Justification, Sanctification, & Glorification

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

-           Romans 8:29-30

The word justified (verb form) is the Greek verb dikaioō which means to make right or righteous. This is the first level of our salvation. In the area of justification, God is making us right with him, and the same time granting us His righteousness. Those whom God called in eternity past to be conformed to the image His Son will by the power of God be regenerated (made spiritually alive, Eph 2:1; Col 2:13), have an awareness of their horrible sin and guilt towards God.

In God’s precise timing the Lord will open their hearts (like Lydia Acts 16:14),  they will be given the willingness and ability to believe the gospel message and be saved. The reason why we can be justified is because Jesus bore our sins on the cross, washing them away with His blood.

Isaiah 53:5 prophesying pre-crucifixion says, He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

The apostle Peter reiterates this reality post crucifixion, who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree that we being dead to sins might live for righteousness – by whose stripes you were healed (I Pet 2:24).

As a result of the completed work of Jesus Christ on the cross, God’s the Father’s wrath against sin has been satisfied. His Justice has been served. Jesus was our perfect substitute; the only one qualified and capable to bear our sins. Now God is able declare us righteous in Christ because Jesus bore our shame, endured the Father’s wrath against Him on our behalf.

The condemnation of the Son of God by the Father, and the justification of God’s chosen people is a judicial act. All sinners are summoned to appear in God’s court of Law. The reality is that we were all guilty, and our fingerprints prove that our DNA is corrupted by sin. Our own rebellious acts are our prosecutors. The charges against us are true, they are not trumped up. We deserve to eternally perish. The forensics have been laid bare in front of the Father. But, because God the Father provided for us the most holiest Ram (borrowing the language in Genesis 22) in the thicket, our charges were laid on Him. He (Jesus, our legal defense attorney, our advocate) laid His body on the altar of sacrifice (i.e. His cross) as a sin offering with pure holy blood. The Father accepted the offering and wiped away all our sins forever. Jesus never has to suffer for them again, and for the ones sins he bore, will never be penalized for them.

           
So, what are our charges now? NOT GUILTY!

We are justified, declared righteous in Jesus Christ.

He who knew no sin became sin that we may become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor 5:21).

                                                               Sanctification

Sanctification is the Greek word hagiasmos. Means separation unto God. Sanctification is the process where God sets us apart and makes us holy. Sanctification is both positional and practical. Practical sanctification is the second level of our salvation. It is our duty to be holy because the Lord is holy (I Pet 1:16).  Sanctification is working out our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12).

I Peter 1:2 says of the believer: elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.

This verse clearly speaks of the believer being consecrated unto God, and made pure by the blood of Jesus Christ.

I Thessalonians 4:3-4: for this is the will of God, your sanctification; that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor.

I Thessalonians 4:7: For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.

I Corinthians 6:9-11: Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Jesus speaking to the Father in John 17:17 said, sanctify them (purify, consecrate, separate them for yourself, make them holy) by your truth. Your Word is truth – amplified version.

Sanctification is of utmost importance in our Christian walk. Sanctification is the medium that bridges us between justification and glorification. Sanctification is the virtue that will cause us to walk worthy of our calling, and to bear good fruit (Gal 5:22-23).

Justification and glorification are fixed positions. Sanctification is an ongoing process that we must practice so that we conform to the image of Jesus Christ (Rom 8:29).

We are as justified as we will ever be. We can not become more justified. Once we are glorified, we will be as glorified as will ever be. We will not be able to grow or work out our glorification once we inherit it. But, we always can strengthen and develop our sanctification. How? By resisting temptation, the devil, and the flesh; performing good deeds.

Jesus commanded us in Matthew 5:16 to: let your light so shine before men that may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven.

                                                                 

                                                                Glorification

Glorification comes from the Greek word doxasō; means to magnify, to extol, to praise and give honor.

This is the third and final tier of the believer’s blessed salvation. When we are glorified, our salvation has been consummated. What this means is our bodies have finally been redeemed from its corrupt mortality. In our glorified state, we will be no longer  be subject to death anymore. It will be a curse in our forever past. What God promised in eternity past has been fulfilled. When we reach this state, we will be in a perpetual state of eternal present. Now lets look at some passages to amplify this blessed reality.

Behold I tell you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (a euphemism for death), but we shall all be changed – in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruption must put on incorruption, and the mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has puts on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying,

“Death is swallowed up in victory. “O Death, where is your sting?                                                                                                                                                   O Hades, where is your victory?”  (I Cor 15:51-55).

A parallel passage is: For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord (I Thess 4:16-17).

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ who will transform our lowly body that in may be conformed to His glorious body (Phil 3:20-21b).

In Him you also trusted[1], after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory (Eph 1:13-14).

These two verses have some interesting terms. Lets start with the word sealed.

Comes from the Greek sphragizō. The word is used to indicate security and permanency. The term also means ownership. We belong to God, and are safe in His grasp. This ownership and security is permanent.

The word guarantee or better Earnest (in the KJV) comes from the Greek term arrabōn. Originally meant earnest-money deposited by the purchaser and forfeited if the purchase was not completed.[2]

In relation to the elect God is guaranteeing our inheritance by giving us the Holy Spirit as a pledge. The Spirit is the sign that what God began in salvation He will finish. Once God redeems our bodies, He will receive all the praise and glory. The word arrabona means an engagement ring which is the modern Greek expression of arrabon.[3]

We (the Church) are currently engaged to Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit placed us in this holy union when we believed (i.e. we said, “I do!”) The marriage takes place in the future (Rev 19:7).

I John 3:1-13, Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!  Therefore the world does not know us, because it did know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

When Jesus returns we will have received our full inheritance, a glorified body like His body, We will be glorified humanity which is the closest relationship any human can have with our Lord who is incarnate deity.

We see that our salvation is one salvation, but also like our God is triune. Our salvation has three components; Justification, sanctification, and glorification. We are as I mentioned before in phase 2, the most difficult part. This is where we have to live holy, and engage in holy war against our archenemy the devil. This is also where we have to resist temptation, submit ourselves to God, and resist the devil (James 4:7), and wrestle and win the war against our own corrupt flesh. Although this outward man is perishing, the inward man is being renewed day by day (2 Cor 4:16).

         

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[1] The word is in italics and placed there by the translators to help provide

Clarity to the text

[2] W.E Vines, Vines Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Nashville, TN – Thomas Nelson Publishers, Inc., 1985), pg. 190

[3] Ibid, pg. 190

The Purpose of Evil

                                                              

“Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things not yet done, saying my counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose”.

                                                                                                                                    -Isaiah 46:9-10

God, from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass; as yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin, nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures; nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established.

                                                                                                    -Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 3

Our God is in Heaven. He does whatsoever He pleases. (Psalm 115:3).

For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back (Isa 14:27)?

Speaking about the Lord King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon said, “For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing. He does according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, what have you done (Dan 4:35)?

These words answer the question as to if God is in control of absolutely everything that happens in the earth. The above passages make it clear that God is the direct or indirect cause of all things.

So, what about evil? Does evil come from God?

The answer is no. God in eternity past did not create evil nor is He morally responsible for it. The scripture says in James 1:13-14, “Let no one say when he is tempted, I am being tempted by God, for God cannot be tempted with evil, He Himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.”

Another clear-as-a-bell passage describing clearly God’s and man’s relationship with evil.            

We need to ask another question. Since God is sovereign and is in absolute control of everything that happens, how did evil get here? The only answer that makes sense is God allowed it to exist, He ordained it. I did not say He created it, He ordained it for a reason.  God in His infinite wisdom before the foundation of the world decided He would redeem the world through the sacrifice of His Son, and also before the world began decided he would allow evil to serve a purpose in His providential plan.

What is evil? It is a sinful disposition toward what is good and right. It is not a thing, or a spirit. Rather, it is a negation, a deprivation of what is good and holy.

Evil will always call God’s goodness into question. If God is who He says or who you Christians say He is, then why did He allow evil in His world is always the question of the critics. He must not be that powerful if evil snuck in! Look at all the terrible things that happen every day! Or, since evil exists, God must be evil himself. If God is so good there should be no evil at all!

Certainly God could have created a universe with no evil, but we have to wonder what that would look like.  Well without it (i.e. the ability to choose evil) there would be no choices for mankind. We would have no freewill. This would make us robots with pre-programmed choices. That is not what God wanted when He created us. He gave us the ability to choose, to love Him or hate Him; to obey or disobey. Since when do we want our choices taken away from us?

As for the evil we deal with it every day; Planes crashing into buildings, poverty, disease, murder, drug abuse and trafficking, prostitution, adultery, pornography and death. Whose decisions were these? Certainly not God’s! They were ours. We are our own worst enemy. The reason the world is a mess is because of the choices mankind has freely made. We want to get rid of evil, we have to stop committing sin!

We are living with the consequences of our actions.

Our fault. We continually overdose on the sinful choices we make, and we cannot and will not get clean. That is an every-millisecond-of-the-day reality.  Why can’t we stop being evil? 1) We are evil by nature (Eph 2:3b). 2) We love our sin and our darkness (John 3:19).

So where can we get help? Is there any hope for mankind?

Only in the Lord Jesus Christ can we be made free from sin and its damning consequences. God sending Jesus was not a backup plan because the fall of man through Adam’s sin, it was always the Father’s plan to send His Son to redeem sinners since He knew we would fall. Without evil being in the picture, there would have been no need for Jesus to come and save sinners because everyone would be sinless.[1] God has always desired to put His love, righteousness, grace and mercy on display, and by sending Jesus to become a satisfying sacrifice for sin, He was able to do that in the most perfect way. God wanted to glorify Himself.

Ephesians 1:4-6, “Even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ according to the purpose of His will, the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved.

One of the reasons why God allowed evil is so that He could put His kindness, grace and mercy on full display. This way God could demonstrate His grace and mercy against the backdrop of evil otherwise His grace and mercy is not seen in full for the holy virtues they are.

Another reason for God allowing evil is so that He could put His justice and wrath on display on those who hate Him. Romans 9:22-24 says this, “What if God wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy which He had prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also the Gentiles?”[2]

The last reason God allowed sin or evil to exist is so that He could put His love on display. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

We see then that evil was indeed ordained by God for the reason I just mentioned; So the Lord could put His righteousness on display in the face of unrighteousness. To put His love on display in the face of hate. And to put his wrath and holy anger on display.

Could we know God’s perfect love to the degree we know it without hate? Could we know God’s righteousness without unrighteousness? Could we know God’s hatred of sin without His judgment of it? The answer to these questions is no.

Without the negative contrasts of evil human choices we could never praise God for the sweetness of His power and grace to the degree we know now. As heinous and pervasive as evil is, God’s love and power are infinitely greater than evil.

Less someone is still confused or bewildered regarding evil, it is not a force that is fighting against God for supremacy over Him. Evil is a servant of God. It does His bidding. He controls it.  Even when mankind sins, it does not alter the plan of God He pre-ordained from eternity. Every decision man makes whether good or evil is already interwoven into the fabric of God’s providential plan.

Yet despite all the writer just covered, someone will say, “If every decision fits into God’s plan perfectly, and His will is being accomplished no matter what man does how can I be judged as a sinner for my actions” (Rom 9:19)?

The person that is asking this question wants an excuse for their sin; they are not interested in repenting.

The reason why we are judged by God for evil is because we chose the path of sin. We also have the option to choose what is good.

There is a glorious end to our current morbid reality. In the new heavens and earth God will abolish evil forever (Rev 21:4-5). God’s superlative love is demonstrated in this final act of judgment. What if evil never existed? God could not be extolled for abolishing it from the earth. The eventual removal of sin demonstrates God’s supreme power. At this point all the redeemed from all time will dwell with the Lord. We will no longer have the ability to sin.

Concluding, God ordained evil so that He could put His righteousness on display. God ordained evil so that He could put His love on display. And finally, God allowed evil, to put His wrath on display against it and ultimately destroy it.

All of the aforementioned should leave no doubt to who is in charge of everything that occurs, both good and evil.

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[1] How could God’s love be put on display if Jesus came and died

For a world with no evil? So we see the necessity of evil in God’s

Overall plan so that the atonement of Christ actually saves sinners.

No evil, no salvation. And since God predetermined in eternity past

To send Christ to die and save sinners, the Father decided to allow evil

To demonstrate its wickedness through the sinful decisions of man they

freely made, which allowed to Him demonstrate the wonders of His grace.

[2] This is clearly dealing with sovereign election

The Gospel - A Real Offer

The writer does not know how many critics there are regarding the doctrine of predestination and sovereign election; that is God in eternity past deciding who he would save totally independent of anything that man would ever do. God’s choosing of some was strictly of His own autonomous free will. The clear implication is that there are those that God did not choose in eternity past, leaving them to remain in their sins and ultimately perish.

What the critics are saying is that is totally unbiblical, and blasphemous to declare that God would be unfair in any way to His creation. What do I mean? The critics of predestination and sovereign election have stated for Reformed Thinkers to insinuate that the God of the Bible would choose some and exclude others is heresy. Is their assessment true? I do not believe so, and I will try my best to explain why, but before I do that I will point out some shocking things I read in an article recently that totally rejects the Calvinistic View.[1]

One of things mentioned in the article is that if God has already made a predetermined choice who He is going to save, what is the point in praying for the lost – what is the point of evangelism? They are going be saved no matter what right? The reason we are to pray and evangelize everyone is because God commands us to do so. Yes God has indeed predetermined the salvation of many, but that does not negate our human responsibility to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Listen to these words, “For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. How will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? And how are they to preach unless they are sent (Rom 10:13-15a)?

So we see there is an absolute necessary condition for the elect to be saved, they must hear the gospel message from an ambassador of God, a preacher so that they can believe and be saved. Salvation does not come by osmosis. The gospel is the means God has chosen to bring about His desired end; the salvation of his elect chosen before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4).

Some Non-reformed thinkers see preaching the gospel with a Reformed thinker mindset an exercise in futility. This writer who rejects the Reformed view also believes that “Calvinists” (I’m using that distinction because that is how a lot of non-reformed people describe Reformed thinkers) are presenting the gospel as a hollow, disingenuous offer to sinners because in the final analysis, they are “pre-doomed” (according the opponents of Calvinism) since most of them are non-elect.

Listen to what the Lord commanded the prophet Ezekiel to say to the nation of Israel, “And He (the Lord) said to me, “son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them. For you are not sent to a people of foreign speech and a hard language, but to the house of Israel, not to many peoples of foreign speech and a hard language whose words you cannot understand. Surely, if I sent you to such, they would listen to you. But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me; because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart” (Ezek 2:4-7).

These verses speak volumes regarding God’s commands and man’s response to those commands. Although God told Ezekiel in advance that Israel would not listen to the word of the Lord, Ezekiel still had the responsibility to deliver God’s word. Now, on the surface, it appears that this is a waste of time on the prophet’s part, but it could never be because God commanded him to do it. The word of the Lord never returns void (Isa 55:11).

My point is preaching the gospel is never an empty exercise for it is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes (Rom 1:16). How could it be empty since God has placed His chosen seed throughout the entire world to be reached with His precious truth? The gospel is an absolute genuine offer to everyone, elect and non-elect alike. The gospel is the only engrafted word that is able to save our souls (James 1:21). And, since God has kept it a secret who is actually chosen, and who is not, we must preach to everyone so that God can grant repentance and faith to those He has chosen (Acts 11:18b;Eph 2:8-9).

So, what about the non-elect? This is where it gets sticky. 1) Is there any chance of them being saved since they have not been chosen by God? 2) Has God pre-ordained their destruction? 3) If so, why did God even create them if in the final analysis they are going to hell? These are admittedly very, very tough questions.

The elephant is definitely in the room.

And admittedly the writer probably cannot adequately answer these three questions, but I am willing to try. The passage that comes to mind regarding the non-elect is in Proverbs 16:4, “The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of doom.” This verse I believe provides the purpose for the wicked’s existence.[2] Even the enemies of God serve a purpose in this earth realm albeit most negatively – a sovereign decision by God. It is a reality we are not comfortable with if we are honest. However, God’s purposes will always prevail over man’s objections. No one has the right to ask God, “what are you doing, or why did you do that?”

That type of questioning is foolish.

Well for most Christians, they believe that God sent Jesus to die for all people indiscriminately – for those  He knew would never believe. If this is true, then Jesus died and paid for in full the sins of those who will die in unbelief, go to hell, and ultimately go to the Lake of Fire to pay for their own sins forever. This makes the atonement of Christ powerless to save and His mission to earth an utter failure. In addition, if a person dies in unbelief it proves their sins were never forgiven and paid for. How can Jesus pay in full the price for someone’s sins yet they die in unbelief? Is not unbelief a sin Jesus shed his blood for to? Why is the sin of unbelief a game changer, a maverick atom so to speak that can somehow escape the power of the blood of Christ to wash it away so the unbelieving can be made by God to believe? We need to carefully think these things through.

I guess conventional human wisdom tells us that since God loves the world and sent His only Son to die for it, then Jesus died for all sin; even for those who never believe. This makes salvation only possible, not guaranteed or actual. God now has to hope the sinner makes the right choice to choose Christ on his own with absolutely no power to do so because he is a dead man spiritually (Eph 2:1;Col 2:13). The natural man can and will not incline him or herself to repent and believe apart from God’s resurrecting power. It is impossible (Rom 8:7-8).

Last I checked it is impossible for a dead man to do anything but be dead.

And since it’s true that the natural man is indeed dead in trespasses and sins, he will never come alive unless God resurrects him from death. In other words God regenerates him, or causes him to be born again, preaches the gospel to him so that he can believe and be saved. Jesus didn’t die to make salvation possible, He died to save His people from their sins for real (Matt 1:21).

 I am arguing that God does not save everyone. Why doesn’t He? That is God’s business, not ours. He is not obligated to save anyone, nor is He accountable to us since we are by nature children of wrath (Eph 2:3). We all deserve to go to hell right now! We as a result of our sinful nature we are no good at all. Like it or not that is the Biblical diagnosis of man.

So, since God has decided to pass by some sinners, the outcry for most will be, “How can God blame me for sin if I don’t believe? Isn’t that what he has determined for me?” The one asking the question isn’t sincere about repenting. Rather they are asking facetiously so they can excuse their sin and unbelief.  They are also insinuating that God approves evil. It is our responsibility to believe when we have the knowledge of the truth. Just like someone chooses not to believe, someone can choose to believe. God does not put a barrier in front of them preventing them from believing, but because of the corrupt nature of man, God knows they will not. This is not God’s fault, it’s the sinners. People today are just like they were in Ezekiel’s day, a hard forehead and a stubborn heart. In regards to those who question God’s justice regarding how he handles man, listen to Paul in Romans 9:20, “Who are you O man to answer back to God? Will the thing molded say to the molder, “Why have you made me like this?”

Man never has the right to accuse God of wrong doing. God made us, and it is up to Him how he wants to deal with each human being. God will have mercy and compassion on whomever He wants (Ex 33:19; Rom 9:15). Want God on your side? Then repent of your sins, and believe on Jesus Christ! Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you (James 4:8).

When dealing with Divine sovereignty and human free will, we see two parallel lines running infinitely in the same direction that never intersect. Many have asked where do the two lines meet? Answer, they don’t. Otherwise they would not be parallel. Let me give the reader some Biblical illustrations of these parallel truths.

Although God has chosen some before the foundation of the world for salvation, the Bible says whosoever will may come, and come all you labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest (Matt 11:28; Rev 22:17).

Also Jesus commands everyone to repent (Matt 4:17). Yet we know that no one can repent unless it is granted by God (Acts 11:18; 2 Tim 2:25).  Scripture also tells us that God desires that all men be saved (I Tim 2:4) yet He does not save all men and most refuse to believe sealing their doom. God is not willing that any should perish, but that all come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). We know many will perish. The death of Christ was predetermined by God, and yet the Romans crucified Him (Acts 2:23; 4:28). These verses appear to be contradictions, but they are not. They are paradoxes that the human mind cannot resolve. It transcends us.[3]

Concluding, God has never treated any of his creation unfairly no matter what our finite minds may think. God’s ways and thoughts are not ours, and we must remember that (Isa 55:9-10). Since none of us deserved be saved, God who is rich in mercy made a sovereign decision to save some because it was His pleasure in doing so (Eph 2:4-5). God also has reserved the right to execute justice on His enemies. Remember this world is not innocent toward God. We have broken His laws which is an offence to Him. This means God will exercise His sovereign right to destroy the perpetrators. At this point someone will say, “Now wait a minute, God is love right? Why would He destroy anyone?” This question has always astounded and annoyed me, and I will tell you why. Man has this audacious, narcissistic attitude; he thinks he is good in the sight of God, and that he does not deserve eternal punishment. That proves how loss and hell bound he really is. Because man refuses to look himself in the mirror of God’s word to get the absolute truth about his terminal sinful condition he will continue to be defiant in God’s sight and incur His holy wrath (Rom 1:18-32).

So yes, God is a God of love, grace and mercy. Praise Him for that! For if He weren’t none would ever be saved. But, He is also a God of justice and wrath. Praise Him for that as well. What that means is He must punish evil doers in hell and ultimately the lake of fire for their sins. It is a tragic reality, but it is good that God punishes the wicked as well as save His elect. Jesus paid the ultimate price for our sins–death. So those that refuse to accept Jesus’ substitutionary act as the sole means of mankind’s salvation MUST pay the ultimate punitive act for their treachery; eternal damnation! It’s only fair. If this world is ever going to have perfect peace, God must preserve the righteous and destroy the wicked. Any person with any common sense should desire true world peace. Only God Almighty can bring it to pass.

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[1] To find out more about Calvinism please visit: www.gotquestions.org

[2] Although God created the wicked, does not mean He creates unbelief in their hearts

Or makes them sin. Pharaoh of Egypt, Judas Iscariot, Adolf Hitler fall into this infamous category.

These three men along with countless others served God unknowingly in their wickedness. They providentially fulfilled

God’s purposes yet are totally culpable for the evil they committed. They willfully chose the evil that they

Did.

[3] Although God purposely sent Jesus to die for mankind’s sins, His motives

Were pure and right. The result the salvation of a multitude of people. God’s

Enemies that crucified Christ motives were evil which makes them culpable

For his death. They crucified the Lord out of hate and envy.

You Must Be Born Again!

                                             

Most people think when Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3 that unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God, that being born again is something we can make happen-that Jesus was giving Nicodemus a command.  No. Rather Jesus was making a declaration to Nicodemus; giving him a revelation. Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a member of the Sanhedrin which was a Jewish Supreme court, and the teacher in Israel (John 3:10). An expert in Mosaic Jurisprudence. He believed he could get to heaven by the deeds of the law, and their oral traditions (Matt 15:3,6).

Being born again obviously presupposes prior birth. In our case natural birth. In John 3:3,7-8 Jesus tells Nicodemus he must be born from again (literally being born from above) in order to even see the kingdom of God. We all have had a physical birth which we had nothing to do with. Our spiritual birth is the same way – we have nothing to do with it. In other words, there are no steps to becoming born again. Rather, believing on what Jesus Christ did for our sins proves we have been born anew (I John 5:1a). Being born again is something that God does to and for us. God is the one that has to bring us from spiritual death to spiritual life in order for us to be born again. That is why the analogy of birth is used by Jesus. He is comparing natural birth to spiritual birth to Nicodemus directly, and by extension He is talking to all who reads these powerful words.

Scholars call being born again regeneration. There are several passages that describe regeneration.

“And you He made alive who were dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph 2:1,4-5).

“And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him having forgiven you all trespasses” (Col 2:13).

“Since you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable through the living word of God”(I Peter 1:23).

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (italics mine), (I Peter 1:3).

All of these verses speak of the new birth believers have in Christ.

None one can cause themselves to be born. A power outside of us has to cause that to occur; that cause is Almighty God The confession of faith proves one has been born again or regenerated – experience new birth.

The latter proves the former has occurred.[1]

Just like Lazarus was brought back to life through the power of Jesus’ words in John 11:43, we too also by the power of God’s word are brought back from spiritual death to experience brand new life in Christ.

The Word of God as Paul said is the power of God unto salvation to anyone who believes (Gal 1:16a).

In the final analysis, being born again is a divine choice that God makes alone. Anyone that God confers this blessing upon most assuredly is saved.[2]

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[1] What I mean is that when a person believes in the completed work of Jesus Christ, it proves they have been

Born again.

[2] Being born again never precludes the person repenting of sin, and trusting in Jesus for their salvation. Repentance and belief is an act of the human will. No one can be saved without these two gifts from God.

Apostles and Prophets Part I

Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone.

-Ephesians 2:20

Let’s define the apostle, and what was qualified to be one. The Greek word is apóstolos; means one sent forth. A compound word. Apo means “from”, and stello, “to send” .

Jesus is called the Apostle and High Priest of our confession (Heb 3:1). Why was Jesus called an Apostle? Because He was sent to the earth by God the Father (John 3:17,34; 5:36-38;6:38-40;8:42;17:3).

The twelve that Jesus handpicked were apostles along with the apostle Paul whom He chose after He ascended into heaven (Matt 10:1-4;Mark 6:7; Luke 9:6; Acts 9:15).

There were others that were called apostles such as: Barnabas (Acts 14:4, 14), Epaphroditus (Phil 2:25), and others  messengers/apostles of the churches that were not mentioned by name (2 Cor 8:23).

                                                               What qualified one to be an Apostle?

1.       They were chosen by Jesus Christ himself; meaning Jesus did not just speak to them, they      saw the Lord bodily (Matt 10:1-4;Mark 6:7; Luke 9:6; Acts 9:15)

2.       They were eyewitnesses to Jesus’ resurrection (I Cor 15:5-7)

3.       All of them were Hebrews

4.       All of them were men

5.       Had the ability to perform signs, wonders (miracles) & healings (Acts 2:43; 5:12,16; 2 Cor 12:12)

6.  Were the conduits of direct new revelation from God which they transcribed into holy scripture (2 Pet 1:21; 3:16)

7.      They were taught directly by Jesus Christ (Gal 1:12; I Cor 15:3)

The exact power Jesus possessed the apostles had. The purpose for the ability was for them to perform miraculous deeds which  authenticated their office, and the message they preached.

The other men who were called apostles were messengers in a general sense; meaning they were not chosen directly by Jesus, and did not possess the authority the original apostles did.

There are many in the church that believe that the office of the apostle exist today and that they can perform miraculous signs and wonders like healing the sick or the casting out demons. The text that they will cite is Mark 16:17-18 where it says, and these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink and deadly poison it will not hurt them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.[i]

Also very important to note is the word believe in vs. 16-17 of Mark is what is called the aorist tense meaning the text is making reference strictly to belief of the apostles of that time, not to those who would believe later. They (the apostles) are the ones that would  be given these supernatural abilities and some of their associates such as Stephen and Philip. These men  assisted the apostles in ministry. These are also men the apostles laid their hands on which gave them the ability to do what the original apostles did – preach the gospel with miraculous signs following (Acts 6:6-8; 8:6-8).Think about, if every Christian could do the miraculous how could the apostles be identified as God’s special messengers? If there are apostles today, then we are still at the foundation of the church 2,000 years later (Eph 2:20).  Those who had the ability to cast out demons, heal the sick, be bitten by poisonous snakes and not be harmed (Acts 28:3-6), speak with new tongues the writer believes was regulated to the apostolic era. It was a time of transition from the focus being strictly on Israel on to the church. The Jews not being forgotten by God, have been temporarily set aside due to unbelief until the time of the end (Read Romans 11 for a clear explanation of the current state of the Jews).

In addition we see the importance of the apostle’s authority when it came to preaching of the gospel to the Jews bitter enemies, the Samaritans. When Philip preached the gospel to the them, many believed on Jesus and were baptized. But, not until Peter and John arrived did the Holy Spirit fall on them and some supernatural way when they laid their hands on them (Acts 8:18). The text does not say how the Holy Spirit fell, but He did. The reason Peter and John had to be there was so that they could witness the actual conversion of the Samaritans that believed otherwise there would have been no reason to believe they had actually received Christ.

Peter was the one that healed both Aeneas and Dorcas (Acts 9:34, 40-41). Acts 5:12a says, many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles (italics mine).

Scripture says that the sick were laid out in the streets so that Peter’s shadow could fall on them so that they could be healed and they were (Acts 5:15-16).

Scripture also tells us that God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul (italics mine), so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them (Acts 19:11-12).

It would be safe to say that there isn’t a person alive that has this type of power. For if they did, I wish they would use it to heal the sick, diseased, raise the dead, etc.

So, the gift of apostle is operational today; those that are missionaries and plant churches. Remember definition of the apostle means one that is sent – a messenger. But, the office of apostle proper was regulated to those chosen by Jesus Christ Himself. The office no longer exists. It went away once the last apostle died which history tells us was John.

Those who claim the office of apostle today do not have it for they cannot meet the above criteria. There are those that are genuine Christians but are not apostles as some claim they are. There are also many that claim that office, and our false apostles (2 Cor 11:13; Rev 2:2).

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[i] Mark 16:9-20 does not appear in all Greek manuscripts

Apostles and Prophets - Part II

The Greek word for prophet is prophētēs means one speaks forth or openly. Another Greek term is prophēteia which means speaking forth the mind and counsel of God. The prefix pro means “forth”, and phēmi,, to speak. In the N.T. we are talking about the prophet as an office and a gift in the church.

The role of the prophet in the church was to exhort, edify, and comfort those in the body by speaking God’s revealed word to the congregation. Whatever prophet was speaking was to be judged by the other prophets in the assembly. Paul instructed that two or three prophets were allowed to speak in a worship service (I Cor 14:29).  The prophet along with the apostle received the mystery revelation of the church according to Eph 3:5.

The prophet along with apostle were the foundations of the church (Eph 2:20). The specific role of the prophet was more pronounced in the O.T. than in the new. The main prophet during the time of Christ was John the Baptist who was the forerunner of Jesus; preparing the way for the Messiah (Matt 3:1-6).

John’s prophetic word was a contemporary prophetic word. John stated, I baptize with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matt 3:11).

Of course this prophecy became true on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was sent to those first believers in Acts 2.

The prophet was the direct mouthpiece of God. Everything they said was 100% true for they were speaking God’s words, not their own. A clear example of this is the commission of Jeremiah to prophetic ministry: God told Jeremiah, I have put my words (italics mine) in your mouth (Jer 1:9b).

So when we read the phrase, “the word of the Lord came to me saying”, that is the Lord speaking through the prophet. And when the Lord spoke to the man of God in those days, the words were recorded as holy scripture. We have to remember that during  the time of Old and New Covenants, scripture was in the process of being written, so the way that God transmitted His word to man was through direct revelation. God spoke, and man wrote it down. The prophets and writers of scripture only wrote what thus saith the Lord, nothing more. That is why we can trust the biblical record for these are the actual words of God.

Remember what Paul said in I Cor 14:37, If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.

Paul was not acting on his own authority but only on his God given authority as an apostle of Jesus Christ.

                                                  Are there any prophets today?

When we consider that scripture is complete; meaning God’s revelation is finished, it would be safe to say there is no longer a need for the prophet. When prophets spoke it was actually God speaking through them. These words were revelatory which comprised the words that are now in our Bibles. Since no books have been added to the Bible since the last recorded book, the book of Revelation by the apostle John, we know God’s prophetic word is finished and there is not a need for anymore prophets. The prophetic office and gift is no more. What we are dealing with now are false prophets which scripture clearly tells us would rear their ugly heads in the last days (Matt 7:15; 24:11;2 Peter 2:1; I John 4:1). What is a false prophet? One that claims to speak on behalf of God, but what he declares does not come to pass. God has made it clear that when one speaks falsely in His name, He has not commissioned that person, and they are worthy of death (Deut 18:2-22).[1]

So again, are there any prophets today? No. Why? Because when the Canon (the scripture) was complete, the prophetic office ceased.  Think about it, if people are still getting words from the Lord like the apostles and prophets of old did, then there is ongoing revelation, and  the Bible is not complete.

Here are three severe warnings regarding those who would tamper with Holy Scripture:

1) Proverbs 30:6, add not to His word lest He (God) reprove you and you be found a liar.

2) Galatians 1:8-9, but if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

3) Revelation 22:18-19, John the apostle speaking, I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them (emphasis added), God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life, and in the holy city which are described in this book.

                                 A personal assessment of today’s “Prophets”

From the scriptures, and books I have read and messages I have heard, today’s “prophets” are not from God. Why do I say this? For several reasons:

a.       Their “prophecies” are vague, generalities not detailed like the O.T. prophets (Read Isaiah 45 where the Prophet mentions King Cyrus by name before he is even born. He also explains what his role will be as king of Persia).  The modern prophet will use terms like, “the Lord told me to tell you”, or  “I have a word from the Lord for you”, followed by some re-hashed language they heard from somebody else. For instance they will say things like, “the Lord is going to increase your life with abundant riches, or they may say things like the Lord is sending you favor on your job”[i], or people say things like, “someone is being healed of cancer right now!” Well, if that person were a true prophet of God, God would specifically tell them who that someone(s) is that’s being healed of cancer. At no time do we read in scripture where Jesus or the apostles would just blurt out and say, “someone is being healed right now” arbitrarily. No. Rather they would heal someone on the spot, and the healing would be instantaneous and permanent.

a1. What these “prophets” are doing today is more of an encouraging element, its not direct revelation from God. When the prophets spoke, it was to the nation Israel, to kings, and foreign nations. They spoke about the nation’s rebellion toward God an impending judgment. They confronted sin, and predicted Israel’s glorious future, and the coming of the Messiah. They spoke predictive judgments of doom against Israel’s and ultimately God’s enemies. Their oracles were specific, detailed regarding the time in which they lived, and of the future. It was foretelling; it had a specific predictive element which came to pass exactly as they declared it because it was the word of the Lord. God does not now have lower-level-prophets who can give prophetic words that could or could not come to pass.

b.      There is a group  called the “Kansas City Prophets” who will admit that some of their prophecies are wrong. This proves they are false prophets (just look up Kansas City Prophets on the internet. You can also search the names of Paul Cain, Mike Bickle, Bob Jones who make up that heretical group).

c.       If there are prophets today receiving direct revelation from God, who is judging to see if their prophecies are true (I Cor 14:29)? If these are indeed direct revelations, why aren’t these words codified in holy scripture? Is the word of the Lord they are receiving less than the word of the holy apostles and prophets of old? Why would God cheapen the quality of His revelation to accommodate these supposed “new jack” prophets?

      

c1. The answer is obvious. They are not prophets of God; they are self-made prophets.  What they are speaking is nothing more than modern oral tradition. Majority of what we are hearing are flat out lies. Since its not important enough to be included in the canon, then its not authentic revelation.  

Be careful of the one who says, “the Lord told me, or the Holy Spirit told me…”

d.      God will not commission someone whom He has not cleansed and sanctified (set apart)for ministry (Isa 6; Jeremiah 1). There have been many that claim the sacred office of Prophet that have lived immoral lives. The men that served as prophets in the Bible were holy men who lived uncompromisingly righteous in the face of persecution and death. While everyone was living ungodly, they were speaking the word of the Lord against the rebellion of their day. Look at a modern “prophet’s” life to see if they are living a life of godliness. And even if they are, it does not matter. As I mentioned earlier there is no need today for the prophetic office.

e.      The scripture says in Hebrews 1:1-2, long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days (italics mine), He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things through whom also He created the world.

e1.   Since God is now communicating to us by Jesus Christ, why would God revert back to given us His word through the prophets again? Jesus is God incarnate. He’s greater than all the prophets. As a matter of fact, the prophets predicted his first and second comings. Jesus is the consummation, the fulfillment of all the prophets holy predictions. Christ is the living manifestation of all the oracles of the seers of the O.T.  Christ is the living word, the logos. He is the one that speaks to us now. We do not need a prophet to declare the word to us. We have God’s revelation  in its completed form. It is the word of God that we now hold in our hands. God’s revelation is closed.

e2. Remember the words of Matthew when Jesus was on the Mountain of Transfiguration and Moses and Elijah appeared with Him. God the Father declared, this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased; listen to Him. Moses and Elijah represent the law and prophets respectively, yet the Father commanded those that saw this magnificent sight (Peter, James, and John), to listen to Jesus for He is greater than Moses and Elijah. Jesus fulfilled all the law and prophets (Matt 17:1-5).

f.        

I     Corinthians 4:6 commands us not to go beyond what is written. That command is self explanatory. God’s written word is our final authority. These are the words that God literally breathed out of His mouth to the apostles and prophets which they in turn transmitted these truths into Holy Writ. These are the commands we are to live by. Not some modern “prophecy” from God. Those whom the Lord called to these specific offices are the ones that He breathed His word directly into; not to every believer. That was never God’s intent.  Only a few were direct conduits of God’s revelation (Moses, Joshua, the Judges, David, Ezra, Nehemiah, the Prophets, Apostles).

Concluding, we no longer need a modern prophetic word. For the words of the prophets pointed to Jesus Christ. God is indeed speaking to people today through the written prophetic word which is the word of our Lord and Savior.

God is always speaking  to us through scripture. Are we opening it and listening to His truth, or are we listening to a false word by some modern false prophet so we can get a “break through”?

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[1] The penalty for speaking falsely in the name of the Lord during the

Time of the Mosaic law was death. God did not tolerate nor does He now

Permit  Someone speaking falsely in his name

[i] We all receive favor on our jobs. By virtue of the fact that we are

There is favor and a blessing from God. No word of “knowledge” or

“wisdom” from some self-proclaimed prophet need to tell us that