A scripture verse I am meditating on today:
John 3:27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.”
John 3:27
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Yearly Archives: 2011
Understanding Jeremiah 29:11
Jeremiah 29:11 is a famous Bible verse. It has brought comfort to many. In the main though, I am not sure it has been rightly understood. Here the Lord says, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
What is most often assumed is that this verse has universal application, the idea being that God has wonderful plans for every person on planet earth. His ultimate wish is that these desires are fulfilled, but of course, the outcome rests with the never to be infringed upon “free will” of man. Often these purposes are unfulfilled, but nevertheless, they can be tapped into at any time, should the sinner wish to participate. But is any of this true?
We need to ask who the words were written to. Did these words have universal scope in Jeremiah’s day? The obvious answer to this is “no.” These words were written to a nation under the severest judgment imaginable, being removed by force out of the land to become captive slaves in Babylon. Yet here, the tender mercy of God is seen in that the captivity would only last 70 years. Even in judgment, God will extend mercy to Israel, and after these dreadful decades, He will once again restore them to both Himself and the land of promise.
Could the Babylonian king claim this verse for himself? No, it was not written to him.
How about in our own day, can all claim this verse for themselves? I believe the elect of God can know an application of the text in that they understand that God indeed has good purposes for them, to conform them to the image of Christ. He has set His love upon them and has done so for eternity.
But can everyone? Well does God have beautiful and wonderful purposes for each person on earth that will make them supremely happy once fulfilled? Can we read Romans 9 and think, for even a minute, that God’s plans for Pharoah were simply to cause him to prosper on earth? Though prosperity was indeed one of God’s purposes, God raised him up so that His power might be shown to him in devastating judgment. That was God’s plan all along. Continue reading
Taking the “Cannots” Seriously
In the debate between monergists (those who believe only one power is operative in regeneration, namely God’s power alone) and synergists (those who believe more than one party is at work in regeneration, namely God and man) I believe it is fair to say that only the monergist takes the “cannots” of the Bible seriously. Though man can do a great many things, Scripture is clear as to his limitations. Just as it is impossible for man to jump to the moon or run a mile in less than a minute, so it is outside of man’s natural capabilities to do certain spiritual things.
In John chapter 3:3-5, Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
Jesus made it clear that unless someone is first born again, he CANNOT enter or even see the kingdom of God. The monergist affirms this. The synergist does not. Rather, the synergist embraces a scheme that has non born again people seeing and entering the kingdom in order to be born again.
In John 6:44, Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”
Jesus made it clear that no one (a universal nagative) has thew ability to come to Him unless drawn by the Father. He also affirmed that the one drawn in this way is raised up to eternal life, such is the power of this drawing. Monergists affirm this effectual drawing on the Father’s part. Synergists do not. Instead the synergist believes that someone drawn in this way can indeed be lost – that in the three stages of drawing, coming and being raised up to eternal life, many fall through the cracks. Continue reading
Talking sense about sports
Lost in Translation (2)
Trinitarian Solidarity
From page 13 of his book, The Pillars of Grace, Steve Lawson writes:
“… divine sovereignty in salvation involves each of the three persons of the Godhead – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All three work in perfect unity to rescue the same undeserving sinners. Within the Trinity, there is one saving purpose, one saving plan, and one saving enterprise. Those whom the Father chooses are precisely those whom the Son redeems and those whom the Spirit regenerates. The persons of the Godhead act as one Savior. The Trinity is not fractured in its saving activity. It is not divided in its direction and intent, as if each person of the Godhead seeks to save a different group of sinners. Instead, each member of the Trinity purposes and irresistibly proceeds to save one and the same people – God’s chosen people.
Sadly, many believe otherwise. They insist that the Father saves only the few sinners whom He forsees will believe in Christ, this mistakenly confusing foreknowledge (Acts 2:23; Rom. 8:29-30; 1 Peter 1:2, 20), which means “forelove,” with mere foresight. They also imagine that Christ hypothetically died for all sinners – a different group from which the Father saves – naively assuming there is only one meaning for the scriptural words world and all. They further claim that the Spirit saves yet another group, that is, some sinners whom He woos. Sadly, they mistake His internal, saving call (1 Cor 1:2, 9) for a general, non-saving conviction (Heb. 6:4-5). According to this leaky scheme, the three persons of the Godhead are purported to be pursuing three different groups of individuals – few, all, and some. Thus, the persons of the Godhead are sorely divided in Their saving activity. Even worse, the sinner – not God – reigns as the determinative in his or her salvation.
But the Bible teaches otherwise. Scripture reveals a perfect unity within the Trinity, a perfect oneness between the Father, Son, and Spirit in Their saving activities. God’s Word teaches that the Godhead acts as one Savior in saving one people. The truth is that man is not sovereign in salvation – God is. All three members work together with absolute sovereignty and unwavering resolve to save the very same people for Their own glory. This is accomplished through the free exercise of the supreme authority of all three members of the Trinity.
Facts about Brazil
Out here in Brazil I was able to visit Seixas, which is the most easterly point anywhere in the Americas and therefore, the closest to Africa.
Brazilians are a proud, patriotic people. One native boasted that if the USA were to lose Alaska, Brazil would be the larger of the two countries. My reaction was to say, “two things: The last time I checked, Alaska IS part of the USA and you just go and try to tell all the Bears and Elk there that they are not American and see how they react.” 🙂
Brazilians are notorious for at least a couple of things:
(1) Having a party for any reason whatsoever
(2) The love of the game of soccer
The parties can last for days, and the soccer matches are such a big event that when Brazil play any game at all, the banks and businesses close four hours before the kick off.
I was born and raised in England, the very home of soccer. However, there is no doubt that Brazil has taken the game to a whole new level, both in skill and in fanaticism. BRAZIL IS SOCCER CRAZY.
The rivalry between Brazil and Argentina is notorious, the games played between them, like wars. The whole nation’s emotions rises and falls on Brazil’s result. The fact that Brazil has won the World Cup in soccer 5 times (more than anyone else) means that Brazil is a happy country. If Brazil does not win, the next best thing is for Argentina to lose. Brazilians ususally cheer for any team playing against Argentina.
As to religion, Brazil is a Roman Catholic country, and yet a great many people often mix this Catholicism with other pagan religious rituals. The percentage of evangelical Christians is relatively small, but thankfully growing.
May God cause His gospel to be proclaimed and heard by many here in this beautiful country.
Lost in Translation
30 hours later…
Just arrived here in Brazil after a 30 hour treck from door to door. Looking forward to resting as I didn’t get much sleep on the flights. Brasil is a lot greener than I thought it would be, the people so friendly. Will post more when I feel half of what I write might make sense (the mind is tired). Thanks for all your prayers!
Brazil Trip
Today is a day of traveling: around 24 hours of it. Over the years I have had the privilege of seeing much of our world. I have visited many of the countries in Europe, as well as Asia, Australasia and North America but today I head to South America for the very first time. I will be away for 10 days which will include ministry time in north eastern Brazil. God willing, I will endeavor to continue to write here on the blog (as good internet connections allow). I would very much value your prayers for this short time away. May all God’s purposes be established.