Predestination: Stated and Asserted

Last year two reformed pastors, each with his own flock, told me they were going to preach from texts that required them to introduce the doctrine of predestination. They were both a bit nervous about the outcome. As it turned out, everything went fine for both preachers. To use the words of Jerome Zanchius, both preachers delivered it “as it is delivered in Scripture.” There was no stampede toward the exits and neither were defrocked when it was all over.

Still, I understood their trepidation. Predestination, no matter how clearly found on the pages of the Bible, is one of those doctrines many people love to hate. Nevertheless, we must not shrink back from preaching the whole counsel of God. There is however a right way and a wrong way to go about it. I find the the following quote helpful in this regard.

The Doctrine of Absolute Predestination Stated and Asserted
by Jerome Zanchius, 1560 – 1590

CHAPTER V. SHOWING THAT THE SCRIPTURE DOCTRINE OF PREDESTINATION SHOULD BE OPENLY PREACHED AND INSISTED ON, AND FOR WHAT REASONS.

Upon the whole , it is evident that the doctrine of God’s eternal and unchangeable predestination should neither be wholly suppressed and laid aside, nor yet be confined to the disquisition of the learned and speculative only; but likewise should be publicly taught from the pulpit and the press, that even the meanest of the people may not be ignorant of a truth which reflects such glory on God, and is the very foundation of happiness to man. Let it, however, be preached with judgment and discretion, i.e., delivered by the preacher as it is delivered in Scripture, and no otherwise. By which means, it can neither be abused to licentiousness nor misapprehended to despair, but will eminently conduce to the knowledge, establishment, improvement and comfort of them that hear.

Man In The Mirror

I’m Starting With The Man In
The Mirror
I’m Asking Him To Change
His Ways
And No Message Could Have
Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place
Take A Look At Yourself, And
Then Make A Change

- Michael Jackson, Man In The Mirror

No, I haven’t lost my mind. Regardless of the source, this is good advice. When it comes to the so-called “problem of evil” it’s good advice for all of us – especially when we complain, “Where is God?!?!”

Listen to the following clip of Greg Koukl of Stand To Reason Ministries as he speaks on the problem of evil and you will see what I mean.

Prone To Wander

Yesterday a friend contacted me and said she was sure that she committed the unpardonable sin – blaspheme against the Holy Spirit. As it turns out, she really did no such thing, but she was fearful that God may not forgive her. Looking at a relevant passage of Scripture was just the balm that was needed.

All too often we like sheep go astray, but we have been given a very precious promise:

1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

It is no accident that God has chosen to call us sheep. The behavior of sheep and human beings is similar in many ways as will be seen in further chapters. Our mass mind (or mob instincts), our fears and timidity, our stubbornness and stupidity, our perverse habits are all parallels of profound importance.

Yet despite these adverse characteristics Christ chooses us, buys us, calls us by name, makes us His own and delights in caring for us.

Phillip Keller – A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23, ch. 1, pg. 7

Fishers of Men

While our sovereign Lord elects to salvation those whom He chooses, we must never discount the fact that God uses means to accomplish His will. When it comes to the Great Commission we are God’s means. Jesus said to Peter & Andrew:

Mat 4:19 . . . Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

This morning at Pilgrim Church here in Philadelphia, we heard some profound advice for all fishers of men. Here is one of those one liners that really makes you sit up and take notice.

“To preach the Gospel effectively you must have Christ as the joy of your heart, the center of your life, and the motivation for all that you do.”

 - Dr. William Krispin, pastor & Executive Director, CityNet Ministries

You can hear some of Dr. Krispin’s sermons on urban missions on Sermon Audio.

One Body, Many Parts, Members Together

Vision for the City – Part 1

Vision for the City – Part 2

Little Churches

Earlier today I listened to an audio book version of A Farewell Sermon by Jonathan Edwards (1703 – 1758). The following quote particularly stood out as I was listening. Later, as I thought about Edward’s words, one of the Biblical qualifications for aspiring elders came to mind. It all makes perfect sense. Edwards is right if you think about it. Families are just like little churches.

“We have had great disputes how the church ought to be regulated; and indeed the subject of these disputes was of great importance: but the due regulation of your families is of no less, and, in some respects, of much greater importance. Every Christian family ought to be as it were a little church, consecrated to Christ, and wholly influenced and governed by his rules. And family education and order are some of the chief means of grace. If these fail, all other means are likely to prove ineffectual. If these are duly maintained, all the means of grace will be likely to prosper and be successful.”

1Ti 3:2 Therefore an overseer must be . . .

1Ti 3:4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive,
1Ti 3:5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?