3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. (Ephesians 1:3-6 NASB)

I listened to an attack on “Reformation Theology” today in which the preacher based his entire case upon one single charge. He said that a Monergistic interpretation of the Bible is based upon a faulty presupposition. That presupposition is in two parts. The first part is that we say man is dead in trespasses and sins and incapable of obeying all commands to come to God in his own ability. The second part is that we say God takes the initiative and regenerates those whom he has elected before the foundation of the world enabling them to repent and believe and come to Christ and be justified by faith. This fellow totally ignored the fact that this theology is based upon God’s free choice before the foundation of the world and the redemptive work of Christ in the obedient life and keeping the Law and going to the cross to the become the propitiation for those elect. That’s right, he totally ignored what was actually accomplished at the cross. Instead, his interpretation of all those “difficult” passages like John 6:44 are best to be seen as God’s people being those who come to him in repentance and then he saves them. So, totally ignoring all these passages about election and imputation, he says salvation is a totally Synergistic system which man kicks starts by coming to God in repentance first and then God takes over from there. He gave examples of genuine converts he had seen who came in brokenness and he could tell they were saved because they grasped the truth and walked in repentance, et cetera. He contrasted that with false converts who were simply religious who never walked in repentance. Right, could it be that he is confusing the order of things? Could it be that those he is seeing coming in repentance have been regenerated by God first and now are able to believe because they are the elect of God?

God does not elect people because they repent. Carefully read the passage I placed at the top of this post. At the end of v4 into v6 we see, “In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved” Why did God choose or elect those who are in Christ? It was in love. Love is at the very root, the very heart of God’s election. Here is this same passage from the Greek text, “ἐν ἀγάπῃ, προορίσας ἡμᾶς εἰς υἱοθεσίαν διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ εἰς αὐτόν, κατὰ τὴν εὐδοκίαν τοῦ θελήματος αὐτοῦ, εἰς ἔπαινον δόξης τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ ἧς ἐχαρίτωσεν ἡμᾶς ἐν τῷ ἠγαπημένῳ.” Which translated says, “In love, He predestined us to sonship through Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace by which he favored us in the Beloved.” The word “love” translates ἀγάπῃ (agapē), “a self-emptying self-sacrifice.” Αγάπῃ is a word I am sure we have all heard numerous sermons and teachings about. The essence of this passage and Paul’s usage of ἀγάπῃ here to explain why God elected all who are saved in Christ is that he does not deal with us only according to his sovereignty and holiness. If he did, all of us would be doomed. God also deals according to love.

God’s election flows from his love and this is found throughout the Scriptures (Deut. 7:7-8; Deut. 31:27; Jer. 17:23). Why did God love you or me? Are we not just as stiff necked, depraved, rebellious, and self-centered as the nation of Israel described in those passages? That’s right, we do not know. All we have is what is given to us in passages like Ephesians 1. God elected us because he loves us. In Deuteronomy 10:15 we learn that, “Yet on your fathers did the LORD set His affection to love them, and He chose their descendants after them, even you above all peoples, as it is this day.” Now let’s take this to the New Covenant.

16 “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. 17 “This I command you, that you love one another. 18 “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 19 “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.” (John 15:16-19 NASB)

As we not only stand firm in the doctrines of truth don’t we experience the wrath of those who cling to the man-centered, easy-believism non-gospel that has decimated the visible church? That mess is no different than the world. Of course, the attacks from unbelievers who hate the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ are just as vicious at times. Our Lord had it right.

God loved us before the foundation of the world. He loved us according to his gracious purpose, his good pleasure. Don’t we love him because he first loved us (1 John 4:19)?

Soli Deo Gloria!

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. (Ephesians 1:3-5 NASB)

For what reason did the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ chose (elect) all in Christ before the foundation of world? It was that they would be holy (ἁγίους) and blameless (ἀμώμους) before him. The Puritans have always been accused of being legalistic and way too concerned about Christians living holy and blameless lives. I heard a Jeopardy clue not long ago that actually defined this aspect of them as being “harsh” and “stern.” Is it an unreasonable thing to command that believers conform their lives unto holy living and be separate from the world and its ways? 

Αγίους (hagious), an adjective meaning “holy, set apart, consecrated”, is the Accusative, Plural of ἅγιος (hagios). In Paul’s letters those who name Jesus as their Lord are called ἅγιοι (hagioi), which is translated as “saints.” However, this is not primarily an ethical expression but is parallel to being “called” (Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2), “chosen” (Roma. 8:33; Col. 3:12), and “faithful” (Col. 1:2). Being one among the ἅγιοι implies association with the Holy Spirit. Christ is the one in whom believers become holy to the true God (1 Cor. 6:11). This power comes from the risen Christ, who operates according to the Spirit of holiness (Rom. 1:4). In these cases holiness refers to a relationship with God that is not mediated through ritual (ceremonial) observation but through the leading of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:14). Spiritual worship is the offering of oneself as a living, holy sacrifice, acceptable to God (Rom. 12:1).

To help us define what “holy living” really means, let us take a closer look at ἀμώμους (amōmous), “without defect, unblemished, blameless, faultless.” The Greek adjective ἀμώμους is the Accusative, Plural of ἄμωμος (amōmos), which is derived from the root μῶμος (mōmos), “spot, blemish,” and the prefix ἄ, the “alpha-negative that means “without.” Therefore, ἄμωμος means that nothing is amiss in a sacrifice that would render it unworthy. It was also used in the Septuagint to show that sacrificial animal was to have no spot or blemish (e.g., Lev. 22:21). Therefore, this is how we are to live—pure in attitude and action. Christian lives must be above reproach. People should be able to examine our lives and find nothing unholy or ungodly there.

13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.” (1 Peter 1:13-16 NASB)

Peter quoted Leviticus 11:44-45 in v16 commanding us to be holy just as God is holy. Yes, we are positionally holy and blameless before God because of the finished work of Christ, but in our sanctification, we are called to actually become holy and blameless through the work of the Holy Spirit as we work our salvation with fear and trembling as living sacrifices.

Soli Deo Gloria!

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.  (Ephesians 1:3-14 NASB)

29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. (Romans 8:29-30 NASB)

In this post we will look at Ephesians 1:3-14 and Romans 8:29-30. In these two passage are found three Greek words that have been the source of large numbers of polemic works and, in my own experience, I have been accused of holding to doctrines that I do not hold to (nor do any hold to that I know of) by Synergists constructing straw men in order to attack them in an attempt to make it look as if they are defeating the Doctrines of Grace to which I do hold dear and the Monergistic faith through which I know I am saved.

The first is found in Ephesians 1:4, which the NASB translates as “chose.” Here is v4 from the NA27 Greek text, “καθὼς ἐξελέξατο ἡμᾶς ἐν αὐτῷ πρὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου εἶναι ἡμᾶς ἁγίους καὶ ἀμώμους κατενώπιον αὐτοῦ ἐν ἀγάπῃ”, or, “Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world for us to be holy and blameless in his sight, in love…” The verb chose translates ἐξελέξατο (exelexato), “to pick or choose out for oneself.” ξελέξατο is the Aorist, Indicative, Middle case of ἐκλέγομαι (eklegomai). This verb case denotes simple action taking place in the past. The middle voice pictures the subject acting in its own interest, that is, it receives the benefit of the action. Therefore, this verb case tells us that that God the one choosing independently in the past and did so primarily for his own interest, this, for his glory. Also, no where mentioned here is the fodder for most the straw man attacks I have experienced pertaining to election. God elected or chose for himself those who would believe and be of his kingdom. He did not reject or those not chosen, he simply did not elect them. It is not necessary to do that. Why? Ephesians 2 tells us plainly that all are born dead in trespasses and sins. Without God intervening, no one comes to Christ.

Our next polemic verb is translated in both passages from the NASB as “predestined.” In Ephesians 1:5 the verb is προορίσας (proorisas), “to designate before.” It is an Aorist, Participle, Active case of προορίζω (proorizō). This verb form is describing simple action. In Romans 8:29-30, the verb case of προορίζω used in both verses is προώρισεν (proōrisen). Προώρισεν is in the Aorist, Indicative, Active case. But, what is the essence of what the Holy Spirit is imparting to us through the Apostle Paul in the usage of this verb in these passages? Προορίζω is a compound word. The first part, προ, means “beforehand.” The second part of the word, ὁρίζω (horizō) speaks of a “boundary or limit.” It is the source of our English word “horizon.” Therfore, just as the horizon marks a limit between what we can and cannot see, God has placed us within a certain limit, a certain “horizon.” He has put us in a place where we can see and comprehend many things but where many other things are hidden from our sight and understanding, many things that are beyond our horizon. Even if we walk closer to the horizon, and understand things we never understood before (grow more mature), a new horizon appears. We will never understand it all this side of glory. God has marked out something for each of his elect. He has marked out a destiny. Much of that destiny is hidden from us because it is beyond the horizon, but praise be to God, he reveals more of it with each new step we take toward it.

The third polemic verb, found in Romans 8:29, is translated in the NASB as “He foreknew.” This is translating the verb προέγνω (proegnō), “know beforehand.” Προέγνω is the Aorist, Indicative, Active of προγινώσκω (proginōskō). The best way to understand what Paul was attempting to say here is to look at the subject of the verb. Here is Romans 8:29-30 from and NA27 followed by my translation.

29 ὅτι οὓς προέγνω, καὶ προώρισεν συμμόρφους τῆς εἰκόνος τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ, εἰς τὸ εἶναι αὐτὸν πρωτότοκον ἐν πολλοῖς ἀδελφοῖς· 30 οὓς δὲ προώρισεν, τούτους καὶ ἐκάλεσεν· καὶ οὓς ἐκάλεσεν, τούτους καὶ ἐδικαίωσεν· οὓς δὲ ἐδικαίωσεν, τούτους καὶ ἐδόξασεν. (Romans 8:29-30 NA27)

²⁹ Because whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son for him to be Firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰ And whom he predestined these also he called and whom he called these also he justified and whom he justified these also he glorified. (Romans 8:29-30 Possessing the Treasure New Testament V1)

This is, of course, the Ordo Salutis. Notice that it is God doing all the action and the subject of all of the action is those “whom he foreknew…”This is not a foreknowledge of facts, but a foreknowledge of each of those in Christ personally. Each was foreknown before the foundation of the world. God predestined each of them to be conformed to the image of his Son. Because of this predestination he, therefore, called them, justified them and their glorification awaits in eternity.

The more I think about it. I really don’t care if people want to denigrate me for believing this Biblical truth or not. I do not simply believe some philosophy or have some hope in some confession or religious act that I did. No, I am trusting in the completed work of God he did on my behalf and on behalf of all those elected before the foundation of the world. God foreknew me personally then and if you are in Christ, he did you as well. Notice what his purpose is in our predestination. It is to be conformed unto the image of our Saviour. That should sober us up quickly. Yes, we walk towards that horizon as we mature, but the more we learn the more there is to learn. How are you doing?

Soli Deo Gloria!

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  (2 Corinthians 4:1-6 ESV)

Carefully read the passage I placed at the top of this post (1 Corinthians 4:1-6). What is the Apostle Paul saying here? The Gospel that he preached, the other Apostles preached, which was passed on to them from Christ himself, is understood and obeyed only by those whose hearts have received the light which God has shone into the darkness in their hearts to give light to the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

That being true, those who attack this very same Gospel are unbelievers whose minds have been blinded by the god of the world (Satan) to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. These very same unbelievers are the perishing while those who are in the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ are the living because they possess eternal life in Christ.

Notice that Paul makes it clear that he has openly renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways of manipulating the gospel or God’s Word. In fact, he refused to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s Word in any way. What is he talking about? There were some in his day as there are multitudes in our day who do what he is talking about in that they take bits and pieces of God’s Word and add to it man-pleasing philosophies and things to tickle itching ears in order to gain large followings, sell lots of books, and grow big churches.

Paul does not back away from the truth, and we should not either, that the Gospel is indeed veiled to those who reject it. Those who want a gospel on their own terms reject out of hand the genuine gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Those who demand a God who loves everyone and must save everyone regardless of whether they come to him in repentance and bow to the Lordship of Christ or not reject the true Gospel that reveals God as Sovereign in salvation as he is all things.

The following video is a perfect example of this. It opens with Rob Bell making many assertions about the validity of the Biblical gospel then it ends with Dr. James White giving the correct understanding of that.

Soli Deo Gloria!

48 εἶπεν δὲ αὐτῇ· ἀφέωνταί σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι. 49 καὶ ἤρξαντο οἱ συνανακείμενοι λέγειν ἐν ἑαυτοῖς· τίς οὗτός ἐστιν ὃς καὶ ἁμαρτίας ἀφίησιν; (Luke 7:48-49 NA27)

⁴⁸ And he said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” ⁴⁹ And the ones reclining with him began saying among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” (Luke 7:48-49 Possessing the Treasure New Testament V1)

In Luke 7:36-50 there are three main characters. There is our Lord Jesus Christ, Simon the Pharisee, and an unnamed woman who is referred to in v37 and v39 simply as ἁμαρτωλός (hamartōlos), “sinful, sinner.” The events in this passage take place at a meal in Simon’s home and there are others reclining at the table with them. The unnamed woman is uninvited. These events take place in Galilee immediately after John the Baptist’s disciples have come to our Lord on his bequest to confirm whether Jesus is indeed the Messiah. He then shows the Pharisee’s hypocrisy in vv31-35 for rejecting John the Baptist even though he lived in rigid abstinence even though they demanded that of our Lord while the message preached by both was the same. Then in v36 one of these Pharisees, Simon, invites Jesus to eat with him.

            [36] [u]One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. [37] [v]And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, [38] and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and [w]wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. [39] Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If [x]this man were [y]a prophet, he [z]would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” [40] And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

            [41] “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred [a]denarii, and the other fifty. [42] [b]When they could not pay, he [c]cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” [43] Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” [44] Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; [d]you gave me no water for my feet, but [e]she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. [45] [f]You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to [g]kiss my feet. [46] [h]You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. [47] Therefore I tell you, her sins, [i]which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” [48] And he said to her, [j]“Your sins are forgiven.” [49] Then those who were at table with him began to say among[f1] themselves, [k]“Who is this, who even forgives sins?” [50] And he said to the woman, [l]“Your faith has saved you; [m]go in peace.”           

(Luke 7:36-50 ESV)

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[u] ch. 11:37; 14:1

[v] For ver. 37-39, [Matt. 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-8]

[w] ver. 44; John 11:2

[x] [ch. 15:2]

[y] ver. 16; John 4:19

[z] [ch. 22:64]

[a] See Matt. 18:28

[b] Matt. 18:25

[c] [Rom. 8:32 (Gk.)]

[d] 1 Tim. 5:10; See Gen. 18:4

[e] ver. 38

[f] 2 Sam. 15:5; 19:39; 20:9

[g] ver. 38

[h] Ps. 23:5; 141:5; Eccles. 9:8; Matt. 6:17

[i] [ver. 39]

[j] ch. 5:20; Matt. 9:2; Mark 2:5; James 5:15; 1 John 2:12; [John 20:23]

[k] ch. 5:21

[l] ver. 9; [ver. 47; 1 Tim. 1:14]; See Mark 10:52; Eph. 2:8

[m] ch. 8:48; 1 Sam. 1:17; Mark 5:34

=======================================================

[1] 7:49 Or to

If we put this passage in context, we know that Simon the Pharisee probably had ulterior motives for having Jesus over to his house for this meal. Notice also that he did not treat him as an honored guest. Simon knew of the reputation of the woman weeping and anointing our Lord’s feet. What was his reaction? His reaction was based in his contempt for sinners. He was convinced that if Jesus knew her character, he would have sent her away. Why? Her very touching of him was presumed to convey ceremonial uncleanness. In other words, he cared nothing for the spiritual needs of those who desperately needed forgiveness and to hear the words of life. Of course, his whole theology was totally based in works righteousness.

Early in this ministry I wrote an article about the unbiblical nature of the ministry of Rick Warren. I wrote it on my old PC one night and transferred it over to my new MAC, which I got the next day and converted it to a new format for the Word Processor on it. In any case, there was one section in which two words came together with no space between then and I did not catch it. I posted it. One very well known Purpose Driven pastor posted a very rough comment basically telling me that that post couldn’t be from God because of that typo being in there. I thanked him for pointing out the typo, fixed it, and I never heard from him again. What did I learn? What do we learn from this? It is the very same thing Jesus was teaching us in Luke 7 with how these Pharisees think. Their rejection of the truth is deliberate and they are determined not to hear it.

Jesus’ reaction to this woman is radically different than Simon’s. He does not pull away from her. He allows her to weep and wash his feet with her tears, dry them with her hair and anoint them with the very expensive ointment or oil. The Greek clearly says in v40 that Jesus answered Simon proving that he was indeed a prophet, knowing Simon’s thoughts.

In vv41-42 our Lord poses a question of comparison. If a creditor freely forgives two debtors who cannot pay, but one owes 10 times as much as the other, which will love the creditor more? Simon supposes that the one forgiven the most money will love him more.

In vv44-46 our Lord compares what this sinful woman has done for him since his arrival at Simon’s house while Simon failed to treat Jesus with the respect of an honored quest in any shape form or fashion.

Here is v47 from the Greek, “οὗ χάριν λέγω σοι, ἀφέωνται αἱ ἁμαρτίαι αὐτῆς αἱ πολλαί, ὅτι ἠγάπησεν πολύ· ᾧ δὲ ὀλίγον ἀφίεται, ὀλίγον ἀγαπᾷ.” Or, “For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven for she loved much, but to whom little is forgiven, he loves little.” What does our Lord mean? This woman was not forgiven because she loved much. If we go back to vv41-42, the forgiving of the loans was unconditional, and love was the result. Therefore, we cannot make the woman’s love the reason for her forgiveness for this would distort the lesson Jesus is teaching. He then clearly tells the woman in v48 that her sins are forgiven. It is then those others at the table marvel at who Jesus is or who does he think he is, et cetera for making such a statement. It is in v50 that it is made clear why this woman’s sins are forgiven. She exhibited true faith and now has peace with God.

Simon the Pharisee and those like him attempt to have peace through works righteousness while walling up all possibility to access to God to those like this woman who desperately need to hear the words of life and have access to the Saviour. This is why I am a Monergist not a Synergist. God saves his people despite the wacky religiosity of those all around us that darkens the truth and attempts to direct people down wrong paths. This woman came to where Jesus was and notice that she was already weeping when she got there. The Father drew her to the Son, gave her to him and her regenerate faith saved her by the grace of God.

Soli Deo Gloria!

7 οὗ ἐγενήθην διάκονος κατὰ τὴν δωρεὰν τῆς χάριτος τοῦ θεοῦ τῆς δοθείσης μοι κατὰ τὴν ἐνέργειαν τῆς δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ. 8 Ἐμοὶ τῷ ἐλαχιστοτέρῳ πάντων ἁγίων ἐδόθη ἡ χάρις αὕτη, τοῖς ἔθνεσιν εὐαγγελίσασθαι τὸ ἀνεξιχνίαστον πλοῦτος τοῦ Χριστοῦ 9 καὶ φωτίσαι [πάντας] τίς ἡ οἰκονομία τοῦ μυστηρίου τοῦ ἀποκεκρυμμένου ἀπὸ τῶν αἰώνων ἐν τῷ θεῷ τῷ τὰ πάντα κτίσαντι, 10 ἵνα γνωρισθῇ νῦν ταῖς ἀρχαῖς καὶ ταῖς ἐξουσίαις ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις διὰ τῆς ἐκκλησίας ἡ πολυποίκιλος σοφία τοῦ θεοῦ, 11 κατὰ πρόθεσιν τῶν αἰώνων ἣν ἐποίησεν ἐν τῷ Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τῷ κυρίῳ ἡμῶν, 12 ἐν ᾧ ἔχομεν τὴν παρρησίαν καὶ προσαγωγὴν ἐν πεποιθήσει διὰ τῆς πίστεως αὐτοῦ. 13 διὸ αἰτοῦμαι μὴ ἐγκακεῖν ἐν ταῖς θλίψεσίν μου ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν, ἥτις ἐστὶν δόξα ὑμῶν. (Ephesians 3:7-13 NA27)

⁷ Of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God having been given to me according to the working of his power. ⁸ To me, the least of all the saints, this grace was given to the gentiles to preach the unsearchable wealth of Christ ⁹ and to enlighten all men as to what is the stewardship of the mystery hidden from the ages in God, the one who created all things ¹⁰ that it might be made known now to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenlies through the Church the many faceted wisdom of God ¹¹ according to the plan of the ages, which he made in Christ Jesus our Lord ¹² in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through faith in him. ¹³ Therefore, I ask you not to despair concerning my afflictions for you, which is for your glory. (Ephesians 3:7-13 Possessing the Treasure New Testament V1)

In our last post, Boldness not Insolence, we saw from Ephesians 3:7-13 (above) that those truly in Christ have indeed been given the incredible privilege of unimpeded access to the Throne of Grace, and that means they can come “boldly” to their Heavenly Father in Christ-confidence, not self-confidence. From this same passage we also see the “access” all in Christ have as a granted privilege. This access to come boldly to God in prayer has been granted only to those in Christ, no one else. Even so, this privilege is not to be taken for granted by Christians being impetuous or impulsive, that is, doing things hurriedly, or rushing about. I often despair of my lack of time in prayer each day as I take small parts here and there and pray hurriedly through them. What good is that? When we do that, our prayers become habitual and rushed and nothing more than a form of idolatry.

In Ephesians 3:12 (above) the word “access” translates the Greek noun προσαγωγὴν (prosagōgēn), “access,” the accusative, singular of προσαγωγή (prosagōgē).  This word was used in ancient Greek culture to describe a person who gave someone else admittance to see the king. The person who wanted to see the king had no right to do so, therefore, someone else had to give him admittance, had to make the introduction. Even Christians have no inherent right in and of themselves to come before God, but they have been granted the privilege of doing so because they are in Christ.

To take this a step deeper; I didn’t mention this in Boldness not Insolence, but in the Greek text, παρρησίαν (boldness) has the definite article τὴν (tēn) before it. This means that v12 literally says, “In whom we have the boldness and the access…” What does that really mean? It narrows down who Paul is referring to. This is only for genuine Christians. Only those who come through Christ can have access to God (John 14:6).

As I contemplate my own poor prayer “habits” throughout the day, I pray that you do as well. We must not take this privilege of access to come boldly to the Throne of Grace for granted. Let us cease for doing so. May we see that we no right to come before God, but, instead, have been granted a marvelous privilege by the introduction of our Saviour. Let us not rush into his presence, hurriedly making our desires known then taking off as if he does not matter. Instead, let us be in deliberate communion with him throughout the day in humble submission to his will.

Soli Deo Gloria!

7 οὗ ἐγενήθην διάκονος κατὰ τὴν δωρεὰν τῆς χάριτος τοῦ θεοῦ τῆς δοθείσης μοι κατὰ τὴν ἐνέργειαν τῆς δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ. 8 Ἐμοὶ τῷ ἐλαχιστοτέρῳ πάντων ἁγίων ἐδόθη ἡ χάρις αὕτη, τοῖς ἔθνεσιν εὐαγγελίσασθαι τὸ ἀνεξιχνίαστον πλοῦτος τοῦ Χριστοῦ 9 καὶ φωτίσαι [πάντας] τίς ἡ οἰκονομία τοῦ μυστηρίου τοῦ ἀποκεκρυμμένου ἀπὸ τῶν αἰώνων ἐν τῷ θεῷ τῷ τὰ πάντα κτίσαντι, 10 ἵνα γνωρισθῇ νῦν ταῖς ἀρχαῖς καὶ ταῖς ἐξουσίαις ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις διὰ τῆς ἐκκλησίας ἡ πολυποίκιλος σοφία τοῦ θεοῦ, 11 κατὰ πρόθεσιν τῶν αἰώνων ἣν ἐποίησεν ἐν τῷ Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τῷ κυρίῳ ἡμῶν, 12 ἐν ᾧ ἔχομεν τὴν παρρησίαν καὶ προσαγωγὴν ἐν πεποιθήσει διὰ τῆς πίστεως αὐτοῦ. 13 διὸ αἰτοῦμαι μὴ ἐγκακεῖν ἐν ταῖς θλίψεσίν μου ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν, ἥτις ἐστὶν δόξα ὑμῶν. (Ephesians 3:7-13 NA27)

⁷ Of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God having been given to me according to the working of his power. ⁸ To me, the least of all the saints, this grace was given to the gentiles to preach the unsearchable wealth of Christ ⁹ and to enlighten all men as to what is the stewardship of the mystery hidden from the ages in God, the one who created all things ¹⁰ that it might be made known now to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenlies through the Church the many faceted wisdom of God ¹¹ according to the plan of the ages, which he made in Christ Jesus our Lord ¹² in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through faith in him. ¹³ Therefore, I ask you not to despair concerning my afflictions for you, which is for your glory. (Ephesians 3:7-13 Possessing the Treasure New Testament V1)

If we are honest, we must all agree that that there is a growing disrespect of God in today’s various teaching on prayer let alone worship. While boldness does mean that those who are truly in Christ need not have any inhibitions as they come before God, they must still never forget that God is God. To treat God as if he is a “buddy,” to bring him down to our level in any way, is truly blasphemous. It is insolence in action to do any other than respect and worship God as he deserves. He is not our “buddy” or “pal,” but our heavenly Father and our God. What does it mean to come before him in boldness while not being insolent?

In the passage I placed at the top of this post, the word “boldness” in v12 translates the noun παρρησίαν (parrēsian) , “boldness, confidence, openness.” Παρρησίαν is the accusative, singular of παρρησία (parrēsia). The structure of this noun tells us that we can come before our Father with total freedom of speech, pour out our hearts, and tell him everything. This is indeed a blessed privilege. We are able to do this because of the finished work of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:14-16; 10:19). Now, because of the blood of Christ, we can come directly to God and speak openly to him at any time.

What would be an example of insolence in prayer? I heard a T.V. preacher one time actually demand that God answer some outlandish prayer about fulfilling some of his so-called prophecies he had made. I always think of him when I study this. Other examples are the “Name it/Claim It” , “Word of Faith” people who little more side-show carnival showmen trying to get people’s money by promising much for their “power in prayer.” I would hate to be them when it comes time for the judgment.

Let us come before God open, candidly, and without fear but also in reverence, respect, and worship.

Soli Deo Gloria!

3 ἀναλογίσασθε γὰρ τὸν τοιαύτην ὑπομεμενηκότα ὑπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτωλῶν εἰς ἑαυτὸν ἀντιλογίαν, ἵνα μὴ κάμητε ταῖς ψυχαῖς ὑμῶν ἐκλυόμενοι. (Hebrews 12:3 NA27)

³ Consider him who endured from sinners such opposition against himself that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. (Hebrews 12:3 Possessing the Treasure New Testament V1)

I invite you to look back on the last Presidential election in the U.S. in which Barak Obama was elected and how so many of us were devastated by that. When I was born the President of the United States was Harry Truman. Yes, that’s right, I’m getting old, but it also means that I remember what its like to be both a non-Christian living in a Christian home under a Government that is not liberal enough for me, but too liberal for my parents and at other times having a Government that my was too liberal even for me causing social change in such unbalanced and inequitable ways that could only be explained by our leaders being bent on changing us into a Communist state. Remember, I grew up during The Cold War and had the Draft and Vietnam waiting for me as I went through High School. All through that, I was convinced that it really did not matter who was in The White House or who was in Congress or the Senate. They were all inept with an agenda that made sense to no one but them.

I was in the U.S. Navy as the Vietnam War ended. I was stationed in Washington, D.C. all through the Watergate scandal. I was there through the Nixon, Ford and Carter Administrations. That will turn anyone into cynic. It was during that time that I started attending a church in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday nights to hear C.J. Mahaney preach. I had walked an aisle and had been baptized when I was in the 4^th grade, but that was just a religious experience. That was what going to hear C.J. preach was too. However, what C.J. was preaching was all about living a holy life and saying no to the devil, et cetera. Back then he had long blonde hair. In any case, I continued going on Tuesday nights until I began having seizures in 1976 and found myself discharged from the Navy. I moved back to Oklahoma for a while. No one would hire me because of my seizure problem. I ended up in Texas working as a Computer Operator at nights for White Stores, Inc. I worked there for about 7 months then in the Spring of 1977 I moved back to Washington, D.C. and worked at a life insurance company there until May 1980. I stayed as far from that church where C.J. Mahaney was preaching as I could get because I was living the single life in the big city with no boundaries.

All during this time I was receiving monthly checks from the U.S. Navy  at half pay to stay on Temporary Disability Retirement and this enabled me to get my anti-seizure meds free at the pharmacy where I used to be stationed. At the end of 1979 they sent me notice that they were going to terminate that and offered me about $3000 dollars to sever our relationship. I was stupid enough to take it. I got my check and paid off some debts and quit taking my meds because I ran out. After I was off of the meds about two months or so I became a much more clear-headed thinker I guess and I made up my mind to find a job back in Oklahoma, which I did.

I moved to OKC in June 1980 working at a very large bank at night running their computer processing. It was there that I met my wife. We married in 1981 and after a merger with another bank, we moved to Tulsa to work at the new data center and there we began attending a church not far from our house and God made sure I heard the Gospel. Everything changed. Nothing has been the same since.

Now, what about all this election stuff and our Christian walk? I have belonged to churches since that time in which I have heard all about how we need to be political activists, taking over abortion clinics, picketing election places and court houses, et cetera. I have friends who bought into that big time. I never did. On the other hand, I have always encouraged my children and friends to serve our community in all sorts of ways. My daughter still serves in ministries that feed the homeless. My wife and I try to support homeless shelters in our community as well.

All through this I have groaned under the wickedness of those in the positions of power over us. Yes, they are wicked. Obama and Hillary Clinton support the Gay Agenda worldwide and that is evil. What is that? Is God disciplining us? Is the church being disciplined? Is it being prepared for something much worse? Some would say that we are not to tolerate what is going on, but should rise up and replace these wicked politicians with godly ones.

I’ve been following the political process during the primaries and there were a few there who tried to espouse their Christian “views” and “go after the evangelical vote.” It was embarrassing. We have no business trying to mix Christianity, true Christianity, with the secular like this. The media will always corrupt what is said and done and turn it into a circus. By the way, how does politics work? Is it by standing firm on the truth, never bending? Nope, it is compromise. How does that fit with how we are to walk as Christians?

So, if we are to walk the narrow path, emulating Christ, never compromising, and pursue living holy lives in the power of the Holy Spirit, what will be the response of the world? What will be the response of the apostate so-called church that has compromised? That’s right, it will be persecution. God uses this to discipline us.

3 ἀναλογίσασθε γὰρ τὸν τοιαύτην ὑπομεμενηκότα ὑπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτωλῶν εἰς ἑαυτὸν ἀντιλογίαν, ἵνα μὴ κάμητε ταῖς ψυχαῖς ὑμῶν ἐκλυόμενοι. 4 Οὔπω μέχρις αἵματος ἀντικατέστητε πρὸς τὴν ἁμαρτίαν ἀνταγωνιζόμενοι. 5 καὶ ἐκλέλησθε τῆς παρακλήσεως, ἥτις ὑμῖν ὡς υἱοῖς διαλέγεται· υἱέ μου, μὴ ὀλιγώρει παιδείας κυρίου μηδὲ ἐκλύου ὑπ᾽ αὐτοῦ ἐλεγχόμενος· 6 ὃν γὰρ ἀγαπᾷ κύριος παιδεύει, μαστιγοῖ δὲ πάντα υἱὸν ὃν παραδέχεται. 7 εἰς παιδείαν ὑπομένετε, ὡς υἱοῖς ὑμῖν προσφέρεται ὁ θεός. τίς γὰρ υἱὸς ὃν οὐ παιδεύει πατήρ; 8 εἰ δὲ χωρίς ἐστε παιδείας ἧς μέτοχοι γεγόνασιν πάντες, ἄρα νόθοι καὶ οὐχ υἱοί ἐστε. 9 εἶτα τοὺς μὲν τῆς σαρκὸς ἡμῶν πατέρας εἴχομεν παιδευτὰς καὶ ἐνετρεπόμεθα· οὐ πολὺ [δὲ] μᾶλλον ὑποταγησόμεθα τῷ πατρὶ τῶν πνευμάτων καὶ ζήσομεν; 10 οἱ μὲν γὰρ πρὸς ὀλίγας ἡμέρας κατὰ τὸ δοκοῦν αὐτοῖς ἐπαίδευον, ὁ δὲ ἐπὶ τὸ συμφέρον εἰς τὸ μεταλαβεῖν τῆς ἁγιότητος αὐτοῦ. 11 πᾶσα δὲ παιδεία πρὸς μὲν τὸ παρὸν οὐ δοκεῖ χαρᾶς εἶναι ἀλλὰ λύπης, ὕστερον δὲ καρπὸν εἰρηνικὸν τοῖς δι᾽ αὐτῆς γεγυμνασμένοις ἀποδίδωσιν δικαιοσύνης. (Hebrews 12:3-11 NA27)

³ Consider him who endured from sinners such opposition against himself that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. ⁴ In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your own blood. ⁵ And have you forgotten the encouragement that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not think lightly of the discipline of the Lord do not lose heart by being rebuked by him. ⁶ For whom the Lord loves, he disciplines, and he punishes every son whom he receives.” ⁷ It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? ⁸ But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. ⁹ Furthermore, we had fathers of the flesh who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more subject ourselves to the Father of Spirits and we will live? ¹⁰ For they disciplined us for a few days according to what seemed good to them, but he disciplines us for the benefit in sharing in his holiness. ¹¹ But all discipline for the present does not seem to be pleasant, but painful, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:3-11 Possessing the Treasure New Testament V1)

The wickedness of the world system that is all around us, including the government system that rules over us and the apostate visible church that deceives so many, is all part of the discipline of God of his people. We are being trained up so that our patient holy lives will yield up the peaceful fruit of righteousness through the exercise of our submitting to his will in the pursuit of walking in repentance even though we want to throw off the chains and scream to everyone, “This is not fair and it isn’t right, and I am not submitting to your evil anymore!” Yes, that is what our flesh wants to do, but that is not what we are commanded to do my brethren is it?

Yes, we are to be good citizens. No, we are not to take up the Christian banner and take over the world. That is what our Lord will do when he returns. In the meantime, we are to be disciplined and prepared for our reunion with him.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Salt of the Earth

by Phil Johnson

“You are the salt of the earth… . You are the light of the world… . Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:13–16).

That text is often cited as if it were a mandate for the church to engage in political activism — lobbying, rallying voters, organizing protests, and harnessing the evangelical movement for political clout. I recently heard a well-known evangelical leader say, “We need to make our voices heard in the voting booth, or we’re not being salt and light the way Jesus commanded.”

That view is pervasive. Say the phrase “salt and light,” and the typical evangelical starts talking politics as if by Pavlovian reflex.

But look at Jesus’ statement carefully in its context. He was not drumming up boycotts, protests, or a political campaign. He was calling His disciples to holy living.

The salt-and-light discourse is the culminating paragraph of the introduction to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. It comes immediately after the Beatitudes. Jesus was pronouncing a formal blessing on the key traits of authentic godliness.

What’s most notable about the Beatitudes is that the qualities Jesus blesses are not the same attributes the world typically thinks are worthy of praise. The world glorifies power and dominion, force and physical strength, status and class. By contrast, Jesus blesses humility, meekness, mercy, mourning, purity of heart, and even persecution for righteousness’ sake. Collectively, these qualities are the polar opposite of political clout and partisan power.

In other words, Jesus blessed people who were willing to be oppressed and disenfranchised for righteousness’ sake — peacemakers, not protesters; poor in spirit, not proud; people who are persecuted, not the pompous and power-mongers.

This is consistent with Jesus’ teaching throughout the New Testament. He said,

You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matt. 20:25–28)

Notice, furthermore, that the clauses “You are the salt of the earth” and “You are the light of the world” are statements of fact, not imperatives. He doesn’t command us to be salt; He says that we are salt and cautions us against losing our savor. He doesn’t command us to be light; He says that we are light and forbids us to hide under a bushel.

Jesus was saying that a corrupt and sin-darkened society is blessed and influenced for good by the presence of the church when believers are faithful servants of their Master. The key to understanding what Jesus meant is verse 16: “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Personal holiness, not political dominion, is what causes men to glorify our Father who is in heaven.

Salt has several properties. Perhaps the most important is that it acts as a preservative. Raw meat can be cured and preserved with salt. Christians in the midst of an evil and decaying society have a similar preserving and purifying effect. God told Abraham that He would have preserved Sodom from judgment if there had been just ten righteous people — a little salt — in their midst.

Salt is also an antiseptic, and it can be used in the treatment of wounds. Salt water is good medicine — albeit painful — for broken blisters. There may be an element of that idea as well in Jesus’ metaphor as well. The presence of believers in the world stings the consciences of the ungodly because it is a painful reminder that God requires holiness and that the wages of sin is death.

But salt also gives flavor to food and causes thirst — and I believe that’s the main idea Jesus had in mind when He used this metaphor because He speaks of “its savor.” Remember, Jesus had just blessed those who “hunger and thirst for righteousness” (5:6), and this imagery suggests that the presence of conscientiously godly people in society will have the natural effect of arousing an appetite for God and a thirst for righteousness.

Light, of course, simultaneously dispels darkness and illuminates whatever it reaches. When we properly let our light shine before others, they see our good works and glorify God.

So this is not about wielding political clout. It’s not about organizing protests against ungodliness. It’s not about trying to make society righteous through legislation. It’s about how we live. It’s about exemplifying the same traits Jesus blessed in the Beatitudes. That’s how we let our light shine, and that’s the saltiness we inject into an otherwise decaying and tasteless society.

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