Can you please answer a question I'm struggling with understanding? You say that nothing in us can draw us towards Christ, etc. So there is no way we can desire Christ in our sinful nature. In beginning you said that we have problems with watching stuff, with thinking stuff and say am i really saved, did God really forgive me. In the end you say that maybe we have those problems is because we are looking at our selves and not Christ. So my question is, if we are sinful in nature and we are dead as you pointed out many times, how can we look to Christ? Because looking to Christ requires us to actually want to search Him out, etc. I might not be using the most correct words to ask this question but I hope it makes sense. If I'm dead as you say, than I shouldn't be able to look anywhere. So if I am sinning in anyway or having problems as you said than could it really be that I'm not saved because to look to Christ you need to be alive and if Christ by grace made us alive than that is the only way we can look to Christ. So if we are dead and you say to look to Christ and not look at ourselves than that means there is action on our part to look the right way. I'm not saying that salvation is gained by works but that It's offered freely we need to accept it? or there is no such thing as our consensus in this matter. God picked us to be saved and there is nothing we can do about it whether we want it or not but those who do want it and are not picked, they can not be saved?
Correct, God elects or chooses who will be saved Ephesians 1:4 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: God draws the lost sinner to Himself John 6:44 44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. After God makes us alive in Christ Ephesians 2:5. So after God elects us, then we can choose Him. NO ONE can choose God in their current sinful state as a non believer because they are dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1) that no one seeks after God (Romans 3:10-12). Why is it that you believe and the next person doesn't? It is all because of God. God elects, God predestines, God justifies, God glorifies. Romans 8:29-30 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Once we are saved and born again, we can look to Christ because God has given us His Holy Spirit. We are not dead in sin anymore but made alive (Eph 2:5). I hope that answers your question, blessings in Christ.
Natural man cannot please God (Romans 8:8). The gospel is foolishness to those who are perishing (1 Corinthians 1:18). Without rebirth in the Spirit, no one can even see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3). No one can believe that Jesus is Lord without the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3). So, if you believe that Christ is Lord and you believe that He died for sinners and you can apprehend the Kingdom of God, then you will be pleasing God which makes you a Spiritual person rather than a natural person. This means that God must have changed your heart, because if it was you that changed it, that would be pleasing to God which is not possible. As far as election is concerned; No one who has been saved, has been dragged into the kingdom against their wishes. Their desires have been changed and they willingly flee to Christ. Those who's hearts have not been changed do not want God in their lives. There is no such thing as an unsaved person who wants to be saved, because all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13).
Jesus said no comes to me except my father draws him. In Greek, the word for draw literally translates as drags. God, of His own will regenerates us to be able to comprehend and respond to His effectual(read that as effective)call. That's why Paul in Ephesians said that the grace that saves AND the faith that appropriates it are the gift of God. That is what it takes to overcome the depravity of our fallen natures. It is the ultimate proof that the Father loves His children, and sent Jesus to receive the punishment for their sin. Hope this helps!
P.S. Those who are not elected will never "want to". They may look to Buddha or Allah, or any of the million Hindu gods. They may become Taoists or follow the medicine of one or more Native American tribes, but real desire for, and searching for the Carpenter from Nazareth, crucified and raised from the dead only comes when The God of the universe sends His Eternal Spirit to give regeneration of life to His Elect. You are obviously seeking, so if you will confess Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart (the center of your being) that God has raised Him from the dead, you WILL be saved! The book listing the Elect(the saved) was written before the foundation of the world (Rev. 17:8).
Without God is a perfect way of putting our fallen condition
This is a very much needed message for me. Praise God and praise Christ He’s enough!!!
I thank God He brought this man into our lives in the days we live in. One of the best messages I have heard from him.
Hallelujah.
Happy I found this.
Couldn’t agree more
Excellent sermon...HE is enough!
Amen sister!!!!
"Are you one of those Caaalllllvinissst?" lol. Nice
Can you please answer a question I'm struggling with understanding? You say that nothing in us can draw us towards Christ, etc. So there is no way we can desire Christ in our sinful nature. In beginning you said that we have problems with watching stuff, with thinking stuff and say am i really saved, did God really forgive me. In the end you say that maybe we have those problems is because we are looking at our selves and not Christ. So my question is, if we are sinful in nature and we are dead as you pointed out many times, how can we look to Christ? Because looking to Christ requires us to actually want to search Him out, etc. I might not be using the most correct words to ask this question but I hope it makes sense.
If I'm dead as you say, than I shouldn't be able to look anywhere. So if I am sinning in anyway or having problems as you said than could it really be that I'm not saved because to look to Christ you need to be alive and if Christ by grace made us alive than that is the only way we can look to Christ.
So if we are dead and you say to look to Christ and not look at ourselves than that means there is action on our part to look the right way. I'm not saying that salvation is gained by works but that It's offered freely we need to accept it? or there is no such thing as our consensus in this matter. God picked us to be saved and there is nothing we can do about it whether we want it or not but those who do want it and are not picked, they can not be saved?
Correct, God elects or chooses who will be saved
Ephesians 1:4
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
God draws the lost sinner to Himself
John 6:44
44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
After God makes us alive in Christ Ephesians 2:5. So after God elects us, then we can choose Him. NO ONE can choose God in their current sinful state as a non believer because they are dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1) that no one seeks after God (Romans 3:10-12).
Why is it that you believe and the next person doesn't? It is all because of God. God elects, God predestines, God justifies, God glorifies.
Romans 8:29-30
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Once we are saved and born again, we can look to Christ because God has given us His Holy Spirit. We are not dead in sin anymore but made alive (Eph 2:5).
I hope that answers your question, blessings in Christ.
Perhaps you look to him because your being drawn by the father....... Glory to God. Repent and believe brother.
Natural man cannot please God (Romans 8:8).
The gospel is foolishness to those who are perishing (1 Corinthians 1:18).
Without rebirth in the Spirit, no one can even see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3).
No one can believe that Jesus is Lord without the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3).
So, if you believe that Christ is Lord and you believe that He died for sinners and you can apprehend the Kingdom of God, then you will be pleasing God which makes you a Spiritual person rather than a natural person. This means that God must have changed your heart, because if it was you that changed it, that would be pleasing to God which is not possible.
As far as election is concerned;
No one who has been saved, has been dragged into the kingdom against their wishes. Their desires have been changed and they willingly flee to Christ.
Those who's hearts have not been changed do not want God in their lives. There is no such thing as an unsaved person who wants to be saved, because all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13).
Jesus said no comes to me except my father draws him. In Greek, the word for draw literally translates as drags. God, of His own will regenerates us to be able to comprehend and respond to His effectual(read that as effective)call. That's why Paul in Ephesians said that the grace that saves AND the faith that appropriates it are the gift of God. That is what it takes to overcome the depravity of our fallen natures. It is the ultimate proof that the Father loves His children, and sent Jesus to receive the punishment for their sin. Hope this helps!
P.S. Those who are not elected will never "want to". They may look to Buddha or Allah, or any of the million Hindu gods. They may become Taoists or follow the medicine of one or more Native American tribes, but real desire for, and searching for the Carpenter from Nazareth, crucified and raised from the dead only comes when The God of the universe sends His Eternal Spirit to give regeneration of life to His Elect. You are obviously seeking, so if you will confess Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart (the center of your being) that God has raised Him from the dead, you WILL be saved! The book listing the Elect(the saved) was written before the foundation of the world (Rev. 17:8).
Michael Brown plays this game of guilt by association when he holds Reformed people accountable for Luther’s antisemitic statements.