I didn't listen to this lesson until an hour and a half ago. It was so timely. So timely, that I went down, decorated the tree and came back. But it's more Adam Kaloostian on URC learning.org. He wraps up the right preaching of the word by talking about the right preaching of the word.
1. What are the links in the golden evangelistic chain of Romans 10:12-17? I love this passage. Along with Hebrews 10, Romans 10 is starting to be my answer to everything. First, people need to be saved. How are they saved? They believe in Jesus. How do they believe in Jesus? They hear Christ's voice. How do they hear Christ's voice? A preacher. Where do they get a preacher? He has to be sent. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing comes by the Word of Christ.
2. What are some other passages that tell us preaching is a special, Spirit-filled means of grace? 1 Timothy 4:16 -- Paul tells Timothy that preaching ensures salvation for himself and for those who hear him. 1 Peter 1:10, Peter starts with Old Testament prophets who would preach Christ. Moving to verse 12, he talks about preachers who now know the complete Gospel. Grace and salvation comes because preachers preach the Gospel through the Holy Spirit.
3. For this question, Adam had a quotation from Henrich Bullinger which I won't quote in full. The first line says, "The preaching of the word of God is the word of God." Big Amen. Hearing comes from the Words of Christ which are our Bible. If we don't preach from the Bible on Sunday, we are failing at our job. So, here is Adam's question:
What are some ways in which or places where people today may be tempted to expect God or to speak aside from the God-ordained means of grace?
Self-proclaimed pastors/bishops/apostles who are untrained or self-taught, unexamined by elders to see if God really called them, and some of them even get famous. When Jesus was with his disciples, he trained them for three years. This is why our seminaries take three years. This is why you need to be educated and know what the Bible actually says and know church history and God's covenant plan so that you suddenly don't start preaching dispensationalism which somehow gives Jews a different ending than us, forgetting that we were grafted into Israel.
Not only is there false teacing, people talk about their opinions, how to live your life, adding to the WOG.
The only way to know what Christ is saying is in the Bible. So many people go about thinking they need what Christ doesn't provide. If we needed it, Christ would provide it, and he has given us everything we need in his Scriptures and in his sacrifice on the cross and resurrection from the dead. You need his Law, what Scripture demands, his Gospel, and the Holy Spirit's leading. Don't let some tyrant preacher lead your life and tell you what to do in a system of legalism. Get both the Law and the Gospel from Scripture, checking what the preacher says. Don't accept any "truths" not revealed in the WOG.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
Christmas has started
While the Holidays started shortly before Halloween, I've finally started Christmas. Last Wednesday with the kids, we painted the set to our play. And then we practiced, then painted a nativity set. Sunday we used the nativity set for a Christmas skit that was in my lessons. We just sat and read it readers' theater. When we needed an angel or a shepherd, we'd put them in the center of the table and sang some songs. It was really nice.
The Herndons were with their maternal grandparents. I've been so used to seeing them every week. There's always such a void without them. I think when I'm done listening to the first RC Sproul disc that I got in the mail, I may loan it to Aubrie for personal Sunday School. They're about Christmas and they are quite heart-warming. RC has such a good radio voice. It sounds like the narrator on A Christmas Story. Just warm, joyful, a voice that feels like family. And his Christmas messages are such a way that you feel like you're already at a Christmas Eve service.
I sang a song yesterday. The "Covenant Song" by Caedmon's Call. I thought it was a good culmination to our semester with the Patriarchs. Got many compliments. I was real proud of Madison because she was really good with the 6-year-old who is really willful. She was such a help.
Now, I get ready for Thanksgiving and the end of my semester at Clayton.
The Herndons were with their maternal grandparents. I've been so used to seeing them every week. There's always such a void without them. I think when I'm done listening to the first RC Sproul disc that I got in the mail, I may loan it to Aubrie for personal Sunday School. They're about Christmas and they are quite heart-warming. RC has such a good radio voice. It sounds like the narrator on A Christmas Story. Just warm, joyful, a voice that feels like family. And his Christmas messages are such a way that you feel like you're already at a Christmas Eve service.
I sang a song yesterday. The "Covenant Song" by Caedmon's Call. I thought it was a good culmination to our semester with the Patriarchs. Got many compliments. I was real proud of Madison because she was really good with the 6-year-old who is really willful. She was such a help.
Now, I get ready for Thanksgiving and the end of my semester at Clayton.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Listening to Records: Beautiful Letdown
Disc 4 from Switchfoot. This is the record that really switched them over to secular radio.
I remember hearing "Meant to Live" on secular radio, on TV, on anti-drug PSAs, and they actually sold out on this record. It's like, they weren't the two brothers and drummer, they now had Jerome Fontamillas on bass adding electricity and more heavier rock sounds, and while this album is still full of obvious Gospel references, this was when they started compromising with the world and stopped taking showers.
Even the Fish is cool enough to play this song.
I love this song. It has a superb beat, you can dance to it, and it's true, we want to be more than fine.
Here's a classic Switchfoot song. "We've been blowing up, we're the issue." It's like a mix of old and new Switchfoot.
Here it is again. I Dare You to Move. It was on Learning to Breathe, it was on Walk to Remember, and now it gets an encore on this album but with a more grungier feel.
I wish Switchfoot could be this blatantly Christian today. "I've got my hand in redemption's side." This would be the album where they would lure people in with "Meant to Live" and then they'd hear this song and think of going to church. But the problem is, they never mention Jesus by name and unless God awakens you, we Christians have to be specific about our message. Of course, these guys were making music, not necessarily preaching, which is way more authentic than most Christian radio can boast.
I used to skip this song when I played this album. The title track that I used to think was slow and dragged on. Today, I think I understand it. Unless you rely on the Lord for your life and happiness, you're going to be beautifully let down by your friends, even the good ones, and the famous preachers and everybody because we all sin.
This song makes me happy. So many pop culture references and they even refer to their first album with "Life is still more than girls."
Another Christian song that is obviously Christian to me, but since they don't necessarily mention Jesus could easily be a love song. But I know these guys are straight and they are referring to a "He." This is so obviously about the Holy Spirit, and I love this song.
"If we're adding to the noise, turn off this song." This reminds me of the song by 2nd Chapter of Acts called "Room Noise" but way rockier. I did turn of Switchfoot for a good long time because they were so weak about the relationship to the Lord. But now, they're the only band I can relate to because they truly rock, they have honest lyrics, and they don't have any songs that the label made them play because they needed something grandma could listen to.
The best song on the album. Very obviously Christian and probably the last truly obviously Christian song they did. I wish Jon would get back into that, although from experience, I do know that it is hard to just crank out songs at will. You have to feel it. And even if you can crank out lyrics, I'm fresh out of tunes. And I'm done for tonight.
I remember hearing "Meant to Live" on secular radio, on TV, on anti-drug PSAs, and they actually sold out on this record. It's like, they weren't the two brothers and drummer, they now had Jerome Fontamillas on bass adding electricity and more heavier rock sounds, and while this album is still full of obvious Gospel references, this was when they started compromising with the world and stopped taking showers.
Even the Fish is cool enough to play this song.
I love this song. It has a superb beat, you can dance to it, and it's true, we want to be more than fine.
Here's a classic Switchfoot song. "We've been blowing up, we're the issue." It's like a mix of old and new Switchfoot.
Here it is again. I Dare You to Move. It was on Learning to Breathe, it was on Walk to Remember, and now it gets an encore on this album but with a more grungier feel.
I wish Switchfoot could be this blatantly Christian today. "I've got my hand in redemption's side." This would be the album where they would lure people in with "Meant to Live" and then they'd hear this song and think of going to church. But the problem is, they never mention Jesus by name and unless God awakens you, we Christians have to be specific about our message. Of course, these guys were making music, not necessarily preaching, which is way more authentic than most Christian radio can boast.
I used to skip this song when I played this album. The title track that I used to think was slow and dragged on. Today, I think I understand it. Unless you rely on the Lord for your life and happiness, you're going to be beautifully let down by your friends, even the good ones, and the famous preachers and everybody because we all sin.
This song makes me happy. So many pop culture references and they even refer to their first album with "Life is still more than girls."
Another Christian song that is obviously Christian to me, but since they don't necessarily mention Jesus could easily be a love song. But I know these guys are straight and they are referring to a "He." This is so obviously about the Holy Spirit, and I love this song.
"If we're adding to the noise, turn off this song." This reminds me of the song by 2nd Chapter of Acts called "Room Noise" but way rockier. I did turn of Switchfoot for a good long time because they were so weak about the relationship to the Lord. But now, they're the only band I can relate to because they truly rock, they have honest lyrics, and they don't have any songs that the label made them play because they needed something grandma could listen to.
The best song on the album. Very obviously Christian and probably the last truly obviously Christian song they did. I wish Jon would get back into that, although from experience, I do know that it is hard to just crank out songs at will. You have to feel it. And even if you can crank out lyrics, I'm fresh out of tunes. And I'm done for tonight.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
It May Be Midnight, But It's Still Friday! Here are the Facts
As much as I appreciate Ray Comfort's show with Tony Miano, On the Box, and all the helpful evangelism tips I have picked up, Ray has got to start realizing that not everyone is called to evangelize in the same way. I'm glad all these guys can wander Hollywood and just walk up to people and wheedle them into thinking of Jesus. I'm glad that they admit that only the Holy Spirit can save them and that we should never give them the Sinner's Prayer or tell them to let Jesus into their hearts. They really do present bad news so that the good news can be so much better. But I personally am not called to that kind of tactic.
I must admit that I have been more bold lately. I feel like I'm more gentle with the girls at Refuge, as if they were children almost.
Even at the law office I can talk about what I do at church and even at Refuge, though I haven't got to the point where I can openly talk theology. I don't know if I ever will there. For now I just seek work experience and hope to be paid someday.
Should I be hesitant about meeting cute guys on the elevator in downtown Atlanta who ride down to the street level floor with me from the 19th floor? I don't know him at all and he could well be a smoker, a pervert, a sleaze bag, or a grease monkey. But he was cute and we did strike up a small chat about it being the weekend and how he still has more work but that I was free to go. Oh well, we'll see.
I'm going to a birthday party for one of my Trinity kids! Yay! I can't wait. We will celebrate her turning 9 on the first Sunday of Advent, but tomorrow as we'll probably not see her through Thanksgiving.
I must admit that I have been more bold lately. I feel like I'm more gentle with the girls at Refuge, as if they were children almost.
Even at the law office I can talk about what I do at church and even at Refuge, though I haven't got to the point where I can openly talk theology. I don't know if I ever will there. For now I just seek work experience and hope to be paid someday.
Should I be hesitant about meeting cute guys on the elevator in downtown Atlanta who ride down to the street level floor with me from the 19th floor? I don't know him at all and he could well be a smoker, a pervert, a sleaze bag, or a grease monkey. But he was cute and we did strike up a small chat about it being the weekend and how he still has more work but that I was free to go. Oh well, we'll see.
I'm going to a birthday party for one of my Trinity kids! Yay! I can't wait. We will celebrate her turning 9 on the first Sunday of Advent, but tomorrow as we'll probably not see her through Thanksgiving.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Quiz Me
Sung to the tune of "Kiss Me" by Sixpence None the Richer
Quiz me, out of the bearded barley
Nightly beside the laptop screen
Bring, bring, bring your Spanish book
I'll bring my cards and you'll bring your Nook
Oh, oh, quiz me outside the campus Starbucks
Help me inside the freezing library
Open up your book, take in a look and make the dust moths dance
Cell phone sparkling. So quiz me.
Quiz me, out of the bearded barley
Nightly beside the laptop screen
Bring, bring, bring your Spanish book
I'll bring my cards and you'll bring your Nook
Oh, oh, quiz me outside the campus Starbucks
Help me inside the freezing library
Open up your book, take in a look and make the dust moths dance
Cell phone sparkling. So quiz me.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Why I believe
Recently, I listened to this series on Richard Dawkins by Sinners and Saints Radio. It starts here. In the first episode, they mention how in some places, Dawkins is right. Christians often do contribute to unbelief of non-believers because so many of them live as they don't believe in God anyway. They go to church and believe without really knowing why they believe and then go off and live like the rest of the world. Now, folks like that can be found in Georgia, the Bible Belt, and often they aren't Christians, it's just that churches don't really preach the true Gospel anymore. So, it challenged me to try to remember why I believe in Jesus as my only Savior.
I don't really remember my conversion as I was raised in the faith. All I know is when I was age 3, I had a baby sister that died, and for the longest time I was very depressed and afraid of death. I was either 6 or 7 when we were watching some movie about David at church, mom mentioned something about heaven, and I was surprised that it was real! Heaven and God are both real, so I won't be dead forever, and I'll be alive again with God. So I believed.
I was 11. 5th grade and had just ended, 6th grade had just started, and Dad had gone to a Promise Keeper's conference. Dad came home with Christian music, which was great because I was listening to the radio a lot and always thought that rock music sounded good but all of it was nasty and anti-Christian. I was so happy for there to finally be Christian rock music. I listened to folks like Jars of Clay, DC Talk, PFR, and my faith grew that summer. Then, in 6th grade, at church, Martha Russell headed up a confirmation class for 6th graders, and we read through the Gospel of John. We had a lock-in one night where we read the whole book, and when I got home, I kept re-reading it and started realizing that God was speaking through it. So that further confirmed that God was real and it was that year I dedicated my whole life to Christ. I don't remember what day it was, but I know it was that year.
8th grade, I had a best friend. I finally had a friend who listened to Christian music and who took my side when we discussed at lunch how we know God exists, why is homosexuality wrong, why Ouija boards are wrong, etc. For the latter two, I had to get out the Bible to show them, but then they still didn't believe, and even questioned how we know God exists. Jennifer is the only one who took my side.
Somehow, between 8th and 9th grade, Jennifer made a friend with an atheist new ager named Katie. Also, she joined the marching band and ended up hanging out with only them and not inviting me to stuff. Lots of bad music was around then, like Marilyn Manson, Korn, Limp Bizkit, etc. Pretty soon, I heard Jennifer discussing Papa Roach. I said I don't like them. She said, "if you don't like them, don't listen to them." That was the moment I realized she wasn't really a Christian anymore. I tried to stay friends with her, but then she went of to see Dinosaur and didn't invite me, and then I tried to invite her to something but she wouldn't reply and then had some lame excuse. That was when I officially decided she wasn't my friend. This really shook me. I had always been a loner, and when I finally found a friend, I lost her. Ultimately, it was because I was obsessed and God knew she was replacing him, and even know I don't think I could be the friend with her that I once was, but we have reconciled.
College started. I went to Trevecca Nazarene University because it had a music school, and it was Christian. The first two years, it definitely was. Now I look back and realize, even then it wasn't really a Christian school. But that's neither here nor there. I was looking forward to starting over and making new friends. I had a roommate named Sarah. We hung out everywhere together. I finally found a best friend. Then, in less than 3 months, she dropped the bomb and decided we hang out too much and that she should find another roommate. I was devastated. It was so depressed that even my new roommate eventually moved on because I still wanted to hang with Sarah.
Also, Trevecca was a strict school. I absolutely agree with separate dorms for genders. I even agree about no purpling in the dorms. Curfews are very necessary. But because of that, there was a lot of passion at Trevecca. Not only was there heterosexual passion, there was gay passion under the surface of that. Somehow, I did not come out of that unscathed. I still suffer same sex attraction, though I never gave into it and will never come out because I love God more. But I am both perverted in mind and utterly adulterous even though I'm a virgin. But honestly, I think everyone in my generation is because of the sex media that's rammed down our throats.
2006 was the best year of my life. I finally got the hang of not being obsessed with my friends and finally made friends that I still talk to. One of them if Buffy. I talked to her last week and was supposed to this week but was so busy I forgot. I also had a friend named Hunter and started going to church with him, immediately helping with the youth group. It was the summer of 2006 when I got the call to go into youth ministry and signed up for seminary at Erskine, an ARP school in South Carolina. It was after that calling I got my first boyfriend, Chris. We made out for three months. He was goth, he listened to Marilyn Manson, and NIN, and all kinds of terrible music and even got me listening to it. I came so close to losing my virginity that at this point, the only reason I'm still a virgin is because I never took off my clothes and had sex. God really watched out for me, and I was resolved to stick with him. Also, my relationship with my mom had deteriorated whereas before, she was always my best friend. I finally broke up with Chris when I came back from Christmas break and finished up the year with the kids' group at the Nazarene church awaiting my entrance back into the Presbyterian world.
I must go on now, but I will continue this. Suffice it to say, the only thing that kept my faith alive during those years was my confidence that God is the ultimate sovereign, very real, and that is words in the Bible are the only authority and all else must measure up to them.
I don't really remember my conversion as I was raised in the faith. All I know is when I was age 3, I had a baby sister that died, and for the longest time I was very depressed and afraid of death. I was either 6 or 7 when we were watching some movie about David at church, mom mentioned something about heaven, and I was surprised that it was real! Heaven and God are both real, so I won't be dead forever, and I'll be alive again with God. So I believed.
I was 11. 5th grade and had just ended, 6th grade had just started, and Dad had gone to a Promise Keeper's conference. Dad came home with Christian music, which was great because I was listening to the radio a lot and always thought that rock music sounded good but all of it was nasty and anti-Christian. I was so happy for there to finally be Christian rock music. I listened to folks like Jars of Clay, DC Talk, PFR, and my faith grew that summer. Then, in 6th grade, at church, Martha Russell headed up a confirmation class for 6th graders, and we read through the Gospel of John. We had a lock-in one night where we read the whole book, and when I got home, I kept re-reading it and started realizing that God was speaking through it. So that further confirmed that God was real and it was that year I dedicated my whole life to Christ. I don't remember what day it was, but I know it was that year.
8th grade, I had a best friend. I finally had a friend who listened to Christian music and who took my side when we discussed at lunch how we know God exists, why is homosexuality wrong, why Ouija boards are wrong, etc. For the latter two, I had to get out the Bible to show them, but then they still didn't believe, and even questioned how we know God exists. Jennifer is the only one who took my side.
Somehow, between 8th and 9th grade, Jennifer made a friend with an atheist new ager named Katie. Also, she joined the marching band and ended up hanging out with only them and not inviting me to stuff. Lots of bad music was around then, like Marilyn Manson, Korn, Limp Bizkit, etc. Pretty soon, I heard Jennifer discussing Papa Roach. I said I don't like them. She said, "if you don't like them, don't listen to them." That was the moment I realized she wasn't really a Christian anymore. I tried to stay friends with her, but then she went of to see Dinosaur and didn't invite me, and then I tried to invite her to something but she wouldn't reply and then had some lame excuse. That was when I officially decided she wasn't my friend. This really shook me. I had always been a loner, and when I finally found a friend, I lost her. Ultimately, it was because I was obsessed and God knew she was replacing him, and even know I don't think I could be the friend with her that I once was, but we have reconciled.
College started. I went to Trevecca Nazarene University because it had a music school, and it was Christian. The first two years, it definitely was. Now I look back and realize, even then it wasn't really a Christian school. But that's neither here nor there. I was looking forward to starting over and making new friends. I had a roommate named Sarah. We hung out everywhere together. I finally found a best friend. Then, in less than 3 months, she dropped the bomb and decided we hang out too much and that she should find another roommate. I was devastated. It was so depressed that even my new roommate eventually moved on because I still wanted to hang with Sarah.
Also, Trevecca was a strict school. I absolutely agree with separate dorms for genders. I even agree about no purpling in the dorms. Curfews are very necessary. But because of that, there was a lot of passion at Trevecca. Not only was there heterosexual passion, there was gay passion under the surface of that. Somehow, I did not come out of that unscathed. I still suffer same sex attraction, though I never gave into it and will never come out because I love God more. But I am both perverted in mind and utterly adulterous even though I'm a virgin. But honestly, I think everyone in my generation is because of the sex media that's rammed down our throats.
2006 was the best year of my life. I finally got the hang of not being obsessed with my friends and finally made friends that I still talk to. One of them if Buffy. I talked to her last week and was supposed to this week but was so busy I forgot. I also had a friend named Hunter and started going to church with him, immediately helping with the youth group. It was the summer of 2006 when I got the call to go into youth ministry and signed up for seminary at Erskine, an ARP school in South Carolina. It was after that calling I got my first boyfriend, Chris. We made out for three months. He was goth, he listened to Marilyn Manson, and NIN, and all kinds of terrible music and even got me listening to it. I came so close to losing my virginity that at this point, the only reason I'm still a virgin is because I never took off my clothes and had sex. God really watched out for me, and I was resolved to stick with him. Also, my relationship with my mom had deteriorated whereas before, she was always my best friend. I finally broke up with Chris when I came back from Christmas break and finished up the year with the kids' group at the Nazarene church awaiting my entrance back into the Presbyterian world.
I must go on now, but I will continue this. Suffice it to say, the only thing that kept my faith alive during those years was my confidence that God is the ultimate sovereign, very real, and that is words in the Bible are the only authority and all else must measure up to them.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Reformed Theology: the P Word
In the last two weeks we saw the sorrow of total depravity and the joy of the Christ's penal substitutionary atonement. This week, we will see the glue between those two concepts: Predestination. Again, this is from the series by Adam Kaloostian at URCLearning.org.
1. Fill in the acronym TULIP, and notes some of the significant Bible passages that teach these truths.
Total Depravity: Ephesians 2:1, you were dead in your sin and by nature a child of wrath. Genesis 6:6, their thoughts were only evil all the time. Romans 8:6, the mind of the sinful man is death.
Unconditional Election: It has nothing to do with our worthiness. Acts 13:48, and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. Ephesians 1:11-12, in love he predestined you.
Limited Atonement. This is the last one that I accepted. I had so much trouble with this petal and still do, but ultimately, it is true and this is why I find so much security in Reformed faith. But let's break this one down:
a. Christ sacrificed is life on the cross to take the punishment of his chosen.
b. Because Christ died for them, those saved by his death on the cross will never have to be punished in hell.
c. If Christ died for everyone, then there would be no one in hell.
d. We know from the Bible that people are going to go to hell.
e. It would not make sense to send someone to hell if Christ already paid their price.
f. Ergo, Christ did not die for everyone. Only his elect will have their sins atoned.
John 10:24, you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 1 John 2:12, I write to you dear children because your sins have been forgiving [note, he didn't say they need to make a decision or will lose salvation. Their sins are forgiven now.] Ephesians 2:8, for it is by grace you are saved, from faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God.
Irresistible grace -- if God chooses to save you, he will make your dead heart alive. Ezekiel 36:25, I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. Acts 9 -- Paul could no longer resist Jesus and keep persecuting the church. Christ has blinded him, and now Paul surrendered completely.
Perseverance of the saints, my favorite -- He will preserve them by his grace by means of grace in the church. John 6:35, Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." John 6:39, And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. John 6:44, no one comes to me unless the Father draws him.
2. Does this teaching turn people into robots, or entice those who think they are elect to sin all the more, or thwart our EV zeal?
We are not robots. We have responsibility. There is a mystery and paradox: all our days are ordained, yet we still make decisions. I don't feel like I was dragged into my faith against my will. I was nurtured and fall more in love all the time.
No to the second question. If a person truly believes, their response will be thankful, humble obedience.
Yes to Evangelism, and no, the P word does not thwart it. God uses that to reach elect. We must always beg God to have mercy on those we love. I secretly believe that God will save people based on if we loved them, although it is only by Christ's mercy either way. We probably would not love them had God not loved them.
On last common objection: what if I praise God all my life and get to heaven but can't come in because I'm not elect? Answer: it will never happen. The reason you love Christ now is because God has elected you. Those in hell will be in ultimate agony, but they will never be ashamed that they did not accept Christ as Lord. They will never regret it and always wallow in their self-worship despite their endless pain.
But those Christ saved will come to heaven and can be secure in their salvation now.
1. Fill in the acronym TULIP, and notes some of the significant Bible passages that teach these truths.
Total Depravity: Ephesians 2:1, you were dead in your sin and by nature a child of wrath. Genesis 6:6, their thoughts were only evil all the time. Romans 8:6, the mind of the sinful man is death.
Unconditional Election: It has nothing to do with our worthiness. Acts 13:48, and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. Ephesians 1:11-12, in love he predestined you.
Limited Atonement. This is the last one that I accepted. I had so much trouble with this petal and still do, but ultimately, it is true and this is why I find so much security in Reformed faith. But let's break this one down:
a. Christ sacrificed is life on the cross to take the punishment of his chosen.
b. Because Christ died for them, those saved by his death on the cross will never have to be punished in hell.
c. If Christ died for everyone, then there would be no one in hell.
d. We know from the Bible that people are going to go to hell.
e. It would not make sense to send someone to hell if Christ already paid their price.
f. Ergo, Christ did not die for everyone. Only his elect will have their sins atoned.
John 10:24, you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 1 John 2:12, I write to you dear children because your sins have been forgiving [note, he didn't say they need to make a decision or will lose salvation. Their sins are forgiven now.] Ephesians 2:8, for it is by grace you are saved, from faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God.
Irresistible grace -- if God chooses to save you, he will make your dead heart alive. Ezekiel 36:25, I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. Acts 9 -- Paul could no longer resist Jesus and keep persecuting the church. Christ has blinded him, and now Paul surrendered completely.
Perseverance of the saints, my favorite -- He will preserve them by his grace by means of grace in the church. John 6:35, Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." John 6:39, And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. John 6:44, no one comes to me unless the Father draws him.
2. Does this teaching turn people into robots, or entice those who think they are elect to sin all the more, or thwart our EV zeal?
We are not robots. We have responsibility. There is a mystery and paradox: all our days are ordained, yet we still make decisions. I don't feel like I was dragged into my faith against my will. I was nurtured and fall more in love all the time.
No to the second question. If a person truly believes, their response will be thankful, humble obedience.
Yes to Evangelism, and no, the P word does not thwart it. God uses that to reach elect. We must always beg God to have mercy on those we love. I secretly believe that God will save people based on if we loved them, although it is only by Christ's mercy either way. We probably would not love them had God not loved them.
On last common objection: what if I praise God all my life and get to heaven but can't come in because I'm not elect? Answer: it will never happen. The reason you love Christ now is because God has elected you. Those in hell will be in ultimate agony, but they will never be ashamed that they did not accept Christ as Lord. They will never regret it and always wallow in their self-worship despite their endless pain.
But those Christ saved will come to heaven and can be secure in their salvation now.
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