Sovereignty and Responsibility

“And truly the Son of Man goeth as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom He is betrayed” (Luke 22:22).

Here the absolute sovereignty of God and the complete responsibility of man meet. The betrayal of Christ by Judas was determined by God before it ever took place. Consequently, there was no way that it would not take place. Does this relieve Judas from the responsibility of this desperately wicked act? NO! The Lord pronounces a woe upon him. In both Matthew and Mark’s account, the Lord said, “It had been good for that man if he had never been born.” Judas is held fully responsible for his action and was punished accordingly. You cannot overstate God’s absolute sovereignty. Nor can you overstate man’s complete responsibility. They are not at odds, and to tone down either of them is to deny them altogether.

Pastor Todd Nibert

We Have an Advocate

“And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (1 John 2:1).

This scripture recognizes our frail, sinful, human nature. A believer does not love sin, does not excuse nor justify sin, but grieves over sin and desires to be without sin. Yet he owns and confesses his sin! As SPURGEON once said, “Sin is my name, sin is my nature; and to deny it is to deny the Word, deceive myself, and call God a liar. My old nature is such that I will sin until I die, for sin even pollutes the best thing I do.”

This scripture encourages the believer to trust and hope in the mercy of God AT ALL TIMES! It does not say, “If any man is holy, prayerful, and always faithful, he has an advocate”; but, it says, “If any man SIN, he has an advocate with the Father.” It does not say, “If any many sins, he forfeits his right to Christ’s advocacy.” Grace that can be forfeited because of human failure is not grace at all. Mercy that is conditioned upon the merit of the creature is not mercy at all. If my title to glory rests upon my works, either BEFORE OR AFTER conversion, it is a total failure.

This scripture declares that at all times, under all conditions, Jesus Christ is our righteousness, our sanctification, our advocate, and our redemption. So, when I sin, when I consider my past or present and come creeping to my closet with a guilty conscience and an aching heart, I can rejoice in the mercy of my Father; for I have an Advocate – JESUS CHRIST THE RIGHTEOUS!

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1987)

WE GLORY ONLY IN JESUS CHRIST
"I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God" (Rom. 15:17).

Paul was very careful throughout his ministry not to glory, boast or brag in the flesh (Phil. 3:7-9). He taught others not to do this and certainly he would not glory in himself; not in his religious heritage, nor in his attainments or gifts, nor in his labors and success in the ministry but only "through Jesus Christ" (Gal. 6:14). All the apostles and those who truly believe the gospel of God’s grace only glory "in those things that pertain to God." As a result of Adam’s sin, rebellion and fall into condemnation, we have absolutely no reason to glory in the flesh. The things that pertain to our sinful nature give us no motivation to glory or honor the old man and his deeds (Gal. 5:19-21). We are told in scripture to, "put off the old man with his deeds"(Col. 3:9). We truly can only glory in those things that pertain to God. What are those things?

1). We glory in Christ incarnate as the only hope for sinners. "God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory" (1 Tim. 3:16).

2). We glory in Christ crucified as the only remedy to put away our sin. "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit" (1 Pet. 3:18).

3). We glory in Christ Jesus Who is all our sufficient righteousness and acceptance before a thrice holy God. "Wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace"(Eph. 1:6-7).

4). We glory in Christ Jesus exalted and seated at God’s right hand as all our justification before God. "Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification"(Rom. 4:25).

5). We glory in Christ Jesus coming again as all our hope throughout eternity. When He comes we shall not only see Him as He is, but we shall also be made like Him forever (Psa. 17:15; 1 John 3:1-2).