|
About Me
Some Fabulous Posts
Some Fabulous Places Some Fabulous People |
Monday, December 03, 2007
--some thoughts inspired by Alastair McEwen's sermon "The Sixth Point of Calvinism", Bible study discussion of "Talking to God: The Theology of Prayer", and Elisabeth Elliot's "Through the Gates of Splendour"-- The Calvinistic beliefs can be generally summed up in the acronym TULIP: Total depravity--people aren't as bad as they could be, but are each one fallen and dead in sin (Romans 1:9-18) Unconditional election--God has chosen who will be saved, and it is through none of man's efforts that God brings salvation (Romans 9:11-18) Limited atonement--Christ died to save the elect of God (John 6:37-39) Irresistible grace--God will save those whom He has chosen to save through His ever-sufficient grace (Romans 3:23-24) Preservation of the saints--once saved, always saved (John 10:27-29) Alastair McEwen suggested that a sixth point be added: Suffering of the saints--because we are saved, we must suffer for the sake of Christ (Matthew 5:11-12) What if we aren't suffering as Christians? Is it because we aren't as public as we should be with our faith? Are we lacking the courage to take a stand against the ever-rising false religions around us? So many of the religious freedoms we enjoy today were granted through great suffering of God's people. So many godly men and women have gladly sacrificed their earthly comforts and even forfeited their lives for the sake of the gospel. God may not call every one of us to be missionaries to savage and hostile people. He may not place us in a position where our faith is tested and tried in every aspect of life. He may not ask us to lay down our lives for His name. But He does command us to be hot in our zeal for Him. He does call each of us to a personal mission lifestyle. He does require unconditional dedication to the sake of the gospel. And His grace is sufficient for us to do so. "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." --Romans 8:16-18 "...in order to obtain our objective, we had to be willing to be expendable...Yet, when the Lord Jesus asks us to pay the price for world evangelisation, we often answer without a word. We cannot go. We say it costs too much..." --Nate Saint, missionary to Ecuador, martyr for Christ ["Through the Gates of Splendour"] Charity | 1:13 pm Comments-[ comments.] |
My life is not my own, for I belong to Christ.