Initial Predetermined Clarity
Unfortunately there are some Sunday morning messages that fail to communicate. Some simply fall flat. Some are poorly organized. Some are just examples of bad homiletics. Last Sunday's message, at least in my opinion, was one such example of communicative breakdown. Not wishing to trifle with or trivialize mighty, holy and timeless issues like Sovereign choice and predestination and calling, I'm afraid that waters may have been stirred a bit too much and, therefore, muddied. The clear vision of this Divine landscape which I greatly desired our congregation to view was fogged in by this fallen man's effort. Of course, we all know that this wasn't the first time. And I will forewarn you that it will not be the last.
I can't help but think of Richard Baxter's word to those of us who teach (Baxter is a dead mentor of mine)
Our whole work must be carried on under a deep sense of our own insufficiency, and of our entire dependence on Christ. We must go for light, and life, and strength to him who sends us on the work. And when we feel our own faith weak, and our hearts dull, and unsuitable to so great a work as we have to do, we must have recourse to him, and say, 'Lord, wilt thou send me with such an unbelieving heart to persuade others to believe? Must I daily plead with sinners about everlasting life and everlasting death, and have no more belief or feeling of these weighty things myself? O, send me not naked and unprovided to the work; but, as thou commandest me to do it, furnish me with a spirit suitable thereto.'
Richard Baxter, The Reformed Pastor,
(Banner of Truth, 1981; originally published 1656), Chapter 2, Section 2, paragraph 14.
Therefore, I am going to take opportunity with this initial entry to make some effort to clarify Sunday's obscurity. (To hear the message in its way too long entirety go here)
Here's what I wanted to say:
Point 1: The five truths that are linked together in Romans 8:30 are supports and footings and buttresses to the promise of Romans 8:28: "Everything is working for good" for the children of God. This promise is not something we have to blindly believe and is much too profound to turn into clichéd ammunition aimed at hurting people. We can put all of our confidence in God's promise because this promise is held up by the eternal, mighty, sovereign, saving hand of our Great God. We can, therefore, live radically risky lives for the Kingdom of God, because our future is certain and our good is secure.
Point 2: According to Romans 8:29, the fact of predestination (God's predetermined order and purpose for His children) has two ends.
2a. God's predetermined order and purpose for His children is that they be conformed to the image of Christ. His purpose in predestination is the very best for those of us who are His children. We can rejoice and celebrate and worship a God who has so lovingly ordained our good and we can trust that every circumstance in our lives will be used to that end because God has already determined that it be so.
2b. Because of God's glorious and predetermined order; Christ will be seen, known, experienced and exalted as supreme ("the first born of many brethren"). He is essentially the first of many who will be like Him. So even though we will be like Christ, He will still be supreme because He is first-born and most glorious. As the 'first-born', Christ is the highest and the holiest and, as our 'older brother', we will be like Him because God has determined and ordered it to be so.
So here's the conclusion that I really wanted to drive home on Sunday:
Christ's supreme glory and our supreme good is the same truth. God's predetermination has ordained that the very best for His children is what brings the very highest glory for His Only-Begotten.
Therefore, we can take great comfort in knowing that all is working for our good and His glory.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:31
That's what I wanted say.
I pray that you will find great comfort in this truth.
bma
I can't help but think of Richard Baxter's word to those of us who teach (Baxter is a dead mentor of mine)
Our whole work must be carried on under a deep sense of our own insufficiency, and of our entire dependence on Christ. We must go for light, and life, and strength to him who sends us on the work. And when we feel our own faith weak, and our hearts dull, and unsuitable to so great a work as we have to do, we must have recourse to him, and say, 'Lord, wilt thou send me with such an unbelieving heart to persuade others to believe? Must I daily plead with sinners about everlasting life and everlasting death, and have no more belief or feeling of these weighty things myself? O, send me not naked and unprovided to the work; but, as thou commandest me to do it, furnish me with a spirit suitable thereto.'
Richard Baxter, The Reformed Pastor,
(Banner of Truth, 1981; originally published 1656), Chapter 2, Section 2, paragraph 14.
Therefore, I am going to take opportunity with this initial entry to make some effort to clarify Sunday's obscurity. (To hear the message in its way too long entirety go here)
Here's what I wanted to say:
Point 1: The five truths that are linked together in Romans 8:30 are supports and footings and buttresses to the promise of Romans 8:28: "Everything is working for good" for the children of God. This promise is not something we have to blindly believe and is much too profound to turn into clichéd ammunition aimed at hurting people. We can put all of our confidence in God's promise because this promise is held up by the eternal, mighty, sovereign, saving hand of our Great God. We can, therefore, live radically risky lives for the Kingdom of God, because our future is certain and our good is secure.
Point 2: According to Romans 8:29, the fact of predestination (God's predetermined order and purpose for His children) has two ends.
2a. God's predetermined order and purpose for His children is that they be conformed to the image of Christ. His purpose in predestination is the very best for those of us who are His children. We can rejoice and celebrate and worship a God who has so lovingly ordained our good and we can trust that every circumstance in our lives will be used to that end because God has already determined that it be so.
2b. Because of God's glorious and predetermined order; Christ will be seen, known, experienced and exalted as supreme ("the first born of many brethren"). He is essentially the first of many who will be like Him. So even though we will be like Christ, He will still be supreme because He is first-born and most glorious. As the 'first-born', Christ is the highest and the holiest and, as our 'older brother', we will be like Him because God has determined and ordered it to be so.
So here's the conclusion that I really wanted to drive home on Sunday:
Christ's supreme glory and our supreme good is the same truth. God's predetermination has ordained that the very best for His children is what brings the very highest glory for His Only-Begotten.
Therefore, we can take great comfort in knowing that all is working for our good and His glory.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:31
That's what I wanted say.
I pray that you will find great comfort in this truth.
bma
Email: bernie@fccfranklin.com
posted by Bernie @ 5:18 PM
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