Understanding Predestination (Part 4) – The Nature of God’s Call

© Eric M Schumacher – Preached September 25, 2011 at Northbrook Baptist Church, Cedar Rapids

(Audio will be available here. Also read/listen to: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)

(Audio sermon contains more than this manuscript, such as theological insights from vegetables.)

Over the past three weeks, we’ve been examining the question submitted and selected by you, “Predestination – What Does it Mean?” 

We began by examining “The Nature of Man,” seeing that man, left to himself, will always reject God (Gen 6:5; 8:21).

We then examined “The Nature of Election,” seeing that God, in eternity past, has chosen some undeserving sinners to be redeemed as his people (Romans 9).

Last week, we examined “The Nature of Christ’s Work,” seeing that the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ actually redeemed a people for himself. 

Next week, Pastor Ben will conclude this short series, examining “The Nature of Perseverance,” as it relates to predestination. We will see that God’s saving grace is persevering grace. The God who began a good work in us will bring it to completion.

This week, we’ll address “The Nature of God’s Call.” Thus far, we examined man’s fallen condition, God’s sovereign and gracious choice, and Christ’s effective work. But, thus far, we have yet to address how a person is actually brought to saving faith, to repent and believe the Gospel.

So, our question is: How does a person come to be saved?

The answer is: God extends an effective call. That is:

Sinners are converted because God extends an effectual call, through the preaching of the Gospel, which overcomes and changes the sinner’s heart, so that they repent and believe.

Understanding Predestination (Part 3) – The Nature of Christ’s Work

© Eric M Schumacher – Preached September 18, 2011 at Northbrook Baptist Church, Cedar Rapids

(Audio will be made available here.) 
(This is Part 3 of a series. See Part 1, Part 2.)
(There is more addressed in the audio than in the prepared manuscript.)

Club-Hoppers or Cliff-Jumpers?

If you’re like me, upon first hearing the doctrine of election, it is easy to form the wrong mental picture. Too often, we think of election as a doctrine of exclusion, rather than a doctrine of gracious salvation.

We think of God as a big, burly bouncer in shades, standing behind velvet ropes at the entrance of a dance club called “Heaven.” At those ropes there is a crowd, a line of people, all of them wanting to go in. God, the bouncer, looks down his nose at each person, perhaps checks the list on his clip-board, and then proceeds to reject some and turn them away. Occasionally, he unclips the rope and lets a lucky soul in. If that is how you think of election, you’ve got the wrong picture. Nothing could be further from the truth.

A better picture is to think of humanity as a massive heard of lemmings—wild, mangy, rabid lemmings—running full-steam toward a cliff over which they plunge into an abyss of unquenchable fire. For that is what we are—and worse—according to Ephesians 2:1-3. We are born dead in the trespasses and sins in which we walk. We freely and willfully follow the world, the devil and our flesh to our destruction. We deserve our end. And, God would be perfectly fair and just to allow us to continue on that path.

But, God, being rich in mercy, chooses to love some of these lemmings with a great love, goes after them, claims them as his own, and so changes them that they love him and want to live for him.

The Question

Given that what we have seen about the nature of man and the nature of election are true, a natural question follows: How does Christ’s work relate to predestination?

I want us to turn to the Scripture to answer the question: What is the nature of Christ’s work—its intent and effect? In other words, we will ask two questions:

1) What is the intent of Christ’s work?

How does the Bible present the intent and design of Christ’s work? Is Christ’s work presented as a work intended and designed to provide salvation for every individual person that ever lived? Or, is the intent and design of Christ’s work to secure the salvation of a particular people—namely, the elect (whom we discussed last week)?

2) What does Christ’s work actually accomplish?

Does it effect a certain and sure result? Does it guarantee a certain outcome? Does it actually save people? Or, does it make salvation possible but not certain? Did Jesus Christ die to make salvation a hypothetical possibility or an actual certainty?

Here is how the Bible consistently answers those two questions:

(1) Christ’s work was intended to save his people in particular.

(2) Christ accomplished actual, certain salvation for his people; as a result, they are saved.

We will see that atonement is efficacious substitution—the substitute of the one in the place of the many which effects a certain and sure result.

“Atonement is God’s works on sinners’ behalf to reconcile them to himself” (New Dictionary of Biblical Theology).

Understanding Predestination (Part 2) – The Nature of Election

© Eric M Schumacher – Preached September 11, 2011 at Northbrook Baptist Church, Cedar Rapids

[Audio is available here. Part 1 available here.]

Most of you are likely to remember exactly where you were at this time ten years ago. I was sitting on the floor of our small apartment, glued to the TV, as I joined the nation in watching events unfold on the day now known simply as “9/11.” 

Today marks the tenth anniversary of the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil. It was an unspeakably traumatic event. Even ten years later, it sparks deep and troubling questions about the existence of evil and the sovereignty of God. At the time, those discussions could be read in major newspapers and watched on network television, and they continue today.

A National Tragedy

In Romans 9, the apostle Paul takes up the question of God’s sovereignty in relation to what he considered a “national tragedy,” surpassing, perhaps, even 9/11—Israel rejected their Messiah and were rejecting the Gospel.

In verses 1-3, Paul asserts his love for the people of Israel, wishing that he could be “accursed and cut off from Christ,” if it were possible to save them through such means.

The tragedy is brought to mind because of what Paul has written in Romans 8. In verses 28-30, Paul reflected on “the golden chain of salvation.” Those who are called by God are sure to be glorified. 

Paul reflects on this through the end of Romans 8, where he asserts that because of what God has done in Christ—sending him to die and rise and intercede for his people—there is nothing which “will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

And, who, we might ask, are “God’s elect,” those who cannot be separated from God’s love? The Jew would answer, as Paul would have before his conversion: Israel! For, as Paul writes in verses 4-5:

They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

Were not the Israelites the chosen people of God, recipients of God’s promises? If ever there was a “covenant family,” the physical children of which one could expect God to save, it was Israel! 

And yet, Israel had rejected, even crucified, Jesus Christ. The Gospel was spreading quickly through the Gentile world, but the majority Jews were not being saved. They were cut off from God’s Messiah and the salvation that he brought.

What did this say about God’s word? Had his God’s promises to save Israel faltered? 

Paul’s Answer

How would you answer Paul’s dilemma? Many would appeal to free will and limited sovereignty: God makes promises, keeps his word and offers salvation. Nevertheless, what God values most is human freedom. And, in their free will, they reject his offer of the Gospel. (To a certain extent, this is true. As we saw last week, we act “freely” as humans—that is, we act and choose according to our desires. The problem is that “every desire of the heart is only evil continually!)

Paul asserts in verse 6, “But it is not as though the word of God has failed.” And then he goes on to resolve the dilemma in the most surprising of ways—with the doctrine of election.

Sermon: Understanding Predestination (Part 1) - The Nature of Man

We're in the middle of a short "Questions and Answers" series, in which we are addressing topics, texts and questions submitted and voted on by our congregation.

One of those questions selected was "Predestination -- What Does It Mean?" Granted the scope of the issue, we decided to spend several weeks on the question.

The audio for our first sermon, "Understanding Predestination (Part 1) - The Nature of Man" is now available (sorry, no manuscript).

Please join us this Sunday at 10:15am at Northbrook for the continuation of the series: "Understanding Predestination (Part 2) - The Nature of Election."

Q&A 2011: Why Does the Old Testament Say that if Someone Hits You You Can Hit Them Back?

Between Galatians and my up-coming series on Exodus, we're doing a short sermon series in which we address questions posed and selected by our congregation. Addressing these topics is always challenging and helpful.

Yesterday's sermon is now available in audio (no manuscript available):

• Q&A 2011: Why Does the Old Testament Say that if Someone Hits You You Can Hit Them Back?

Be sure to check out the previous two sermons:

• (Joshua Krohse preaching) Q&A 2011: Can Someone Be Born Gay, or is Homosexuality Only a Chosen Proclivity According to the Bible?

• Q&A 2011: Whose fault is it that sin is here: Satan's, God's, or Adam and Eve's?

All our Questions and Answers sermons, including those from last year's series, can be found here.

Q&A 2011: Whose fault is it that sin is here: Satan's, God's, or Adam and Eve's?

© Eric M Schumacher – Preached August 14, 2011 at Northbrook Baptist Church, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Audio available here.

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This sermon is an extended manuscript, substantially longer than the one from which I preached. It includes extra references and examples, beyond those delivered. It also includes end-notes with additional explanations and references. 

Those interested in further study on the topic of God's sovereignty and sin may benefit from studying:

• Suffering and the Sovereignty of God, ed. Piper and Taylor 
• Still Sovereign, ed. Schreiner and Ware
• The Providence of God, Helm
• God's Lesser Glory, Ware
• God's Greater Glory, Ware
• Why Does God Allow Suffering? Lloyd-Jones
• How Long, O Lord? Carson

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Introduction

This morning marks the first sermon in our 2011 “Questions and Answers” Sermon Series. We asked the congregation to submit the texts, topics and questions they would most like to hear addressed in a sermon. We compiled your submissions into a list and let you vote on them. Over the next several weeks, we’ll be addressing the top submissions:

• Whose fault is it that sin is here: Satan’s, God’s, or Adam and Eve’s?
• Can some be born gay, or is homosexuality only a chosen proclivity according to the Bible?
• Why does the Old Testament teach that if someone punches you, you can punch them back? (Translation: Why does the Old Testament teach an eye for an eye, but the New Testament teaches not to repay evil for evil?)
• Predestination – What is it? (Five weeks, due to complexity of question.)
• How do we have assurance that our faith is genuine? Should we engage in intense introspection (which is possibly self-deceiving)? or should we look for our faith to bear fruit (which seems to be resting on our works)?

I appreciate these questions for several reasons. First, all of them are questions that people are asking. They’re legitimate, honest questions that are on people’s minds. In fact, all of these are questions that I have heard asked of me or other elders in personal conversations. This, along with the fact that they got the majority of votes, is an indicator that people want answers to these questions.

Second, they are questions that people “lose sleep over” (so to speak). Whether it is how to respond to a homosexual friend, how to think about revenge, how to put the Old and New Testament together, how to reconcile God’s sovereignty and goodness with evil and human responsibility, or how to know for sure that we are saved—these are questions that can consume our thinking and spark debates—even to the point of straining relationships between parents and children and husbands and wives!

This morning’s question comes from a young boy—a natural and good question from a child as he learns basic doctrines about God’s sovereignty, omniscience, goodness, etc. And yet, it is a question that causes adults to despair and leave the faith, while giving PhD’s headaches!

And so, all these questions all matter. None of them is trivial. They are relevant to how we think about God and how we relate to other people.

Sermons on Depression/Anxiety & Sanctification

Last Sunday, I finished a short series of sermons answering the top questions from our congregation. Here are the final two messages:

• 
  
  
  Anxiety & Depression: How does the Gospel speak to anxiety and depression? How do I minister to someone dealing with these?
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  Growth in Holiness: What are the standards by which to determine/measure progress in sanctification? And, what are the practical means used to pursue growth in holiness?

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Recommended Resources:

On Depression / Anxiety:

Ed Welch, Depression: A Stubborn Darkness

Ed Welch, Running Scared: Fear, Worry & the God of Rest
Ed Welch, When I Am Afraid

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cure

On Sanctification / Christian Growth:

David Peterson, Possessed by God

Timothy S. Lane & Paul David Tripp, How People Change

Will There Be Animals in Heaven? Do Pets Go to Heaven?

The second sermon in our Questions and Answers sermon series:

• Animals: Do Pets Go to Heaven? Will There Be Animals in Heaven?

How Can I Understand the Bible's View of Creation?

The first sermon in our Questions and Answers sermon series:

• Creation: How Can I Understand the Bible's View of Creation?

Q&A Sermon Series

I recently finished preaching through the Gospel of John and in September will begin preaching through Paul's letter to the Galatians. 

For the interim period, we'd polled the congregation, asking what questions they would like to hear addressed in a sermon. When the questions were received, we distributed them in ballot form, and allowed the congregation to vote for their three top choices. Tomorrow morning, I will begin to answer those questions (in reverse order, counting down from the 5th question to the most popular). 

It should be edifying to see how the Gospel applies to a variety of topics. Here are the dates and topics, Lord willing:

• Aug 15 -- Creation: How can I understand the Bible's view of creation?
• Aug 22 -- Animals: Do pets go to heaven?
• Aug 29 -- Afterlife: What happens to your soul between death and the second coming of Christ?
• Sep 5 -- Holiness: What are the standards by which to determine/measure progress in sanctification? And, what are the practical means used to pursue growth in holiness?
• Sep 12 -- Anxiety: How does the Gospel speak to anxiety and depression? How do I minister to someone dealing with these?