Justification by Faith manifested by Works

It was the German Protestant Reformer Martin Luther who said, “We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone.”

If one has been truly justified by his faith, that same saving faith is also a practical faith that manifests itself in good works. Ephesians 2:10 says, “We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

When we believed the gospel of truth, we were justified (i.e. declared righteous) by faith in the propitiating work of Jesus Christ sacrifice for sin on the cross. However, we are justified by our works also proving our faith is the real thing. As James said, “faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). So what that means is to declare that one who says they have true faith without any works has a dead faith, or no faith at all.

If we do not have works coupled with our faith, then we have proven that not only is our faith a sham, so is our justification.  This is what Martin Luther meant when he said, “We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone. Good works is a natural byproduct of saving faith. If our justification is the real thing, then our faith will be realized by the fruit we bear.

It’s important to realize that we do not perform good works to obtain salvation for salvation is a gift (Eph 2:8-9). We perform good works as a result of our salvation.

                                                             What did Abraham do?

Abram (his name at the time), demonstrated his faith by taking God at His word when God promised Abram that his descendants would be enumerable (Gen 15:1-6). It was at this point God justified, or declared Abram righteous; God credited or imputed, transferred righteousness to Abram’s account.

Later on in Genesis 22, Abraham’s faith was proven to him to be real when God tested his faith (or trust) in the Lord by commanding Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac.

So we see Abraham was justified by faith in the word of God. He was also justified by works in that he proved his faith was real because he was willing to kill his son Isaac as an offering to the God He loved more than his son. Abraham’s faith was real; It saved him from sin, and also it was practical, it was proven to be genuine through trial. If one’s faith is real, so is their justification. The two go hand in hand.

The faith we exhibit is the means or cause of our justification. Faith is what we do. Justification is what God does for us. Justification can never happen without first believing in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins, and the salvation of our souls.

                                                How was the harlot Rahab justified?

In Joshua chapter two we read how Joshua judge and successor of Moses sent two men to spy out the land of Jericho. As they entered the city, they lodged with a woman named Rahab. The king of Jericho inquired of her where the men were. Rahab lied and said they came to her, but they had left the city, and she did not know where they went when in actuality, she hid them on her roof (Josh 2:6).

After the pursuers left her home, she declared to the two men she knew the Lord they served was the God of the heaven and earth. She knew the Lord had given Jericho into the hands of Israel before they had actually taken it. This was a testament to Rahab’s faith in a God she did not even know, but due God’s exploits, and delivering power of how He delivered Israel from the Egyptians, fear had fell on the entire city.

Rahab was justified by works in this sense, she showed the Israelite spies kindness by hiding them from their pursuers, and sent them out another way (James 2:25). Had Rahab not believed in God, she would not have received the men, or showed them kindness.

Although Rahab was a prostitute and she lied regarding the two men’s whereabouts, she was commended by James for her genuine faith. Rahab’s faith in God was proven to be real by what she did.

So we see that a genuine faith MUST always be tested to prove to the possessor of it that it is indeed the real thing; resulting in good works.

Unable To Harmonize It All

There are several commands in the Bible that on the surface that appear to contradict one another. For instance, there are verses where God makes a decree (i.e. that is something he declares that will take place whether man complies or not), and at the same time command us to do that very thing.                                                                                                                              

Let’s examine a couple.                                                                                             

In Isaiah 55:6 it says, “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.”     We read in John 6:44 that none can come to Jesus unless the Father God draws that person to Him. We also read in Romans 3:11 that no one seeks after God. Humanly speaking, these statements do not harmonize at all. Why would God demand we seek Him in the Isaiah passage, and then the apostles John and Paul tell us that we are unable to come to Jesus or seek after God?                                                                                                                                                  

What is going on here?                                                                                                          

Here is the clear implication. We are commanded to seek God because we are in need of forgiveness of sins and salvation, but we are unable to do this on our own. We must depend   upon the power of God to do for us what we can never accomplish on our own.       In order for us to seek God, we have to be changed from within. We have to be granted repentance, and faith to believe gospel message, then we will seek God and only then.                                                                         

We must seek God; that is a command, but we cannot do this in our own power. For we must remember, we are dead in trespasses and sins before we are made alive (regenerated) by the Holy Spirit (Eph 2:1; Col 2:13). So we see the importance of studying the scripture. If we look at a couple of passages that appear to contradict one another, we must examine the whole scripture to come to a correct conclusion.                                                                                                                       

                          

                         How do we harmonize God’s election and man’s responsibility to believe?

The concern for some who have a problem with the doctrine of sovereign election is that it somehow negates the personal responsibility of the sinner to believe in order to be saved. Their argument would be something like this, “If God is choosing in eternity past who He is going to save, what is the point of preaching the gospel? They are going to be saved anyway right?”               

It’s true God knows who He has chosen to be saved, but we do not know who will be saved until they actually believe. So preaching the gospel message is the means by which God has chosen to bring His elect to saving faith. The gospel is also the means that will condemn those who choose not to believe the truth. While it is true that God has chosen some to be saved from eternity past, they will not be saved until they receive the gospel message and believe it which will bring about their salvation. Here we see God’s sovereignty and human responsibility working in tandem to accomplish God’s purposes. God creates the means and the ends regarding salvation.                                                                                                                                                           

Admittedly God transcends the mind how he does certain things. For instance, God has chosen some for salvation, yet God’s choosing some does not negate human responsibility to believe. It was the predetermined plan of God to send Jesus to earth to die on a cross, yet men killed the son of God, and our culpable for His death. It was prophesied by God in Psalm 41:9 that Judas would betray Jesus, but that does not get Judas off the hook, because God wove Judas betrayal in His providential plan. Judas was not coerced into betraying Jesus. He acted as a free moral agent. Just because the Bible says those whom saves God will never perish does not mean we are not to persevere in faith unto the end. Just because we are sanctified positionally does not mean we are not to pursue holiness actively. Just because we have been forgiven of our sins judicially forever does not mean we are not to daily confess our sins for ongoing cleansing and removing of unrighteousness. And finally, just because a person is chosen (elect of God), does not mean we are not to pray that God grants men repentance and salvation.    All the aforementioned do not harmonize to the human mind. Here Is where we are rest our minds at:

            

Oh, the depth  of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and how inscrutable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor? Or who has given to Him that it might be repaid? For from Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever.                                                                          

Amen (Rom 11:33-36).                                                                                                                                  

Paul's Defense In Romans Chapter Three

                                               

The Apostle Paul had to diffuse some illogical conclusions he knew he would anticipate based on his teaching on justification by faith with his Jewish readers in Rome. The corrections Paul had to make are no doubt corrections we as teachers of the Word of God must face today.                            

Paul at the end of Romans chapter two is discussing circumcision. Paul explains to his readers that those are who are physically circumcised have no essential advantage over those who are not circumcised if those circumcised (the Jews) are disobedient to the law of God. Paul also indicates those who are not circumcised (the Gentiles) are blessed if they keep the law. In addition this makes them circumcised by the Spirit (Rom 2:29). This is the real circumcision, spiritual circumcision for this is equivalent to salvation.                                                                                

Paul then asks himself a hypothetical question at the beginning of chapter three, “Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?” Paul replies that the Jews have an advantage because to the Jews came the oracles of God (i.e. the OT scriptures). Paul then asks a second hypothetical question, “What if some are unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?” (vs. 3). Paul I imagine hearing the absurdity of this question emphatically replies, “By no means”, or in today’s vernacular, “No way!” Here is where the plot thickens. Paul says, “Let God be true, and every man a liar!” (vs. 4a).                                                  

There was no doubt that Paul’s words were misunderstood when he said let every man be a liar. Paul was by no means advocating that men should lie so that God could be glorified through their lying. Paul I believe here was using hyperbolic language saying that if there is anyone who is to be true it is God, and by comparison, all men are liars.        

To put it another way, God’s plans are never neutralized because of the disobedience of men. What God has decreed will always come to pass no matter what man does.                                                                                                         

God cannot lie. Men always lie.                                                                                            

Paul continues in verse 5, “But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (Paul speaking in human terms) By no means! For then how could God judge the world?” But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to His glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? And why not do evil that good may come? – as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.” (vs. 5-8).                                                                                                                          

Paul continues asking himself hypothetical questions – questions he knows his readers would eventually ask him regarding his doctrine.

Q1. If our unrighteousness displays the righteousness of God why would God afflict            us?                                                                                                                                                   

A1. Man’s wickedness never propels or displays the righteousness of God. Rather, the wickedness of men dishonors God, and that is what incurs God’s righteous judgment. It is absolutely ridiculous to assume that God would get glory through man’s disobedience and then punish him for it. This type of thinking clearly shows the ignorance of some of Paul’s audience.

Q2. There were those that were slandering Paul saying he was advocating evil so that good may come.

This ridiculous conclusion hinged on the absurd belief that Paul was teaching that lying or doing evil was good because somehow it glorified God. So why not do more evil so more good can come as a result? Laymen’s terms: evil is good because it honors God. This was the lie that some said Paul was teaching. Notice Paul says in verse 8 that their condemnation or judgment is just.

                           Why did Paul’s opponents say he condoned unrighteousness?

The reason Paul’s opponents believed that is because they were accusing him of Antinomianism. It means against the law. In this context, against the Law of Moses. There were those that were saying Paul’s teaching of the Law of Grace or justification by faith advocated ignoring God’s moral code in the OT law such as, you shall not commit adultery. You are not to steal, you are not to bear false witness, etc. Their misunderstanding of Paul’s teaching was declaring since we are saved by grace, we are free to do whatever we want – even commit sin since our sins have been forgiven right? Paul deals with an almost identical issue later in this letter. Let’s take a look at it.             

In Romans 5:20 – 6:2 we read, “Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded all the more. So that sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ.”  “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not!” “How shall we who died to in sin live any longer in it?”                                                                                                                                              

Here Paul makes it unequivocally clear that he is by no means advocating that we sin on purpose. Paul’s teaching on justification by faith does not abolish the law, rather fulfils it Rom 3:31).                                                                                                                                                            

 Concluding, the purpose of God’s holy law was designed to amplify our sin, not to save us. If man does not have a standard on which to compare his sin against the righteousness of God, then man will not have a correct view of his sin, and therefore will not regard his sin as sinful (Romans 7:13b). The Law of God is good because it condemns us when we realize we are unable to meet its rigid requirements. The law of God exists so that when we fail to meet it perfectly, we will feel ashamed and cry out for deliverance from under its heavy yoke (Acts 15:10). This is where the beauty of Jesus Christ’s loving invitation comes in:

           

“Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt 11:28-30).                                                     

The life of the Christian verses that of one who is trying to keep all the commandments of the law is definitely and easier yoke and a lighter burden by comparison.                                              

Continuationism vs. Cessationism

The noun form of these two words would be Continuationist  and Cessationist. What do these words mean? In Biblical terms it is dealing with certain gifts of the Holy Spirit such as: Apostles, prophets gifts of healings[i], miracles, tongues,  (I Cor 12:28-29).

The continuationist believe all of these gifts are in operation today whereas the cessationist believe they have ceased at the end of the apostolic era – the end of the first century. In the writer’s opinion, the continuationist (not all) assume since these gifts are in the Bible and God does not revoke His gifts, then they continue. Furthermore, they would say they have either witnessed these gifts in action, or they have operated the gifts themselves; tongues, prophecy (in the predictive or foretelling since), a word of knowledge. Continuationists also believe in what is called a “latter rain” blessing where the Holy Spirit has been poured out on all flesh just as or even more so than Pentecost. This phenomenon began in the early 1900’s. Some of the “latter rain” blessings include:

a        The laying on of hands to receive the gift of tongues

b       The restoration of the office of the apostle and prophet in the church

c        Receive divine healing through the laying on of hands

d        Women having equal authority with men in the church

In  their worldview, God has us re-living the past in the present. The continuationist  has us traveling back in time 2,000 years to the foundations of the church in the first century. They believe everything that occurred during the era of the apostles and prophets is happening today. This stems from a misinterpretation of Joel 2:23. It reads, "be glad then you children of Zion and rejoice in the Lord your God. For He has given you the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month."

The continuationist (i.e. the Charismatic/Pentacostalist) believes this is making reference to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (i.e. the latter rain) which is untrue. The Lord is talking about actual rainfall in this verse. The Israelites were an agrarian people. They needed the rain to fall on their soil in the fall and spring for them to have a bountiful harvest. The former rains in Autumn (Oct – Dec) prepared the seed, and latter rains (Mar – May) filled the crops for harvest. God was promising a restoration of their land so that it could yield it’s rich wheat, grain and produce blessings.

It is tragic how one verse can be so grossly misinterpreted and a false theology develop around it. This unfortunately has occurred with the Latter Rain Movement which the continuationist beliefs hinge upon.

The position of the cessationist is that miracles, gifts of healings, tongues, new revelation are a thing of the past. I guess some would call cessationists naturalists; meaning they do not believe in the supernatural at all. This would be an extreme case. In the area of tongues, history tells us the gift has already ceased. Many in the Church disagree. The early church fathers such as Justin Martyr, Origen, Chrysostom, Augustine considered the temporary sign gift of tongues as a thing that passed with the passing away of the apostles.

                                                              What did tongues signify?  

Paul in I Corinthians 14:21-22 said, with men of other tongues and other lips will I speak to this people, and yet for all that they will not hear Me says the Lord. Therefore tongues are for a sign, not those who believe but to unbelievers, but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.

To understand what the apostle is talking about, we have to travel back to the book of the prophet Isaiah.

The prophet had to rebuke the prophets and priests for their drunkenness. As a result of their inebriation they could not provide counsel, proper worship or leadership of the people. They were abusing the privileges God gave them. Because of their persistent wickedness God warns them of impending doom. These foolish leaders mocked Isaiah for his oracles saying he’s talking nonsense to us as if he is talking to babies, that is “Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little” (Isa 28:13).  According to the Bible commentator Matthew Henry (18 October 1662 – 22 June 1714), the transliteration of these words in Hebrew are “Tsau latsau, kau lakau." The drunken mockers syllables in completion read like this: “Saw lesaw saw lesaw, qaw leqaw qaw leqaw, ze’ir sham ze’ir sham.” What the mockers were doing was making a sort of a nursery rhyme out of Isaiah’s words. These were the words they were singing in their drunken stupor. It lets you know how apostate they had become. They were mocking the words of God as if it was baby talk, gibberish!  God’s word was supposed to bring about hope and refreshment, but instead they ridiculed the prophet and God’s words (Isa 28:12).

As a result of them refusing to hear the word of the Lord in their own language, God would send a nation against them with stammering lips and a language they could not understand as a sign of judgment on the northern kingdom (the 10 tribes). The Assyrians invaded the northern kingdom of Israel called Ephraim in 722 B.C. Later the southern kingdom (tribes of Judah & Benjamin) would be destroyed and taken captive by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. leaving the nation Israel a desolate wilderness.

                This started the diaspora of the Hebrews.

So we see that when Paul says that tongues (or better interpreted languages) are for unbelievers, it meant in particular unbelieving Israel. In the NT the tongues was a judicial sign against Israel, that they would be set aside by God to make room for the Gentiles due to their unbelief (i.e. the pagans, heathen, non Jewish peoples) to be saved, and enjoy the blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant.

Let’s look at a couple of verses to amplify this point.

Acts 13:46-48 reads, on the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. When the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and contradicting and blaspheming they opposed the things spoken by Paul. Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first, but since you reject it (italics mine), and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold we turn to the Gentiles. For the Lord has commanded us:

“I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to
                                                       Ends the of the earth.”

                                                                                    

                                                              Quoted from Isaiah 49:6

Now when the Gentiles heard this they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed unto eternal life believed (vs. 48).

We see here the Jews rejecting God’s word which began the judgment of  them being temporarily set aside to due to their unbelief, and the grafting in of the Gentiles into God’s olive tree (Read the entire chapter of Romans 11 for Israel’s current status and their future).

We also read where Peter preached the gospel to Cornelius’ house in Acts 10. The Holy Spirit fell on them as they believed and spoke with languages (vs. 44-48). These too were Gentile converts.

In Acts 8 we read of Philip preaching to the Samaritans who were Israel’s Gentile mortal enemies. So at the beginning of the Church we see that God was fulfilling his promise of including all nations in His kingdom.

This new nation was and is the Church. We are now in the “Time of the Gentiles” (Rom 11:25).

Once the judgment fell on NT Israel which some cessationists believe occurred with the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 A.D., the sign was fulfilled and the gift of tongues ceased. What is interesting to note is tongues is not mentioned in the latter writings of the NT. I Corinthians one of the earlier writings was written around 55 A.D. Neither Paul or the other apostles mentioned tongues after this date. Paul’s prison epistles were in the 60’s with his last book written to Timothy around 68 A.D. Peter’s epistles were around 64-65, and 67-68 A.D. John’s books were around 90-96 A.D. What we are hearing today as tongues is not the Biblical gift, but a dangerous counterfeit. Please remember, tongues was never a non-language, unintelligible gibberish or babbling to build someone up. Biblical tongues were known human languages supernaturally spoken by people who never learned the dialect. It was an endowment sovereignly bestowed by the Holy Spirit (I Cor 12:11).

The main point of contention between the continuatioinist and cessationist is the issue of tongues. The first group insist the gift is operative, but the gift they are promoting isn’t the Biblical gift; it’s a counterfeit with a bunch of unintelligible syllables that do not make sense. In extreme cases, the practice could be demonic. The second group (at least some), insist the real gift of languages was a temporary sign gift of judgment to Israel in two ways. 1) It signified them being set aside because of their unbelief. 2) It also signified the Gentiles being grafted into God’s olive tree (Romans 11). Once the sign was fulfilled, Israel’s judgment of unbelief punished, and the gospel being made available to the rest of the world, the gift ceased to operate. As mentioned earlier, the early church fathers wrote on this; the gift ceasing with the death of the apostles.

In conclusion, it is the writer’s opinion that whatever position one holds, we MUST put our personal influences and biases aside, and run to the scriptures for our answers to these crucial matters. There are those that will say they have seen the genuine gift of tongues in operation in modern times; that is someone in the church speak in a real language they never learned and interpret that language (i.e. prophesy) speaking the wonderful works of God with unbelievers in the assembly who knew the language natively and was convicted of sin due to God’s power in operation and became saved. Why? Because the person who spoke the language never learned it. It was a supernatural manifestation of God (I Cor 14:24).

To the cessationist this is more hypothetical than actual. The cessationist is more to the letter of the law in that where it says in I Corinthians 13:8 that tongues will cease, they insist tongues did cease and do not continue now so no event such as a real languages manifestation in the church can occur today whether actual or even hypothetical. In their mind God is not going to resuscitate tongues or any of the other gifts such miracles, healings, predictive prophecy, the apostle and prophet.

What gifts we know abide today are the teacher, prophecy (expository preaching and teaching), the evangelist and Pastor.

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[i] This gift the writer believes is not in operation today. For if it were,

Why aren’t people being instantaneously healed by these so called “faith healers”

Like in the days of Christ and the apostles? If this gift is operative, the cemeteries,

And hospitals, convalescent homes should be empty. Organic terminal diseases should

Be cured.

What is the effectual Call?

The word call in the Greek is Kaléō. The Hebrew word is qārā. Both words mean a general call. In relation to salvation, its meaning is referring to those God has chosen to be recipients of His saving grace.

The calling of God is an invitation to repent of sins; that means forsaking of your sins and turning to Him for salvation through Jesus Christ. There is what is called and outward call. This is where the gospel is preached to all people. The outward call of God is resisted and rejected by men when they hear the gospel message and are commanded to repent of their sins that they may have life. An illustration of this is in the parable of Matthew 22 which is the parable of the wedding banquet. In this parable the king prepares a banquet for his son. The king sends out his servants to bid those invited to come, but all of them make excuses for not coming. In addition, those who refuse kills the king’s servants [(i.e. the believers (vs 6)]. When the kings receives this news, he is furious, and sends his armies to destroy those who killed his servants (vs 7).

Those that refuse to come to the wedding feast are non-believers.

The king then commands more servants to go to everyplace and bring whomever they can to the wedding feast. They do so, and at last the marriage feast is filled with guests (vs 8-10).

                

These represent the called, true believers.

But, there is one guest who came to the supper with improper clothing. The king questions the stranger because he was not wearing the proper attire (vs 12). The guest was dumbfounded, because he knew he was not properly dressed. As a result, the intruder is thrown out of the marriage celebration and is cast into the outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth (vs 13).

What is Jesus trying to explain to us in this parable?

The king is the Father God. The Son is Jesus Christ. The servants are the prophets. Those bidden to come that make excuses and refuse are unbelieving, apostate Israel initially, and eventually all unbelievers. As mentioned the guests are the redeemed. The one not wearing proper attire is an unbeliever masquerading as a true one. Several places in the Bible white robes are symbolic of righteous deeds and holiness.

Revelation 3:5a says, “He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment…”

When the fifth seal is opened, the apostle John saw under the altar the souls of those who were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony they held. And they cried with a loud voice saying, “How long O Lord, holy and true do you judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?”

And white robes were given unto every one of them (Rev 6:9-11a).

We read in Revelation 7:14 that there is an innumerable multitude in heaven wearing white robes because they washed them in the blood of the Lamb.

In Revelation 19:7-8 we read, “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife has made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white – for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.”

Just like the parable in Matthew 22 with the supper for the king’s son where everyone had to be properly attired. The Lamb’s bride (the church and Israel) had to wear the right clothing.

Romans 13:14 commands us to put on (italics mine) the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lust thereof.

     All the redeemed wear the proper clothing.

Scholars believe that when the one that entered the wedding banquet without proper clothing in Matthew 22, he was showing contempt for the king. Spiritually speaking by wearing wrong clothing which represented deeds, he was trying to establish his own righteousness and gain acceptance by God which is what the world does everyday.

In the natural sense to wear improper clothing when the king supplied you the right attire is dishonoring, and puts one in harms way before the king. Its even more horrific to dishonor the Father God by showing up to the Son’s marriage feast with filthy rags, and expect the Father to accept such.              

                  

These are the ones that despise the outward call of God to repent.

The effectual call is that inward calling where God draws the elect to His Son (John 6:37,44,65). Scholars and contemporary theologians say this call of God is different from the general outward call which can be resisted. The inward call of God ultimately CANNOT be resisted by the stubborn will of man. In order for the inward call to be effective, God has to overcome the evil, stubborn resistance of man; love on him in such a supernatural way so that all he wants is what God wants for him which is rebirth, repentance, faith, and salvation. When one is effectually called by God, this process is guaranteed to occur.

Why? Because God determined that it would happen before the world was ever created (Eph 1:4).

Listen to God’s word, “Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called (italics mine), and whom He called, them He also justified, and whom He justified, them He also glorified" (Rom 8:30).

When God predestines someone, the rest of the blessings automatically follow: called, justified, glorified. All past tense verbs.

God’s plans never fail so all of those whom He effectually calls will or even more emphatically 

HAVE to repent, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and be saved.                

This is a blessed promise and command of the Lord. We cannot alter it by complicity or noncompliance.

Concluding, we see here the sovereignty of God and the sovereignty of man. The former leads to everlasting life and peace. The latter leads to everlasting damnation and torment.

Why only one Way?

We live in a society of moral relativism. This is the age of tolerance and subjectivism. To many truth is relative, not absolute.[i] What a lot of people are saying today is, “What you believe is fine for you, but I have my own truth! Your truth is your truth, and my truth is my truth"! To affirm that there is absolute truth, and only one way to God, and eternal bliss seems arrogant.

Truth is never arrogant. For Biblical truth is the only truth that saves.

A lot of people say they believe in Jesus Christ. That’s not enough. What one believes about Him, and who He is is the key. It’s not good enough to say that Jesus was a great moral teacher or a first century Prophet, and miracle worker from Galilee. He did not leave that option open to us.

Hear the words of C.S. Lewis the author of the classic Chronicles of Narnia series:

“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”[1]

Jesus Himself told the religious leaders of His day, If you do not believe that I AM, you shall die in your sins (John 8:24).

Jesus declared to His disciples that, I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes unto the Father by Me (John 14:6).

Peter in Acts 4:12 says this, for there is salvation in no one else. For there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we MUST be saved.

Peter on the day of Pentecost and the birth of the church preached the first gospel sermon said this to the Jews, Repent be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).

After Jesus restored a blind man’s sight Jesus asked Him, Do you believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is He Lord that I might believe on Him? And Jesus said unto him, You have seen Him, and It is He that talks with you. And he said Lord I believe, and he worshipped Him (John 9:36-38).

Isaiah the prophet says this, Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me. I even I, am the Lord and besides Me there is no Savior (Isa 43:10b-11).

Isaiah also says, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God and there is none like Me (Isa 46:9).

In Deuteronomy 6:4 we read this, Hear, O Israel the Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with your soul, and with all your strength.

The recitation of these words are known as the Shema. What the people of Israel were acknowledging is that God is the only God. They were declaring they were monotheistic nation.

Exodus 20:3 reads, you shall no others gods before me. The first of the ten commandments.

The Philippian Jailer asked Paul and Silas, “what I must I do to be saved?” They replied to him, “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:31).

Obviously there are a host of other scriptures that tell us that the only God is the God of Holy Writ. To believe in someone or something else is idolatry which offends our Heavenly Father.

                                                 

                                                     

                                                      Problems with False Religions

1.       With every other religion the adherent has to perform meritorious works in order to earn their salvation, deliverance and or reward from their god. This is a work-righteousness system which can never save. False religious systems are all based on conditions being met in order to merit the favor of their god or their system.

Not so with Christianity. The work has been performed perfectly and finally by the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no actual activity one has to engage in to merit the grace of God. Grace is a gift from God to undeserving wretched sinners. God the Father loved the world so He sent His only begotten Son to redeem the world from its sins. Since Jesus loves His Father, and always pleases Him, He willingly died for those whom the Father gave to Him (John 6:37; 17:9).

Some asked Jesus, “What shall we do that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him (Jesus) who He (The Father) sent (John 6:28-29).

Here is a crystal clear case of the human responsibility of man to believe. Just because God chooses sovereignly in eternity past who He would save, it never negates the human cognitive response of the chosen to willfully believe.

For someone to try to obtain salvation by their own works proves their disdain for God the Father and the atonement of Jesus Christ. What the person is saying is that God’s plan of salvation is insufficient for them. This is an abomination to God (Pro 15:8; 21:27). Jesus referred to that type of individual as a thief and a robber (John 10:1,8).

Man’s religion is backwards. Why? Because it focuses on what He can do for himself; to praise and honor himself, rather than what a loving Father and Son has already done for man. Man’s religion is subjective – he chooses his own path to happiness and peace of mind. Whereas Biblical salvation places all the power, ability, and grace on God Almighty. Man’s religion chooses their god. With true religion God chooses man.

2.       

Second and most major problem with false religion is that it is powerless to save from sin.

Although some false religions mention sin, they do not provide an answer for getting rid of sin. There is no deity that has laid down his life and shed his blood for sin so that all who believe can be saved from its damning consequences. They do not have a perfect holy substitute that is willing to bear the sins of the condemned so that they may be converted from everlasting death to everlasting life. False religion has no sacrificial love in it! Jesus proved His love by dying for the sins of His people (Matt 1:21). A person is on their own to make it right. They never will. Anyone trying to merit the grace of God is deceived and a fool. Working for salvation is definitely an exercise in futility – you still have not dealt with the main problem facing you – your sins. In order to have them removed, one must believe that Jesus died to take away our sins. That is the one thing that separates man from his God.

3.      

False religions does not demand Repentance of sin

This is a monumental issue. Repentance requires a change of mind and heart regarding our sins. We must forsake our sins in Godly sorrow, turn away from them, and turn to God. Notice we can not due both at the same time. If one turns their back on sin and runs to God, they have forsaken their sins. However the inverse is true as well. If a person forsakes God, then he has chosen to embrace his/her sins. 

False religion does not magnify our sin so we can see the wretchedness of it. We need to know how our sins offend a most Holy God. Our sins are a horrible stench, foul odor in His nostrils. When we come to the realization of our offences to Him, we will broken in sorrow, shame, guilt and despair. We will be able to see how poor in spirit we are, and long to find out, “how can I be forgiven of my sins and be saved forever?”

It is most important to realize that when the aforementioned is happening, God the Father is drawing us to the Son (John 6:44). We cannot produce this transformation because we are dead in our sins (Eph 2:1). God is working sovereignly on the inside to bring about a miraculous change in us. Only then will we come due to the irresistible power of God to cause us to be willing to forsake sin, trusting that Jesus bore and shed His blood for sin.

Genuine repentance confesses that 1) I am a sinner. And 2) What must I do Lord to be saved?

In conclusion why one way? The God of the Bible is the only one that has the solution for the sins of the world. Jesus is the only Savior that provided a perfect atonement for sins. Jesus sacrifice propitiated God’s righteous anger and wrath against us. Now that we are no longer enemies of God, He can now grant us His righteousness.

What does one have to do? Believe on the Lord Jesus, and confess with your mouth that God raised Him from the dead. Then you will be saved (Rom 10:9-10).

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[1] C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (Harper Collins Publishers, New York, NY, 1952)

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[i] To say there is no absolute truth is a self defeating phrase. For instance, If I say, “My shirt is gray”, and it is, then that is an absolutely true statement. For someone to say my shirt is blue when it is gray is a lie. In this dialogue subjective truth loses.  What good is someone’s truth if its clearly untrue? Truth can never be relative. Truth has to be what it is or it is its opposite, a lie. Dealing with the Bible scripture says every word of God is true. To oppose the truth proves one to be a liar. There cannot be multiple truths when it comes to God and His word. There is one truth only, and it is sufficient. The problem with wicked men is that God’s truth does not suit them so they make up their own which fits their instincts, mindset, and evil desires. In their mind the lie they have told themselves for years is true as far as they are concerned. Only the power of God can change the willful ignorance of man so that his blinders come off so he can see and experience the loving truth of God’s word.

You can have what you say

So Jesus answered and said to them, have faith in God. For assuredly I say to whoever says to this mountain, be removed, and cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes those things he says. Therefore I say to you whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them.

-          Mark 11:22-24

Unfortunately, these verses have been butchered by those in the Positive Confession/Charismatic/Word of faith movement. They have and continue to grossly mis-apply these passages. There are many that believe Jesus was saying we can whatever we ask for indiscriminately. If these verses stood alone on an island by themselves then yes, I would say we could take these verses at face value.

As a result of this text, no doubt millions have prayed for healing, money, a job, a husband, a wife, a new house, car, casting out of demons, and the list goes on. None of these things are wrong in of themselves. But, do we take a moment to consider is what we are praying for within the sovereign will of God?

There are times when God will not grant our request because it does not fit within His sovereign plan. And God is perfectly within his rights to deny our request(s). This does not necessarily mean someone lacks faith because God did not grant their petition, it just means that since God already determined beforehand what He was going to do, any request contrary to His plan is not granted at that time. He may grant it at another time, or perhaps not at all.

When David desired to build God a house the Lord told him no, but promised David a son who would build His house (2 Sam 7:1-16).

When Paul and his companions wanted to go Asia (Modern Turkey), and Bithynia to preach the gospel, the Holy Spirit did not permit them (Acts 16:6-7). It was God’s will for them to travel to Macedonia for God gave a vision to Paul where he saw a man pleading with him to come to Macedonia to help them.

The desire of Paul was met, but it was according to the will of God, not Paul. God has every right to answer our prayers His way.

Paul had a thorn in the flesh due to the abundance of revelations he was receiving from the Lord to keep him humble. Paul prayed three times to have the thing removed, but the Lord told him,”My  grace is sufficient for you. My strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor 12:7-9a).

Paul petition was not granted, but he boasted in his weaknesses so that the power of God could rest upon him (2 Cor 12:9b).

Even Jesus when agonizing in the Garden of Gethsemane regarding his impending death asked the Father to let this cup pass from me (3x’s), but then said, “not my will but your will be done (Matt 26:39,42,44).

I John 5:14-14 says this, and this is the confidence we have in Him, if we ask for anything according to His will, then He hears us, and we if we know He hears us, then we have the petitions we have desired of Him.

    
      What happens when we pray for loved ones that are sick to get well and they die?

This is a most difficult matter to deal with. When a person is terminally ill, and they recover I believe through the prayers of faith of the saints, God in His sovereign will can heal the sick. It is also within the will of God to allow the person to die. I know this sounds harsh. Why would they die if prayer is being made for them? Does God care? Is He even listening to us? Did we lack faith to move the hand of God to meet our need? Was their sin in the life of the infirmed or those that were praying for them? Was it simply their time to die?

All of these questions can be answered in the affirmative. Sometimes they are true all at the same time.

All of life originated from God. At His discretion, He determines if a child is still born, or that if that child will live to be an old man or woman. It is not for us to know. God is always perfect in His dealings with man even if we do not understand, and the pain of the loss of our loved ones seems too much to bear.

If Mark 11:24 strictly meant we can have whatsoever we desire when we pray, then none of our loves would die when they are ill. They would recover every time.

Everything we would request in prayer we would receive the exact way we requested. This would make God a “cosmic-jeanie”. All we would have to is rub our magic lamp, and God would have to grant our wishes.

Mark 11:24 has a qualifier in prayer, the petition MUST be within the will of God or else that request is granted, but not like the petitioner originally requested it.

Concluding, can we have anything we ask for in prayer? Yes, as long as it within the will of the Father.

How do we know if we are praying according to God’s will? Well we need to search the scriptures for the answers.

a.      Will the prayer bring God glory?

James 4:3 says when a person asks for something, and they do not receive, it is because they ask amiss. God will not answer prayer for selfish gain; so that a person can be greedy.

b.      Prayer for godly wisdom?

James said if any lack wisdom let Him ask of God who gives to all liberally and without reproach and it will given him (1:5).

c.       Praying for Israel

The Psalmist said, pray for the peace of Jerusalem. May they prosper who love you (Psalm 122:6-7).

d.      What about holiness?

For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that you should abstain from sexual immorality (I Thess 4:3).

e.      Thankfulness

In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (I Thess 5:18).

f.        Study the word of God

Study to show yourself approved unto God. A worker who need not be ashamed. Rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15).

All these things and many more are the will of God. Prayers center around these commands will definitely be answered for they all honor and magnify God, and not ourselves.

David the psalmist said it best, Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him, and He shall bring it to pass (Psa 37:4-5).

Those who live a life of obedience and faith will get what they want. How do I  know this? When a person is living righteously, all he/she wants to do is please God. The desires they have God placed there. So when the desire is strong upon them, they will gush it out in prayer and praise to God. Their desire is granted and the Lord is glorified.

That is the purpose of prayer. We get the awesome privilege of communicating with God Almighty. He hears us, and grants whatever we want and need because we have submitted our desires underneath His.

People praying with evil motives will never get their prayers answered. Why? They pray not acknowledging the Heavenly Father as holy (Matt 6:8). They are not thankful in their approach to God (Phil 4:6).

Remember this truth when praying, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).