A Community of Faith - part 8

On Grace and Perseverance

This week we are taking a look at point 5 of the Baptist Faith & Message, “God’s Purpose of Grace.” A little back story is in order for this one, because it concerns a very controversial issue in theological circles—election. What does it mean that God ‘elects’ people to salvation? The answers to this question have brought about two main camps with a third one slowly catching steam.

My goal this week is not to convince you of any particular theological system. My goal is simply to explain what is in the BFM, and more importantly what is in the Bible. What we will discover is that the Bible is not explicit in any one of these systems. Each group has a set of Bible verses that require some theological hoop-jumping in order to make them fit with their beliefs. Anyone who says otherwise has not studied enough. I do believe one system works better than the others, but again, that’s not my goal this week.

You see, this point begins the section of the BFM that moves away from primary matters and into secondary matters. Albert Mohler coined the term “theological triage” some time ago, and it really captures the essence of theological discourse. He identified three categories of theology. The first are primary matters. These are matters of faith that determine whether a person is even within true Christianity. If you take a look at points 1-4 in the BFM, you will notice they are all central matters of faith. It would be difficult to find a denomination within Christianity that would actually disagree with them. They may state the doctrines a little different, but the essence is still there. The remaining points fall under either secondary or tertiary matters. These are matters that may separate us from other denominations, but they don’t separate us from our unity in Christ.

Now, to circle back to point 5, I’d like to point out this statement is written specifically to bridge two major theological groups—the Calvinists (Reformed) and Arminians (non-reformed). Dissecting these two groups (and their step-brother Molinism) would be a rabbit-hole type of sermon that would distract us from the goal today. So, for those who are curious, feel free to research these terms—Calvinism, Arminianism, and Molinism. Or, Zondervan puts out a handy series called Counterpoints that introduces readers to debates by having representatives from each party give their 2 cents. 4 Views on Divine Providence gives the introduction to the theological ideas behind God’s Providence.

Let’s begin.

God’s Purpose of Grace

Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of man, and comprehends all the means in connection with the end. It is the glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and promotes humility.

The doctrine of election concerns the will of God to bring about salvation in humanity. The spectrum of debate concerns whether we uphold God’s sovereignty or whether we maintain human free will. The Bible answers this debate with “yes.”

The Bible affirms the sovereign will of God to act in and through His Creation.

Many passages point to God’s Sovereign will and power, but one of the most explicit is Isaiah 46.

remember the former things of old;
for I am God, and there is no other;
    I am God, and there is none like me,

declaring the end from the beginning
    and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,
    and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

Isaiah 46:9-10

God stands outside of time and space, so we should not bind His power to our view of past, present, future. All of time just is from God’s point of view. Sometimes people will question why God does things on the time table He does. Why not send Jesus sooner? Why allow the Gentiles to have such free rein over the earth? Why didn’t He deal with sin before Cain was born?

Job had similar questions for God, and in beginning in chapter 38, God replies with a four chapter response. The beginning is almost humorous except when we remember Job is facing down the Lord of Hosts. The Lord replies:

Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.

Job 38:2-3

Job is questioning things he simply doesn’t understand. God’s answer is four chapters of “Where were you when I accomplished all these great feats? Who are you to question me?” The greatness and majesty of God far exceeds what we can even understand. We can no more question His motivation and purpose any more than a bacteria could question ours.

Job understands this in Job 42.

Then Job answered the Lord and said:

“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’

I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you;

therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

Job 42:1-6

God stands outside of time and space, and yet He chooses to work within time and space to bring about the salvation and reconciliation of humanity. We saw how the whole Trinity works for our salvation. The Father ordains Creation and its path. The Son opens the door for salvation through His atoning work. The Spirit empowers salvation through conviction of sin and righteousness. The Three work in Unison to defeat the powers of darkness and reconcile humanity to God. We saw this pattern in Romans 5. And after explaining the work of Jesus to bring about salvation, Paul says this about our election:

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Romans 5:8-11

It is God’s purpose that we should be saved, that we should be transformed, that we should avoid the coming wrath, and that we be glorified at the End. All of this is possible because He deems it so.

Salvation is possible because of God’s sovereignty.

Likewise, the BFM rightly states God’s sovereignty is “consistent with the free agency of man, and comprehends all the means in connection with the end.” The Lord maintains sovereign will over Creation and yet He still allows for our own free will. When Paul describes what true love is, he includes “Love does not insist on its own way” (1 Cor 13:5). God’s love is so pure that He will not force us to love Him back. That is our choice.

The Bible affirms man’s ability to choose between God and sin.

Adam and Eve were given a choice. Moses told the Israelites the Lord laid the choice between life and death before them. The Israelites were warned before the Exile they could still choose to obey God and avoid punishment. (Josiah’s obedience stalled the Exile by a generation.) He even gave Ninevah the choice to avoid destruction through the unwilling prophet Jonah.

The Lord knows which paths we could take and what is required for our salvation. But He also knows there are those who simply rebel against Him no matter what. Consider Psalm 139.

O Lord, you have searched me and known me!

You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
    you discern my thoughts from afar.

You search out my path and my lying down
    and are acquainted with all my ways.

Even before a word is on my tongue,
    behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

Psalm 139:1-4

The Lord knows us better than we know ourselves. It is not up to us to determine whether we are actually free to make our way. The Lord does not need to control us. He already knows what we will do.

In Romans 9, Paul speaks to the sovereignty of God using the illustration of the potter molding clay. He writes,

You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?

Romans 9:19-24

Paul is speaking about how the Jews, who were God’s chosen people (elected people), have rejected salvation in Christ and are now bound for destruction. Even more, the Gentiles who were bound for destruction are now freed in Christ because of their faith. Many have taken this passage to refer to God choosing who will be saved and who won’t in an almost fatalistic interpretation. After all, how can the clay have any say in how the potter uses it? Well, interestingly enough, Jeremiah had a similar encounter in Jeremiah 18.

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words.” So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.

Then the word of the Lord came to me: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it. And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will relent of the good that I had intended to do to it. Now, therefore, say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: ‘Thus says the Lord, Behold, I am shaping disaster against you and devising a plan against you. Return, every one from his evil way, and amend your ways and your deeds.’

Jeremiah 18:1-11

If we compare the contexts of both Romans 9 and Jeremiah 18, we find a striking similarity. Both passages refer to the relationship the Jewish people have with Almighty God. In both cases, God has great things, including salvation, in store for them, but their disobedience and sin has disqualified them for God’s Kingdom. Instead, Gentiles who were originally designated for wrath have turned to God in faith, and thus have made themselves qualified for salvation. They certainly have not earned the right, but because the Lord offers eternal life to all who will receive it, they can now receive it.

When we fast forward to today, we find that God’s sovereignty allows for anyone to be saved, but our free will determines whether we will receive that salvation. Each of us is a vessel in God’s hands. However, whether we are deemed a vessel for destruction or a vessel for honor is determined by the quality of our clay. And when we search our hearts, we realize that we are all marred clay. We “all have fallen short of the glory of God.”

Our prayer should not be “Lord, am I one of your elect?” Our prayer should be “Lord, cleanse me of my sin so that I can be molded to your will.”

The doctrine of free will is not a tool to subvert God’s sovereignty, it is a reminder that we need God to cleanse us and guide our steps.

Enduring to the End

Once we establish the relationship between God’s sovereignty and human free will, we can then make sense of the last bit of V. God’s Purpose of Grace.

All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, and bring reproach on the cause of Christ and temporal judgments on themselves; yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

Once we are saved, we are saved forever. As Adrian Rogers said, “If our salvation can be taken from us, then it isn’t eternal life. If we are saved for only 5 years, then it’s a 5 year life. If it’s 50 years, it’s only a 50 year life.” True believers endure to the end.

Christians should be concerned about losing their salvation, they should be concerned whether they are actually saved.

In the latter part of the 20th century, the American church saw a rise in what can called “cheap grace.” Children and adults were told to “just pray this prayer” or “ask Jesus into your heart,” and that was supposed to be their ticket to heaven. Unfortunately, they were not told (or they weren’t listening) that salvation is not about getting your ticket punched. It’s about surrendering to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. True salvation begins with repentance—turning away from the sinful deeds of this world.

But, if someone has truly repented of their sin turning to Jesus for eternal life, then they are saved. And they are saved forever.

Yes, it is still possible to grieve the Holy Spirit through sin. That’s why Paul says in Ephesians 4,

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Ephesians 4:30

Looking at this verse in context, we see that we grieve the Holy Spirit when we continue to live as though we are not saved.

The security of the believer is reassurance for our failures, but it is not a license to sin.

The one who is not concerned about their sin is one who is probably not saved to begin with.

The last sentence points us to the last point for today.

God disciplines those He loves, so we should not be surprised when our sin causes us harm.

We are freed from the wrath of God, but not from the consequences of our actions. Likewise, if God needs to discipline us in order to get us back on the right path, He will do just that. Look with me at Hebrews 12.

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.

Hebrews 12:7-13

No, if you are saved and you sin, you will not go to hell…but, your earthly life will not be that great either. God disciplines His children like good fathers are supposed to do. And, yes, it can be painful. But if we learn the lessons we are supposed to, then we will find the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

Therefore, we should lift up our heads and strengthen our knees. Clear the path for our feet. If we continue in faith, then we will be healed from our sins.

It is our choice to follow God. And it is God’s will that we follow Him.