WARNING: THIS POST MAY BE VERY CONFUSING, IF YOU HATE BEING CONFUSED DO NOT READ!!!
On Sunday we began a series in Ephesians. The first chapter deals with election and predestination and it caused some confusion and fear. Partially because it is a debated doctrine and mostly because I sucked at explaining it, got off focus, and tried to explain it too much. So, after a day or two of laying in a dark room, in the fetal position, with emo music on I had to remind myself of the Gospel. It is not based on my abilities but on the grace of Jesus and the work of the Spirit. While I was thinking of the gospel something hit me.(“poop” i mean “poof” sorry, if you where there on sunday you will get it.) So, I took my thumb out of my mouth, got off the floor, turned the light on, switched the music to hip hop and wrote this little rap. (It is not really a rap just some thoughts but i hope it makes some sense.)
God created and established the law and in order to establish the new covenant of grace He did not just abolish it and start over. He worked inside of the law and fulfilled the law by paying the price for the sins that would have not been known except by the law. Therefore he could still be just and the justifier. Showing us that what God creates he works inside of in order to fulfill His sovereign will. Now, thinking of election in light of God’s character, revealed in the gospel, you can see the sovereignty of God and the free will of man seem to contradict each other like the law contradicts grace. God created and established the law as well as the free will of man. In creating free will He did not forfeit His sovereignty. When he created man with free will He chooses to work within the free will that he created to fulfill His sovereign will. A great example of that is how he established the new covenant of grace but remained just by working inside of the law that He established. (Romans 3:26 – It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.) In the same way God through the spirit does a work of sovereignty in salvation and can keep free will in tact by working inside of the free will he created. I think it makes God’s sovereignty even more amazing when you think of how he chooses to accomplish it not by abolishing free will but by staying sovereign inside of the free will that He created. That way He can be just and justifier even in the doctrine of election.
I will try and simplify what is going through my head. God through Jesus stayed all God and became all man. God made a way to through Jesus to be Just and gracious. That same God is all sovereign and makes all the choices but gives man real choices and has figured out a way to be sovereign and through the spirit work in the free will of man to accomplish his sovereign plan.
This may make things more confusing, and if so I am sorry, but it makes some gospel sense to me.
In the next post I will try and answer some questions that where texted in on sunday so check back in but if you have any comments on my thoughts i would love to hear them.
That’s a tough one to preach on…I spoke on irresistible grace, and ended up preaching a basic gospel message. So bravo for making a stab at it! My best example of irresistible grace and election is crude, but guys usually get it: if your standard of beauty (hopefully your wife) stood in front of you naked, and said, “if you want, you can have me.” We were created to desire that, and so of course we are going to take it. Is that against our will-NO! But we will take it. Kind of like irresistible grace, God gave us a will that deeply desires that grace, so when he show it to us, are we gonna accept it- abso-freakin’-lutely. That’s a very summed up version, but I’m on my iPhone…good job bud
Matthew,
I am loving that illustration. That is the best one I have ever heard. I am going to use that. Any dude that reads this is going to understand Irresistible grace! Nice bro. Thanks
Hello Matthew Hanson
being a brother in the Lord I wanted to comment on your example. Although very original, your example could not be futher from what the truth of scripture teaches us, as you said about the wife, here I am if you want me you can have me…..Matthew do you think that Christ has put himself on display and says to men…hey guys here I am, if you want me you can have me… That would put the choice completely on man..Ephes.2:1 says we are dead in trespasses and sin. Romans 3:10-12 there is none righteous, none seek after God, there are none that do good…..Why Matthew…because we are dead in trespasses and sin. Matthew the Gospel of John shows us true irressitable grace. John 6:37-39 All that the father gives me, comes unto me, and John goes on to say that he loses none that the father gives him. John 6:44 no man comes to Father unless the Father who sent me draws him.
Hello again Matthew Hansen
2 Peter 1:3-4 says (his) devine power has (granted) us all things that petain to life and godliness, through the knowlege of (him) who (called) us to (his) own glory and excellence, by which (he) has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the devine nature. Matthew do we become partakers of the devine nature because we choose, absolutely not. It is crystal clear in the word of God in 2 Peter, and even clearer in Ephesians 1 where scripture teaches us, even as (he) has choosen us in him before the foundation of the world, (he) predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ according to (his) will
Hello again Matthew Hansen
When it comes to salvation the scripture is clear that it is Christ and Christ alone that chooses us. Could John 15:16 be any clearer when Christ tells us that we did not chose him but he choose us. Matthew you also stated that God has given us a will that deeply desires his grace…Can you tell me where that is found in the Bible, we know that cant be true because that would be contrary to Romans 3: 10-12 that again says there are none that seek after God, there is none righteous, and ther is none that do good. I share all of this in love and hope this will give you a better understanding of the truth from Gods word. Feel free to email if you or anyone else sees this and would like to discuss this more.
Wow- went from explaining God's grace and sovereignty to a naked wife! lol, strange but good example. I honestly believe that this is probably the most intense thing you could possibly choose to speak on (especially if you chose and not God). But no matter how horrible the explination is or how amazingly simple it's made, it takes the work of the Holy Spirit to make it all make sense anyways and even the bible says some people…just won't get it. I suppose that's okay as long as they believe in the sovereignty of God and know that He is in control therefore we answer to Him, not ourselves or anyone else.
thats fine, check it out and I belive it will go public with no problems