taken from the ESV Bible, introduction to 1-2 Chronicles. Just wanted to jot this down so that I could remember it.

The All And In All

As it turns out, Jim McClarty - you remember Jim, I post his sound biblical teaching here - is also a musician. This song says it all...in all.

Scott's Latest Painting

This is the second year that the associate minister of my mother-in-law's church has commissioned Scott to do the theme painting for the youth confirmation class.

I'm proud indeed. :)

Preach On, Matt

Two excellent and unapologetically truth-filled sermons from Matt Chandler.

1) First, the bad news. Scroll down to 4/19/09 - "The Reason"

2) Next, the good news - Paise God! Scroll down to 4/26/09 - "God Saves"

Listen fast, cuz Matt preaches fast. :)

The Best News You Ever Heard - Jim McClarty

Free Will

I can't help but piggyback off some previous comments regarding the nature of human free will.

In my understanding of Scripture, I simply do not glean the concept of an autonomous, unhindered free will. We are always influenced by something. The Bible tells us that the unregenerate person - the one who is at enmity with God, dead in trespasses and sin See Ephesians 2 - is unable to choose anything other than that to which he is bound. Namely sin. Romans 8:5-13 (There's so much more in Scripture on the subject, but this is a short post. Really.)

Trite but true is the adage - we're not sinners because we sin, we sin because we are sinners. Our nature is sinful. That is our essence. And we are slaves to sin. Romans 6:16

And we will remain that way unless and until the Sovereign God interrupts our lives to change us and give us a new nature. And make no mistake - God interrupts and intervenes. He does according to HIS will. Human will can NEVER supercede God's will. Period. Paragraph.

Here's but one example: Genesis 20 Pay particular attention to verses 3-7. There's no getting around the fact that God prevented a man from sinning against Him. Of course there are countless other examples in Scripture of God doing exactly as He wills, when He wills, and how He wills. The Bible is, after all, God's revelation of Himself. Probably the most well known account of God's radical intervention in someone's life is the story of Saul/Paul on the road to Damascus. Acts 22

For His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
And His kingdom endures from generation to generation.
All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
But He does according His will in the host of heaven
And among the inhabitants of earth;
And no one can ward off His hand
Or say to Him, 'What have You done?'
~Daniel 4:34-35

God, I beg you, NEVER leave me to my own devices or my own will.

More Thoughts on Suicide

Not to be confused with suicidal thoughts; I'm not having any. I do continue to be haunted by the death of my friend, though. As I mentioned in Sunday's post, I've not personally known anyone, until now, who has ever committed suicide. I suppose that's the reason this still weighs heavy on my mind.

I don't think I'll ever "get it." I've decided that feelings of depression/despondency/torment/hopelessness, etc. must be much like physical pain - you can't measure the degree to which someone else experiences it. Further, what might drive one person to those kinds of feelings may not drive someone else to the same feelings. You simply cannot get inside another person's head.

And then there's the very conscience, deliberate act of taking your own life. Whether it's by way of something serene like swallowing pills, or a more ghastly, violent approach like jumping from a bridge or putting a gun to your head; someone has to physcially, with great intent perform the act upon him/herself. The thought of that terrifies me.

When I was a teenager/young adult - completely ignorant of the faith - I quite adamently proclaimed that people who committed suicide automatically went to hell. That was the only sin for which you couldn't ask forgiveness, so... it was too late and you missed your chance. How works-based and wrong-headed is that idea? Of course I now know better, and if you are His, Christ died for your every sin, indeed for the totality of your sinful essence.

Which brings me to the sovereignty of God, and ALL things come back to the sovereignty of God. If I believe the Bible to be God's revelation of Himself (and I do), then I cannot escape the fact that God IS in control of all things, and that there stands not a single entity on earth more powerful than He. There is none other in authority, as it is God alone who rules and reigns over His own creation. We are but mere creatures, and God does HIS will among His creatures. He alone gives life, He alone takes life. In that, it seems I am forced to conclude that in reality, my friend did not (actually) take her own life - for if she did, then it would be she whose will superceded that of the Lord's. What she did would have been an act independent of and apart from the will of God - something that took Him by surprise and for which there was nothing He could do. But,

Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them. Psalm 139:16

J's days, my days, all of our days are ordained for us.

From all indications (guestbook comments on the funeral home site), J was a Christian. However I have no tangible way of truly knowing the condition of her heart before God. I hope she was one His redeemed. But if she was, I am so saddened that, for whatever reason, her hope for coping with life on this earth was not in Him.

Still I will continue to work through all of this.

Left Behind

Last night I learned of the suicide death of one of my friends/high school classmates. Though not having been a regular part of each other's lives since about halfway through school, I still actually knew her. And until now, I'd never personally known anyone who'd ever taken their own life. The last time I saw J was at our 30th high school reunion in 2007, and she certainly seemed her quirky, gregarious self then.

The news hit me rather hard, actually, one reason being that she chose quite a gruesome way to leave this world - by jumping from a high flyover bridge in Austin, our hometown. And since my blog is a place for me to work through things, I'm just going to be frank here: after my initial shock from the tragic news, I was somewhat angered. Obviously she wasn't thinking clearly in the first place, or she wouldn't have done this, but why harm others in the process? Below is an excerpt from the email I recieved, which was forwarded to me. The original email was written by a friend of her parents to friends of the parents: (J suffered from a form of epilepsy, which apparently couldn't be managed well any longer)

"They (her parents) feel that she is now at peace, and well, and that she demonstrated her faith by wanting to leave this life and be with Christ in a better place. J (her mother) and I (writer of email) agreed that J (my friend) had done this as an act of love for them (her parents), because her continuing illness would be harder and harder, both on her and on J (her mother) who would be caring for her."

This thinking is whacked; I'm sorry. It's not "loving" to jump into traffic, potentially causing accidents, and scarring for life those who witnessed it or possibly hit her. It's not loving at all to leave your loved ones reeling from such an act. It's also wrong-headed thinking regarding what it means to demonstrate faith. What it actually demonstrates is that people lie to themselves, and others, in any effort to feel better. That's why we must be grounded in the truth of the Word of God, for it is only there that we find real comfort for our grieving souls. It is only there where we find truths about life and death. And it is only there where we find our great sovereign God, Creator and Sustainer of all things, who loves and comforts perfectly.

In reading through this, it does come across a bit harsh, but as I said, I'm working through the thoughts and feelings accompanying this news. Certainly I ache for J's parents, who've lost their only daughter. And I ache for my friend, who must have been tremendously tortured in her soul and obviously saw no other alternative in front of her.

May God pour out His mercy to J's parents, her two brothers, and the friends she's left behind. God, as He says, works all things together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose; so we can trust that He will do that in this sad and tragic circumstance.

Hosanna

We've been singing this song at church as of late. I love it. Especially this bridge:

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me
Break my heart for what is yours
Everything I am for your kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity