Accepted In The Beloved (Ephesians 1:6)

Jacob sent presents to his offended brother Esau (Gen. 32) desiring to earn Esau’s appeasement. Jacob’s only hope was that by doing or giving enough, “Peradventure he will accept of me” (Gen. 32:20). Is this not the carnal thinking of the world’s religion?

Man thinks that God’s acceptance and favor is based upon the sinner’s work, will, and ability. The carnal heart thinks that if it can be sincere enough, can dot every “i” and cross every “t”, peradventure the Lord will accept me.

The Scripture never speaks of God’s acceptance of His people as being a “maybe” acceptance based upon the sinner’s ability and carnal work. God’s acceptance of the saints in Christ Jesus is a blessing spoken of as being according to God’s eternal will and purpose and therefore an acceptance eternally done!

Chosen in Him before the foundation of the world, redeemed by His precious blood and robed in His glorious righteousness, the Lord’s people are highly favored objects of His mercy, accepted in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Beloved. Pastor Marvin Stalnaker

The Exalted Lord

CHRIST MUST BE PREACHED WHERE HE IS NOW IF WE ARE TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF HIS GLORY! Men will preach about, even accept, Christ as prophet, teacher, healer, and even as Saviour; but, the preaching of Christ as sovereign Lord of lords and King of kings, men will not tolerate. If Christ is exalted at the right hand of God, everything else about Him is easy to believe. His resurrection declared Him to be the Son of God; His exaltation declares Him to be LORD! Peter closed his message in Acts 2 with these words; “God hath made this same Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Christ.” This is the climax of true gospel preaching – JESUS CHRIST IS LORD! God hath delivered all things, all authority, all judgement, and all revelation into His hands.

CHRIST MUST BE PREACHED WHERE HE IS NOW IF WE ARE TO CORRECTLY RECEIVE HIM AND CALL UPON HIS NAME! Romans 10:9 says, “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus to be Lord…thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:13 says, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” One cannot confess, call upon, or receive a false conception of Jesus Christ and be saved. He is not a pitiful, helpless exile waiting to see what will happen. He is the enthroned Lord who has all power over all flesh to give eternal life to as many as the Father hath given Him.

CHRIST MUST BE PREACHED WHERE HE IS NOW IF WE WHO BELIEVE ON HIM ARE TO HAVE A GOOD HOPE! I can have a good hope of salvation because my exalted Lord is able to save, to keep, and to raise my vile body. I can have a good hope of success in preaching the gospel because my exalted Lord has all authority in heaven and earth. I can have a good hope of living in heaven because my exalted Lord has entered and taken possession of that heavenly kingdom and wills for me to be with Him and behold His glory! Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1983)

Reprobation and Grace

“But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:26).

What unspeakably solemn words those are! Reprobation is clearly taught in Holy Scripture. It is a doctrine which should fill our hearts with praise to God our Savior, the Triune Jehovah. Election is God’s choice of some to eternal salvation in Christ. Reprobation is God passing by, not choosing others. Predestination is God’s sovereign, eternal purpose of grace toward and for his elect. Reprobation is God leaving all others to themselves. Salvation is God’s mighty, wondrous works and operations of grace for, in, and upon his chosen. Reprobation is God abandoning others to themselves. Election is God loving Jacob and all the sons and daughters of Jacob. Reprobation is God hating Esau and all the children of Esau. Eternal life is God refusing to leave you alone. Reprobation is God leaving you alone. Salvation is God not leaving you to your will, your choice, and your way. Reprobation is God leaving you to your will, your choice, and your way.

Our Lord’s assertion of reprobation should inspire praise and thanksgiving in the hearts of his elect. The Lord God could have left us to ourselves. He could have abandoned us. But he chose us to salvation! Every time we think about God’s just judgment upon poor reprobates, lost forever, forever abandoned by God, let us lift our hearts in praise to our great and glorious Lord God, the God of all grace, the Father of mercies, who has saved us by his grace (2 Thessalonians 2:11-14; 1 Corinthians 4:7).