1689

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 69

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Day 69

Of God’s Decree

Chapter 3, Paragraph 7.

“…reverence, and admiration of God, and of humility,…“

Scripture Lookup

Romans 11:5, 6, 20.

Reflection

The doctrine of predestination should lead to reverence. That God has chosen some for eternal life, and that He has decreed the means by which this happens, demonstrates His excellent and superior character. He is good, and He is just. There is none like Him. Therefore, He is worthy of all worship.

The doctrine of predestination should lead to admiration of God. His love, mercy, and wisdom are infinite. That alone is worthy of admiration, but this righteous and holy Being is intimately involved with His creation, decreeing all things whatsoever comes to pass!

The doctrine of predestination should lead to humility. There are many who claim the name of Christian who grab hold of this doctrine and insist on beating everyone over the head with it. To speak of the doctrine of predestination, but have no humility, is brutal and boorish, the very opposite attitude than what this doctrine should produce. Because of predestination, there is absolutely nothing in us that is responsible for our salvation – it is all of God.

Questions to Consider

  • If you have acknowledged the truth of the doctrine of predestination, do you have a humble attitude about it?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 68

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Day 68

Of God’s Decree

Chapter 3, Paragraph 7.

“so shall this doctrine afford matter of praise,…“

Scripture Lookup

Ephesians 1:6.

Romans 11:33.

Reflection

The doctrine of predestination should lead us to praise God.

Why?

He has selected a people for glory!

Slaves to sin? That is no longer who we are.

The eternal consequences of sin? We are rescued from enduring them.

We are new creations in Christ. We are growing in godliness every day. We will spend eternity in the presence of One who is most holy, most wise, most free, most absolute. The One who is infinite perfection has chosen a people to know Him and dwell with Him.

He who does all things well has decreed this. It is good. It is worthy of praise.

Praise the Lord!
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
For it is pleasant and praise is becoming.

-Psalm 147:1

Questions to Consider

  • Does the doctrine of predestination lead you to praise God?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 67

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Day 67

Of God’s Decree

Chapter 3, Paragraph 7.

“The Doctrine of this high mystery of predestination, is to be handled with special prudence, and care; that men attending the will of God revealed in his word, and yielding obedience thereunto, may from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured of their eternal election;...“

Scripture Lookup

1 Thessalonians 1: 4,5.

2 Peter 1:10.

Reflection

Sometimes I fear maybe I’m not chosen

You’ve hardened my heart like Pharaoh

and that would explain why life is so hard for me

-Aaron Tate, “Prove Me Wrong”

Initially, predestination is a hard doctrine to accept. It can be confusing as well. When introduced to the idea, many ask: if God has chosen some to eternal life, do we evangelize? Can the elect do whatever they want, since they are predestined anyway? How do we even know if someone is elect or not?

This confusion about predestination is why it is important to handle this doctrine “with special prudence and care”. So many, when they learn that salvation is all of God, rush to proclaim that over all other doctrines. We see this in so much of the internet today. How many of the discussions and posts on the web about predestination use care and prudence?

After learning about predestination, and realizing that salvation is not a choice made by the individual, you may wonder if you are part of the elect. Can you know if you are elect? Sam Waldron writes, “If we see faith in Christ, sanctification, perseverance in the Christian life in our own cases, they are present in us only because of electing grace….if they are our possession, we may be sure that we are elect.”

Questions to Consider

  • How have you handled the doctrine of predestination?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 66

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Nicholas Mutton [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Day 66

Of God’s Decree

Chapter 3, Paragraph 6.

” …neither are any other redeemed by Christ, or effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.“

Scripture Lookup

John 10:26; 17:9; 6:64.

Reflection

All the elect share the same journey of being called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved. They are redeemed by Christ. But this journey and this redemption are only for them. Anyone who does not have faith, anyone who does not share this path to salvation, are not redeemed by Christ. They are not elect. And they have no desire to be. As Sam Waldron writes, “Outside of electing mercy…no one wants to be saved.”

There is a scene in C.S. Lewis’ book The Last Battle where a pagan warrior, Emeth, is accepted at death by Aslan for the good he did in the name of his god, Tash: “If any man swear by Tash and keep the oath for the oath’s sake, it is by me that he has truly sworn, though he know it not, and it is I who reward him.”

Lewis’ sentiment towards Emeth is shared by many. Our thoughts turn immediately to the pagan in a far-off land who never heard the Gospel. What about him? “There is good in all religions,” as someone said to me recently. It seems noble to have genuinely sincere Buddhists, or Muslims, or humanists obtain salvation. Yet the world’s view of nobility does not recognize the vileness of sin, especially the sin of unbelief. Christ must be known, for He alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. -Matthew 7:13, 14

Those redeemed by Christ will journey on the same path, through explicit faith in Him. In this there is no deviation, for “there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 1:12) May we be ever mindful of that in our witness.

Questions to Consider

  • Do you ever act as if those without Christ are still saved?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 65

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Day 65

Of God’s Decree

Chapter 3, Paragraph 6.

” … and kept by his power through faith unto salvation;…”

Scripture Lookup

1 Peter 1:5.

Reflection

The elect are kept by His power.

Killing sin is a constant battle. So many times I struggle with impatience, annoyance, selfishness, arrogance. Strolling along throughout the day, everything going fine and then -BAM!- a stumbling block presents itself and I crash and fall. Keeping myself from tripping is tiring. During that fatigue, still smarting from sin, a thought appears: “Why not just give up?”

Or a whirlwind of circumstances occur that knock the breath out of me: a dwindling paycheck. Friendships that drift away. Sickness, injury, death. Again, when I am pausing to gasp for air, thoughts arise: “Is this really what God has planned? Is God really in charge? Is God really…even there?”

But the elect are kept by His power, through faith. When doubt creeps in like a settling fog over the sea, faith looks to the Light of the world. Your faith may be a frayed thread, but if you are elect, it will not break. You will reach the the shore of glory, because God Himself will bring you there.

All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day. -John 6:37-40

If you are tempted to walk away, if you are tired of struggling, if the world around you is screaming and the only solution for peace appears to be to deny Christ, know this: if you are His, you will be kept by His power through faith unto salvation. Do not run from what you know to be true. Instead, crawl to Christ, beg His intercession, and remember what a gracious and powerful God He is. Take courage. You are in Christ. You will persevere.

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.  -Jude 1:23,24.

Questions to Consider

  • Are you trying to stay in Christ on your own strength, or are you resting in God?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 64

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Day 64

Of God’s Decree

Chapter 3, Paragraph 6.

” … are effectually called unto faith in Christ, by His Spirit working in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified,…”

Scripture Lookup

Romans 8:30.

2 Thessalonians 2:13.

Reflection

When God calls you, you answer.

At a time appointed by God, the Holy Spirit works in His elect, calling them to faith in Christ. This call works. It is effectual. No one walks away unchanged from the Holy Spirit working in them. The elect will respond by believing in Christ. This is assumed in Romans 8 –  those who love God are those who are called. No one loves God who has not been called, and vice versa.

Those who are called are also justified. This means that the Christian is declared righteous due to Christ’s work on our behalf. We are forgiven for our sins because Christ has paid the penalty for them, and we are now viewed and accepted as righteous by God.

Those who are called are also adopted. We are considered to be of the household of God, and join with the elect as brothers and sisters in Christ. This vast family of believers are joint heirs to glory.

Those who are called are also sanctified. We are set apart and a process of transformation occurs, where we become more and more like Christ. The sin in our lives is put to death more and more, and our lives increasingly exhibit holiness.

All the elect share these traits. We can speak into each other’s lives to encourage and rebuke no matter how different our circumstances are, because as Christians we have these things in common. And we have God to thank for it! He is the One who works all these things in us, and we know nothing can keep Him from accomplishing His task.

Questions to Consider

  • What comfort does effectual calling give you?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 63

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Day 63

Of God’s Decree

Chapter 3, Paragraph 6.

” …wherefore they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ,…”

Scripture Lookup

1 Thessalonians 5:9, 10.

Reflection

“In Adam’s fall we sinned all.” -New England Primer

Christ came to redeem His elect. Why did they need redeeming? Because of sin. Not only do we sin on a regular basis, we are guilty because of the corruption of our nature. That corruption we inherited from Adam.

“God made man upright, but he has sought out many schemes.” -Ecclesiastes 7:29

Adam and Eve were the first people created, and they were good. They had communion with God and lived in a state of happiness. Work was pleasurable. Love was abundant. Shame was non-existent.

That all changed. The serpent questioned God’s command to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and deceived Eve. She saw that the fruit was desirable, and took it and ate. She gave the fruit to her husband, Adam, who also ate. In so doing, they lost the holiness they enjoyed, and plunged into a state of sin and misery. This condition did not affect only them, but the rest of mankind. For Adam, being the first man, represented the whole human race. When he fell into sin, the whole human race therefore fell with him.

The elect, however, have a redeemer. He was promised there in Genesis 3, while Adam and Eve were reeling from the consequences of their actions. As God said to the serpent, “He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise Him on the heel.” This is Christ, who suffered and died for His people. Those who are in Christ no longer have Adam as their representative head, but Christ Himself.

I will sing of my Redeemer
And his wondrous love to me;
On the cruel cross he suffered,
From the curse to set me free.

Sing, O sing of my Redeemer!
With his blood he purchased me;
On the cross he sealed my pardon,
Paid the debt and made me free.

I will tell the wondrous story,
How my lost estate to save,
In his boundless love and mercy,
He the ransom freely gave.

I will praise my dear Redeemer,
His triumphant power I’ll tell,
How the victory he giveth
Over sin and death and hell.

I will sing of my Redeemer
And his heav’nly love to me;
He from death to life has brought me,
Son of God, with him to be.

-Philip Bliss

Questions to Consider

  • How does Christ being the redeemer of the elect affect your life?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 62

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Day 62

Of God’s Decree

Chapter 3, Paragraph 6.

“ As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so He hath, by the eternal and most free purpose of His will, foreordained all the means thereunto…”

Scripture Lookup

1 Peter 1:2.

2 Thessalonians 2:13.

Reflection

The economy of God is amazing!

The elect come from all walks of life, in all periods of time. Different cultures, different family lives, different tastes. Such differences seem to indicate that how they obtain salvation would vary greatly as well, yes? Yet that is not so! While the circumstances may differ, the elect all share the same process of obtaining salvation. There will be differences in your life story compared to mine, but as Christians there are common themes that we share. We are:

  • called
  • justified
  • adopted
  • sanctified
  • saved

These means were also foreordained. God is so reliable that not only does He determine to save a people, He determines beforehand how He will do it. No haphazard, hasty, random reaction is made to get the elect to glory. The plans are decreed, the method established, the execution flawless. God’s order of salvation for His people is firmly established, and does not deviate.

So while my environment may look worlds different than a 17th-century peasant, as Christians we both tread the same path. This is true for believers of all times as well as all places. What an encouragement to know that the elect in Zambia, Brazil, or the United States all share in the same redemption! You are not the only one to travel this journey, Christian! Praise God for His wisdom in that!

Questions to Consider

  • Do you ever consider yourself to be alone or unique in your Christian journey? Why or why not?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 61

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Day 61

Of God’s Decree

Chapter 3, Paragraph 5.

“...without any other thing in the creature as a condition or cause moving him thereunto.“

Scripture Lookup

Romans 9:13, 16.

Ephesians 2:5, 12.

Reflection

Us humans think we’re something special, don’t we? Just look at our advertising:

“Because you’re worth it.”

“You deserve a break today.”

Even some churches cater to this desire for affirmation:

“If you were the only person on earth, God would still die for you.”

Those who insist that man is free to choose to accept or reject God cling to this self-importance. Yes, it is self-importance, no matter how much they might deny it, because if the decision rests with you, then you are the tie-breaker. “I have decided to follow Jesus.” It reminds me of a song from the television show Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood:

You’ve got to do it, every little bit. You’ve got to do it, do it, do it, do it and when you’re through, you will know who did it ’cause you did it, you did it, you did it.

Now the doctrine of election is introduced to us, and we initially balk at it, because we still view things through our self-centered lens. Election reminds us of some sort of middle school clique, where only the cool kids are chosen. “Why would God choose some people to be saved?” we wonder. “What’s so special about them?”

But if you are elect, it’s not you that’s special. It’s Him.

There never was, nor will there ever be anything in you that made God choose you. It wasn’t your looks, your wealth, your nationality. It wasn’t how you treated others, it wasn’t how much you wanted to be a Christian, it wasn’t how much you worked. Analysts could try to find a common factor among the elect, and all they would find in common is sin. Sinners from every tribe, tongue and nation, oppressor and oppressed, wealthy and starving, young, old, male, female, chosen by the secret counsel and good pleasure of His will.

So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. -Romans 9:16

Where then is boasting?  It is excluded. (Romans 3:27) For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8,9)

God gets all the glory, and rightly so. He is the only one that truly deserves it.

Questions to Consider

  • Is it a relief or a disappointment to know that nothing in you made God choose you?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 60

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Day 60

Of God’s Decree

Chapter 3, Paragraph 5.

“Those of mankind that are predestinated to life, God before the foundation of the world was laid, according to his eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret Counsel and good pleasure of His will, hath chosen in Christ unto everlasting glory, out of His mere free grace and love;...”

Scripture Lookup

Ephesians 1:4, 9, 11.

Romans 8:30.

2 Timothy 1:9.

1 Thessalonians 5:9.

Reflection

He has always known.

If you are in Christ, He has known you were His since before the first second ticked in creation.

He chose you, and that choice has been, and continues to be, steadfast.

When you gasped your first breath, you were His. As you grew and explored and changed, His decree did not.  When you pursued self, dazzled by the trinkets of the world, blind and ignorant of Him, you were still marked to be His.

With His free grace – free! unlike so much offered in this world! – He transformed your blackened, sickened heart to a fresh, living, beating one. With His love He opened your eyes to see Him, the most perfect Being, and called you out, away from sin to everlasting glory. With horror you realized how ugly and deformed by sin you were. Your new heart shuddered at your sight and cried out for deliverance.

If you are in Christ, He has delivered you. And He has purposed to deliver you from eternity past.

“I have loved you with an everlasting love…” (Jeremiah 31:3)

You are His.

Questions to Consider

  • How does God’s choosing His elect bring you comfort?