Lesson 27
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V. ALL WHO BELIEVE ON CHRIST WILL BE SAVED.
This is clearly taught in the Bible. No matter how sinful we have been, He will receive us, if we trust Him. This is clearly shown by the following Scriptures:
John 3:15, 16, 36; Romans 10:9-10; John 6:37, 40, 47, 51, 54, 56; Acts 3:23; Acts 10:43; Acts 13:39; Acts 16:31; Romans 1:16; 3:26.
EXERCISES
- What must 1 do to be saved 7
- Will all those who believe on Christ be saved?
- Will God reject any who come unto Him? Cf. John 6:37.
VI. ALL WHO ARE LOST WILL BE LOST BE CAUSE OF THEIR SINS.
This is a difficult teaching, but it is Scriptural. The reason why men are lost is because they are sinners.
Study:
Romans 6:23; Romans 2:1-12; Matthew 16:27; Galatians 5:19-20; Galatians 6:7-8; Ezekiel 18:20; Romans 5:12; Revelation 21:27.
EXERCISES
- If a man sins will he die? Cf. Romans 6:23.
- Is eternal life a GIFT of God? Cf. Romans 6:23.
- Will sinners enter the kingdom of heaven? Cf. Galatians 5:19-21; Revelation 21:27.
- Why are men lost?
VII. PREDESTINATION AND FREE AGENCY ARE BOTH TAUGHT IN THE BIBLE.
From what we have studied so far, it has become apparent that the Bible teaches predestination and it also teaches that man is a responsible creature. God has foreordained everything that comes to pass. Nothing happens that He has not decreed. The Bible says as plainly as it can that "through Him are all things." Our previous study has made this apparent. Furthermore, this includes evil. (E.g., Isaiah 45:7.) God has for some reason unknown to us included evil in His plan. Yet the Bible also tells us that God is not evil. The problem of evil is a great mystery, and we have here merely endeavored to state what the Bible teaches concerning it.
We see, then, that the Bible does teach predestination. But, we may ask, if everything has been foreordained, are we not but irresponsible puppets in the hands of God? According to our human logic, this might seem to be so, but the Bible teaches us clearly that we are responsible for all that we do. While God has elected some to life, yet we are commanded to believe on Christ, because the responsibility for so doing lies with us. The Bible also clearly teaches that God has foreordained some to destruction, yet it also says that God will receive ALL, WITHOUT EXCEPTION, who believe on Christ.
There are, then, in the Bible, these two lines of teaching:
a. Predestination, the absolute sovereignty of God.
b. The free agency of man, who is responsible for all that he does.
VIII WHAT ATTITUDE SHALL WE ADOPT TO THESE TWO APPARENTLY CONTRADICTORY TEACHINGS?
Let us be perfectly frank with ourselves. These two teachings are apparently contradictory. We may adopt one of two attitudes toward them:
a. We may be RATIONALIZERS. We may attempt to harmonize these two lines of teaching. Let it be said once for all that this cannot be done. Those who attempt to harmonize them usually stress one at the expense of the other. There are those who stress predestination and say that man is not a free agent. But this is fatalism; it is not what the Bible teaches.
There are others, far more numerous, who simply rule God out of the picture and preach as though man had the power to accept or reject Christ in his own strength. The weakness of most present-day evangelism lies in the fact that it does just this.
Attempts at harmonizing these two doctrines have all failed most miserably. There is one other attitude open to us.
b. We may be BELIEVERS. We may admit frankly that to our minds these two teachings are apparently contradictory, but we know that they are resolved in Almighty God, Who created all things. We know that God is "Light and in Him is no darkness at all." We know, too, that "the Lord will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall every man have praise of God." (I Corinthians 4:5), "Now we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face."
Let us then admit the difficulty and trust God. As we preach and teach, we should stress both predestination and free agency. This is what Peter did; cf. Acts 2:23; 4:27-28; and it is what the Lord Jesus did, cf. Matthew 11:27-30. In the face of this holy mystery, let us confess our helplessness and say with Paul, "O, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out. For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counselor? Or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of Him, and through Him, and to Him are al! things: to Whom be glory forever. Amen." (Romans 11:33-36.)
The student who desires to study this subject further cannot do better than to read The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination by Loraine Boettner, and The Creed of Presbyterianism by E. W. Smith.
HYMNS FOR STUDY
No. 76: "In the Cross Of Christ I Glory."
No. 84: "The Strife Is O'er, The Battle Done."