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SOTERIOLOGY: SALVATION

Common Grace, Election & Reprobation

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WHAT JOY!

“In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God

over one sinner who repents.”

Luke 15:10

Bearers Of The Treasure…

“7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves...”6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

2 Corinthians 4

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Common Grace: Definition

“Common grace” is the grace of God by which

he gives people innumerable blessings

that are not part of salvation.

The word common here means something that is common to all people and is not restricted to believers or to the elect only.

This is distinct from “saving grace.”• Wayne A. Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Leicester, England; Grand

Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House, 2004), 657.

Biblical Examples of Common Grace

• Matt 5:45, “for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

• Acts 14:16-17, “In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways; yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good and gave you from heaven rains and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness”

• Gen 39:5, “The Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had, in house and field.”

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Biblical Examples of Common Grace

• Rom 1:21, “Although they knew God they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him”

• Rom 2:14-15, “When Gentiles who have not the law do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or perhaps excuse them”

Biblical Examples of Common Grace

• Rom 13:1, “There is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”

• Luke 6:35, “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.”

• Matt 5:44, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

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Common Grace: Restraint of Evil

One of the most important elements of common grace we enjoy is the restraint of evil in the world. That restraint flows from many sources. Evil is restrained by policemen, laws, public opinion, balances of power, and so on. Though the world we live in is filled with wickedness, it is not as wicked as it possibly could be. God uses the means mentioned above as well as other means to keep evil in check. By his grace he controls and bridles the amount of evil in this world.

• R. C. Sproul, Chosen by God (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1986), 145.

Common Grace & Prevenient Grace

Reformed or Calvinistic View

Common grace does not enable nor change the human heart, nor bring people to genuine repentance and faith. It does not merit any good towards salvation. It restrains sin but does not change one’s disposition towards sin.

Arminian View

Arminians view ‘Common grace’ as giving every person the ability to turn to God in faith and repentance, and in fact influences the sinner to do this unless he or she specifically resists it. Arminians call it ‘prevenient grace.’

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Common Grace: The Implications

1. God is patient with sinners: “The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forebearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) Therefore, we should never be angry or bitter that God did not save loved ones. Rather, we can be thankful that God did not render judgment upon them immediately after their first sin.

2. God is good and merciful: “The Lord is good to all…” (Ps. 145:9) God is “kind to the ungrateful and the selfish” (Luke 6:35)

3. Physical and material things are not always a sign of God’s favor. The rich man’s barns with an empty soul (Lk 12:13-21)

WHAT IS SALVATION & WHERE DID IT ALL BEGIN?

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THE DOCTRINE OF ELECTION

Romans 8:28-30, 33

• 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

• 33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies;

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The Order of Salvation: “Ordo Salutis”

1. Election (God’s choice of people to be saved)

2. The Gospel Call (proclaiming the message of the gospel)

3. Regeneration (being born again)

4. Conversion (faith and repentance)

5. Justification (right legal standing)

6. Adoption (membership in God’s family)

7. Sanctification (right conduct of life)

8. Perseverance (remaining a Christian)

9. Death (going to be with the Lord)

10. Glorification (receiving a resurrection body)Wayne A. Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House, 2004), 670.

Divine Sovereignty & Human Responsibility

A brief look at the Scriptures

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Foreordination, Predestination, Election & Reprobation (Rolland McCune)

FOREORDINATION: God’s overall will in all things

PREDESTINATION: God’s destiny for His creatures

ELECTION (Saved) &

REPROBATION (Unsaved)

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God’s plan fully determined….

• Robert Reymond is correct: “There was never a moment when God had a blank mind or a time when God’s plan with all of its parts was not fully determined.”12

• 12 A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1998), p. 463.

• Rolland McCune, A Systematic Theology of Biblical Christianity: The Doctrines of Salvation, the Church, and Last Things, vol. 3 (Allen Park, MI: Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary, 2010), 45.

Election in the Scriptures

“Several passages in the New Testament seem to affirm quite clearly that God ordained beforehand those who would be saved. For example, when Paul and Barnabas began to preach to the Gentiles in Antioch in Pisidia, Luke writes, “And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of God; and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed” (Acts 13:48). It is significant that Luke mentions the fact of election almost in passing. It is as if this were the normal occurrence when the gospel was preached.”

• Wayne A. Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House, 2004), 671.

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Election in the Scriptures

“Though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad, in order that God’s purpose of election might continue not because of works but because of his call, she was told, “The elder will serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” (Rom. 9:11–13)

“He chose us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before him. He destined us in love to be his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace.” (Eph. 1:4–6)

Election in the Scriptures

“who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity…” (2 Timothy 1:9)

“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the electangels…” (1 Tim 5:21, ESV)

“8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him [the beast], everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.” (Rev 13:7-8)

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Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility

Do we have a choice?

Do we have free will?

Scriptures: Diving Sovereignty & Human Responsibility – Isaiah 10:5-7

5 Ah, Assyria, the rod of my anger;the staff in their hands is my fury!

6 Against a godless nation I send him,and against the people of my wrath I command him,

to take spoil and seize plunder,and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

7 But he does not so intend,and his heart does not so think;

but it is in his heart to destroy,and to cut off nations not a few;

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Scriptures: Diving Sovereignty & Human Responsibility – Isaiah 10:12, 15

When the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, he will punish the speech of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the boastful look in his eyes.

Shall the axe boast over him who hews with it,or the saw magnify itself against him who wields it?

As if a rod should wield him who lifts it,or as if a staff should lift him who is not wood!

Scripture and Human Responsibility

• Matthew 11:28, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”

• Rev 22:17, “The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.”

• John 5:40, “… and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.”

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John 3:18, “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

The Basis of Condemnation: UNBELIEF

Do we have a free will?

• NO – if you define “free will” as “the ability to make choices without any prior prejudice, inclination, or disposition.”

• YES – if you define “free will” as “the ability to choose what we want”

• The Bible presents our limited ‘choice’ as a realchoice while presenting God as the one who is always in control

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How “free” is your will?

Pre-Fall Man Post-Fall Man Reborn Man Glorified Man

able to sin able to sin able to sin

able to not sin able to not sin able to not sin

unable to not sin

unable to sin

Romans 9:9-18

9 For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” 10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls—12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

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Romans 9:19-26

19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? 25 As indeed he says in Hosea,

“Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’”

26 “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”

The question of ‘fairness’:Romans 9: Is God obligated to….

• Show MERCY equitably?

• NO

•WHY?

• Show JUSTICE equitably?

• YES

•WHY?