WHOSOEVER WILL
Someone recently told me, “I believe in whosoever will”, as if that refuted the truth of God’s sovereign grace. My response was, “I do too.” However, “whosoever will” does not mean that Christ died for everyone or to give everyone a chance to be saved. “Whosoever will” does not contradict “Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated”.
I wholeheartedly believe whosoever will. Any sinner who needs Christ and comes to Him will be saved. And I can tell you who will come to Christ: God’s elect, who God draws to Christ and makes willing in the day of His power.
I realize the only reason people have trouble with the doctrines of grace is they have trouble with God. When we see God as God, the doctrines will give us no problems. “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself” (John. 7:17).
Pastor John Chapman
“Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord.” (Psalm 130:1)
There is a difference between knowing that I need to cry out for mercy, and actually crying out for mercy. There is a difference between knowing that Christ came to save sinners, and actually being a sinner who desperately needs and desires to be saved by the Lord Jesus Christ. The difference is: the head and the heart! Knowing that I need to be saved is in the head, but the actual cry for mercy can only come from God giving a new heart that believes, loves, and sees its only hope to be in the Christ who purges sinners from all their sins!
Pastor Gabe Stalnaker
BE NOT AFRAID, ONLY BELIEVE
These are the words our Lord spoke to Jairus, when his friends came telling him of his daughters death and of the lack of necessity for him to trouble the master any further. Natural men always set limits on the ability and willingness of Christ to save sinners. While she hung on by a thread, they had hope. But as soon as the thread was gone, so was their hope. Because of their unbelief and doubt, they were neither permitted to follow or enter in to see His glory.
God give us the quiet submissive faith of Jairus, who patiently waited on the Lord and was permitted, by the Master to see the glory of life in His touch.
Pastor Darvin Pruitt
Health is a good thing; but sickness is far better, if it leads us to God. Prosperity is a great mercy; but adversity is a greater one, if it brings us to Christ. Anything, anything is better than living in carelessness, and dying in sin. Better a thousand times to be afflicted, like the Canaanite mother, and like her to flee to Christ, than live in ease, like the rich 'fool', and die at last without Christ and without hope.
J. C. Ryle