Today’s Speaker: Brother Mark Pannell will conduct the 11:00 am service today. Pray for him as he delivers God’s word.
Television Broadcast: Our Reign of Grace Television program is being broadcast on WFXL Fox 31, Channel 4. The program will air every Sunday morning at 11 AM.
Radio Broadcast: Sunday morning at 10:30 am on Mix 107.7 FM
Web Sites: Visit our web sites at: Reign of Grace: www.rofgrace.com
Without a doubt it can be said that Christ died for all who truly believe. God is “just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” (Rom. 3:26) It is often easier and less offensive to state the extent of Christ’s death this way but is it the way it is most often set forth in the scriptures? I don’t think so. At best it is only a partial declaration of what is true of God’s word and may be a withholding of that which actually confronts man with God as He is in His sovereignty and glory. Christ declared the design of His redeeming death in this precise and particular way: “I lay down my life for the sheep.” “I give my life for the sheep.” This He did before and apart from anyone since then believing. Paul told the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:28, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” Again he tells us in Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;” These and many other texts show Christ as having accomplished the redemption of His people in His cross death without His success in doing it depending in any way upon what they do or don’t do! What He DID is the cause of what they DO! He redeemed THEM and THEY will be brought by His Spirit to believe, believe the truth about His death! “All Israel shall be saved..” The definite death of Christ for a particular people is part of what Paul calls “the offense of the cross” but it is at the same time what distinguishes Him from “another jesus” and ascribes to Him that great glory! Christ died for all who believe is true but is it the whole truth? Is it all “the counsel of God?” The efficacy of Christ’s death is in itself and not dependent on anything, even His people’s believing in Him. There is no guile in God who states this blessed truth clearly and repeatedly. Let there be none in us. The sheep for whom He died will hear His voice and follow Him! They will all sing to Him, “Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” (Rev. 5:9)
Gary Shepard
If you are at a loss about the extent of Christ’s Death, and know not what part to take in the controversy about general and particular Redemption, look to your way-marks, the scriptures, and take your direction from thence; and there you will observe, that those whom Christ saves from their sins are his own people, for whose transgressions he was stricken; that he gave his life a ransom for many, for all sorts of persons, for all his elect, Jews and Gentiles; that they were his sheep he laid down his life for; that he loved the church, and gave himself for it; and that he tasted death for every one of his brethren, and of the children the Father gave him; that those that are redeemed by him, are redeemed out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation. {Mt 1:21; 20:28; John 10:25; Eph 5:25; Heb 2:9-12; Re 5:9}
John Gill
CALLING AND ELECTION SURE IN CHRIST
“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:” (2 Peter 1:10)
As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are commanded to be diligent in making our calling and election sure. This does not mean that we in any way can make our salvation sure and certain. This is the work of Christ alone in His obedience unto death for us. CHRIST IS OUR ONE AND ONLY SURETY. He fulfilled all the conditions of our salvation, and His righteousness alone (the merit of His death for us) makes our salvation sure (2 Cor. 1:10). We, however, are to be sure in our minds as God’s Word confirms us to be His chosen, redeemed, and called children. God’s Word tells us that His children are chosen IN CHRIST (Eph. 1:4), redeemed by the blood OF CHRIST (Eph. 1:7), and that we are given spiritual life and called by the Holy Spirit in the preaching of the Gospel TO CHRIST (2 Thess. 2:13-14). The assurance of our calling and election then is to know that Christ died for our sins, that we are made the righteousness of God in Him. God’s Word tells us for whom Christ died – “For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him THE SEED OF ABRAHAM. Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” (Heb 2:16-17). Who are “the seed of Abraham”? God’s Word gives us the clear answer -- “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, THEN ARE YE ABRAHAM’S SEED, and heirs according to the promise.” (Gal. 3:26-29).
---Bill Parker
Faith looks neither to works, nor worthiness in self, but considers what Christ is to the soul, and what the soul is in Him – righteous, perfectly and everlastingly righteous. Then joy, GREAT JOY, springs up. See the claim of faith is “My God” (Isaiah 61:10). Faith does not cause the Lord to become our God, nor adopt us into His family, but it claims that peculiar and precious interest in Him, which the word of His grace reveals. The Father draws us by His Spirit to His Son as our righteousness. The Spirit bears witness that we are righteous in His Son. Then faith makes the claim, boasts of it, and glories in it. Then Jesus has our hearts and our hopes. Our affections are placed on Him, our hopes center in Him.
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