Only One Hebrews 10:1-14 Our text clearly and resolutely sets forth the uniqueness of Christs sacrifice for sin. God says that believers are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (v.10). The Lord Jesus Christ offered one sacrifice for sins for ever (v.12). All other attempts to atone for ones sin not only are futile but also reveal the rebellious, sinful heart of unregenerate man who seeks to (climb) up some other way into the fold (Jn.10:1). God also makes it clear that believers have been perfected for ever by the one offering (v.14). Those who seek to broaden the gate and widen the door to salvation are on dangerous ground-there is only one name whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). According to the Bible, only one way, one door, one sacrifice for sin, one gospel, and one Savior exist-forever! The ecumenical movement, with its emphasis on unity at the expense of biblical purity, is doing its best to provide as large a religious umbrella as possible so that no person and no religion will feel uncomfortable in its fellowship. Beware of the false teaching that urges Christians who witness for Christ not to emphasize the uniqueness, absoluteness, and finality of Christs sacrifice for sins, lest people of other religions be offended. No, the Bible declares that all who reject Christ are lost; they must be warned of sins consequences-eternal punishment in the lake of fire. Also, beware of professing believers who join with those who preach a false gospel. Any who preach a gospel other than the message of salvation by grace through faith alone are under Gods curse (Gal.1:6-9). Only one true gospel-only one sacrifice for sin-can save! . DOCTRINE OF SANCTIFICATION: Sanctification (hagios) means set apart unto God for service. There are three categories of sanctification: (1). Positional Sanctification: When a person accepts Christ as personal savior, he is entered into union with Christ (I Corinthians I:2, 30; 6:11; I Peter 1:2). As a result of this union he is declared holy and without blame before God (Ephesians 1:6). (2). Experiential Sanctification: This is progressive sanctification. The emphasis here is on spiritual growth where we become more like Christ (holy). (I Thessalonians 4:3; Romans 6). (3). Ultimate Sanctification: This is our ultimate sanctification in which we are transformed into absolute holiness. (I John 3:1-2; I Corinthians. 15:51-57; Philippians 3:21) The Doctrine of Foreknowledge - Foreordination - Election and Predestination: “You are an elect race.....” It is a simple statement but a profound doctrine. And, although we have examined it before, because it is part of our text here in I Peter we will examine it once again for those of you who were not here for our previous study. The doctrines of Foreknowledge, Foreordination, Election, and Predestination have been complicated and confused by good men with good intentions. However, good intentions will not compensate for poor scholarship in the interpretation of Gods word. There are those who suggest that in eternity past, God looked down the corridors of time and selected certain ones He desired to save. All others are dammed to the lake of fire and brimstone for eternity and do not have a choice in the mat¬ter. When this position is challenged as appearing to be unjust they point to the sovereignty of God. There is absolutely no way to harmonize that conclusion with the character of God. The sovereignty of God must harmonize with all the other attributes of His character. The various attributes of Gods character cry out against this misinterpretation of doctrine. God is absolutely just. Deuteronomy 32:4 says: He is the Rock, His work is perfect,- for all His ways are judg¬ment.- a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He. Isaiah 45:21 declares: ... And there is no God else beside me, a just God and Saviour,- there is none beside me. If God were to select those He desired to save, apart from the free will of man, He would be an unjust God by His own standards. To reason that God would select those He wants to save, apart from their own choice, would be a violation of His very character. Remember, the basic principles of bibli¬cal interpretation must be applied to our study of every doctrine in the Word of God! Those basics require the answer to three questions, 1. What does the passage say? 2. What is the context in which it is said? 3. How do I harmonize that with every other passage which relates to that subject? When those basic principles of interpretation are applied to the study of these doctrines we are able to see how simple they are. The desire of God, the free will of man and the whosoever will invitation to salvation establishes a harmony of these doc¬trinal truths. II Peter 3:9 says: The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Since it is not Gods will that any perish, how can we sug¬gest that He has selected only some to be saved? A Calvinist suggested to me recently, that what God desires and what he purposes are two different things. Oh? Well I was happy to point out to him that the word willing used in II Peter 3:9 is from the Greek word boulomenos and that it means to purpose. Used with the negative in this verse it clearly states that God has not purposed that any should perish! I John 2:2 says: And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. If God made the choice to save only those He selected, why did He provide forgiveness for the sins of the whole world? John 3:16 says: For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Romans 10: 1 3 says: For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Since God has invited whosoever will. How can we con¬clude that He makes the choice who is to be saved? No! God did not select who He would save. Rather, He sent The Lord Jesus Christ to die upon the cross as a propitiation (satisfac¬tion). And now He offers salvation to all who will receive Jesus Christ as personal Saviour. A careful study of Ephesians 1 reveals that all who are in Christ are the elect. All who are in Christ are predestinated. All who are in Christ were foreknown. All who are in Christ were foreordained. However, the choice to be in Christ is the right of every human being who reaches the age of accountability. Look at Ephesians 1:3-14. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. (Verse 3) Observe that it is in Christ that we are blessed with all spiritual blessings. You will also note that in the phrase, in heavenly places, the word places is italicized, indicating that it was not in the original manuscripts. This phrase should read, in the heavenlies. All the blessings of the heavenlies are ours because of our position in Christ. According as He hath chosen us in Him before the founda¬tion of the world, that we should be Holy and without blame before Him in love.,. (verse 4) We are chosen in Christ and this choosing took place before the foundation of the world. In eternity past, before God founded the world, He set up the plan of salvation and determined that all who would be in Christ would be the elect, holy, and with¬out blame in the sphere of love. (The choice to be in Christ is the choice of every one of us.) This verse does not say that God chose us to be in Christ. But, rather, that God chose all who are in Christ. The choice to be in Him is available to whosoever will. having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, (verse 5) The phrases, unto the adoption and to Himself, are translated from the Greek preposition eis. In both instances, it should be translated by our English word into. This preposi¬tion shows that predestination is based upon our position in Christ. (Position in Christ is the choice of each of us.) To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Verse 6) This verse begins with the same preposition, eis and again should be translated, Into the praise of the glory of His grace. The word glory refers to attributes of character. The believer receives the attributes of Gods character through grace (posi¬tionally). We are entered into these attributes (positionally). The second part of that verse, ...wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved, again emphasizes that it is our position in Christ that produces this result. (Remember! We all can choose to be in Christ.) In whom we have redemption, through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. (Verse 7) Again, it is our position in Christ that results in our redemp¬tion and the forgiveness of sins. (Remember, the option of being in Christ is offered to all of us.) wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself (verses 8-9) It is in Christ that we have His wisdom and prudence (intel¬ligence). It is in Christ that the doctrines of the church age (mystery) are revealed, enabling us to do His will, which can be accomplished only through our position in Him. That in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on the earth; even in Him:... (verse 10) It is in Christ that all are to be gathered together at the end of time. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being pre¬destinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will.. (verse 11) Predestination is based on Gods plan. The word purpose is translated from the Greek word prothesin. Prothesin means, plan. In eternity past, God set up a plan by which mankind could share in the destiny of Christ. It was the plan that was predetermined. Predestination is more concerned with the how than the who. The how is in Christ. The who of predestina¬tion is those in Christ. Whosoever will are invited. Only those responding to the invitation to accept Christ share that des¬tiny. The option is given to all and the final choice is ours. That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise....... (verses 12-13) Our sealing does not occur until we believe. Upon believing we are sealed. If certain individuals were predestined and fore-or¬dained apart from their personal choice they would have been sealed in eternity past. God set up a plan whereby the whole world could be saved. Christ paid for the sins of the whole world. The invitation is offered to whoso¬ever will. But, remember, the final choice is ours. However, with Gods ability to foresee and know the future (His fore¬knowledge) He already knows the decision each one of us will make. But remember, His knowledge is based on our action and in no way affects our free will. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory. (Verse 14) The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance until Christ comes to take us with Him. Election, predestination, foreknowledge and foreordination do not function apart from the free will of man. God has provid¬ed for salvation and given us the choice. The choice to be among the elect, the predestinated, the foreknown, and the foreordained is offered to whosoever will! He foreordained this plan of grace. And, He foreknew the decision each of us would make. Therefore, it is important for us to understand that His fore¬knowledge is His knowledge of the action or choice each one of us will make before we make the choice. Our action is not based on His foreknowledge, but His foreknowledge is based on our future action. There are some passages that need to be examined in order to harmonize them with this interpretation. John 6:44 says: No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day- However, John 12:32 says: And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. Helkuso is the Greek word used in both of these verses for draw. The Greek word means, to draw by divine impulse. Through the crucifixion of Christ all of us are drawn, by divine impulse, to Christ. God chose to draw all men to Him through the crucifixion of Christ. John 15:16 says: You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and ordained you... The word chosen is translated from the word meaning election. It emphasizes the plan. God chose, or elected, those who are in Christ. This choosing by God precedes our choosing to be in Christ. Remember, He chose all that would be in Christ. The choice to be in Christ is ours. I Peter 1:2 gives the sequence of Gods plan: Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. This sequence is very important. 1. God foreknew those who would accept Christ. 2. Those He foreknew were elected to be set apart into Christ through the baptism of the Holy Spirit. 3. This was made possible through the obedience and shed blood of Jesus Christ. 4. This results in grace being given to us and peace being multiplied. II Timothy 1:9-1 0 says: Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Thus, we are elected because we are in Christ. The choice to be in Christ belongs to whosoever will. In Romans 9:13 it says: As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. The word hated is translated from the Greek word emis¬esa. Emisesa means to deny or refuse to recognize, their claim. Because of Esaus negative response to God, God does not recognize his claim. Esau did not respond to Gods plan of grace. Therefore, he has no recognizable (legitimate) claim before God. Summary Of Predestination 1. God is not willing that any should perish (11 Peter 3.9). 2. Yet, only those chosen by God can have a part in His eternal kingdom (Romans 9:1 1; John 6:44). 3. So, God set up a plan of grace, before the world began, whereby, all who desire may be saved (11 Tim.1:9; Ephesians 1:3-10). 4. In the plan, God The Son, was elected to come to the earth as mans redeemer (Isaiah 42: 1; I Peter 2:6-8; Hebrews 2:7-16). 5. All who would trust Christ would be entered into union with Him and share His election and destiny (Titus 2:14; H Tim. 1:9). 6. This union with Christ is accomplished, upon faith, through the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Romans 6:3; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Gal. 3:27). 7. This is an eternal position where we are secure forever (Romans 8:38-39). 8. God chooses, or elects, all those who are in Christ to share His eternal destiny (I Peter 1:2; II Tim. 2: 1 1; Eph. 1:3-14). 9. God draws all men to Himself through the death of Christ (John 12:32-33). 10. Thus, those who, by choice, accept Christ are destined to eternal life with God and those who reject Christ are des¬tined to eternal damnation (John 3:16-18). 11. Therefore, God has not predestined some to life and others to hell apart from their own free will. But, He has simply provided the means by which h all can have everlasting life (John 3:16). 12. Predestination relates to position. All who are in Christ are destined to life. All outside of Christ are destined for hell. This plan was predetermined in eternity past. 13. The choice of destiny is ours (Acts 2:2 1; Romans 10: 13). 14. The sequence of predestination is outlined in I Peter 1:2. (a). God foreknew those who would believe. (b). He elected all who would believe to be placed into posi¬tion in Christ through the baptism of the Holy Spirit. (c). This position was made possible through Christs sacrifice. (d). It is appropriated by mans faith in Christ. (e). The result of mans acceptance of this offer of grace is an appropriation of grace and a multiplication of peace to the believer. 15. It is concluded, then, that all are without excuse (Romans 1:18-32). Conclusion: Allow me to conclude with a simple illustration. It is as though God drew a circle on the ground and said, All who desire eternal life step into the circle. The choice would then be made by each of us. All in the circle would be the chosen or elected ones. You see, He elected to save all who would get into the cir¬cle. The method of getting into the circle is by trusting in the work of Jesus Christ. No one is excluded by God. All are called to get into the circle. But the choice belongs to the individual. Some people have a problem with the fact that God, in His foreknowledge, knows before we are born, what choice we will make. The thing we must understand is that Gods fore-knowl¬edge is based on our choice and not misunderstand it to read that our choice is based on Gods foreknowledge! Some complain that God should not allow those to be born who He knows will reject His plan and spend an eternity in hell. However, God is sovereign. He can, and will, do as He desires. He sends no one to hell apart from that persons free will! Individuals go to hell as a result of their personal rejection of the plan of grace where¬-by they can have eternal life with Him. Thus, We are an Elect Race - Christians born of water and the Spirit youtu.be/KvEv_lgafLk
Posted on: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 11:06:49 +0000
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