as divine sovereignty is irresistibly being proven right by human responsibility as history unfolds and the will of God from all eternity reveals itself in the present, through the choices we make, so the effecting of grace is irresistibly being proven right by the exercising of faith.
justification
God (from a divine perspective) effects saving grace on the elect and the elect (from a human perspective) exercise saving faith in God.
"Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring - not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all." - Romans 4:16 (NIV)
you say, how can God elect the unwilling? furthermore, how can God not elect the willing? in fact, this was one of my most stubborn philosophical objections to the doctrine of election. however, this turns out to be a straw man.
in the first place, we do not have free will to begin with. besides, God does not sovereignly elect based on how we freely
the unwilling elect and the willing un-elect simply do not exist!
sanctification
God (from a divine perspective) effects sustaining grace on the elect and the elect (from a human perspective) exercise sustaining faith in God.
"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." - 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)
as we abide in Christ, God gives us the grace to overcome temptation by remaining faithful to Him.
the sin of commission
when we do not live by faith in what has already been revealed, we abuse the revelation of God's grace. the question is not why grace should increase all the more when there is sin. the question is why sin should increase all the more when there is grace (it shouldn't).
"What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" - Romans 6:1-2 (NIV)
"What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey - whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." - Romans 6:15-18 (NIV)
the sin of omission
when we do not live by faith in what is yet to be revealed, we limit the revelation of God's grace. the question is not why God does not act to reveal His grace. the question is why we do not act to reveal His grace.
"Everything that does not come from faith is sin." - Romans 14:23b (NIV)
"Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." - James 4:17 (NIV)
glorification
finally, God (from a divine perspective) effects sealing grace on the elect and the elect (from a human perspective) exercise sealing faith in God.
"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession - to the praise of his glory." - Ephesians 1:13-14 (NIV)
saved by the Father. sustained in the Son. sealed with the Spirit.
Thank you O my Father
For giving us Your Son
And leaving Your Spirit
Till Your work on earth is done
No comments:
Post a Comment