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"...Shepherd the flock of God which is among
you, serving as overseers..." (1 Peter 5:2)
Elders
Morris Bass, Rick Holt , Joe
Price |
"...let them serve as deacons,
being found blameless..." (1 Tim. 3:10)
Deacons
Aaron Bass, Rich Brooks, Mike Finn
John Hague, Dan Head |
"And take...the sword of
the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Eph. 6:17)
In this issue:
Did Judas have a
Choice?
More on Predestination
Sermon Outlines:
Noteworthy News:
Bad Gas Pumped into Cars
Did Judas have a Choice?
Joe R. Price
The doctrine of predestination teaches that God has unchangeably decided
whatever comes to pass concerning the salvation of men and women. John
Calvin explained:
“By
predestination we mean the eternal decree of God by which he determined with
himself whatever he wished to happen with regard to every man. All are not
created on equal terms, but some are preordained to eternal life, others to
eternal damnation; and accordingly, as each has been created for one or
other of these ends, we say that he has been predestinated to life or to
death.” (Christian Institutes, 3:21:5, cited by Robert Shank,
Life in the Son, 345)
The Bible does not teach any
such doctrine. The Bible does teach that God chose to “save us in Him
(Christ, jrp) before the foundation of the world; and “predestined us to
adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure
of His will” (Eph. 1:4-5). It is God’s good pleasure to save sinners “by
grace…through faith” (Eph. 2:8; 2 Tim. 1:9). Since “all” have sinned
against God and the gospel is God’s power to save “all” who believe, we
rightly conclude that salvation is available to all sinners and not, as
Calvin taught, only limited to “the elect” who have already been
individually chosen for eternal life (Rom. 3:23; 1:16). God desires the
salvation of all men and has made salvation available to all “in Christ” (1
Tim. 2:4).
So, what about Judas? Did he
“have” to betray Jesus? Did he have and exercise free will in the matter?
Jesus certainly said of Judas,
“one of you is a devil” (Jno. 6:70). And, the devil put the betrayal
of Jesus into the heart of Judas (Jno. 13:2). And, “Satan entered him”
at the supper (Jno. 13:27). Did God predestinate Judas to a fate worse than
birth without any free will (Matt. 26:24)? Would this not make God
responsible for tempting man to sin? We dare not take such a wrong and
blasphemous view (Jas. 1:13).
Satan cannot enter a person’s
heart unless room is made for him; the devil can be resisted (Jas. 4:7).
Yes, Jesus chose Judas to be an apostle, but Judas chose to make room for
Satan in his heart. Judas chose to be a thief (Jno. 12:6). Judas chose to
go to the chief priests, arrange payment and seek “opportunity to betray
Him” (Matt. 26:14-16). Judas chose to sin.
One should understand that
God’s foreknowledge of human events (such as recording them Old Testament
prophecy) does not rob man of his free will. There is no conflict between
God’s omniscience and man’s free will. The Bible affirms both. God
predestined how He would save sinners (in Christ). Sinners must choose to
be saved by His gospel, or they remain lost in their sins (Mk. 16:15-16;
Rom. 1:16-17).
Top
More on Predestination
Joe R. Price
Those who are
committed to defending the false doctrine of Calvinistic predestination
offer up what they believe to be Scriptures that present insurmountable
problems if the doctrine is false. Let us consider some of them for a
moment.
1. John
6:65-66: And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can
come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.” From that time
many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Who does
the Father permit to come to Jesus? Allow the context to tell us. In John
6:37 Jesus had said, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me…”
Who then, does the Father give to Christ? In John 6:44, Jesus said that
only those who are drawn by the Father can come to Him. So, the Father will
draw people to Christ; these are the ones who are given to Jesus (6:65)
because these are the ones who come to Jesus (6:37, 44). And who might that
be? The next verse tells us: “It is written in the prophets, ‘And they
shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned
from the Father comes to Me” (Jno. 6:45). Note please that “everyone”
who is taught by God (by hearing and learning from the Father)
comes to Christ; not “the elect” of Calvinistic conjecture. It is Jesus who
taught the words of the Father (Jno. 7:16; 12:49-50). Earlier Jesus said,
“he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting
life…” (Jno. 5:24). So, by teaching the gospel (hearing and learning
the words of Jesus), the Father draws people to Christ. When one hears and
believes the gospel (saving faith is an obedient faith, Lk. 6:46; Matt.
7:21; Jas. 2:17-26) he is “given” to Christ; not because of a predetermined
choice God made of each individual in eternity past, but because God has
chosen to save every person who hears and believes Jesus. On that day, many
chose to turn back and no longer follow Jesus because His words offended
them; they did not believe (Jno. 6:60, 64). God was drawing (teaching), but
they refused to be drawn to Christ.
2. Acts
13:48: Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified
the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life
believed. “Appointed” (ordained) means “set in place.” Those “set in
place” to eternal life are none other than those who heard and learned the
gospel on that day (v. 48; Jno. 6:44-45). The Gentiles were “set in
place” to be saved because they heard the gospel and believed it. On
the other hand, the Jews rejected the gospel because their hearts were
filled with envy (Acts 13:46). Did God put the envy there? No. They chose
to be envious and unbelieving. The Gentiles chose to honor the word of
God. Here then are two contrasting states of mind; individual decisions
toward the gospel were made (free will was exercised), not predestined
selections of each individual by God.
3. Rom.
9:10-18: The overriding sovereignty of God is the context of this
passage; no one is in a position to question or fight against the purposes
and choices of God. Free will was never forfeited in any of the individual
lives of those named in this passage. For instance, not only did God harden
Pharaoh’s heart, but Pharaoh hardened his own heart (Rom. 9:17-18; Exo.
8:15, 32; 9:34). Two points of view are noted: God’s choice to use Pharaoh
in fulfilling His purpose (Rom. 9:11), and Pharaoh’s choice to refuse to let
Israel go free. The lesson: We must not resist His will (Rom. 9:19). If
free will is removed, then how can it be said the Gentiles “have attained
to righteousness” (Rom. 9:30)? Free will is not removed. God chose to
save Gentiles and Jews by faith in Christ. The Gentiles chose to hear,
believe and obey the gospel of Christ (Rom. 1:16-17; 10:16-17). The Jews,
in general, did not (Rom. 9:31-33). What is your choice?
Top
You can find the
complete outline of this sermon at
BIBLE ANSWERS
Is This Not The Carpenter?
Scripture Reading:
Mark 6:1-6
1. Jesus became
poor so we can be “rich” – Phil. 2:5-8; 2 Cor. 8:9.
2. Those familiar with Jesus were offended by His teaching & His mighty
works (Mark 6:1-3).
3. Carpenter possessed strength & skill (cf. Isa. 44:13-14).
I. TRADES JESUS
DID NOT CHOOSE.
A. He was Not a
Shepherd, yet He is the Master Shepherd, Jno. 10:2-11, 14-16, 26-28; 1 Pet.
2:25; 5:4 (Ezek. 34: 23-24).
B. Jesus was Not a Lawyer, yet He is the Master of the Law, Mk. 6:2; Jno.
7:14-15 (1:14); Law-Giver & Fulfiller, Matt. 5:17 (12:8); 7:28-29.
C. Jesus was Not a Doctor, yet He is the Master Physician, Mk. 5:25-34;
Matt. 9:12-13.
D. Jesus was Not a Fisherman, yet He is the Master Fisherman, Lk. 5:4-7,
11; Jno. 21:6, 10-11 (Matt. 4:19).
II. JESUS IS THE
MASTER CARPENTER.
A. Jesus Built
the Universe, Jno. 1:1-3; Rev. 3:14 (Col. 1:15-17; Psa. 139:14; 19:1; Rom.
1:20).
B. Jesus Built the Church, Matt. 16:16, 18; Heb. 3:3-6 (1 Tim. 3:15);
Eph. 2:19-22; 4:7-12.
C. Jesus Built the Bible, Jno. 1:14, 17; Heb. 1:1-2; Lk. 10:16; Matt.
10:40 (17:5); 1 Cor. 2:4-5, 10-13; 2 Pet. 1:2-3; Jno. 16:12-14 (2 Tim.
3:16-17); Psa. 119:105-106.
Conclusion
1. The quality &
magnificence of a product says a lot about its builder: The universe, the
church & the Bible (Rom. 1:20).
2. A heavenly home has also been built, Heb. 11:10, 16 (Jno. 14:3).
3. Yes, this is the Carpenter.
Top
You can find the
complete outline of this sermon at
BIBLE ANSWERS
"I Can't Help Myself!"
Scripture Reading:
Ephesians 2:1-10
1. Sin is not
sin by society’s definition (Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:3-7). “Addiction,”
“illness,” “lifestyle”…
2. Unless people accept free will & personal responsibility they will never
overcome immoral behavior, and never be converted to Christ, Matt. 13:13-15.
I. THE NEW
OBSCENITY: “I CAN’T HELP MYSELF!”
A. Result of
Humanistic, Evolutionary Thought, Rom. 1:18-23.
B. Result of Failing to View People as Agents of Free Will, Eph. 4:17-19
(2:3); Eccl. 7:29; 11:9; Matt. 25:15, 24-27, 30.
C. It Says That Just Deciding to Reform is Futile (Eph. 5:3, 6), 1 Cor.
6:13-15; Col. 3:8; 1 Tim. 6:9-10; 1 Cor. 6:12.
II. THE BIBLE
SAYS WE ARE MORALLY RESPONSIBLE BEINGS.
A. We are the
Product of Divine Creation, Gen. 1:26-27.
B. We Possess Free Will, Gen. 2:16-17; Eccl. 7:29; Rom. 3:9-19, 23; 6:23.
C. God Provides Power over Sin in Jesus Christ, Matt. 11:28-30; Rom.
1:16; 6:23; Acts 2:37-38, 41 (Rom. 6:17-18; Lk. 9:23; Rom. 12:2; Col.
3:1-5).
III. TEMPTATION,
SIN & FREE WILL,
1 Cor. 10:13.
A. We Have a
Choice (Josh. 24:15); Jas. 1:14-15; 4:7 (2 Sam. 11:2-3).
B. We Make a Choice, Eph. 2:1-3 (2 Sam. 11:4).
C. We are Responsible for Our Choices, Rom. 2:1-3, 6 (2 Sam. 12:7).
D. Christ Will Forgive our Sin when We Repent & Obey Him, 1 Cor. 6:9-11
(Acts 18:8). (David was forgiven, 2 Sam. 12:13)
Top
NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the
light of Scripture)
Bad Gas
Pumped into Cars
Joe R. Price
ConocoPhillips confirmed Thursday that
contaminated gasoline had been delivered from its refinery in Ferndale, WA
to gas stations in Whatcom and Skagit counties. Cars that got the bad gas
are having performance problems from clogged fuel injectors. ConocoPhillips
has pledged to pay car dealers for repair costs (The Bellingham Herald,
20May05).
This reminds us that we must not
contaminate the gospel of Christ with false teaching. Just like bad gas,
false teaching clogs the heart with error, causing one’s life to spit and
sputter rather than perform the will of God (Matt. 7:21-23). The “light
of the gospel” is veiled by the traditions and innovations of men (2
Cor. 4:3-4). So, we are warned to not deliver or receive “bad teaching:”
“But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you
than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said
before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than
what you have received, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:8-9).
This also reminds us of the contaminating
effect of sin. “A little leaven leavens the whole lump” (1 Cor.
5:6). We should not be deceived into thinking that the sin of others cannot
affect us. Like bad gasoline in the tank, sin in the world will influence
those who allow it to flow into their hearts (Mk. 7:18-23). Taking filth
into our minds will clog our hearts, hardening them and preventing good and
righteous living (cf. Matt. 13:13-15).
We are also reminded the importance of keeping ourselves pure in word and
deed. “Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you
double-minded” (Jas. 4:8). If there is sin in our lives we must
immediately cleanse ourselves: save yourself (Acts 2:37-41), or if you are a
Christian, repent, confess and pray (Acts 8:22; 1 Jno. 1:9).
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