Why One Person Believes and Another Doesn’t
When the Bible says that we’re saved by God’s grace, it really is by God’s grace, and His grace alone. From election to sending (Ro 10:15) to drawing to calling to the shining of His light within our dark souls (2 Cor 4:6) to faith in Christ, it’s all according to the Sovereign will and […]
God is Lord of the Harvest of Souls
The Harvest Process (Matthew 9:37-38 – BSB) – [37] Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. [38] Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.” (Also Luke 10:2) This is a very familiar passage to us. However, I suspect that most of […]
Is The Human Will Truly Free?
Non-Calvinists (self-determinists) believe that we’re saved and elected for salvation according to our own “free will.” But is that really true? The answer has to be no. Because no one is completely free to do anything they want to do, because we all have limitations, in spite of having a free will. Free will is more accurately […]
The Choosing of Israel Points to Unconditional Sovereign Election
Introduction The nation of Israel is, and always has been, an imperfect type or a picture of that which is perfect, which is the Church, the redeemed people of God. The nation of Israel is also a revelation of the nature of election. God’s choosing of the people of Israel out of all the peoples of the […]
My Salvation Journey Reveals God’s Unconditional Grace
My Salvation Journey Reveals the Sovereignty and Providence of God. However, it also reveals the sovereignty and providence of God for everyone else who comes to faith in Christ. First, I will share my own experience. Then I will apply it to everyone else. Note: Pastors and scholars will tell us that we’re not to […]
Christ Died For His Church – [His Elect Bride]
All Scripture quotations are from the 1901 American Standard Version (slightly updated) unless otherwise noted. Introduction For whom did Jesus actually die? Was it every person who enters the world? Or was it for a specific people? The extent of Christ’s atonement is much debated among Christians. Jesus either died for everyone, or He […]
Chosen and Known “From All Eternity”
(Titus 1:1-2 – ASV) – [1] Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, [2] in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before times eternal; “before times eternal” is the literal rendering, meaning: LSB […]
Paul’s Conversion Reveals the True Nature of Election
“The pattern of Paul’s conversion is right in front of us, and should be allowed to instruct us in our understanding. Whenever such clear insight is given to us, it should not be relegated to the realm of least importance, but be given the highest place of consideration when studying these doctrines. Examples in […]
Commentary on Romans 11 – [The Election of True Israel in Christ]
All Scripture quotations are from the 1901 American Standard Version (updated) unless otherwise noted. Introduction Like Romans 9, Romans 11 is one of the most important chapters in the New Testament regarding the doctrine of election, Israel and the Church. This discussion – that actually began in Romans 8 (especially verses 28-39) – ends […]
Commentary on Romans 9 – [The Plan and Pathway of Election]
All Scripture quotations are from the 1901 American Standard Version (slightly updated) unless otherwise noted. Introduction Romans 9 is one of the central passages of the New Testament in understanding the doctrine of election. Paul’s discussion really begins in chapter 8, and more specifically, Romans 8:28-39. Those verses serve as an introduction to and as a key to […]