THE HEART OF GOD OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES-CONTRADICTING THE GOSPEL OF GOD OF CALVINISM October 1, 2010 at 1:40pm by Pastor Othello O. Caturan Texts: Ezekiel 18: 31-32; 33:11; 34:11; Luke 19:10, Romans 5: 6-11 INTRODUCTION There is a resurgence of a false gospel in our 21st century evidently noted by the emergence of New Calvinists with their radical call to preach the gospel of Calvinism to be proclaimed with ardor, zeal and passion. Charles Spurgeon, and others after him, have confidently proclaimed that Calvinism is actually the gospel. When this is said, what is meant by “Calvinism,” of course, is the TULIP, aka the 5 points of Calvinism: Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints. According to those who make this claim, one cannot preach the gospel truly and accurately unless these truths are also communicated. According to this unusual, innovative view, if you don’t talk about total depravity, unconditional election, and/or the other points of the TULIP when communicating the gospel, then you haven’t really preached the gospel..... bereanbailey.org/?p=1770 The common denominator of this false gospel of Calvinism is actually the sovereign God who decrees the salvation of the elect unconditionally and damnation of the non-elect to everlasting destruction. In the words of John Calvin: he insisted, “that this is not just a matter of God’s ‘passing over’ the non-elect, but an actual hardening so that they are actually strengthened to resist the gospel,” although he also taught that humans are unable to understand the full counsel of God on this issue and must humbly trust His goodness and justice in this.” With that context, please note what John Calvin had to say in his own words: “We say, then, that Scripture clearly proves this much, that God by his eternal and immutable counsel determined once for all those whom it was his pleasure one day to admit to salvation, and those whom, on the other hand, it was his pleasure to doom to destruction. We maintain that this counsel, as regards the elect, is founded on his free mercy, without respect to human worth, while those whom he dooms to destruction are excluded from access to life by just and blameless but at the same time, incomprehensible, judgment.” (Institutes of the Christian Religion, 3:21:7) Ron Hale made this comments: In the case of the reprobate, we find several disquieting constructs according to Calvin’s particular position: According to Calvin, God by his eternal and immutable counsel determined those chosen or elected to salvation. The reprobate (non-elect for salvation) is doomed for destruction. The eternal and immutable counsel of God determines this destruction. God passes by the non-elect, excluding them from his saving will or decree of salvation. Reformed theology calls this “preterition.” It is defined as God’s sovereign passing by of the non-elect, thus excluding them from his decree of salvation.[ii] This determination was made by the pleasure of God. The determined destruction of the reprobate is without respect to human worth. sbctoday/2012/08/07/john-calvin-in-his-own-words-article-ii-reprobation/ _______________________________________ I know from the Holy Scriptures both in the O.T. and the N.T. that the living God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. In the Old Testament- Ezekiel 18 shows that the living God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. He wants the wicked to repent and turn from his wicked ways and live. “Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God and not that he should return from his ways, and live?.... Therefore I will judge you O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord. Repent, and turn your yourselves from all your transgressions, so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit; FOR WHY WILL YE DIE, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” (Ezekiel 18:23,30-32) Ezekiel 34:11-17 also displays the living God seeking His sheep to feed them and also to take care of them. In the New Testament- Luke 19:10 says “For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Romans 5:6-11 – “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die for a righteous will one die: yet peradventure for a good man would even dare to die. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” 11 Peter 3:9 “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.” Can We know the heart of God? The song writer says so: “The love of God is greater far Than tongue or pen can ever tell, It goes beyond the highest star and reaches to the lowest hell; the guilty pair , bowed down with care, god gave His son to win, his erring child He reconciled and pardoned from his sin. O love of God, how rich and pure, How measureless and strong! It shall forevermore endure, the saints and angels’ song When years of time shall pass away and earthly thrones and kingdoms fall, When men, who here refuse to pray, On rocks and hills and mountains call, God’s love so sure shall still endure, All measureless and strong: redeeming grace to Adam’s race The saints and angels song. Could we with ink the ocean fill And were the skies of parchment made, Were eve stalk on earth a quill And every man a scribe by trade, To write the love of God above Would drain the ocean dry, Nor could the scroll contain the whole, though stretched from sky to sky. Can we know the heart of God according to God’s words? Absolutely so, here are the following truths about the heart of God being manifested: DISCUSSION 1. The wicked and the ungodly are still within the heart of God. We can not ever accuse God of being heartless to the lost because He cares for the lost. Do we really care for the lost? Are we sure and certain as a local church that gives consideration and concern for the lost? a. God is good and is always gracious to all of mankind. Matthew 5:45-48 b. God is good and upright and he would like every sinner to repent of his sins because he is not willing that any one will perish in hell. He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. EZEKIEL 33:11 The Lord Jesus Christ was lamenting concerning the city and people of Jerusalem: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not.!” Matthew 23: 35 c. God is calling every sinner to repent of their sins and live. The Lord first preaching in his earthly ministry was : Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand! Except you repent you shall also perish. d. The Lord Jesus Christ commanded His disciples: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature…And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” e. The heart of God is for the ungodly and all sinners who are heavy laden and burdened: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 f. Church, it is our responsibility to proclaim to the lost that God loves sinners and He died for the ungodly that they may receive eternal life when they will repent of their sins. We have the ministry of reconciliation, sinners to be reconciled to a loving and merciful God. As apostle Paul said: “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespass unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 11 Corinthians 5:18-21 g. Gods will is that all may be saved and to know the truth so that it is important for Gods people to pray for the lost and their salvation to be in accord with the Lords purpose and pleasure. 1 TIMOTHY 2:1-8,[1] I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;[2] For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.[3] For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;[4] Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.[5] For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;[6] Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.[7] Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.[8] I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. 2. God is the merciful God to all sinners but all need to turn away from sins to obtain the divine mercy. a. God’s will for every sinner is to turn away from their wicked ways, then His mercy will be upon them . Jeremiah 18:6-10, “O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in my hand, O house of Israel. At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it. If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil. I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; If it do evil in my sight in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.” b. Zechariah 1:2-3 says “The Lord hath been sore displeased with you fathers. Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts: Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. Ezekiel 33:11, “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel.” c. We can only make the lost turn from their wicked ways if we pray for the lost and tell them of their lost condition and sinful state that need to turn away from their wicked ways. 11 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” Isaiah 55:7- “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” d. We need to point to sinners our sinful condition that we are hopeless in our being sinners unless we turn from our wicked ways and come to the Savior and Redeemer. This our solemn responsibility to the Lord as we are indebted to the lost because of our salvation through the gospel being preached to us. This is what the apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Rome: “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.” Romans 1:14-15 3. God desires to give a new heart and a new spirit to His people. a. The heart of God is manifested in His desires to put His spirit in the hearts of men. Ezekiel 36:27, “And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” 37: 12-14, “Therefore prophesy and say unto them. Thus saith the Lord God ; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord , when I have opened your graves, O my people , and brought you up out of your graves. And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place in your own land; then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord.” b. Thus the Lord needs instruments and vessels in His church to proclaim the gospel of truth to the lost that they may believe and receive the indwelling Spirit of God. Ephesians 1:12-14, “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, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” c. Church, we need to proclaim the truth of the gospel to the lost that they may hear and believe, thus receiving the Spirit of promise by faith. Romans 10: 10-15; Galatians 3:14. d. Thus church we need to strive to preach the gospel to the regions beyond that people will have the spirit of God in their hearts to experience the abundantly life in the Spirit of Christ. Romans 15:16-20 ”….Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation….” 4. God ‘s heart is shown in seeking the lost to give them salvation. Luke 19:10 a. Our God is a seeking God who is reaching out and always to the lost sheep. Ezekiel 34:11-17 “For thus saith the Lord God; Behold I, even I will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and bring them into their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed my flock , and will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God. I will seek that which was lost , and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong, I will feed them with judgment. And as for you o my flock, thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I judge between the cattle and cattle, between the rams and the goats.” b. In the NT the Lord Jesus Christ gives us the parable of the lost sheep. This pictures God’s seeking heart to the lost sheep in Luke 15: 1-7. 1.) The owner of the lost sheep with the remaining 99 sheep sought to find the lost one at the expense of leaving the 99 for awhile until the lost sheep was found. 2.) He comforted the lost sheep on his shoulders rejoicing when it was found. 3.) The owner of the lost sheep which was found celebrated a rejoicing feast with his neighbors. According to the Lord the story depicts the joy in heaven over one repentant sinner. c. The Lord again gave two other parables- the lost coin and the prodigal son once again to portray the seeking heart of God over sinners especially those with repentant hearts. d. God is seeking lost souls through us: the local church. The local church is God’s institution delegated to seek those who are lost. We of the local church are duty bound by the command of the Lord, His Great Commission to all of true born-again believers of the local church to seek the lost by preaching and proclaiming the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. e. We in the local church are the guardians, defenders and broadcasters of the truth of God, being the pillar and ground of truth. 1 Timothy 3:15 f. We in the local church have the truth of the gospel deposited to us; therefore, as the servants and ambassadors of the truth of the gospel, we are mandated to do the holy task. God has no other plan but execution of His divine mandate through His authorized local church. “I will build my church…” through the preaching and teaching of the gospel and His words to be received and observed till the Lord comes again. Matthew 28:16-20 g. Paul was very clear to the churches he wrote about the necessity to proclaim the gospel of the Lord. To the Romans- Romans 1:1-6; 16 “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh. And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: by whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ….For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” To the Corinthians- 1 Corinthians 9:16 “…yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel. For I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.” 2 Corinthians 15:1-2 “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand: By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.” To the Thessalonians- 2 Thessalonians 1: 7- 11 “ And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe because our testimony among you was believed in that day.” 2 Thessalonians 2: 13-17 “But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth; Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even, our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace. Comfort your hearts, and establish you in every good word and work.” To the Galatians - Galatians 2:4-5, “And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us unto bondage: To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.” To the Philippians- Philippians 1: 12-17- “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel. So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace and in all other places: And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction tom my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.” 5. God gave His best for the salvation of the lost. a. God’s best for our salvation rather than perdition is Christ. “Christ died for the ungodly.” Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now unjustified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” b. The best of the heavenly Father was His Son sent to die four our sins because of His love to us. John 3:16 “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.” c. He came to shed His precious blood on the cross so that the ungodly and wicked sinners like us who repent of our sins be forgiven and be washed of all sins through the precious blood of the everlasting covenant. Romans 3: 23-26 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. To declare I say, at this time his righteousness that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” d. The Lord Jesus Christ our God and Redeemer called us unto salvation out of his mercy and love to all of us unworthy sinners of the thrice holy God. Like apostle Paul we will say: “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me. For that that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners ; of whom I am chief, Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.” 1 Timothy 1:12-16. e. What will be our response to His love and mercy but our love and surrendered life all at His blessed feet for His glory and honor. We are all eternally indebted to the love of the Lord and so we need to preach and tell the world of His great love for sinners like us. f. If ye love me keep my commandments was the Lord’s reminder to His followers. Our divine mandate is the Great Commission : “Go ye and preach the gospel to every creature… and Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Luke 24:47 6. God desires the lost to live from the bondage of sins. a. God gave His only begotten to us dead in trespasses so that we may live and have abundant life in Him. He came to give us life that is with God’s blessings in heavenly places ,that we will have an overcoming life with joy and peace in the midst of afflictions and distresses in life. b. The apostle Paul wrote the believers in Ephesus : “And you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past, ye walked accordingly to the course of this world, according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2: 1-7 c. Praise God because of the Lord Jesus Christ loving us in spite of our sinfulness and human iniquities. He is our good shepherd who is loving and caring even dying for His sheep. John 10:10, 14-18 “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly….I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and lay down my life for the sheep. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” 7. God is longing to have joy with His people through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:8-11-“……And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” a. God desires joy in our heart because He desires it first for us. Isaiah 61:7, says “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God: for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.” b. Psalm 16: 11, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” c. God is the very giver of joy because this His heart for us. Isaiah 35:10- “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” John 16:24 “And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world , that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.” John 17:13 CONCLUSION Let me conclude this message concerning the heart of God: God loves sinners and always longing to love. What is our response: “Dr. Alexander Maclaren used to tell of a man of great intellectual power whom he longed to win. To do so he tried to preached a series of sermons dealing with intellectual difficulties. To the doctor’s delight, the man came shortly afterward and said he had become a convinced Christian and he wanted to join the church. Overjoyed, the doctor said, ‘And which of my sermons was it that removed your doubts? ‘Your sermons?’ said the other, ‘It was not any of your sermons. The thing that set me thinking was that a poor woman came out of your church beside me and stumbled on the steps. When I put out my hand to help her, she smiled and said ‘thank you’ and then added: ‘Do you love Jesus Christ my blessed Savior? He means everything to me.’ I did not then , but I thought about it . I found I was on the wrong road. I still have many intellectual difficulties, but now He means everything to me, too.”
Posted on: Fri, 05 Sep 2014 03:02:38 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015